Stanton Dominates Derby

GAME RECAP: Stanton Tops Frazier 20-13

Giancarlo Stanton turned the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Petco Park into a contest of "Can you top this?" For most of the night, the Miami Marlins right fielder found himself trying to outdistance himself, and in the process, he stole the show. In the finals, the fifth-seeded Stanton blasted 20 home runs -- giving him 61 total in three rounds -- as he topped defending champion Todd Frazier of the White Sox, 20-13. Not only did Stanton bring the crowd to its feet with his massive home runs, he also reset Statcast™ home run highs for distance (497 feet) and exit velocity (120.4 mph). In front of an energized crowd and a worldwide audience on ESPN and MLB.com, Stanton showcased his remarkable strength in all three rounds. In the finals, he went first and put the third-seeded Frazier on the defensive. Of Stanton's 20 homers, 11 went 440 feet or more. He became the first Marlins player to win the Home Run Derby. "I grew up watching this," Stanton said. "That's where you built it up, childhood memories; now I will have kids saying the same thing. They watched me do this. I like to return the favor. Can't speak for anyone else." Stanton added a home run with a launch angle of 12.3 degrees, lower than any regular-season home run tracked by Statcast™. The previous lowest also is by Stanton, who hit one at a 13.5-degree angle on April 23, 2015, off Justin DeFratus of the Phillies. "He was hitting moonshots," marveled Frazier afterward. "I thought I was a high school hitter compared to him hitting them that far. I said it was going to be one of the most epic home run battles, and I think it really stepped up to the name." A native of Sherman Oaks, Calif., Stanton relished the opportunity to take part in his second Home Run Derby in his home state. "For sure, being on the West Coast and taking the flight out here just for this, you know," Stanton said. "I figure it's a waste if I don't bring this bad boy home." In the first round, Stanton was matched against the Mariners' Robinson Cano, the fourth seed. It became a mismatch as Stanton racked up 24 homers to Cano's seven. In the semifinals, Stanton toppled Baltimore's Mark Trumbo, the No. 1 overall seed, 17-14. In a meeting of arguably the two strongest in the event, 14 of Stanton's homers traveled 440 feet or farther, matching Trumbo's entire total for the round. As advertised, Stanton was a show stopper whose first round will go down in Home Run Derby lore. His 497-foot drive is the longest home run ever projected by Statcast™. The farthest regular-season homer is by Kris Bryant of the Cubs, who connected on a 495-foot shot on Sept. 6, 2015, off Arizona's Rubby De La Rosa. Also in his first four minutes, Stanton blistered another laser that had an exit velocity of 120.4 mph, the hardest-hit homer Statcast™ has ever tracked. The previous high on a homer by Stanton is 119.2 mph on June 23, 2015, against St. Louis' Carlos Martinez. With four Marlins players in tonight's All-Star Game presented by MasterCard (7:30 p.m. ET on FOX), Stanton also had time in the first round to take a timeout, catch his breath and pose for a selfie with his Miami teammates -- Jose Fernandez, Marcell Ozuna and A.J. Ramos. "That's great. That's what it's about," Stanton said. "Having them, and on the flight over, they were like, 'This is what we're going to do, this and that.' So we had a plan going, and I'm glad it worked out." At the conclusion of Stanton's round, all the All-Stars showed their appreciation, with David Ortiz giving some Big Papi praise by bowing to the Miami slugger. Over the course of the night, Stanton decisively established power readings at a historic rate: Stanton had the 20 hardest-hit home runs of the night; He had the 10 longest home runs; Stanton's average home run distance was 446 feet. The next highest was Trumbo at 432.8 feet. The other seven hitters combined for an average home run distance of 412 feet; His average exit velocity on home runs was 111.9 mph. The next highest was Trumbo at 108.5 mph. The other seven hitters had an average exit velocity of 105.4 mph on their homers; Stanton's home runs traveled a total projected distance of 27,187 feet, which is 5.15 miles and 9,918 feet more than any other competitor. Frazier was second with a total distance of 17,269 feet. "I didn't hit one over 440," said Adam Duvall, who lost out to Frazier in the semifinals. "He hit most of his over 440. That's just unreal, man. The power that he has is unreal." Stanton picked Pat Shine, the Marlins' Major League administrative coach, as his designated pitcher. Many Miami players praise Shine's tosses, because they are right down the middle. "No-brainer," Stanton said of going with Shine. "I don't think I took more than five balls, so he is just as important to this as I was." Stanton, like Frazier, was selected to the Derby without being picked for the All-Star Game. With a single-minded focus on one event, Stanton was locked in to bringing the Derby trophy to South Florida. "I have been around him for three years, so I am just really happy for him," Shine said. "He's one of the most intense competitors that anybody has ever been around. So I knew he wanted to win it." Stanton actually is a three-time All-Star, but he was able to only take part in 2014, missing in '12 and '15 due to injuries. Despite posting a .233/.328/.495 slash line in the first half, Stanton heated up in Miami's last five games, belting five home runs while driving in 10 runs. The slugger entered the break with 20 homers and 50 RBIs. "I'm so proud of him," Ozuna said. "He was struggling a little, and then they invited him to the Home Run Derby, and he wins it. That's beautiful."

