April 23 -- GAME 13 WRAP: GETTING 'RHYTHMATIC'

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, after the Phillies' 3-1 loss to Braden Looper and the Brewers last night, a few of us beat writers were chatting with Jayson Werth. Asked for his breakdown of the club's less-than-stellar 6-7 start, Werth invented his own word.

Rhythmatic.

You won't find that one in the dictionary.

But we all knew what Werth meant. We were discussing the many stops and starts in the April schedule that have prevented the Phillies from playing on more than four consecutive days. Since the season-opener April 5, there have been three scheduled off days, two rainouts, four pregame ceremonies, a memorial service for Harry Kalas and no opportunity for the Phillies to get into any sort of normal routine. The results have been as disjointed as the schedule. The Phillies win a few games, then lose a few. And just when they think they're getting things started, there's another interruption.

"I'm sure that's had an effect," Werth said. "We're pretty rhythmatic in that sense."

Uh, Jayson, don't you mean rhythmic?

"However you want to put it," he said with a smile. "You guys are the writers. Throw it in quotes, and I'll look stupid. It's fine."

Werth's point is, the Phillies aren't panicking. They have never been fast starters. Two seasons ago, they opened with a 4-11 record that was so alarming they called a team meeting before a game in Cincinnati. Last year, they were 11-11 on April 23. Both seasons, they won the National League East.

"We'll be all right," Werth said. "We're a team that hangs around and hangs around, and when it's time to kick in gear, we do. That's what we've done the past two years. I'm not saying that's the right way to do it, but it's definitely an excuse for right now."

He's right, of course, and after only 13 games, there isn't any reason to panic. That said, if they can avoid it, the Phillies would rather not have to rely on another late-season surge to win the division.

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Within the notebook, Pedro Feliz is finally healthy (and it shows) and Carlos Ruiz will begin a rehab assignment any day now.

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All eyes today will be on Cole Hamels, who pitched better in his second start than he did in his first. How will he do in his third? Will the real Cole Hamels finally show up? Charlie Manuel is every bit as curious as you are.

"I'm confident that I'm going to see Cole Hamels pretty soon," he said. "He's going to get better. Hopefully, it's [today]."

Stay tuned.

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