PHILLIES PHODDER

I've had it with the Phillies.

I didn't expect them to contend. I did expect the team to be improved. Instead, they stink, not a pace to lose 99 games. The Phils are 3=15 in May, yet GM Matt Klentak recently said "you can see the team is improved."


Klentak is a huge disappointment. I thought when he came from the Angels organization he would be an aggressive, out-of-the box general manager. Instead he is ultra-conservative, plodding and not very innovative. He is the perfect fit for an organization that has always been way too conservative ( not promoting Ryan Howard until he was age 25).

Isn't sports supposed to be entertaining? This current Phillies team is not fun, boring to watch and frustrating as hell.

For the first time in a long time, I knew the Phillies were on TV this week against Texas yet I didn't watch them because I really didn't care. Why should I care when it seems the entire team doesn't care?

That's a bad sign. It's one thing to suck. It's another when your loyal fan base- and I have been a fan for close to sixty years- is apathetic. Why should I watch the games, let only attend them? Why? What's the point? Paying $ 60 for a ticket, $18 for parking, paying for concessions- for what? Fans will still go to Citizens Bank Park because it's baseball and it's summer. The Phillies know that. But being 10 games under .500 before memorial Day will effect the walk-up ticket sales- and maybe that's what the front office needs to see to wake up.

Freddie Galvis criticized the team yesterday after another horrible loss and he was right to do so. Hopefully he isn't intimidated by management and apologizes for his outburst. He was being honest. At least someone cares, someone has passion and someone is telling it like it is.

The media has given the Phillies organization a free ride. it's OK to be average when this organization is striving to be mediocre.

Manager Pete Mackanin needs to stop being so soft on his players. When they don't hustle, sit them on the bench. Make them accountable for their actions. Be honest, as you were in the past. You've got your contract extension. Stop making excuses for lackluster effort and players who don't care.

Things can happen immediately. The Bash Brothers, Hoskins and Cozens, need to be promoted to Philadelphia. Who cares if Tommy Joseph is finally starting to hit. When it mattered most of all he failed. The pressure is off so he hits, witness clubbing a two-run homer yesterday with the team already down 8-2 in the 9th inning.

We know the  current roster in Philly sucks. The kids in Lehigh Valley ( who recently won 12 game sin a row( may suck too, but we don't know that. What do  you have to lose by bringing up the prospects now and giving them some valuable experience?

I know Tommy Joseph has gotten "hot" in May. But where was he in April when the club really needed him? Like yesterday, when he hit a meaningless two-run homer in the 9th inning of a 8-2 game,He isn't clutch ( like the rest of the line-up).  Can Joseph play third base?  I want to see what Hoskins can do in Philly.

Vince Valaquez should be put in the bullpen as the future closer. Obdubel Herrera needs to be traded. It was a mistake to give him a contract extension. He is what he is, not a special player. He won't ever win a batting crown. He is a Rule 5 player who dogs it at times, doesn't care and is only average at best playing defense and running the bases.

Pitching coach Bob McClure needs to be removed. The staff isn't getting any better. Promising hurlers like Nola, Valasquez and Eichoff have gotten worse. Stop the clubhouse snipping and start fresh.

Down the road I wouldn't mind the Phillies bringing back Cole Hamels after his contract expires in 2018. He is exactly what this team needs- a true ace, a left-handed pitcher and a leader.

Instead of making a bid for a Chris Sale thuis organization settles for broken-down, washed-up has been like Clay Bucholtz, Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders ( all currently hurt).

Roman Quinn should be patrolling the outfield, bring much- needed speed and life to the line-up. Klentak needs to rebuild the bullpen and search for an effective lefty in the 'pen so they are not boxed into using a loser like Adam Morgan or Yole Rodriguez.Enough of Jeremy Hellickson. Bring up Jake Thompson, Ben lively and let them grow and take their lumps as Tom Glavine and John Smoltz did for the Braves.

Most of all, this entire Phillies organization needs to form a winning attitude. No more losing vibes, hoping to be .500 ( which would look good about now).Maybe manager Pete Mackanin knew something out of spring training when he made the statement of striving to be average. Maybe he knew Klentak gave him garbage to work with.

Where is President Andy MacPhal? Is he dead? Owner John Middleton was visible and vocal earlier in the season when the team was competitive. Now, he's invisible too.

The Phillies are stealing my summer again. Attending games, looking forward to chilling in the evenings with a nightly game, or listening to the game on the radio with Scott and LA- the Phillies are a big part of my summer. I'll find something else to do to keep busy and have fun, but my summer could be so much better.



The front office has money to spend after this year. It's time to clean house, finally bring up the promising kids, and give the fans some hope.

The baseball fans of Philadelphia deserve better.