Offense Fails To Support Rookie In Loss

GAME RECAP: Nats Blank Phils 4-0

The Nationals began a stretch of 22 consecutive games against National League East opponents on Monday night, a chance, perhaps, for them to get on a roll considering they began the day with the best record against their own division in the Majors. They began that stretch with a gem from right-hander Tanner Roark, combined with a two-run first inning, for a 4-0 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Roark held the Phillies to four hits in seven innings while Jayson Werth continued to torment his former team with a solo homer in the first inning. "I think after the first two innings, I started executing and really driving the ball in there," Roark said. "Instead of using my upper body, I used my legs as well. Everything felt in sync." Washington added a pair of runs in the ninth inning and has now won nine of its 13 meetings with Philadelphia this season, including seven in a row. The Phillies did receive an encouraging start from right-hander Jake Thompson, the team's top pitching prospect and fifth ranked overall, who lasted a career-high seven innings. After giving up two runs in the first, Thompson scattered five singles and did not allow a run across the remainder of the outing, with three strikeouts and one walk. "What a job he did after the first inning," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "In the first inning, it was more of the same. He hung a breaking ball to Werth and gradually, as the game went along, he got better and better. ... A real positive outing."

PHILS PHACTS: 

• The Nationals didn't score on Thompson after the first, and they hardly even mounted a threat in his final six innings. The rookie got off to another rocky start in the first, allowing Werth's home run and Anthony Rendon's RBI single for a 2-0 lead. But Washington didn't put two runners on base in an inning again until the seventh, and Thompson pitched out of it, finishing his night with possibly the best of his career-high 111 pitches, a curveball that froze Trea Turner to end the inning. "I thought about getting him out after six to keep it positive, but I thought he was just pitching too well," Mackanin said. "In that seventh inning, he really battled hard to get out of that. All three of his strikeouts were in that one inning. That was huge. Great to see. I'm real pleased with that." Pitching coach Bob McClure made a change to Thompson's delivery between starts, simplifying it, and it paid major dividends. "Just on the physical side of things, I'm in a better position to make pitches," Thompson said. "It actually wasn't too difficult. It's really simple, just small moving parts instead of a bunch of stuff moving at the same time. I got off a mound twice this week in the bullpen. I feel like that helped a lot, just getting those reps."
• The Phillies' bullpen has been among the most active in the Majors this season, especially of late. Philly relievers have thrown the eighth-most innings in the month of August. Manager Pete Mackanin sounded excited at the prospect of adding some relief arms when rosters expand on Sept. 1, saying the Phillies will immediately recall "a couple arms." But Thompson, in his fifth Major League start -- and having not gotten past five innings previously -- provided the relief the 'pen needed, going seven strong. He joined Jeremy Hellickson (Aug. 20) as the only two starters to pitch seven innings since July 26.
• "McClure noticed something with his leg. I'm not going to get up and demonstrate. But it's his lead leg. He was lifting it a certain way, which kind of caused him to lean forward and not stay over his backside. Oddly enough, he used a new leg lift, which is not easy to do just overnight. I think that had a lot to do with it. It looked real good; his command was really good. He started to throw a lot of good pitches; he looked like the pitcher that was advertised." -- Mackanin, on the change in Thompson's delivery.
• The Nationals issued a challenge in the ninth inning after Rendon was only awarded second base on a fan-interference play on an errant pickoff throw by right-hander Frank Herrmann. The call on the field was overturned, and Rendon was awarded third base; he would later score on a single by Robinson.
• The Phillies joined the Nats in ninth-inning challenges when Chris Heisey hit a potential inning-ending double-play ball to first baseman Tommy Joseph. Joseph fired to second; Mackanin issued a challenge, saying that Danny Espinosa slid too aggressively into the bag. He wanted Heisey ruled out at first after the throw back to Joseph was too late, but replay confirmed that Espinosa's slide was within the rules.
• Werth spent four seasons with the Phillies, winning a World Series, and considers Citizens Bank Park one of his favorite places to play. He homered in his first at-bat on Monday and now has 11 homers and 29 RBIs in his last 29 games in Philadelphia dating back to the start of the 2013 season. It was his seventh home run this month, tied for the most he has hit in any calendar month as a member of the Nationals. "Home runs come in streaks, and home runs come with a thought process," manager Dusty Baker said. "When you start hitting a couple home runs, it's sort of like you think about it. ... So you know me, I always feel that water seeks its own level. J-W is healthy this year, where he wasn't last year, and he's always hit the ball out of the ballpark." 

NEXT GAME:

Jerad Eickhoff (9-12, 3.87 ERA) starts the middle game, and it will be interesting to see how Mackanin monitors his pitch count, as he pulled him from his last start after 71 pitches through six innings of two-run ball.

PHILS PHACTS:

Small Change, Big Difference – Pretend you're a Major League pitcher. Take a big step back with your left foot and lift your arms over your head, rock back a little and fire. Now eliminate those movements, just raise your lead leg and throw again. See the difference? That's the change that Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure made to Jake Thompson's delivery between Thompson's most recent start and Monday's, the best of his Major League career. The rookie right-hander tossed seven innings and allowed only two runs to the Nationals in a 4-0 Phillies loss at Citizens Bank Park. Rather than the standard single side session between starts, Thompson worked back-to-back bullpens on Saturday and Sunday in New York. Prior to Saturday he'd never thrown a pitch the way he did fairly dominantly, all things considered, only two days later. McClure approached Thompson before Saturday's session, saying, "Hey, I want you to try this." He then proposed stripping Thompson's delivery bare -- not even a windup. "First I was trying to go from the side and still go over my head," Thompson said. "The timing really wasn't there. Then he had me try it without it, and I had a really good bullpen after that, and we kind of just stuck with it." In Sunday's second bullpen session, he threw only a dozen or so pitches, but he said the additional work helped him immensely. Thompson had thrown thousands of pitches using the delivery that caused him so many issues in his first four Major League starts. It was a conundrum, as he posted a 2.50 ERA in Triple-A doing the same thing. "The only thing I can probably pinpoint is, it has a lot to do with timing," he said. "Coming up here and struggling kind of disrupted my timing a little bit." Thompson posted a 9.78 ERA through those first four starts, the second highest by a Phillies starter in his first four Major League outings. "It was his lead leg," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He was lifting it a certain way, which kind of caused him to lean forward and not stay over his backside. He simplified everything. Too many moving parts. His leg lift was a little unorthodox, and it caused him to lean forward instead of staying over his backside. So that, with the simplified mechanics, I think, helped him a lot." Changing mechanics overnight seems like an impossible task, but for Thompson it was easy. It's almost the same motion, just with the entire first half of his delivery eliminated. Although the change in results was drastic, the tweak was simple. "It actually wasn't too difficult," Thompson said. "It's really simple, just small moving parts instead of a bunch of stuff moving at the same time."

