Minor Awards And Major Disappointments

GAME RECAP: National Edge Phillies 5-4

Maybe manager Dusty Baker said it best: Trea Turner is a difference-maker. The rookie center fielder proved it once again at Nationals Park on Friday night, when he clubbed a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Nationals over the Phillies, 5-4. Washington's magic number dwindled to 14 to win the National League East. The second-place Mets defeated the Braves, 6-4. With the score tied at 4, Turner battled reliever Frank Herrmann for nine pitches. Turner connected on a 1-2 fastball and hit the ball over the center-field fence to end the game. It was also his second home run of the night. "I finally got a pitch up in the zone. I put the barrel on it," Turner said. "I'm still laughing at how it ended up over the fence. I felt good." Turner now has eight home runs in 223 at-bats. He had only six home runs in 331 at-bats with Triple-A Syracuse this year. Baker had nothing but praise for his center fielder. "Keep it coming. The sky's the limit. He is probably doing some things that even amazes himself," the skipper said. "He just let it flow and let it be. He is playing an outstanding center field. His first two-homer game, his first walk-off homer game. This one he will remember for a long time." The Nationals blew a three-run lead before Turner's homer ended the game. The score was tied at 1 when the Nationals took the lead in the sixth inning off Philadelphia starter Jake Thompson. After Daniel Murphy doubled with one out, Bryce Harper singled to right field, sending Murphy home. An inning later, Phillies right-hander Colton Murray was on the mound when Turner hit a two-run homer to give Washington a three-run lead. But Washington's lead didn't last long. In the eighth inning, Koda Glover allowed a three run homer to Cameron Rupp to tie the score at four. "That kid Turner is a good-looking player," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said.

PHILS PHACTS: 

• He did not get the win and he did not pitch six innings, but Thompson continues to make strides following a rough start to his big league career. He had a 9.78 ERA after his first four starts, and he was unable to pitch more than five innings in any of them. But after he allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Nationals, Thompson has a 2.33 ERA (five earned runs in 19 1/3 innings) in his last three. "I thought I had it," Thompson said.
• Rupp belted a game-tying, three-run homer to left-center field in the eighth inning. Rupp has struggled lately since hitting .278 with 18 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and an .831 OPS through Aug. 5. In fact, he had hit a mere .185 with two doubles, one home run, seven RBIs and a .515 OPS in his previous 71 plate appearances, entering the game. Perhaps this shot gets him back on track. "I was ready for it," Rupp said. "I would say I sold myself on getting a fastball there."
• "I thought about hitting [Tommy] Joseph there or [Darin] Ruf, someone to maybe hit a home run, but my biggest concern was going 14 innings and having to go to those guys. That would be the worst-case scenario for me." -- Mackanin, on Herrmann hitting in the ninth. Mackanin said he hit Herrmann there because relievers Edubray Ramos, Hector Neris and Jeanmar Gomez have pitched too much recently.
• Herrera left the game in the fifth inning with a bruised right leg after Roark hit him with a pitch in fourth. X-rays were negative. He is day to day.

NEXT GAME:

Right-hander Jared Eickhoff (10-13, 3.86 ERA) faces the Nationals on Saturday night in the third game of a four-game series at Nationals Park. He has pitched six innings in each of his last four starts, allowing three or fewer runs in each of his last three.

PHILS PHACTS:

Rupp Goes Deep – Cameron Rupp needed that one. He mashed a game-tying, three-run home run to left-center field in the eighth inning Friday night in a 5-4 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park. The 2-0 fastball from Nationals reliever Koda Glover left Rupp's bat at 106 mph and traveled a projected 420 feet, according to Statcast™. But it looked like it traveled faster and farther than it did. He crushed it. "I was ready for it," Rupp said. "I would say I sold myself on getting a fastball there." Rupp hopes the shot reverses his fortunes following a rough few weeks. He had hit .278 with 18 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 38 RBIs and an .831 OPS in 283 plate appearances through Aug. 5, making him one of the most productive catchers in baseball this season. But he has struggled since then. He entered Friday night hitting .185 with two doubles, one home run, seven RBIs and a .515 OPS in his last 71 plate appearances. "I just hit one of those spots," Rupp said. "It's part of the game. At some point every hitter goes through it. It took me a little longer to get out of it. It was a little frustrating at times. I got away from myself a little bit and finally found my approach again and got back to getting the ball in the zone and putting a good swing on it." Said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin: "He's pulling off the ball. I talked earlier about how he changed his approach at the plate and changed his swing path. Well, he was reverting back to his old swing path. That's common for players to do. When you do something one way your whole life you kind of creep back to it little by little. But he put a charge into that one." But Rupp never needed to worry too much. He solidified himself as the team's No. 1 catcher with his strong play through early August. Even with his recent struggles, he still ranks seventh out of 20 catchers in OPS, making him the projected Opening Day starter behind the plate next season. "You've got to have success in this game to keep your job," Rupp said. "It was nice to get off to a good start, but I really can't worry about that. I've got to stick with my strengths and worry about pitch selection and calling games and working with the pitchers and just let the offense happen."

