Earlier, Kyle called me a “poor guy” in his intro post because I’ll be primarily writing about the Phillies–a team that appears headed for its first 100-loss season in 56 years. Still, I don’t see it that way. This actually feels like the perfect time to jump in to write about this team.
Now, you could probably accuse me of seeming overly optimistic after they lost two games to the Atlanta Braves yesterday in a double-header that could not be described in any other way than painful to watch for what looked like the 379 people who, for whatever reason, were in attendance.
The Phillies were outscored 14-3, outhit 28-13, and starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff’s season is probably over after he exited Game 1 because he couldn’t feel the baseball in his right hand. That’s probably not going to end well.
Still, hear me out.
The reality is that there are going to be plenty of more games in September that look like the ones played yesterday and like the one from this past Saturday night when the Cubs dropped 17 runs on a depleted and overmatched pitching staff.
Here’s the good news–the harsh reality of the present doesn’t change the fact that the Phillies are going to be relevant (and maybe even good) again. And soon.
The current economic state of the organization has it in an enviable position. Pair the astronomical sum paid by CSN for broadcasting rights a few years back with the team’s lack of future financial obligations and it’s easy to see why the Phillies will be able do quite literally anything they want over the next of couple years.
According to Spotrac.com, the average guaranteed financial commitment for 2018 MLB payrolls currently stands at $89,101,527. The Phillies are on the books for $6,350,000. Obviously, this number will rise throughout the winter as the team constructs its roster, but the Phillies are only financially bound to Odubel Herrera beyond this season.
This is good because they’ll need quite a bit of that financial flexibility to throw dollars at a pitching staff that is in dire need of multiple upgrades.
The other thing they got going for them is that for the first time in a while, quite a few of their position players aren’t, you know, awful.
It’s not impossible to see any of the following guys on a playoff contender here, or used as assets to net legit talent as the rebuild enters its next phase: Aaron Altherr, Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Cesar Hernandez, Jorge Alfaro, J.P. Crawford, Scott Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, Freddy Galvis, and maybe, possibly, Maikel Franco (but probably not).
Oh, yeah. And then there’s Rhys Hoskins.
Last Wednesday he homered in the second inning against the Marlins. I got a text message from my buddy, who’s a casual fan, that said, “Holy shit. This guy is unreal! I sat in my car to listen to that. I didn’t want to miss it.”
It wouldn’t have been notable for me to send that text. I live a hollow and meaningless life and use sports to fill my gaping emotional voids and mask my financial problems. Let’s see here. Looks like I have $8.18 in my checking account…but Scott Kingery had 3 hits at Lehigh last night. So there’s that. But I digress.
When was the last time a casual fan in this city felt a second inning at-bat was a can’t miss moment ON THE RADIO? Or when was the last time this fan base collectively tuned in to see what a guy would do next? That’s what we’re getting with Rhys Hoskins right now, and it’s been fun for the first time in a long time.
If you can look past the product playing out the string in front of us right now, it’s not hard to see that the Sixers aren’t the only team in this city about to return to relevance. And that’s good because I need it.
22 Responses
You really Wanked that one
I knew I liked Pepsi better.
I hear ya. I was traveling while he hit his 12.th. A buddy of mine texted me, simply saying, “12”. I knew exactly what it was about, turned on the radio and smiled.
too bad he only has 11 LOL
No future in Franco
Sign free agent pitcher Yu Darvish.
Dream scenario would be if the phils signed Davis and that g00k from Japan
Keepin it classy…haha
konichiwa josh innes
Phils still years away. They need to fire that pussy gm
I see we’re continuing Kyle’s tradition of poorly worded headlines.
#DBAP
Could also see Cesar Hernandez on a contender. As well as Cesar Hernandez and Cesar Hernandez.
So nice he named him twice
“Looks like I have $8.18 in my checking account…”
Hey, now with Kyle, you can have and additional 3.99!
Im surprised kyle would hire someone to write for his blog who has an easy to find video of himself yelling the N word.
Why? The comments section if filled with them.
Where is the rest of the article? This finished weaker than one of Jim’s articles
Wanks Said: ” It’s not impossible to see any of the following guys on a playoff contender here, or used as assets to net legit talent as the rebuild enters its next phase: Aaron Altherr, Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Cesar Hernandez, Jorge Alfaro, J.P. Crawford, Scott Kingery, Cesar Hernandez, Freddy Galvis, and maybe, possibly, Maikel Franco.”
Not impossible to see them on a playoff contender BUT NOT LIKELY EITHER Galvis,Hernandez,Franco, Herrera have been here the past 6,5,4, 3 years respectively . These guys are throwaway pieces. They are nothing. Trash. Losers. Other than Hoskins and maybe Kingery the other prospects are full of question marks.
You basically have Hoskins,Kingery,Nola. Altherr/N Williams are intriguing. All the Comcast money in the world isnt going to lure Top Free Agents to play with a team so inexperienced and lean on talent.
Long way to go.
I completely agree. It’s the first time I’ve seen new players out there that you excited for baseball.
Get some damn women back in that stadium.
in my opinion, they do seem to be a little more solid in their offense, especially if Kingery/Hoskins are the real deal. but, they need to completely overhaul their bullpen. I don’t think there is one guy out there that they can bring in and pitch a 1-2-3 inning anymore. and it doesn’t mater if it’s the 6th, 7th, 8th, whatever. It has to be hard for the hitters to look up and see that they are constantly behind, or if they get a lead, it will almost immediately be given back. If they could clean that up, then maybe they can turn around a historically bad record in one run games. It’s not like they are getting blown out every game. Add a free agent starter, and maybe they can start contending again.
True. I still watch every game, even when I tend to be doing something much more entertaining then watching the opposing team break out 3 runs in the top of the first my conscious eats me alive if I don’t flip to csn or check my mlb app. Ready for the playoff push, and for Franco to stop pulling a pitch on the outside corner. Go Philly.
This message is great.
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