"O" No, Phillies Can’t Hold Lead Despite Solid Performances

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: O’s Edge Phils 8-7

Despite a final spring gem from Aaron Nola (3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER) and homeruns by Maikel Franco (9), Ryan Howard (3), and Carlos Ruiz (5), the Phillies couldn’t pull out the victory in the final match up of the spring finishing the preseason with a 15-11-3 record. Simply put, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead giving up 2 runs in the final frame. Highlights include the massive power surge by the aforementioned Franco and the solid hitting from three hole hitter Odubel Herrera who finished the spring with a .419 average after going 3-5 in last night’s game. Of course, as Allan Iverson put it, “we’re talkin’ about practice!” We will just have to wait and see if the solid play on display the spring translates into wins during the regular season.

PHILS PHACTS:

The Phillies are 15-10-3 this spring with one game left against a Major League opponent. And

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies continue their two game split series tonight at Citizens Bank Park where the minor league team will look to rebound from the drubbing they received on Thursday night. However, the question remains, with an outstanding offensive display behind them can the two teams show some promise on the mound?

PHILS PHACTS:

Longballs And Acquisitions - Four years before Pete Incaviglia was born, Wally Post shockingly defeated Hank Aaron on national TV during a 1960 broadcast of "Home Run Derby". Over 40 years later, in 2006, Ryan Howard gave us a glimpse of things to come when he hit his franchise record 11th homerun of the spring. 1996 was also a year of surprising power as Benito Santiago (and Todd Zeile) debuted behind the plate. Ten years later another player debuted for the Phillies, Aaron Rowand, who was not know for his power but for running into the outfield wall. However, what seemed inconsequential at the time but would prove to be one of the better trades in team history, the Phillies received Curt Schilling from Houston for Jason Grimsley. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have an impressive record this spring… 15-11-3 (17-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Phils Suffer Rare Spring Loss To O’s

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Orioles Edge Phillies 8-7

Maikel Franco grabbed the Major League lead in home runs and RBIs this spring, but the Orioles rallied for an 8-7 victory over the Phillies on Monday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Franco, who smacked 14 homers in 80 games as a rookie last year, went deep in each of his first two at-bats on Monday, against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo. The 23-year-old ripped a solo blast over the left-field seats in the first inning, then launched a three-run shot in the same direction two frames later. He now has six homers and 14 RBIs in 11 Grapefruit League games. Paul Janish poked a go-ahead two-run single to right field in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Baltimore scored three runs to jump in front. Manny Machado and Adam Jones both hit their second home runs of the spring for the Orioles, who improved to 2-11-2 in Grapefruit League play. Rule 5 pick Tyler Goeddel led off the game with a homer, and Cedric Hunter singled three times for the Phillies, who dropped to 10-4-2. Gallardo, who signed a two-year deal with Baltimore in late February, was hit hard for the second time in as many starts. He surrendered five earned runs on four hits -- including three homers -- over 2 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out one. The veteran now has allowed eight runs over 4 1/3 innings this spring. "I felt pretty good," Gallardo said. "The results weren't there. I made some mistakes, more with the slider. That's the frustrating part, that the consistency and the command's not there with it, but I'm happy I was able to command the fastball. That's probably one of the positive things that I did today, command the fastball away to the right-handed hitter, so that's a good sign." Phillies starter Alec Asher retired the first six batters he faced but gave up four runs in his final inning. Caleb Joseph hit an RBI double to get the Orioles on the board, and Ryan Flaherty launched a deep sacrifice fly before Machado's two-run shot. After going 1-for-3 with an RBI double in his Baltimore debut on Sunday, Pedro Alvarez served as the club's designated hitter on Monday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

NEXT GAME:

Right-hander Aaron Nola makes his third Grapefruit League start Tuesday afternoon against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla. at 1:05 p.m. ET. Nola is 0-1 with an 11.57 ERA this spring. He typically has excellent command but has not shown it so far this spring. He hopes for improvement against the Rays. The game can be heard on a free, live exclusive webcast on MLB.com.

PHILS PHACTS:

Rule 5 Pick Having An Impact – The Phillies have 14 more Grapefruit League games to play, which means there is plenty of time to win a job on the Opening Day roster. But it seems like Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel will make the team in some capacity. Goeddel has played well this spring. He homered and walked twice in Monday's 8-7 loss to the Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Goeddel is hitting .273 (9-for-33) with two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, four walks and seven strikeouts in 11 games. Also, the Phillies' outfield is thin. Aaron Altherr is expected to miss four to six months following left wrist surgery. Odubel Herrera received X-rays on his right middle finger this week. He hurt the finger sliding head first into home plate earlier this spring. The Phillies said the X-rays were negative, and he could play as early as Wednesday. Outfielder Cody Asche also remains sidelined with a strained right oblique. There is no timetable for his return. "The thing I like about him is he seems to have good plate discipline," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of Goeddel. "He seems to take a lot of pitches. I even mentioned to Larry (Bowa) and (Steve Henderson), this guy, the way he works the count, he's almost like a leadoff-type guy you're looking for. He makes the pitcher throw him a lot of pitches. Every time he comes to the plate it seems like it's 0-2 on him, then it's 3-2. He works the count a lot."

Bullpen Race Heating Up – The Phillies need to find seven relief pitchers before the season opens, and there are only a few locks. Right-hander David Hernandez figures to be one, although he has not pitched since March 1 because of right triceps tendinitis. It's unclear when he could appear in another Grapefruit League game, although he had hoped to pitch early this week. Jeanmar Gomez figures to be another lock, too. Brett Oberholtzer is out of options, so if he doesn't make the rotation, he will be in the 'pen. Non-roster invitee Edward Mujica walked one and struck out one in two scoreless innings Monday. He has thrown four scoreless innings this spring. Ernesto Frieri, who also is a non-roster invitee, allowed a home run to Adam Jones in the sixth inning. Frieri has allowed six runs (five earned runs) in 4 2/3 innings this spring. Mujica has an out clause in his contract for March 26. Frieri's is March 31. "We've got another couple weeks," Mackanin said regarding Frieri's struggles. "I'm not going to condemn a guy for what he did early in the spring." Rule 5 Draft pick Daniel Stumpf allowed four hits, three runs and three walks in two innings to blow the save and take the loss. (All three runs came in the eighth inning.) He had allowed just one run in five innings in his previous three appearances. "We brought in Stumpf to put a little pressure on him," Mackanin said. "We've got to make a decision on him, so that's why we let him go two innings. The command; he threw a few too many fastballs, and he didn't locate well. We're going to keep running him out there, especially in high leverage situations so we can get an idea if he can handle it."