A First Pitch To Be Proud Of – A rainbow flag fluttered from a flagpole in center field at Citizens Bank Park on Monday. Billy Bean, Major League Baseball's vice president of social responsibility and inclusion, threw out a first pitch. That was both fitting -- it was the inaugural Phillies Pride Night -- but not exactly a new gesture by the club, since it was also the 15th consecutive year the organization has recognized the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It all started when a fan named Larry Felzer approached the Phillies with a question. If he sold 500 tickets, could the LGBT fans get the same recognition on the scoreboard and elsewhere that any other group did? The answer was yes, putting the franchise far ahead of the curve, and the promotion has been a success ever since. This year, the Phils set aside a date -- in this case, the series opener against the Nationals -- without attaching it to a minimum number of tickets to be sold. Other clubs that have held official Pride events this season are the Athletics, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Nationals, Padres, Rays and Red Sox. The Cubs are holding one this Sunday. Bean, who was hired by MLB on July 15, 2014, acknowledged before the game that he's always a little nervous about any sort of potential negative reaction, even though his personal experience so far has been overwhelmingly positive. "It's not to polarize anybody or alienate any of our fans. Most fans will come and not even be aware that that's going on," Bean said. "But there will be a large group of LGBT people who are absolutely aware and feeling supported and wearing shirts and know they're in a supportive environment to express their true selves. So to me, the importance of it being the inaugural Phillies Pride Night is that we've had a decade and a half of successful nights that led up to this." Bean only visits teams when asked; this was his fifth time he's been invited to visit the Phillies. In fact, one of his first appearances after he was hired was to speak at the Phils' organizational meetings. Pride Night is like most of the group nights that are held each season, with two important differences. One is that the LGBT community spans all other groups. For example, Monday was also the team's Jewish Heritage Celebration. "The LGBT community is a part of every community," Bean said. "So there are members of the Jewish community that are part of the LGBT community. So I think we cross into every special-interest group." The other is that most of the other groups take basic liberties, like the right to get married, for granted. Said Bean: "People are not initiating religious-freedom laws to take away the rights of [other groups] right now." "Everyone has a right to bring their passion to the front office of a big league organization and say, 'We want to celebrate the things that matter most to us, and we're going to do it by having a party in your stadium. And here are 1,500 ticket requests.'" The shootings at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., earlier this year emphasize the importance of the issue, and Bean is working to help baseball become a leader, inspired by the way that Jackie Robinson helped break down racial barriers in 1947. "We have a great product on the field, and I think we're expanding the initiatives of social responsibility, which makes me very proud," Bean said. "It's about everyone coming to the ballpark and feeling like they can sit right next to the person that's most important to them in their life and cheer as loud as they can. "That's the beauty of embracing the responsibility that goes with that privilege and us making a great impression for people who may never have heard of an LGBT night. Let's throw an olive branch out across the aisle and make friends. We don't need to be separated. When you raise the visibility, it allows a conversation to be expanded. It's a chance to get to know people better. Then, as communication or conversations happen, we start to see the things we have in common. And then it doesn't seem like such a foreign or scary interaction. "If the fear was that we don't have anything in common, I can tell you that we have baseball in common. That's a start." And when the former big leaguer, one of only two to come out as gay, threw out the first pitch on Monday night, he was greeted with a warm round of applause.

Today In Phils History – In a game that was originally forfeited in 1913 to New York due to fans trying to distract opposing hitters, the NL later ruled that the game should be continued and the Phillies pulled out the victory. Possum Whitted had quite the unique extra inning homerun to give the Phillies the victory in 10 innings in 1915 when the ball bounced off the front of the bleachers, then off the outfielder’s chest, and over the fence for the game winner. Phil Collins had another day in paradise when he pitched a 1 hitter against the Giants at the Polo Grounds in 1931. After retiring the last 17 batters he faced in his start against St. Louis, Saul Rogovin retired the 1^st 15 Cubs batters in 1955 to tie the MLB record. The Phillies received Bob Browning in 1970 from St. Louis as a replacement player in the Curt Flood trade. Kent Tekulve became only the 2^nd pitcher in MLB history to appear in 1000 games when he faced 4 batters in the Phillies win over the Giants in 1988. The Phillies acquired Wes Chamberlain from the Pirates in 1990. Lenny Dykstra tied a team record with his 4^th leadoff homerun of the season in 1993. 5 years later, Jeff Kent lined into a triple play with Alex Arias, Mark Lewis, and Rico Brogna recording the outs against the Giants. In 2000, on his 56^th birthday, Tug McGraw was inducted in the Philles Wall of Fame with is son, Tim McGraw presenting him with a leather jacket with his number 45 on the back and a motorcycle. The Phillies acquired Matt Stairs on this day in 2008, a move that would pay huge dividends in the post season. Other Phillies celebrating birthdays today include Marlon Byrd (1977) and Roberto Hernandez (1980).

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are currently 60-71 this season putting them on pace to beat most preseason predictions. All time, the Phillies are 55-61-0 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.

The Foundation Seems Strong

PHILS PHACTS:

Translation Please – Commissioner Rob Manfred visited every team in baseball last spring and noticed something. His words were lost to many of the Spanish-speaking players in camp. "I noticed a problem in terms of language," Manfred said. "I had a lot of senior people in the organization with me on those visits and they noticed a problem. I think it pushed forward an issue that had been sort of on the table for a long time to make sure that we did the very best job we could allowing our players to communicate as effectively as possible with the press." It is why every team is required to have a Spanish-speaking translator on staff. The Phillies recently just hired their translator: 28-year-old Diego Ettedgui, who is from Venezuela. "I think it's going to help," Phillies third-base coach Juan Samuel said. "Sometimes it takes us from what we need to do as a coach, even though we welcome the idea of helping these guys. A lot of times you have to juggle coaching with personal stuff, and maybe sometimes this guy feels more comfortable talking personally about something strictly to a translator." Last season, Samuel and veteran utility infielder Andres Blanco translated for players uncomfortable speaking to reporters. "It will be more comfortable for everybody," Blanco said. "Everybody will have their own space. Spring Training is Spring Training, but during the season it's a little bit different. People feel tension. They get mad, frustrated. It's good to have better communication." But Samuel and Blanco both hope it does not stop players from improving their English. "Now you have a tendency of seeing all the Spanish guys being together because, 'I only have to speak Spanish,'" Samuel said. "Then you have the rest of the team over there. If they learn the language it'll bring the team even closer together off the field. You don't see the Latinos out, going shopping with Cody Asche. They go with Cesar [Hernandez] or Blanco." Cordero is getting close: Hard-throwing right-hander Jimmy Cordero has not thrown a bullpen session this spring because of soreness in his right biceps, but he said he could throw off a mound as early as Monday or Tuesday. Cordero said he does not consider the injury serious and expects to make up for lost time.