PHILS PHACTS:

• Left-hander Daniel Stumpf returned to the Phillies July 10 after serving an 80-game suspension for performance enhancing drugs. Philadelphia acquired Stumpf from Kansas City last December in the Rule 5 Draft. He pitched in three games before being suspended.
• Active members of the Mets have hit a combined .307 against Hellickson, with Jose Reyes having recorded a .381 batting average to go along with one homer and four RBIs.
• Mets manager Terry Collins has expressed hope that Yoenis Cespedes would be ready to play by the end of the All-Star break. Cespedes, who sustained a right quad strain July 8, leads the Mets with 21 homers and 52 RBIs. In 26 at-bats against the Phillies in the first half of the year, Cespedes hit .269 with three homers and six RBIs.

NEXT GAME:

After limping into the All-Star break with a slew of injuries to key players, the Mets turn to Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61 ERA) to set the tone for the second half of the season July 15 against the Phillies, who counter with Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.92 ERA). deGrom and Bartolo Colon have been the only regular members of the Mets' starting rotation to avoid injury issues in recent weeks. Matt Harvey opted for season-ending surgery to repair his thoracic outlet syndrome, while Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard have both been pitching through bone spurs; Syndergaard left his start July 8 with a "dead arm." Hellickson has provided a veteran presence in a young Phillies pitching staff, but his name has floated around in trade rumors. The Mets could be in the market for a starter given all their issues, but there's been no indication Hellickson could be an option for them.

PHILS PHACTS:

From Rule 5 To All Star – Tonight, Odubel Herrera will suit up in yet another All-Star Game. This one, however, will be in a league of its own. Just two years ago, Herrera was a little-known player in a prospect-rich Rangers organization, performing well enough to earn Texas League (Double-A) All-Star honors for a second straight season but going unprotected in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft. That allowed the Phillies to add him that December, and since then he's risen at a rapid pace. On Monday he appeared at media day in advance of the Midsummer Classic (7:30 tonight on FOX), and he was joined by his proud parents, Odubel Sr. and Nerida, who flew to San Diego to share in this special day. But for as much as Herrera is a prominent part of the Phillies' future, the 24-year-old leadoff hitter carries great appeal in the way he reminds folks of the last Phillies powerhouse. With a style resembling that of Shane Victorino -- the club's other golden Rule 5 ticket (from 2004) -- the native Venezuelan brings a great deal of passion to the ballpark each day. A bat-flipper following homers and sac flies alike -- and a clapper after taking his walks -- Herrera has made major contributions in multiple categories this year. Entering the Midsummer Classic, he ranks fourth among National League outfielders in on-base percentage (.378), fifth in hits (96) and 10th in batting average (.294). He's also chipped in 12 steals. Much of Herrera's success can be ascribed to his improved plate discipline, as he's walked at an impressive 11.6 percent clip following a meager 5.2 rate as a rookie. "Last year, I was striking out a lot. During the offseason, it was a goal that I put to myself to improve [my plate discipline]. And I think that's what we've seen," he said. "He's a special guy," said Phillies manager Pete Mackanin. "I call him a hit collector. I don't know how he does it sometimes." Odubel Sr. agreed with the skipper's sentiments. "Basically, [when he reached] the age of 12, I started to realize he could be a great player, possibly a professional player," Herrera's father said at MLB's media day on Monday. Both of Herrera's parents are visiting the United States, carefully following Phillies games. Despite a few bumps in the road along the way, the sophomore Major Leaguer has accomplished something rare in earning All-Star accolades just 19 months after his Rule 5 selection. Players picked in the December Draft are essentially viewed as lottery tickets, with only a select few making it big. While the 42-48 Phillies have room to improve during the season's second half, core pieces are already in place in Herrera, slugging third baseman Maikel Franco and several promising starters. "It makes me feel really good to be on a team with so much young talent -- talent that can evolve," Herrera said. But with multiple promising prospects in Philadelphia's pipeline, including several young outfielders, some have speculated that Herrera could one day revive his work as an infielder. "I came up as a second baseman, but now I am playing outfield. I am feeling good in the outfield and will continue to work hard [out there]," he said. Regardless of where he plays, Herrera will almost certainly continue to contribute a keen eye at the plate, enviable athleticism and an unbridled love for the game.

