Giving Back On Thanksgiving

PHILS PHACTS:

Phillies Embrace The Holiday – The Phillies started their holiday season Monday in West Philadelphia, where everybody from the Phanatic to broadcaster Scott Franzke to pitcher David Buchanan distributed 2,000 food baskets and turkeys to those in need. The partnership with ShopRite, the Urban Affairs Coalition and numerous local churches and city officials will help feed more than 12,000 people citywide this Thanksgiving. It will be one of the largest distributions ever in the region. "I've gone to food banks and packed up boxes before, but I've never been part of the giving-away process," Buchanan said. "I really enjoyed it. You can see the appreciation from people and you get to see how important this is and how important it is to give to the community." The Phillies had been busy before Monday, too: This year, Phillies Charities, Inc. donated nearly $2 million primarily to local charitable organizations in the Delaware Valley. That figure includes the Phillies Phestival, which is the annual autograph and auction party to fight ALS. The Phestival and the Phantastic Auction raised about $786,000 for the ALS Association to provide patient care and services for ALS patients in the area. Phillies Charities' 50/50 drawing during every game at Citizens Bank Park raised more than $517,000, which was donated to 45 area nonprofit organizations. Part of the contribution included more than $110,000 in grants to 41 charities serving a variety of needs. Eighty-six charities benefited from Phillies Charities fundraising this year. More than 125,000 tickets were donated to local charitable organizations throughout the Philadelphia area. Carlos Ruiz, Aaron Harang, Cliff Lee, Ryne Sandberg and Jonathan Papelbon hosted ticket programs in which they donated tickets, concessions and merchandise to children and adults in need for each home game. Chase Utley's "Chase's Champs" provided full season tickets to children and families at CHOP and St. Christopher's Hospital of Philadelphia. Save a Pet at the Park raised more than $14,000 for the Pennsylvania SPCA. Other events included the annual Phillies Charities 5K and Bike Ride, which contribute to the amount of grants awarded at the end of each year. The Outreach Department packaged thousands of leftover giveaway items for approximately 25 local nonprofit organizations helping less fortunate children and senior citizens during the holiday season. "The Phillies have had a long-standing commitment to giving back to the community for nothing more than it's simply the right thing to do," Phillies vice president of communications Bonnie Clark said. "One of the greatest benefits of being part of this organization is the opportunity to positively impact someone's life. However large or small the gesture is, the feeling of knowing that you've impacted another life is the reward itself."

THE BEGINNING:

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

Phillies Swept By Marlins In Final Double Header Of The Season

GAME 1 RECAP: Marlins Stymie Phillies 7-6

The Marlins scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Phillies in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, 7-6. Phillies closer Ken Giles blew just his second save in 17 opportunities since replacing Jonathan Papelbon in that role in late July. Giles allowed a one-out single to Christian Yelich, who scored on a triple from Martin Prado to tie the game. Prado scored the go-ahead run on Marcell Ozuna's single to left field. "We're just playing hard until the end," Yelich said after his team improved to 70-90. The Phillies dropped to 62-98. They are trying to avoid 100 losses for the first time since 1961, but they would also like to secure the No. 1 selection in the 2016 MLB Draft. They entered the game with a half-game lead over the Reds for that coveted pick. "We had them where we wanted them," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We couldn't put it away."

GAME 2 RECAP: Marlins Beat Phillies 5-2

Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich stole the show Saturday night in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He played a part in three of the Marlins' runs in a 5-2 victory. He singled and scored in the first, doubled to score Dee Gordon in the second and singled and scored in the fifth. He had eight hits in the doubleheader sweep. "We're fighting 'til the end, battling 'til the end," Yelich said. "I'm glad to see we're playing so well at the end of the year. Hopefully, we can come in here tomorrow and end it on a good note." The Marlins will end the year having won eight of their final 10 series. The news wasn't completely bad for the Phillies, who must win Sunday to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961. They locked up the first pick in the 2016 Draft by clinching the worst record in baseball. The Phillies will have the first overall pick for the second time in franchise history and the first time since 1998, when they selected Pat Burrell. "We're trying to win every game," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Nobody wants to lose 100 games. Nobody wants to lose 90 games -- 99 or 100 is just as bad. We've heard about [the top pick in the Draft] for a couple weeks now. We're very aware of it. That's one positive that comes out of it. We're guaranteed getting the guy and apparently he's a pretty good pitcher. It's been on our minds." Mackanin did not say who that pitcher might be, but he might be Florida pitcher A.J. Puk, who scouts think could move quickly through the Minor Leagues and help a team as early as 2017. IMG Academy (Lakeland, Fla.) left-hander Jason Groome and St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) right-hander Riley Pint could be the top two high school arms in next year's Draft. Puk and Oklahoma right-hander Alec Hansen could be the top two college arms.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Chase d'Arnaud tripled and scored the Phils' go-ahead run in the sixth inning when Freddy Galvis hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
• Right-hander Aaron Harang made his final start of the season and quite possibly for the Phillies, allowing eight hits, four runs, one walk and striking out two in 5 2/3 innings. Harang (6-15, 4.86 ERA in 29 starts) will become a free agent after the season. He is not expected to return, although the Phillies are expected to replace him with another veteran starter in the offseason. "I'm not sure yet," Harang said about pitching again next season. "I've got to go home and think about it with my wife and kids and really decide what I want to do from here."
• Harang earned a no-decision, which means the Phillies stand the chance of becoming the first in baseball since 1915 not to have a single pitcher finish the season with seven or more wins. Harang, Cole Hamels, Aaron Nola and Giles each have six wins this season. Giles has a chance to earn a win in the season's final two games.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco started his first game since Aug. 11, when he was hit by a pitch and broke his left wrist. He ripped a solo home run to center field in the fourth inning and singled to score a run in the sixth inning. Franco's homer was his 14th of the season. "I felt good," Franco said. "Just coming into today, be ready for everything. My wrist is really good, 100 percent."
• Phillies rookie Alec Asher will hope for better next season. He allowed six hits and three runs in two innings in his seventh and final start of 2015. He finished 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA, becoming the first pitcher to go winless in his first seven starts with the Phillies since Paul Abbott in 2004. "We ran Asher out there and he struggled again," Mackanin said. "He's got work to do."
• "He looked at me and he said, 'One more, Papi.'" -- Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who promised Franco he would buy him a suit if he hit 15 home runs this season. Franco enters Sunday's season finale with 14.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies finish their season Sunday against the Marlins. Right-hander David Buchanan (2-9, 7.54 ERA) gets the final start. He hopes to carry some positive momentum into the offseason. He has allowed four earned runs in 15 2/3 innings in his last three starts. In the season finale on Sunday, the Marlins are handing the ball to rookie left-hander Adam Conley (4-1, 3.84) in the 3:05 p.m. ET affair. In five September starts, Conley was 2-0 (2.54 ERA) with 30 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings.

