Some Looking To Find A Spot

PHILS PHACTS:

Asche Looking To Improve Value – The morning after the Phillies traded Chase Utley to the Dodgers in August, Utley spent his final minutes inside the clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park signing bats for a bunch of people in the organization. Cody Asche received one of them. "That's one of my most prized possessions for sure," Asche said Saturday at Bright House Field. Utley had an affinity for Asche. The Phillies put Asche's locker next to Utley's because they thought they shared a similar mindset, and they wanted Asche to learn as much as possible from the hard-working, no-nonsense second baseman. The similarities between Utley and Asche are why many in the organization hope Asche can get on track this season and prove he deserves a job with them. It might be his final shot with the Phillies. Asche is the first to say he did not play well last season. The Phillies expected him to improve from his first full season in 2014, when he hit .252 with 25 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBIs and a .699 OPS in 434 plate appearances. Instead, he hit .245 with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 39 RBIs and a .689 OPS in 456 plate appearances. He lost his job at third base to Maikel Franco, and he could be pushed out of regular playing time in left field as Phillies manager Pete Mackanin looks at Odubel Herrera, Peter Bourjos, Aaron Altherr and possibly even Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel in the outfield. It is why the Phillies have asked Asche to pick up a first baseman's mitt this spring. He worked out there for the first time Saturday, borrowing a mitt from utility infielder Andres Blanco. "It's going to help him a lot," Mackanin said. "We need Cody to try to get as many at-bats as possible. So I told him to get himself a first baseman's mitt for a double-switch possibility or an occasional start over there. The more positions he can play … he could be an outstanding double-switch guy. He could get some starts. It's a way for me to get him more at-bats." It would be easy for Asche to sulk and come up with a million reasons why he did not play well last season, or think how the Phillies are not giving him a fair shake this spring. He said he battled those thoughts last year, but he took the offseason to clear his mind and take responsibility for what happened. "You're the one playing," he said. "Create your own destiny. I've always been a guy who has the most confidence in himself. You won't be able to talk me out of the belief that I'm better than most players. That's just what I am and how I got here. And I'll never lose that belief. That helps me when I do my work and come here to compete." If he sounds motivated, he is. "You have to look at yourself first before you look at anything else," he said. "If you do that, you can create a clear mind for yourself. That's the biggest thing I was able to achieve this offseason, a clear mind. If I want it, I have to go get it 100 percent. You have to show it. I'm not going to sit here and complain about anything. I'm not going to complain about having to work three different positions or complain about not having a set position or set position in the lineup." Because it's simple, really. If he plays like he thinks he can play, Asche will be in the Phillies' lineup. "It's pretty clear cut," Asche said. "I haven't done too much to solidify any sort of role right now on this team. So really it's up to me to show him what I am, what I've tried to make adjustments on and how I can get better." And if it works out, maybe Asche will be the starting left fielder when he sees his old buddy Utley at Dodger Stadium in August. So what did Utley write on that bat anyway? "Just normal Chase stuff," Asche said with a smile. "We'll keep that between me and him."

Today In Phils History - In an unusual move for the time, in 1917 the Phillies signed Grover Cleveland Alexander to a 2-year contract for a record, according to local press, $12,500 per season. One of Alexander's former teammates also had reason to celebrate as John Titus was born on this day in 1876. 

THE BEGINNING:

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

Phillies Pursuing Quantity Over Quality

PHILS PHACTS:

Taking A Flyer on Hellickson – Phillies general manager Matt Klentak is fulfilling his promise of acquiring as much pitching as possible before next season. The Phillies announced Saturday afternoon they had acquired right-hander Jeremy Hellickson from the D-backs for Minor League pitcher Sam McWilliams, who was ranked as the No. 27 prospect in the Phillies' system by MLBPipeline.com. Hellickson, 28, went 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA in 27 starts last season. "This offseason we made it a priority to add a stabilizing influence to our young rotation, and we think we found that guy in Jeremy," Klentak said in a telephone interview. "I think one of the things on top of the obvious is that he's a veteran guy, but still just 28 years old. He'll pitch at 29 this season, so we're excited that he's still in his prime. And more than anything, he's a competitor. He wants the ball. We've talked about building an environment and we think he'll be a very positive influence on our staff." Hellickson, who won the 2011 American League Rookie of the Year Award with the Rays, can become a free agent after the 2016 season. The Phillies are hoping for a bounceback year from Hellickson before he hits the market, much like they hope for from recently acquired relievers Dan Otero and James Russell. "I think that's right," Klentak said. "We offer an opportunity to players to come in and get back to the form they've shown in the past. And that's probably true all three of those players. We like what he has done in his career. He's a good fit for us." Hellickson went 22-27 with a 4.86 ERA in 72 appearances (71 starts) the previous three seasons, but he provides the Phillies a sorely needed veteran presence in their rotation. Free agents Aaron Harang, Jerome Williams, Chad Billingsley and Cliff Lee are not expected to return, which leaves the Phillies with a host of young and inexperienced starters like Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, Adam Morgan, David Buchanan and Alec Asher. Hellickson figures to be the first of at least one or two more veteran starters the Phillies will acquire this offseason. "We're open to anything," Klentak said. "This doesn't preclude us pursuing anything. We'll continue be open minded. We felt adding him early as a stabilizing influence made sense. I think pitching depth can be built a lot of ways. We acquired one on a waiver claim [Otero], one on a Minor League contract [Russell] and one in a big league trade [Hellickson]. That will continue to be a goal." The Phillies selected McWilliams in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He went a combined 2-5 with a 4.19 ERA in 16 games (12 starts) the past two seasons with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Phillies.

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.