PHILLIES PHODDER

Phillies phodder as we head into the 4th of July..

* The Phillies play well on Sunday, salvaging a game with the Mets, winning 7-1. It was the way they won which was heartening. This team doesn't have an abundance of power. They don't string hits together very well either. So they need to play small ball- hit and runs, stealing bases, taking extra bases and being aggressive. Too often the 2017 Phils have laid back and not put pressure on the opposing squad.

Sunday was different and fun to watch. New York, at least for one day, looked like the disorganized team on its heels.

Nick Williams has brought youth, speed and some life to the line-up. You wonder how things may have turned out if he had been on the roster instead of Michael Saunders coming out of spring training.

Over the weekend, Williams hit well, played capable defense and looked like he belongs, not over matched at all.

Shows what can happen if only you give the prospects a shot. It's stupid to have faith and believe in them to the extent they are drafted, nurtured and promoted yet you have this negative feeling  and attitude that the kids will fail when they reach Philadelphia.

Not every prospect will perform. Couzins, Hoskins, Alfaro, Kingery- they all might be great, some may be busts, all may fail. But you don't know that without giving them a chance.

The rest of the summer should be devoted to just that purpose. Clear roster spots this month with the trade deadline looming. All-star Pat Neshek needs to go, as does Hellickson, Kendrick and Benoit. Hernandez, Herrera, Joseph, Franco Rupp- all possible trace chips. No one is, or should be, safe.

The team is still on a pace to lose 110 games this season. Time to move on and start planning for 2018 and beyond. Give the fans some hope for the rest of the summer by promoting and playing the kids. Finish the year on a positive note, with a taste of good things to come.

* This team still plays dumb baseball. In the 9th inning yesterday, with one out and a man on first, protecting a 7-1 lead, second baseman Ty Kelly doesn't take the sure out on a grounder hit between first and second base. He instead tries for the force at second and ends up getting no one out.

The Phils eventually worked out of the inning and won the game, but even in high school they teach you to take the sure out in that situation. You're just trying to get outs.

* Coincidence that the team plays with a spark, aggressive on the base paths, hustles like hell, while Odubel Herrera sits n the bench? It will be interesting to see if Herrera starts tonight against Pittsburgh and if the team continues to play hard.