Phillies Calling Up Challengers
By Tal Venada
In 2015, Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, Herrera and Franco were the bright spots the faithful pinned their hopes on. Now, Nola is a budding ace and Eickhoff is still more dependable than not. And although Herrera wouldn’t be rowdy enough for the lionized heroes of yesteryear, he is an entertaining sort. On the other hand, the opposing moundsmen know Franco’s holes and are exploiting them.
While 2016 had many positives, two have struggled this summer. Yes, April was a cruel month for Rupp and Joseph, but the first sacker appeared to have survived until his recently ended slump. Is the presence of Hoskins a factor? On the other hand, the double-play combo of Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis continues improving despite hearing the footsteps of Kingery and Crawford.
"IN OTHER WORDS: “Success is the person who year after year reaches the highest limits in his field.” – George “Sparky” Anderson"
Comparison from August 10 through August 24:
- Joseph: 13 Gms., 47 AB, 14 H, .298, 3 HR and 9 RBI.
- Hoskins: 15 Gms., 53 AB, 15 H, .283, 8 HR and 19 RBI.
- Game 1 for Hoskins was on August 10.
Up until August, Altherr and Williams claimed outfield jobs because of their production: They have their lifelong dream in their own hands. And the thought of returning to Triple-A is extremely unappealing because of travel, accommodations and monthly pay. For instance, someone on the 40-man roster in their second year at Triple-A receives roughly $2,400 per month according to YouGoProBaseball.com, while the MLB minimum is $0.535 million or $44,583 a month based on 52 weeks.
Next: Phillies' Rebuilding Fuels Trade Fears
With August moving into September, Hoskins and Alfaro have reached their destination, but grinding through an entire career is an entirely different beast. Meanwhile, Galvis and Hernandez also are not making it easy for their so-called replacements. In fact, the move to the hot corner by Crawford is telling, but what does that make Franco? The weakest link.