Today In Phils History – Cincinnati’s Noodles Hahn starts this day as he no hit the Phillies in 1900. 6 years later, Sherry Magee set a team record by stealing 4 bases in a single game include three in the 9^th when, after being hit by a pitch, he stole 2^nd, 3^rd, and home in the loss. Unbeknownst to many phans Hall of Famer Johnny Evers briefly played for the Phillies after the team claimed him off waivers from the Braves on this day in 1917. 40 years later, Robin Roberts set a dubious MLB record when he surrendered his record setting 280^th homerun, a record he would hold for more than 50 years until it was surpassed by another Phillie, Jamie Moyer. And, finally, Phillies closer Doug Jones earned the win for the NL in the 1994 All Star Game in Pittsburgh.  

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 42-48 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 36-52-0 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.

Breaking From A Busy Offseason

PHILS PHACTS:

Quick Start – Phillies general manager Matt Klentak has been on the job fewer than two months, but he has packed plenty into it. Klentak made his first big trade Dec. 12, shipping closer Ken Giles and Minor League infielder Jonathan Arauz to the Astros for right-handers Mark Appel, Vincent Velasquez, Thomas Eshelman and Harold Arauz and left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. Since Klentak got the job Oct. 26, the Phillies also have made three other trades, signed one free agent, selected two players in the Rule 5 Draft, claimed four players off waivers and signed 11 players to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training as they build for the future. Here is what Klentak told MLB.com this week about his experience so far: Have these first few weeks been a whirlwind for you? I would say the early stages felt like a whirlwind. I think probably in the last few weeks, things have gotten down to a bit more of a normal pace. But I've been very pleased with what we've been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time. Some of those are more apparent, just in looking at the way our roster has taken shape. I've also been pleased behind the scenes with some of the subtle adjustments we've been able to make to our process and just getting to know the group and the way that the group has rallied together. Has the job been what you expected, or have you learned anything new? I think we're all products of our environments and our backgrounds, so naturally having had several different bosses and mentors over the years I've been able to see the industry through a few different lenses. I think the job is definitely different sitting in the GM chair because ultimately the final decision comes down to you. That is certainly a difference from what I'm used to, but it's not something that was unexpected. That's obviously part of the job and I knew that coming in. You mentioned being exhausted after the Winter Meetings, where you worked on the Giles trade. What was that week like? The Winter Meetings are exhausting no matter what you do or don't do. And then when you add on working all week to make a pretty significant trade, yeah, there's very little exercise, you're eating bad food, you're not sleeping very much, there's tons of meetings. I came down with a pretty nasty cold by the end of it, but I think that's the way the Winter Meetings go more often than not anyway. But when you add on a fairly big trade as we were working on with Houston, that seems to shift things even further. So it was exhausting, but I was very pleased. Not only with the outcome of the trade, but with the way that our group gathered together and rallied together to allow us to make an informed decision and make the best deal that we were able to make. When you're in the moment, do you feel any pressure of it being your first significant trade as GM? Not on a personal level. I think we all recognized that this was an important trade for us, whether we made it or not. If we had kept Ken Giles, that was going to be important to us as well. In the moment when you're working on a big trade or a smaller transaction, I think you have to strip out the emotion of it. You have to strip out the significance and just execute a plan. We knew from the very early stages of the offseason that trading Ken Giles was going to be a possibility. We knew what the interest was throughout the industry. Ultimately, we knew generally speaking what we were going to demand in player return if that was going to play out. We maintained our discipline. We worked through it and ultimately we pulled off a trade that we feel really good about. Are you pretty pleased with the way you've executed your offseason plan? I have been pleased with that. The two keys for us heading into the offseason were pitching and balance. And I think we've been able to achieve both goals. We've added pitching both of the veteran variety and some younger arms -- some with higher floors and some with higher ceilings. And I feel as though going into 2016, but likely heading into '17 and beyond, we've helped to build the foundation of pitching in our organization. I've said this before, but if you can pitch, you have a chance to win every single night. That's something we're going to be focused on for years. That's going to be critically important to this franchise as we move forward. Phillies president Andy MacPhail said recently he believes the Phillies will be able to find hitters when it comes time to add them. I assume you feel the same way? I think that's right. Hitters generally regard our park as a good place to play. I know that our ownership is very committed -- and will be in the future -- to bringing in the right players and the top-caliber players to help us. We need to make sure that we are doing our job by providing the foundation, particularly in the pitching department, that allows us to do the other things that we need to do.

