PHILLIES PHODDER

The Phillies are 1-2 out of the gate after losing today in Cincinnati..

Not to over-react..the season is young..but some observations..

The Phillies still continue to strikeout way too much. New hitting coach won't matter if your players aren't good enough. Guys like Galvis and Hernandez are what they are- marginal players. Add other average players to the mix- Saunders, Bucholtz, etc..and you've got an average club

Adam Morgan is what he is. He's a Kyle Kendrick-type. He will never be great, just good enough to hang around in the majors. Morgan is left handed, which give shim an extra reason to hang around. Another guy who had a good spring training but is merely average when the games are for real.

The Phils offense continues to struggle. No key hits. Franco and Joseph are struggling early, which means where do the RBIs come from? The offense doesn't steal enough bases (Roman Quinn, where ar eyou?) nor hit with enough power. They don't hit and run enough. They are just "there".

This year's edition also is boring  and stupid. Base running mistakes, over-swinging, swinging at bad pitches. They are not entertaining. After tomorrow's opener, I don't see how the organization will promote this team. Who is going to go to Citizens Bank Park to see this group? Clearwater was fun because of the energy and freshness of the kids.

IF Mike Trout ever becomes available, I'm not worried about the Phils having the prospects to trade for him. Their farm system is deep. I worry that the front office won't be aggressive enough to do whatever it takes. Trout is entering his prime. He would bring a badly-needed face to the Phillies organization, a franchise player, a hometown hero who fans would come out to see. Despite GM Klentak's ties to the Angels, I worry the front office will over-evaluate their prospects and not do what it takes to get two-time MVP Trout.

To me, you do whatever it takes to get a once-in-lifetime player like Mike Trout. Maybe that's why the Angels will never trade him. But if they do, hopefully the Phillies make the Angels an offer they can't refuse.

After losing 2 out of 3 games to the woeful Reds, it shows how far the team still needs to go. Now comes the fun- 12 games against division-rivals Washington and the Mets. The Phils could be buried by the end of April, and start calling up kids by Memorial day.

Manager Mackanin needs to be more aggressive with what he has. More hit-and -run ( although that's tough when guys aren't getting on base consistently), more bunts to get runners in scoring position. Can't wait for the 3-run homer. It's not going to come.

Tommy Joseph has started off terribly. Is he feeling the heat of Rhys Hoskins in Lehigh Valley? Mikael Franco is also off to a slow start. Does he realize that Baltimore's Manny Machado will be a free agent ? Freddy Galvis still doesn't get on base enough. Does he see J.P. Crawford over his shoulder? Cesar Hernandez is inconsistent in his overall play. Can Scott Kingery be far behind at second base?

Obdubal Herrera has gotten a few early hits, but goes brain-dead at times on the bases and even in the batter's box. Will he always be an airhead or is he continuing his lackadaisical ways, despite signing a new contract over the winter?

Hopefully the Phils hold their own in the next 2 weeks. Key games ahead for the 2017 season and beyond.

Ryan Howard signed a minor league contract today with the Atlanta Braves. Strange and interesting move. It was thought Howard would end up in the American League as a designated hitter. The Braves must think he could back up Freddie Freeman at first base and be a power bat off the bench. Plus, Atlanta could always try to flip him at the trade deadline in July for a prospect. It will be weird to see Howard in a Braves uniform. I'm sure he will get a warm welcome when he does return to Citizens Bank Park.

Finally, sports is entertainment. The Phillies need some excitement. Will kids like Dylan Cozens and Hoskins bring that fun and hope back to Philly? Must the fans suffer through yet another long summer, patiently waiting for reinforcements? Hopefully the front office has patience with the prospects, let them simmer at Lehigh Valley and Reading, yet have short leashes with vets like Bucholtz,who, on 1-year contracts, will be Phillies history anyway after this season.