Do the people who voted in this poll realize the Phillies may be without Chase Utley for the entire year?

Phillies the Favorite to Win 2011 World Series

She says it right on her blog: Her 15 minutes of fame were not enough.

The suburban Philadelphia woman charged with prostitution after she allegedly offered undercover cops sex in exchange for Phillies World Series tickets, has launched a blog to share her fantasies about the Phillies.

(She was found not guilty in court of the most serious charges but was sentenced to one year probation).

You can check out Susan Finkelstein's R-rated fantasies at Rounding 3rd with Susan Finkelstein

There is little sympathy for the teen who ran onto the field at Monday's Philadelphia Phillies game only to be brought down by a Taser fired by a Philly police officer.

The vast majority of readers voting at The Mercury's Web site (nearly 8 in 10) say the teen deserved what he got.

Here's the question and the results so far.

Do you think the Boyertown teen should have been tasered for running onto the field during the Phillies' game?

Yes, he violated the rules, he deserved it. (78%)

No, it was excessive. (22%)

Pitching ace Roy Halladay was dominating on the mound and Ryan Howard hit his first homer of the season as the Philadelphia Phillies began their defense of the National League Pennant by crushing the Washington Nationals, 11-1, to win their 2010 opener Monday afternoon.

Now that's the way to start the season.

Oh yeah, some guy named Barack Obama threw out the first pitch.

Halladay struck out nine batters in seven innings of work, allowing one run, six hits and two walks in his National League debut.

Ryan Howard hit a two-run homer to right field in the fourth to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

Third-baseman Placido Polanco, making his return to the Phillies, had six RBIs, including a grand slam in the fourth inning that put the game away.

Game 1 of the 2010 World Series is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 27. Halladay is penciled in to start that game. See you then.

Keep up with the Phillies at the team's Web site.

A Pottstown resident is among the finalists for a Phillies Ballgirl position. And fans can help her get the job.

Kristen Kinneer of Pottstown, a student at Farleigh Dickinson University, is among the finalists.

"Kristen loves Philadelphia, has watched baseball since she's very young, and played softball in college," according to the Phillies' Web site.

The voting is open until Monday, Dec. 7. You can learn more about the candidates and watch a video of their tryouts at the Phillies' Web site.

You can vote at the Phillies Web site.

Rasmussen Reports take a break from politics to ask Americans who they think will win the World Series. Unfortunately, most people are picking those damn Yankees.

From Rasmussen Reports:

Forty-seven percent (47%) of baseball fans expect the New York Yankees to win their 27th World Series title this year. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of baseball fans finds that 32% believe the Philadelphia Phillies will defend their title this year while 21% are not sure.

While the Yanks are favored to win, 49% are rooting for the Phillies to win it all for the second straight year. Only 31% will be cheering for the Yankees.

Once again, Yankees fans are the cockiest, with 79% who think their team will take the series. Only 55% of Phillies fans think their team will defend their title.

Among avid baseball fans, those who watch baseball at least once a week during the season, 48% expect the Yankees and 41% pick the Phillies.

Read more poll results at Rasmussen Reports.

The voice of the Phillies has been silenced.

Harry Kalas, the Phillies' legendary Hall of Fame announcer, died today after he collapsed in the press box at Nationals Stadium in Washington, where the Phillies are in town to play a three-game series.

Kalas was a fixture on radio and television since 1971. His signature call of "Outta here!" every time a Phillies player hit a home run was known to Phillies fans everywhere.

Kalas was rushed to George Washington University Medial Center Monday afternoon, where he was pronounced dead at age 73.

In announcing Kalas' death, Phillies team president David Montgomery said, "We have lost our voice."

The Phillies announced that the game against the Nationals will be played as scheduled, but the team will not visit the White House tomorrow to be recognized as the 2008 World Champions, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Kalas was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.

For a full bio of Harry Kalas, check out the Phillies Web site.