PHILLIES PHODDER

This is a big week for Phillies' GM Matt Kletak. He needs to step to the plate and get real.

With  only a week to go before the July 31st trade deadline, Klentak has yet to make a single move. He has a host of players on one-year contracts- including Howie Kendrick, Daniel Nava, Pat Neshek, to name just a few. Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson becomes a free agent after the season.

I don't get the point of signing these washed-up vets for a season and not get anything back for them.Most haven't performed to expectations. Michael Saunders was so bad, he was let go in June (probably a month too late).I get it that the return won't be great, but something is better than nothing, plus moving the old guys opens up spots for prospects in Lehigh Valley to be promoted to Philly.

What was the plan? Nick Williams, who has played great since being recalled from triple A, was called up too late instead of Saunders.

Is Klentak inexperienced? In over his head? He has continually made excuses for his sorry-ass team that is on a pace to lose over 100 games.

Last summer he didn't make a move either, standing pat with a losing squad. He had asked for too much for tradable guys like Hellickson, then was cornered into a box whereas the Phils resigned Hellickson for a one-year, over $ 17 million contract. Big mistake.

So was the signing of bums like Bucholtz and Saunders. The Phillies spent approximately $40 million on free agents last off-season. They had money to burn- no harm? Not exactly. Their mistakes blocked young prospects such as Williams form coming to Philadelphia sooner.

It's one thing having money to to spend. it's another thing to spend it wisely.

Once again, the Phillies' front office shows they can't evaluate talent.

So what has Klentak done so far? Not much. His free agent signings were overall busts. His lone trade- reliever Ken Giles to Houston- is questionable. The jury is still out on Vince Valasquez, who was the key aquisition from the Astros.

 His talent evaluation, both on the major and minor league levels, has sucked. He has been ultra conservative slow in bringing up the kids from the Iron Pigs.

Klentak called Howard Eskin's question before the game on Saturday "ridiculous," when Eskin asked if there was added pressure to trade players such as Neshek and Nava as the trade possibilities dry up. Klentak bristled at that suggestion, But Eskin is right. Trading players such as Joseph, Herrera and Hernandez can wait until the off-season ( although dealing Joseph now would open a spot for Rhys Hoskins, and it may be wise to deal Herrera now while he's hot); but you can't trade the one-year contracts after the season, and you may not get much during the August waiver period.

Klentak hasn't been able to relate to the suffering fans. He preaches patience and stupidly talked of Saunders as "someone who could carry a club for a month if he gets going." He utters analytical, nerdy , geeky nonsense about "exit velocity," things the everyday fan could care less about.

Why doesn't a so-called baseball man like Andy MacFailure oversee this important trade discussions? He's another guy who has gone into hiding since the team imploded in May.

What is owner John Middleton thinking? When the team was doing OK early in the season, Middleton went on the radio with Angelo Cataldi on WIP and proclaimed that he would do whatever it takes to bring a winner to Philadelphia. Now, he hides in shame in his bunker, afraid to face the fans and media,

And what about the media? Isn't there one writer in the city who will stop kissing Klentak's butt and rip him? Guys like Todd Zeleski, David Murphy and Jim Salsbury are shills for the team. Marcus Hayes called for the firing of Eagles' GM Howie Roseman, yet he remains quiet in regards to Klentak.

In the days of writers like Hochman, Lyon and Conlin, one of those guys would've certainly called for Klentak's head by now.

So Klentak has a week to prove me wrong and start changing the face of a historically-bad ball club. No more excuses. Man up that your moves so far have failed miserably. Offer the fans some hope. Don't just talk about moves, do it! Take a bold step and trade for a Giancarlo Stanton, money be damned. Put a face on this woeful franchise, give the fans something to cheer about. Damn the service time and play Scott Kingery soon. We know what this current crop of Phillies can-or can't do. Let's turn the page and finally see what the future holds.

Phillies' fans have waited too long and deserve better. Matt Klentak, you are on notice, starting now.