Just a quick note to let everyone know that the playoffs are here and that you can catch all the games starting tomorrow. We drew the Brewers, the talented Wild Card winners from the Central.

We got a taste of the postseason last year, but this year we're ready for a long run. I feel like we're peaking at the right time and it's been great. You want to come through when your team needs it and provide a lift. But the main goal lies ahead.

First game is tomorrow (weds) at 3 pm on TBS. That's 3pm Eastern time.

Good morning from sunny Philadelphia, though I hear the rain is coming in. We're coming up on a month go in the season with two more roadtrips and two more homestands after this week. Just like last year, it's going to be a tight race down the stretch.

I'd say the keys are definitely going to be the normal, everyday things... getting good, quality starts from our pitchers, trying to have them go deep into games, have the bullpen come in and take over when need be, play good defense, offensively we have to go out there and get runs and try to put up as many as possible to make it easier on our pitchers.

We know what's on the line, though our team doesn't really talk about the approaching end of the season as much as you might think. As a collective group, we all know what we need to do and how we're going to need to play in order to get to where we need to be, and that means playing in the playoffs in October.

Over the last few weeks, we all know we were going through a little bit of an offensive lull, but we're all confident that we're getting out of it just at the right time. The key I'd say, and this applies to everyone reading this who plays the game, is not to get too worked up, high or low. One piece of advice that I got from Jim Thome when he was here was stay on an even keel. You can't get too low, you can't get too high. It's all a part of the game. It's a long season.

You have to go out there knowing that you'll have some good days and some off days, but it's how you come back and rebound from both that is what's most important. Last night was a great win for us, but now we have to follow it up with another one in the last game against the Dodgers, and then get ready for the Mets coming to town.

Big week ahead and good luck to everyone as they head back to school. Work hard and have fun.

Hey everyone, Definitely good to be home after a long trip out west on the road. We love playing in front of our fans and having the comforts of being able to sleep in our homes, but as athletes, I think our bodies do get into a rhythm with all the travel we have to do. It's a regimented routine that we get used to. It's a little bit different when you're going back from the west coast to the east coast like we just did Sunday night.

Around this time in the season, we've been flying all over the place, playing every day, night in and night out, and our bodies are used to it. Once a week or so, we do get that day off that we use recuperate a little bit, but they say the jetlag normally hits you like the second day back.

Which is today. Thankfully, I had the day off yesterday and got to spend it out in Williamsport, PA... a great time with the players and teams in the Little League World Series. I was invited by Powerade and Subway to promote healthiness, activeness and hydration, which are all important for kids and core to the messages we also promote here on weplay.

The games are also underway now, and I got to throw out the first pitch for the game between Hawaii and South Dakota. As a baseball player, that's a pretty rare opportunity to actually throw out a first pitch. Think about it... they typically bring in other people, musicians, community leaders, local heroes and celebrities to do that at our games. So that was pretty cool, though I was a little nervous since I'm not a pitcher. Good news is that I was able to stay cool under pressure and deliver the ball right to the catcher.

Getting to meet the players was also really cool for me. I got to play in some important games as a kid, but only to an extent. Nothing like this. I remember being their age - 11, 12, 13 years old--not playing on a big stage like they are. I never really played in front of crowds as large as what they have there, and definitely not on television. But the crowds is just people, that's all. When you're out there on the field, your friends are out there with you and it's a fun game no matter what happens, so just focus on the play and don't worry about who's watching you.

Big homestand begins tonight against Washington, then L.A. and then New York next week.

Six weeks to go in the regular season and every game matters.

Hey everyone, just a quick howdy from the City of Brotherly Love... last weekend of games before the All-Star Break. Things are definitely going well for the team at this point, the home runs are coming and I'm loving every day here in Philadelphia.

Playing in Philadelphia, playing with Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins and all of my teammate... just the overall team chemistry that we have, that is definitely the best part about being a member of the Phillies roster. And it's been great all season long.

I remember back to a prank we played on Kyle Kendrick early in spring training, telling him he was traded to Japan... that's just the type of chemistry we have as a team. We're like a family, which is important because you're together so much.

That's not to say I don't see my regular family - My parents are both retired, so they do a lot of traveling. They'll come up to Philly and check out some games, and normally when we go to the Midwest, like Chicago, Milwaukee or Cincinnati, they usually make the drive up and come check it out. And of course when we play (and weplay) in St. Louis.

Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled day...

Another day, another blog, and why not? I'm enjoying a relaxing morning here in Philly as we're back at home for a couple of Interleague series. I know the fans enjoy seeing teams from the American League come in, but it's also a lot of fun for the players, too.

Right now we're playing the defending world champions, which is always a good way to see how good we really are. You hear guys say that they always get up to play the best, but it's true. There's no better measuring stick. Of course, it's still the first half of the season and there's a long way to go, but there's no question that we have real work to do. After a pretty hot end of May, we've hit a few road bumps here and there. We'll win a few and lose a few, But when we're hitting like I know we can, we're a really good team.

I myself am feeling good now at the plate. A few multi-home run games will do that, I guess, but things are going well. I was reading Jennie Finch's blog here where she was writing about how she focuses on the mound as a pitcher and it got me thinking too.

How I approach at-bats really depends on what the situation is. If there's a runner on third base with less than 2 outs, what you want to do is get out there and put something in play, maybe a deep fly ball to the outfield or something on the ground up the middle. With a man on base and no outs, I am looking to move the runner and get a run in.

