PHAIR & PHOUL

Four with a bullet: The Phillies are the fourth most popular team in baseball, according to a recent Harris poll of adults who follow MLB. That's up from seventh a year ago and trails only the Yankees, Red Sox and Braves. The Marlins (29th) were the least favorite, finishing behind the Astros (28th) and Nationals (27th).

Since the survey was limited to the United States, the Toronto Blue Jays get a pass.

Charlie Einstein: Super-agent Scott Boras had this to say about Phillies manager Charlie Manuel during the All-Star break. "He's a baseball genius when it comes to dealing with players and growing players," he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Look at the players who have played their best under him."

Breaking it down I: At the All-Star break, the Phillies were three games over .500 (20-17) in games started by Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels . . . and four games over (27-23) when anybody else starts.

Possible explanation: Halladay hasn't gotten much run support and 47-year-old Jamie Moyer has far exceeded all expectations.

Breaking it down II: The ageless Moyer gave up nine runs in one-plus inning against the Red Sox on June 11, six in the sixth against Atlanta on July 7, five in the first against Florida on April 17 and five in the third against Houston on the April 10.

In the first half, then, he allowed 25 of his 54 earned runs (46.3 percent) in just four of his 107 2/3 innings pitched (3.7 percent). That's pretty incredible.

Or, to put it another way, without those four innings, Moyer's ERA going into last night would have been 2.08 instead of 4.51. Thanks to Chris Zonca for pointing this out.

Spinning the rumor mill: According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the Phillies "looked hard" at Mariners third baseman Jose Lopez before the All-Star break.

Sammy's best: Former Phillies second baseman and Wall of Fame member Juan Samuel has led the Orioles to a 14-20 record since taking over for Dave Trembley (15-39) as manager. The O's have won 10 of their last 17. But every indication is that he'll be replaced soon by former Yankees and Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter.

"If that is the decision that is going to be made, there are a lot of positive things for me to take out of this experience," Samuel said. "I have enjoyed it very, very much."