Alfaro Turning Heads – Unofficially, the distance from home plate at Ashburn Field at the Carpenter Complex to second base on the half field at Bright House Field is about 545 feet. A service road separates the two. But Phillies prospect Jorge Alfaro had no problem recently launching balls from Ashburn Field to second base at the half field, which caught the attention of Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa. He had been working on the half field at the time. "It's just a different sound," Bowa said about the ball leaving Alfaro's bat. "It doesn't matter that it's BP. Where these balls go, it's different. The kid has strength. He's got some tools. Big time." It is just batting practice and it is just the first few days of camp, but Phillies coaches have been impressed with Alfaro's raw power. Of course, the trick for Alfaro will be harnessing that power at the big league level. But if he can, the Phillies will be ecstatic they got the 22-year-old catcher in the Cole Hamels trade with the Rangers. Good catching is hard to find. Good catching with power is a dream. The average big league catcher had a .682 OPS last season. Only three catchers hit more than 20 home runs. "BP-wise, I haven't seen a guy on a consistent basis hit a ball that far to right-center field, opposite field, ever," said Matt Stairs, who is in camp as a guest instructor before returning to the Phillies' broadcast booth next week. "I've played with [Jose] Canseco, [Mark] McGwire. Sammy Sosa had great power in BP, center field and pull power. But Alfaro has the thunder off his bat. When you see a center fielder not move in BP, just turn around and watch, you know you've got tremendous power." "He reminds me of Dick Allen," Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said. "He's got the 28-inch waist and the shoulders three-feet wide. But I'm one of those guys that gets infatuated with young players early. I've pitched to him in the cage, worked with him a little bit. You can just see it. He has a very quiet, confident stance and presence in the batter's box. Everything about him exudes confidence." Alfaro has hit .261 with 52 home runs, 250 RBIs and a .758 OPS in six Minor League seasons. He missed much of last year following ankle surgery. Finally healthy, he played 13 games in winter ball in Venezuela, hitting .262 with one home run, no walks and 16 strikeouts in 42 at-bats. "I felt a little lost," Alfaro said about winter ball. "I started feeling better the more I played." The key for Alfaro will be refining his approach at the plate. He has walked 95 times and struck out 492 times in his Minor League career. It would be advantageous to close that gap. "We've been talking about my stance and trying to be more athletic," Alfaro said. "I just want to be more consistent at the plate. But I also need to get better at calling games." "He better learn to hit the ball inside," Stairs said. "When you watch a guy taking batting practice and he has tremendous power center field to right-center field -- because that's what his swing is -- now it's an adjustment of how he can react to pitches inside. Can he turn on pitches? It will be interesting to see what adjustments he makes." The Phillies are hopeful the hitting and catching comes -- Alfaro's throwing arm is as impressive as his power. The club has another highly regarded catching prospect in the system in Andrew Knapp. If both make it, one of them could change positions. Alfaro has some experience at first base and has worked out in the outfield. "He's young," former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He still needs some experience to finish him off, but he has a chance to be a good hitter, a power hitter in the big leagues." "He's a strong kid," catcher Carlos Ruiz said. "He can swing the bat. He's a guy you have to keep your eyes on."

A Strong Foundation – Mike Schmidt has lived through the good times and the bad with the Phillies. He was in uniform when a young team won three consecutive division titles in the 1970s, and in 1980 when they celebrated a World Series title for the first time. Schmidt played in the '83 Series loss to the Orioles. And during the Hall of Famer's 18 seasons, he was around when the Phillies were losing a ton of games, like 97 in 1972 or 91 in '73 or 82 the following summer; a combined 191 his final two years, 1988-89. By my count, Schmidt was with the Phils for 1,398 of the franchise's record 10,650 losses. The team has finished last 33 times. Michael Jack has seen this team torn down and rebuilt more times than he can remember, so there's really no one better to ask of what the current construction project reminds him. "The Kansas City Royals four years ago," Schmidt said the other day without hesitation. "And I think we're closer to the World Series than the Royals were then." Kansas City, building from within with young players, lost 90 games in 2012 and, of course, rose to beat the New York Mets last year to win its first World Series championship in 30 years. "Just say I'm very impressed with the young talent here," Schmidt, a Spring Training instructor, added after a workout on a cold, windy day at Bright House Field. "There's a lot of energy." Ask baseball lifer Pete Mackanin what his youthful band of virtually unknown players reminds him of, and the manager chews on the question for only a second or two. "Right away, I think about the Montreal Expos with a lot of young guys when Warren Cromartie, Andre Dawson, Ellis Valentine and Gary Carter came up," he said. "I was part of that mix [1975-77]. Those guys did a little better than I did over the long run. "It reminds me, in that respect, we've got a lot of guys who're not necessarily on the Major League team, but on the verge, knocking on the door. I consider Freddy Galvis, Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez prospects as well. Those guys did well enough last year for me to expect much more from them this year." Mackanin, 64, took over on an interim basis when Ryne Sandberg resigned on June 26, and he was given the job permanently after the season, his first full-time managerial job. He received enormous praise for his handling of and communication with the young roster. Once prompted, Mackanin was on a roll, oozing superlatives about the players who are rebuilding the Phillies' future. Once again. "I think [center fielder] Odubel Herrera has a chance to be a batting champion," the manager gushed. "I don't know about this year, but he's got a real good idea at the plate. He's shown adjustments. We need Galvis and Cesar to adjust and Maikel to get 500 at-bats. We have a bunch of prospects -- good young guys who have a chance to make a name for themselves." Herrera batted .297 in 147 games last year, while Franco hit .280 with 14 homers and 50 RBIs. Right-hander Aaron Nola, who was 6-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 starts, is the top pitching prospect, and shortstop J.P. Crawford, one of baseball's best prospects, is considered a big piece in the club's future. I first arrived in Clearwater to cover the Phils in 1958. For the first four years, they lost 377 games, including 107 in '61. And they only played 154 games in those seasons, all last-place finishes. When I look back over the years, I can never remember so many changes -- from top to bottom -- within the organization, as are taking place now. To say 2016 is a new beginning is an understatement. Longtime respected executive Andy MacPhail is now the club president, 35-year-old Matt Klentak is vice president/general manager and Mackanin is the new field general. Klentak is the youngest GM in Phillies history. There's an entirely new analytics department. Change was obviously necessary. It's been eight years since the Phils, under manager Charlie Manuel, won the World Series; seven years since they lost the Series to the Yankees in 2009. Their run of five straight National League East titles ended in 2012. They finished last the previous two seasons and lost 99 games in 2015, their third straight losing season. An upbeat Klentak has been talking this spring about building a firm foundation, but is quick to add "a lot of the pieces are already here." The Phillies waited too long to rebuild and were saddled with expensive long-term contracts awarded to players who helped win those five consecutive division titles, but whose skills were on the downside. Jimmy Rollins is gone. So is Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, et al. Only 36-year-old former NL MVP Award winner Ryan Howard and 37-year-old catcher Carlos Ruiz remain from the team that helped sell out Citizens Bank Park all those great years. Most preseason forecasters are picking the Phils to finish last again, and they're near the bottom among the 30 Major League teams in early power rankings. Because they had the Majors' worst record in 2015, the Phillies own the overall first pick in the Draft for the first time since 1998, when they selected Pat Burrell. This is an enormously valuable asset to a rebuilding team. "These young guys are pretty good and have a lot to prove," said Mackanin. "I hope they make very difficult decisions for us on when to bring them up here. A lot of the guys -- especially some of the pitchers -- have to be thinking they have to show improvement this year or one of these young guys will take their jobs. "If that's pressure, so be it. That's what this game is all about. If you can't handle pressure, how do you expect to win the game in the ninth inning -- or the last game of the World Series?" As the workout continued this day at Bright House Field, the overriding thought was that the painful teardown of the Phillies is complete. And the words of Schmidt comparing the rebuilding to the journey that the Royals followed were encouraging.