PHILS PHACTS:

Impactful Return – Maikel Franco badly wanted to play again this season, and he proved Saturday he was more than ready. He pinch-hit in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, a 7-6 loss. He started Game 2, hitting a home run in the fourth inning and singling to score a run in the sixth inning in a 5-2 loss. They were Franco's first games since Aug. 11, when he got hit by a pitch and broke his left wrist in Arizona. "Oh, yeah," Franco said, when asked if his wrist feels fine. Some Phillies fans have wondered if there could be a risk to playing Franco, but the Phillies believe there is none. They said Franco's wrist has healed and he played five rehab games in the past week in Clearwater, Fla. He would have been playing this weekend anyway, either in Philadelphia or Clearwater. "My view on it is, why not play him?" Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "I think he's going to be an outstanding middle-of-the-lineup third baseman for us, but he's not yet a star and he's getting paid and I'm going to play him because he's healthy. "Just like winter ball, people have made the comment, why would he want to play winter ball? He's still learning. He's not an established Major Leaguer. He's on his way to becoming one, but he's not yet. Every chance you get to play you can learn something and improve, and he needs to do that. What is he, 22? It's good for them to play." Franco's homer was his 14th of the season, which makes things interesting going into Sunday's season finale. Not only are the Phillies trying to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961, but Franco needs one more homer to win a new suit from Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur. Frenchy told Franco he would buy him a suit if he hits 15 homers. "One more, Papi," Franco told Francoeur after he hit his homer to center field, a projected 411 feet, according to Statcast™. "Yes, one more," Franco told reporters. "I will try the best I can. I will try hard tomorrow."

Uncertain Future – The Phillies signed Aaron Harang to a one-year, $5 million contract in January because they needed a veteran pitcher to stabilize the rotation. Harang finished his season on Saturday evening in a 7-6 loss to the Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed eight hits, four runs, one walk and one home run in 5 2/3 innings to finish his season 6-15 with a 4.86 ERA. Harang, 37, will become a free agent after the season. He does not know if he will try to pitch next year. "I'm not sure yet," he said. "I've got to go home and think about it with my wife and kids and really decide what I want to do from here. I feel like I can go out there and pitch and be competitive and give my team a chance to win, but I've got to figure some things out." Harang seemed unlikely to rejoin the Phillies anyway, even if he planned to continue his career. Regardless, the Phillies are expected to sign at least one, perhaps two, free-agent veteran starters in the offseason. Pitchers like Doug Fister, J.A. Happ and Bartolo Colon seem to make the most sense for the Phillies, who are not expected to get involved with the top-tier free agents this offseason as they continue the rebuilding process. Rookies Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff are expected to be heavy favorites to make the 2016 rotation coming out of Spring Training. Adam Morgan, David Buchanan, Alec Asher and others are expected to fight for a job or two, too. Harang said he likes the young talent he sees in Philadelphia. "I'm excited for the future of the Phillies," Harang said. "Definitely in Nola and Eickhoff you have two young guys that could potentially be front-of-the-rotation-type guys. They have the demeanor and the drive to be like that. Everybody talks about front-line guys got to have the best stuff. Not necessarily. It's about the determination and the commitment when they're out there. You can tell by their attitude, they're bulldogs when they're out there. "They've got a good idea of what they're doing out there. It's fun to watch. They've had their ups and downs, but they're very willing to listen. They ask a lot of questions. I talk to them a lot when we're on the bench or in the outfield. I'll go out and watch their bullpens and watch video of them. If I see something I'll talk to Mac [pitching coach Bob McClure] about it." Harang didn't have the season he wanted with the Phillies, but perhaps he left them with something better -- solid advice that could help the Phillies' young starters take the next step forward in 2016.

Done For The Season – For weeks, the Phillies have said Ryan Howard could play again before the end of the season. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin finally said Saturday that is not going to happen. "I don't think I'll play him the rest of the year," Mackanin said before Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. "I don't see the point of that." Howard has not played since Sept. 14 because of a bruised left knee. He has been slow to recover and has not seen live pitching since he suffered the injury, unlike teammate Maikel Franco, who is scheduled to play Game 2 following a lengthy absence with a broken left wrist. Franco had played five games recently in Clearwater, Fla. If Howard's season is finished, one has to wonder if it could be the end of his Phillies career. 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 54th out of 144 qualified hitters in baseball. But he 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). Howard is set to make $25 million in salary next season, plus a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. The Phillies have tried hard to trade Howard since last offseason, telling teams they would pay almost the entirety of his contract. But Howard's struggles against lefties, plus his defensive and baserunning issues, have made American League teams reluctant to acquire him. If Howard and Darin Ruf return next season, it seems very likely Mackanin uses a straight platoon at first with Howard starting only against right-handers and Ruf starting mostly against left-handers, although he has shown recently he can hit right-handed pitching when provided the opportunity. Ruf's 1.122 OPS against left-handers is the best in baseball (minimum 100 plate appearances against lefties).

Staff Changes? – Mackanin could announce any possible coaching staff changes following Sunday's game. Hitting coach Steve Henderson and pitching coach Bob McClure are expected to return. Bench coach Larry Bowa could return, if he chooses to continue his coaching career. He said recently he has not decided what he wants to do. Phillies first-base coach Juan Samuel said recently he is open to returning, although he also said he does not want to finish his career as a first-base coach. He also is interested in pursuing a managerial career.

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 62-99. 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 12-12-1 on this day.

Marlins Brought Hurricane With Them From Florida

GAME RECAP: Game Postponed Due To Rain…

The Phillies will play a double header on Saturday before the season finale on Sunday… can they finish with the worst record in baseball this season? Can they reach the 100 loss milestone? This final series will provide the answers to both of those questions.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies open their final series of the season tomorrow against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will play a double header with Aaron Harang taking the mound in game 1 and rookie Alec Asher finishing the day in game 2. This will likely be Harang’s final start in a Phillies uniform while Asher will look to make a final impression on the team in the hope of being on the opening day roster in 2016.