Leading The League – Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco looks ready for Opening Day. Franco homered twice against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo in Tuesday's 8-7 loss in a Grapefruit League game at Ed Smith Stadium. He has six home runs and 14 RBIs this spring, the most in MLB. He had no homers his previous two Spring Trainings. "I tried too much," Franco said about his previous springs. "Now I feel comfortable at the plate. I know I'll be in the lineup every single day. That's made me more patient, more relaxed." "He seems like he's got a pretty good idea at the plate and takes advantage of mistakes," Gallardo said. But does Franco's spring success mean anything? John Dewan of Baseball Info Solutions once found a correlation between Spring Training power numbers and regular-season power numbers. At one time, he found 60 percent of hitters that boosted their career slugging percentage (minimum 200 career at-bats) by 200 or more points in Spring Training (minimum 40 at-bats) experienced an increase in power that season. Dewan has found his formula to be less successful in recent seasons, but it once correctly predicted big seasons for Pat Burrell and Placido Polanco in 2005, Ryan Howard in 2006,Chase Utley and Greg Dobbs in 2007, Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz in 2009, Ruiz in 2012 and Domonic Brown in 2013. Of the four Phillies who fell short between 2005-13, two were not everyday players (Eric Bruntlett in 2009 and Pete Orr in 2011) and one got injured midway through the season (Jim Thome in 2005). Jimmy Rollins fell 18 points short of his career slugging percentage in 2009. So while it is far from a sure bet, it is worth noting that Franco has a career .453 slugging percentage in 360 career at-bats in the regular season and a .967 slugging percentage in 31 at-bats (nine at-bats short of the threshold) this spring. That is a 514-point increase. Perhaps it translates into another step forward in Franco's career. He began to enter the conversation for National League Rookie of the Year, until he broke his left wrist in August. "I'm just trying to be healthy this year," Franco said. "I know if I'm healthy something good is going to happen." Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said he sees Franco as somebody capable of challenging the National League's best in home runs. That said, Mackanin believes Franco needs to improve his defense. He said it has gotten "sloppy" at times. "We don't want him to get carried away with that and forget about his defense," Mackanin said about Franco's six homers.

Trimming The Roster – The Phillies on Monday reassigned shortstop J.P. Crawford and outfielder Nick Williams to Minor League camp and optioned outfielder Roman Quinn and right-hander Edubray Ramos to Double-A Reading. Crawford, Williams and Quinn are three of the Top 100 Prospects in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com. Some believe Ramos is the Phils' closer of the future. Expect to see at least one of them in a Phillies uniform before the end of the season. "Tomorrow or any day, but it's not up to me," Williams said when asked when he might be called to the big leagues. "If I'm in Triple-A the whole year, so be it. But I'll try to force their hand as best as I can." The Phillies moved the foursome out of camp because they want them to get ready for the Minor League season. None of them has played above Double-A, so they need more seasoning before they warrant a promotion to the big leagues. But it is not a stretch to think any or all of them could be with the Phils before the end of the season. In the case of Crawford, Williams and Quinn, the Phillies also want them to play every day when they are promoted. There will be no part-time status for them, so at-bats are critical. "It's definitely exciting for the organization," Quinn said. "To know there are a bunch of young players that can possibly be pretty good. It's exciting. Hopefully we'll all put in the work and get there pretty soon." "If it happens, it happens," Crawford said of a potential promotion. "I'm not really going to think about that. But if I do, I do. If I don't, I don't." Williams, 22, is the No. 64-ranked prospect in baseball. He lost eight pounds earlier in camp because of the flu and wound up hitting .227 (5-for-22) with three doubles, one home run, four RBIs, two walks and seven strikeouts. But Williams went 3-for-9 with two doubles and one homer in his final three appearances, with those extra-base hits coming against Bobby Parnell, Roberto Hernandez and CC Sabathia. "I got my confidence up, that's for sure," Williams said. Quinn, 22, ranks No. 99. He hit .300 (6-for-20) with three triples, one home run, three RBIs, three walks, five strikeouts and two stolen bases. "It was definitely a great experience, because most of these guys had yet to see me play," Quinn said. "So it was cool to go out there and actually play for them, play for the manager and learn from the veterans. I feel pretty good. I felt confident. I feel really good, man. And seeing the Major League pitching, it definitely helps and now I already know what to expect." Ramos, 23, had a 2.70 ERA in four appearances. He allowed three hits, one run, five walks and struck out three in 3 1/3 innings. There is no question that Phillies fans are most excited to see how Crawford, Williams and Quinn progress. Can Crawford push Freddy Galvis at shortstop? Can Williams and Quinn get themselves into the outfield mix? The outfield is particularly thin with Aaron Altherr expected to miss four to six months following left wrist surgery. "I just want to play a full season, to be honest with you," said Quinn, who has had injury issues of his own. "That's all I want to do, play a full season, be healthy. Hopefully that will be this year." But each of them got a little taste of big league life. They enjoyed it, and they want more of it. "The food is better, the meal money and all of that," Williams said with a smile. "The game play is more fun. You have fans and people are cheering you on and things like that. "After the last few days hitting a lot of these good pitchers, it made me realize it could be any day from the Minor Leagues to come here in the starting lineup being an everyday player. I could see that happening a lot sooner than later." If they play well, the Phillies will have decisions to make. If they struggle, they won't. That should keep them hungry. "It'll help about how I go about my business," Williams said. "It'll also be a little chip, saying I know I can play there, so I'm going to make my way."