PHILS HISTORY:

Christmas Eve is like the black hole of Phillies history!

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.

Will Rule 5 Selection Be A Difference Maker in 2016?

PHILS PHACTS:

Phillies Select Goeddel With First Pick – The Phillies hope Tyler Goeddel is the next Shane Victorino, Odubel Herrera or Ender Inciarte. The Phils selected Goeddel with the first pick in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. Pro scouting director Mike Ondo selected Victorino, Herrera and Inciarte in previous Rule 5 Drafts, and each of those players enjoyed success in the big leagues. Perhaps Goeddel can follow suit. The Phillies also selected left-hander Daniel Stumpf, who pitched last season in Kansas City's farm system. "This mirrors a lot what we tried to do last year with Herrera," Ondo said about Goeddel on Thursday morning at the Winter Meetings. "It's taking a chance on a prospect and adding him to the mix that we have. Trying to hit big on a player with a high ceiling. Goeddel excited us at the beginning of this whole process with his approach at the plate, the athleticism, the speed, the fact that he moved to the outfield this year and handled all three outfield positions. You have a baseball player here. He has instincts. He can steal bases. There's a lot of things to like about this player." Goeddel, 23, was the No. 24 prospect in Tampa Bay's farm system, and he slots in with the Phils at No. 19, according to MLBPipeline.com. The Rays selected him with the 47th overall pick in the 2011 Draft. He is the younger brother of Mets reliever Erik Goeddel. Tyler Goeddel moved from third base to the outfield last season and responded with the best offensive season of the career, hitting .279/.350/.433 with 17 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 72 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 123 games at Double-A Montgomery. "There's power potential," Ondo said. "His home runs jumped this year. Especially the latter part of the season, he really started to climb. He hit 12 this year, which is a career high for him. There's strength in there. There's good approach and there's strength in the bat, and I like to think there's more power to come." The Phillies weren't the only team to like Goeddel. The Reds had the No. 2 pick in the Rule 5 Draft and hoped to select him. "[Goeddel's] ceiling in our mind wasn't as high as the five guys we protected," Rays farm director Mitch Lukevics said. "And that's where it comes down to it. ... We have 40 spots. One through 40. Somebody's 41, somebody's 42, somebody's 43." Goeddel's arrival in Philadelphia makes it almost a certainty that free agent Jeff Francoeur will not return next season. If Goeddel makes the Opening Day roster, he will join a young and crowded outfield that includes Herrera, Peter Bourjos, Aaron Altherr and Cody Asche. Darnell Sweeney can also play outfield. Darin Ruf has experience in left. Stumpf, 24, went 5-4 with a 3.57 ERA in 42 games last season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He struck out 76 in 70 2/3 innings, holding opponents to a .212 average. Stumpf held left-handers to a .167 average, but he is not viewed as a left-handed specialist. "We like the arm," Ondo said. "We like the aggressiveness, the approach he has. He handled left-handers real well this year. He's an aggressive reliever up to 94 [mph], and he's got a slider to get left-handers out." The Phils did not lose anybody in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft, despite the fact that outfielder Carlos Tocci and right-hander Alberto Tirado were unprotected. They lost right-hander Manny Martinez in the Minor League phase to the White Sox. Martinez went 3-1 with a 2.51 ERA for Class A Lakewood.

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.

