At Least The Score Was A Little Closer

GAME RECAP: Braves Best Phillies 6-4

Braves third baseman Adonis Garcia owned Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park. He went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored in a 6-4 victory in 10 innings over the Phillies. He hit solo homers in the first and sixth, knocked in the game-tying run in the eighth then had a leadoff walk and scored the go-ahead run in the 10th. The Braves can sweep the series with a victory Sunday afternoon. The Phillies did not help themselves defensively. Maikel Franco's error on a dropped foul ball in the eighth led to the Braves' game-tying run when Chase d'Arnaud walked on the next pitch and eventually scored on Garcia's grounder. It was the second straight night the Braves have clawed away at an early deficit to win in the late innings. "It's almost like happenstance now," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It happens, then we just come back." "I called the ball too late and I dropped it," Franco said. In the 10th, the Braves scored twice on balls that did not leave the infield, with Ryan Howard's throw to the plate being just late on Tyler Flowers' grounder down the first-base line for the first run, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Jace Peterson plating the other. "That was a really good jump by Adonis," Snitker said. "That situation, you're kind of leery about getting doubled off and really didn't expect that from Tyler, the way he's been swinging the bat. So that was a great read by [Garcia]. We'll take it anyway we can get 'em."

PHILS PHACTS: 

• Franco went 4-for-5 with three doubles and one RBI. He singled and scored in the third, doubled to score a run in the fifth and doubled to lead off the eighth. But the third baseman's dropped ball proved costly. The error became a big moment in the game as it allowed d'Arnaud to score two batters later to tie the game at 4. Still, the Phillies hope Saturday's effort helps Franco finish the season strong. "Last year he hit .280," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "I expect him to hit at least .280. He had a little bit of an off year in that respect, but he's an aggressive hitter and I like aggressive hitters. It was a great day to see from him." 
• Velasquez had been talking a lot lately about his high pitch counts, but he put together an efficient start against the Braves. He allowed five hits, three runs (two earned) and struck out eight in seven innings, throwing only 92 pitches. It was the first time he had pitched seven or more innings since July 19. It was just the third time it has happened this season. After the game it was announced that Velasquez would be shut down for the rest of the season. "It's not the end of the road," Velasquez said. "It's all about learning the game and knowing how to get better for next year. This game is fun to learn. That's pretty much all I'm going to do." 
• "These games we're losing remind me a lot of the games we were winning in the beginning of the season. We just weren't making mistakes then." -- Mackanin, on the Phillies' recent struggles.
• The Phillies challenged a call at third base in the third inning. Ender Inciarte hit a chopper in front of the mound with a runner on second and one out. Velasquez fielded the ball and threw to third base. Franco caught the ball, but moved out of the way of Dansby Swanson, who appeared to beat the tag. But the replay official in New York saw Franco tag Swanson, overturning the call.
• The Phillies lost a challenge in the fourth when they thought Matt Kemp was out at third base trying to advance on a passed ball. Replay confirmed the call. He was safe.
• Each of the Phillies' six Minor League affiliates will finish the season over .500. It is the first time it has happened since 1953, when nine affiliates finished over .500. Four affiliates will play in their respective postseason: Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Double-A Reading, Class A Lakewood and the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies. Class A Advanced Clearwater is just one game behind Dunedin in the Florida State League standings.

NEXT GAME:

Right-hander Jake Thompson (1-4, 7.86 ERA) starts the series finale against the Braves on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Thompson struggled in his first four starts before allowing two runs in seven innings last week against the Nationals.

