The second half of their season is underway, but a lingering question continues to hover over the Phillies.

Do they have the team currently composed to win a World Series? That question may be answered at the July 31 trade deadline. Some of you already have expressed your thoughts (see below).

In this version of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll take a look at the Phils’ possible prospects — and opportunities — as well as the Mets and Yankees down the stretch.

In addition, I’ll review the Phils’ chances via a TN poll, and reminisce about a former Northern Lehigh softball star.

Is It Enough? ... Here is one man’s view of midseason evaluation of each position toward the World Series:

Catcher — J.T. Realmuto (5 homers, 32 RBIs, .270 batting average) is in his contract year and his numbers are down from previous years. He is on track to have his lowest season totals since 2021 (17, 63, .263).

First Base — Bryce Harper (13, 41, .272) has been bothered by injuries, but he needs to break out in the second half. He also needs the postseason he had in 2022 (.349, 6, 17).

Second Base — Once on an upward track in April (.314), Bryson Stott (6, 38, .232) has derailed. He has hit .201 since May 1.

Shortstop — Trea Turner has shown why the Phils signed him to a huge deal. He leads the league in hits, and has put together a 11/41/.289 season with 25 stolen bases.

Third Base — Alec Bohm (8/42/.278) is just the opposite of Stott. After a sluggish April (.213, 0/6) Bohm has responded with seven homers and 35 RBIs with a .273 clip since May 1. Unfortunately, a fractured rib will keep him out of the lineup for three to four weeks.

Left Field — Max Kepler (10, 31, .207), enough said. (Check out a missed opportunity and a possible one later in the column).

Center Field — Brandon Marsh (3, 21, .250) has found his stroke since May, as he has hit .290 (.329 in June), but he has little power. Johan Rojas (1, 16. .282, 12 stolen bases) hasn’t been consistent and looks more like a backup.

Right Field — Nick Castellanos (12, 52, .273) appears to be in range for his typical seasonal output. However, he hasn’t had a season like his last one (34/100/.309) in Cincinnati in 2021.

Designated Hitter — Kyle Schwarber is busy solidifying a new contract next season with his numbers (32, 74, .257).

Pitching – Zack Wheeler is still in Cy Young contention, and Cristopher Sanchez has been a pleasant surprise. Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo have held their own. The starters have a combined 2.87 ERA. The bullpen losses of Jeff Hoffman (6-2, 4.91, 56 strikeouts in 40 innings), Carlos Estevez (4-3, 2.76 25 saves), and Jose Alvarado (suspension) prove to be daily reminders. Maybe 40-year-old former free agent David Robertson will be help in what will be his third stop in Philly.

Phinal Prognosis ... Despite some bullpen woes, the Phils pitching has been constant throughout the season (3.68 ERA, MLB eighth best). The pen surprisingly does have 25 saves (seventh best).

Offensively, Turner has been their only unchanging player, as most of his teammates’ production has been down.

The Phils will be in steep competition to find a closer, and an outfield bat in their race with the Mets, who will be in the same aisles toward a checkout. It’s a tight market, and director of operations Dave Dombrowski may have to part ways with prospects Mick Abel or Otto Kemp to find the right fit.

Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase is still the top choice for many teams and will demand a high price. More affordable options that are surfacing are Washington’s Kyle Finnegan (1-4. 4.38, 18 saves), Pittsburgh’s Dave Bednar (3-5, 2.53, 13 saves) and Minnesota’s Jhoan Duran (5-4, 1.66, 15 saves).

Angels outfielder Taylor Ward hit .417 with two homers, three doubles, and eight RBIs over the weekend but he doesn’t hit for average at .228 (see Kepler). Still, the 31-year-old Ward has 23 homers and 84 RBIs and will be eligible for arbitration next season on his $7.5 million deal.

The Phils need some help, and Dombrowski will need to be creative to find it. To their credit, though, Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson have managed to find a way to keep the club hovering around first place.

Same Problems ... Both the Mets and Yankees appear to have steady starting staffs, and they could use some bullpen help.

However, they both have a glaring problem at third base.

The Mets have been juggling between the struggling Mark Vientos (in a sophomore slump), inconsistent Brett Baty, and potential starter Ronnie Mauricio. This one will shake itself out, but my bet is Mauricio is on an ascent.

The Mets are also in the market for a center fielder with the light-hitting Tyrone Taylor, and the loss of Jose Siri after just 10 games.