Looking To Repeat Rule 5 Success

PHILS PHACTS:

The Phillies Are #1 – The Phillies will come home from next week's Winter Meetings with at least one new player on their 40-man roster. They have the No. 1 pick in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, and they plan to use it. Pro scouting director Mike Ondo said the Phillies have not decided who they will select, but they hope he will be as talented as some of the players they have selected in previous Rule 5 Drafts, like Shane Victorino, Odubel Herrera and Ender Inciarte. The Phillies are on the hunt for pitching, so it might seem obvious they will take a pitcher. Then again, how can they pass on a talented position player? "I can tell you, when we were playing well and had more of a veteran club I think we drafted more toward need at that point," Ondo said. "Obviously, last year we tried to take more of the prospect with ceiling." Herrera proved to be a gem in last year's Rule 5 Draft. After the Phillies plucked him from the Rangers' organization, he hit .297 with 30 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 41 RBIs and a .762 OPS in 537 plate appearances. He had no problem sticking on the Phillies' 25-man roster the entire season, which was required in order for him to remain in the organization. From 2006-14, 33 percent of players selected in the Rule 5 Draft (48-of-144) have remained with the teams that selected them, including 11 of 14 players last year. So while the odds are against a player sticking with the team that selects him, the Phillies have the advantage of being thin on talent with an opportunity to let that player develop. "As we narrow down the list to a more manageable 10 names or so, we'll discuss whether we select a player based on need or take the best player available," Ondo said. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo recently listed 10 of the best prospects available in this year's Rule 5 Draft. The Phillies' selection could come from this group. Of course, the trick isn't necessarily finding a talented player. It's finding a talented player who can stay in the big leagues an entire season. "Are they ready to handle it?" Ondo said. "How ready are they to survive or flourish? In Herrera's case, he took the ball and ran with it." Ondo and his team will continue to pore over reports through next week's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., before settling on somebody. They hope to find the next Herrera. If so, it will be a nice victory for the rebuilding Phillies. "There's talent on these lists," Ondo said. "It's just a matter of feeling comfortable with the player that we choose."

Two Down – The Phillies avoided salary arbitration with two of their players on Wednesday by agreeing to contracts with outfielder Peter Bourjos and infielder Andres Blanco. Bourjos, who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday, agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract, while Blanco's deal is for one year, $1.45 million. The Phillies are expected to tender contracts to their three other players who are arbitration-eligible -- right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Jeanmar Gomez and shortstop Freddy Galvis -- before Wednesday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline.

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.

The Intricacies Of The Off Season

PHILS PHACTS:

Protected Trio – The Phillies protected three players from the Rule 5 Draft before Friday's 8 p.m. ET deadline. They added outfielder Roman Quinn and right-handers Jimmy Cordero and Edubray Ramos to the 40-man roster. If they had not been placed on the roster, they could have been selected in next month's Rule 5 Draft in Nashville, Tenn. International and high school players signed at age 18 must be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons or they become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. Players signed at 19 or older must be added within four seasons. Notable Phillies players not added to the 40-man include outfielder Carlos Tocci and right-hander Alberto Tirado, who rank among the Phillies' Top 30 Prospects, according to MLBPipeline.com. But those two are expected to be placed on the Phillies' Triple-A roster, which means if they are selected, they would have to remain on a team's 25-man roster the entire 2016 season for the Phillies to lose them. That seems unlikely to happen. Quinn, 22, hit .306 with six doubles, six triples, four home runs, 15 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .791 OPS in 257 plate appearances last season with Double-A Reading. A torn hip flexor sidelined him for much of the season. The Phillies' No. 6 prospect, Quinn is playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Cordero, 24, is a hard-thrower acquired from Toronto in July in the Ben Revere trade. He posted a 2.12 ERA in 13 appearances with Reading, striking out 18 in 17 innings. He has thrown 7 1/3 scoreless innings in winter ball in the Dominican. Ramos, 22, posted a combined 2.07 ERA in 47 appearances with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Reading. The Phillies have 37 players on their 40-man roster. They have 40 Minor League players eligible to be selected in the Rule 5, including Tocci, Tirado, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Tommy Joseph, Gabriel Lino, Cameron Perkins and Brock Stassi.

