Phils 15-5 Since the All Star Break...(OT)

[PSUriseANDfire]

Another nice win. Young guys keep stepping up in big situations. The top prospects keep exploding. They have all the money in the world to spend in the next few years. This could be a short rebuild. JP is obviously the top prospect and maybe the best in baseball but how about Williams debut for Reading? 4-4, BB 2 HR. He does have superstar potential. Crawford-Franco-Williams COULD be something else.

Oh, and give Mackanin the job. The team likes him and he apparently is especially liked by all of the younger guys.

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Next stop, 3rd place. Team is born again.
Ditto your thoughts on Mackanin. They probably have somebody already in the chamber though. I would think hard about keeping him. He knows all these kids and he seems to have an idea.

 

[bmw199]

Definitely keep Mackanin. Winning means losing out on Puk though.

 

[Nittany Security]

Definitely keep Mackanin. Winning means losing out on Puk though.

I think he is doing a good job why mess up a good thing?

 

[psualumni2002]

I believe Pete said that he isn't interested in the full time Manager job. But he's been doing great.

 

[royboy]

No longer the worst record in baseball and have moved ahead of the Marlins.
Getting good hitting, bullpen is performing well.

 

[LionJim]

You can always enjoy a hot streak by your team, even if they're not going anywhere. It's going to be a long, long last two months for me, judging by the way the Nationals are going. My god, if you had told me that Harper was going to have the year he's been having I'd have said that they'd be 10 games in front at this point. Friday's game, a low point.

 

[LionFan96]

Add in that Ryan Howard has been on a completely unexpected tear. As has been the case so many years, as Howard goes, so goes the Phillies' offense. Crazy stat: The Phillies' run differential is -125. The next worst is -72.

 

[royboy]

Add in that Ryan Howard has been on a completely unexpected tear. As has been the case so many years, as Howard goes, so goes the Phillies' offense. Crazy stat: The Phillies' run differential is -125. The next worst is -72.

I root for Howard, but he just CAN NOT hit left-handers -- .141 this year; hate to sit a guy with his power but he needs to be platooned
The hot bat is Odubel Herrera, hitting .350 (48-for-137) with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 16 RBIs and a .901 OPS in 45 games since June 5.

 

[Nitwit]

Great to see Herrera and Franco playing on this team. Both are fun to watch. Even Dom Brown is hitting again, but he may be the dumbest player in baseball. If a few of the pitching prospects come through,they may be able to turn things around quicker than people thought. Sounds like they are close to separating with Chase, and perhaps releasing Howard at seasons end. I hope MacKanin stays on. He may be a big part of the difference.

 

[Chris92]

Lost in all of the hype around the incoming prospects, Catcher Andrew Knapp is hitting .403 in his 34 games at Reading. Since picking up Alfaro in the Hamels trade, Knapp has gone 18-35. Perhaps the Phils have two legit catching prospects.

 

[royboy]

Interesting speculation about Chase Utley being shopped for a team in pennant race, possibly SF Giants.

http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-p...ing?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

"But the team that might have the most interest of all could be the San Francisco Giants. Joe Panik, their All-Star second baseman, is on the disabled list with lower back inflammation. He is expected to return, but Utley might be a nice insurance policy, not to mention a pinch-hitter and winning clubhouse presence. The Giants had a scout in San Diego for the entire Phillies series and sources tell CSNPhilly.com that the scout was indeed keeping tabs on Utley. Hmmm.

Utley, 36, has full no-trade rights, but in spring training said he would consider a trade if it was presented to him by the front office. He recently said his stance was unchanged. It would be shocking — shocking — if Utley declined a trade to San Francisco. One, the Giants are a contending team. And two, Utley and his family reside in the San Francisco area in the offseason.

It makes a ton of sense."

 

[kgilbert78]

I believe Pete said that he isn't interested in the full time Manager job. But he's been doing great.

I recall an article in the Inky recently, where he said he would consider it...

 

[kgilbert78]

I got to see the Iron Pigs twice over the weekend (Friday/Sunday) here in Columbus. Altherr looked pretty good. But I was impressed by one of the guys that came over in the Hamels deal. Eickhoff pitched quite well. Nothing spectacular but seems to have a big league fastball (at about 95 mph) and went 8 good shutout innings. Looks like a guy who can get some innings at the next level. Good control too. Threw 68% strikes. Biddle pitched on Friday and isn't ready yet. Got some guys to chase his pitches, and had some good stuff, but need some work on his control. We'll see on him.