PHILS PHACTS:

Wanting To Return - Carlos Ruiz has slowly watched the Phillies rebuild, piece by piece. Injuries took the careers of teammates like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee earlier than expected. Trades sent Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere, Jake Diekman, Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo away. Only Ruiz and Ryan Howard remain from the Phillies' 2008 World Series championship team. "It's been tough," Ruiz said Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. "Being around teammates like Chase and Jimmy, we spent a lot of time together and we made some good memories. I feel like we're a family. It's tough to see them walk away and go to different teams. But at the same time baseball continues." But will the Phillies continue with Ruiz? It is likely, despite the fact he turns 37 in January and is finishing the toughest season of his career, posting a .585 OPS in 315 appearances. Ruiz will make $8.5 million next season and he has value as a backup, although Ruiz said he still views himself as a starter, despite the fact Cameron Rupp has started 54 of the team's last 89 games. "I believe I am still a No. 1," Ruiz said. "But at the same time they gave a chance to Rupp and I'm happy that he played well and did a great job." Ruiz has been one of the most respected and well-liked players in the Phillies' clubhouse for years. If he returns, he can continue to mentor the team's young pitchers and catching prospects Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp, who could be in big league camp in Spring Training. "I'm real happy here," Ruiz said. "I'm going to go home, rest a little bit and come back to work. I believe in myself. I feel great. I don't make excuses, but there were days when I felt great and days when I didn't feel good. That's tough." Ruiz cited the arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last October. He said the shoulder felt weak at times. "I don't know if I'm going to be here or somewhere else, but hopefully it's here," Ruiz said. "I'm disappointed with the year I had, and I'd like to turn it around. I'm going to do everything I can. We'll see what happens next year. I think I'll feel better."

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 62-97. 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 23-20-2 on this day.

Phillies Rookie Wrinkles Mets Playoff Plans

GAME RECAP: Phillies Sweep Mets 3-0

Hanging onto home-field advantage for the National League Division Series is proving difficult for the Mets, who dropped a 3-0 game to the Phillies on Thursday as many of their regulars looked on from the dugout. It was the Mets' third straight defeat in Philadelphia, which pulled them into a tie with the Dodgers, their NLDS opponent. The Mets do own the tiebreaker as a result of their 4-3 victory in the season series. "Nice to sweep these guys," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "As much as they beat up on us the whole season, it feels good to sweep them." Starting in place of rookie Steven Matz, who has been nursing a bout of back stiffness, Sean Gilmartin pitched five strong innings for the Mets in his first career start. But he allowed a two-run homer to Darin Ruf that wound up being the difference. With David Wright, Yoenis Cespedes and plenty of others resting after Wednesday night's three-hour, 59-minute loss at Citizens Bank Park, the Mets were unable to muster a counterattack off Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff. "It's easy to say, 'Let's just gear up for the playoffs,'" Wright said. "But home-field advantage would be nice, so I think that's something that we really need to bear down these last three games and try to attain. And it would be nice to go into the playoffs with some sort of momentum." "We brought that up here, the importance of coming in here and winning games," Mets manager Terry Collins added. "We didn't win any. But we're going to go back home and ... we'll see where we are." Eickhoff struck out 10 Mets over seven innings to highlight the Phillies' sweep, allowing four hits and a walk. Originally scheduled for Thursday evening, the game became a matinee due to concern over poor weather moving into the area. Not that the daylight hours were pristine; many players wore long sleeves with temperatures topping out in the upper 50s and a consistent wind blowing out to left field.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Eickhoff (3-3, 2.65 ERA) was considered the fourth-best prospect among the five the Phillies acquired from Texas for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman in July. But he has been better than advertised. Eickhoff has allowed just three earned runs in his last 30 innings, and he has struck out 10 batters in each of his last two starts. "I've got a man crush," Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur said. "If none of the other guys [in the Hamels trade] ever pan out, he's worth it alone."
• Ruf has been pressed into everyday duty since Ryan Howard bruised his left knee on Sept. 14. He hit a two-run homer to left field in the fourth. It was Ruf's fifth homer since Sept. 15, helping him post an .896 OPS in his last 14 games. If Howard and Ruf both return next season, Ruf is expected to get more playing time, especially considering his success against left-handed pitching. "I hope so," said Ruf, when asked if he has made a strong case for himself for next season. "I don't know how my play is evaluated. I just go out there and try to do the best I can every day. If that impresses people, that's great. If it doesn't, I can continue to just do my thing."
• "Nobody wants to lose 100 games. These last three [victories] were really good for everybody's mental health." -- Mackanin, whose team needs to win just one of the season's final three games to avoid its first 100-loss season since 1961.
• Eickhoff and Hamels are the only two Phillies rookies since 1964 to have back-to-back double-digit strikeout games. Before that? Ray Culp in 1963.
• The Mets are fighting for home-field advantage in the NLDS, but the Phillies could get the No. 1 pick in the 2016 Draft. Their sweep of the Mets has put that at risk. They are 62-97, while the Reds have lost 12 consecutive games to fall to 63-96 going into the final three games of the season. But the Phillies hold the tiebreaker, which is their records the previous season. The Phillies finished with a worse record in 2014.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies open their final series of the season Friday night at 7:05 p.m. ET against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.86 ERA) makes his final start, weather permitting. A possible hurricane is headed up the East Coast, which could make play difficult.

