Should Be An Interesting Mix Next Season!

PHILS PHACTS:

Young Core Commitment – General manager Matt Klentak has spent his first 10 days with the Phillies meeting as many people as possible and learning as much as he can about the organization he hopes to return to World Series contention. Klentak said he feels pretty good about things heading into next week's GM Meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. "It has been a very busy 10 days, but it has been a super, super valuable 10 days," Klentak said Thursday. So what's the plan? "We really want to raise the floor and add some depth," Klentak said. "Kind of at every turn, that's what we're going to be focused on. And in the pitching department, I think we really need to work on just -- again, I say raise the floor -- but kind of establish sort of a firm foundation of pitching. That's not going to end when we break camp at the end of Spring Training. That's something we're going to be committed to for a long time." How it happens remains to be seen, but do not expect the Phillies to be the "mystery team" that swoops in to sign an ace to a $100 million contract at the last minute. Phillies president Andy MacPhail said in September that the club does not plan to pursue the biggest names in free agency this offseason. "There is some talent that we think is viable talent, but it needs to come percolate and demonstrate that it's real," MacPhail said of the young players in the organization. "And after that period, you might go forward. But do you really want to commit after you've just been in that pool and suffered from it? Do you really want to commit at this stage?" Phillies part-owner John Middleton reiterated that point during Klentak's introductory news conference Oct. 26. "I don't think you can buy a winner," Middleton said. "I think this will not come as any great shock, I don't view free agency as the way to build your club," Klentak added Thursday. "Good clubs, we just saw it in the playoffs this year, in the World Series this year. The core of the best clubs are built internally through the Draft, through savvy international signings, through signing key players to contract extensions and extending the club control. "Free agency is very useful to augment or supplement that core, but you know that is not where you're going to get the best bang for your buck from a value perspective. Sometimes circumstances dictate that's where you're going to go to get your players. Sometimes that will dictate where you want to shy away from. But if you want to fish in the deep end of the pond in free agency, you know that there's going to be more risk there. The burn factor is going to be higher. So you have to enter into free agency knowing that. It doesn't mean you shouldn't play in free agency or you should shy away from it at all times. You just have to go in knowing the realities." Klentak prefers not to trade any of the Phillies' young core to take a larger step forward in a couple years -- closer Ken Giles could fetch some talent, for example -- but he also will not completely dismiss the idea, either. "I try not to operate in absolutes if at all possible, because you never know," Klentak said. But first, Klentak has to know what he has. That is why he is asking a lot of questions and listening. That is why he is reading through player reports on his weekend cross-country flights from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, where his family lives at the moment. "We all have to know about our players," Klentak said. "It's really an important thing as we embark on trade discussions and free-agent discussions. We have to know what we have first, before we know what we need."

Haunted By 2008 – The Phillies admittedly turned the page too slowly on 2008, but the turnover is nearly complete. The only players remaining from their World Series championship team are Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz. Howard will make $25 million next season, which does not include a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. Ruiz will make $8.5 million, which does not include a $500,000 buyout on a 2017 club option. But will Howard and Ruiz be back, just because they are under contract? The Phillies have tried to trade Howard, but found no takers despite agreeing to pay almost the entirety of his contract. "They definitely fit into our plans for '16," Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said Thursday. "That's not a concern for me. But I never say never. I'm open to anything. I have so much respect for what Ryan and Chooch have done, and what they have meant to this city and franchise. At some point, frankly it could be next week, I'm going to sit down with their agents and talk to them. I don't know them as people. I want to understand sort of what their motivations are. But the question about, 'Can they exist on our roster next year?' Absolutely." Phillies manager Pete Mackanin turned Howard into a platoon player this past season, splitting his time at first base with Darin Ruf. Howard hit .229 with 29 doubles, one triple, 23 home runs, 77 RBIs and a .720 OPS in 129 games. He posted an .802 OPS against right-handed pitchers, which ranked 55th out of 140 qualified hitters in baseball. Howard posted a .418 OPS against left-handers, which is the ninth-lowest mark in baseball in the past 20 seasons (minimum 100 plate appearances against lefties). Ruf's 1.107 OPS against left-handers tied Nelson Cruz for the best in baseball (minimum 100 plate appearances against lefties). "I spent quite a bit of time with Pete last week [at the organizational meetings], and we talked about that among many other things," Klentak said about a Howard-Ruf platoon. "We will seek the best combination of players to find results. The strengths and the skill sets of the players will dictate how we utilize them." Klentak said he believes Howard can still hit effectively in the middle of the Phillies' lineup. He said Howard has earned the benefit of the doubt. "I'm a big believer in providing opportunities for players," Klentak said. "The players will let us know. We're not going to draw a conclusion over a couple of games or an at-bat, but if the circumstances of the performance dictate we make an adjustment, we will. I go into this with some degree of optimism ... and let's give players opportunities and if they fail to achieve, we'll adjust. But let's not adjust before we have to." But Klentak also has to prepare for the possibility that those players don't perform, or that they are unhappy in their future roles. Ruiz said late in the season he still views himself as the No. 1 catcher, although he acknowledged Cameron Rupp outplayed him. "If we're doing our jobs and communicating with players throughout the process, I think that goes a long way towards minimizing issues," Klentak said. "If everybody understands where each party is coming from -- that doesn't mean everybody has to agree with it -- but as long as people understand and are open and honest about it, I think that is probably the biggest thing I've learned over time. "You can't fool the players -- they know. You can't fool the media -- they know. You can't fool the fans. So being open and honest with the plans and what the intentions are, I think, is often the best medicine."