Getting Fit For Special Needs – It's not just Phillies players who are getting preseason workouts. Back at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the Phillies front office and NovaCare Rehabilitation trainers recently hosted a Major League workout for elementary students with autism and an adult aphasia group. This unique Phillies Phitness "WorkOUTshop" was held in partnership with AccessSports Experiences, which provides sporting experiences to those with special needs. There were approximately 50 participants, including volunteers, with their day beginning in the Diamond Club for an introduction to what it means to be fit and why it is important, followed by a warmup to get the blood pumping. Bobby DiLullo of NovaCare and Troy Sattin, who oversees the Phillies Phitness program, made sure the group was prepped and ready for the workout. "To be fit means living a healthy lifestyle through working out, being active and maintaining a nutritious diet," Sattin said. "We are trying to create habits that make being healthy easier. It does not matter if you have disabilities; it is all about what can be done now to live a long, healthy life." Alyson Harris of AccessSports Experiences agrees wholeheartedly. "In our group today there is a range of participants, from little kids to adults, showing that sports allow for an equal playing field for individuals to come and be connected," she said. "Whether it's children with autism or adults who have had strokes or traumatic brain injuries, all of a sudden the differences are no longer there because everyone is cheering for the same team and for each other." From relay races to hitting in the batting cages, there was plenty of cheering to be had by all participants. And that is important, as some members of the group have regained speech and mobility through events like this. "One of our aphasia clients actually learned to regain her speaking voice by cheering at a game," Harris said. "It's something everyone can identify with, the experience of rooting for a team, or even each other, can transform someone's life." Activities at the Phillies Phitness WorkOUTshop were all health related, covering everything from exercise to nutrition. The younger group started in the media room, where they learned about nutrition and healthy options through a "healthy food race," with the children running to pick out healthy food items to put on their plate. Meanwhile, the older group participated in relay races, during which the batting cage netting was lifted to reveal an indoor field. Smiles were everywhere, as participants cheered on teammates running back and forth with Major League uniforms to dress up a member of the team. The most important goal of the race was not to win, but to encourage one another. At the end of the activity, the group exchanged compliments and high-fives. The groups then switched places and took part in the other activity. All participants learned the importance of being active, through both exercise and everyday activities, as well as the importance of making smart food choices. "When you're young, you can pretty much do anything you want, but as you get older and you don't have some balance in your diet, things like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol have a greater risk of occurring. It makes the ability to be active and productive more difficult," DiLullo said. "We want to stress that if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet, you live longer. It's something you can start at any age, and you can have fun while staying healthy." To finish the day, everyone headed to the Diamond Club for a nutritious lunch. As the group enjoyed the meal, the best mascot in baseball charged into the room for a big surprise. The children cheered and the adults clapped as the Phillie Phanatic greeted each person individually. It was no doubt a great day for all to get fit with the Phillies.

Today In Phils History - First, look to see how this spring compares to 2013. Second, be sure to wish 2008 NLCS legend Matt Stairs a happy birthday!

THE BEGINNING:

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

Harang Steps Up To Take Opener Against Former Team

GAME RECAP: Phillies Beat Braves 4-1

Aaron Harang and Shelby Miller came into Thursday night's Braves-Phillies game a combined 0-14 since May 17. Harang broke his streak. Miller didn't. Harang threw five innings in his first start since July 1 -- when he went on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis -- in the Phillies' 4-1 win at Citizens Bank Park. The winning decision for Harang ended a streak of eight straight starts in which he registered the losing decision and nine straight winless starts in total. He allowed just one run despite the nine hits he surrendered and struck out three. "All of his pitches were sharp," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "He threw strikes. He just had a higher pitch count than we like. That's why we took him out of the game. But he certainly looked like a different guy than he was while he was pitching with that foot injury. We were real pleased with his performance." The loss for the Braves was their fourth in a row and seventh in eight games. Phillies bats found Miller's pitches early as he worked up to 59 pitches through the first three innings, but it wasn't until the fourth -- when four Phillies in a row singled -- that Philadelphia was able to break through against the right-hander. Limited run support has led Miller to go winless while posting a 3.19 ERA over his past 13 starts. "It was definitely hot, but I don't think that was the reason at all," said Miller, who changed his jersey multiple times while sweating profusely throughout the outing. "You play the game in humidity. Atlanta is hot and here is hot. You've got to get used to that. There is no excuse for that."

