Being a screenwriter, as well as a sports writer, my passion for movies is just as intense as my passion for sports. That being said, I have watched what the Philadelphia Phillies are trying to accomplish this young season, and can't help but critique them just as I would a movie I threw eight dollars away on last Friday night.

If I were to look at the Fightin' Phils as a film, I would have to classify them as a decent action film that is trying desperately to pass themselves off as a classic noir tale. The Phils do have a somewhat capable ensemble cast, filled with character actors, like Aaron Rowand who gets a wonderful review for his role as the scrappy, resourceful street cop. Ryan Franklin deserves major kudos for his rendition of the bumbling private eye who makes his job so much harder than it should be.

What this year's production of the Phillies is truly missing is that money-in-the-bank, box-office-cash-cow, leading man to drive the story all the way through September. Now, that's not to say the Phils don't have anyone who might be able to take the lead and go the extra mile to make this season Oscar worthy.

For a few years now, Bobby Abreu, has been touted as the Tom Cruise of the Phils, yet when Abreu has been asked to further develop his character, step up to the plate and be a lead off hitting stud, he has snickered at the suggestion. Like a pampered, over paid Hollywood prima donna, Abreu has sacrificed the good of the team to preserve his precious, empty stats.

Now, Abreu isn't the only one keeping this production stalled. The direction of Charlie Manuel makes one think of a bad student filmmaker who swears by the formula his brilliant professor laid out for him and he wouldn't dare just go with a gut feeling over what his coaching guide says. Also, the lack of a leading lady has crippled this production. Oh wait, I forgot about Abreu. Not to mention Mike Lieberthal who has been a solid supporting actress in this jumbled plot of a season.

Look, all analogies aside, the Phillies have some of the pieces of a solid winning team. However, they have had these pieces for more than a couple years and yet still fall short of making them worth watching. This coming trade deadline will be a crucial one for a team who needs to solidify a decent cast and make them if not Oscar worthy, at least Golden Globe worthy.