Greg Dobbs sees the numbers, just like anybody with two eyes and some math skills sees them. Through 44 games this season, he has 37 at-bats. Through 44 games last season, he had 65 at-bats. Through 44 games in 2007, he had 90 at-bats.

But with just five hits to his credit, only three of them as a pinch-hitter, the Phillies' super-sub isn't looking to blame a lack of playing time for his sluggish start to the 2009 season.

Instead, he points you to his at-bat against Marlins righthander Chris Volstad on Monday night. Dobbs saw just three pitches, watching the first one for a called strike, fouling off the second one, and swinging and missing at a curve in the dirt for a strikeout.

"You go through bouts where you are seeing the ball well, and where you are not seeing the ball well," said Dobbs, who hit .301 overall and led all major leaguers with 22 pinch-hits last season but is currently hitting below the Mendoza Line. "[Monday] night, I didn't see the ball well in that at-bat. And what I should have done, in retrospect, is not even swung until I saw a pitch well."

Pitch selection, pitch selection, pitch selection - that, Dobbs says, is the key to solid performance. Reading the pitch the split second it leaves the pitcher's hands, deciding whether it is the type of pitch you are capable of hitting, and laying off the ones that do not fall into that category.

But a lack of playing time can make it difficult to refine such ability. Last year, manager Charlie Manuel found it easier to get Dobbs at-bats. He would occasionally use him to fill in for Pat Burrell in leftfield. And he would often use Dobbs at third base against righthanded pitchers. Dobbs started 11 of the Phillies' first 44 games last year. This year, he has started just four.

As a starter, Dobbs is 2-for-11 with a home run and two RBI. As a pinch-hitter he is 3-for-22 with no home runs and two RBI, despite leading the majors in all three categories last season. That includes his pinch-hit at-bat in the eighth inning of last night's 5-3 win over the Florida Marlins.

Last year, Dobbs was 23-for-65 (.354) through 44 games. This year, he is 5-for-37 (.135).

Manuel acknowledged that playing Dobbs in rightfield as an occasional lefthanded replacement for Jayson Werth is a possibility. But he also said he felt Dobbs was getting close to the amount of playing time that he has had over the past two seasons. Manuel floated a couple of other theories. First, that Dobbs wasn't as sharp coming out of spring training thanks to a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a short stretch. But Dobbs finished the spring with 55 at-bats, one more than he had last spring. Second, Manuel theorized, Dobbs is simply struggling.

"I think he's got off slow," Manuel said. "Pinch-hitting, I did it, and I know all about it, believe me. If you look at Dobbs and you say, well, he's hitting .135 or whatever. He had a home run the other day and he's had a couple hits that really mean something. Walter Alston used to tell me, when I'd sit there and talk to them, if you are strictly a pinch-hitter, if you stop and think about it, if your hit wins three games for us a year, and you tie up three, he said pretty much you've done your job."

But Manuel conceded that playing time could provide a cure.

"He needs at-bats," Manuel said. "I know he needs at-bats."

Dobbs said he has attempted to counteract the lack of activity by swinging more in the batting cage and watching more video.

"I feel I need to try to supplement the not playing and the not getting as frequent starts as I have in the past with whatever I can to fill that," Dobbs said. "Try to keep my mind in synch. But it's the old adage - if you are not doing it every day, it makes it harder. It makes it tougher."

But, he pointed out, the Phillies are winning with their current formula. And, he said, that is what matters most.

Park in bullpen

 

Chan Ho Park has allowed one run and struck out six in four innings of relief since losing his job in the starting rotation. Asked yesterday if he is comfortable yet as a reliever after a month as a starter, Park answered, "Not yet."

Nevertheless, Charlie Manuel is happy with the way the righthander has pitched, as well as the way he has handled the demotion.

"He's been fine," he said. "He's been very professional about it."

All-Star voting

 

Raul Ibanez leads all National league outfielders in home runs (17), RBI (43), slugging (.750), runs (38), but is ranked just sixth after the first round of All-Star voting. Second baseman Chase Utley, who has started the past three All-Star Games, is once again the runaway leader at that position. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins and first baseman Ryan Howard are both third at their respective positions. Charlie Manuel will serve as the NL manager, thanks to the Phillies World Series win. *