Herrera Out – Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera left Friday night's 5-4 loss to the Nationals with a bruised right leg. Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark drilled Herrera in the leg with a pitch in the fourth inning. Herrera stayed in the game, but Aaron Altherr replaced him in the top of the fifth inning as a pinch-hitter. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said after the game that X-rays on Herrera's leg were negative. He is day to day. Herrera doubled in his first-inning at-bat against Roark. He is hitting .278 with 16 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 139 games this season.

Minor Awards – Dylan Cozens and Rhys Hoskins had two of the best seasons in Minor League baseball this year. So the Phillies on Friday announced both Double-A Reading sluggers earned the organization's Paul Owens Award for its top position players. It is the third time two players won the Paul Owens Award in the same season, and first since 1997, whenJimmy Rollins and Jeff Key won it. Triple-A Lehigh Valley right-hander Ben Lively earned the Paul Owens Award as the organization's top pitcher. Cozens, 22, hit .276 with 38 doubles, three triples, 40 home runs, 125 RBIs, 61 walks, 21 stolen bases, 106 runs scored and a .591 slugging percentage. He led the Minors in home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits (81) and total bases (308). Cozens, who the Phillies selected in the second round of the 2012 Draft, set the Reading single-season home run record and is just the second Phillies' Minor Leaguer since 1963 to hit 40 or more homers in a season. Ryan Howard hit 46 in 2004. The outfielder also earned the Eastern League MVP Award and earned a spot on the MLB Futures Game roster. Hoskins, 23, hit .281 with 26 doubles, 38 home runs, 116 RBIs, 71 walks, eight stolen bases, 95 runs and a .566 slugging percentage. He had three multi-homer games and seven games with four or more RBIs. Hoskins ranked second in the Minor Leagues in home runs, third in RBIs and total bases (282) and tied for ninth in extra-base hits (65) and runs.  The Phillies selected the first baseman in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft. "The hardest thing to develop is power, and the hardest thing to find is a run-producing bat," Phillies player development director Joe Jordan said in a statement. "We feel like both of these guys are going to be that. It has been a fantastic experience to watch them, and the reward was seeing them develop as players. We couldn't have drawn it up any better. I think both of them should be a bright part of our future." Lively, 24, went a combined 18-5 with a 2.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP (42 walks, 118 hits), 139 strikeouts and a .192 opponents' batting average in 170 2/3 innings with Reading and Lehigh Valley. He is the first Minor Leaguer to win 18 games in a season since Colorado's Jhoulys Chacin in 2008. Lively led the International League in WHIP and opponents' batting average and finished second in ERA. Lively, who won Reds' Minor League Player of the Year in 2014, was acquired from Cincinnati in a trade for Marlon Byrd in Dec. '14. "Ben opened himself up in Spring Training and said, 'I've got to do what I can to get better,' and he has taken a huge step forward," Jordan said. "His delivery is sound and he is a big, strong guy that lives at the bottom of the strike zone. We saw this summer what he has a chance to be."

Today In Phils History – It was on this day in 1955 that Robin Roberts broke the NL record when he surrendered his 40^th homerun of the season (he would finish with 41 and break his own record the following year). A decade later, Fergie Jenkins made his MLB debut pitching 4 1/3 innings of relief and earning his 1^st win. In 1974, Lou Brock broke Maury Wills’ single season stolen base record (105) and Max Carey’s all time NL record (738) in a loss to the Phillies. Marty Bystrom made news for the 1^st time in the 1980 season when he recorded a shutout in his 1^st MLB start. Mike Schmidt hit his 10^th and final walk off homerun to break an 11^th inning tie with the Expos in 1985. 6 years later, Schmidt’s former teammate Larry Bowa was inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition to Jenkins, other notable debuts that occurred on this day include Harry Coveleski (1907), Willie Jones (1947), Vic Power (1964 – with the Phillies), Bob Boone (1972), and Cameron Rupp (2013). Finally, happy birthday to Harry Anderson (1931) and Danys Baez (1977).

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 63-78 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 35-70-0 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.