PHILS PHACTS:

See You Next Season – Vince Velasquez threw his final pitch of the 2016 season Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies and his agent had been closely monitoring his workload since the beginning of the year, and it was determined that Saturday would be his final start. Velasquez made it count. He allowed five hits, three runs and struck out eight in seven innings in a 6-4 loss to the Braves in 10 innings at Citizens Bank Park. "This is just the ending point for now," Velasquez said. Velasquez joined the Phillies in December as the key piece in the Ken Giles trade with Houston. He made the rotation out of Spring Training and opened his Phillies' career in dramatic fashion. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Mets on April 9 and struck out 16 in a shutout against the Padres on April 14. He finished 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA in 24 starts, striking out 152 batters and walking 45 in 131 innings. He spent some time on the disabled list in June with a strained right biceps. He struggled in the second half to pitch deep into games as he routinely racked up high pitch counts. "Things could have turned around a lot better, but things happen," Velasquez said. But he said he learned a lot. "I dealt with a lot of adversity and failure and managed to somehow pick myself back up and finish strong," he said. "On a serious note, I think I've matured pretty well." He said he plans to learn a lot more in the final month of the season, too. "Just sit down, watch the game and learn as I go," Velasquez said. "It's not the end of the road now. It's all about learning the game and knowing how to get better for next year. This game is fun to learn. That's pretty much all I'm going to do." In fact, Phillies catcher A.J. Ellis gave Velasquez a homework assignment for September. Velasquez has always enjoyed watching Zack Greinke pitch. In fact, he said he sees some similarities with their fastballs and power changeups, so Ellis has asked Velasquez to spend the rest of the month watching Greinke pitch last season when he was with the Dodgers. "With the Dodgers it was just phenomenal how he utilized his changeup that much and protected his fastball," Velasquez said. "I'm kind of like the same way. I think that's pretty much the objective. Just go back to last year's film and watch what he does and pretty much apply it to myself for next year." For Velasquez to take another step next season he will have to polish his secondary pitches and pitch deeper into games. He knows this. "He had a good season when you look at it, all things considered," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.

Finishing Strong? – Maikel Franco hopes to take the good from Saturday night and carry it into the rest of the season's final month. He went 4-for-5 with three doubles and one RBI in a 6-4 loss in 10 innings to the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. He doubled in the first, singled and scored in the third, doubled to score a run in the fifth and doubled in the eighth. But Franco also dropped a ball in foul territory in the eighth that eventually led to the Braves scoring the game-tying run. "I've been up and down too much," Franco said about his sophomore season. "I understand the situation. I have to just keep learning and get better. I'm trying to do everything I can possible." Franco is hitting .250 with 21 doubles, one triple, 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and a .732 OPS in 534 plate appearances. He hit .280 with 22 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 50 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 335 plate appearances last season, so Franco has not taken the step forward many in the organization had hoped. But Phillies general manager Matt Klentak reminded people last month that Franco is just 23. "We have to remember he's 23 years old," Klentak said. "It's not just to quote an age. By itself that doesn't mean anything. But there are players making their Major League debuts this year that are top industry prospects that are already 24, and he's got parts of three seasons under his belt already. It's reasonable to expect players at that age at this level are going to continue to make adjustments and get better." That is what the Phillies hope for Franco because they are counting on him to be a big part of their future.

Looking For More – Pete Mackanin addressed his hitters in a brief meeting before Saturday night's game against the Braves at Citizens Bank Park. A pep talk couldn't hurt. The Phillies' offense entered Saturday last in Major League Baseball in runs per game (3.70) and on-base percentage (.296). The Phillies are on pace to have their lowest runs-per-game average since 1988 (3.69) and their lowest on-base percentage since 1968 (.294). "I just want them to pay more attention," Mackanin said. "It's the little things. Take batting practice the same way you were going to hit in the game, instead of taking it nonchalantly to get loose. I want them to bear down. "I want them to try to take some of that discipline from BP into the game. A two-strike approach. As much as [hitting coach Steve] Henderson has been badgering the guys with this type of thing -- hunt the fastball, a two-strike approach, all these basic concepts of hitting -- I think by hearing it from me it might make a difference, it might help. I told them they're better hitters than they've shown." Mackanin hopes things improve in the season's final month because the past two weeks have been rough. The Phillies are 4-11 since Aug. 16, averaging a mere 2.8 runs per game in that stretch. "I'm clinging to the good parts of the season," Mackanin said. "Hopefully we'll have a good finish." Perhaps that good finish includes Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera, who has hit .235 with a .628 OPS in 191 plate appearances since July 7. Herrera hit seventh Saturday night, the lowest he has hit in the Phillies' lineup since he hit seventh on July 20, 2015. "He's just giving away too many at-bats," Mackanin said. "They started pounding him inside and he's become aware of the inner-half of the plate. And how he's getting caught on both sides of the plate. I think that he's guessing. That's my best guess. His plate discipline has not been the same."