Today In Phils History - The Phillies did once hold spring training in Cape May but they only held the preliminary practices in New Jersey one year in 1898. There are a bounty of birthdays for today including Fred Mollenkamp (1890), Dave Watkins (1944), Jim Kern (1949), and Kim Batiste (1968). 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have begun the spring with a 10-4-2 record (11-4-2 if you include the exhibition game against the University of Tampa). With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Phillies Sweep Split Squad Matchups

EXHIBITION GAME 1 RECAP: Phillies Obliterate Orioles 8-4

Phillies first baseman Darin Ruf made the case for more playing time Wednesday against the Orioles at Bright House Field. Ruf hit a two-run home run in the first inning against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo and then blasted a solo homer in the fourth against former Phillies righty Vance Worley in an 8-4 victory. Ruf hit three home runs in a span of five at-bats dating to Tuesday's game against the Pirates. "Right now he's doing everything," Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa said about Ruf. "He's playing a good first base. He's swinging the bat well. He's swinging at strikes. We'll see what happens." Gallardo made his first start of the spring since signing a two-year contract with an option last month. He allowed four hits and three runs in two innings as the Orioles fell to 0-9-1 in Grapefruit League play. Manny Machado hit a two-run homer against Phillies right-hander Alec Asher in the third inning. The Phillies improved to 7-3-1. Odubel Herrera collected two RBIs and Taylor Featherston knocked in one run for the Phillies. Xavier Avery belted a two-run homer for the Orioles in the eighth inning.

EXHIBITION GAME 2 RECAP: Phillies Topple Twins 4-2

Catcher Cameron Rupp belted two solo homers to help lead the split-squad Phillies to a 4-2 win over the Twins on Wednesday at Hammond Stadium. Rupp's first homer came in the third inning off lefty Tommy Milone, and he connected on another blast in the fifth against reliever Casey Fien. It was the first two homers for Rupp, who is hitting .500 (5-for-10) this spring. The Phillies used a trio of top pitching prospects, as right-hander Zach Eflin, ranked as Philadelphia's No. 13 prospect by MLBPipeline.com, started and gave up one run on four hits over three innings with two strikeouts. The lone run he allowed came in the second on an RBI single from Twins catcher Juan Centeno. Fellow right-hander Jake Thompson, ranked as the Phillies' No. 2 prospect, also saw action and was impressive, tossing three scoreless frames. He scattered five hits and struck out one. Righty Mark Appel, ranked as the club's No. 4 prospect, was the last to see action, and he struck out three in two innings. He allowed an unearned run in the seventh, keyed by a throwing error from third baseman Angelys Nina. Twins second baseman Buck Britton plated the run with an RBI groundout. Milone started for the Twins, surrendering one run on the homer from Rupp in the third. He was otherwise solid, as it was the only hit he gave up in his three innings of work. He struck out three. "The fastball command was good and I think that's what started it all," Milone said. "And then the changeup. Those were the two pitches that made a difference today." Designated hitter Byung Ho Park went 2-for-3 for the Twins, a day after he hit his second homer of the spring. First baseman Joe Mauer, wearing sunglasses at the plate for the second time this spring to help with vision problems stemming from his 2013 concussion, went 1-for-2 with a single.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies host the Tigers at 1:05 p.m. ET on Thursday at Bright House Field on MLB.TV. Right-hander Aaron Nola is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start of the spring. Nola is expected to start Opening Day or the second game of the season, which would put him in line to start the home opener on April 11 against the Padres at Citizens Bank Park.

PHILS PHACTS:

Making His Case At First Base – Everybody knows Darin Ruf can hit left-handed pitching. But he sure looked comfortable against right-handed pitchers Wednesday in an 8-4 victory over the Orioles at Bright House Field. Ruf hit a two-run homer in the first inning against Orioles right-hander Yovani Gallardo and then belted a solo homer in the fourth against former Phillies righty Vance Worley. Ruf hit three homers in the span of five at-bats, dating to Tuesday's game against the Pirates. "It's still early," Ruf said. "These stats will be erased at the end of the month. You want to swing the bat well. You want to earn a spot on the team. But it's what you do from April to October that really matters." Ruf, whose homer Tuesday came against Pirates lefty Jon Niese, entered Spring Training expecting to see plenty of playing time against left-handers. His 1.107 OPS against them in 2015 would have tied Nelson Cruz for the best mark in baseball if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. Ruf's .946 OPS against lefties the past four seasons would rank 13th out of 311 players with 250 or more plate appearances against them. Ruf has posted a .660 OPS in 456 career plate appearances against right-handers, which is why Phillies manager Pete Mackanin thinks it makes sense for the Phillies to platoon Ruf and Ryan Howard at first base. As much as Howard has struggled against righties in recent seasons, he had an .802 OPS against them last year. He has a .940 OPS against them in his career. "I just love to be out there playing and hitting and helping my team win," Ruf said about the possible platoon, which is a hot topic in Philadelphia. "Whether that's facing lefties, righties or whoever, I just want to embrace my role, do as well in it as I can. I feel like if you're doing well in your role, you can only increase that role. You can earn yourself more at-bats by doing well with the playing time you're getting." Ruf said he entered this spring more comfortable than perhaps he has been in the past. He credited his offseason hitting program with former big leaguer Dwayne Hosey in Omaha, Neb., for that. "I spent a lot of time this offseason working and refining an approach at the plate," Ruf said. "Over the last two or three years, I've had a lot of people tell me to do different things, try this, try that. I feel like in the offseason I didn't really have a solid plan in place [in the past]. This year, I tried to solidify something in the offseason, work on it for a while, so when I show up it is something I'm going to hopefully stick with for a while." Ruf said that program included incorporating his lower body more, finding a better balance as he hits. Perhaps it will help him enjoy more success against righties. If he does, Mackanin could have a tougher decision on his hands. "Ruf's in a pretty good groove," said Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa, who managed the team with Mackanin managing a split squad in Fort Myers. "He looks very comfortable. He's swinging the bat with a lot of confidence. What comes first? I don't know."

