first pitch: 12:05 p.m., PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Clay Hensley (5-6, 4.14 ERA) vs Cole Hamels (1-4, 5.50 ERA)
preview: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN
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Happy Indendence Day! Cole Hamels gets the start this afternoon against his hometown team. Remember when the Padres were looking at him with their first-round pick back in 2002? They took Khalil Greene instead, so I’d say that worked out okay.

Rough year in Philly. Tom Durso at the excellent Phillies blog Shallow Center is calling 2006 a “lost cause”. I feel your pain, brother; in San Diego, we call that “1999-2003″ or, if you want to go further back, “most of this franchise’s existence.”

First baseman Ryan Howard (.284/.349/.608) is tied with Albert Pujols for the big-league lead in home runs with 28, while outfielders Bobby Abreu (.290/.444/.472) and Pat Burrell (.253/.380/.527) are doing their usual share of damage, as is second baseman Chase Utley (.300/.370/.514). As a team, the Phillies have pounded 107 homers this year. The Padres, by comparison, have knocked 75.

Despite Citizens Bank Park’s reputation as a hitters’ ballpark, it hasn’t helped the Phillies much in 2006. They’ve hit 53 homers in 41 games there, as opposed to 54 in 40 road games. What they have done is hit a bunch more doubles at home, leading to a higher slugging percentage (.452 vs .417) but not a lot more runs (199 vs 193).

The real problem is that Phillies pitchers haven’t been able to get anyone out, anywhere. Their best starter has, um, serious issues, and although the bullpen has been adequate (and in the cases of Tom Gordon and Rheal Cormier, often spectacular), it also is getting worked as hard as any in baseball. Only the Mets’ and Royals’ relievers have thrown more innings this year.

In New York’s case, the rotation is filled with old and/or fragile guys and the bullpen is deep, so this isn’t necessarily a bad approach. Philadelphia (5.74 ERA) and Kansas City (6.32), on the other hand, are pulling up the rear in terms of starting pitcher effectiveness, so their bullpens are being worked hard out of desperation, not any predefined plan.

Anywho. Fire up the grill, snap open a cold one, and have a safe and happy 4th of July. Go Padres!