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• Miller entered this game with 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings against the Phillies and a 2.03 ERA in six career starts against them. But Atlanta's All-Star hurler started to waver after he allowed four consecutive one-out singles in the fourth and then three consecutive one-out singles in the fifth. The 11 hits he surrendered matched the career high he allowed on July 10 at Coors Field vs. the Rockies.
• Playing in his 1,000th game as a Phillie, catcher Carlos Ruiz came to the plate for his second at-bat of the night with the bases loaded in the fourth inning after the three players before him all reached with singles. Ruiz joined in on the action with a single of his own, plating Odubel Herrera and Freddy Galvis and giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
• Domonic Brown continued the turnaround he's been in the middle of for the last eight games on Thursday. Brown smacked two hits, including his first home run of the season, marking his fourth multi-hit game in 10 days. The home run was Brown's first since Sept. 16, 2014. "He hit a missile," Mackanin said. "It was nice to see. I think he's been so concerned about the outer half of the plate. I think he's got to remember that mistakes are made over the plate and on the inner half. I think that he's got to get back to that.
• After Miller allowed four straight Phillies to single, giving the Phillies a 2-1 lead, Harang stood at the plate with Ruiz on first and Brown on second base. Brown ventured a little too far off second and Pierzynski threw down to second with Andrelton Simmons covering. On initial appearance, Brown looked safe and such was second-base umpire Gabe Morales' call. However, replay showed that when Brown stood up out of his slide, there was a brief moment where neither his hand nor foot were on the bag while Simmons still had the tag applied and the call on the field was overturned. The review lasted an estimated one minute and 20 seconds.
• "He might've been lurking in the shadows somewhere, but I haven't seen him." -- Mackanin. on whether or not Cole Hamels was in the clubhouse on Thursday in the wake of his potential trade to the Texas Rangers.
• Outfielder Cody Asche wasn't in the lineup for the Phillies on Thursday night and if his track record versus Atlanta is any indicator, he might not play on Friday either. Despite the fact that he has played the Braves more times than any other team, Asche is just 13-for-113 lifetime against Atlanta pitching after pinch-hitting and going 0-for-1 on Thursday. Though two of those 13 hits are home runs, his on-base percentage and slugging percentage are both below .200, combining to create his lowest OPS against any National League opponent.
• The end of July marks the ends of opposite months for the two teams. By record, July will easily go down as the Phillies' best month of the year -- with a win Friday, they have the chance to finish above .500 in a month for the first time in 2015. The Braves, on the other hand, will be glad to see July end. After Thursday's loss, they are five games under .500 this month, tied for their worst month of the year.

NEXT GAME:

The Braves have rarely fared well when facing a Cole Hamels-led Phillies team. Luckily for Atlanta, they probably won't have to deal with him much anymore. Hamels was scheduled to start for the Phillies on Friday, but with a trade to the Rangers all but confirmed, the chances of Hamels -- who has a 3.11 ERA in 225 2/3 innings versus Atlanta -- matching up against the struggling Braves are growing increasingly slim. This comes at an opportune time for an Atlanta offense that has lacked output in recent days. The Braves had scored a grand total of 15 runs in their last nine games, being shut out as many times, twice, as they have won. Instead of Hamels, this ailing offense draws David Buchanan, who the Phillies plan to call up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in advance of Friday's game. Buchanan is 0-2 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts lifetime versus the Braves.

PHILS PHACTS:

Finalizing The Details – Cole Hamels is going to be a Texas Ranger. The eight-player trade between the Phillies and Rangers is taking a little longer than expected to become official, but sources told MLB.com late Thursday night that everything is in place and that it will happen. An announcement is expected Friday. Sources said Wednesday night that the Phillies agreed to send Hamels, Jake Diekman and about $9.5 million to the Rangers for five prospects -- outfielder Nick Williams, catcher Jorge Alfaro and right-handers Jake Thompson, Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher -- and left-hander Matt Harrison. Major League Baseball needed to approve the trade because of the money involved, but a source said it has been approved. The teams also needed to go through extensive medical records, which can take time. The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday the Rangers needed to transfer the insurance policy they held on Harrison to the Phillies, which involves a third party. Complicated, administrative stuff, but the fact is the trade is going to happen. Hamels remained out of sight Thursday. If he ever appeared at Citizens Bank Park, nobody seemed to know it. "He might have been lurking somewhere in the shadows, but I didn't see him," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. Diekman was at the ballpark, waiting for somebody to tell him something about his future before the 4-1 victory over the Braves. Word never came. He eventually got into his Phillies uniform and walked with his teammates to the bullpen, knowing he would pitch only in an emergency situation. He sat there the entire night, contemplating his fate. "I didn't do anything until 6:30 p.m.," Diekman said. "Then I went into the hot tub and got ready for the game. I mean, it sucked. Like, this could be the last time I walk in here. I mean, I have no idea, but just sitting out there thinking about it sucked." The Phillies and Rangers had worked for some time to complete this deal. It certainly did not happen overnight. But after Hamels rejected a trade to Houston -- which means the Astros offered an even better package of prospects than Texas -- the Phillies and Rangers reached an agreement. The Phillies still like what they got. They received three of the Rangers' top six prospects, according to MLBPipeline.com: Thompson (fourth), Williams (fifth) and Alfaro (sixth). Eickhoff ranked 17th and Asher ranked 29th. Thompson, Williams and Alfaro are ranked 60th, 64th and 69th, respectively in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. The Phillies wanted hitters in any trade for Hamels, and they believe they got two good ones who project to be everyday players with Williams, 21, and Alfaro, 22. Williams, who was a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft, was hitting .300 with 21 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .837 OPS with Double-A Frisco. Alfaro, who signed a $1.3 million bonus in 2010, will miss the rest of this season following left ankle surgery in June, but before that, MLBPipeline.com said he had "the best combination of raw power and pure arm strength among Minor League catchers." Thompson, 21, was traded from Detroit to Texas last year for Joakim Soria and became Texas' top starting pitching prospect. He was 6-6 with a 4.72 ERA in 17 starts with Frisco. Eickhoff, 25, was 8-4 with a 4.47 ERA in 17 games with Triple-A Round Rock. Asher, 23, was 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 12 starts with Round Rock. In time, the Phillies hope a few of those players catapult the Phillies to their next postseason run, similar to how Hamels, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and Jimmy Rollins led the Phillies to five consecutive National League East titles from 2007-11. The Phillies had to sacrifice one of their greatest postseason performers to get them. "Just a surreal moment," Hamels said following Saturday's no-hitter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It turned into a surreal week, including Thursday with everybody in limbo.