Outside Chance For Asher – Phillies right-hander Alec Asher started in place of Jeremy Hellickson, who got scratched because of the flu. Asher allowed three hits, two runs and struck out five in three innings. He allowed a two-run home run to Manny Machado in the third. Asher is competing for a job in the Phillies' rotation. He went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA in seven starts last season, so he will have to really prove himself against other candidates like Vincent Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer and Adam Morgan. But Asher hopes his two-seam fastball helps his cause. The pitch has been a focus this spring. "I threw a lot of those today and I felt like they were working for the most part," Asher said. "Velocity only gets you so far. It was time to start working on something that moves a little bit. It's definitely a weapon that I would like to add."

Can Goeddel Step Up? – Can the Phillies come up big in back-to-back Rule 5 Drafts? The question became more important following outfielder Aaron Altherr's surgery Wednesday in Philadelphia to repair a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. Altherr, who tweeted the surgery went well, is expected to miss four to six months. But his absence leaves a significant hole in the Phillies' young and unproven outfield, creating the possibility they could have two Rule 5 Draft picks in their Opening Day lineup. "I'm disappointed," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Wednesday. "This would be a good year for [Altherr] to establish himself. He's an unproven outfielder and unproven Major League player -- this would have been an ideal year for him to do that. Now he's set back probably a year, which I'm not happy about." Enter Tyler Goeddel, who the Phillies selected with the first overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft in December. The Phillies figured he could make the team as a fourth or fifth outfielder, but he could be pushed into regular playing time, either as an everyday player on in a platoon with Cody Asche. "If they need me to play right field or whatever, I'll be ready," Goeddel said. "I'm going to work hard out there, and hopefully the results will keep producing and make the decision tough on them." Odubel Herrera, who the Phillies selected in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2014, and Peter Bourjos are locks to be in the Opening Day lineup, but the Phillies have few options outside of Goeddel and Asche to be the team's third outfielder. Other outfielders in camp include David Lough, Darnell Sweeney, Cedric Hunter, Nick Williams and Roman Quinn. Top prospects Williams and Quinn will open the season in the Minor Leagues. Infielders like Emmanuel Burriss and Ryan Jackson have outfield experience. First basemen Darin Ruf and Brock Stassi have played in the outfield, too. But Mackanin wants to keep his first basemen where they are. "The thing we all wanted to see out in the outfield was better coverage," Mackanin said. "Speed. Legitimate outfielders. To experiment with [Stassi], who is not a legitimate outfielder, is something I'd rather not do. "That being said, Lough and Hunter are still in the picture. They cover ground. They're good outfielders. Burriss and Jackson can play anywhere. Those will all figure into it." Of course, the Phillies could find help outside the organization. They have the first priority on the waiver wire through the end of April, so if somebody they like is released, they will have a shot at him. Jeff Francoeur could be available at a cheap price. He is in Braves camp on a Minor League contract, but he is not expected to make the team. That said, the Phillies had the opportunity to sign him to a Minor League contract in the offseason and were not interested. But losing Altherr is clearly a blow because the Phillies wanted to see what they have in him. They also needed him for some of the pop in his bat. Altherr is not a power hitter, but he posted an .827 OPS in 161 plate appearances last year. "We knew that going in," Mackanin said about the team's lack of power. "We're aware of that. If this is what we've got, we'll figure out a way to manufacture runs or utilize our speed or things like that. As a manager, you always adapt to the players you have. If you have the Toronto Blue Jays, you just let them hit home runs." It would help if the Phillies get lucky in consecutive Rule 5 Drafts. Goeddel has played well so far. He entered Wednesday's split-squad games hitting .333 (6-for-18) with two doubles and three RBIs in six games. "The results I've gotten so far have been pretty good," Goeddel said. "I feel really comfortable at the plate right now. There are still a couple of things I'm working on, but overall I feel good. Hopefully, I can keep it going."

Altherr Optimistic About Return – The Phillies are hopeful Aaron Altherr can rejoin the team in as little as four months. He had surgery Wednesday morning in Philadelphia to repair a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. Altherr tweeted afterward, "Had successful surgery this morning and ready to start the rehab process and get back better and stronger than ever!" Altherr is not the first player to have surgery to repair what is known medically as the extensor carpi ulnaris retinaculum. But many notable players who have had the surgery had it midway through the season or at the end of the season, giving them the entire offseason to recuperate. Altherr won't have that luxury. He plans to play again this year. Here is a look at a few of the players to have had the injury: Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira tried to play through the injury early in 2013 before having surgery that July. He returned to the Yankees' lineup in April 2014, but posted the lowest OPS (.711) of his career. He returned to form (.906 OPS) last year. Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista had surgery in August 2012. He returned by Opening Day 2013, but posted his lowest OPS in four seasons (.856) before returning to form in 2014 (.928 OPS). Rays outfielder Sam Fuld had surgery on April 3, 2012, giving him a similar timeline as Altherr. He returned July 24. Fuld originally injured himself late in 2011, but tried rest and rehab in the offseason. He aggravated the wrist in March 2012. Fuld's unsuccessful attempt at rehab convinced Bautista to have his surgery when he did. Mark DeRosa had surgery in October 2009, but he called his procedure a "total failure." He played only 73 games with the Giants in 2010-11. Rickie Weeks had surgery in May 2009. He returned the following season, posting a career-high .830 OPS. Pat Burrell suffered the same injury in August 2004 and had been scheduled for surgery two weeks later. But Burrell changed his mind after a second opinion. He missed one month. He also had one of the best seasons of his career in 2005, hitting .281 with 32 home runs, 117 RBIs and an .892 OPS.

Today In Phils History - The Phillies took a long overdue stand (with pressure from a picketing threat from the NAACP) on this day in 1962 when they left the Jack Tar hotel and moved to Rocky Point because it did not allow black guests (Reuben Amaro, Tony Taylor, Tony Gonzalez, Ted Savage, and Marcellino Lopez had been staying in private homes, while Wes Covington owned his own home in the area). 6 years later, Richie Allen finally returned to spring training after an unexcused 2 day absence from the team to seek medical advice on his injured hand. And I can't believe that it has already been 5 years since the Phillies signed manager Charlie Manuel to a 2-year extension. Lastly, let us remember a couple of frequently forgotten pitchers, Wayne Twitchell (1948) and Mike Timlin (1966) who are celebrating birthdays today. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have begun the spring with a 7-3-1 record (8-3-1 if you include the exhibition game against the University of Tampa). With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Howard’s Blast Snaps Streak

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Orioles 2-1

The Phillies snapped a nine-game losing streak Thursday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the Orioles at Citizens Bank Park. They can thank Ryan Howard, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning off Bud Norris, and a strong performance from the pitching staff for snapping the team's longest skid since an 11-game losing streak in September 1999. "I mean, nobody comes to the field every day to lose," Howard said. "Everybody comes with a positive attitude. We're trying to go out there and do what we need to do to win and we haven't been able to come through. Today, take it, savor it and try to bring it back and do it again tomorrow." The Orioles took three of four from the Phillies in this week's home-and-home series, but could not complete the sweep. They scored 29 runs in the first three games, which included a 19-3 victory Tuesday, but they managed just six hits in the finale.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies have been desperate for offense lately, and Howard provided just enough when he ripped a two-run home run to right field to give the Phillies a one-run lead and hand Norris the loss. It was Howard's 12th home run and just his second since May 23.
• Chase Utley could've started a potential inning-ending double play, but he threw a ball into left field with one out in the seventh. It put runners at the corners with one out, but Garcia struck out Machado and Snider swinging on sliders to get out of the inning.
• Teams regularly employ the defensive shift against Howard, but so far, he has not tried to drop a bunt down the third-base line to keep defenses honest. "That's an individual player thing and it takes some practice and maybe in Ryan's case. a little bit of nerve to try something like that," Sandberg said. "I think the fact that he has not tried it is the biggest thing holding him back from trying. ... I haven't seen him work on that, no. I was glad that he did hit the ball out of the ballpark, though."
• "It's been tough. Every time I get a chance to come in there and get back on the right foot, I'm pretty happy with that." -- Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, who picked up his 13th save in just his second save opportunity since May 20.
• The Phillies avoided being swept in four consecutive series of two or more games for the first time since Sept. 20-29, 1985.
• Philadelphia edged Baltimore, 2-1, on Thursday, halting its losing streak at nine. The Phillies had been swept in four straight series and hadn't won since June 7.
• The Phils will need to make a corresponding roster move before Friday's game to add Aumont. The righty pitched in five games for Philadelphia last season and had a 19.06 ERA in 5 2/3 innings. This year, he's 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA at Triple-A.
• The Cards won three of four games against the Phillies in late April. St. Louis scored 26 runs in the series at Busch Stadium.

NEXT GAME:

Two teams heading in opposite directions clash this weekend in Philadelphia as the National League Central-leading Cardinals continue their eight-game road trip against the Phillies, who are fifth in the NL East. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said righty Lance Lynn, who has a right forearm strain, has been playing catch and is expected to join the team in Philadelphia. Lynn was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 8. In Lynn's place, lefty Tyler Lyons will start Friday. Lyons picked up a win in his last start, giving up two earned runs in five innings. He had started three games earlier this season. Phillies ace lefty Cole Hamels was supposed to start Friday, but he was scratched with a mild right hamstring strain. In his place, righty Phillippe Aumont will be called up from Triple-A and get the nod.

PHILS PHACTS:

Howard Showing Power – The Orioles had bashed 12 home runs in 31 innings against the Phillies when Ryan Howard stepped into the batter's box in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. He returned the favor when he hit a two-out, two-run home run to right field to give the Phillies the lead in a 2-1 victory. It snapped the Phils' nine-game losing streak, which was their longest since an 11-game skid in September 1999. "I mean, nobody comes to the field every day to lose," Howard said. "Everybody comes with a positive attitude. We're trying to go out there and do what we need to do to win and we haven't been able to come through. Today, take it, savor it and try to bring it back and do it again tomorrow." Howard had hit .303 (33-for-109) with seven doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs and a 1.011 OPS in 30 games from April 21 through May 23, but he had hit just .151 (11-for-73) with five doubles, one homer, five RBIs and a .442 OPS in 20 games since. So this home run felt good, especially considering the circumstances. "[Orioles pitcher Bud Norris] left a fastball kind of middle in and was able to catch up to it," Howard said. "Threw me one early in the count and then came back with it again. Was able to just catch up to it." Overall, Howard is hitting .236 with 15 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 30 RBIs with a .747 OPS. He could be traded before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, although it will be difficult because of one significant stumbling block: money. The Phillies would have to fork over the vast majority of the remaining money on Howard's deal to move him. That includes a little more than half of the $25 million remaining on his contract this season, $25 million next season, plus a $10 million buyout on a club option for 2017. "I mean, it's what the situation is," Howard said about the organization trying to rebuild for contention no earlier than 2017. "You've got to understand, I guess, what it is they're trying to do. You understand the situation you're in. But like I said, you've got to come with the mindset of being positive and just try to continue to go out and compete every single day."

Pulling Things Together – Chase Utley airmailed a ball into left field in the seventh inning Thursday at Citizens Bank Park, which looked like the opening the Orioles needed to send the Phillies to their 10th consecutive loss. Utley's error put runners at the corners with one out. Seven pitches, six sliders, all strikes. Game over. "That was game saving, the moment of the game," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "I was just throwing whatever Chooch [Carlos Ruiz] was calling," Garcia said. "He was calling slider, so I was throwing it. It was working, so why change it?" Garcia pitched in the middle of some fine pitching performances against the Orioles, who scored 29 runs in the three previous days against the Phillies. Sean O'Sullivan got things started, allowing four hits, one run, two walks and struck out a career-high seven in five innings. He threw just 80 pitches, but Sandberg decided O'Sullivan had done enough. "His most was 95 to 98 [pitches], third time through the lineup," Sandberg said, explaining his decision. "And also with the offense, we're a double and a single away from a run, so we took a chance." "I was lobbying to try and go back out, but that decision is not mine to make," O'Sullivan said. Jake Diekman and Ken Giles sandwiched Garcia's effort with scoreless innings and Jonathan Papelbon picked up his 13th save with a perfect ninth. It was just his second save opportunity since May 20. Papelbon is a candidate to be traded before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, although he said it is not on his mind. "When is it?" he said. "I don't know when it is. I don't really worry about none of that."

Hamels Scratched From Start – This isn't the news the Phillies needed. They announced Thursday afternoon that Cole Hamels has been scratched from Friday night's start against the Cardinals because of a mild right hamstring strain. Triple-A right-hander Phillippe Aumont will start in his place. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts this season, but his health is critical as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday he is hopeful the Phillies can make some trades to speed up the team's rebuilding process. Hamels is the team's most valuable piece, so they must hope the injury does not linger and Hamels returns to the rotation shortly. A roster move will be made before Friday's game to accommodate Aumont on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Hamels Has Some Fun – Cole Hamels' locker at Citizens Bank Park has been completely cleaned out. A trade? No. A prank? Yes. The Phillies announced Thursday afternoon that Hamels has been scratched from Friday night's start against the Cardinals because of a mild right hamstring strain. Triple-A right-hander Phillippe Aumont will start in his place. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had few answers about the injury, other than Hamels told him that he does not believe it is serious and he might miss just one start. "He did not feel like it was a long term thing," said Sandberg, who left open the possibility about a stint on the disabled list. "The fact that it showed up 24 hours later [following a bullpen session Tuesday]. He said somewhat minimal." But knowing that he is a strong candidate to be traded before the July 31 Trade Deadline, the pitcher himself used his late scratch to empty his locker, removing his name plate and everything else. Typically, that would signify a trade, but Hamels obviously has not been traded. Not yet. Hamels is 5-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts, but his health is critical as the Deadline approaches. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday he is hopeful the Phillies can make some trades to speed up the team's rebuilding process. Hamels is the team's most valuable piece, so they must hope the injury does not linger and Hamels returns to the rotation shortly. A roster move will be made before Friday's game to accommodate Aumont on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Bullpen Swap – The Phillies are hoping to get much more from Jake Diekman this time around. The team announced Thursday morning it had recalled Diekman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Phillies designated right-hander Dustin McGowan for assignment. The Phillies optioned Diekman on June 4 because he had struggled in 25 appearances, posting a 6.75 ERA, which remains the third-highest ERA among 142 qualified relief pitchers in baseball. However, Diekman threw seven scoreless innings in six appearances in Lehigh Valley. He allowed five hits, one walk and struck out seven. He also picked up three saves. McGowan became the first Phillies relief pitcher in baseball history to allow five home runs in an appearance, which happened Tuesday in a 19-3 loss in Baltimore. He posted a 6.94 ERA in 14 appearances.

Great Start – Aaron Nola has come a long way since a shaky season-opening start for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. On April 11, the Phillies' No. 2 prospect (No. 31 overall) gave up four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and started his season with a 7.71 ERA. Afterwards, he buckled down and allowed only 12 earned runs in his next 72 innings. Nola went 7-2 over that span, posting a K/BB ratio of 57-to-9. Earlier this week, he was rewarded with a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and he quickly dispelled any thoughts of a rough start on Thursday night. The 22-year-old righty dominated Buffalo, giving up four hits while striking out seven in five shutout innings. Nola hurled 98 pitches on the night -- 66 for strikes -- and outpitched Blue Jays No. 1 prospect Daniel Norris, who allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Darin Ruf, Cord Phelps and Jayson Nix all contributed one RBI in the IronPigs' 3-0 win.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 23-45. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 47-55-0 on this day.

Turning The Suck Up To 11

GAME RECAP: Orioles Beat Phillies 6-4

The Orioles would like to have the Phillies on their schedule more often. They jumped to an early lead and held it in Wednesday night's 6-4 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Chris Parmelee and Travis Snider each homered to help the Orioles, who won both contests earlier this week against the Phils in Baltimore. They have won 11 of their last 13 games. "April and May, it's like fighters in the first few rounds, kind of feeling their way around trying not to get knocked out, see what the other guy's got, see what they've have," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of his team's change in approach in recent weeks. "But sooner or later, you've got to start throwing punches.” The Phillies have lost nine consecutive games and 19 of their last 22. It is their longest losing streak since an 11-game skid in September 1999. "I think we can do better," shortstop Freddy Galvis said. "For sure, we can do better. It's not happening right now."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies entered the night averaging 3.03 runs per game, the lowest average of any team in baseball since 1972. An example of their offensive shortcomings came in the fourth inning, when Maikel Franco singled and Ryan Howard doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. But Domonic Brown struck out looking, Cameron Rupp struck out swinging and Cody Asche struck out looking to end the inning. The Phillies finished the night 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. "The fourth inning was a big inning," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "The four unearned runs we gave up. And then in the bottom of the inning, we had our opportunities. Those things add up."
• Galvis committed his 10th error of the season to start the fourth inning, and it led to four unearned runs. Galvis' strength is supposed to be his defense, but his 10 errors are tied for the sixth most in baseball. He had been struggling offensively, too. He entered the night batting .137 (13-for-95) with a .313 OPS in 24 games since May 15, but he hit a three-run home run to right field in the seventh inning to cut Baltimore's lead to 6-4.
• The Phillies' first-inning ERA is 6.31 (47 earned runs in 67 innings), which is the second highest in baseball. Only the White Sox (7.29 ERA) have fared worse in the first inning. The Phillies also have allowed 14 first-inning home runs, which is second only to Toronto (15).
• Getting a win this series is a priority for the Phillies for more reasons than one, one of which is that they have been swept in each of their past five Interleague series, including the two-game series Monday and Tuesday in Baltimore. It has been four years since the Phils won a series against an American League East opponent, dating back to July 2011.
• Baltimore has not been kind to O'Sullivan in the past. Among all the teams against whom he has made more than two appearances, O'Sullivan has a higher career ERA vs. the Orioles than any other team at 8.64. For his career in Interleague Play, O'Sullivan is 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA.
• Adam Jones was out of the lineup for the Orioles again Wednesday, but before the game, manager Buck Showalter hinted at the possibility that Jones could return Thursday, though it still isn't a guarantee. Showalter did say that Jones could play off the bench if needed.

NEXT GAME:

Two pitchers who have had tough seasons match up against one another in the final game of the second consecutive series between the Orioles and Phillies on Thursday in Philadelphia. Bud Norris and Sean O'Sullivan will start for the O's and Phils, respectively. Though Norris is having the less successful year in terms of ERA at 8.29, the Orioles are 4-4 in games he has started. O'Sullivan, by contrast, has a lower ERA at 5.08, but the Phillies are 3-6 when he has taken the mound. Despite the relative similarities between O'Sullivan and Norris, their teams are trending in opposite directions. The Orioles have won 11 of 13, including a 7-1 homestand, while the Phillies lost all eight games on a road trip over the same span, and have lost nine straight and 19 of 22 overall.

PHILS PHACTS:

Hurting And Helping The Team – The Phillies kept their 2015 expectations more than reasonable for Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis. If he could hit .250, they would be thrilled, because he plays such good defense. But Galvis' error to start the fourth inning Wednesday night in a 6-4 loss to the Orioles at Citizens Bank Park led to four unearned runs. The Phillies have lost nine consecutive games, which is the team's longest losing streak since an 11-game skid in Sept. 1999. They have lost 19 of their last 22 to drop to 22-45, which is their worst start since '97. "Nobody wants to make errors," Galvis said. "Nobody wants to make a bad pitch. Everybody wants to get a home run. Sometimes you have to let it go. When you try too much, sometimes that happens." Galvis has committed 10 errors this season, which is tied for the sixth most among shortstops. His .965 fielding percentage entering the game ranked 18th out of 25 qualified shortstops. "I have to make some adjustments on my throws," Galvis said. "Most of the errors have been on my throws. I've been working on it. I hope everything will be all right." But this one came on a slow ground ball. Galvis charged the ball, but came up empty. "I don't think he's a guy that should have 10 errors at this stage of the game," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "This was a hard one, charging in, but it's one I've seen him make." Galvis also has been struggling offensively after a hot start. He was batting .355 (43-for-121) with an .827 OPS in 35 games through May 15. But Galvis entered the night batting .137 (13-for-95) with a .313 OPS in 24 games since. Perhaps a three-run home run to right field in the seventh inning -- his second homer of the season -- gets him back on track. "I'd prefer the 'W' tomorrow, the win tomorrow for us," said Galvis, asked if he hopes the homer gets him going offensively. "Like I said, man, play hard every day, go hard. That's all we can do."

Miscues Accentuate Issues – The Phillies are hanging their red caps on the fact they have been losing close games lately. They said it shows they can compete. "Maybe notwithstanding [Tuesday's 19-3 loss], we've actually been battling pretty well," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Orioles at Citizens Bank Park. "It was good to see late fight with the guys," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said afterward. "But we came up short." The Phillies have lost nine consecutive games, their longest losing streak since an 11-game skid in September 1999. They also have lost 19 of their last 22, losing nine of those games by two or fewer runs. But a close loss is still a loss, and the Phillies have dropped to 22-45. The biggest culprit is an anemic offense that entered the night averaging just 3.03 runs per game, the lowest average of any team in baseball since 1972. "The frustrating part of it is one ball away, one ball in play, on base hit away from I don't know how many more wins than we have," Sandberg said. "Those start to add up. We find ourselves in a losing streak because we don't scrap out a couple of those wins, and maybe change the momentum the other day. That's not getting the job done and not executing." The fourth inning encapsulated the Phillies' season-long offensive struggles. Maikel Franco singled and Ryan Howard doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. But Orioles right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez struck out Domonic Brown looking, Cameron Rupp swinging and Cody Asche looking to end the inning. "It's possible to get two runs there with no hits," Sandberg said. "When you don't have a swing and you take pitches to drive and you go at balls in the dirt, that's where it becomes hard." The Phillies finished the night 1-for-7 with runners in scoring positon. "We're just trying to keep our heads up and keep moving forward," said Brown, who struck out on a pitch that appeared to be above the zone. "I don't think that I was pressing there. We've just got to get the job done right there. Good teams capitalize right there. I'm not going to say any bad calls or anything, because you get pitches to hit."

Front Office Frustrations – It has been so bad lately for the Phillies that Ruben Amaro Jr. unexpectedly popped into the home dugout Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park to talk about it. The Phillies entered Wednesday's series opener against the Orioles with the worst record (22-44) in baseball. They have lost 18 of their last 21 games, and they just completed an 0-8 road trip, their first winless road trip of eight or more games since an 0-9 stretch in the team's inaugural 1883 season. "We knew that were not going to be necessarily challenging for the National League East title, but at the same time, we need to see improvement, and that's what we expect," Amaro said. "We're not seeing it right now." Could changes be coming? Possibly, but they do not seem imminent. A CSNPhilly.com report earlier this week said longtime baseball executive Andy MacPhail, 63, is the organization's top target to replace Phillies president Pat Gillick, who is not expected to remain in his position beyond the season. But until Gillick's replacement is announced, he seems unlikely to make wholesale changes with the front office or coaching staff. "I really don't have any comment about that," Amaro said about MacPhail's possible arrival. "That's not my area. That's for people who are much higher than my pay grade." Could MacPhail's arrival be bad for him? "I'll answer that the same I just answered the first question," Amaro said. But Amaro, whose contract expires at the end of the season, said he is "fully supportive" of Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg, and he expects Sandberg to finish the season. "As far as I'm concerned, yes," Amaro said. Of course, it might not be entirely Amaro's decision to make at this point. Sandberg said he isn't worried about his job status. "I worry about the game today and what has to be done today," Sandberg said. "That's the focus and the mindset for me." But the pressure certainly is on the Phillies, who are rebuilding for the future. They hope to trade Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Aaron Harang and potentially others before the July 31 Trade Deadline in an effort to speed up the rebuilding process. The Phillies' intentions are known, but so far, they have not pulled the trigger. There are reasons for that. The Phils might argue teams are low-balling them. Other teams might argue the Phillies are asking for too much. "All I can say about that is people have their opinions," Amaro said. But if MacPhail is going to join the organization, a strong Trade Deadline performance might be Amaro's best bet to save his job. "I don't worry about doing my job to save my job," Amaro said. "I have to do my job well so this organization can get back on its feet and do the things that we need to do to be a perennial contender. That was the plan at the outset of this offseason. We were going to rebuild. We were not going to be a great ballclub. We were not going to be a contending team. We knew that. We know that we were going to take some lumps. "I see a lot of positive things that are happening in our Minor League system. There's a lot of lights at the end of the tunnel for us."

Can You Hear Me Now? – One of the roughest moments of Tuesday's 19-3 loss to the Orioles is the fact the Phillies could not call to the bullpen to get a pitcher warmed up because the bullpen phone literally was off the hook. It was an embarrassing moment for the organization. "It's not our greatest moment, but it's been addressed," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday afternoon. "It's a mishap that can happen, but it should never happen again. It's as simple as that." Amaro also touched on a couple other topics Wednesday: Aaron Nola: Amaro said the Phillies will not rush Triple-A right-hander Aaron Nola to the big leagues, despite the rotations' struggles and Jerome Williams landing on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. (The Phillies recalled Hector Neris to temporarily take his spot on the roster.) "We have to do what's right for Aaron Nola and his development, and that's not going to change," Amaro said. "And he's going to be in the big leagues at some point this year. I don't think there's any question about that, if he continues to progress the way he's progressed so far. There's no reason to think that he won't be. We'll just have to do it at the right time." Cliff Lee: Left-hander Cliff Lee, who is on the 60-day disabled list with a left elbow injury, saw the doctor Tuesday, but he is still three to four weeks from throwing again. "Best case, he'd be throwing right about how," Amaro said. "He's not ready to do it."

Phillies Introduce Randolph – It is time for Cornelius Randolph to get to work. The Phillies introduced Randolph, whom they selected with the 10th overall pick in last week's Draft, in a news conference Wednesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Randolph signed a $3,231,300 signing bonus, which was full value for his Draft slot. He is set to begin his professional career Thursday in Clearwater, Fla. "This is amazing," Randolph said. "It's unbelievable. It's just a dream come true." The Phillies have signed or reached agreements with 28 of the 29 players they hoped to sign immediately following the Draft. (The others are draft-and-follow selections, which must be signed by July 17.) The only holdout is UNLV senior right-hander Joseph Lauria, who was a 25th-round pick. Randolph's agreement came quickly. "It's always nice in the Draft when you have an agreement," said Scott Boras, who is Randolph's agent. "I think [scouting director] Johnny [Almaraz] and his staff, they certainly placed Cornelius up in the Draft, and certainly Cornelius' performance throughout the course of the year, he got better as his senior year went on. And his bat is certainly something special. So it's always nice in baseball when a lot of veteran baseball people get together and share a common dynamic, and certainly that was the case here." The Phillies plan to move Randolph from shortstop, where he played in high school, to left field. Randolph said he is OK with the move. "I'm open to anything," Randolph said. "I played the outfield before. During the summer, I've been out there. So I feel like I'll be able to adapt to anything." Randolph hopes to be another quick riser through the system like Double-A Reading shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was a first-round pick in 2014. The two have spoken since the Phillies drafted Randolph. Randolph also met some of the Phillies' veterans Wednesday, such as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. "The key words were, 'Stay hungry,'" Randolph said. "'Don't ever quit, don't ever be content with where you're at.' When I watched them when I was little, I was just watching a couple of my favorite players play. Now I'm a part of the organization. It's crazy. It's a dream come true."

Asche Visits School – "G" stands for "Giving up is not an option." "R" means "Ready for giving 100 percent." You get to "I" when you can say "I've reached my goal." And finally, "T" symbolizes taking on a challenge. At John Barclay Elementary School in Warrington, Pa., this acronym embodies the meaning of the word it spells out: Grit. It is the word the school teaches its students to live by and, with the school year coming to a close this week, the school's entire student body was rewarded for a year's worth of grit and determination. Two of the school's students, Liam and Katie Petersen, won a contest their parents entered on Mother's Day to be driven to school Wednesday in a limousine. But that perk wasn't the last of the prizes for winning the contest; they also helped escort in the school's surprise guest of honor, Phillies left fielder Cody Asche. After the teachers and student body of the school formed a chorus to sing the Barclay Elementary fight song and recite the meaning of G.R.I.T., Asche was introduced to an auditorium filled with kindergartners through fifth graders donning red Phillies jerseys and waving towels with the words "Fightin' Phils" emblazoned across them. Impressed by the school's commitment to hard work and dedication, Asche spoke about what the words meant to him as a professional athlete. "I think grit and determination is a real important lesson to learn, especially at a young age," Asche said. "Things might not always go the way you want them. But I think if you stick to who you are, you have high character and you do the right things, then things can work out for you in the end." Asche went on to answer questions about life as a professional ballplayer, ranging from how hard it is to hit a baseball to what it's like to take a pie in the face after a walk-off win. He and the rest of the auditorium then partook in singing a rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and enthusiastically dancing to "YMCA" before the kids had to return to their respective classrooms. With the echo in the air, the applause and cheers the kids had directed at Asche seemed to mimic the one he hears at the park each day. Aside from a select few, nearly every student in attendance was either wearing Phillies gear or at the very least something red, including Liam and Katie Petersen, who both donned No. 25 Asche jerseys. When asked why he supported Asche and the Phillies, Liam Petersen gave an unsurprising answer. "They show a lot of grit," he said. "They don't give up."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 22-45. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 42-55-0 on this day.