PHILS PHACTS:

Impressive Finish To The Season – It is too early to be certain about the future, but if rookie Jerad Eickhoff pitches like this next season, the Phillies will feel even better about the trade that shipped Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman to Texas in July. Some already love it. "I've got a man crush," Phillies right fielder Jeff Francoeur said about Eickhoff following Thursday afternoon's 3-0 victory over the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. "If none of the other guys [in the Hamels trade] ever pan out, he's worth it alone." Eickhoff arrived as arguably the fourth-best prospect in the five-prospect trade, but he has pitched much better than that since he joined the Phillies' rotation on Aug. 21. He pitched seven scoreless innings Thursday against the Mets, allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out 10. He went 3-3 with a 2.65 ERA in eight starts. "He can be an outstanding pitcher here," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. Eickhoff's final pitch of the 2015 season should be a good memory for him. He had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh inning when Mackanin visited the mound to give him a breather before facing Juan Lagares. "This is your game," Mackanin said. "I want it," Eickhoff replied. Eickhoff fell behind, 2-1, but he evened the count as Lagares fouled off three consecutive pitches. Eickhoff's seventh pitch of the at-bat hit the dirt to push Lagares to 3-2. Lagares fouled off a 93-mph fastball to stay alive, but Eickhoff struck out Lagares swinging on a curveball to end the inning. "I had pretty good command of my curveball and I had thrown him some curveballs earlier in the game," Eickhoff said about his choice to throw a breaking ball. "I know he had seen it, so I was trying to wait for the right time. It just so happened to be 3-2. I let it rip and got him out." The rookie punched his right fist into his glove as he walked off the mound. He was pumped. "It's the culmination of the season," Eickhoff said. "Experiences, learning, it all just comes together. It was a great, great feeling. It's hard to describe, just everything bottled up into one pitch. It felt great. Before he stepped to the plate, I looked down at the mound thinking that I'm getting down towards the end of the rope here. Just make good pitches." Eickhoff and fellow rookie Aaron Nola will enter Spring Training as heavy favorites to make the 2016 rotation. Everybody seemed to know Nola would enjoy success as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 Draft. Eickhoff? He has shown the pitches the Phillies saw when they scouted him this summer. But they did not expect him to pitch as well as he has so soon, although they certainly believed he would be a solid big league starter. Maybe Eickhoff will be better than solid. Maybe everybody in the Phillies' clubhouse will have a man crush on him next season.

Phils Honor Top Minor League Players – Andrew Knapp sported one of the Eastern League's best mustaches this season. But he also played about as well as anybody, especially behind the plate. The Phillies honored Knapp and Ricardo Pinto on Thursday as Paul Owens Award winners for being the organization's Minor League Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. "There's a ton of guys in this origination that could have been here, so I'm just really blessed to be here," Knapp said. Knapp, 23, hit .308 with 35 doubles, 13 home runs, 84 RBIs and an .876 OPS in 118 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading. Pinto, 21, went 15-4 with a 2.97 ERA in 24 starts with Class A Lakewood and Clearwater. Both are rising stars in the Philllies' farm system, which MLBPipeline.com ranked No. 7 in baseball. Knapp, the Phils' No. 17 prospect, is headed to the Arizona Fall League. Pinto, their No. 11 prospect, is headed to Venezuela for the winter. But Knapp could open next season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. If that happens and if he continues to play well, it is not unrealistic to think he could be with the Phiillies at this point next season. "I think it's realistic if I go out and do what I want to do," Knapp said. "There shouldn't be any reason it's not an option. I think it's just up to me to go out and prove it." The Phillies are feeling fortunate these days because two of their best prospects are catchers. Jorge Alfaro is the other. The Phillies acquired him in July from the Rangers in the Cole Hamels trade. Knapp is aware of Alfaro's arrival, and there is a chance both could be catching side by side in Spring Training. "If we're going to be teammates, then you can't wish for anyone to do bad," Knapp said. "I hope the best for him. But for me, I just have to worry about myself and do what I do. The cards will fall where they may." Knapp played some outfield and first base in college, so already there is speculation that if both progress as hoped, one could move to a different position. "I think I'm athletic enough to be out there," Knapp said about the outfield. "I mean, I'm definitely a catcher. I'll try to stay there as long as I can, but whatever it takes to get to the big leagues. ... I've just got to go into spring and play the way I can play. I think this offseason is going to be huge for me, trying to get my body into better shape. But it's going to be the defensive side. I like where my bat is, but I think people need to be able to trust me behind the plate." If Knapp is going to reach the big leagues, he is going to have to continue to hit and improve defensively. He has caught only 157 games professionally because he had Tommy John surgery in 2013 after the Phillies drafted him. He said he has improved the most defensively on the running game, but he also is learning how to call a game and earn a pitcher's trust. "I think every catcher sees a little bit more than a pitcher does," Knapp said. "They're really focused on executing a pitch and sometimes they're wanting to do something that maybe isn't the best idea, so you've really got to get that trust from those guys and be able to work together." Pinto signed with the Phillies for $15,000 in December 2011. He has quietly, but impressively, moved through the system. Most of the attention has been on pitching prospects like Aaron Nola, Jake Thompson, Zach Eflin and others. But Pinto could be as good as any of them. Pinto has a reputation for being a good competitor and being unafraid to pitch inside. Not too many young pitchers are comfortable doing that. "There's a fire inside of me that has been there since I was a little kid," Pinto said through translator Jorge Velandia. "I don't like to lose. I've always been that way. I love the game and I don't like to lose. I'm a winner and I want to win. "Ever since I was a kid hanging around and playing Little League and stuff, growing up in Venezuela, the key to pitching is pitching inside. I took that into consideration and started working on that. When I came to the States, I started to refine the inside corner. I have heard that whomever dominates inside is going to be somebody in this game."

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 62-97. 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 26-28-1 on this day.

