CINCINNATI - Yesterday's event was the most important to the Phillies during these All-Star festivities.
It's certainly not tomorrow night's All-Star Game, in which closer Jonathan Papelbon will be the Phillies' lone representative. The only reason Philadelphia is even represented in the 86th edition is because of the archaic rule that says each franchise must be represented - even one that already is 33 games under .500.
Furthermore, if all goes according to plan, Papelbon won't be a Phillie for much longer. Hopefully, and nobody is hoping more than Papelbon, he will be traded for some package of prospects who might actually become part of this team's future.