PHILLIES PHODDER

My latest thoughts on the Phils..

* On a positive note, Aaron Nola pitched great the other night. I was leery of Nola this season, coming off an elbow injury last summer, but he seems to be back to himself. Hopefully he remains injury-free. He still isn't a No. 1 starter in the rotation, vet he could be a solid No. 3. And he is still young. If Nola wins over 10 games this year after a rough start, it will be progress.

The young pitchers on the Phillies' roster have taken a step back overall. Eichoff is 0-7 and due back soon form the disabled list. Efflin is still rehabbing from arm issues. So is Valasquez. Thompson is getting hit around in the minors. Once touted as a top prospect, Thompson is a mystery. Appel remains inconsistent for a guy drafted No. 1 overall in the MLB draft a few years ago. Pivetta looks promising and Lively has potential.

So, it would be great for Nola to step up this summer and take control of the staff as it's most promising younger pitcher.

* Ty Kelly was in the lead-off spot yesterday. Kelly is a marginal major league player. The fact is that the Phillies don't really have a lead-off hitter. Cesar Hernandez bats  first when he is healthy, but I wouldn't even say Hernandez is a pure lead-off guy. He doesn't walk enough. When he does get on base he doesn't try to steal enough.

The future lead-off hitter was Roman Quinn with his blazing speed and ability to get on base. Now, it's Scott Kingery, who has hit first for Reading and now Lehigh Valley.

Odubal Herrera is not a lead-off man. He's too undisciplined at the plate. But he beats Ty Kelly. Until Hernandez returns or Kingery is promoted I would rather see Herrera bat lead-off.

* Speaking of Kingery, word is that he is taking reps with the Iron Pigs at third base. That would mean Franco is on shaky ground in Philly. Rumors swirl that Franco is on the trade block, if not now, before the July 31 trade deadline, then certainly in the off-season.

Kiingery at third would mean the organization is committed to Hernandez at second.

My feeling is- don't give up on Franco so soon. He has too much potential, both offensively and defensively, and he is still young at 24. Keep Kingery at second, where he is solid defensively, and look to move Hernandez. His trade value should be decent

* The woes continue with runners in scoring position, especially with a man on third with less than two outs. Too often this group fails to put the ball in play, striking out way too much. Is it the player, the hitting coach, or the overall coaching and philosophy in the minors? One would think, being big league , professional players, guys would understand and know how to drive that run in.  But often the hitters look clueless in pivotal hitting situations.

The bottom line is this core are not clutch hitters.

* Vince Valasquez should return form the DL after the all-star break. There's talk in the paper about Valasquez returning as a reliever instead of as a starter. Because Valasquez often flames-out in the 5th or 6th inning during his starts, logic says he may be an effective closer. He loves strike outs, and as a closer, he could air it out ( he can touch 98 M.P.H).

I'm thinking he will come back as a starter but I wouldn't be surprised if in the future Valasquez gives the bullpen a try, especially with the closer's role unclaimed this year.

* Daniel Nava is a vet who has been playing well all season. He has been thriving in the lead-off spot, but he is not the future there. Expect him to be traded before the end of July. Nava, along with Hellickson, Kendrick, Shesek and others are apt to go, opening spots for prospects to fill in for the rest of the summer.

The next few weeks will be fun to watch, as the front office looks to reshape the roster. The fans have struggled with this lame team all season. Now is the time to pull the trigger and make some changes.

The team is still on a pace to lose around 110 games. Give the fans something to watch, give them some hope and give the kids a chance to see what they can do.

Nick Williams is proving that, if given the chance, they can excel.

* I predicted the Dodgers and Red Sox in the World Series this year. Along with the Astros, LA and Boston are in a class of their own. It may not happen this year, but expect the Dodgers and Yankees to hook up in the Series down the road.

Once the biggest rivalry maybe in all sports, the Dodgers and Yankees haven't played in a Fall Classic since 1981. The Yanks lead their Series match-ups 8-3. With young stars like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger sparking as rookies ( both can win the Rookie of the Year award in the off-season), expect the Yanks and Dodgers to contend for years to come.

* Stop with all of the Tommy Joseph is the greatest talk. Yes, he's had a nice season after a dreadful April. Yes, he is on pace to hit 29 homers, eclipsing his total last year. Yes, he is only 25 and could be a building block for the rebuild process.

It's true, we haven't see n what 1B prospect can do at the major league level. What if you trade Joseph, Hoskins comes up and fails- what then?

First, Hoskins should play in Philadle[phis so the organization knows what they have in him. Hoskins is a year younger, takes more walks, has more power and get son base more often.

Joseph is what he is- an average player. He is a complimentary player, not the clean-up hitter who will carry a line-up for weeks.

It's a shame he can't play catcher anymore because of his history of concussions. Shame also that he can't play left field and be a Pat Burrell-type player. It seems like Joseph is strictly a first baseman of designated hitter in the American League.

Things have a way of working out, through injury, slumps, what have you. With Joseph good good his trade value may never be higher, if not now then during the off=season.

Can you really think about trading one of brightest stars in your farm system and allow a Rhys Hoskins to haunt you for a decade?

Give Hoskins an extended chance to play. You already know what you have in Joseph. Then go from there. If Hoskins performs, keep him as he has the higher ceiling.

In a lost season where evaluating players should be the focus and dreams of the future should be a priority, keeping the player with the higher potential reward is the way to go.