Phillies Rally Against Papelbon And Nationals

GAME RECAP: Phillies Shock Nationals 12-5

The Phillies posted eight runs in the ninth inning to cap a rally from two runs down and take Sunday's rubber game, 12-5, from the Nationals at Nationals Park. Nats closer Jonathan Papelbon started the inning and allowed five runs (two earned) on one hit and two walks. Just a few minutes prior, Washington's television broadcast picked up Papelbon and star right fielder Bryce Harper engaging in a verbal and then physical altercation. "Well, certainly there is a lot of testosterone flowing among young men competing," Nats manager Matt Williams said. "What I can tell you is this, this is a family issue and we'll deal with it that way." Harper was removed from the game in the top half of the next inning, but Papelbon, who recorded one out in the eighth, stayed in and allowed five of the eight runs that Philadelphia scored in the frame. The final six runs of the inning were unearned. "I'm never going to say that because I went out there and gave up some runs that it's anything other than me not pitching to my capabilities," Papelbon said. "I really went out there and didn't locate my fastball and fell behind on hitters. Any time you do that, the outcome is usually not going to be good. But [the scuffle] didn't affect how I pitched, no." With the game tied at 2 in the seventh, Ian Desmond and Matt den Dekker both collected their third hits of the afternoon and scored, temporarily giving the Nationals a two-run edge. The Phils responded, though, as Aaron Altherr doubled to start the eighth inning and Jeff Francoeur tied the game two batters later with his 13th home run of the season. Gio Gonzalez and Aaron Harang started the matinee, and neither pitcher factored into the decision. Gonzalez started the sixth but couldn't record an out and Harang pitched through the inning. "I hit that one pretty good," said Phillies second baseman Andres Blanco, who hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth against Papelbon. "I didn't expect the ball to go that far. Fortunately, it did. I'm happy."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Francoeur had been in a major slump entering the series finale, hitting .042 (1-for-24) with one walk and 15 strikeouts in his previous 11 games. But he singled and doubled against Gonzalez before hitting a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning. It was his first homer since Aug. 19. "It's about time Frenchy did something," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said with a laugh. "We were all over him. I asked him to try to do a little better today, and he did."
• Phillies center fielder Altherr made a spectacular catch to end the bottom of the eighth inning. Clint Robinson lined a ball to left-center field, but Altherr pursued and got some serious hang time to make the grab. Mackanin said it could be the catch of the year, although Angels outfielder Mike Trout probably earned that title Saturday when he climbed the wall to rob a home run. "He's got me on that one," Altherr said about Trout's catch. "That's a home run. Mine would have just been a double. He gets me on that. … I started closing in on it and just tried to stretch out a little further and dive for it. It just happened to go in my glove."
• "I don't want to go there. I'm happy we won. … I don't have any grudge about anything. I got enough to worry about with this team. I'm not allowing myself to go anywhere else."
  -- Mackanin, who stayed diplomatic when asked if it felt more special to beat Papelbon in the ninth inning.
• The Phillies' eight runs in the ninth inning matched a season high. They scored eight runs against the Mets in the sixth inning on Sept. 1.
• First baseman Ryan Howard is expected to be available to play as early as Tuesday against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. He has not played since Sept. 14 because of a bruised left knee. "He'll get back on the field at some point before the end of the year," Proefrock said. Third baseman Maikel Franco has been on the DL since Aug. 12 with a broken left wrist. He is scheduled to play five innings Monday in a Florida instructional league game. If that goes well, Proefrock said, "[Franco will] be back in Philly before the end of the season as well."
• Outfielder Domonic Brown has not played since Sept. 2 because of a concussion. He is going to play in some instructional league games before he can be cleared, but he will not rejoin the Phillies before the end of the season. It could be the end of his Phillies' career. He is eligible for salary arbitration after the season and the Phillies could non-tender him.
• Buchanan, who posted a 9.11 ERA and nearly as many walks (24) as strikeouts (26) through his first 11 starts, is looking to close his season on a high note. Buchanan's last two outings have been his best of the year, with just three earned runs in 11 innings. He has eight strikeouts and two walks over that stretch.
• Colon has feasted on the bottom of the NL East all summer, going 12-2 with a 2.81 ERA against the Phillies, Marlins and Braves, and just 2-10 with a 6.48 ERA against everyone else. Tuesday will mark Colon's seventh consecutive start against one of those three teams; not surprisingly, he owns a 1.65 ERA over that stretch.
• The Mets may spend this entire series without infielder Juan Uribe, who has not played since aggravating a chest injury Friday in Cincinnati. The team is unsure if Uribe will be healthy enough to play when the NLDS begins Oct. 9.

NEXT GAME:

Even with seven bench players in their lineup on Sunday, the Mets dominated the Reds a day after clinching the National League East title on their turf. Perhaps that's a sign of things to come for a team that is hardly ignoring the challenge of attaining home-field advantage in the NL Division Series. The Mets will shift back to a more traditional lineup when they begin a three-game series Tuesday with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Though manager Terry Collins will rest plenty of players between now and the end of the regular season, he also plans on widening the small lead his team has opened over Los Angeles in the race for home-field advantage. The Phillies, meanwhile, will spend this week trying to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961. Right-hander David Buchanan will start Tuesday's opener for them opposite Bartolo Colon, who shifted forward in the rotation to accommodate Jon Niese's move to the bullpen.

PHILS PHACTS:

Blanco Provides Spark – The Phillies left Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon positively giddy. Gee, wonder why? Second baseman Andres Blanco hit a go-ahead two-run home run against Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth inning of an eventual 12-5 victory. The blast sparked an eight-run rally for a team that has struggled to score runs for weeks. "The ninth was pretty special, man," said right fielder Jeff Francoeur, who hit a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth. "That was a lot of fun. You dream about those innings when you just blow it wide open." But it felt a little sweeter coming against Papelbon, who got into a physical altercation with teammate Bryce Harper in the Nationals' dugout in the bottom of the eighth. The skirmish involving their former teammate and its aftermath had the Phillies' clubhouse abuzz afterward. Papelbon criticized the Phillies for more than two years before they traded him to Washington in July. His criticisms continued earlier this month in Philadelphia when he said, "I was one of the few that wanted to actually win [in Philadelphia] and I was one of the few that competed and posted up every day." The comments did not sit well with the Phillies, who signed him to a four-year, $50 million contract in November 2011. "Yeah, absolutely," Francoeur said, when asked if Papelbon's comments added to the enjoyment of the victory. "That's always nice. But not to mention he's one of the better closers in the game." Papelbon said Sunday he did not mean to disparage his teammates. "Those comments really weren't about the players," Papelbon said. "It was more along the lines about the front office creating a winning environment, and that wasn't done. That's why I was frustrated and said from top to bottom. Those players in that clubhouse did everything they could to create a winning environment. It just wasn't allowed to happen. "But I think any time you can play against an old teammate ... I know Frenchy is trying to get me every time he's out there. You want to have those bragging rights. I get that part of it." The Phillies won two of three from the Nationals. They return home for the final six games of the season with a three-game series against the Mets beginning Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. It has been a rough go lately as the Phillies have lost 23 of their last 32 games, but they hope to finish strong. Maybe a big victory against Papelbon and the Nationals can spark them. "I challenged them all: you're playing for a job next year," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "You have to show that you're competitive, that you're a positive guy, that you're high energy. I challenged them to show that even in the worst circumstances that we're under, losing night after night. These guys have responded -- a good example was today. They came alive late in the game."