Today In Phils History – After losing their 1^st 16 games to the Phillies, the Houston Colt 45’s finally got the win in 1962. 4 year later, Chris Short logged the 5^th straight complete game victory for the Phillies in a shutout against New York. 2 years later, the Reading Phillies finally beat Binghamton after a 19 inning, 5 hour and 15 minute marathon. In 1997, Bobby Estalella became the 1^st rookie to hit 3 homeruns in a game. 2 years later the Phillies surrendered a NL record 9 homeruns as the Reds trounced the team 22-3. 4 years ago, with a double down the right field line, Jimmy Rollins collected his 2,000^th career hit. Notable debuts on this day include those of Willie Montanez (1970) and Wayne Twitchell (1971) who both previously made their MLB debuts with other organizations. Finally, happy birthday to Eddie Waitkus who was born on this day in 1919.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 60-75 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 38-71-1 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.

Interesting Questions Surface During The Rest Day

GAME RECAP: No Game Yesterday

Phillies take some time to recover from a rough couple of series and to try and find the fire they had before their recent struggles.

PHILS PHACTS:

• Phillies leadoff hitter Odubel Herrera is tied for sixth in the NL batting race with a .327 average. He hit a three-run homer on Wednesday in Detroit.
• Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler is 9-for-27 in his last six games. He is 2-for-3 lifetime against Morgan.
• The Cubs have cooled off a little bit from their hot start to the season, going 4-6 in their past 10 games. But they took two out of three against the division-rival Cardinals. 

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies open a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Friday, with Adam Morgan (1-2, 5.61 ERA) taking the mound against Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (4-3, 2.60 ERA). Morgan gave up two runs in six innings in his last start against the Braves, a bounce-back performance after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits against the Reds in the outing before that. He's faced the Cubs only once in his career, losing to them last season after allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings. Lester will look to have a similar type of comeback outing after he got rocked for five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings at San Francisco last Saturday. He is 4-0 lifetime against Philadelphia, with a 1.76 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP.

PHILS PHACTS:

More Questions And Answers From Todd Zolecki – If the Phillies continue to win, will they be buyers before the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline? -- Corey K., Media, PA. How many people thought this question would be asked in May? Not many, I assume. The Phillies are one of baseball's best stories this season, but let's let things play out. Only 14 teams in the past 10 seasons have finished .500 or better despite being outscored. The 2009 Mariners were the most fortunate of the bunch, finishing 85-77 despite a -52 run differential. (Only four teams in baseball history have made the postseason despite being outscored.) The Phils are on pace to be outscored by 107 runs, so the odds are not in their favor. But OK, let's say the Phillies keep winning close games and defy the odds. I can see them buying before the Trade Deadline, but not in the way they have in the past when they acquired Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence. Those teams were going for the kill, sacrificing top young talent for the final piece to push them over the top. The 2016 Phillies are not a piece away, and they are still very much geared toward the future. For that reason, if the Phils acquire talent, they will not sacrifice one of their top prospects in the process. No, I think something more likely will be acquiring a player in a salary dump, or acquiring somebody of a more modest means. Think less about talents comparable to Lee, Oswalt and Pence and more about talents like Joe Blanton, who cost the Phillies relatively little in 2008. But if you're wondering if Philadelphia would trade prospects like Nick Williams and Zach Eflin for a two-month rental, I would be absolutely stunned. Phils president Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak have a plan in place, and they have stuck to it. I would be floored if they suddenly tossed that aside. What is going to happen with Ryan Howard? -- John G., Mt. Laurel, N.J. It is sometimes helpful to read between the lines. Pete Mackanin said in Spring Training he planned to platoon Howard and Darin Ruf at first. He held true to form, despite their struggles. Then once Tommy Joseph replaced Ruf on the 25-man roster, Mackanin said he still planned to platoon Howard at first base. But if you notice, Mackanin said earlier this week he now plans to evaluate the situation weekly. "At some point, it may come to that, but I wouldn't say it's imminent," Mackanin said about Joseph winning the first-base job. The door is ajar. The Phillies are playing well, despite Howard hitting .160 with a .585 OPS. But they need offense, and if Joseph hits consistently, he will get more playing time. What happens to Howard after that will be interesting. Howard showed leadership earlier this week when he pulled Odubel Herrera aside after he failed to hustle to first base. I'm not sure anybody else on the team could do that, other than maybe Carlos Ruiz. If Joseph starts playing more regularly, perhaps Howard adjusts to a backup role, mentoring the young players on the roster while playing a couple times a week. He could be released too, although I would be guessing if I said I thought it would happen. But I will say Howard's attitude has been remarkable this season. I think he sees the end is near and he is trying to make the best of it. That doesn't help the Phillies' offense, but it is worth noting.

Minor Performances – A pair of Phillies' top prospects had three-hit games in Lehigh Valley's win over Pawtucket. J.P. Crawford, the No. 3 overall prospect (Phillies' No. 1), scored a pair of runs in the game, but more importantly, he found his stroke offensively. Since he was promoted to Triple-A, Crawford got off to a bit of a slow start. The shortstop went 3-for-15 over his first four games, but on Thursday night everything was clicking as Crawford went 3-for-5. But Crawford wasn't the only Phillies' farmhand to have a good night at the plate. Nick Williams, Philadelphia's No. 3 prospect, was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and raised his average to .279.

Crawford Catching Attention – Here's a look at top prospects to watch Friday in Minor League action: Hitter to watch: J.P. Crawford (Phillies' No. 1) Lehigh Valley vs. Louisville. Crawford, the No. 3 overall prospect, got off to a bit of a slow start when he was promoted to Triple-A, but the young shortstop may be finding his rhythm. After going 3-for-15 over his first five games with the IronPigs, Crawford went 3-for-5 and scored a pair of runs Thursday, generating some momentum that he'd like to build on at 7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Today In Phils History – During the same game that the Giants’ Casey Stengel was ejected in 1923, the Phillies Cy Williams set a new major league homerun record when he hit his 15^th of the month. Speaking of homeruns, today marks 2 years since Ben Revere, after 1,566 career at bats, hit his first major league homerun. On the mound, Pretzel Pezzullo got start and the win in his major league debut in 1935 but lost his start the following day. In 1973, pitcher Wayne Twitchell struck out for a record 9^th consecutive time at the plate.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 26-21 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 47-55-1 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. Let the rebuild begin!

