Phillies’ Dollars and Sense

While the Phils dropped to the bottom in 2015 and received the first pick in the MLB Draft, many potential legends from 2008 changed their employment address. Then, Maikel Franco from their Triple-A affiliate and Odubel Herrera, a Rule 5 selection, demonstrated the unpolished talent currently experiencing growing pains. Incorrectly, the feeling was the worst was over because of a hot streak to begin the second half.

Last April and May, the Phils topped out at seven games over .500 and picked up where they left off with a fully recovered Franco in the lineup again. And even though the winning didn’t last, the faithful had thought about a Wild Card berth. In the meantime, Aaron Nola and Jerad Eickhoff were showing they could be 40 percent of a rotation. If healthy.

While Franco spent the first half figuring things out, Tommy Joseph proved 2016 wasn’t a fluke and gave the squad a cleanup hitter with power. And since Joseph had his April difficulties, the first sacker is batting .273 with 14 homers and 38 RBI. Simultaneously, Aaron Altherr has exceeded expectations with his average and his pop, while he’s held his own in any lineup slot.

After heeding the skipper’s challenge to live up to his potential, Nola has been dominant during his last six performances. He is 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA for 42 1/3 innings since talking with Mackanin. Additionally, if Eickhoff – since he heard from the manager – has two more quality starts, he’ll have four good appearances out of five: the 80 percent goal. And others on the five-man staff have also excelled enough to warrant more opportunities.