Fall Star Game Preview – On any given day this fall, fans can head to an Arizona Fall League game and see some of the best talent Minor League Baseball has to offer. On Saturday, the AFL gives everyone the chance to do some one-stop shopping, courtesy of the 10th annual Fall Stars Game. The game, which starts at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on MLB Network and streamed live on MLB.com, features the best of the best in the prospect world. With seven members of MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list and a total of 37 players on their team's Top 30 lists, it's the Fall League version of the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. "It'll be a whole lot of fun," said Mets first baseman Dominic Smith, the Mets' No. 5 prospect (No. 92 overall) who was one of two first basemen named on Monday to the East Division squad. "This league is so good. Every day I step on the field, it's like an All-Star Game. You see the most elite Minor Leaguers every game. I feel like the Fall Stars Game will be a lot of fun. I'm excited to play in it." Mariners’ first baseman D.J. Peterson, who is on the West Division team, will be playing in his second straight Fall Stars Game. The M's No. 3 prospect is very much looking forward to another chance to show what he can do on a national stage. "I'm very excited to represent the Mariners," said Peterson, who went 0-for-2 in last year's contest. "Doing it two years in a row, I'm hoping I can get something more out of it. It's great to get to interact with all the guys from other teams." Cardinals right-hander Alex Reyes is the highest-ranked player in this year's game, and the No. 16 prospect has peformed well, striking out 14 batters over 15 innings, despite a shaky outing that pushed his ERA on the season to 3.60 over four starts. Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows is the highest-ranked hitter (No. 22) in the game, followed by fellow Georgia high school 2013 first-round pick Clint Frazier (No. 35) of the Indians. Smith, Daniel Robertson of the Rays (No. 79) and the Rockies' Raimel Tapia (No. 99) round out the Top 100 representatives. As part of the Arizona Fall League's Final Two Fan Vote, Cubs No. 20 prospect Jeimer Candelario and Brewers No. 18 prospect Yadiel Rivera were added to the rosters. For the first time, fans were able to select a 26th player for each Fall Stars team. This year's rosters are chock full of former first-round picks, with eight taken in the opening round of the Draft. The list, which doesn't include supplemental first-rounders or those taken under the new rules in the Competitive Balance Rounds, is led by six selections from the first round of the 2013 Draft. Last year's game not only featured top-level talent, but it served as a crystal ball into who some of the impact rookies in the big leagues this past season would be. The Dodgers' Corey Seager, the Indians' Francisco Lindor, the Braves' Jace Peterson, the Twins' Eddie Rosario, the Yankees' Greg Bird (the AFL MVP a year ago), the D-backs' Archie Bradley and the Cubs' C.J. Edwards all played in the 2014 edition of the Fall Stars and all made contributions -- some larger than others -- to their parent club during this past regular season. "I'm sure this year's roster will have guys who'll make that jump and play in the big leagues next year," Smith said. "It tells me what's possible. If you keep playing hard, anything is possible." Smith has been one of the better performers in the AFL this season, hitting .400/.542/.571 over his first 35 at-bats. While Smith won't be one of those guys who jumps from the Fall Stars Game right to the big leagues, this experience is clearly getting him ready for the jump out of Class A ball to the upper levels. "I'm just trying to keep it pretty simple," Smith said. "Work counts, swing at good pitches. When you swing at good pitches, good things happen. I'm trying to show I can perform at this level. "This experience is definitely preparing me for Double-A and beyond. A lot of guys in this league will be in the big leagues next year and beyond. I'll be facing these guys in the future for sure. Playing against the competition of the future, getting to compete with them now, it's making me a lot more comfortable going into next season." D.J. Peterson also feels more comfortable, especially compared to a year ago, when he struggled in the AFL. More energized this fall, Peterson has rediscovered his joy for the game. Like Smith, he's trying to keep things simple -- something he hopes will help him in the Fall Stars Game, when the natural inclination might be to try to do something special. "I feel like this year, the mindset is completely different," Peterson said. "I just want to go out and have fun. That's what I've been doing every day here. "I think you keep your same approach in the Fall Stars Game -- try to see something [over the] middle part of the plate and put a good swing on it and do some damage. The guys in this game are really good, so if you miss that pitch, they're going to get you."

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.

Morandini Returns To The Majors!

PHILS PHACTS:

Welcome Back Mickey! – Mickey Morandini has joined the Phillies to be their first-base coach. Morandini played for the Phillies from 1990-97 and 2000 and served on their Minor League player development staff the past five seasons. He managed Class A Williamsport in 2011 and Class A Lakewood in 2012-13 before coaching for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading the past two seasons. Morandini will also be the team's baserunning instructor. Morandini's hire means Phillies manager Pete Mackanin's coaching staff is complete. The group includes bench coach Larry Bowa, hitting coach Steve Henderson, pitching coach Bob McClure, third-base coach Juan Samuel, bullpen coach Rick Kranitz and catching coach John McLaren. Assistant coach Jorge Velandia will return to his role as special assistant to player personnel. He joined the coaching staff in June following Ryne Sandberg's departure and Mackanin's promotion.