Phillies Fall In Season Opener

GAME RECAP: Reds Route Phillies 6-2

Zack Cozart went 3-for-3 and delivered the tying run in the eighth before Joey Votto's two-run single in the five-run inning lifted the Reds to a 6-2 Opening Day victory over the Phillies at Great American Ball Park. Philadelphia carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth when reliever David Hernandez loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and Scott Schebler's pinch-hit double. Lefty James Russell took over, and Cozart skied a sacrifice fly to short right field. Pinch-runner Tyler Holt scored on a headfirst slide just ahead of Peter Bourjos' throw. Russell walked Eugenio Suarez to load the bases for Votto. Taking a 0-for-3, three-strikeout day into the at-bat, Votto made that a fleeting memory by lining Russell's 1-1 pitch into center field for the game-winner. Jay Bruce blew it open with a bases-loaded single that added two more runs, as nine men batted in the bottom of the eighth. "Everybody makes this big deal about Opening Day. In the standings, it could be the least important day of the year," Bruce said. "But it's awesome to get that win and get the momentum going the right way. Especially coming back, the way we won was great. I think it shows everyone we're capable of coming back and stealing a game from guys." Cozart had all three of his hits vs. Jeremy Hellickson, while the rest of the Reds' lineup went hitless vs. the Phillies' starter. But the Philadelphia bullpen could not maintain that success in the late innings, while the Reds' three scoreless innings of relief made it possible for Cincinnati to battle back and win. "It was embarrassing," Hernandez said after loading the bases to start the eighth. "I wasn't able to throw anything over the plate, quality pitches. It's unfortunate."

PHILS PHACTS:

• The Phillies acquired Hellickson from the D-backs in November because they thought he could stabilize the rotation and return to form in a free agent year. He looked like that guy, allowing three hits, one unearned run and striking out six in six innings in his Phils debut. "Hellickson pitched really, really well, then the wheels fell off in that eighth inning," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.
• The pressure is on Galvis, who has top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford breathing down his neck. Galvis will need to play well this season to keep a job. He got started the right way. He hit a two-run home run to right field in the second inning to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. He also turned an inning-ending double play in the third inning.
• Votto struck out three times in his first three at-bats. It was the first time he struck out in each of his first three plate appearances since May 15, 2014, against the Padres' Tyson Ross. Hellickson became just the ninth pitcher to strike out Votto three times in one game, according to Stats Inc.
• "I hope that the right guys are here right now. I'm not going to condemn Hernandez because he didn't pitch that well tonight. He's going to get more opportunities. We'll continue through the season and we'll see who rises to the occasion." -- Mackanin, on the Phillies' bullpen woes
• The Phillies have five rookies on the 25-man roster: outfielder Tyler Goeddel, right-hander Dalier Hinojosa, outfielder Cedric Hunter, left-hander Daniel Stumpf and right-hander Vince Velasquez. The five rookies are tied with the Brewers, Dodgers, Padres and Rockies for the most on any roster in the National League. Only the Orioles have more with six.
• Expect Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton to bat ninth behind the pitcher until he earns his way back to the top of order with a better on-base percentage. Reds manager Bryan Price likes Hamilton batting ninth rather than eighth, because if he is caught stealing with two outs, the pitcher will not lead off the following inning.
• Expect Cameron Rupp to catch for the Phillies on Wednesday. He will receive the bulk of playing time this season, but Carlos Ruiz started Opening Day because he is a veteran, and this is expected to be his final season with the team.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies considered Aaron Nola as a potential Opening Day starter, but they opted to pitch him Wednesday night against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Having arguably their best starter pitch the second game of the season allows the Phillies to pitch him in next Monday's home opener against the Padres. But make no mistake: the Phillies are high on Nola, who was their first-round pick in the 2014 Draft. Nola went 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts last season as a rookie, giving the rebuilding Phillies some hope for the future. Wednesday's start will be Nola's first against the Reds. Cincinnati will start left-hander Brandon Finnegan, who started four games late last season after being acquired in the trade that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City. Finnegan, who struggled his last few starts in Spring Training, went 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA in those four starts -- all on the road. This will be the first home start at Great American Ball Park for Finnegan, who made two relief appearances there last year. He has never faced the Phillies.