Some Debuts Don’t Go As Planned

GAME RECAP: Jays Jack Phils 11-3 

Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and Ezequiel Carrera and Edwin Encarnacion added a pair of two-run shots as the Blue Jays scored early and often against rookie Zach Eflin in an 11-3 victory over the Phillies on Tuesday afternoon at Rogers Centre. Donaldson went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. It was his second five-RBI game of the season and the fourth of his career as the reigning American League MVP Award winner also extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. "We watched a little bit of film on him," Donaldson said of Eflin. "I was paying very close attention to Jose [Bautista's] at-bat, and it looked like he wanted to throw his heater early on. In my first at-bat, he threw me a fastball that I could hit, and I was able to hit it pretty well to right field. That kind of started me on the right track. I was able to get some pitches to hit, and I was able to take advantage of it." Kevin Pillar also enjoyed a three-hit game with a homer and a pair of runs scored. Carrera went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. The offensive outburst came less than 24 hours after Toronto was shut out by Philadelphia, but the club has now scored at least 10 runs in three of its past four games. Eflin was making his Major League debut, but it did not go as planned. He allowed nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and three walks while striking out two. Eflin became the first rookie Phillies pitcher to allow eight earned runs or more in a start since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said about his first Major League start. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." Right-hander Marcus Stroman picked up the victory for Toronto. He entered Tuesday having allowed 25 runs over his previous 29 2/3 innings, but Stroman was much better in this one. Stroman scattered six hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven strong innings. The one big blow was a solo home run by Cesar Hernandez in the seventh. "I felt a lot better out there," Stroman said. "I think the work that we've been putting in between the last few starts is starting to take shape. Not exactly where I want to be, but definitely made strides and looking forward to the next one."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Playing in his first game against the Blue Jays since being traded from Toronto to Philadelphia for cash considerations on June 1, Jimmy Paredes finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Paredes brought home the Phillies' first run of the afternoon with a double down the left-field line in the sixth inning, before notching a single and scoring on Andres Blanco's sacrifice fly in the eighth. The 27-year-old switch-hitter entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning for center fielder Odubel Herrera. Paredes played right, with Peter Bourjos moving to center. "I feel good being back in Canada," Paredes said. "We had a bad game, but we'll see what we can do tomorrow. What I've learned in the National League is that you have to be ready every inning with all the double switches. You never know what's going to happen, and I try to make the most of my opportunities."
• The eight earned runs allowed by Eflin was the highest total given up by a Philadelphia starter since Jerome Williams surrendered eight on Aug. 20, 2015.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco missed his second straight game on Tuesday with a right knee sprain he sustained Sunday, and he is considered day to day. If Franco is unable to go Wednesday, Andres Blanco could make his third consecutive start at the hot corner.
• After spending the past two games at designated hitter, Jose Bautista could make his return to right field on Wednesday. Bautista exited Thursday's game against the Orioles with right thigh tightness, and he missed three consecutive contests before returning to the lineup on Monday.
• Edwin Encarnacion is expected to get the start at first base in Philadelphia, with Justin Smoak coming off the bench for the Blue Jays. Encarnacion has seen a majority of his at-bats as the DH, but he started at first base on Tuesday.

NEXT GAME:

After playing a pair of games in Toronto, the Blue Jays and Phillies shift over to Citizens Bank Park for two games beginning on Wednesday. Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57 ERA) gets the ball for Toronto having allowed five hits or fewer in nine consecutive starts. Estrada's .168 batting average against is the lowest mark among American League starters, and the 32-year-old has limited the opposition to two runs or fewer in seven of his 12 starts this season. In his last outing against the Orioles, Estrada went six innings and allowed three earned runs. The right-handed finesse pitcher has won his past three decisions, and he has not been defeated since a 4-0 loss to the White Sox on April 27. The Phillies will counter with Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA), who will look to rebound after one of his worst starts of the season. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed nine hits and seven earned runs -- including three home runs -- over six innings in a loss to the Nationals on Friday. Prior to his start against Washington, Hellickson had allowed three runs or fewer in six consecutive outings. Hellickson made 15 starts against Toronto from 2010-14 during his time with the Rays, going 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA. However, he is 1-10 with a 6.69 ERA in 15 Interleague starts.

PHILS PHACTS:

Dreadful Debut – Zach Eflin experienced both the highs and lows of life in the Major Leagues during his debut on Tuesday. Eflin was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start in place of the injured Vince Velasquez, and he struck out two of the first three batters he faced -- Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion -- on hard sliders. After that, however, things took a turn for the worst for Eflin, the Phillies' No. 13 prospect. The 22-year-old right-hander lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs (eight earned) in an 11-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Three of the nine hits Eflin allowed were home runs, and he also walked three. He became the first Phillies rookie to allow eight earned runs in a game since Gavin Floyd on April 19, 2005. "This was his Major League debut, and I suppose he was a little nervous," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He just made a lot of bad pitches. He normally locates a lot better than he did. He was just up in the zone with all his pitches and got hit. Sorry to see his debut turn out that way, but this is a good lineup, and he can't make mistakes to them." The big blow from Toronto came in a six-run third inning, when reigning American League MVP Award winner Josh Donaldson took Eflin into the second deck with a grand slam for a 9-0 Blue Jays lead. Known for his ability to keep the ball down and command his fastball, Eflin didn't display those tendencies in Toronto. "You've got to forget about it," Eflin said. "Obviously, I'll remember it for the rest of my life, but from a pitching standpoint, I've got to bounce back. I've got to throw quality strikes and get ahead of the hitters." "You just got to keep him calm, don't let him get to himself, don't let him get down about himself," added catcher Cameron Rupp. "Just tell him, 'Come on, you can do it, you got one pitch left, you got two outs, you're one pitch away.' And then it was tough for him not to get it. He battled, he never gave in to those hitters, and that's a good lineup, too. You can't make mistakes to that lineup and those guys, and they got him when he did." Acquired from the Dodgers as part of the Jimmy Rollins deal in 2014, Eflin's Major League debut came in front of a packed house at Rogers Centre. In the first row behind the Phillies' dugout were Eflin's father, grandparents, two sisters, girlfriend and her brother. "It was very special," Eflin said about having his family on hand. "Especially because they had their passports and everything ready for whenever and whatever happened, so it was awesome to have them here." While the Phillies are unsure of what the season holds for Eflin as far as a permanent spot in their rotation, they do expect him to get another outing. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-hander knows he'll have to make some tweaks in order to have a better performance his next time out. "Really make sure I limit my pitches up in the zone," Eflin said. "I need to make sure that I focus on every pitch and work down in the zone and really don't give them anything to hit, and go from there."