Rebuild Summary – A little less than a month ago, the Phillies finished their worst season since 1972, but in a way, they hope history repeats itself. The '72 Phillies hit rock bottom, but the organization had a talented farm system and talented young players already in the big leagues when it happened. They eventually formed a core that made the postseason six times from 1976-83, including winning the 1980 World Series championship. The Phillies hope they hit the floor in 2015, but they expect improvement in '16, with the idea they can compete for the postseason as early as '17. But first things first. Phillies president Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak have plenty of work to do. Here is a look at what the team might look like when Spring Training opens in February: Arbitration eligible: infielders Andres Blanco and Freddy Galvis; and right-hander Jeanmar Gomez. Free agents: right-handers Chad Billingsley, Aaron Harang and Jerome Williams; left-hander Cliff Lee (club option); and outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Rotation: The Phillies need some serious rotation help. Free agents Billingsley, Harang and Williams are not expected to return, and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez might not pitch again for Philadelphia, considering his checkered health history. It means the Phillies will need to find at least a couple veteran starters to fill out the rotation. Do not expect the Phillies to commit to big-money contracts. It is too early for that. Instead, expect them to pursue starters like J.A. Happ or Doug Fister, potential placeholders until the team knows it truly has a core to reach the postseason. Of course, the Phillies will fill the rotation with internal pieces, too. Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff are heavy favorites to win jobs. Adam Morgan has a line on one. Matt Harrison, Alec Asher, David Buchanan and others will have the opportunity to win jobs. Bullpen: The bullpen struggled at times this season, with the exception of Jonathan Papelbon (traded in July) and Ken Giles. Gomez, Luis Garcia, Elvis Araujo and Dalier Hinojosa put together solid performances. Justin De Fratus struggled, which is why the Phillies outrighted him last month. It seems likely Philadelphia will sign at least one veteran reliever to stabilize the bullpen. But once again, do not expect them to pursue the highest-priced free agents on the market. Catcher: It would not be a surprise to see both Carlos Ruiz and Cameron Rupp back. If so, Rupp is the likely candidate to start Opening Day as Ruiz endured the worst season of his career. Ruiz turns 37 in January, but he has value as a backup. (Not to mention he will be paid $8.5 million.) Chooch can work with the team's young pitchers as well as mentor catching prospects Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp in Spring Training. Don't rule out the possibility that Knapp, who the Phillies named their Minor League Player of the Year, sees time with the Phillies at some point. Teams rarely use only two catchers over the course of a season, and if Knapp is playing well, he could get a shot. Alfaro is promising, but he missed much of the season with an ankle injury. He needs more seasoning in the Minors. First base: Will Ryan Howard return? He will make $35 million next season, which includes a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. Howard performed well against right-handed pitchers this year, but he struggled terribly against lefties. He is a platoon player at this point of his career. But if Howard and Darin Ruf return, they could form a pretty respectable duo as Ruf hit left-handers very well. Second base: Cesar Hernandez is expected to open next season at second base. The Phillies saw enough potential offensively to give him a longer look. But Hernandez is going to have to perform because there are prospects coming through the system that could force the club to make some position changes. Shortstop: Galvis will open the season as the team's shortstop, but top prospect J.P. Crawford is breathing down his neck. Crawford finished the season in Double-A Reading, but he is expected to open next season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. If Crawford continues to progress, it will be difficult to keep him in the Minors. And if Crawford is promoted at some point next season, he will be promoted to play shortstop and play every day. If that happens, Galvis could move to second base if Hernandez is not performing. Or he could fall into a super utility role. Third base: Maikel Franco has this job locked up, assuming he is healthy. He showed he can be a productive bat in the middle of the lineup, which the Phillies desperately need. Of all the positions on the roster, this is the easiest one to predict. Outfield: Odubel Herrera is expected to be the Opening Day center fielder. He earned it. But who plays the corners? Domonic Brown is gone. Aaron Altherr has earned a longer look. Cody Asche will get another look, although he really must pick up his production. The Phillies see Asche as somebody who could hit 15-20 home runs with 75-90 RBIs. He fell woefully short in RBIs this year. The Phillies could re-sign Francoeur, which makes sense. (If Francoeur is not re-signed, they are likely to pursue another veteran outfielder.) Philadelphia needs a vocal veteran to show the team's young players how to act during a long season and how to react to adversity. Top outfield prospect Nick Williams finished his season in Double-A. Like Crawford, he is expected to open the season in Triple-A. He could join the team at some point.

AFL Recap – It would be difficult to overstate how important statistical analysis has become in how decisions in baseball are now made. Every so often, however, something happens that seemingly defies what the numbers say. After going 1-for-3 in a Class A Advanced Florida State League game on June 24, Phillies catching prospect Andrew Knapp was hitting .262/.356/.369. On the surface, those rather pedestrian numbers do not scream promotion. Yet Knapp did get bumped up to Double-A. What happened next, it's unlikely anyone expected. Knapp simply went off in Reading, kicking things off with a 17-game hitting streak and never really looking back. The 2013 second-round pick hit .360/.419/.631 in 55 games, earning Phillies Minor League Player of the Year honors before heading to the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Arizona Fall League. "Honestly, I think I just got a little bit more selective," Knapp said. "Earlier in my career, I'd be swinging at a 1-1 changeup that probably wasn't a good pitch to swing at. Then once I got moved up to Double-A, I started laying off those pitches and started flipping some counts to 2-1 or 3-1 and started getting some fastballs. I think that was the biggest adjustment I made." It's something Knapp was working on in Clearwater, even if it didn't translate to better numbers until after he moved up. Knapp feels that, along with the work he put in on the defensive side of the game, is what made the organization comfortable with the promotion. "The last month there in Clearwater, I started making those adjustments," Knapp said. "I think part of it, too, was the advancement behind the plate, being able to handle the game, handle the pitching staff more. I think that's what they saw. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to get a little boost and a little confidence. I think that helped, too." His time in the AFL will undoubtedly aid in his development as well. While Knapp is continuing to pretty much do what he did in Double-A with the bat, he knows there is work to be done behind the plate if he wants to be an everyday catcher at the big league level. "I think defensively is one of those things I want to tighten up," Knapp said. "Tighten up the receiving, tighten up the throwing. We worked a lot behind the plate this year off the field, working on the mind game a little bit. Trying to manage a pitching staff and work from behind the plate. That's what I'm focusing on." Knapp has some defensive skills, namely arm strength that allowed him to throw out 36 percent of would-be basestealers in 2015. While the AFL is known more as a hitters' league, Knapp sees plenty of opportunities to improve his catching, from working with advanced pitchers to picking the brains of his coaching staff, including manager Bill Haselman of the Dodgers, himself a former big league backstop. "These are guys who know what they're doing on the mound," Knapp said of the pitchers on the Glendale staff. "You can get a ton of work in the bullpen. I'm working with the [coaches from the] Dodgers and the Phillies in the cages and on the side fields. You get a little more down time, less playing, but you get to work on the side, so that's good." Getting to talk with catchers is nothing new for Knapp. His father Mike caught at Cal just like his son did and spent parts of 11 seasons catching in the Minors, reaching Triple-A. He had former big league catcher Dusty Wathan as a manager in Reading and now has Haselman in Arizona. "Throughout my career, I've pretty much been surrounded by catchers," Knapp said. "You get to pick those guys' brains. They've been there before, they've done it, they've caught over 100 games in a year, they know how the body feels, and how it's mentally draining, too. It's been awesome to see how they do it and gain that little bit of experience from them as I'm going through it." Phillies hitters in the Fall League: Aaron Brown, OF - A two-way standout at Pepperdine, the Phillies took Brown as an outfielder in the third round of the 2014 Draft. Coming off his first full season as a hitter only, Brown hasn't played a ton, but the at-bats he is getting should help him make the jump to Double-A in 2016. J.P. Crawford, SS - Crawford was the highest-ranked prospect in the AFL (No. 5 overall), but went home with a left thumb injury after just six games. He should be 100 percent for Spring Training. Drew Stankiewicz, 2B/SS - The Phillies' 11th-round pick in the 2014 Draft, Stankiewicz was added to the Glendale roster to replace Crawford. He played at two levels of A ball in 2014 and saw time at both second base and shortstop. Phillies pitchers in the Fall League: Edubray Ramos, RHP - Originally signed by the Cardinals, Ramos was released by St. Louis in February 2011. He signed with Phillies in November 2012 and finally got moving more quickly in 2015, reaching Double-A -- a level he may be ready to master after pitching well in the AFL. Yacksel Rios, RHP - The 2011 draftee has spent much more time relieving than starting, but three of his first four AFL outings have been starts, something he may get the chance to do in Double-A next year. Jesen Therrien, RHP - The Montreal native is coming off a very solid year out of the bullpen in 2015, one that saw him spend most of the year in the Florida State League. His AFL innings should prep him for Double-A in 2016. Tom Windle, LHP - Windle made a successful transition to the bullpen midway through his first season with the Phillies. He's continued to adjust to the role this Fall.