PHILS PHACTS:

Good First Impression – Jeremy Hellickson pitched so well Monday that many wondered why he did not pitch a little longer. They wondered even more after the Phillies' bullpen allowed five runs in the eighth inning in a 6-2 loss to the Reds on Opening Day at Great American Ball Park. Of course, the reality is even if Hellickson had pitched an extra inning, the Phillies said they planned to have David Hernandez open the eighth. Hernandez started the Reds' five-run rally by loading the bases with a pair of walks and a double. "I absolutely would have loved to be out there again, but the bullpen is going to be better than they were today, that's for sure," Hellickson said afterward. But the Phillies left the ballpark encouraged with the way Hellickson threw in his debut. He allowed just three hits and one unearned run in six innings. He struck out six, including Reds slugger Joey Votto three times. Votto is one of the best hitters on the planet, but he looked lost against Hellickson. He awkwardly waved his bat at third strikes in the first, fourth and sixth innings like a man trying to swat mosquitoes in the dark. It was the first time Votto struck out three times in his first three plate appearances since May 15, 2014, against the Padres' Tyson Ross. Hellickson became just the ninth pitcher to strike out Votto three times in one game, according to Stats Inc. "I was just mixing it up as much as I can," Hellickson said about Votto's at-bats against him. "He's one of the best hitters we've got in the game, so you just don't want to give him the same pitch twice. You try to mix it up as best as you can." Hellickson threw just 79 pitches. He had thrown more in a Spring Training start, so he could have pitched at least another inning, but Phillies manager Pete Mackanin had seen enough. "It's his first outing and he pitched very well," Mackanin said. "We thought about letting him back out there. But you bring in [Jeanmar] Gomez [in the seventh], and he does his job. We figured we have got to try to find the formula for winning games when the pitcher can't go into the seventh or eighth. Gomez was the seventh, we went to Hernandez for the eighth and it didn't work." Hellickson gets another opportunity Sunday afternoon against the Mets at Citi Field. He hopes to carry a strong spring and a solid Opening Day start through the rest of the season. It would be good for both himself and the Phillies. Hellickson is a free agent following the season, while Philadelphia could trade him to a contender in July, if he is pitching well. "It definitely helped that I felt really good this spring, and then to get a good one in the first start, and now I'll try to keep it going throughout April," Hellickson said.

Question Marks On The Mound – Nobody in the Phillies' clubhouse tried to sugarcoat what happened in the eighth inning Monday at Great American Ball Park. "The wheels fell off," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said after a 6-2 loss to the Reds. "It was embarrassing," right-hander David Hernandez said. "For us to just kind of [throw] it away a little bit stings," left-hander James Russell said. The Phillies entered the season concerned about their bullpen, and those concerns came to a head when three relievers allowed five runs in the eighth inning in the loss on Opening Day. Last season, the Phils seldom had one-run leads in the eighth, but when they did, Ken Giles and Jake Diekman pitched the eighth while Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth. But those three are gone, and the Phillies still do not know who will replace them. "We're still searching," Mackanin said. After Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings and Jeanmar Gomez pitched a perfect seventh, the Phillies had Hernandez start the eighth. The Phils signed Hernandez to a one-year, $3.9 million contract in December, making him the only free agent they signed to a Major League contract. Hernandez walked Adam Duvall, allowed a double to Devin Mesoraco and walked Billy Hamilton to load the bases with no outs. "I wasn't able to throw anything over the plate, quality pitches," Hernandez said. "It's unfortunate. It [stinks], but it's a long season." Hernandez missed some time in Spring Training because of a sore right elbow. He said he is healthy. Russell replaced Hernandez and allowed a sacrifice fly to Zack Cozart to tie the game before he walked Eugenio Suarez to reload the bases. Russell then allowed a two-run single to Joey Votto to make it 4-2. Right-hander Hector Neris entered. He hit Brandon Phillips with a pitch before allowing a single to Jay Bruce to allow two more runs to score. Mackanin and Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure met with relievers on Sunday to discuss their roles. The message seemed to be that everybody should be ready to pitch in any type of situation. That said, Mackanin chose Dalier Hinojosa to pitch the ninth if the Phillies had the lead. "We just have to keep mixing and see what we've got and go from there," Mackanin said. Could Gomez pitch the eighth? The Phillies don't think so. Not right now, anyway. "Last year we tried Gomez in the eighth inning," Mackanin said. "That lasted three or four outings and it didn't work out. It's a different animal in the eighth and ninth inning. That doesn't mean we won't do it. "It's a touchy situation. ... I hope that the right guys are here right now. I'm not going to condemn Hernandez because he didn't pitch that well tonight. He's going to get more opportunities. We'll continue through the season and we'll see who rises to the occasion."