Today In Phils History – It was on this day in 1945 that Ben Chapman was acquired from the Dodgers… his history with that team did not stop there. 4 years later, Eddie Waitkus is shot in a Chicago hotel by 19-year old Ruth Steihagen. 3 years later, Granny Hamner demonstrated why it is always important to cover home plate when he scored on a foul pop up which was fielded by the Pittsburgh catcher. In 1960, the Phillies said goodbye to Wally Post and Sparky Anderson but also welcomed Tony Gonzalez to the team. 2 year later, the Phillies made a smart acquisition (which they would later negate) when they signed minor-league free agent Ferguson Jenkins. Long time Phillies manager Gene Mauch was fired on this day in 1968 and replaced by Bob Skinner. In 2001, the Phillies honored 2 players from 2 very different eras when Gary Maddox and Gavvy Cravath were inducted into the Philadelphia Baseball Hall of Fame. It is also the birthday of Bab Dahlgren (1912) and Lance Parrish who turns 60 today.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 30-35 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 42-57-0 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 Avoid Sweep In Extra Innings

GAME RECAP: Phillies Edge Mets 5-4

Once the Phillies managed to stop the Mets' home run barrage on Wednesday, all they needed was a well-placed hit. Peter Bourjos obliged with a walk-off infield single in the 11th inning at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday night, leading Philadelphia to a 5-4 win to avoid a series sweep. "You want a winning record at home and play .500 on the road," manager Pete Mackanin said. "But we're happy to go 5-5 on this homestand. It's great to salvage a win from these guys, as well as they've been swinging the bats." The Phillies began their winning rally when Freddy Galvis doubled sharply to right field with one out. Mets reliever Hansel Robles intentionally walked the next batter, advanced both runners on a wild pitch, then got pinch-hitter Emmanuel Burriss to fly out. But Bourjos, batting ninth in the lineup, followed with a soft grounder that handcuffed David Wright at third base, forcing him to throw off his back leg. Bourjos beat the throw to first base with relative ease, allowing the winning run to score. "He's one of the fastest guys in the game, so I knew just catch and release," said Wright, who just missed catching a foul pop on the first pitch of Bourjos' at-bat. "I was able to make a good throw, just not nearly in time." It was enough to upend the Mets, who for much of the night seemed bent on keeping Citizens Bank Park their home away from home. Twenty-eight of the Mets' 37 runs this series came via the homer, and Wednesday's finale was not much different. Consecutive fifth-inning long balls from Yoenis Cespedes and Lucas Duda gave the Mets a temporary lead against Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson, who received a no-decision. So did Mets counterpart Bartolo Colon, who was in line to pass Pedro Martinez with his 220th career win before Bourjos laced an RBI single off Addison Reed in the seventh, tying the game and ultimately sending it to extra innings. The Phillies had done their earlier damage off Colon on Galvis' two-run homer and a David Lough sacrifice fly. "You get a little greedy, you win the first two you want to win the third," Wright said. "But series wins, that's the name of the game. At least we can take that out of here."

PHILS PHACTS:

• After Hellickson was lifted with one out in the fifth inning,Hector Neris took over and proceeded to throw a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless innings in long relief, striking out six. Neris has been the most reliable arm in the Phillies' bullpen, having yet to allow a run in eight appearances this season. "From his last two outings in the spring, [Neris] started showing real good command and poise," Mackanin said. "Even through the early part of this season, he's been doing that every time. The numbers speak for themselves." Those numbers? Neris has struck out 15 while walking only two. He's inherited five runners and stranded them all. The rest of the Phillies' bullpen got the job done, too, totaling 6 2/3 innings without allowing a run and striking out 11. "They were executing pitches," Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud said. "Not only their fastballs, but their offspeed. You've just got to tip your cap and move on."
• Lough has played in all three games since being recalled on Monday, and has at least one hit in all three. He went 2-for-3 with a single, double and sacrifice fly on Wednesday, providing Philadelphia with a much-needed offensive spark. His sac fly briefly gave the Phillies their first lead of the series, and he also scored his first run. "People think it's a huge difference between Triple-A and the big leagues," Lough said. "It's really not. ... It's just about getting comfortable down there, then coming up here and trying to help the team win."
• "The chances of getting him out on that play are pretty impossible." -- Wright, on Bourjos' game-winning infield hit.
• Wednesday marked the first time since June 1, 1979, that the Phillies had anyone but a pitcher bat ninth in the starting lineup, playing in a National League stadium. The last position player to do so was shortstop Bud Harrelson, who went 1-for-3, with Steve Carlton batting eighth.