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 Climb Out Of Last Place With Another Win

GAME RECAP: Phillies Beat Padres 4-2

The Phillies have a chance to sweep, after defeating the Padres, 4-2, Saturday night at Petco Park. Adam Morgan earned his third win of the season, going six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. The Phillies got on the board early, with Chase Utley and Odubel Herrera scoring in the first inning. Herrera knocked in the Phillies' third run with a ground-ball single to right field. The Phillies are 15-5 since the All-Star break and no longer have MLB's worst record, after their victory and a Marlins loss. "Maybe we want to end up in last place to get that Draft pick. We screwed it up," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin joked. "It's just fun to watch these guys. They're all having a good time, and they're all aggressive. They're all pulling for each other. It's contagious." Tyson Ross is 8-9 on the season. He pitched seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits, while walking one and striking out eight. The Padres have lost five straight.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Herrera had two hits, two RBIs, two stolen bases, one outfield assist and made a couple of heads-up baserunning plays, helping him score a run -- all in the first four innings. The Phillies' Rule 5 Draft pick has been on fire, hitting .350 (48-for-137) with 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 16 RBIs and a .901 OPS in 45 games since June 5. "He plays like his hair is on fire," Mackanin said. "He's getting more aware. He's still going to make some aggressive mistakes, but boy, he's fun to watch play."
• Morgan had been inconsistent in his first seven starts this season, but he retired the first nine batters Saturday before allowing his only earned run in the fifth. It was the fourth time this season Morgan pitched six or more innings, and the fifth time he allowed two or fewer runs. "The second time through the lineup I tried to be too fine," Morgan said. "I'm excited for these next five days to work on that."
• "The first half was subpar to put it lightly. I still love playing the game, so as far as an edge I always feel like I have a chip on my shoulder." -- Utley, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in his second game since returning from the disabled list after hitting .179 in his first 65 games.

NEXT GAME:

After playing second base and hitting leadoff Friday and Saturday, Utley is expected to be on the bench in Sunday's series finale against the Padres at Petco Park at 4:10 p.m. ET. Mackanin is trying to find ways to play both Utley and Hernandez, with the front office hoping they can trade Utley to a contender before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. Jerome Williams gets the start for the Phillies. Andrew Cashner (4-11, 4.08 ERA) will take the mound for the Padres in the finale of a three-game series. Cashner will start against the Phillies for the third time in his career. He is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in his previous two starts against Philadelphia.

PHILS PHACTS:

Return To Form? – Chase Utley said he has played with an edge forever, so he does not need any more motivation to play baseball. But one still wonders if this situation is different. Utley went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday night's 4-2 victory over the Padres at Petco Park. He is 3-for-9 in two games since returning from the disabled list with a sprained right ankle, a good sign for Utley and the Phillies, who could try to trade him before the Aug. 31 waiver Trade Deadline. "The first half was subpar, to put it lightly," Utley said. "I still love playing the game, so as far as an edge, I always feel like I have a chip on my shoulder." Utley hit .179 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, 25 RBIs and a .532 OPS in 65 games through June 22, making him one of the least productive hitters in baseball and having some question how much longer he can play. But a strong showing this month could have him headed elsewhere. The Angels and Cubs have expressed interest in him. Of course, Utley has 10-and-5 rights and has indicated in the past he prefers to stay in Philadelphia. But he also left the door ajar in Spring Training when he said he would listen to what the Phillies had to say, especially if the team moved some of its veterans. The Phillies traded Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere and Jake Diekman last month. "Like I've said all along, I would be more than happy to listen to them," Utley said. "I do love Philadelphia. I've had a great time playing here, but out of respect for them, I would definitely listen to them." This is how the game goes. Players come, players go. Even iconic ones. In the meantime, Utley hopes to play much better than he played in the first half of the season. "I feel better than I have in a while," he said. Utley is expected to play about four times a week as interim manager Pete Mackanin still wants to play Cesar Hernandez, who has performed very well since Utley went on the DL. That could mean three games for Utley at second base and one at first base. "We're all on the same page," Utley said. "I think that's what he's up to -- and good," said Mackanin, asked if Utley might be motivated to prove he can still play at a high level. "Like I've said, everybody auditions every day. The old guys have to keep on auditioning to prove they belong and they can still play. And that's what he's doing. He's making a good showing."

