PHILLIES PHODDER

Second week of Phillies baseball..my thoughts..

Phils lost 2 or 3 to Washington, after blowing the lead in the 9th inning on Easter Sunday.The new closer, Joaquin Beniot, gave up a 3-run homer to Bryce Harper. Give Benoit credit for challenging Harper with a fastball in a key situation, However, the closer's role continues to be a question. As stated before, hector Neris should be the full time closer. He's got a strikeout pitch in his split-finger fastball.

Harper was the fifth batter in the inning. He never should've came up to bat. A walk hurt, as it always does. Harper is a  money player- that's why he will command big bucks in free agency after the 2018 season. The Phillies will have the money, and Harper will just be entering his prime. Stars win games. Right now, the Phils just don't have any stars.

GM Klentak's first major trade was closer Ken Giles to Houston for, among others, Vince Valasquez. Trading a Giles in his prime was risky but understandable, with the rebuilding process as it is. Valasquez can't go over 5 innings as a starer. His future may be in the bullpen as the closer down the road. But so far the deal looks shaky.

I said it before- the Phillies will regret signing Obdubel Herrera to a long-term contract. He either dogged it again today, when he slowed up on a tapper in front of the mound. If running full-throttle, he beats the throw and the Phils have first and third with no outs in the 9th inning. Herrera claims he felt tightness in his hamstring and held up. If so, why wasn't he ready for a pinch-hitting or base-running role?

 To me, he's shaky in the outfield, he's a bad base-runner, he's unpredictable at the plate, and he is an immature player with his tantrums, bat-flips and forgetfulness. Worst of all, he has not run out balls in the past. The Phils could trade him down the line, when Mickey Moniak is ready to man center field, or Mike Trout becomes available in a trade. Either way, Herrera will not win a batting title. He's not a special player. The Phillies will regret the contract extension.

The team continues to  struggle with runners in scoring position. They went 1 for 10 today, a trend that continues. They don't have clutch hitters. The middle of their order- Franco, Joseph and Rupp, are killing them. Franco especially. he should be emerging as a star. Instead, he keeps swinging at bad pitches and tries to hit homers by swinging too hard. New batting coach Matt Stairs doesn't seem to be getting through to Franco. Mikael needs to wake up. If he continues to slump, The Orioles Manny Machado becomes a free agent after the 2018 season. Like Harper, Machado will be entering his prime.

Rupp knows that Jorge Alfaro will be taking his catching job soon. Same with Joseph, who feels the heat of Rhys Hoskins. This is the time for these players to show they belong. And if they can't cut it, the Phils will know to move on.

Zach Efflin starts Tuesday night vs. the Mets, filling in for the injured Clay Bucholtz. Hopefully Efflin sticks. He seems like a good kid who has overcome adversity. He pitched well last season, even throwing a pair of complete games. Efflin gets the first crack at a starter's position, with Thompson, Lively and Pivetta looming in case Efflin fails.

Good for Cesar Hernandez who has started the year hot. He's still only 26, and can make his case for being a full-time second baseman, with in Philly or elsewhere. Prospects Valentin and Kingery are ready to pounce form the minors, so Hernandez is doing his part to keep his job and more.

Aaron Alterr needs to play more. If given a chance, I think he can prove to be more than just a fourth outfielder. Howie Kendrick has started well. But he isn't the future. Neither is Michael Saunders, who has started poorly. Sooner or later Saunders will be sitting more often than not, but Mackanin will play him, by orders from the front office, so he can be trade bait in July.

The Phillies are now 4-8. No one expected them to do much this year. Nut at least make things interesting. Give the fans something to watch. Be entertaining. Mackanin said he likes the fact they "compete." What about "winning?" Until the Phillies get rid of their loser's mentality, they will always "compete" instead of winning ballgames.