Shut Down! – Phillies rookie Aaron Nola hoped to make one more start in 2015, but the club announced Sunday he will not pitch again this season. Nola threw 187 innings, including 77 2/3 with the Phillies. He threw about 172 innings last season, which included his time in college at LSU. Phillies interim general manager Scott Proefrock said next season "the governor will be off and he'll be ready to go and pitch throughout the course of the whole season, hopefully." Nola went 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts, which included five scoreless innings Saturday against the Nationals. "It's time to get ready for next year," Nola said. "I agree with [the decision]. As a competitor, of course, I don't want to stop. I want to finish the year, but throwing a lot of innings was helpful for me this year. I want to add onto that next year, especially at this level. I'm going to work the hardest to do that." Nola will return to Baton Rouge, La., for the offseason. He will begin his offseason training program in a few weeks, although he will give his arm a break for the next couple of months. He wants to be ready to go in Spring Training. "It's going to be a competitive spring," Nola said. "I expect it to be a competitive spring because I know it will be. Nothing is really given to you and I want to earn it." Nola is correct to say nothing is guaranteed, but he is the safest bet to make the 2016 rotation, assuming he is healthy. He pitched well. He showed promise. He lived up to the hype following his selection with the seventh pick in the 2014 Draft. "He did everything we could've expected and more," Proefrock said. "He showed why he was drafted where he was drafted and how highly regarded he was. He's made a very favorable impression on all of us. So hopefully he can be a big part of what we want to do here in the future." "I learned a lot at this level," Nola said. "I experienced a lot that I never experienced. I learned a lot from a lot of veteran guys here." He said he will look to fine tune his changeup in the offseason to give him a more effective third pitch. "As a starter you definitely have to have more than two pitches," said Nola, who also throws a fastball and curveball. "Having a third pitch really helps and gets them thinking. Especially at this level because these guys are smart. There's a lot of veteran hitters and they've seen a lot of guys. They've had a lot of at-bats." The Phillies will use the bullpen to pitch Friday's game against the Marlins.

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 58-97. 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 42-50-0 on this day.

Once Again, Phillies Offense Can’t Support Stellar Start

GAME RECAP: Nationals Outlast Phillies 2-1

Bryce Harper's double down the right-field line in the bottom of the 12th inning scored Anthony Rendon and propelled the Nationals to a 2-1 walk-off victory over Philadelphia on Saturday, ending what turned out to be an empty win for Washington. Forty-nine minutes earlier, with the Nationals and Phillies in the top of the 11th, the Mets' win over Cincinnati went final, officially eliminating Washington from postseason contention. "We got games to play," Nationals manager Matt Williams said, when asked about the club's elimination. "We got to win tomorrow. I mean, we're here. We have to play games. We've got some remaining. We want to play well in those games. After the fact, we'll have a chance to look back at it." At Nationals Park, Stephen Strasburg was dominant for the first seven innings, striking out 11 Phillies and allowing only one hit. Given limited run support, that wasn't enough, and Philadelphia rallied for two hits and a run to tie the game in the eighth off the right-hander. Rookie Aaron Nola started opposite Strasburg and pitched well in his own right. He tossed five shutout innings, allowed six hits and struck out five in his 31st professional start of the season. "There isn't much to talk about," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "There wasn't much offense. Nola was outstanding and he worked his way out of that bases-loaded, no-out jam [in the fourth inning]. Great job. The rest of the bullpen did an outstanding job. They kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win the game, but we came up short with our bats."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Nola pitched five scoreless innings, working out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth inning. He could have pitched more, but the Phillies plan to limit his workload as the season winds down. Nola has pitched 187 innings, including 109 1/3 innings in the Minor Leagues. The Phillies originally said he would pitch about 185 innings. "I feel good," Nola said. "I want to go one more. I want to finish out the season and try to finish it out strong."
• First baseman Ryan Howard took batting practice again Saturday, but he was not available to pinch-hit. Howard, who has been sidelined since Sept. 14 with a bruised left knee, could rejoin the Phillies next week at Citizens Bank Park.
• Third baseman Maikel Franco played four innings in an intrasquad game in Clearwater, Fla. He tripled in one of his at-bats. Franco has been on the DL since Aug. 12 with a broken left wrist. He will not play Sunday, but he will play five innings in a Florida instructional league game Monday. He will be re-evaluated then.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies play their final road game of the season in Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Nationals. Right-hander Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.93 ERA) makes his 28th start of the season in the 1:35 p.m. ET matchup. Gio Gonzalez (11-8, 3.94) will pitch in Sunday's matinee, the last of 19 head-to-head meetings between the Nationals and Phillies this season. Gonzalez is 8-5 with a 2.99 ERA in 15 career starts against Philadelphia.

PHILS PHACTS:

Sign Of Things To Come – Does Phillies rookie Aaron Nola have one more start in him? It sure looked like it Saturday in Philadelphia's 2-1 loss to the Nationals in 12 innings at Nationals Park, in which Nola got a no-decision. Nola allowed six hits and struck out five in five scoreless innings. He could have pitched longer, but the Phillies are trying to limit his workload. A few weeks ago, the Phillies said they planned to limit Nola to about 185 innings this season, which includes the 109 1/3 innings he pitched in the Minor Leagues. Nola has 187 to this point, with the potential for one more start Friday against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Manager Pete Mackanin said the Philadelphia will make that decision Sunday. "I feel good," said Nola, who threw 67 pitches. "I want to go one more. I want to finish out the season, and try to finish it out strong." Nola has been strong. He is 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts. Nola showed something in the fourth inning when he allowed singles to Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth and Clint Robinson to load the bases with no outs. He struck out Ian Desmond looking on a 93-mph fastball for the first out. Nola fell behind Demond 2-0, but he came back with a pair of curveballs for strikes. Then, the fastball. Nola got Matt den Dekker to line out to Phillies second baseman Andres Blanco, and he got Wilson Ramos to ground out to third baseman Cody Asche to end the inning. "He's a cool customer," Mackanin said about Nola. "He has great confidence. He's pitching like a Major League pitcher. He shows no fear and he locates his pitches well. That's a sign of a great pitcher: when you get in trouble and can minimize the damage." Nola reflected on his performance: "It definitely helps to experience something like that. I've been in situations in like that before, and had success like tonight [and] got hurt in the past. I kind of know what both ways feels like. The main focus right there is to stay calm and don't over think things, and make good pitches when you need to. "Having been in situations like that and being worked up like that, and then learning from that and being calm and collected, and knowing how my body reacts to those situations helped me tonight." The Phillies fell to 58-97 with the loss. They would need to finish 5-2 to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1961. Whether they lose 100 games is inconsequential at this point. The Phillies are almost certain to finish the season with the worst record in baseball. The team just wants to see good signs from enough players that they have reasons to be optimistic about the future. Nola has been one of those good signs. Phillies fans might get a chance to see him one last time Friday -- if the coaching staff thinks it will not hurt him in the long run. Nola certainly would love the opportunity.