Good Move – The Phillies considered Odubel Herrera more than just a Rule 5 Draft pick in December. They considered him a talented hitter with legitimate potential. "We feel like we're taking a shot on a prospect," Phillies pro scouting director Mike Ondo said at the Winter Meetings. Herrera looks like a pretty solid find for the Phillies. He did just about everything for the Phillies in Saturday night's 4-2 victory over the Padres at Petco Park, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, one run scored and one outfield assist. "He plays like his hair is on fire," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. Herrera hit well at the beginning of the season, but by June 5 his batting average dropped to .243 and his OPS dropped to .624. He looked as if he might be a future fourth or fifth outfielder, and if he continued to struggle, a candidate to start 2016 in Triple-A. But Herrera has adjusted to big league pitching and has been thriving since. He is hitting .350 (48-for-137) with 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 16 RBIs and a .901 OPS in 45 games since June 5. "Every day that goes by I feel more confident," Herrera said through his translator, Phillies assistant coach Jorge Velandia. "I feel like I keep on learning what it is to be a big leaguer. I keep learning from all the different experiences." Herrera, who hit third for the first time this season, singled to center field in the first inning to score Chase Utley from second base and hand the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Herrera stole second and advanced to third when Maikel Franco grounded out to Padres shortstop Clint Barmes. Herrera waited until Barmes threw to first then bolted for third base. "The shortstop never took a peek at me, so I thought I had a good chance to make it to third," Herrera said. He scored on a wild pitch that bounced only a few feet from home plate to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. "Our whole bench was like, 'No! No!'" Mackanin said. "He beat it. He's getting more aware. He's still going to make some aggressive mistakes, but boy, he's fun to watch play." "The third baseman was playing the shift so I had a good lead," Herrera explained. "So I knew I could be aggressive with anything on the dirt." Herrera singled in the third to score Cesar Hernandez from second to make it 3-0. He stole second and in the fourth inning he threw out Derek Norris at third for a big out. It is hard to believe the Rangers did not protect Herrera for the Rule 5 Draft, but they did not because their system was stacked with prospects. "It gives me an edge," Herrera said about the Rangers letting him go. "I always believed I was going to play in the big leagues."

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies season has taken an unexpected turn for the better as they have officially climbed out of the bottom of the NL East with a record of 44-67. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances this season, this could still end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 34-70-0 on this day.

Pat Gets A Plaque, Frenchie Has A Chance

PHILS PHACTS:

Burrell Headed To The Wall – The Phillies offered Pat Burrell a pretty sweet farewell from Philadelphia in 2008. Burrell led the World Series championship parade down Broad Street. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Rays a short time later, ending his nine-year career with the Phillies. But the Phillies are bringing Burrell back to Citizens Bank Park on July 31 to induct the slugger onto the organization's Wall of Fame. "He was a big part of our team," former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Thursday at Bright House Field. "People in Philadelphia were excited about him. They stuck with him even when he would hit some slumps or wouldn't do so good. He became a big leader on our team." The Phillies made Burrell the first overall selection in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft. He debuted with the Phillies in 2000 and delivered a double in the seventh inning in Game 5 of the 2008 World Series, which led to the winning run in the series' final game. He hit .257 with 251 home runs, 827 RBIs and an .852 OPS during his time with the Phillies. Only Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard and Del Ennis have hit more homers in Phillies history. Burrell's 827 RBIs rank 10th on the franchise list. "It's a tremendous honor and privilege to be added to the wall next to Philly's all-time greats," Burrell said in a statement. 

Frenchie Has A Chance – Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said last week he hopes to help Jeff Francoeur's swing and get him back to the big leagues. "Hopefully, we can get him back to where he was a few years ago," Manuel said. The true tests will come once Grapefruit League games begin on Tuesday, but so far Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg has liked what he has seen from Francoeur, a non-roster invitee who could make the team as an extra outfielder. "He's fun to be around," Sandberg said following Thursday's workout at Carpenter Complex. "He's a guy that's very welcome in camp as far as everybody is concerned. For a right-handed bat, he's making some adjustments. He's trying some things differently. He's shown some very good swings of the bat off the coaches so far in camp, so I'm anxious to see him in game situations." Domonic Brown, Ben Revere, Grady Sizemore are locks to make the outfield. Darin Ruf has a good shot at a spot because he can also play first base. Rule 5 Draft pick Odubel Herrera has a good chance to make the team, too. Francoeur could battle Ruf for a roster spot because both hit right-handed, or both could make the team if the Phillies decide to carry only one utility infielder or one fewer relief pitcher in the bullpen. "He's shown to have a good arm in right field, and he's a good outfielder," Sandberg said. "He brings a good attitude to the clubhouse. It seems like every time I look at him he's got a few guys around him. I think there's a good reason behind that. Players tend to go to him." The Phillies want infielder Freddy Galvis to think down and think easy. Sandberg said the coaching staff has been giving Galvis a few key reminders in the batter's box. "'Abajo' is down and the other key is 'suave' to take it easy, take it easy," Sandberg said about the native Venezuelan. "When he swings easy, the ball jumps off his bat. Then he has a chance to get bigger from then on out. I think just taking it easy and putting a consistent bat on the ball and a short swing for Freddy will help him. He'll have to fight that a little bit. It's a part of his game, but he has to go forward to help us win games."

