The Phillies lost to the Nationals last night and are dropping like a lead balloon. They’re now three games under .500 and in fourth place. But, bright spot: Tommy Joseph.

Yesterday, Ryan Howard and Pete Mackanin had another one of their face-to-face, you’re not that good anymore meetings. Mackanin the Knife informed Howard that Joseph was the starter. Hours later, T-Jo yarded, twice.

Joseph’s numbers are obscene. He’s batting .323 with seven home runs and 12 RBIs in 65 at-bats. He has a .677 slugging percentage and a ludicrous 1.010 OPS, which almost doubles Howard. Sample size alert here, to be sure, but Joseph is absolutely smacking the cover off the ball. His one home run in every 9.29 at-bats is best in baseball among hitters with at least 65 at-bats and he’s the only Phillie to hit seven home runs in his first 21 games since they began keeping such stats, in 1913.