With 20 come-from-behind wins, Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies don't duck away from a challenge. AP Jon Heyman's Mailbag Got a question or comment for Jon? Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Jon Heyman on Twitter

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia story looks like it's going to be as good as it was a year ago. Maybe even better.

The widely held perception that the Mets gave away the NL East last September wasn't really fair to the Phillies, who played valiantly in erasing a seven-game deficit with 17 games to play to take the division. As much as the Mets choked, the Phillies deserved credit for being tough, resilient and clutch. Same goes for now.

Reigning NL MVP Jimmy Rollins remains the designated talker for the team, and the feeling is that they're all still thinking the same thing, that they are the team to beat. "Hey, that's our goal every year,'' Rollins said. "My statement from last year is going to ring true every year unless something changes drastically.'

If anything's changed, it's changed for the better. This team -- which has won 15 of its last 19 after sweeping the Braves at Turner Field, where the Braves almost never lose -- looks as solid and confident as any in baseball. They appear to be a very feisty and together bunch, too, and they won't face the same sort of clubhouse questions that have beset their main rival 90 miles to the north. While the team from Queens is still floundering, the Phillies are threatening to leave them in that dust being created by that lovely new Citi Field adjacent to Shea.

Here are some things to love about the Phillies, who are 39-26 and lead the upstart Marlins by 3 1/2 games and the reeling, fourth-place Mets by 7 1/2:

1. The lineup. Anyone who thinks they can beat the Phillies in a slugfest should think again. Their 338 runs are second in the NL to the Cubs' 349, and that's with Ryan Howard (.214 batting average) still not approximating Ryan Howard yet. Mets closer Billy Wagner recently conceded that neither the Mets nor anyone else will beat the Phillies by out-hitting them, a point hardly worth arguing.

2. Chase Utley. It looks like a magical season for Utley (.317, 21 HRs, 56 RBIs), who could follow Howard and Rollins and make it three different Phillie MVPs in three years.

3. Utley and Rollins. It works out great when the two best players are also two great gamers, gritty grinders and exactly the type to lead a team in the right direction.

4. Manager Charlie Manuel. I have doubted this guy a hundred times before, and referred to him as a "bumpkin'' at least 10. But I take it all back. "He's a very intelligent baseball person, and a very consistent manager,'' veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer said. And there's no question this team responds to him. They almost always play hard. "That's how they want to play. That's who they are,'' Manuel said. But when they stray, as Rollins did recently in failing to run out a popup, Manuel takes care of it. He immediately benched Rollins, and Rollins responded by saying Manuel was absolutely right to do it, which shows you what kind of guy he is, as well.

5. General manager Pat Gillick. He's still one of the best, and if the Phils need anything at the trade deadline, he's as likely to get it as any GM in the business.

6. Closer Brad Lidge. Great pickup by Gillick. He surrendered almost nothing -- spare outfielder Michael Bourn, middle reliever Geoff Geary and minor leaguer Michael Costanzo went to Houston for Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett -- and improved the bullpen and rotation with one bold move. Rollins sums up Lidge in one word: "Resurrection.'' Drama aside, he's 17-for-17 in saves with an 0.96 ERA. And one NL scout said, "They had the hitting. They just need someone to close out the games ... He's a lot closer to the 2004 Brad Lidge than the 2006 Brad Lidge.''

7. Toughness. Last year the Phils overcame the losses of Utley and Tom Gordon. This year their two table setters, Rollins and Shane Victorino, went down at the same time. And it didn't faze these Phils. They held their ground and were 20-16 when Rollins returned on May 9. Since then they're 19-10.

8. Resilience. A lot of teams can claim to have it. The Phillies really do. They've followed last season's historic comeback by tying the Cubs for the major league lead with 20 come-from-behind wins this season. "When they are down, you can just bet they're going to come back,'' one NL scout said. "It happens every time.'

Moyer: Middle-aged magician

Jamie Moyer is still going strong for the Phillies at age 45, and he isn't about to call it quits.

"As long as I feel I can contribute and get people out, why not?'' Moyer, who's 6-3 with a 4.56 ERA, said. "I don't feel it's drudgery. I like going to the ballpark.''

The one drawback is that his seven children, ages ranging from 17 to 2, are back home in Seattle. I asked him why not just pitch for the Mariners? But Moyer pointed out that he liked his chances to play for a winner better in Philly. Which means he knows his baseball.

Moyer, by the way, seemed flattered that Yankees boss Hank Steinbrenner cited him as a model for New York's own aging starter, Mike Mussina (a teammate of Moyer's on 1993-95 Orioles). "At least it shows someone is paying attention," Moyer said. "Maybe somebody does appreciate what I do.''

Moyer made his big-league debut in 1986, which was so long ago that Rollins, Utley and Howard were all in the second grade. So I asked Moyer to pick his all-time teammates, which turned out to be a mix of Hall of Fame-caliber players and personal favorites.

1B -- Rafael Palmeiro
2B -- Utley, Ryne Sandberg, Bret Boone (He couldn't pick just one.)
SS -- Cal Ripken
3B -- Buddy Bell
C - Dan Wilson (Chris Coste, his current catcher, listened in for that one, and he seemed to take it pretty well.)
OF -- Andre Dawson, Gary Pettis, Jay Buhner, Ken Griffey Jr
SP -- Mussina, Nolan Ryan, Jeff Fassero, Aaron Sele