Despite a sputtering offense, the Phillies remained in first place this week, two games up on New York Mets. The Phils’ offense continues to look lost, and at one point this week went 23 innings without scoring a run, despite facing less than stellar opposing pitching.

The Phillies lost two games to the Florida Marlins, who are just a half a game back of the Mets in the National League East standings, despite facing three pitchers with less than 20 starts between them this season. The Phillies’ offense got starting pitcher Jamie Moyer his first career loss to the Marlins, despite allowing only two runs on Tuesday. On Thursday they were shutout by Chris Volstad, who was making his fifth career start. Volstad didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, when opposing pitcher Cole Hamels lined a single to center with two outs.

The Phillies’ incomprehensible woes continued on Friday against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates and Paul Maholm. Maholm went seven shutout innings and struck out a career high 10 batters, including five in a row at one point. He threw a complete game against the Phillies in April and has an ERA of 0.56 this year.

For all intents and purposes, the Phillies were shutout in three games this week, as their only two runs on Tuesday’s game came on a blown home run call. Outfielder Shane Victorino hit what at first appeared to be a two run home run to left field that just made it past the foul poll, but upon further review it was apparent that the ball actually went foul. The homerun was nevertheless allowed by the game’s umpires, not that it ultimately mattered anyway, as the Phillies lost 8-2.

It’s not that the Phillies aren’t hitting, they just aren’t scoring. In the six games this week, the Phillies left a total of 68 men on base. That is staggering. Their opponents, meanwhile, only left 55 men on. In their three losses, the Phillies left a combined 36 men on base, while their opponents left 31 men on.

As evidenced by the fact that they also left a lot of men on base, the Marlins and Pirates were very beatable teams. The Phillies being in first place is more as a result of the Mets and Marlins being bad teams than it is the Phillies being a good team.

In other Phillies’ news this week, they acquired that long sought after lefty in Scott Eyre for minor league right-hander Brian Schlitter. The bullpen help comes not a day too soon as it appears that veteran set up man Tom Gordon could miss the rest of the 2008 season and closer Brad Lidge has stiffness in his shoulder.

The biggest story of the week was the news that the Eagles and Brian Westbrook finally agreed to a new deal, reportedly adding an additional $13 million to his existing contract.

Eagles’ offensive lineman Shawn Andrews finally broke the silence and divulged his reasons for not yet showing up to training camp as he battles depression.

In Sixers‘ news, center Jason Smith tour his ACL and will likely miss the entire 2008-2009 season.

Speaking of the 2008-2009 season, the schedule for the upcoming NBA season was released and the upstart Sixers have seven nationally televised games scheduled this year.

Finally, in Flyers‘ news, current Phantoms‘ coach Craig Berube was named as an assistant coach with the big league club, replacing Terry Murray who is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

Upcoming this week, the Phillies start a four game series Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers in California as they look to maintain their lead over the Mets and Marlins in the NL East standings. After LA, the Phillies head down south to San Diego to face off with the Padres this weekend. The Eagles face off against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday in their second pre-season game.