Oswaldo Perez or Jorbit Vivas isn’t the answer, and the most viable options are Colorado’s Ryan McMahon, Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes, and also Arizona’s Eugenio Suarez, who is the biggest power bat with 33 homers. Hayes is the son of former Phillie and Yankee Charlie Hayes.

Miller Time ... Last season, the A’s Mason Miller was a highly-touted rookie who every contender coveted in a trade. He was an All-Star and finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year balloting. His final line was 2-2, 2.49, 28 saves, and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings over 55 games.

This season, Miller’s stock has plummeted a bit, yet he is still considered to be among the elite closers in the game. Miller hasn’t been mentioned in the same breath as Clase, but he certainly has the same ability.

Still, at the time of this writing, Miller had a 1-4 record with a 4.04 ERA with 18 saves and 57 strikeouts in 35.1 innings over 35 games for the 41-48 last-place A’s.

At 26 and making just $765,000, Miller could be a steal for the Phils and should solve their closer problem. He is eligible for arbitration next season.

The Cubs and Mets are reportedly in hot pursuit of him.

Fix the Phils ... In a recent Times News Lehighton Facebook poll, the question was posed whether the Phillies can win a championship with how they are currently constructed.

Well, the answer was an overwhelming ... NO!

Of the voters, 71 percent believe the Phils must do something at the upcoming trading deadline, while 29 percent are comfortable with the current state of the team.

Let’s see what happens in the next two weeks.

Readers Write

Phil the Need

Dear Jeff,

They (Phillies) are too inconsistent at the plate. Unless they get on a hot streak at the right time, they do not have what it takes. I’m afraid it will be the same result as last year.

They are either all hot or all cold. They do not have plate discipline and their bullpen is shaky without a true closer. There are too many holes in the lineup that do not produce. I’m hoping for a miracle trade deal, but that is not likely going to happen. The window of opportunity is closing for the Phillies to get it done.

Melissa Hammer Hager

Lehighton

Another Hays ... As Phillies fans, you all remember Von Hayes and Charlie Hayes, but how about Austin Hays?

You should, and you may want him back.

Hays was acquired by the Phils last July from the Orioles for Seranthony Dominquez and Cristian Pache as a solution to their outfield problem. He played all three outfield positions and smacked 66 homers and hit a respectable .264 over seven seasons with the Orioles.

Unfortunately for the 30-year-old and one-time All-Star, it never worked out. He was sidelined with leg injuries and a kidney infection and appeared in only 22 games with two homers, six RBIs, and a .256 average. He went hitless in two postseason games and had four strikeouts.

The Phils let him walk in free agency, and the Reds signed him.

Though Saturday’s game, Hays was hitting .293 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs, primarily in left field.

Hays would look a lot better than Kepler.

Scrapbook ... Each column, I’ll flip back the pages to review a local standout from our coverage area.

Do you remember former Northern Lehigh softball standout Cathy Fronheiser? She was an integral player in the Bulldogs’ run to a 1988 state title (24-3 overall), hitting over .300 as their second baseman.

Fronheiser further elevated her game at Furman University, where she set season records for doubles (25), average (.385), and also had a 42-game hitting streak. She set school career marks in doubles (66) and RBIs (166). She is Furman’s only softball All-American.

In 1999, Fronheiser was elected to Furman’s athletic Hall of Fame.

Prize Trout ... With the Angels in Philly, former South Jersey standout Mike Trout was back in town. And he was healthy.

From 2012-19, Trout was considered by many to be the best player in the game.

During that span, Trout hit 280 homers, drove in 760 runs, and hit over .300 five times (lowest average was .287). He also led the league in walks three times, in OPS five times, and in OBP and slugging four times.

He also often was targeted to return to his Philly roots via a trade.

Since then, Trout’s career has been derailed by a rash of injuries, playing in only 100 or more games once during 2020-24.

He was sidelined earlier this season, but he had hit better than .280 with eight homers and 23 RBIs since May 30.

At age 33, Trout could be a valuable pickup down the stretch for the Phils, but his $37 million salary will get in the way.

Final Thought ... MLB got it right this year with the selection of Dick Allen, Dave Parker, C.C. Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki and Billy Wagner to the Hall of Fame.

It’s sad Allen and Parker weren’t alive to be part of it. Allen and Parker never truly got the credit they deserved.

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com.