The Phillies Fleeting Options – The Phillies can remove another potential landing spot for closer Jonathan Papelbon. The Brewers and Francisco Rodriguez on Thursday agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract, effectively making him Milwaukee's closer this season. The Phillies have been trying to trade Papelbon for nearly two years. They had been talking seriously with the Brewers earlier this year, but the talks stalled in recent weeks. The Phillies also have been talking to the Blue Jays, although those discussions had been considered less serious than those with Milwaukee. Of course, anything can change with one phone call. Papelbon told CSNPhilly.com he would welcome a trade to Toronto. "Yes, Toronto interests me -- if it interests [general manager] Ruben [Amaro Jr.]," he said. "I know some of the guys on their coaching staff. They're a good team. If Ruben can do a deal with them, I'd be interested." Papelbon has a limited no-trade clause and could block a trade to Toronto, but the closer has indicated in the past it would not be an obstacle. He is set to make $13 million this season with a $13 million club option for 2016 that automatically vests if he finishes 48 games in 2015.

Aiming For Opening Day – Nearly every time a Rule 5 Draft pick enters Spring Training, somebody likes to mention Rule 5 success stories like Johan Santana, Dan Uggla, Shane Victorino and Joakim Soria. They are the best of the best. There are many more times a Rule 5 pick does not survive camp and returns to his former team, or survives the entire season with his new team but fails to make a significant impact at the big league level. The Phillies hope Odubel Herrera, whom they drafted with the eighth overall pick in December's Rule 5 Draft, leans more toward Victorino (2004 pick) than Michael Martinez (2010 pick). "I feel good about it and excited about it when I received the news," Herrera said Thursday morning at Bright House Field. The Phillies jumped at the opportunity to draft Herrera, who won the Double-A Texas League batting title last season and the batting title this winter in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has played mostly infield in the past, but this spring, the Phillies are looking at him as an outfielder. He played exclusively center field in Venezuela, but he also will see time in camp in left and right. Because the Phillies aren't counting on making the postseason in 2015, Herrera has an excellent chance to make the Opening Day roster and stick with the team for the entire season. Domonic Brown, Ben Revere, Grady Sizemore and Darin Ruf figure to have the inside track at four of the outfield jobs. Herrera could be the fifth. "We feel like we're taking a shot on a prospect," Phillies pro scouting director Mike Ondo said in December. "We've always viewed this guy as an offensive utility guy. The difference is this year, toward the end of the year, he started playing in the outfield. He's a good athlete. He has some speed. He obviously has a feel for hitting. We like the bat speed." Herrera hit .321 with 16 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 48 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and a .775 OPS over 96 games for Double-A Frisco in 2014. His OPS ranked 10th among Texas League hitters with 300 or more plate appearances. He then hit .372 with 14 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 27 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .988 OPS in winter ball. The 23-year-old showed more pop in Venezuela. How much more does he have? "You're going to see," Herrera said with a smile. In the previous 10 Spring Trainings, the Phillies had 10 Rule 5 picks in camp. Three made the Opening Day roster: Ender Inciarte (2013), Martinez ('11) and David Herndon ('10). Inciarte only lasted a few days before the Phillies returned him to Arizona for Ezequiel Carrera. Martinez and Herndon survived the seasons. Many forget, but Victorino didn't make the Opening Day roster in 2005. The Phillies offered him back to the Dodgers, but they declined. The Phillies got incredibly lucky there. Victorino re-signed with the Phillies, and he spent most of the season in Triple-A before getting a callup in September. He established himself as an everyday outfielder and helped the Phillies win the 2008 World Series. "I'll try to do the best I can, and if I make team as a Rule 5, I'd like to do that and follow his steps," Herrera said.

ON THE RECORD:

The Phillies will look to rebound this season from a 73-89 record last year. While uncertainty abounds, there is little question that the franchise is in rebuild mode based on the moves and statements that have been made during the offseason. The only question that remains is whether or not the young and veteran talent on the team can work together to disprove Gillick’s predictions either this year or next.