The Phillies are supposed to stink this year (the hip yet polite word is "rebuidking"), but they have so many kids this year that it's going to be phun watching the New Breed find its way. At least so I tell myself; the bitter truth is the relief pitching is gonna be lousy.
The Phillies have quite a mess to clean up from the Amaro era, but it can be done. Don't even think about them contending this year,
but like you said, watch the kids.
Look out folks, for at least rising star - Maikel Franco, who I believe led all major leaguers in homers this spring (including a titanic shot on Friday night, that blasted off so high and far I lost sight of it. It clanked off the restaurant below the big scoreboard, probably 450 feet from the plate.)
Franco was on a nice introductory roll last year (127 OPS+) before that wrist injury in August. Healthy, he should be big for them this year. Watch, too,
for the kid they got in the Ken Giles deal: Vince Velasquez. If he can keep the ball in the park at the Bank, Velasquez should give some hitters some
fits, he's a potential strikeout machine.
And maybe another - Odubel Herrera, a charismatic cat and top-of-the-order catalyst with power potential, who can track 'em down. He'll play center even with Peter Bourjos on the team.
Don't be shocked if they move Herrera over one outfield position to keep him and Bourjos in the outfield, with Bourjos holding center field down,
while the Phillies wait for their real center fielder of the future---Nick Williams, whom they landed in the Cole Hamels deal last year.
The problem is that it's going to take another year and a half, probably, before the Phillies' yummy looking farm prospects look like they're
full-time major league ready. The rotation has a weak washed-up back end, and they're still going to have to deal this year with the last
days of Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz. (You kind of feel for Howard: he was never the same player after that ankle injury atop the big
contract extension. That's just plain lousy luck, but you wonder what Ruben Amaro wasn't thinking when he didn't think about moving
Howard and dining big on a lot of that extension while he still had value in terms of trade returns.)
I see 2016 as the season the Phillies get a good close look into their future and pick the pieces that make it happen. Unless the injury bug
hits or the best prospects prove to be journeymen, look for the Phillies to start looking like contenders again maybe after the 2017 All-Star
break.
I'm also rooting for Cedric Hunter, a minor
league lifer who until now never caught a break, and made the team as our right fielder. He's got the prettiest swing on the team.
He'd be maybe the best feel-good story in the Show if he sticks and does well. What I see of his skill set shows me an early-in-the-order
hitter with a decent amount of pop and an ability to extort his way on base and continue the table setting. If there's nobody on ahead of
him he can take the extra base practically in his sleep. If there's a man ahead of him, he'd push that guy to take the extra base. I'm
genuinely surprised Hunter hasn't found a major league home yet. He may not be in the Phillies' long-term future plans, but if he gets
his shot and puts on a good show the first half of this season, he could be attractive to another club who turns up needing early-in-the-
order help and has a yummy prospect or two to offer up for him.