Everybody Limbo! – It was three hours before first pitch of the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Braves on Thursday and interim manager Pete Mackanin glanced down at the partially completed lineup card on the desk in front of him. He half-smiled, half-shrugged. He only knew so much. He could say even less. By Thursday afternoon, The Big Trade had been a hot topic since the news started breaking late the previous night: ace left-hander Cole Hamels and reliever Jake Diekman to the Rangers for veteran starter Matt Harrison and five prospects. The deal had been discussed, dissected, critiqued and analyzed from every angle. It just hadn't been completed -- which created a weird vibe as the Phillies prepared to play the Braves at Citizens Bank Park in the first game of the homestand. Mackanin didn't know whether to list Diekman as being one of his available relievers; when the game started, he was sitting in the bullpen. It also wasn't clear whether Hamels was at the park. He was scheduled to start Friday night against the Braves. The official game notes listed TBA instead. Mackanin wasn't even sure what to say to Hamels before the Phillies boarded their charter from Toronto back to Philadelphia on Wednesday night. "I didn't say goodbye," he explained. "Unless it's done, I don't want to do that. That's what made it uneasy." As always, the lack of solid information left a void that was filled with rumors and speculation. As the hours passed, conjecture mounted. Most of it centered on the possibility that one of the players involved may have been red-flagged for medical reasons. Maybe the deal would have to be reworked. Maybe it would be scuttled entirely. The Phillies and Rangers, however, are expected to announce the deal Friday, sources tell MLB.com's Todd Zolecki and T.R. Sullivan, before the 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. The clubs have not confirmed. Still, uncertainty can be draining. To the Phillies' credit, it didn't prevent them from winning for the 10th time in 12 games since the All-Star break. After the game, some of the picture began to come into better focus. Hamels apparently stayed home. His locker appeared undisturbed. "I didn't see him, but he might have been lurking in the shadows somewhere," said Mackanin, drawing a laugh. David Buchanan will start Friday night, he added. The manager conceded that he was supposed to stay away from using Diekman. And the hard-throwing reliever spoke about the emotional toll the previous 24 hours had taken on him. "I really don't know what to say," he said. "I haven't been told anything. I walked in [after Wednesday night's game] and three of my buddies texted me. Congrats and stuff. Then I check online and it's all over." Still, when he got to the park, nothing. "I didn't do anything until 6:30," he said wryly. "Then I went in the hot tub and got ready for the game." He was told he would only pitch in an emergency. "This could be the last time I walk in here. I have no idea. Just sitting out there thinking about it sucked. I feel like it would be a good opportunity if it happens, but leaving here would suck. I mean, I'm 28. I've been here nine years. I've been here a while. "I don't know if I feel anything right now. Until something happens, I'm still here. I'm still a Phillie. I was a Phillie when I woke up. I was a Phillie during the entire game. I love it here. Just because I've been here for nine years, it's tough." Making trades in baseball, with bigger money and more intricate contracts, has become more complex. It can take longer to finalize deals. At the same time, social media means news breaks instantaneously and circulates with breathtaking speed. Those two realities clashed Thursday, and the result was a general awkwardness all around. And there was nothing anybody could do about it. "Everybody's got concerns. Everybody's got anxieties. The old guys. The young guys. I'd like to know who to put on my lineup card," Mackanin said. "It's uncertainty, but you just go with what you're given. The people who do it the right way and get after it are the people you're looking for. "You can't take anything for granted in this business. That's the way you have to look at it. It's a bottom-line business. You either succeed or you don't. And if you look at it that way, you're not going to worry about it and you're going to be more successful. You'd like to know what's going on, but sometimes it just doesn't happen that way."

Stepping Up – David Buchanan is 26. Adam Morgan is 25. Aaron Nola is 22. And then there's Aaron Harang. With word of Cole Hamels' trade to the Rangers expected to come Friday, the Phillies' clubhouse is losing more than just an ace; it's losing a veteran presence to help guide the new guard of Philadelphia starters in times of confusion. Enter Harang. The 37-year-old said after Thursday's 4-1 win over the Braves that he has filled the role of sage veteran a few times over the five-year journey that has taken him from San Diego to Los Angeles to Seattle to Queens to Atlanta to Philadelphia. But now with Hamels gone, Harang is the likely figure to step in and take over as the intellectual leader of the young rotation. This is a mantle Harang said he is happy to assume. "The nice thing is I've been able to be around and go on a couple of the road trips and be there to kind of answer questions and talk with Morgan and Nola. Watching how guys are working hitters and maybe giving them ideas on situations. How to set guys up to be able to establish another pitch for them," Harang said. To Harang there is a value in learning through listening. That being said, Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin is pleased to have Harang as more of a visual professor of the game. "He's important in the respect that hopefully all the guys recognize what he did tonight," Mackanin said. "He used all his pitches, he used the whole plate up and down. His command wasn't the best, but still in all, he knows how to pitch, he knows how to hold runners. And the players see that and get to understand what he did." Harang started Thursday night for the first time since he went on the disabled list on July 1 with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing nine hits, but keeping the ball mostly on the ground being that all nine of the hits were singles. His pitch count reached 96 pitches after five innings, but the strategy succeeded, leading to a win for his team and for his record. Putting a new notch in the win column is a bit of a foreign experience for Harang. Prior to Thursday's win, Harang had been the loser in each of his previous eight starts, the first Phillies pitcher to achieve that not-so-desirable feat since 1972. Counting the no decision he earned prior to the beginning of the losing streak, it was Harang's first win since May 14. The right-hander said he was proud to break the streak, saying it was a testament to how hard he worked to get back into the rotation. "It's been a little while," Harang said. "It's been kind of a grind this last month."

Staying Focused – As he came, so too he may go. Outfielder Ben Revere came to the Phillies in December 2012 via a trade that sent Trevor May and Vance Worley to Minnesota. Now in his third season with the Phillies and less than 24 hours away from the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, Revere is speculated to be the last piece the Phillies are shopping. With former closer Jonathan Papelbon already in Washington after Tuesday's trade and the deal to send ace Cole Hamels to Texas all but complete, Revere is the remaining talent most likely to be dealt before Friday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. When asked if he is prepared to be traded if a transaction is to occur, Revere said that he has to remember baseball is a business, as hard as it may be to think of it that way. "Anything can happen in baseball," Revere said. "Someone could go down. They're like, 'Okay, we need a guy.' Choose me or choose him. Anything can happen. One phone call or one trade could happen. But really I'm not thinking about it." A reliable contact hitter and a fleet-footed threat on the basepaths, Revere is batting .298 this season with 24 stolen bases and is on pace to score about 80 runs, which would be a career high. Over his five full MLB seasons, Revere has twice batted .300 or better and twice stolen more than 30 bases. He did both in 2014. Pragmatic about the chances of being traded, Revere said he is not scared despite the fact that his fate isn't in his own hands. He emphasized that as of right now, he is a member of the Phillies and that his sole focus has to be on doing what he can to help the Phillies thrive as long as that is true. That being said, the prospect of being traded to a contender is an interest proposition for Revere. "I've known guys who have been with a team that was struggling who got traded to a team that won the World Series," he said. "You never know what will happen in the game of baseball, a 180 just like that."

Welcome To Alumni Weekend – It is unlikely Cole Hamels will stick around for the Phillies' alumni weekend. But the Phillies have plenty planned without him. Here is a look at the weekend's festivities: Friday: Pat Burrell will be the 37th player inducted onto the Phillies' Wall of Fame. Wall of Famers participating in the pregame ceremony at Citizens Bank Park include Jim Bunning (inducted 1984), Steve Carlton (1989), Mike Schmidt (1990), Larry Bowa (1991), Dick Allen (1994), Greg Luzinski (1998), Garry Maddox (2001), Tony Taylor (2002), Bob Boone (2005), Dallas Green (2006), Juan Samuel (2008), Darren Daulton (2010), John Kruk (2011), Mike Lieberthal (2012) and Charlie Manuel (2014). Fans will receive a commemorative print of Burrell. Saturday: The Phillies will dedicate their mural on the Walnut Street Bridge at 11 a.m. ET. The mural is part of the city's Mural Arts Program. Located at 24th and Walnut, it is eight stories high and faces the Schuylkill River and I-76. Later that night at Citizens Bank Park, more than 50 Phillies alumni will be introduced before the game. Phillies alumni will be signing autographs at various parts of the ballpark from 5:45 p.m. ET to 6:15 p.m. ET. The John Vukovich Award will be presented to Steve Schrenk, who is the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast Phillies. The John Vukovich Award is presented annually to an instructor in the Phillies organization who embodies the characteristics of the late Vukovich, the longest-tenured coach in team history. Sunday: Fans will receive a Fathead that features Carlton, Daulton, Allen, Schmidt and Burrell.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies are starting the season as expected and are now at the bottom of the NL east at 39-64. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance so far this season, this could end up being the worst team in franchise history! All time, the Phillies are 60-52-1 on this day.