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.

Travel And Anticipation

YESTERDAY IN POSTSEASON PLAY:

The Royals and Mets spent yesterday traveling to the east coast while the rest of the baseball world spent the day in eager anticipation of the match-up of two young, hard throwing, pitchers that are set to take the mound in game 3. This could either mean a contest dominated from the mound or we could be seeing some really long homeruns. Maybe both. These duels don’t happen too often in the World Series so sit back and enjoy a potential glimpse at future dominance.

Game 3 Preview:

These guys throw fastballs that buckle knees and test nerves and shatter bats. They challenge the body for sure, but they challenge the mind, too. Are you willing to crowd the plate when the guy out there is throwing 100 mph? OK, just checking. Take all the time you need to answer. Welcome to Game 3 of the 2015 World Series on Friday at Citi Field. This is power pitching versus power pitching -- Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard and Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura. At a time when 95-mph fastballs have become almost commonplace in baseball, these guys have power that's special even by the new normal. Syndergaard's fastball averaged 97.4 mph this season, tying him with Yankees right-hander Nathan Eovaldi for tops among Major League starting pitchers, according to Statcast™. Ventura is a tick behind, with a fastball that has averaged 96.8 mph this season, which is third among big league starters. Syndergaard's fastest pitch was clocked at 101.4 mph this season and touched 99 mph three times in the first inning of his last start. Ventura has cranked it up as high as 100.6 mph this season. They generate all that power from different body types. Syndergaard is 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and 23 years old. He's the physically imposing textbook definition of a power pitcher, with a release that looks absolutely effortless. No team in baseball has handled 95-mph (and up) fastballs better than the Royals this season. They're also quick to point out that the Mets' kid pitchers are more than hard throwers. "It should be fun," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "I'm sure there'll be three digits up there a lot of times. Those guys over there, they don't just throw hard. In looking at Syndergaard's last start, he mixed up his stuff against the Cubs a lot. It wasn't just going out there and trying to pump heaters. I don't think you're going to see either guy doing that." Yordano is a year older than Syndergaard at 24. He's listed as 6 feet, 180 pounds and generates all that velocity with a whiplike delivery in which he drives smoothly off the mound to home plate. Part of the game inside the game on Friday will be the radar-gun readings at Citi Field. Hitters will use them to gauge how hard the pitcher is throwing in the early innings and if the velocity diminishes as the game wears on. And in a game like this, might both pitchers be glancing at their own velocity -- and also that of the other guy? Mets manager Terry Collins said it's far broader than that. "Both sides do [look at the radar-gun readings], believe me," he said. "You go to any park nowadays, and every team is looking to see how hard the guy is throwing. Because nowadays there are so many hard throwers that you kind of have to gauge. "I think it's become a huge part of the game to know how hard somebody is throwing. Because you've got to make adjustments at the plate. And all the film that you have on all these guys, you can't get a true feel until you get in the batter's box." Royals manager Ned Yost said: "Everybody looks at it. That's the first question they ask in a new stadium. Everybody up and down the dugout is asking, 'Where is the radar-gun reading?'" For his part, Ventura said there are more important things than simply throwing hard. "Right now I'm not focused on velocity," he said. "I'm simply focused on pitching deep into the game, keeping the game close and giving my team a chance to score runs. I just want to do my job." Likewise, Syndergaard said his game is to locate his pitches, mix them up and change speeds. If he does those things, he'll be effective at both 93 mph and 99 mph. Both pitchers have taken different paths to get to Game 3 of the World Series. Ventura was Kansas City's Opening Day starter, but spent a month on the disabled list at mid-season with an irritated nerve in his pitching elbow. He had some very good starts and some very bad ones after his return. He hasn't finished six innings in any of his four postseason starts, but is fresh off his best outing -- one earned run in 5 1/3 innings in the clinching Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against Toronto. Syndergaard made his Major League debut on May 12 as the latest in a string of heralded Mets prospects. He has been as good as advertised, especially in the postseason, during which he has a 2.77 ERA after two starts and a one-inning relief appearance. Collins said Syndergaard was in the conversation to start Game 1 of the World Series. "When he first got here, we saw 96 [mph]," Collins said. "What he's doing now, I have never seen that. I've never seen 98, 99 and 100. I've seen good, good power stuff. But I've seen a guy grow and learn how to pitch here, where he will go to his secondary stuff in certain counts." One of the best parts of all this is that Syndergaard and Ventura are so good and so young that they could rank among baseball's elite pitchers for years to come. But they may never pitch on a bigger stage than this one. They're both capable of delivering a World Series memory. Here's hoping.

POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS: Read my post from October 6th to see how many I have gotten wrong!

CURRENT POSTSEASON PICTURE:

World Series

Kansas City leads Series 2-0

Kansas City at New York

Game 3: Friday, October 30, at 8:00 PM

PHILS PHACTS:

Crawford Goes Down In AFL – J.P. Crawford's time in the Arizona Fall League has come to an end after just five games. The Phillies' top prospect, ranked No. 5 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, was the highest-ranked prospect in the Fall League this season. Crawford went 3-for-20 (.150) with three singles, two walks and six strikeouts for the Glendale Desert Dogs. Crawford sustained a mild left thumb sprain while making a tag in a Fall League game. An MRI exam revealed a partial tear of the UCL ligament, but it will not require surgery. Crawford's thumb will be in a splint for the next three to four weeks, but he is expected to be 100 percent healthy by Spring Training. The 20-year-old Crawford is a two-time Futures Gamer who spent most of the year in the Double-A Eastern League in 2015. He hit a combined .288/.380/.414 over 430 at-bats between Clearwater in the Florida State League and Reading in the Eastern League. To replace Crawford, the Phillies have sent infielder Drew Stankiewicz to Glendale. Stankiewicz was an 11th-round pick of the Phillies inn 2014 out of Arizona State who split the year between Lakewood in the South Atlantic League and Clearwater.

We Have A Dubee Sighting – Roy Halladay once said he respects few pitching coaches more than Rich Dubee. Dubee served as the Phillies' pitching coach from 2005-13, when the organization won one World Series, two National League pennants and five NL East championships. Dubee, who spent the past two seasons working in Atlanta's Minor League system, will return to the big leagues next year as the Tigers' pitching coach. Detroit announced the hiring Thursday afternoon. It is not a stretch to say Dubee has some supporters in Detroit. He is close with Tigers bench coach Gene Lamont. He worked for years in Philadelphia with bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer. He spent one season in Philly with hitting coach Wally Joyner. Dubee also served as Jim Leyland's pitching coach with the Marlins in 1998. Leyland is the Tigers' special assistant to the general manager.

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, there are some former Phillies still making headlines in the playoffs this year.

AL Teams Tie, NL Teams Take The Lead

YESTERDAY IN POSTSEASON PLAY:

Monday was once again a full slate of games with both AL series going to a decisive game 5 while the Cubs and Mets taking a one game advantage heading into Tuesday. It was a homer happy day with few pitchers going unscathed as the four series combined for a new single day record for postseason long balls. Now the question is… who will clench the first spot in the championship series?

Royals Down Astros 9-6

The Royals pulled off a stunning comeback on Monday afternoon, charging from four runs down by scoring five times in the eighth inning to shock the Astros, 9-6, and even the best-of-five American League Division Series at two games apiece. Minute Maid Park was rocking after Houston scored three times in the seventh to take a 6-2 lead on a two-run homer by rookie shortstop Carlos Correa -- his second of the game -- and a solo shot by Colby Rasmus. Things changed quickly. In a comeback reminiscent of the Royals' dramatic win over the A's in last year's AL Wild Card Game, Kansas City began the eighth with four consecutive singles off reliever Will Harris, and all four scored. After Tony Sipp replaced Harris, the Royals tied the game at 6 when a grounder off the bat of Kendrys Morales skipped off the mound and glanced off the glove of Correa, allowing a pair to score, for an error. Alex Gordon's bases-loaded groundout to second base pushed the go-ahead run across.

Blue Jays Beat Rangers 8-4

The Blue Jays flexed their league-leading home run power with three long balls off Rangers starter Derek Holland in Game 4 on the way to forcing a winner-take-all Game 5 in the American League Division Series with an 8-4 victory on Monday afternoon at Globe Life Park in Arlington. David Price was a candidate to start Game 5, but he picked up the victory on Monday with three innings of three-run relief behind Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey. It was Price's second postseason win of his career and his first since the 2008 AL Championship Series, while he was with the Rays. That win also was in relief.

Cubs Crush Cardinals 8-6

Jake Arrieta didn't have his Superman stuff, so the Cubs instead put on a power show Monday night as rookies Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Kyle Schwarber hit half of Chicago's six home runs to post an 8-6 victory over the Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The Cubs became the first team to ever hit six home runs in a postseason game, with six players combining to accomplish the feat. Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty each connected for the Cardinals, and the eight total home runs set a Major League mark for one postseason game. Besides the three Cubs kids, Starlin Castro, Rizzo and Dexter Fowler joined in the fun with solo shots. This was the Cubs' first postseason win at Wrigley Field since Game 2 of the 2003 NL Championship Series against the Marlins. If they do win the NLDS on Tuesday, it would be the first time ever that the Cubs have won a postseason series at Wrigley. Imagine the party.

Mets Mash Dodgers 13-7

Nine long years of waiting at an end, they began streaming down from the 7 train platform hours before gametime, wearing jerseys and caps and holding brightly lettered signs, chanting and shouting and ready to explode. Mets fans had waited nearly a decade for a home playoff game, not to mention seven seasons for one at Citi Field. They found it to be well worth the wait. Curtis Granderson drove home five runs on a pair of doubles, Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d'Arnaud homered and the Mets, despite an imperfect outing from Matt Harvey, waltzed to a 13-7 victory over the Dodgers Monday night in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.

POSTSEASON PREDICTIONS: Read my post from October 6^th to see how many I have gotten wrong!

CURRENT POSTSEASON PICTURE:

American League Division Series

Kansas City and Houston tied 2-2

Game 5: Wednesday, October 14, at 8:00 PM

Toronto and Texas tied 2-2

Game 5: Wednesday, October 14, at 4:00 PM

National League Division Series

Chicago leads series 2-1

Game 4: Tuesday, October 13, at 4:30 PM

New York leads series 2-1

Game 4: Tuesday, October 13, at 8:00 PM

PHILS PHACTS:

Prepping For #1 – Johnny Almaraz has been everywhere, and he will continue to be everywhere for the next eight months. The Phillies have the No. 1 pick in the 2016 Draft, so Almaraz, who is the Phillies' amateur scouting director, and his entire staff will be crisscrossing the country to scout the top amateur players countless times up until June. In fact, they already have. "Heading into the year we've been anticipating we'd pick pretty high, so we've been on the go," Almaraz said, recently. "We're very, very optimistic and very positive about this year's crop. We're fortunate to have the No. 1 pick in a really good year." There is no consensus No. 1 pick in next year's Draft. There is no Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper. There is no no-brainer, but there are some talented pitchers. And if there are no significant injuries or surprises, expect the Phillies to take one. Keep a close eye on Florida left-hander A.J. Puk and Oklahoma right-hander Alec Hansen. Some scouts think Puk could be in the big leagues as early as 2017, and Hansen has tons of potential. The Phillies also will look at arguably the top two high school pitchers: IMG Academy (Lakeland, Fla.) left-hander Jason Groome and St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) right-hander Riley Pint. "Fortunately, this year there is a really strong college crop of pitching," Almaraz said. "It's one of those situations where I believe this year the pitching is stronger than the crop of position players. We'll be looking at that, and hopefully we can get the guys that we want. You never know what is going to happen as far as health is concerned. We have to make sure we stay on top of things." This is the first time the Phillies will have the top pick in the Draft since 1998, when they selected Pat Burrell. Whomever the Phillies select, they should get somebody that can speed up their rebuilding process. Since Burrell's selection, only a handful of No. 1 picks have not panned out (Bryan Bullington, Matt Bush, Luke Hochevar and Tim Beckham). Most have, like Josh Hamilton, Adrian Gonzalez, Joe Mauer, Justin Upton, David Price, Strasburg, Harper, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Correa. "There's a group of players all over the country who can separate themselves in comparison to everybody else," Almaraz said. "It's just a matter of time. We're not even a year away, but a lot of things can happen as far as progress and growth and strength, and players becoming a lot better than they were in the past year." Another benefit of the Phillies getting the No. 1 pick is more money in their draft pool. That could allow them to sign some players they might not have had the ability to sign. "Yes, we're going to be as creative as we can be to get the best talent," Almaraz said. "Of course, we're going to be picking first in every single round, so we'll have an advantage to make an impact as far as talent is concerned. We'll be prepared. We'll be prepared to make the best decisions, and to use that money effectively. It'll be very, very interesting."

Phillies Well Represented In AFL – Baseball's annual preview of coming attractions, better known as the Arizona Fall League, raised the curtain on its 24th season Tuesday. Play began with the Mesa Solar Sox visiting the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Peoria Javelinas hosting the Surprise Saguaros. Glendale features the highest-rated prospect in the league, Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford (No. 5 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 list), and Minor League home run leader A.J. Reed (Astros). Mesa counters with a top shortstop prospect of its own in Daniel Robertson (Rays), who batted .301 for the Solar Sox last fall. Surprise's lineup is powered by outfielders Brett Phillips (Brewers) and Lewis Brinson (Rangers). Peoria boasts a pair of former first-round picks in shortstop Alex Blandino (Cardinals) and corner infielder D.J. Peterson (Mariners). The first night game of the season featured the Scottsdale Scorpions at the crosstown Salt River Rafters, the AFL's defending champions. Salt River has one of the deepest lineups in the league, led by two Mets first-round picks, shortstop Gavin Cecchini and first baseman Dominic Smith. Scottsdale's headliner is Indians outfielder Clint Frazier, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 Draft. The AFL's lone Top 100 pitching prospect, right-hander Alex Reyes (Cardinals), will take the mound on Thursday for the Saguaros. The best left-handers, Sean Manaea (Athletics) of the Solar Sox and Kyle Freeland (Rockies) of the Rafters, will make their first starts on Wednesday. This type of talent is typical for the league, which has sent roughly 2,500 players to the big leagues, including Derek Jeter, Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Max Scherzer and Mike Trout. The AFL has spawned 231 All-Stars (including 42 from this summer's game alone), 25 Rookies of the Year, 14 MVPs and five Cy Young Award winners. Several members of this year's historic rookie class played in the AFL, including the last two league MVPs, Kris Bryant and Greg Bird, as well as Francisco Lindor, Joc Pederson and Addison Russell. Each of MLB's 30 organizations sends at least a half-dozen prospects to Arizona, where they'll play six games per week in a regular-season schedule that runs through Nov. 19. The two division leaders will meet Nov. 21 in a one-game championship that will be broadcast live on MLB Network. MLBN also will broadcast the Fall Stars Game on Nov. 7, a Military Appreciation Game between Salt River and Surprise on Nov. 14, and other regular-season games to be announced. Besides giving prospects six more weeks of at-bats and innings to hone their skills, the AFL also provides an opportunity to make up for time lost to injury. Reyes missed a month at midseason with minor shoulder soreness and totaled 101 1/3 innings. Manaea lost the first half to abdominal and groin strains and worked just 74 1/3 frames this season, while Freeland pitched just 46 2/3 amid battling bone chips in his elbow and shoulder fatigue. Among position players, Robertson was limited to 82 games by a broken hamate bone in his left hand. Peterson played in just 97 contests and saw his season end on Aug. 1 with an Achilles strain. Another former first-rounder, Mesa first baseman Casey Gillaspie (Rays), was held to 79 games after he injured his left wrist on a swing. Even big leaguers use the AFL on their way back from injuries. Surprise infielder Jurickson Profar (Rangers), who once ranked as the best prospect in the Minors, missed all of 2014 and appeared in just 12 games (none above low Class A) this year after he tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder. Peoria left-hander James Paxton made only 13 starts for the Mariners while dealing with a strained tendon and torn fingernail. Eleven players from MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list are on AFL rosters. Glendale (Crawford, Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows, Reed), Salt River (Cecchini, Smith, Rockies outfielder Raimel Tapia) and Surprise (Reyes, Phillips, Brinson) lead the way with three each.

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 season, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 1-0-0 on this day.

Phillies Finally Figure One Out Against The Mets

GAME RECAP: Phillies Overpower Mets 14-8

Still their most conspicuous weakness despite several trades to address it, the Mets' bullpen unraveled Tuesday in a 14-8 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field. They retained a 6.5-game NL East lead thanks to the Nationals' subsequent loss to the Cardinals. Bobby Parnell, Eric O'Flaherty and Carlos Torres combined to allow eight runs in the sixth inning of the Mets' first loss in their last 11 meetings with the Phillies. Darin Ruf's two-run single accounted for a chunk of the damage, as well as a large part of his six-RBI game. But the Mets helped things along with two defensive errors, four bases on balls and multiple questionable personnel decisions. "You have to get through the sixth and seventh and you're saying, 'OK, we have a lot of choices now,'" Collins said. "The one thing you can't do is walk people." After Yoenis Cespedes' two-run homer brought the Mets within two of the lead in the bottom of the fifth, manager Terry Collins opted to use Parnell for the first time since Aug. 16, instead of more trusted relievers Sean Gilmartin or Addison Reed. By the end of the inning, the Mets trailed by 10. "We had other options," Collins said. "We certainly could have brought [Erik] Goeddel in tonight. He pitched last night so I wasn't going to put him into that situation. I could have went to Gilmartin. We just had a lefty in there so I thought I'd get a righty in there against that part of the order. He just didn't get it done." Neither starting pitcher performed particularly well, with Jon Niese allowing six runs in five innings and Aaron Harang giving up four runs in 4 2/3. "I wanted to win the game to break the spell," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said of his club's second win in 15 total games against the Mets. "I didn't want to mess around. I wanted to get this one under our belt because they've just had our number all year."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Ruf has been a bit of forgotten man among the rest of the team's younger players, but has found himself playing more at first base recently, particularly against left-handed starters. He took advantage, hitting a home run and posting a career-high six RBIs. "I had some good opportunities to drive in some runs and took advantage," Ruf said.
• The Phillies acquired Darnell Sweeney from the Dodgers in the Chase Utley trade, and so far he has made an impact. He entered the night with two home runs and three RBIs in just 14 at-bats. He then went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in his start against the Mets. "We'll continue to look at him because I like the way he swings the bat," Mackanin said.
• The Phillies' 14 runs match their most in a game since Opening Day last year 2014 in Texas. Their eight runs in the sixth inning were the most they scored in a single inning since they scored eight in the first inning against the Mets on Sept. 20, 2013.
• The 22 combined runs between the Mets and Phillies set a Citi Field record, surpassing the 21 runs the Mets and Phillies scored in a 13-8 Philadelphia win on July 19, 2013.
• The Phillies challenged a call in the second inning, when first-base umpire Phil Cuzzi ruled David Wright safe on a play at first. Cesar Hernandez's throw was high, which pulled Ruf off the bag. But replay showed Ruf tagged Wright with his glove before he reached first. The call was overturned and Wright was out.
• "Green ink. As long as we win I'll keep using green ink." -- Mackanin, who wrote out Tuesday's lineup card in green ink, hoping to change the Phillies' bad mojo against the Mets.
• Nola allowed one run in his past two starts, over a total of 15 innings. The righty shut out Miami over eight innings on Aug. 23, then beat the Padres on Friday by surrendering one run over seven innings.
• Though the Mets and Phillies have played six of their last nine games against each other, neither Harvey nor Nola started any of them.
• Mets rookie Michael Conforto reached base in 14 of his last 16 games. He's taken the opportunities Mets manager Terry Collins has given him and run with them. Expect him in there again with Nola on the hill.

NEXT GAME:

The Mets and Phillies will finish up their three-game series on Wednesday night as New York sends Matt Harvey (11-7, 2.48 ERA) to the mound while Philadelphia counters with Aaron Nola (5-1, 3.26). Harvey allowed a single run in 27 innings over four August starts, and sports a 0.52 ERA over his last five. Harvey is 5-3 with a 1.34 ERA over his last 12 starts dating back to June 16. That ERA is good for second in the Majors during that stretch, trialing only Zack Greinke. The Phillies have won six of the eight starts Nola has made since his debut July 21.

PHILS PHACTS:

Going Green – Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin quipped Tuesday afternoon that he used a green marker to fill out the lineup card because, well, he needed to do something to change the Phillies' luck this season against the Mets. Maybe green is good. The Phillies clobbered the Mets on Tuesday night at Citi Field, 14-8. They set season-highs with runs scored in a game and runs scored in an inning, scoring eight runs in the sixth inning. The victory snapped a franchise-high 10-game losing streak to the Mets. They previously lost 10 consecutive games to the Mets from Sept. 1971 to June 1972. "It was a great win to finally beat the Mets," Mackanin said. "Green ink. As long as we win I'll keep using green ink." The victory improved the Phillies to 2-13 against New York this season. But even with a 14-4 lead in the sixth, Mackanin still used his better relief pitchers in the bullpen, including Jeanmar Gomez and Luis Garcia. Why? Because he very badly wanted to win this game. "I wanted to win the game to break the spell," Mackanin said. "I didn't want to mess around. I wanted to get this one under our belt because they've just had our number all year. I managed it to win, and not to look at people." Darin Ruf helped with a career-high six RBIs. Darnell Sweeney had three RBIs, Andres Blanco had two and Jeff Francoeur had one. "We've been made aware of how bad they've handed it to us this year," Ruf said. "Especially with the situation they're in [first place in the National League East], we want to put our best foot forward. Tonight we did."

Embracing The Opportunity – Darin Ruf is no longer one of the kids on the Phillies' roster. He is 29, but for various reasons he has started only 145 games over the past four seasons. He joined the Phillies late in 2012, following a monstrous season with Double-A Reading. He has searched for a place to play ever since, playing a little left field, a little at first base and even some right field whenever the opportunity presented itself. But playing time has come more frequently for Ruf recently, who went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a career-high six RBIs in Tuesday night's 14-8 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. It was the first time a Phillies hitter had six or more RBIs in a game since Delmon Young had six on June 28, 2013. "I had some good opportunities to drive in some runs and took advantage," Ruf said. Ruf has started seven of the Phillies' 15 games at first base since Aug. 16, including the only six the Phillies have started against left-handers. He has hit .286 (8-for-28) with one double, three home runs and 11 RBIs in those seven starts. "I've thought that was my role for the last two years," Ruf said about playing against left-handers. "Just because that's who I mainly played against last year when I was healthy. Maybe this year I got a few more opportunities against righties, but for the most part I was in there every day against lefties. I've just really focused on taking advantage when I'm in there against lefties. I've been lucky to play well when I have been in there." It sounds like Ruf will continue to start against left-handers the rest of the season, too. Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin has talked with Ryan Howard about his playing time, telling the slugger he plans to play him predominantly against right-handers the rest of the way. Howard's .621 OPS against left-handers from 2012-15 is 231st out of 253 qualified hitters in baseball. He has a .443 OPS in 101 plate appearances against them this season. But could it mean anything for next season? Howard is signed through 2016. He will make $25 million in salary, plus he will earn a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. The Phillies have tried to trade him, but found little to no interest before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. Because the Phillies have no first base prospects knocking on the door, it is not a stretch to think Howard and Ruf could share time at first base next season, too. "That's not a bad option," Mackanin said. "That's a question for the future and probably not for me, that's for sure," Ruf said. "Anyway I can get a job, I'll take it."

Off To Arizona – One of the best prospects to come through the Phillies' system in over a decade will be joining six other Phillies' Minor Leaguers in the Arizona Fall League. Double-A Reading shortstop J.P. Crawford will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs. Crawford is the No. 5 prospect in baseball, according to MLBPipeline. He is the No. 1 prospect in the organization. The 20-year-old is hitting .270 (88-for-326) with 20 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 33 RBIs and a .781 OPS in 80 games. He missed a few weeks at the beginning of the season because of a strained left oblique. Also on the Desert Dogs are catcher Andrew Knapp, outfielder Dylan Cozens and pitchers Nick Pivetta, Tom Windle, Edubray Ramos and Yacksel Rios. Knapp, 23, is the No. 18 prospect in the organization, according to MLBPipeline. He is hitting .367 (73-for-199) with 21 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 53 RBIs and a 1.065 OPS in 51 games with Reading. He and Jorge Alfaro are the top two catching prospects in the organization. Alfaro is the No. 64 prospect in baseball and the No. 5 prospect in the organization. Cozens, 21, is a prospect with power potential. He has a combined .758 OPS with the GCL Phillies, Class A Advanced Clearwater and Reading. Pivetta, 22, joined the Phillies in the Jonathan Papelbon trade. He is 2-2 with a 7.31 ERA in six starts with Reading. Windle, 23, joined the Phillies in the Jimmy Rollins trade. He has transitioned from a starter to a reliever this season. He has a 1.52 ERA in 18 appearances with Reading since moving into the bullpen. Ramos, 22, went 4-5 with a 2.02 ERA in 45 appearances with Clearwater and Reading. Rios, 22, went 6-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 22 appearances (10 starts) with Clearwater.

And Now The Waiting Game – The Phillies have turned one of the weakest Minor League systems in baseball into arguably one of the best in a little less than nine months. They traded Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere, Marlon Byrd, Jake Diekman and Antonio Bastardo for a combined 14 prospects, including three that rank among the top 64 in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com. They have three other prospects in the Top 100, which is why MLBPipeline says the Phillies have the No. 7 system in baseball. Could it help bring back Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., whose contract expires after the season? "No decision has been made on Ruben at this point," Phillies president Pat Gillick told MLB.com in a telephone interview Tuesday evening. "We just got by the Trade Deadline. Consequently, we're moving a lot of people in the Minor Leagues from [Jerad] Eickhoff to [Alec] Asher and others. We've had our hands full. It's a decision that will be made in the next 30 days or so." Gillick is stepping down after the season and Andy MacPhail is taking his place. MacPhail is not granting interviews, so he did not comment for this story. But certainly MacPhail, Gillick and the rest of Phillies ownership, including the very visible John Middleton, will be involved in the final assessment. "It's going to be an organizational decision," Gillick said. Gillick has repeatedly said he has confidence in Amaro. He said Amaro handled himself as expected before both Trade Deadlines. Asked if he thinks Amaro should be back next year, Gillick said, "I've always said he's smart, he's confident. He didn't all of a sudden get dumb. I've said that a number of times. We had four bad years. We had three good years before that. Unfortunately, people just remember what you did yesterday. It's like any business. It's a tough business." Of course, many fans would like to see a new general manager, which could influence ownership or MacPhail or both. Gillick said fan sentiment is "certainly a small part" of the decision-making process. "The fans are customers, so you can't ignore the customers," Gillick said. "There has to be weight put on the fans. That isn't where the heavy weight is going. The fans play a part, but we're not going to make a decision based on what the fan sentiment is from one day to the next. I think the fan perception about Ruben from July 1 through this date has changed dramatically. I think the fans in Philadelphia are very knowledgeable. I think the fans know we've got a plan. And I think the fans know we're headed in the right direction. I think that really bodes well for Ruben. "There are some good things happening with the Phillies. Consequently, if I was Andy I would just say, evaluate, take your time, somewhere along the line you might want to make an adjustment, but overall we've got a good group." The Phillies certainly are not rushing the announcement, even with the Angels, Mariners, Brewers and Red Sox already looking for general managers. "Not particularly with the general manager, but just on everything I think we move a little bit slower and hopefully we're a little bit more considerate in making our decisions," Gillick said. "We contemplate a little more than other people." But now that the non-waiver and waiver Trade Deadlines have passed, what more can Amaro do to prove himself? Is there anything new anybody can learn about Amaro between now and the moment they make a decision? "My focus is on the organization and what we need to do to take the next step forward," Amaro said Tuesday. "Are we going to be a contending team next year? I think that's a stretch. Should we be thinking about ways to continue to build the organization, so in 2017 we're starting to creep that way? It's about continuing to develop the young players we have. How long will it take? Who knows? But that's the goal." Amaro said he is excited for the future. But will he be part of it? "I'm obviously hopeful," Amaro said.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have returned to their lackluster ways and regained their grip on last place in the NL East with a record of 53-80. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history… at least that is something to hope for this year! All time, the Phillies are 62-53-0 on this day.