June 1 -- 10 QUESTIONS & SEE YA NEXT WEEK

BY SCOTT LAUBER

In one way or another, most of us are being impacted by the nation's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and the newspaper business is being hit as hard as, well, the changeup that Ryan Howard launched to the upper deck Saturday night. The News Journal, the newspaper for which I write and with which Philled In is affiliated, is no exception. We're part of the Gannett Company, and as part of its cutbacks, every employee of every Gannett-owned newspaper across the country must take a furlough for one week during this financial quarter.

This week is my turn.

So, here's how it works: I'm not allowed to work. At all. That means I can't cover the Phillies in San Diego or Los Angeles, answer your e-mails, conduct interviews for upcoming stories, or host the live Phillies chat that we've done every Wednesday at noon since the season opened. And, sadly, it means I can't blog either. Since we started here in April 2006, we've formed a nice little community at Philled In. In fact, we got more hits last Thursday than any other day in our history, according to the folks at The News Journal whose job is to monitor such things. Thanks to everybody for that, and I hope you'll continue to make our little corner of the Internet a part of your daily reading.

I enjoy my job (it's what I have wanted to do since high school, when I realized I wouldn't follow Don Mattingly as the Yankees' next first baseman), so this week will be difficult. I'll watch the Phillies on television, probably with a cold beer in hand, all the while wishing I was at Petco Park and Dodger Stadium to chronicle all the goings-on in the paper, on the blog, and on Twitter. But, in my absence, The News Journal will continue its Phillies coverage, and when news dictates, one of my colleagues may even drop in here with the latest info.

As for me, I'll catch you next Monday (June 8) from New York to preview the latest Mets-Phillies grudge match at Citi Field. Meanwhile, if anyone needs an idle (and bored) baseball writer, you know where to find me.

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While I'm gone, I'll throw out a few topics for y'all to discuss, starting with last week's top story:

1. With Brett Myers likely to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing hip surgery this week, the Phillies' starting rotation presently consists of Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, Jamie Moyer, J.A. Happ and just-recalled Antonio Bastardo. Can they win the NL East with that rotation, or is it imperative that they make a trade for another proven starter?

2. If you think they need another starter, which pitcher do you think they should get? Keep in mind that Jake Peavy (right), Roy Oswalt, Erik Bedard and possibly Roy Halladay may be the best-available top-of-the-rotation starters, while Jason Marquis, Brad Penny and Jarrod Washburn are a few of the lesser starters who may be available via trade.

3. Trading for one of the above pitchers likely will require the Phillies to part with several of their top minor leaguers. Their most prized prospects include pitchers Bastardo, Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Drabek and Edgar Garcia, catcher Lou Marson, infielders Jason Donald and Freddy Galvis, and outfielders Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor. Are there any players in the Phillies' farm system who should be considered "untouchable?"

4. At long last, Moyer won his 250th game yesterday. I didn't hear the Hallelujah chorus playing in the clubhouse after the game, but the Phillies did drink a toast. Anyway, Moyer was sharp against a very good Nationals lineup. (They can't pitch or play defense, but man, those Nats sure can hit. Seriously, they can.) And after posting a 13.86 ERA in three starts in early May, Moyer is 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA in his last four starts. So, my question to you is, has your confidence in Moyer been restored? Related question: Some people believe the steroid era has made 500 career home runs a less hallowed milestone. If that's the case, is 300 wins more significant? How about 250? And does Moyer have a case for the Hall of Fame?

5. Speaking of bouncing back, Brad Lidge notched back-to-back-to-back saves Friday, Saturday and Sunday and told me yesterday he believes he's ready to start a long streak of success. After he struggled for two months with mechanical problems stemming from a balky right knee, are you convinced that Lidge is back to being Lidge?

6. Peavy vs. Bastardo on Tuesday night. Who ya got?

7. At last count, Chase Utley was leading NL second basemen in All-Star votes. Assuming Utley is voted to start the All-Star Game for a third straight year, which other Phillies should join him and Charlie Manuel in St. Louis?

8. Two part question: Who is the Phillies' MVP through the season's first two months, and why? (A few choices: Raul Ibanez, Utley, Howard, Pedro Feliz, Ryan Madson.) Who is the most disappointing Phillies player through two months, and why? (A few choices: Lidge, Jimmy Rollins, Moyer, Joe Blanton, Jayson Werth.)

9. J.C. Romero is scheduled to be activated Wednesday after completing his 50-game suspension, and while Scott Eyre did a nice job as the primary lefty reliever (more on this in Monday's paper), the Phils will be happy to have Romero back. How big a difference will he make in the bullpen?

10. Manuel has plenty of theories about why the Phillies have played so much better on the road (16-6) than at home (12-14). What's yours?

Bonus: If you haven't already weighed in, which of Ryan Howard's homers has been most memorable to you?

See ya soon.