Boston Beats Buchanan To Take Opening Series

GAME RECAP: Red Sox Beat Phillies 6-2

The Red Sox made David Buchanan pay for every mistake he made Thursday night in a 6-2 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Buchanan retired the first two batters he faced in the third inning before the Red Sox proceeded to score six runs on three infield hits, two walks, one bloop triple and one single to center by Boston pitcher Justin Masterson. The Red Sox cruised from there to win the first series of the season. "That inning can't happen," Buchanan said of the six-run third inning. "Two outs, no runs have scored yet. You've got an open base and you end up walking a guy. You deserve what's coming if you keep doing that." The Phillies scored a couple runs against Masterson in the third, but otherwise made little noise offensively. Masterson allowed three hits, two runs, two walks and struck out seven in six innings. "When he's right, he puts the ball on the ground, and he was able to do that here again tonight and helped his own cause with a couple of base hits, but it was a solid six innings," said Red Sox manager John Farrell.

OTHER NOTES FROM THE DAY:

• The Phillies celebrated their 1915 team, which won the franchise's first National League pennant. Those Phillies lost the World Series to the Red Sox in five games. The current Phillies wore 1915-era caps to commemorate the festivities.
• Buchanan had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 16 consecutive starts before Thursday. It was the fourth-longest active streak in the big leagues behind Clayton Kershaw (24 straight), Jon Lester (20) and Lance Lynn (17).
• "He got a six-run lead. I think that helped. As a pitcher you can kind of settle in when you know you've got a big lead. You can kind of pick and choose what you want to do. I think we kind of let him off the hook." -- Phillies third baseman Cody Asche, on what made Masterson so effective against them.
• Buchanan pitched as well as anybody in Phillies camp this spring, but he struggled against the Red Sox. He allowed seven hits, six runs, four walks and struck out one in just three innings.
• The Phillies scored just six runs in three games against the Red Sox and many of the problems started at the top of the lineup with Ben Revere, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard struggling in the series.

NEXT GAME:

The Phillies open a three-game series Friday night at Citizens Bank Park against the Nationals, who many predict to win the National League championship. Right-hander Jerome Williams starts for the Phillies. He went 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA in nine starts last season with Philadelphia, but struggled in Spring Training, posting a 7.40 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. After losing two out of three games to the Mets to start the 2015 season, the Nationals hit the road to face the Phillies in a three-game series starting on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. Although they were not the dominant team they were in the late 2000s, the Phillies gave the Nationals a tough time in their home ballpark last year, winning six out of nine meetings.

PHILS PHACTS:

Opening Day Experience – Julie Kramer got to relive her Opening Day experience Thursday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Kramer is a cancer survivor from Tabernacle, N.J., who first appeared on the show in December when she discussed her battle with Stage 4 synovial sarcoma. Chase Utley surprised Kramer on the show with Phillies gear and an invitation to attend as many Phillies games as she wished this season. Kramer threw out the first pitch Monday at Citizens Bank Park. She told DeGeneres she has started to volunteer and raise money for Striking Out Cancer, which raises money for pediatric cancer at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. DeGeneres donated $10,000 to the hospital.

Bats Silent During Boston Series – This is not the start to the season the Phillies wanted offensively. The Twins are getting plenty of attention in the baseball world because they scored just one run in three games this week against the Tigers, but the Phillies scored just six runs in three games against the Red Sox. Three of those runs came on Jeff Francoeur's three-run home run Wednesday night. The Phillies scored twice in the third inning in Thursday's 6-2 loss at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies hit .149 with just two extra-base hits in the series. They posted a .206 on-base percentage and a .191 slugging percentage. "I think it's a little bit too early to tell," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said about the team's offensive capabilities. "Our guys are trying to settle in and get some at-bats under their belt, but what we need to do is hit together and create some innings with some baserunners so we can do some things and then come up with some key hits." Ben Revere, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard hit first, third and fourth, respectively, in the series. They hit a combined .086 (3-for-35) with one double, two RBIs and seven strikeouts. It will not get any easier for the Phillies, who open a three-game series Friday night against the Nationals. The Phillies will face left-hander Gio Gonzalez on Friday, right-hander Doug Fister on Saturday and right-hander Max Scherzer on Sunday. "I don't think guys went away from their approach," Phillies third baseman Cody Asche said about Thursday's struggles against Justin Masterson. "It's just a different game when you're down six runs."

Looking To Bounce Back – Phillies right-hander David Buchanan called his pitching performance Thursday a fluke. He vows next time will be better. "I'm looking forward to washing that away and just shoving my next outing," Buchanan said after a 6-2 loss to the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Buchanan posted a 3.75 ERA in 20 starts during a solid rookie season in 2014. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in his final 16 starts, which was the fourth-longest active streak in the big leagues behind the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (24), the Cubs' Jon Lester (20) and the Cardinals' Lance Lynn (17). But after posting a 1.29 ERA and allowing just 14 hits and two walks in 21 innings in Spring Training, he allowed seven hits, six runs and four walks in just three innings Thursday. Buchanan had a problem finishing innings. He retired the first two batters he faced in the first inning before walking David Ortiz with two outs. He had two outs and nobody on base in the second when he walked Xander Bogaerts. But the third inning hurt the most. He retired the first two batters he faced before Ortiz reached on a single to shallow right field. Chase Utley was positioned for the defensive shift, but couldn't handle a ball hit to his right. Hanley Ramirez then hit a ball over the mound, which Buchanan fielded. But he spun and fired the ball into the camera well down the first-base line to put runners on second and third. "I don't know if I had made a good throw if he would have been out or not," Buchanan said. "But fielding my position is part of it. I think I could have gathered myself and tried to make a good throw." Buchanan walked Pablo Sandoval to load the bases. Shane Victorino then hit a ball to third baseman Cody Asche, who backed up to make the play. He looked to throw to second before firing a throw late to first. Ortiz scored to make it 1-0. Ryan Hanigan walked to score Ramirez to make it 2-0 and Bogaerts hit a triple down the right-field line to clear the bases and hand Boston a 5-0 lead. Red Sox pitcher Justin Masterson added insult to injury with a single to center to score Bogaerts and make it 6-0. "That inning can't happen," Buchanan said. "Two outs, no runs have scored yet. You've got an open base and you end up walking a guy. You deserve what's coming if you keep doing that." Buchanan will pitch again Tuesday in New York against the Mets. He will be looking for his first win since Aug. 8. "I just want to get past the third inning," he said.