NEXT GAME:

Philadelphia gets its first day off since April 5, the day after Opening Day in Cincinnati, on Thursday before beginning a three-game weekend set in Milwaukee on Friday at 8:10 p.m. ET. Aaron Nola will pitch, looking to get back on track after allowing seven runs in five innings to the Nationals on Saturday.

PHILS PHACTS:

Cleaning Up In The Nine Spot – In any other game Pete Mackanin has managed, and in any other game the Phillies have played since 1979, the pitcher's spot would have been up with two outs and the winning run on third base in the 11th inning. But because the lineup "just looks better" to Mackanin, with Peter Bourjos hitting ninth and Jeremy Hellickson -- the Phillies' starting pitcher in their 5-4 win over the Mets -- initially batting No. 8, it was Bourjos who came to the plate and sped down the first-base line, just beating the throw across the diamond from David Wright and allowing Freddy Galvis to score the winning run. "Looking at it now, it's pretty funny," said Bourjos, who also tied the game with a single in the seventh that ultimately forced extra innings. "He came through twice big for us," Mackanin said. "We're happy for that." The Phillies' right fielder entered Wednesday's game hitting .167 with an on-base-plus-slugging-percentage of .472. But he proceeded to go 2-for-5 with two RBIs, doubling his season total in one night. In the seventh, Bourjos went the other way to drive home David Lough. "It was nice to see him get those two hits, especially going to right field," Mackanin said. "[Hitting coach] Steve Henderson has been working with him on taking the ball up the middle and to the right side. It was nice to see that single to right field." It marked the first time since June 1, 1979, that the Phillies had anyone but a pitcher bat ninth in the starting lineup, playing in a National League stadium. The last position player to do so was shortstop Bud Harrelson, who went 1-for-3, with Steve Carlton batting eighth. Bourjos almost didn't get the opportunity for his 11th-inning heroics. After Galvis doubled, a wild pitch advanced him to third with one out. The Mets then began to walk Emmanuel Burriss -- pinch-hitting for Jeanmar Gomez in the spot ahead of Bourjos -- but two pitches into the intentional free pass, they changed course. Burriss attempted a squeeze play, with Galvis rushing home from third, but he bunted foul. "I would've liked to win a game with a squeeze," Mackanin said. The Phillies then had one more scare. Bourjos, now batting with two outs after Burriss flied out, hit a towering popup into foul territory behind third base. Wright chased it to the stands, where it looked like it would be uncatchable, but the wind brought it back within reach. The Mets' third baseman tumbled into the wall and was unable to make the grab. "I missed it by about six inches or so," Wright said. Two pitches later, the ball came right back to Wright, this time hard on the ground. He made a backhanded snag and quickly threw across his body in a hopeless attempt to beat the speedy Bourjos to first. Galvis scored, and the Phillies had won. Not long after, Galvis doused Bourjos with a energy drink bath. "I didn't feel comfortable until I touched the bag," Bourjos said. Mackanin said before the game he's never been a fan of hitting the pitcher eighth. But with Bourjos collecting two clutch hits from the No. 9 spot, Mackanin now has a decision on his hands. "It worked out tonight," he said. "We'll see. Like I said, once he starts swinging the bat better, like I know he can, then I probably won't do that. It just happened to fall into place tonight."

Bailey Back In The Majors – Before Andrew Bailey appeared in 10 games out of the Yankees' bullpen near the end of last season, the former All-Star closer hadn't pitched in a big league game since 2013. Bailey received something more than a September callup from the Phillies on Wednesday, as they purchased his contract from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and designated left-hander James Russell for assignment. "It's a big opportunity I've been looking forward to," Bailey said prior to Wednesday's 5-4, 11th-inning win over the Mets. Bailey was one of 24 relievers the Phillies had in Spring Training and one of 25 non-roster invitees, spanning all positions. A strong start and prior closing experience fueled speculation he could fill the Phillies' then-vacant closer's role. But allowing five runs in the final stretch led to him starting the season in Triple-A. "I do think going down to Triple-A helped me out," Bailey said. "Just being able to gain strength and momentum from Spring Training. I feel ready to go, ready to rock -- significantly better than Spring Training." In four relief appearances for the IronPigs, Bailey tossed five innings, allowing just one run and striking out 10. Meanwhile, Russell appeared in seven games for the Phillies, leaving the team with an 18.69 ERA and more walks (five) than strikeouts (four) in 4 1/3 innings. "Russell wasn't pitching the way he's capable of," manager Pete Mackanin said. "[Bailey] wasn't far off in spring. ... He's throwing pretty good. I haven't seen him [since he went to Triple-A], but his numbers, even though it's a small sample, they're OK." Mackanin said the Phillies plan on "seeing where he fits in," but Jeanmar Gomez will continue to work the ninth inning. Gomez pitched the 10th and 11th innings Wednesday, allowing no runs, one hit and striking out two. Bailey was available but did not see action.