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 57-97. 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 43-56-1 on this day.

Harang And Asche Lead Phillies Past Marlins

GAME RECAP: Phillies Filet Marlins 6-2

Aaron Harang shut down the Marlins for his second strong outing at Marlins Park in exactly one month and Cody Asche belted two homers, as the Phillies defeated Miami, 6-2, in Tuesday's series opener. The veteran righty was helped by some early offense, as Philadelphia struck early to help notch its eighth win in nine games against the Marlins. The Phillies jumped ahead, 3-0, on a second-inning Freddy Galvis two-run single. Asche then hit solo homers in the fourth and eighth inning (his 10th and 11th of the season), while Darin Ruf launched a seventh-inning solo shot. That would be enough for Harang, who allowed only two runs in seven innings. The 37-year-old last pitched in Miami on Aug. 22 when he also surrendered just two runs in seven innings that day. "Cody Asche had a pretty good day," said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin, who signed a contract extension through next season before the game. "Today was his day. I told him to go and buy me some lottery tickets." Miami starter Tom Koehler (10-14, 3.94 ERA) went just five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Miguel Rojas hit his first homer of the season -- a two-run blast in the seventh inning -- but that was it for the Marlins, who have lost four straight. "It was a struggle from pitch one," Koehler said. "It's unfortunate. I didn't really give the guys a chance tonight to get something going offensively."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• It has been a rough few months for Harang, who earned his first win since July 30 and his second since May 14. He allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings, benefiting from double plays in the second, third and fourth innings.
• Asche homered in the fourth and eighth innings for the first multi-homer game of his career. He is hitting .304 (7-for-23) with four homers and seven RBIs in his last eight games. He hopes to carry his current hot streak through the end of the season, after an up-and-down year. "Every day I'm trying to make progress and not just tread water while I'm here," Asche said. "I've been through some ups and downs and I know what it feels like to have this opportunity taken away, so just stick it through and not take any of these opportunities for granted."
• Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera employed a double steal in the first inning, which led to the Phillies' first run when Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto threw a ball into left field trying to get Altherr at third. Asche homered in the fourth inning and eighth innings for the first multi-homer game of his career. Ruf also homered in the seventh.
• "I'm really excited for him. [The Phillies] have seen the positives and heard the positive feedback from players, just how well he communicates with everybody and tries to keep everybody loose. That's a big thing." -- Harang, on Mackanin getting the managerial job through next season.
• Ryan Howard remains sidelined with a bruised left knee. There is a chance he might not play again this season.
• Casey McGehee is 3-for-7 with two RBIs in his career vs. Buchanan. His seven at-bats are the most for any Marlins player against the righty.
• Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria has a chance to be back in action Wednesday or Thursday. He has been out with a bothersome hamstring since Sept. 2, but Marlins manager Dan Jennings said before Tuesday's contest that Hechavarria may return this series.

NEXT GAME:

Phillies right-hander David Buchanan hopes to enter the offseason with a reason to be optimistic. A strong start Wednesday night against the Marlins at Marlins Park could help. Buchanan is 2-9 with an 8.49 ERA in 12 starts this season. He allowed five hits and two runs in six innings last week in a start against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. It was one of his better starts of the season. Buchanan faces Marlins left-hander Adam Conley (4-1, 4.22 ERA). He is coming off of a seven-inning shutout victory against the Mets on Wednesday, which easily marked the best performance of his rookie campaign. The lefty has now allowed three runs or fewer in all five of his starts since Aug. 23. His first start of that stretch actually came against the Phillies at Marlins Park, as he took the loss despite surrendering just one run in six innings.

PHILS PHACTS:

MacKanin Finally Gets His Chance – The Phillies believe Pete Mackanin is the right guy to manage the Phillies in 2016. Before they find Ruben Amaro Jr.'s replacement as general manager, the Phillies announced that they extended Mackanin's contract through next season with a club option for 2017 before Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Marlins. "Pete, in my view, had a significant leg up in that I've seen the energy level move up since he's been [in the position]," said incoming Phillies president Andy MacPhail, who also interviewed Phillies first base coach Juan Samuel for the job. "I think it's our job as the front office to be pretty realistic about what it is that we have and we don't have. It's our job to try to make sure we're aware of the whole circumstance and evaluate those things that are truly important going forward. "You always want to be competitive, but at the same time this franchise finds itself in a position where a lot of young players are going to get opportunities. We need to nurture them in such a way where they grow to be as good as they possibly can be. And we have to make sure we have the right people around them to achieve that goal." Mackanin, 64, had been the Phillies' interim manager since June 26, when Ryne Sandberg stepped down. The Phillies are 30-46 since, but 27-32 since the All-Star break. Players have said there is more energy in the clubhouse and better communication among them and the coaching staff with Mackanin in charge. "He's able to speak our language," Phillies closer Ken Giles said. "He knows how to speak to us." "I think it would be hard to find a guy that wasn't happy for Pete getting this opportunity," Phillies outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. Mackanin is happy, too. "At some point I had given up the thought that one day I'd be doing this," said Mackanin, who previously had been an interim manager with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. "Now I've got an opportunity. I'm just going to do the best I can, manage the way I know how to manage. That's the only thing I can do, do things the way I know how to do them. And let the chips fall where they may." Interestingly, Mackanin essentially will enter his first Spring Training as a full-time manager auditioning for the next GM. "When we talked about it, it made a lot of sense," Mackanin said about his conversations with MacPhail. "Andy said look, I think it's only fair to whoever that new guy might be to have some say who his manager would be. I get it. You can't just sign me to a three-year contract and then hire a general manager who is stuck with me if he doesn't want me. And hopefully the guy will like me and want to extend me." MacPhail hinted a couple of weeks ago that he planned to hire Mackanin before he hired Amaro's replacement. He said he didn't want his new GM wasting the first half of a critical offseason searching for a manager. MacPhail essentially interviewed Mackanin on Saturday in Atlanta and told him then that he wanted to make a decision before the end of the road trip. MacPhail called Mackanin on Monday and invited him to breakfast Tuesday morning. "I thought, 'Well, OK, maybe tomorrow is the day,'" Mackanin said. "And as it turns out, it was." MacPhail offered Mackanin a contract over breakfast. Of course, now that Mackanin is the man, will he change his style? An interim manager can do only so much, after all. A manager carries a bigger hammer. "I've thought about that, and I know that I can't change," Mackanin said. "I can be a little more demanding in what I want done. In the way of instituting some things that perhaps I want to really zoom in on and pay more attention to and maybe demand a different style of play. But as far as my demeanor is concerned, I know I can't change. I've seen coaches become managers and change their whole personality, and I know one of my biggest assets is my personality. I think I get the attention of players because of it. So that being one of my assets, I better not change." Mackanin said he will have input on his coaching staff. It is expected some of the staff will return, although how much remains to be seen. He also said he expects a certain level of autonomy from the front office when it comes to making out the lineup and in-game decisions. "The GM provides the players with input from the manager. The manager runs the game with input from the GM," Mackanin said. "You can't overdo one or the other. That being the case, I know for a fact they're not going to throw a lineup on my desk and make me use that lineup. " Mackanin is excited for the opportunity. He has waited a long time for this. "I'm looking forward to instituting my way of doing things starting from Spring Training on to set the tone," he said. "That's what I'm looking forward to."