Rotation Update – The Phillies announced Thursday that Sean O'Sullivan will be their No. 5 starter and pitch Sunday against the Nationals. They hope Chad Billingsley is not far behind. Billingsley, 30, begins a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is recovering from a pair of right elbow surgeries that have limited him to just 12 innings in the big leagues since 2012. But everything has been going well lately, and there is a good chance he could join the Phillies rotation before the end of the month. "I'm pretty excited going into tomorrow," Billingsley said. "Hopefully everything goes good." The Phillies signed Billingsley to a one-year, $1.5 million contract in the offseason. It is filled with performance bonuses, and in a best-case scenario Billingsley returns to form and becomes an attractive trade chip in July. Billingsley has built up his arm strength to about 45 pitches, so he could throw around 60 pitches Friday. He probably needs to build up to 100 pitches before he is ready to join the Phillies, which could mean three or four rehab starts.

Injury Update: Domonic Brown – Right fielder Domonic Brown began a rehab assignment Thursday night with Class A Advanced Clearwater, finishing 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. Brown, 27, has been sidelined since March 19 with tendinitis in his left Achilles tendon. Brown hit .235 with 22 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .634 on-base plus slugging percentage in 512 plate appearances last season.

No Change – Jonathan Papelbon could make Phillies history in the next few weeks, but will anybody care -- including himself? Papelbon picked up a four-out save Wednesday in a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park, although Hanley Ramirez came a few feet from hitting a grand slam against him in the eighth. It was the 107th save of Papelbon's Phillies career. He needs just six more to pass Jose Mesa's 112 for the franchise record. It would be a heck of an accomplishment for Papelbon, whose 219 saves with the Red Sox is a franchise record. "Having an opportunity to be the saves career leader in two historic franchises means a lot to me, and I don't take that lightly by any means," he said. But before the game, Papelbon told The Boston Globe that despite signing a four-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies he does not "really feel much like a Phillie." That should not surprise anybody. Papelbon has made his frustrations with Philadelphia well known numerous times over the past few years. Asked about Wednesday's comments to the Globe, Papelbon said, "What is a Phillie? What is a Phillie? A horse? That's what it is? I feel like a horse, yeah. I feel like a horse. I felt like a horse tonight, yeah." Actually, it's the team with the red pinstripes. "Yeah, of course," he said. Papelbon finally explained. "It's like, 'Where are you from?'" he said. "I'm from Baton Rouge, La. So that's what I will always say. That's where I feel like I'm from, that's where I grew up, that's where my roots are. So you ask me what runs deep in you, the Red Sox still run deep in me. It's where I'm from, it's where I grew up, it's who I became as a pitcher, so it will always stick with me no matter what. Doesn't really change how I go about my business." Interestingly, the Red Sox expressed no interest in bringing back Papelbon following the 2011 season. He said he does not feel slighted. "No. It's business, baby. Straight cash," he said. Papelbon could make another $13 million next season if he finishes just 47 more games this year. (It will trigger a vesting club option.) But will he still be in Philadelphia? The Phillies have been trying to trade him for some time, but without success. Until that happens, he will have to live with the Phillies. "Like I said earlier, I feel like the Red Sox run deep in my blood," he said. "It's who I became as a pitcher. That will always stick with me. It's like any time you have to move on. You have to adapt to a new team, and I haven't had any problem doing that here."

Where Are They Now? – With the 2015 season officially under way, here's a look at where the Phillies' top 30 prospects are starting the season: 1. J.P. Crawford -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv) – DL; 2. Aaron Nola -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 3. Maikel Franco -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 4. Roman Quinn -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 5. Zach Eflin -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 6. Tom Windle -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 7. Ben Lively -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 8. Matt Imhof -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 9. Jesse Biddle -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 10. Franklyn Kilome -- Extended spring training; 11. Ricardo Pinto -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 12. Deivi Grullon -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 13. Andrew Knapp -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 14. Cord Sandberg -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 15. Severino Gonzalez -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 16. Odubel Herrera -- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB); 17. Kelly Dugan -- Extended spring training (DL); 18. Victor Arano -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv) – DL; 19. Carlos Tocci -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 20. Dylan Cozens -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 21. Yoel Mecias -- Clewarwater Threshers (A Adv) – DL; 22. Chris Oliver -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 23. Aaron Brown -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 24. Jesmuel Valentin -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 25. Aaron Altherr -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA); 26. Joely Rodriguez -- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA); 27. Zach Green -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 28. Brandon Leibrandt -- Clearwater Threshers (A Adv); 29. Elniery Garcia -- Lakewood BlueClaws (A); 30. Nefi Ogando -- Reading Fightin Phils (AA). Team to watch: Double-A Reading will have a new-look, prospect-laden rotation this season. Right-hander Aaron Nola, the seventh overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, headlines the staff, which also includes right-handers Zach Eflin and Ben Lively and left-handers Tom Windle and Jesse Biddle. Outfielder Roman Quinn highlights the lineup. On the mend: Shortstop J.P. Crawford, the club's top prospect, will begin the season on the disabled list as he recovers from a left oblique strain he suffered during Spring Training. Right-hander Victor Arano and left-hander Yoel Mecias will also have their seasons delayed as they recover from injuries.

Someone Call People Magazine – CALLING ALL FASHIONISTAS, SARTORIALISTS AND TRENDSETTERS: THIS IS A CUT4 FASHION ALERT. Have I managed to get your attention? Good. Because we have something you need to see. Namely, Matt Stairs ... flexing his guns ... in a vintage-style baseball cardigan. With the Phillies celebrating the 100th anniversary of their 1915 NL championship, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer and hero to all big-boned fellas everywhere modeled a traditional baseball cardigan while showing off his 'ceps: We here at Cut4 are big baseball cardigan supporters. It's not hard to see why. Just look at how the classic look not only emphasizes Stairs' strength, but is also dressy enough for an evening at the opera while simultaneously flattering every body type. If one GIF can change the world, then I hope it's this otter playing with a ring. And if two GIFS can change the world, then I hope Matt Stairs leads the baseball cardigan comeback. I mean, the sweater is already providing boons of free hot dogs. Is there anything it can't do?

THE BEGINNING

The Phillies are starting the season better than expected and are now at the bottom of the pack in the NL east at 1-2. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and performance this spring, don’t expect their competitive place in the standings to last. All time, the Phillies are 24-17-0 on this day.