Herrera Moves Up – Manager Pete Mackanin has insisted the Phillies need Odubel Herrera in the middle of their order because of the pop and hitting ability he provides. "He's probably our best hitter right now," Mackanin said before Monday's game, in which Herrera hit second. But he couldn't resist the urge to keep the hitter leading the National League in walks and pitches seen per plate appearance out of the leadoff spot for long. Mackanin had been clamoring to find a reliable leadoff hitter since the season started, experimenting with Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez and Emmanuel Burriss there, as well as considering David Lough but deciding against it. Finally, after drawing 14 walks in 15 games, including a streak of his last six (the longest for a Phillie since Michael Young in 2013), he found his name atop the lineup in Wednesday's 5-4, 11th-inning win over the Mets. He went 1-for-4 with another walk. "I'm trying to be more patient each at-bat," Herrera said. "And that's giving me a lot of good results, so I'm going to keep trying to do it." That success had led to him reaching base at the 14th-best clip in baseball, a .426 rate, heading into Wednesday's action. However, it took until No. 35 on the on-base percentage leaderboard to find a player with a worse batting average (which doesn't include walks) --Mark Teixeira, who had a .385 OBP and .200 average, compared to Herrera's .426 and .255 marks. Because of Herrera's consistency reaching base near the top of the lineup, he also leads the Phillies in runs scored, with five. Having him on base gives players hitting behind him, like Ryan Howard and Maikel Franco, more chances to drive him home. "That's what I'm looking for," Franco said. "Players get on base and in scoring position, you can drive them in. That's what you're looking for." "If he's on base, things can kind of change," Howard added. "If there's runners on first and second or second and third, or just if he's on first, things can change, too." Although the team appreciates his capacity for getting on base, the amount of pitches he sees in an at-bat could arguably be even more valuable -- especially to those hitting directly behind him. Herrera's 5.13 pitches-per-plate-appearance led baseball. Mike Napoli was a distant second, averaging 4.89. "I really want to establish myself in the MLB. I want to be respected," Herrera said. "I'm just seeing as many pitches as I can because I want to learn from those pitchers, too. I want to see what they're all about." Howard and Franco agreed that being able to see more more pitches from the dugout or on-deck circle allows them to be more aggressive once they step into the box. "A guy like Dubi will allow you to kind of see pitches," Howard said. "It helps you develop your plan a little bit more. ... If you're trying to see what this guy's slider's doing, how's his changeup, does it just float, does it sink, does it fade? Does he have a lot of bite on this pitch? What's he trying to do?" It took Herrera until Aug. 14 to draw his 14th walk last season. By that time, he had struck out 82 times; Herrera's whiffed 16 times this season. He wasn't issued a single free pass in Spring Training. Herrera, however, said he hasn't made any drastic changes to his approach. But the team is taking notice. "He's looking for pitches, and if he doesn't get it, then he's not swinging," Howard said. "He's definitely shown more patience and continues to mature as a hitter." "It's a game of adjustments," Mackanin said. "Who's going to make the adjustments? Instead of making the same outs the same way ... you like to see players realize that, 'Hey, I see what they're trying to do to me, and I'm not going to swing at that pitch anymore.' That's the maturation process."

Today In Phils History – Today is a bit of a mixed bag for the Phillies. It started off on a high note with pitcher Bill Duggleby hitting a homerun during his major league debut in 1898 and, most recently, Cliff Lee collected his 10^th 10 strikeout, no walk, performance as a Phillie (tying Curt Schilling’s record) in 2014, Chase Utley hitting a homerun in his 5^th consecutive game in 2008 (tying a team record), and Cole Hamels dominating the Reds with 15 strikeouts in 2007 (the Phillies also turned a triple play in that game). Today also saw Mike Schmidt connect for his 7^th homerun in four games in 1976 falling one short of Ralph Kiner’s record. And while Jim Bunning losing for the first time as a Phillies at Shea Stadium to the Mets in 1967 was bad enough all of these things are overshadowed by the fact that 50 years ago today the Phillies traded future Hall of Fame Pitcher Fergie Jenkins to the Cubs for Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl. But, lets end this one on a positive note, Happy Birthday to Blueclaws manager and former Phillies Gregg Legg who was born on this day in 1960.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 7-9 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 43-38-3 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!

Busy Day Shaking Up The Roster

PHILS PHACTS:

Impressive Return For Giles – With the Phillies in full-on rebuilding mode, it seemed just a matter of time until they found a buyer for closer Ken Giles. That time finally came on Saturday afternoon, when the group of young players changing hands were a bit different than the initially reported stable of prospects. On Wednesday evening at the Winter Meetings, it was believed the Phillies would be receiving right-hander Vincent Velasquez, outfield prospect Derek Fisher, right-handed pitching prospect Thomas Eshelman and lefty Brett Oberholtzer. The final deal was a little different. Instead of Fisher, it was former No. 1 overall pick Mark Appel going to Philadelphia, as well as right-handed pitcher Harold Arauz, with infielder Jonathan Arauz heading in the other direction to Houston. The key to the deal is now Appel, ranked No. 43 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 list. Appel, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 Draft after returning to Stanford for his senior season (following being taken No. 8 overall by the Pirates in 2012), still has outstanding stuff, though that hasn't equated to dominating results in his Minor League career. Appel is the second former No. 1 pick to be dealt in the past week, after infielder Dansby Swanson was traded from the D-backs to the Braves. The most recent No. 1 overall pick that still plays in the system of the team that drafted him is Houston's Carlos Correa. The right-hander split the 2015 season between Double- and Triple-A and finished with a 4.37 ERA, .266 batting average against and 110 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings. It was an improvement over his first full season, which began with an injury and started with disastrous results in the hitting-friendly California League. A very strong showing in the '14 Arizona Fall League helped him head back in the right direction and prepare him for the upper levels of the Astros' system. Appel still gets high grades for his pure stuff, a three-pitch mix of above-average to plus offerings. His fastball can sit in the mid-90s and touch 98 mph at times, and he backs that up with a very good slider and changeup. He's always had a good feel for pitching and perhaps just needs to trust his stuff better to obtain results that match his repertoire. He does give the Phillies a pitching prospect with top-of-the-rotation potential, one just about ready to get a shot at the big league level. Velasquez technically is no longer considered a prospect because of service time in late August. But he's a young, 23-year-old right-hander still very much in career-establishing mode. At the time of his removal from top-prospect lists, the 2010 second-round pick had been re-ranked at No. 69 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 list, and sat at No. 4 on the Astros' Top 30. If he were still eligible, he'd slot in at No. 5 on the Phillies ever-improving Top 30 list. Velasquez has the chance to have three Major League average or better pitches and commands them all well when he's at his best. His fastball will sit in the low-to-mid 90s with life, and his changeup is his second above-average offering. His curve isn't quite as good but should be a quality breaking ball when all is said and done. He has good mound presence -- when he's on the mound. The one thing Velasquez has struggled with has been staying healthy, with both Tommy John surgery and a groin issue on his medical resume. The Astros had moved him to the bullpen after he threw fairly well in the rotation to monitor his innings and get him through a season in one piece. If he can stay away from the disabled list, he could be a future No. 3-type starter. Eshelman becomes the third 2015 draftee to be dealt under the new "Trea Turner rule," which allows Draft picks to be traded after the World Series following the June Draft, as opposed to a full year after they were drafted, as was the case under the old rule. The Cal State Fullerton product, who led NCAA Division I in walks per nine innings in all three years he was on campus, gets a 70 grade for his control. His stuff is average, at best, across the board, but he can throw any pitch in any count and put it wherever he wants. The Phillies had success with control artist Aaron Nola, their 2014 first-rounder, and Eshelman is kind of a poor man's version with slightly less stuff. Still, his high floor means he's a good bet to fulfill his potential as a No. 4 or 5 starter. Oberholtzer is a 26-year-old finesse lefty who is a year removed from making 24 big league starts. He had some blister problems in 2015, making eight starts for Houston, and has yet to find consistency in the Majors. He has the ceiling of a No. 5 starter.

Phillies Sign Morton – The Phillies announced a trade Saturday morning that did not involve Ken Giles. They acquired right-hander Charlie Morton from the Pirates for Minor League right-hander David Whitehead, continuing a trend of stockpiling experienced pitchers on short-term deals. Morton, 32, will become a free agent following the 2016 season, although he has a $9.5 million option for 2017. It originally was a club option, but it becomes a mutual option following the trade. If Morton declines his half of the option, he would lose a $1 million buyout. Whitehead, 23, went 9-11 with a 4.44 ERA in 25 starts for Class A Advanced Clearwater last season. The Phillies continue to add starting pitching depth. They acquired right-hander Jeremy Hellickson in a similar deal last month. Hellickson becomes a free agent after next season, and the Phillies sent a fringe prospect to Arizona to complete that deal. Hellickson and Morton provide a veteran presence to mostly inexperienced rotation candidates that include Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, Adam Morgan, David Buchanan, Alec Asher and Severino Gonzalez. The Phillies could add more rotation depth if they complete the Giles trade, which is pending physicals. It also gives the Phillies two potential trade chips in July, while they allow the organization's pitching prospects to continue to develop at a more natural pace. The Phillies designated right-hander A.J. Achter for assignment to make room for Morton on the 40-man roster. They claimed him off waivers from the Twins on Nov. 20. Worth noting: The Phillies signed right-hander Ernesto Frieri to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Frieri, 30, will compete for a bullpen job. He went 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 22 appearances last season with the Rays. He has a 3.55 ERA and 73 saves in 298 appearances in his career, making him a closer candidate.

Adding Depth – Matt Klentak just made his first big trade as Phillies general manager. He announced Saturday afternoon the Phillies dealt hard-throwing closer Ken Giles and Minor League infielder Jonathan Arauz to the Astros for five pitchers: right-handers Mark Appel, Vincent Velasquez, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. "[Klentak] said it was really hard to let someone like me go," Giles said in a telephone interview with MLB.com. "He has to look out for what's best for the organization, and I understand that. He's looking out for me, as well. It's one of those things like, I wish the Phillies the best of luck. Sooner rather than later something special is going to happen in that organization." The package headed to Philadelphia is different than the original one, which the Phillies and Astros agreed to Wednesday at the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. Sources said the Phillies had an issue with one of the physicals. As a result, the teams spent the last couple days augmenting the deal. Outfielder Derek Fisher had been part of the original four-player return, but he is no longer headed to Philadelphia. Appel, Jonathan Arauz and Harold Arauz are additions. Appel, 24, is the most notable addition. He is the No. 43 prospect in baseball and was the No. 2 prospect in Houston's system, according to MLBPipeline.com. The Pirates selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2012 Draft, but he returned to Stanford for his senior season and the Astros selected him first overall in 2013. But Appel has a 5.12 ERA in 54 appearances (53 starts) in the Minor Leagues, including a 4.48 ERA in 12 starts last season with Triple-A Fresno. His fastball still sits in the mid-90s, hitting 98 mph. His changeup and slider are considered above-average secondary pitches. That repertoire is why some still think Appel can be a front-line starter, despite the results. "The more I look, the more I see pieces coming together for Philadelphia," Appel told MLB.com. "I think Philadelphia is in a place where maybe the Astros were a couple of years ago. We've seen what the Astros have done. I'm excited to be a part of that in Philadelphia, and I think my goal is to get that to happen as soon as possible." Appel is the second No. 1 overall pick to be traded this week, after the D-backs sent Dansby Swanson to the Braves in the Shelby Miller deal. MLBPipeline.com ranked Velasquez, 23, as the No. 69 prospect in baseball and the No. 4 prospect in Houston's talented farm system in July. He went 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 appearances (seven starts) with the Astros last season. Velasquez has the talent to be a No. 3 starter or a dominant late-inning reliever, like Giles. Oberholtzer, 26, went 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in eight starts in 2015. He is 11-20 with a 3.94 ERA in 45 appearances (42 starts) in his big league career. Eshelman threw more strikes than any pitcher in the history of college baseball. He led NCAA Division I in walks per nine innings as a freshman (0.2), sophomore (0.6) and junior (0.5) at Cal State Fullerton, establishing new records for a single season and a career (0.4). He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter. Harold Arauz, 20, is 11-8 with a 3.54 ERA in 53 appearances (34 starts) in the Minor Leagues. The Phillies and Astros have been discussing a Giles trade for some time, but talks picked up this week and escalated Wednesday. There are plenty of reasons the two teams struck a deal. The Astros needed bullpen help, and Giles already can be considered one of the better closers in baseball, despite only handling the job for a couple months. He had a 1.80 ERA and 15 saves in 17 opportunities as the Phillies' closer last season. He will not become a free agent until after the 2020 season. Flipping Giles, who might pitch 65 innings per season, for five pitchers who might pitch 180-200 innings in the future, made sense for the rebuilding Phillies. They are not expected to contend for the next couple of years, and closers are far less expensive than starters and much easier to replace. Consider J.A. Happ's three-year, $36 million contract and Jeff Samardzija's five-year, $90 million contract as evidence of the starting-pitching market for middle- to back-end starters. Yahoo! Sports wrote Saturday that closers Craig Kimbrel, Zach Britton, Trevor Rosenthal, Andrew Miller, Jeurys Familia, Glen Perkins, Kelvin Herrera, A.J. Ramos, Carter Capps and David Robertson could become free agents following the 2018 season. The Phillies also have a few hard throwers in the system, including right-hander Jimmy Cordero, who hits 100 mph with his fastball. In short, the Phillies believe there are plenty of ways to find a closer in the future once they are contenders again. But right now they're trying to build a rotation to put themselves in position to actually need a legitimate closer. Houston certainly had young talent to offer Philadelphia. The Phillies were familiar with Houston's talent at the Major League and Minor League levels as a result of their work there last summer, when they agreed to a Cole Hamels trade. Hamels rejected it and went to Texas instead. The trade gives the Phillies six prospects in MLBPipeline's Top 100: shortstop J.P. Crawford (fifth), Appel (43rd), right-hander Jake Thompson (51st), outfielder Nick Williams (55th), catcher Jorge Alfaro (59th) and outfielder Cornelius Randolph (85th). Velasquez ranked 69th in July before he joined the Astros. The Phillies designated Dan Otero for assignment to make room for Velasquez and Oberholtzer on the 40-man roster. The Phillies claimed Otero off waivers from the Oakland A's on Nov. 3.

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.