Keeping An Eye On Him – The Phillies have been watching rookie right-hander Aaron Nola's workload, but he will make another start Saturday in Washington. "He was gung-ho," Mackanin said. "He wants to start again. He said, 'I feel great. I'm anxious to get back out there.' So he's going to get another start and then we'll go from there."

Still Feeling Something – Infielder Maikel Franco has not played since August with a broken left wrist. Despite some improvement, Franco still feels something in his wrist. "Another few days and it doesn't look like he's going to get any at-bats to get any timing," Mackanin said. "I would guess that it doesn't look good for him the rest of the year. We have to see. Before he leaves Clearwater, they want to make sure he's 100 percent because he's going to play Winter Ball. They're not going to let him leave to play Winter Ball if he's still feeling something. He'll probably rejoin us in Philly to collect his things and get reevaluated."

Questionable Future – Ryan Howard's bruised left knee has improved, but not to the point he can hit. The longer he sits, the less of a chance he plays again in 2015. But will Howard play for the Phillies in 2016? Howard will make $25 million next season, which does not include a $10 million buyout on a 2017 club option. "Well, he leads our team in home runs and RBIs," incoming Phillies president Andy MacPhail said Tuesday afternoon at Marlins Park. "I think if he had been on the field those three games [over the weekend] in Atlanta, I bet we would have won one. But some of his struggles have been well chronicled, too. So I think we just get him healthy again, get him to Spring Training and see where we are." Howard, who will turn 36 in November, leads the Phillies with 23 home runs and 77 RBIs, but his .720 OPS is 103rd out of 147 qualified hitters in baseball. His .418 OPS against left-handers this season has turned him into a platoon player with manager Pete Mackanin not playing him against left-handed starters. The Phillies have tried to trade Howard for some time, but have found scant interest, despite the fact they have offered to pay almost the entirety of his contract. Perhaps MacPhail and the Phillies' next general manager will have better luck in the offseason. "I anticipate he'll be in Clearwater," MacPhail said about Howard's presence in Spring Training. "We'll see where we go there. I don't know what's going to happen over the course of the winter, what opportunities may be available for us and for him. We just have to cross that bridge when we get there, but right now he's somebody we have a vested interest in getting back healthy and getting him to Clearwater and getting that bat in our lineup that we don't have without him."

Searching For A GM – Andy MacPhail checked one box on his To-Do list Tuesday, when he officially offered Pete Mackanin a contract extension through next season. Next up? Find a general manager and fill some holes on the team's roster. "I've had one interview, but just one," MacPhail, the Phillies' incoming president, said about his GM search Tuesday afternoon at Marlins Park. "I would say [it's in the] early stages." MacPhail declined to name the candidate, but he said he expects the process to begin in earnest immediately after the 2015 season. He said it remains his goal to hire Ruben Amaro Jr.'s replacement before the organizational meetings, which begin Oct. 26. But MacPhail also said it would be ambitious to find somebody by then. "I know there are some teams out there that have openings and they're actively interviewing," MacPhail said, "but I'm pretty confident that there is a lot of talent out there that would make any organization better, if we decide to go external." It is expected the Phillies will hire somebody outside the organization. One source told MLB.com in June that Angels assistant general manager Matt Klentak is an ideal candidate. MacPhail hired Klentak in March 2008, when MacPhail worked with the Orioles, making Klentak one of the youngest executives in baseball. Klentak seems to fit Phillies owner John Middleton's profile a young up-and-coming baseball executive. Of course, there are others. But MacPhail also has to address the team's roster. "We're well aware of areas that we feel need to be improved," MacPhail said. "Absolutely we feel like we need to be active this offseason, trying to support the playing talent that's already on the field with areas that need to be improved." But he also indicated it makes little sense to sign a high-priced free agent or two when the Phillies are just getting out of multiple high-end contracts. The players they acquire in the offseason are more likely to bridge the gap between a rebuilding team and a contending team. "I'm going to give you a Dwight Eisenhower quote," MacPhail said. "He found when he went to battle that plans were useless, but planning was indispensable. So, we do plan. We have our planning, and our planning at this point is recognizing where we are. There is some talent that we have we think is viable talent, but it needs to come percolate and demonstrate that it's real. 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? The only caveat I give you is that if there's a unique opportunity out there, I wouldn't want to preclude it from happening … particularly when you consider that once we get to '17 we are really pretty footloose and fancy free. We have a lot of latitude." MacPhail also said nobody should worry about not being able to acquire talent down the road just because some are signed this offseason. "I think you're always going to have that opportunity," he said. "Just like Texas did with [Cole] Hamels. Nobody necessarily predicted it, but to think that, 'gee, if we don't strike this year because there are these three, four pitchers out there, we'll never get another opportunity.' That is wrong. There are going to be other opportunities. But I think the important thing is to do it when that foundation is there that merits it and supports it."

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 57-94. 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 53-52-1 on this day.