June 29 -- IN A PINCH, DOBBS IS A CINCH

Greg Dobbs would rather be an everyday player in the Phillies' lineup.

But he also doesn't mind being known as baseball's best pinch-hitter.

"It's flattering," Dobbs told me recently when we sat down to discuss the art of pinch-hitting, a skill he seemingly has mastered. "It's the role I've been put in because it's a way I can help the team win, so I have to put my personal aspirations aside and work my tail off for this club. At the same time, I don't want to get branded as a part-time player or strictly a pinch-hitter."

Ask just about anyone, and they'll tell you that pinch-hitting is the most thankless job a player can have. Being a successful hitter is difficult enough when you get four at-bats per game. Try having much success when you get four at-bats per week, usually against hard-throwing setup men and closers with the game hanging in the balance. But Dobbs is about as good as it gets. He entered the weekend batting .432 (16-for-37) with 11 RBIs as a pinch-hitter, production that far exceeded everyone else in the majors. A few of Dobbs' more memorable pinch-hits for the Phillies include his grand slam against the Mets last Sept. 16 at Shea Stadium and his RBI single in the ninth inning of a 1-0 win May 20 at Nationals Park.

In today's News Journal, we set out to explain why Dobbs is so good in a pinch. For starters, he had a good mentor. Dave Hansen, Dobbs' teammate with the Mariners in 2005, was among the best pinch-hitters in the majors for 15 seasons. He was kind enough to speak with us last week, and after 30 minutes, he made it abundantly clear that pinch-hitting is a "state of mind" as much as it is a physical skill. Greg Gross, the venerable former Phillies' pinch-hitter, reiterated many of Hansen's points in a conversation last week.

But Gross also summed up how most pinch-hitters feel about their role.

"I wouldn't want to wish the job on anyone," he said.

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A week from today, the rosters will be unveiled for the 79th annual All-Star Game. Which Phillies will find themselves at Yankee Stadium on July 15? Based on the weekly voting returns we've been seeing, Chase Utley is a lock to be the NL's starting second baseman. In our Sunday MLB notes, we examine the All-Star candidacies of several other Phillies, including deserving closer Brad Lidge and ace lefty Cole Hamels. Ryan Howard's all-or-nothing credentials are a little more difficult to assess.

Which Phillies do you think should be All-Stars?

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If you haven't weighed in yet on what the Phillies should do with Brett Myers, please do. It seems that Myers can make his next scheduled start Thursday in Atlanta, or the Phillies can move reliever Chad Durbin to the rotation or call up someone from the minors, top prospect Carlos Carrasco or Class AAA lefty J.A. Happ?

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone.