Phillies Waste Another Strong Start

GAME RECAP: Marlins Top Phillies 2-1

The Marlins are applying a little pressure to the Nationals in the National League East. Miami beat the Phillies, 2-1, in 10 innings on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park to move within 4 1/2 games of the first-place Nationals. Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria doubled against Phillies right-hander David Hernandez to start the 10th. Christian Yelich then ripped a two-out single to left field against left-hander Daniel Stumpf to score the go-ahead run. "[This] is the kind of the game you have to win," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "I think as we keep doing as we've been doing, we're gonna have a lot of these games. A lot of games that are close, that are hard to win. So we're going to have to execute. We got good pitching tonight. A lot of guys did good things for us. We got some guys out and got the big hit." The Phillies, who have lost four of five games since the All-Star break, struck out looking twice to end innings with runners in scoring position. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said he planned to meet with his team to discuss it. "Too many bad at-bats," Mackanin said. "We're not grinding out at-bats, and we need to do that. Too many called third strikes with runners in scoring position. That's a pet peeve of mine, and we're going to address that."

PHILS PHACTS:

• For the second straight night, it took more than the regulation nine frames to decide the victor. While the Marlins' late-inning rally on Monday was to tie the game in the ninth, it came a frame later on Tuesday -- and gave them the lead. Having used Hector Neris and Jeanmar Gomez in the eighth and ninth, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin turned to Hernandez and Stumpf in the 10th, with little success. Hechavarria led off with a double, and Miami almost stranded him on second, botching a sac bunt attempt and striking out before Yelich scorched a two-out RBI single into left. "Just trying to get a good pitch to hit," said Yelich, who also homered in the fourth. "I left a guy out there in the eighth, so I was trying to make up for it, and I was able to. It was a big win for us."
• Vince Velasquez battled "dead arm" before the All-Star break, but he looked refreshed against the Marlins, striking out Giancarlo Stanton on a 97-mph fastball in the first. Velasquez allowed one run on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. He has a 1.88 ERA (five earned runs in 24 innings) in four starts since returning from a strained right biceps in June. "If I'm refreshed, I would expect to at least go seven innings, at least more than five," Velasquez said. "I was pretty happy with the outcome today." 
• Phillies first baseman Joseph crushed a solo home run into the second deck in left field in the third inning for the Phillies' only run. Joseph is hitting .500 (14-for-28) with two doubles, five home runs and eight RBIs in his last nine games. He is now tied with Ryan Howard for second on the Phillies with 13 home runs. "Every game for everybody in this clubhouse is an opportunity to showcase yourself and keep your job and give yourself an opportunity to be in the lineup the next day," Joseph said. "That's the way I try to approach every day." 
• Joseph has homered 13 times in his first 49 games. Only four other Phillies have homered 11 or more times in their first 49 career games: Ron Jones (1988-90), Don Hurst (1928), Darin Ruf (2012-13) and Buzz Arlett (1931).
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco made a great diving catch on a bunt attempt in the 10th inning. He snapped his neck and face planted into the turf. He seemed dazed after the play, but he got checked out and remained in the game. Franco said afterward he felt fine.
• When J.T. Realmuto slid into second trying to break up a double play in the first inning, Cesar Hernandez dropped the ball on the transfer, hoping to double up Yelich at first. It was ruled that he had possession and Realmuto was out at second. The Marlins challenged the play but the call stood. Mattingly is now 23-for-34 on challenges this season.
• "They've got a real good team. They've got one of the best, if not the best, hitting team in the National League East." -- Mackanin, on the Marlins.
• Tommy Joseph got his first career home run off Chen, a 3-1 win over the Marlins on May 17. Joseph has since put 12 more over the wall and is hitting one every 12.54 at-bats -- the best rate among qualified Major League hitters (minimum of 150 ABs).
• Hellickson has faced the Marlins twice this season, allowing five runs in 11 1/3 combined innings for a 3.97 ERA.
• The Marlins are among the hottest teams, having won seven of their last eight games. Much of that has come from the success of Giancarlo Stanton, who is batting .451 (13-for-37) with five home runs and 12 RBIs over his last 10 games.
• Ichiro Suzuki remains at 2,994 hits, six away from 3,000.

NEXT GAME:

When Jeremy Hellickson takes the mound at 7:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday, it could well be for the last time at Citizens Bank Park as a Phillie. The Marlins are searching for rotation depth before the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline and will be getting an up-close look at a leading candidate for a deal. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reported Hellickson is on the Marlins' radar. Wednesday will be Hellickson's second-to-last start before the Deadline, but the Phillies hit the road until Aug. 2 after finishing up against Miami on Thursday. Hellickson has been a steady arm in the Phils' rotation of young arms. But he is also 29 and will be a free agent at season's end. Jake Thompson's Triple-A rotation spot is in line with Hellickson's. Hellickson will face an arm the Marlins already acquired, Wei-Yin Chen, who inked a 5-year, $80 million contract with Miami over the offseason. Chen has been hurt by the long ball this season, allowing 19 over 18 starts. His 1.63 per nine innings are the second most in the National League, though Hellickson isn't far behind. He has allowed 18 in 19 starts, and his 1.45 HR/9 is just three spots behind Chen's.

PHILS PHACTS:

Rest Pays Dividends – Vince Velasquez spent the All-Star break relaxing and hanging out with his nephews in California. He returned to Philadelphia last week feeling refreshed. Velasquez pitched like it Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Velasquez, who battled "dead arm" before the break, struck out Giancarlo Stanton on a 97-mph fastball in the first inning. He allowed just one run on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in seven innings, which was his longest outing since he struck out 16 in a shutout against the Padres on April 14. "I got my full rest in," Velasquez said. "If I'm refreshed, I would expect to at least go seven innings, at least more than five. I was pretty happy with the outcome today." Velasquez is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA (five earned runs in 24 innings) in four starts since he returned from the disabled list in June. His velocity had been down in those first three starts, which Velasquez attributed to fatigue. He had no such issues against the Marlins. "I didn't really have my stuff against the Royals [on July 3], but I just had to pitch to contact," Velasquez said. "That's what pitching is all about. You're not going to have your stuff every day. It's just like real estate. You've got to locate. My dad came up with that. It's so true. I pitched to my spots against the Royals and executed very well." But a little extra juice helped him Tuesday. "Don't hold anything back," Velasquez said. "It's the first start back. Why not go at it and give it all you've got? If nothing is hurting, then I don't see why not." Velasquez made one mistake: an 0-2 slider to Christian Yelich in the fourth inning that was crushed for a solo home run to right-center field. "That can't happen," Velasquez said.

Rookie Continues Providing Power – Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph has heard that these final couple of months are huge for him. He has a chance to earn a job in 2017 with a strong finish in 2016. Joseph continued to strengthen his case Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss in 10 innings to the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. He went 2-for-3, crushing a game-tying home run into the second deck in left field in the fourth. He is hitting .500 (14-for-28) with two doubles, five home runs and eight RBIs in his last nine games. "Every game for everybody in this clubhouse is an opportunity to showcase yourself and keep your job and give yourself an opportunity to be in the lineup the next day," Joseph said. "That's the way I try to approach every day." Joseph has homered 13 times in his first 49 games. Only four other Phillies have homered 11 or more times in their first 49 career games: Ron Jones (1988-90), Don Hurst (1928), Darin Ruf (2012-13) and Buzz Arlett (1931). Joseph has also walked four times in his previous eight games after walking three times in his first 41, but that is just a coincidence. "I don't ever try to walk," Joseph said. "I'm up there to hit every pitch of every at-bat. If you're up there to take and work a walk, then I don't really know why you would hit. It doesn't make any sense to me. Every time I step in the box, I want to hit. Every pitch that's thrown, I'm trying to hit it. I think I've just been better at taking those pitches that are just off the plate, those borderline pitches I haven't swung at." But whatever the reasons for his impressive performance recently, Joseph has skyrocketed to the top of the rookie stat sheet. He is tied for third among rookies in home runs. He is second behind Colorado's Trevor Story with a .546 slugging percentage (minimum 100 plate appearances). Joseph is making an argument to be the Phillies' first baseman in 2017. Philadelphia will need one. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard will not return in 2017 as the organization will exercise the $10 million buyout on his $25 million club option. The free-agent crop includes Edwin Encarnacion, who has mostly been a designated hitter this season with Toronto; Brandon Moss; Adam Lind; and James Loney. Joseph could be a good fit to a young team on the rise. "Without question," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said, asked if Joseph is earning more playing time at first base.

Cashing In? – There are a few teams looking for bullpen help as the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches and one reliever that could assist is Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez. The fact Gomez is an option is surprising in itself. He entered the season as a middle reliever, capable of pitching a couple innings, often in low-stress situations, if needed. But after the bullpen struggled in a 0-4 start, the Phillies essentially elevated Gomez to closer out of desperation. Gomez, 28, responded to his new role well. He entered Tuesday night's 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park with a 3-2 record and a 2.89 ERA with 25 saves in 28 opportunities. He pitched a scoreless ninth in the defeat. So why would the Phillies move Gomez, who does not become a free agent until after the 2017 season? Well, because if Gomez has proven anything, it is that closers can be developed or even discovered. In fact, the Phillies might have a couple of pitchers already in the bullpen ready to take his place should he be traded. Setup man Hector Neris is 3-3 with a 2.76 ERA in 48 appearances. After a rough patch from late May through mid-June, he has a 1.84 ERA in his last 14 outings. Rookie right-hander Edubray Ramos has been considered a potential closer for some time. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning in Monday's 3-2 loss in 11 innings to the Marlins. He has a 5.06 ERA in 12 appearances, but that includes one rough outing on July 7 in Colorado when he allowed five runs in 1/3 innings. He has a 0.87 ERA in his other 11 appearances. "Other than the outing in Denver, I like his breaking stuff," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He has two sharp breaking pitches. His slider bites, and his curveball bites. Real solid rotation and depth. He has the velocity. He's pretty much a strike thrower." With Neris and Ramos in the fold, it might make sense for the rebuilding Phillies to strike while Gomez's stock is at its highest. They won't be able to get a huge haul for him, but if they can get a piece that could help them in the future, it might be worth it.

Today In Phils History – The Phillies ran into a familiar adversary on the mound in 1921 when Pete Alexander threw a shutout against his former team while 2 Phillies pitchers combined to allow 23 hits and 10 runs without walking or striking out a batter. In 1970, Bill Singer of the Dodgers threw a no hitter against the Phillies and only lost the perfect game due to his own errors (one was rather debatable). 3 years later, rookie Dick Ruthven earned the only save of his career (322 career starts) thanks to Bill Robinson stealing a homerun from Dusty Baker. Tony Taylor was enshrined in the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2002. In 2007, Raul Ibanez hit his 25^th homerun of the year which was also the 207^th of his career moving him past former Phillie Pete Incaviglia on the all-time list of homeruns by a player with a last name beginning with I.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 43-52 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 53-55-0 on this day. I expect the Phillies to finish in the bottom half of the division but not last in the NL East by finishing the season with a 77-85 record.

Decisions Need To Be Made As Roster Shrinks

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Tigers Edge Phillies 6-5

Tigers left fielder Justin Upton has not had a memorable spring, but he showed some life in his bat Saturday afternoon at Bright House Field. He hit a solo home run to left field in the first inning, singled and scored in the fourth, hit another solo homer in the sixth and another single in the eighth in a 6-5 win over the Phillies. Upton entered the afternoon hitting .189 (7-for-37) with one double, two RBIs, eight walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 games. "I was just reacting. That's a plus when you're seeing the ball well, even the offspeed pitches," said Upton. "That's part of the plan." Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander made his fifth start of the spring. He allowed seven hits, three runs and one walk and struck out two in five-plus innings. "Overall, it's a step in the right direction. Left some pitches up," said Verlander. "Curveball was much better. Slider wasn't quite there today. But overall, not a bad day." Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp doubled to score Odubel Herrera in the fourth, and Freddy Galvis homered in the fifth. Ryan Howard doubled and scored on Cedric Hunter's sacrifice fly in the sixth to tie the game. The Phillies took the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs against Mark Lowe. Herrera singled to score a run, and Howard's fielder's choice scored another. The Tigers tallied one run in the eighth, when Ben Verlander, pinch-running for Upton, scored on Tyler Collins' second RBI triple of the game. Detroit went ahead for good in the top of the ninth on a two-run single from Gustavo Nunez off the Phillies' Chris Leroux.

PHILS PHACTS:

• Ryan Howard had been hitless in 11 at-bats with six strikeouts since crushing a grand slam over the batter's eye in center field on March 18. But he went 2-for-4 with a double, with both hits coming against Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander. Howard is hitting .233 (10-for-43) with four doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs this spring.
• Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola threw 5 1/3 innings in a Minor League game at Carpenter Complex. He allowed six hits, two runs, three walks and struck out seven.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies head south to Ft. Myers to face the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon in a Grapefruit League game at JetBlue Park at 1:05 p.m. ET. Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff will make his second Grapefruit League start after missing the early part of spring recovering from a fractured right thumb. He is expected to be ready to pitch the first week of the season. 

PHILS PHACTS:

Closing In On A Closer? – The Phillies made Saturday a bullpen day. They pitched nine relievers in a 6-5 loss to the Tigers in a Grapefruit League game at Bright House Field. Many of them have a good shot at making the seven-man bullpen, but it seems like none of the pitchers on the bubble separated themselves from the pack. "Not really," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We're going to take it right down to the end and then make our decision. We're close. The guys that are pitching well are going to have a chance. And the guys that don't have a chance are cutting themselves." There are plenty of guys to choose from. After all, the Phillies still have 15 healthy relievers in camp with the season opener just nine days away in Cincinnati. Right-handers David Hernandez, Dalier Hinojosa and Jeanmar Gomez and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer are locks. Right-hander Edward Mujica has pitched well. He has a 2.45 ERA in six appearances. If he is not a lock, he is close to one. Mujica, who is a non-roster invitee on a Minor League contract, has an out-clause. The Phillies had until midnight ET on Saturday to place him on the Opening Day roster. But that offer was not expected, because the Phillies actually have more time than that to make a decision. If the Phillies do not place him on the roster, Mujica can request his release Sunday. The Phillies then have 48 hours to make a decision on him. Essentially, they have to make a decision by Tuesday. Right-hander Andrew Bailey remains a candidate. He started the spring well, but he has allowed four runs in his last two innings. "[Bailey] was spraying the ball around a little bit," Mackanin said. "I'd like to see better command." Meanwhile, right-hander Ernesto Frieri struggled early in camp, but threw a clean seventh inning against the Tigers. His velocity picked up, too. "I was excited about Frieri," Mackanin said. "[Pitching coach Bob] McClure has been trying to get him to throw a little more across his body, like he used to throw. They tried to change his mechanics. We're trying to get him back to where he was before, to create the deception he used to have." Left-handers Daniel Stumpf (4.35 ERA in eight appearances), Bobby LaFromboise (1.08 ERA in seven appearances) and James Russell (3.38 ERA in six appearances) remain candidates. Mackanin said "it's a good possibility" that the Phillies will carry three left-handers in the bullpen. But if they carry three, it means only one of these veteran right-handers make the team: Mujica, Bailey or Frieri. The Phillies might play the numbers game. They might keep as many arms in the system as possible. Stumpf is a Rule 5 Draft pick, so he must stay on the 25-man roster the entire season to remain in the organization. Frieri has a Thursday out-clause, while Bailey (May 31) and Russell (June 1) have out-clauses later in the season. LaFromboise is out of options, but he can start the season in the Minor Leagues. Right-handers Luis Garcia and Hector Neris and left-hander Elvis Araujo have options, which should come into play. The Phillies could open with pitchers like Mujica, Frieri and Stumpf and see how they fare. If they struggle, they could move to Bailey, Russell and others. "I'd like to think they'd take the best guy out there," Russell said. "If I earn it, then hopefully I'm the one that they take." "Anything can happen," Mackanin said. "We don't know what's going to happen. There could be a trade. There might be somebody picked up on waivers."

Outfielder Roulette – Non-roster invitee Cedric Hunter strengthened his case to make the Opening Day roster. He singled and had a sacrifice fly to score a run. "He has squared the ball up as well as anybody all spring," Mackanin said. "I like him a lot. He's shown pretty good arm accuracy. He gives you good solid at-bats." Odubel Herrera went 2-for-5. It was his second game back after missing time with a bruised left middle finger. Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel went 1-for-4. He is hitting .250.

Comfortable On The Mound – Dalier Hinojosa is not afraid to pitch the ninth inning. He is quite certain of that. The pressures of holding a lead are nothing compared to spending a single night on a rickety boat in the middle of the sea, in the pitch black, trying to evade the authorities and praying to God to survive the treacherous journey from Cuba to Haiti. "One day, I'm going to take you to the ocean at 3 o'clock in the morning with me," Hinojosa said through the Phillies' interpreter Saturday morning at Bright House Field. "Then I will take you to the mound at the most filled stadium and you can tell me: Which one is worse? Which one is scarier? The ocean at 3 a.m. where it's plain dark, or the stadium that is filled with fans?" Hinojosa laughed. "Fear is gone," he said. Hinojosa, 30, could close for the Phillies this season, based on his 0.78 ERA in 18 appearances last year, his strong Grapefruit League performances this spring (2.57 ERA in six appearances) and the fact that they have few other options. But before Hinojosa joined the Phillies in July after being claimed off waivers from Boston, and before the Red Sox signed him to a $4.5 million signing bonus in October 2013, Hinojosa defected from Cuba, traveling by handmade boat with his wife and a few others to Haiti on Feb. 23, 2013. "To navigate through those waters, it's crazy," Hinojosa said. "It's plain crazy. ... Nowadays, I look back and analyze what I did, and I think that I was crazy." But Hinojosa felt he had no choice. "We make drastic and dangerous decisions, because we're very desperate to leave the island," he said. "It's a very poor place. It's a place where you have no opportunities. So I think those decisions are made based on the conditions where you live rather than how. You really don't think about how you're going to escape, rather when you're going to escape, regardless of the risk you're taking, regardless of losing your life. You feel desperate." The boats for these trips are built in a remote area, where the work is hidden amongst the trees and bushes. Secrecy is everything. Hinojosa said he is asked about the boat he used perhaps more than anything else about his defection. But the truth is he does not remember it well. "I was so nervous at the time that I didn't really pay attention to the boat," he said. "What I can remember is it was small, it was narrow and it was old. But, at that moment, I was full of fear and I just didn't pay attention to it." The travelers at least had a GPS to make sure they got to Haiti, but it hardly guaranteed survival. "It's more about your guts than the instruments that you're able to build to escape the island," Hinojosa said. "Sometimes we use car engines. We can think of anything. Any type of engine you can use, you use it. Based on my own experience, which is a bad one, a scary one, I was fearful from the beginning. I didn't want to lose my life. I didn't want things to go wrong. Of course, you think of the worst. But you try to block that from your head. "I took that decision because I wanted to achieve my dream. My goal was to play in the MLB, the best baseball in the world. I wanted to help my family financially. Those factors make you make drastic decisions, decisions you're aware can make you lose your life. I was desperate on the island, as many other people are. I had to do it." Hinojosa has settled into Miami with his wife, who is due with their first daughter in May. He still has a daughter from a previous marriage in Cuba. "The chances that this country has given me have allowed me to do things like that," he said. "That's why I feel blessed. It makes me feel human when I am able to help others based on my work. I'm making enough money to help other people." He could help more if he establishes himself in the big leagues. He has an excellent opportunity with the Phillies, who are desperate for late-inning relievers following trades last year that sent Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles and Jake Diekman to Washington, Houston and Texas, respectively. The Phillies believe they have a nice find in Hinojosa. The story goes that Andy MacPhail -- before he officially succeeded Pat Gillick as team president -- pressed for the Phillies to claim Hinojosa, based on strong scouting reports on him. It might have been MacPhail's first (unofficial) move with the Phillies. "I think it's a great opportunity for me to be considered as a closer," Hinojosa said. "I am focused on helping the team. So whichever role they want me to be, I'll do it because I thank them and I thank the Lord."

Today In Phils History - In 1939, the Phillies were in the midst of a 14 inning marathon when the game was called a 3-3 ties with the Cleveland Browns so the Phillies could catch a train. In another turn of good luck, the Phillies were no hit by Tampa Bay on this day in 2003... the lucky part was that it was during a spring training game. Finally, happy birthday to Wed Covington who was born on this day in 1932. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have an impressive record this spring… 14-8-2 (15-8-2 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!

Roster Slowly Morphing… Giles Heading Out

PHILS PHACTS:

Replacing Giles? – The Phillies made their first move of the Winter Meetings on Wednesday, and it proved to be a precursor to the Ken Giles trade. The Phillies signed right-handed reliever David Hernandez to a one-year, $3.9 million contract. It gives them a late-inning reliever who could stabilize the bullpen once Giles is dealt to Houston. Sources told MLB.com on Wednesday night that the Phillies and Astros have agreed to that trade, which would send four players to Philadelphia. The deal is pending physicals. "Sometimes, if you sign a David Hernandez, that may open the door to a different trade possibility than we had anticipated," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. "Or if you make a trade, that might open the door to a different free-agent signing. We're trying to balance it all. That makes us no different from any team. We have a lot of balls in the air, most of which you're working on never come to fruition. But every once in a while something will." Hernandez, 30, went 1-5 with a 4.28 ERA in 40 appearances last season with Arizona. He missed 2014 and the first two months of the '15 season following Tommy John surgery. Before that, Hernandez was Arizona's setup man, compiling a 3.42 ERA and picking up 17 saves over three seasons. He began his career with the Orioles, who drafted him in the 16th round in the 2005 Draft. "It was a priority for us to add someone to the back of our bullpen who has pitched in high-level situations in the past," Klentak said. "Throughout the last couple of months, we've been adding a lot of depth to our bullpen. Many of those players don't come with a lot of experience. So we wanted to make sure that we added at least one player who added a lot of experience who could help to pitch in the late part of the game." Phillies president Andy MacPhail and Klentak were with the Orioles when Hernandez made his big league debut in 2009. Player development director Joe Jordan helped draft Hernandez in '05.

Moving Forward – Maikel Franco filed a grievance against the Phillies, claiming they manipulated his service time to delay his eligibility for free agency. Franco opened the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley before being recalled May 15. Franco accrued 170 days of Major League service time, which is two days short of a full season. Those two days delayed his free agency from 2020 to '21. Franco's agent, Ryan Royster, said Monday the grievance will not be an issue for Franco moving forward. Phillies general manger Matt Klentak agreed. "I wasn't here for the first year of his career with the Phillies," Klentak said. "I'm not particularly concerned with there being a carryover or on-field effect."

More Netting On The Way – The Phillies announced Wednesday they plan to extend the netting at Citizens Bank Park to conform to Major League Baseball's new recommendations regarding fan safety. Phillies executive vice president and chief operating officer Mike Stiles said in a statement that the club anticipates it will expand the protective netting behind home plate about 10 feet in width on both sides, reaching to the near side of each dugout. The Phils also plan to replace their existing netting with newer material that is just as strong, but thinner and more easier to see through. "We understand that our fans differ in their opinions about sitting behind protective netting and we will do our best to accommodate those different preferences," Stiles said. "We will take the opportunity in the upcoming season to remind all of our fans about the importance of being alert to the possibility of balls and bats entering the stands throughout the ballpark. "We also anticipate that a similar modest expansion of protective netting will be installed at Bright House Field, our Spring Training ballpark in Clearwater, Fla., to conform to the MLB recommendations."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! However, at least Ryan Madson got another ring this year.

Phillies Complete Sweep Despite Hamels’ Struggles

GAME RECAP: Phillies Sweep Marlins 8-7

Jeff Francoeur has enjoyed a pretty nice renaissance with the Phillies this season. Francoeur hit a game-winning, two-run home run off Marlins closer A.J. Ramos in the bottom of the ninth inning in Sunday's 8-7 victory over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. It was the third walk-off homer of Francoeur's career, and his first since 2008. It also gave the Phillies their first series sweep since May 15-17 against Arizona. "We probably have the best record in baseball in the second half," Francoeur said with a smile. The homer wasted an RBI single from Ichiro Suzuki in a two-run eighth inning against Ken Giles, which handed the Marlins a short-lived one-run lead. "A.J. walking the leadoff guy, that's tough," Miami manager Dan Jennings said. "But he's done such a great job. He just centered a ball and Francoeur got it. I'm very proud of this team with the way they played today."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies hope to trade Cole Hamels before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, but he is not helping himself. He allowed eight hits and five runs in three innings, which follows a July 10 start in San Francisco, where he allowed nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings at AT&T Park. That is a 19.89 ERA in his last two starts. "I think my track record speaks for itself," Hamels said. "But sometimes you can get yourself in a rut and you've got to get yourself out, and sometimes you get on a hot streak and you can go for months, so it's just being able to start back over and see what I can do from the first pitch."
• Francoeur signed a Minor League contract with the Phillies in November, but he has played well since making the Opening Day roster. He had a pinch-hit, three-run homer in Friday's victory over Miami -- the first pinch-hit homer of his career -- before homering Sunday. He has emerged as a potential trade chip before the Trade Deadline. "I've been traded at the deadline before and I haven't," Francoeur said. "You just have to go out there and play. I let them know that I really like it here, but I know it's a business, and at the same time, if it happens, it happens. I'm going to enjoy today and this weekend."
• The Phillies challenged a play in the ninth inning. It appeared Galvis threw out Adeiny Hechavarria at first base, but first-base umpire John Hirschbeck ruled him safe. It took 53 seconds for the replay official to overturn the call and rule Hechavarria out.
• "It looks as if that has an effect on it, but the way I look at it, is this guy was the World Series MVP in 2008. He's pitched in two World Series. He's been an outstanding, quality starter for many years. I'd like to believe that hasn't affected him. It might have a little bit, but that's no excuse. I just think he's in a little bit of a rut." -- Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin, on the constant trade speculation affecting Hamels' performance recently.
• Howard hit the 350th home run of his career when he crushed a 2-0 fastball from Haren into the second deck in right field in the second inning.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies open a three-game Inter-league series Monday night with David Buchanan facing the Rays at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 ET. The Phillies are 7-14 against the Rays in Inter-league Play, although that does not include the 2008 World Series, when the Phillies took four of five in the best-of-seven series.

PHILS PHACTS:

Hamels Struggles Amid Trade Talks – If Cole Hamels made his final start for the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, it will be a forgettable conclusion to a memorable career. Hamels allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out one in just three innings in an 8-7 victory over the Marlins, which gave the Phillies their first series sweep since May. Hamels' poor effort Sunday followed his July 10 start at AT&T Park in San Francisco, where he allowed a career-high nine runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Giants. "What I've done in the last week and a half hasn't been up to my standards or the expectations of many," Hamels said afterward. Hamels has one more start officially scheduled before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, and he might need to pitch well Saturday afternoon against the Cubs at Wrigley Field to ease the minds of teams like the Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs and Rangers, who have expressed interest in him. That is not to say teams will forget about Hamels' lengthy and successful career -- he has the eighth-best ERA out of 101 qualified pitchers from 2010-15 -- but it might be difficult to trade a top prospect or two for a pitcher with a 19.89 ERA in his last two starts. "I think my track record speaks for itself," Hamels said. "But sometimes you can get yourself in a rut and you've got to get yourself out, and sometimes you get on a hot streak and you can go for months, so it's just being able to start back over and see what I can do from the first pitch." Hamels, who said falling behind in the count has hurt him these last two starts, has allowed five or more runs in six of 19 starts this season. He has not had more than seven of those starts in any other season in his career. His pronounced struggles recently and his season-long inconsistencies have raised a few questions about him. Is he healthy? "Yeah, I am," he said. Is he distracted by the incessant trade talk? "It can become an exciting time or difficult times for others," Hamels said. "It is what it is. I know that being able to play the game of baseball and being able to pitch for this city or for any city, I'm fortunate to be able to do so and I want to do it for as long as I possibly can and help whatever team. Just to be able to go out there and help win a ballgame, I think that's what I focus on. That's the only thing I can control. There's a lot of scenarios and situations that you look to, and I don't have that type of control." So Hamels seems confident he will bounce back Saturday. The Phillies hope he will. They would like to trade him to help their rebuilding efforts. "You're never really safe until the game's over, I guess. Until you're retired," Hamels said. "It's a business and I'm just happy enough I get to play in it."

Howard Hits #350 – Ryan Howard hit his 350th career home run in the second inning of the Phillies' 8-7 win over the Marlins on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies slugger crushed a 2-0 fastball from Marlins right-hander Dan Haren into the second deck in right field, sparking a five-run inning. It was Howard's 16th homer of the season.

Frenchie Earning More Playing Time – The Phillies' lineup for Monday's game against the Rays hasn't been announced yet. But Jeff Francoeur has already been assured that he'll be in it. "I think I'm going to play him tomorrow," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He's earned the right to play tomorrow. And he's been bugging me about playing." Mackanin went on to say that he listens to what his players have to say and tries his hardest to satisfy their requests, but it wasn't so much Francoeur's pleas as his play that ensured him a start Monday. In Sunday's 8-7 win over the Marlins, Francoeur supplied the theatrics, going 2-for-2, twice scoring the go-ahead run, including one on a two-run, walk-off home run. Francoeur said he knew from the second the ball left his bat that he had ended the game. And it showed. The outfielder barely made it out of the batter's box before he thrust his arms in the air and flashed a smile all the way around the bases. The home run was Francoeur's eighth of the season, his second in three days, and his first walk-off since May 24, 2008. According to Francoeur, this recent hot streak is just a product of his circumstances. "That's the one great thing about the National League: You get opportunities," Francoeur said. "It's nice being a bench player in the National League, because you know you're going to get some opportunities like that." Sunday was the 29th time Francoeur had entered the game off the bench for the Phillies out of 70 total appearances. He double-switched into the game in the sixth inning as a defensive replacement in left field, taking over the pitcher's spot in the lineup. He proceeded to lead off the home half of the seventh inning with a single and came around to score two batters later, giving the Phillies a 6-5 lead. In the 26 games he's played since early June, Francoeur has scored eight runs, driven in 17 and is batting .279. On the season as a whole, Francoeur has 47 hits, just five shy of the 52 he notched in 2013 and '14 combined. In his opinion, this boost in production can be traced back to the time he spent in the Minor Leagues last season. "One of the best things that happened to me was going back to Triple-A last year and playing every day and working my butt off," Francoeur said. "You have to play well and work hard to be up here. You don't just deserve it and you don't just earn it. To work like I did and come to Spring Training, it feels good to have earned to be back here." But on a smaller scale, Francoeur was just happy he did enough to help his team complete a sweep coming out of the All-Star break. "We've probably got the best record in baseball in the second half," he quipped. "It feels good."

Sleep Tight – Aaron Nola doesn't think he's going to have any trouble falling asleep tonight. "[It's] just a regular night," Nola said. "I feel like I'll sleep pretty good." That being said, Monday night might be the last regular night Nola has for a few months. As of now, the 22-year-old right-hander is the No. 2 prospect in the Phillies' organization and No. 28 in all of baseball. But when he wakes up Tuesday morning, he won't be a prospect; he'll be just hours away from making his Major League and Citizens Bank Park debut when the Phillies host the Rays. Nola arrived in Philadelphia on Monday a few days after the Phillies announced he is scheduled to start Tuesday's game. He said his callup caught him by surprise, given that he struggled through his final start at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but now his focus is on silencing the expectations and starting his MLB career as best as he can. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said that the plan to bring Nola up didn't deviate much from what he and the rest of the front office expected when they drafted Nola with the seventh pick of the first round in the 2014 Draft 13 months ago. The prime factor to Nola's development was how he was able to adjust to throwing every fifth day, which Amaro said he has done well. Despite this, Amaro said he is cognizant that Nola's arm isn't used to throwing 200 innings a year and will adjust his innings limit according to what he feels the youngster is capable of. "We'll kind of monitor his progress as far as innings, etc.," Amaro said. "He had about 172 of them last year between college and official innings, so we'll probably not go too far beyond that. I guess we'll have to play some of it by ear, but we probably won't go too far beyond that this year." Nola said that he hasn't discussed an innings cap with anyone in the organization and plans to throw as many innings as he is allowed. Given interim manager Pete Mackanin's emphasis on starting pitchers lasting deeper into games than five innings, Nola's reputation as an innings-eating control pitcher fits well into Mackanin's plans for 2015. However, Mackanin's plans for Nola in 2015 pale in importance to what the expectations are for the rookie moving forward. Nola said he fancies himself adept at "blocking out" fan and media hype, but regardless of this, how he fares in limited work in 2015 will likely shape how he is perceived for some time. With that in mind, Nola said the best way to take advantage of the rest of 2015 is to learn how to compose himself on and off the field from the veterans in the clubhouse. "I watched them on TV before," Nola said. "I want to see them on the field, how they actually handle themselves and how they go about success and failure. I think that's pretty cool to actually be on the same field as them now and get to learn from them."

Phanatic Victorious – You're familiar with everyone's favorite Christmas ballet (favorite by default -- there aren't a lot of Christmas ballets): Aided by a little girl named Clara, a Nutcracker Soldier defeats the Mouse King and everyone gets to hang out with the Sugar Plum Fairy. But did you know there's an alternate version that takes closer to two minutes than two acts? The Phillies shared their staging of the classic ballet during Sunday's Christmas in July celebration, starring everyone's favorite premier danseur. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 32-62. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 53-55-0 on this day.

Injuries Continue To Impact Phillies

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Jays Top Phils 4-1

A four-run eighth inning powered the Blue Jays to a 4-1 win over the Phillies on Thursday afternoon at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. An RBI double by Ryan Goins and a three-run blast by Steve Tolleson in the bottom of the eighth provided Toronto's offense. "He's smoking," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said after Tolleson's third homer of the spring. "Last year, he was primarily against lefties. He had his eyes fixed, and I think he looks better, he's seeing the ball better from both sides of the plate. Tolly is just a good player. He's one of those guys, he's just there, he helps teams out tremendously. He can run, he play anywhere on the field, he's a valuable guy on the field." The game featured a pitchers' duel between Phillies ace Cole Hamels and Blue Jays promising right-hander Aaron Sanchez with both teams being held off the scoreboard through the first three innings. Philadelphia didn't get its first hit until the fourth inning while Kevin Pillar had Toronto's first hit in the fifth. The Phillies opened the scoring in the top of the fourth when Chase Utley sparked the rally with a one-out single. Veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz followed with a double to the gap in right-center field as Utley easily came around to score. With that, Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead but almost lost it in the following inning. Pillar led off with an infield single, but he was later picked off first base by Hamels. Center fielder Dalton Pompey followed with a shot off the wall in left-center field. Pompey missed the home run by a few feet but showed off his speed and ended up on third with a head-first slide. He was later stranded when Jose Reyes struck out swinging at a ball in the dirt. Sanchez was removed from the game in the folowing inning after reaching his pitch count for the afternoon. He allowed the one run on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The native of California has now allowed eight earned runs in 18 1/3 innings this spring as he nears his big league starting debut early next month. Hamels was taken out after the fifth. He didn't allow a run and surrendered only two hits, but he did walk three batters while striking out four. It was Hamels' fifth outing of the spring with his innings total now sitting at 15 2/3 innings to go along with nine earned runs. Utley was the standout in Philadelphia's lineup with a pair of hits and a run scored.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

Top Phillies pitching prospect Aaron Nola will start Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees at Bright House Field. The Phillies selected Nola with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft. Nola is scheduled to open the season in Double-A Reading but it is not a stretch to think he could join the big league rotation before the end of the year.

PHILS PHACTS:

Phils Scratch Asche – The Phillies scratched Cody Asche from Thursday's lineup because of tightness in his back. The team said he felt something during team stretch. "I don't expect him to miss much [time]," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said following a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. "He had a muscle in his back that kind of grabbed him a little bit." Asche is hitting .238 (10-for-42) with two doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs and a .767 OPS in 16 Grapefruit League games. Non-roster invitee Andres Blanco replaced Asche at third base.

Hamels Ready For Opening Day – Cole Hamels looks ready for Opening Day. He allowed two hits, three walks and struck out four in five scoreless innings in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Auto Exchange Stadium. He allowed his first hit to open the fifth inning. He then allowed a two-out triple to Blue Jays center fielder Dalton Pompey before striking out Jose Reyes on three pitches to end the inning. Hamels has one more Spring Training start before pitching for the Phillies on Opening Day on April 6 against the Red Sox. Of course, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg declined Thursday to officially name Hamels his Opening Day pitcher, but if he isn't, it would be one of the greatest upsets in franchise history. "As it gets closer, you've got to take things a little bit more seriously," said Hamels, who had a 7.59 ERA in his first four Grapefruit League starts. "Rather than working on pitches, it's more just getting guys out. Things have just been really starting to click in my bullpens, playing catch on the side, really just putting in the time to feel confident with each pitch so that I can go out there and try to execute a pitch with a little more authority." Hamels liked how he followed his at-bat against Pompey. He threw a first pitch curveball to Reyes, who swung and missed. Hamels followed with two changeups. "I think anytime you are able to go out there and get guys out on three pitches or less, you're feeling pretty good," Hamels said. "In a crunch situation, you just have to bear down, and this is the type of situation that you're going to be in all the time during the season, just because every pitch and every out matters." The Phillies head to Philadelphia next Thursday for a pair of exhibition games against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. They open their 2015 season a couple days later against the Red Sox. Hamels will be on the mound, even if Sandberg has not said it. "It's a secret," he said with a smile. "I'll give you a little heads up."

Bullpen Struggles – Phillies left-hander Andy Oliver remains a favorite to win a bullpen job, but the Rule 5 Draft pick has struggled in his last two Grapefruit League appearances. He walked four batters in just 2/3 inning Thursday in a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. He allowed three hits, two runs, one walk and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings Sunday against the Red Sox. Oliver had allowed two hits, two walks and had struck out an eye-popping 13 batters in 6 2/3 scoreless innings in his first four Spring Training appearances. "He had a couple real good ones, real good," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He just didn't have his control [Thursday]. In most cases, he can get his slider for strikes, but it didn't happen today. But he's shown when he's in the zone with both pitches, he can be effective. That's key for him, throwing strikes." Oliver averaged 12 strikeouts per nine innings last season with Triple-A Indianapolis, but he also averaged 6.6 walks. In five seasons in the Minor Leagues, he has averaged 9.2 strikeouts and 5.8 walks per nine innings. Phillies setup man Ken Giles allowed two hits, four runs, two walks and struck out one in 2/3 inning to blow the lead and game. He allowed a three-run home run to Steve Tolleson to give Toronto the three-run lead. Giles had allowed two hits, one run, five walks and had struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings in his first six appearances. "Kenny, he's not where he wants to be yet," Sandberg said. "He's still building arm strength. He doesn't have his good zip on his fastball. And today his slider wasn't going down like it usually does. I think he's a power pitcher that's still building his arm." Any concerns there? "I don't think so," Sandberg said.

A Small But Significant Step – This is just another small step for Phillies right-hander Chad Billingsley, but he is encouraged. He pitched two scoreless innings Thursday in a Minor League Spring Training game against the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate at Carpenter Complex. Billingsley, 30, allowed two hits. He faced seven hitters and got five ground balls. "Today was a really good test or step," Billingsley said. "I had a really quick first inning. And then go back out there and throw 24 pitches. It felt great. So I was really pleased with it. As far as recovery, my arm feels good right now. If something was wrong, I would have come out of the game. It felt good, and I'm going to do it again in five days." Billingsley has pitched just 12 innings in the big leagues the past two seasons because of two elbow surgeries. The Phillies signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in the offseason, and they hope he can be ready to join the Phillies' rotation by late April. The Phillies could use a healthy and effective Billingsley. They need a No. 5 starter, and the candidates to this point are Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Kevin Slowey and Sean O'Sullivan. "I'm very encouraged each time I go out there," Billingsley said. "Each little step I take, I get more confidence. More confidence that my arm is responding well and it's recovering well. I let some balls go today, really getting after it. And each time out there just gaining confidence in my arm and trusting it and not really worrying about it. Getting it out of my mind. I mean, going through two surgeries the last two years, starting to trust it, and it's responded well, and I'm happy." Billingsley is not sure about his next step. It could be more Minor League games. It could be an appearance in a Grapefruit League game.

Another Injured Phillie – It is not a crippling blow, but top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford suffered a setback nonetheless this week. Crawford strained his left oblique, which the Phils said could sideline him four to six weeks. "That's the range," Phillies player development director Joe Jordan said. "We'll see in a few days how he responds to treatment. We'll have a better feel in five, six, seven days from now." Crawford, 20, had been scheduled to open the season with Class A Advanced Clearwater or Double-A Reading. "It's disappointing, but it shouldn't be a long-term thing," Jordan said. The Phillies selected Crawford with the 16th overall pick in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft. MLBPipeline.com ranks him as the No. 22 prospect in baseball. Crawford hit a combined .285 with 23 doubles, 11 home runs, 48 RBIs, 24 stolen bases and a .781 OPS in 538 plate appearances last season with Class A Lakewood and Clearwater.

Hollands Weighing Options – Mario Hollands has a firm grip on reality, but he still has a sliver of hope he will avoid surgery on his left elbow. Hollands has a torn common flexor tendon, which is the same injury that is likely to end Cliff Lee's career. Hollands visited Phillies physician Michael Ciccotti this week in Philadelphia to discuss his recent MRI results. Surgery has been recommended because Hollands' first attempt at rehab failed -- the injury first surfaced in September, which ended his 2014 season -- but he has two other options: rest and PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injection. "I wanted to do the PRP and rest, because I wanted to help the team this year. I wanted to play," Hollands said. "That's still in my head because I want to play so bad, but I am a little worried because it's the second time, so I don't know if rest or PRP will be the only solution. So surgery, I'm thinking about it pretty hard." Hollands will seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. He hopes to have his recommendation soon. Hollands' difficult choice is this: if he elects rest or PRP and it fails a second time, he risks not being healthy at the beginning of the 2016 season. The Phillies said the recovery from this type of surgery is six to eight months. "It would be heartbreaking if it came back again after rest," Hollands said. In that sense, surgery might be the safest option. "That'll help just seal it up, and hopefully it will never be a problem again," Hollands said. Hollands made the team last season as a non-roster invitee. He went 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 50 appearances. Hollands' injury opens up a bullpen job. Four spots are locked up with Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles, Jake Diekman and Justin De Fratus. Andy Oliver, Luis Garcia and Jeanmar Gomez are the leading candidates for the final three jobs.

Lohman On The Totem Pole – The Phillies announced Thursday they have acquired shortstop Devin Lohman from the Reds for future considerations. He will report to Minor League camp. Lohman, 25, hit .245 with 16 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 29 RBIs and a .661 OPS with Double-A Pensacola. The Reds selected him in the third round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

ON THE RECORD:

The Phillies will look to rebound this season from a 73-89 record last year. While uncertainty abounds, there is little question that the franchise is in rebuild mode based on the moves and statements that have been made during the offseason. The only question that remains is whether or not the young and veteran talent on the team can work together to disprove Gillick’s predictions either this year or next.