April 17 -- GAME 8 WRAP: A RETURN TO NORMALCY?

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Chase Utley isn't one to make excuses, but after last night's 8-2 loss to the Nationals, even he couldn't deny it.

The Phillies have had trouble focusing lately.

It's understandable, of course. There's a rhythm, a beat, to the baseball season. Every day for six months, players follow the same schedule: Get to the ballpark, stretch, take batting practice, watch video of the opponent, play a game. And when one day ends, another just like it is about to begin.

Their routine is every bit as repetitive as lather, rinse, repeat.

But in the 12 days since the season started, the Phillies have had three days off, one rainout and four extended pregame ceremonies. And a few hours before Monday's game in Washington, they were informed about Harry Kalas' sudden death in a broadcast booth only seven floors above the clubhouse.

Nothing about the last 12 days has been routine. And, surely, it must be taking a toll on the Phillies.

"It's a possibility, yeah," Utley said.

Last Wednesday, after the players received their World Series rings, Jamie Moyer said something interesting -- and, I thought, telling. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that he always wondered what it would feel like to win the World Series. But he never thought about what happens next. After reaching the pinnacle, where do you go from there? How do you move on, especially when you're constantly being reminded of your World Series championship with banner-raising ceremonies, ring presentations, an invitation to visit President Obama at the White House, even a patch on the sleeve of your uniform.

So, clearly, the Phillies already were dealing with distractions just by virtue of being the defending champs. Throw in Monday's events at Nationals Park, and they've experienced absolutely no normalcy over the past two weeks.

"We won a World Series, and I know there's still ceremonies that linger through the front part of the year," Charlie Manuel said. "And Harry passing away, that plays a part on our team because he was one of us. We've had a lot of stuff that's gone on. But I'd like to see us get that behind us and start playing baseball. We need to get on with our season. Once we get that stuff behind us and get settled in, we'll be OK."

I think Manuel is right. As I wrote in this space yesterday, the Phillies coped with personal tragedy in the postseason last year. On the same day during the NLCS, Manuel's mom and Shane Victorino's grandmother died. If anything, I thought it brought the Phillies even closer together. They flew across the country to L.A., and after losing Game 3, they knocked out the Dodgers by winning Games 4 and 5.

Ultimately, I think they'll get through this, too. It just may take some more time.

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Within the notebook, we examine Jimmy Rollins' slump, which has swelled to 3-for-33. Also, it was a nice 2009 major-league debut for Lou Marson, who singled, doubled and threw out a runner at second base.

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On tap for tonight: Normalcy won't come yet. The Phillies have scheduled several tributes to Kalas before and during the series-opener against the Padres. On the field, the story will revolve around Cole Hamels. Will he be any better than last Friday in Denver? He better be.

"I'm expecting progression," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "His delivery is getting there. But, again, he needs reps."

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PADRES (7-3) at PHILLIES (4-4)
Tonight, 7:05: RHP Chris Young (2-0, 1.38) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 17.18)
Tomorrow, 7:05: RHP Shawn Hill (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Brett Myers (1-1, 5.54)
Sunday, 1:35: RHP Walter Silva (0-0, 6.52) vs. RHP Chan Ho Park (0-0, 10.38)
Monday, 7:05: RHP Kevin Correia (0-0, 4.50) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (1-1, 6.55)
Hot: Padres 1B Adrian Gonzalez has hit safely in eight of his last nine games (9-for-30, three homers, eight RBIs); Padres OF Chase Headley snapped an 0-for-7 slump by going 4-for-4 last night against the Mets; Phillies RF Jayson Werth is 9-for-21 (.429) with five RBIs in his last five games; Phillies 3B Pedro Feliz has six hits in his last 16 at-bats (.375).
Not: Padres RF Brian Giles is in a 1-for-17 slump; Padres 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff has four hits in his last 23 at-bats (.174); Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins has three hits in his last 33 at-bats; Phillies C Chris Coste is in a 1-for-13 funk.