Unlike some recent years, there has been competition for the civic focus this time around. The Sixers were more interesting than anticipated, earning some extra games at the end, and the Flyers, although facing a dire situation tonight, have recovered nicely from finishing last season with the worst record in hockey.

The Phillies have been content to provide steady background music to these other dramas, filling in the empty days with their daily rituals, unkinking themselves for the long run ahead.

They return home tonight after an uninspiring road trip to present a classic half-full/half-empty conundrum for local fans - most of whom lean toward pessimism out of well-earned habit if nothing else.

The Phils are three games above .500, solidly among the contenders in the National League East, and could win their 22d game of the season tonight against Atlanta. In the last three seasons at the 40-game mark, the Phils recorded 18, 22 and 20 wins, respectively. No disaster this season, obviously, but nothing special, either.

As they prepare to take sole possession of the local stage, the Phillies' prospects are still something of a mystery, which explains the half-and-half problem. They could go either way, and the next quarter of the schedule will probably give a better indication.

On one hand, the Phils have stayed afloat despite playing without MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins for most of a month and without centerfielder Shane Victorino for nearly three weeks. Both are back now, and the assumption is that both the offense and defense will be improved by their return.

They have also remained competitive even though only one of their five starting pitchers - lefthander Cole Hamels - has a winning record. The other four, dragging a combined 5.18 ERA, have been regularly bailed out by a surprisingly good bullpen. Almost dismissed once again as the team's weak spot, the bullpen has a 2.72 ERA, tied for best in the league. Closer Brad Lidge has nine saves and hasn't yet allowed an earned run.

The Phils, from the very start, have been supported by Chase Utley and Pat Burrell, regardless of what else wasn't going well. Utley and Burrell have combined to drive in one-third of all the runs scored this season, a remarkable burden for just two players.

Their production has been necessary to compensate for the absence of Rollins and Victorino, but also to cover for the extremely slow start being endured by first baseman Ryan Howard, who enters tonight's game with a .171 batting average and four strikeouts for every 10 plate appearances.

If this continues, and if the Phillies are unable to keep winning, Howard will, unbelievably enough, become a target of boos from home fans at Citizens Bank Park. The distance from most valuable player to symbol of fan frustration is lengthy, but strikeouts at inopportune times are the shortest path between the two points.

Forty games is not cause for panic but for concern. Howard started slowly last season and still finished with 47 home runs and 136 RBIs. Getting in gear for those numbers would be fine anytime now (he has seven HRs and 19 RBIs at the moment). The longer the slump lasts, the deeper the concern. Howard is young, but he isn't a kid. He will turn 29 this off-season, and it is fair to wonder if the opposition's book on him has reached a crucial chapter.

Howard's situation will become particularly vital if Utley and Burrell cool off, as they have to do eventually. The two, ominously enough, went a combined 6 for 42 (.143) on the just-completed road trip. Burrell, particularly, has to return to earth somewhat. Slow-footed righthanded hitters, with only a few freakish exceptions like Albert Pujols, do not hit for average, and Burrell is about 40 points above his career mark.

So it all comes down to how you choose to look at it, half-full or half-empty. Will the starting pitchers come up to the level of the bullpen or will the relievers sink down to meet them? Will Howard snap out of his slide as Rollins and Victorino begin to really arrive or will Utley and Burrell not be able to maintain their production? Is Pedro Feliz the player who was hitting .214 when he left town or the one who had raised his average to .240 by the time he returned? Brad Lidge, fact or fiction?

All good questions, and all answerable only on faith right now. That is what the first 40 games does - poses the problems and presents the equations. Now they begin to be solved.

at 215-854-5842 or bford@phillynews.com.

Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/bobford.