I've learned a lot in my four seasons in Philly, though I don't usually reflect on what's been going on during the season. As far as accomplishments go, I stop and think about it during the offseason when I'm able to take time to look at what I've done the year before or that season. So home runs are nice and all, but right now my main focus is trying to do what I can to help my team win a championship.

Happy Friday, everyone, though in the case of baseball players, we don't really ever get the weekend off. We're coming up to the end of a good couple of weeks here at home and will be back on the road in a few hours.

Before I go, let's answer some questions.

"My son loves baseball but I think he is too young to start training as a player. How old were you when you started playing baseball? Ernie"

I started playing baseball I was probably in 2nd grade, somewhere between 5 and 7 years old. You want your son to go out there and just learn and have fun with the game. You don't want to put too much pressure on him too early and try to train him. You can have him go and try and learn how to hit from a structure, but make sure to keep it fun, otherwise if there's too much pressure early on he might want to quit. "Ryan, At what age did you decide that being a pro baseball player? Chris"

My first thought about it ever was probably when I was 15 when I was watching professional games on television. The potential reality of that coming true, though, was not until college when there was talk of being drafted. As a kid I was playing for the love of the game. "hey ryan i am a big fan of you i play baseball and i was wondering who is the pitcher you like to face the most Vince"

Of course, the one I can get the most hits off of! No, I don't know, because that's just the thing about baseball, you could be hot one day and then the next day, have absolutely no clue what you're doing. It's the same way for a pitcher on the mound, you could have a dominating pitcher, but then that day his stuff might not be as good as it was the week before. On any given day, anyone could dominate anyone.

"if you weren't playing baseball, what would you rather be doing? Ross"

I went to school for communications and mass media, so I would probably be trying to do something in communications, maybe television and broadcasting. Or hosting my own talk show.

What else you guys got for me? The more you ask, the more I'll answer. Though not now... time to hit the road. Take it easy.

Things are starting to come together now here as we get to the end of May. After last night's win against the Rockies, we have now won four in a row and are a half game out first place in the East behind Florida. 48 runs in four games is a sign that the bats are working.

On a personal note, it has been a good few weeks. I'm just seeing the ball a little bit better right now too. I'm just trying to slow everything down, get good pitches to hit and stop chasing bad pitches. The home runs are starting to come, which is good for the team and fun for the fans. It doesn't matter how far it goes, a home run is a home run once it gets over the wall. Obviously the fans like to see the further the better, but there's a saying that it's not how far, but how many.

No matter what league you play in or what age, everyone gets into a slump at some point. That's the way sports works. You just hang with it and keep working. Yet you also have to remember to have fun, though I know it's tough because of competitive nature... you want to go out and do well, and when you're not doing well sometimes you get down on yourself.

But you have to remember that it's a game. So my advice to you when you find yourself in a slump is to go out there and just try to have as much fun as possible.

I'm enjoying my off day today but we've got a big series against the Marlins starting tomorrow. First place is on the line!

Hey, so the our team just arrived here in Houston where we've got a long weekend with the Astros. My confidence is good coming off a good couple of days in Washington and the balls are starting to fall in for me.

My plan is to keep taking it at-bat to at-bat and get the momentum going.

Once back home in Philly, I'll be back to write again, answer some more questions and get some momentum going on here as well. Be good and get the questions in.

Hey everyone. For my new Blog this week, I really wanted to start talking with you guys and letting you get to know me even better. So I rounded up some of your best questions and will answer them here. Leading off...

"You're one of my favorite players. What is your favorite thing to do off of the field? Justin"

Away from the game, I'd say that my favorite things to do are go bowling and just hang out with my friends.

"Hey Ryan, did you play football in high school???? Nathan"

Yes, I sure did. I played football during my freshman and sophomore years of high school. I played both defensive end and tight end.

"I have a question for you--You have a job so much bigger than baseball-a role model and you seem to be doing a great job. How do you encourage kids that you come in contact with? Sara"

Hey Sara. In terms of baseball, the most important thing I tell kids is to try to have fun with the game and just play it hard. You can apply that same discipline to your school work, too. Work hard and have fun.

"You look like you're always having a good time out there. How have you adjusted to living in Philly after growing up in the midwest? Tough change? Best of luck this season. Matt"

You know, it wasn't that hard. I've been playing on a travel team since the age of 15 so I was sort of used to being on the road with my team. The adjustment to Philly was pretty easy, too, because t he people here have been really great.

"Since I'm a baseball player to be, can I ask if you plan to hold any baseball camps? I want to improve my skills. Christian"

That's a good question. I don't have anything planned right now, but check back here often and I'll be sure to update you.

"Who did you look up to when you were younger, and just playing for fun? Maine"

Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds and Tony Gwynn were my idols growing up. All of them great hitters, all of them lefties.

Alright, well thanks again for writing in. I'm going to start doing this every few weeks moving forward, so keep 'em coming and give me your best.

Yo what's up, everyone. Hope you're all getting into the baseball season. So I don't have time to Blog right now as we've got a game in just a little while, but I've decided that for my next entry, I want to hear what you've got to say and answer any questions you have... about the Phils, about me, about baseball... anything you can think of.

So anything you want to know, post your questions in the comment box back there on my profile page.

Sound good? Alright, let's see what you can come up with in the next few days... you're on deck.

-Ryan