For a team that is currently 10-17 and a long shot to be in playoff contention this year, all is not doom and gloom for the Philadelphia Phillies.
The pieces of the next championship team are starting to emerge.
A look at the stating line-up for the game on the 4th of May @ the Braves, which ended in a 5-2 victory for a second consecutive road win, gives us a good starting point.
The #Phillies send Aaron Harang to the mound in the series opener with the Braves in Atlanta. http://t.co/Ddbe1tLLEOpic.twitter.com/tNjfa1Yh6c
— Phillies (@Phillies) May 4, 2015
Ben Revere, despite his brain fades when stealing bases and fielding errors, is building into a promising lead off hitter. While his batting average of .247 is not earth shattering, he has hit three triples to date, all in clutch situations. Improving his defence has to be a focus for the remainder of the season. Revere’s development in this position could see a long stint in the minors for all-star Domonic Brown.
He is forming an improving 1-2 combination with Odubel Hererra. Hererra, a Rule 5 roster selection, has been one the successes of the season, averaging just under .300 with the bat. Nine RBI’s and eight extra base hit have proven that the excitement around the Venezuelan was justified, despite not going yard as yet.
Hererra has also stolen five bases in his own enigmatic style, matching the feats of lead off hitter Revere.
Defence is also an issue for Herrera. More time spent in Centre Field will be beneficial in his development.
Darin Ruf has come up with some big offensive plays in games the Phillies have won. Unfortunately he seems to be in and out of the line up and never gets an extended run in the team. Has the ability to play 1st base or Right Field, which provides the flexibility to mix and match the line-up based on match ups. Surely a better option than Grady Sizemore in the outfield.
The big positive from all the off season moves made has been the emergence of Freddy Galvis following the departure of Jimmy Rollins from the Shortstop position. While Galvis’ defensive prowess has been well known for a while now, his offence has exploded under the increased responsibility of playing Shortstop every day. Batting .349 with team leading 30 hits, one wonders why he is batting so low in the eight hole.
The one knock on him may be the lack of extra bas hits with only three of his thirty hits being more than a single.
On top of the team that played on the 4th of May, there is the improving third baseman Cody Asche, who is having just as productive a season as Hererra and Galvis, and highly touted youngsters J.P Crawford and Mikael Franco that will no doubt be up in the majors soon.
The pitching stocks are unfortunately not as bright and in most need of restocking. We are seeing the blooding of the likes of Severino Gonzalez and with prospects to come such as Aaron Nola, Jessie Biddle and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, a decent rotation may not be as far away as we think.
More prospects are needed, which the trading of Cole Hamels and others will facilitate this.
The bullpen has its future closer in Ken Giles, who is gaining invaluable experience operating in tandem with Jonathan Papelbon for now.
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