Cardinal Nation is whipped into a state of panic over its baseball team — which, against all odds, took a 1 ½-game lead in the National League Central by sweeping the hapless Royals over the weekend.

So you can imagine how difficult things are in Philadelphia, where the reigning World Champions just concluded a gruesome 1-8 home stand. (Imagine that terrible Cards’ series with Colorado, times two.)

Slugger Raul Ibanez is on the disabled list, Our Town’s Ryan Howard was hospitalized twice by illness and shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ nightmarish offensive struggle continues.

Bottom line on the Phillies: They are 8-2 against the woeful Washington Nationals this season and 28-29 against everybody else.

They still lead the National League by two games, but only because the Mets have been one of the singular disappointments in the majors this season.

Here what some of the folks in Philly have been writing:

Phil Sheridan, Philadelphia Inquirer: “Name the pitfall and it has befallen them: injuries, a drop-off from guys who had career years, higher intensity from opponents looking to beat the champs, the distracting trappings of success, and perhaps a bit of complacency.”

Bill Conlin, Philadelphia Daily News: “Not to belabor the obvious . . . But going into battle without injured Raul Ibanez, very ill Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins — .216, .261 OBP — impersonating a leadoff hitter, is like giving your opponent a three-run spot. (Manager) Charlie Manuel was wearing a brace on his left wrist yesterday after a player ran into him in the dugout Thursday. Or, did Chuck injure it trying to play baseball with one hand tied behind his back?”

Kevin Cooney, Bucks County Courier Times: “They have been able to tap dance through the minefield for the most part, going on little losing streaks that haven’t really loosened their grip on the National League East lead. But there is no denying now that the 2009 Phillies are officially in a June swoon at home, once again struggling in the teeth of interleague competition against teams that they really should beat.”

If there plenty of “impact bats” just sitting out there for the taking on the trade mart, one would expect the Phillies to add a couple this week. They can’t go on like this.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

To all you Action Dads out there!

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while the Royals recover from that beating local kid Albert Pujols gave him:

• What got into Khalil Greene all of a sudden? Is he continues hitting homers in every game he starts at third base, will he qualify as an “impact bat”?
• After scoring 72 runs in their last 11 games, will the Cards’ offense finally start coming together?
• If the Cards wanted to extend Pujols’ contract today, would it cost the franchise $200 million?
• Will Major League Baseball manage to get through the week without another shocking steroid revelation? Or will another obvious cheat get outed by anonymous sources?
• Has Rick Majerus installed revolving doors for his team’s locker room? Does it really make sense to recruit a whole new team every year?
• Does America really want to know where TV Sports theme music comes from?
• Did all you dads out there remember to act delighted with your Father’s Day gift?

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com: “Not much going on here at the U.S. Open. One co-leader who has never won anything anywhere on the tour and another who had never made an Open cut being chased by a guy whose head is at Bethpage Black, but whose heart is back in Southern California with his cancer-stricken wife. U.S. Open co-leaders Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover, meet three-time majors champion Phil Mickelson. Underdogs, meet The People’s Choice.”

Greg Couch, FanHouse: “Something tells me we’re in for a lot of choking Monday. If some of the bigger-name guys, such as Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods, have any chance, it’s in that. Mickelson is five strokes back and Woods is seven. But the leaderboard is set up perfectly for choking now. Either that, or someone from some far-reaching corner of the golf world is going to win a big one, have the day of his life.”

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Browns receiver Donte’ Stallworth received a light sentence in the Miami courts for DUI manslaughter (30 days), but then was suspended indefinitely without pay by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. New afternoon reality show: Judge Roger.”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Bill Belichick reportedly plans to marry again. Apparently he found his soulmate. Little Red Riding Hood? The bride-to-be is busy finding a caterer, a florist, and a rigging on which to hang Belichick upside-down for the ceremony, so it will look like he’s smiling.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “The Continuing Saga of Ryan Leaf couldn’t get any stranger, could it? On second thought, I guess it could. I mean, when he surrendered to authorities in Texas the other day to face burglary and drug-related charges, he could have been dropped off at the police station by Al Cowlings.”

MEGAPHONE

“I didn’t make many putts. In fact, I didn’t make any. I made a putt on three and that was about it. I hit it, as all week, a lot better than my scoring indicates. Unfortunately, I just haven’t made the putts this week.

Tiger Woods, offering a familiar golfer’s lament.