What Position Will Sentimental Play? – Phillies manager Pete Mackanin revealed plans for a few of his players hours before the team's Opening Day game on Monday at Great American Ball Park. Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz were in the starting lineup, and they are expected to be in the lineup next Monday against the Padres in the home opener at Citizens Bank Park. Howard and Ruiz are in the final season of their contracts, and they are not expected to return next season. "I wanted to make sure that Chooch started Opening Day, and the same thing with Ryan," Mackanin said. "We'll just go from there. I'd like them to start, if possible, on Opening Day at home, and I'll try to do that for sentimental reasons." Mackanin declined to name a closer. David Hernandez and Dalier Hinojosa are considered the top two candidates. "I'm thinking about it as we speak," he said, asked who will pitch Monday if the Phillies have a ninth-inning lead. Mackanin and pitching coach Bob McClure had a meeting Sunday with the bullpen. They discussed the possibilities for the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. "There's going to be a mix of a lot of different guys," Mackanin said. "We'll just see how it plays out. Eventually somebody will be that last pitcher. It's almost like an audition. It might be any one of five guys that will end up as our closer. And if not, we'll close by committee -- even though I don't want to do that. If that's what we have to work with, that's what we're going to do." Cameron Rupp will get the bulk of playing time behind the plate, which is not a surprise. "Chooch is moving up in age," Mackanin said. "He's still capable. I think if we keep him healthy and he plays less, I think we're going to get more out of him." Cedric Hunter started in left field Monday. He entered Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, but he impressed the coaching staff with the quality of his plate appearances. Mackanin said Hunter and Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel will start the season as a platoon in left field. "We'll give Goeddel a chance, even though he didn't have that good of a spring," Mackanin said. "He showed a few things that I think he's going to be OK. We'll work it in to start the season and we'll go from there." The Phillies have two Rule 5 Draft picks on the roster in Goeddel and left-hander Daniel Stumpf. According to Baseball America, only three teams in the past decade have had two Rule 5 Draft selections on their roster: the Braves in 2015, the Astros in '11 and the Reds in '06. Mackanin said he thinks Goeddel and Stumpf can stick the entire season. "They've both shown enough ability where they can be part of the future," Mackanin said. "Starting last year, we went into this rebuilding phase. Might call it an experiment last year. This year, a year further, we're going to find out what we have going into next year. While we're doing that, we're hoping to win more games. We think Stumpf and Goeddel could add to that. If not, they're both young enough where we have something down the road, whether it's later this year or next year. It's hard to turn away young talent, and that's what our goal is, to keep them."

Phils History: Today is one marked by Phillies debuts as wheez kids Joe Morgan and Tony Perez took the field in 1983, Jim Eisenreich and Pete Incaviglia began the improbable journey in 1993, Raul Ibanez stepped on the field to take the place of Pat Burrell in 2009, Roy Halladay started a magical season in 2010 following the first pitch by President Obama, and Ty Wigginton, Jonathan Papelbon, and Freddy Galvis all began the year with high hopes in 2012. It is also a day when we remember Sherry Magee being taken out by his own pitcher in 1912, the Twitch pitch coming to town in 1971, and John Vukovich becoming the longest serving coach in Phillies history in 2004. We still miss you Vuk!

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 0-1 this season putting them on pace to meet most preseason predictions. The Phillies finished the spring exceeding most expectations compiling a record of 15-11-3 (18-11-3 if you include the exhibition games against Reading and the University of Tampa). All time, the Phillies are 9-12-0 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. Let the rebuild begin!

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!