PHILLIES PHODDER

* What's new?

Odubel Herrera made yet another bone-headed mistake on the base paths Sunday afternoon, costing the Phillies a potentially big rally in their loss to the Mets.

Herrera may hit .290 before it's all over. He may salvage a season where he was floundering in the .220s to a hot streak since June. But he's not going to change as far as making stupid blunders.

So, what do you have in Herrera? A guy who will average around .280 a season. Will he ever win a batting title? no> it's too streaky and undisciplined at the plate to consistently hit .330

Will he ever win a home run title? No. He will hit around 15 homers a year.

RBIs? Maybe 70-80. Stolen bases? 20 if you're lucky. Herrera has good speed but doesn't use it enough.

Doubles? 40-40 a year, which is excellent. Triples? 5-10 a summer?

Sounds a lot like Juan Samual, ex- Phillie great, now soon-to-be-fired third base coach.

You take all of that good, all of that potential, from a guy who is still young, and you build a team around him, right?

Wrong!

Herrera is good but not great. He plays a good center field, not great. He's no Garry Maddox ( but then again, no one was Garry Maddox).

To me, trading Herrera while he is at his peak value in the the off-season may be risky, get something good back for him. Plus outfield seems to be a position of strength for the Phils.

Aaron Altherr is smooth  defensively and should play an even better center field than Herrera. Nick Williams seems like a lock to be in the outfield next spring training. If Rhys Hoskins doesn't stay in left field ( especially if Tommy Joseph gets dealt out of town), what about trying Dylan Cozens in September? True, he strikes out a ton, but he also hits home runs, has speed and is a good defender. Why not give Cozens a shot in cozy Citizens Bank Park? What do you have to lose?

So, trading Herrera is feasible. Yes, if he goes elsewhere and wins a batting crown or is a consistent player for the next 10 years or so, then yes, you've made a costly mistake.

Otherwise, fans just have to grin and bear all of the miscues, the bat-flips, the often lack of hustle.

Because no matter how many times coaches, managers or management talks to Herrera, he either just doesn't get it or doesn't want to get it.

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We took a close look at the standing and the pennant races around the all-star break. I said before the season started that my World series teams were the Dodgers and Red Sox. That prediction looks pretty good right now ( I wish I would put some money on that prediction in Vegas), but it's only mid-August, and there is a lot of baseball to go.

Here is another look at the divisions with approximately six weeks remaining in the regular season...

National League East-

Washington has a comfortable 13 1/2 game lead over Miami in the division.But there is concern in Washington with all the injuries they have incurred most recently a knee injury to megastar Bryce Harper. The question may not be, will the National choke again in the playoffs, whereas will  their stars be able to play- and play well- in the playoffs?

The rest of NL East is just playing out the string and jockeying for positions. Will Giancarlos Stanton hit 50 or more home runs? Will Stanton be traded or will new owners spend the money to keep their young stars and bring in high-priced free agents?Who cares about the Mets and Braves? Will the Phillies lose more than 100 games?

National league Central

Interesting. Milwaukee was in first place most of 2017, with as much as a 5-game lead over the world champion Cubs around the all-star break.Noe, Chicago is on top, nut only by one game over a sizzling St. Louis team.

Give the Cardinals credit. Even with injuries they are always contending, with their wise trades, shrewd free agent signings and terrific farm system.

The Brewers are still only 2 games back, with Pittsburgh close as well, 4 behind. Expect the Pirates to make a late-season run, as always.

I think the experienced Cubs will win the Central in the end but fail in the playoffs this year.

National League West-

No club has been hotter than Dodger Blue,an astounding 49 games over .500, with a record of 83-34.

Colorado and Arizona continue to battle for the two wild card spots, with the Redbirds 4 1/2 games out of the wild card.

American League East-

Boston , after taking 2 out of 3 games this weekend over the Yankees, have extended their lead to 5 1/2 games. New York is the only threat in the division now, with Tampa Bay and Baltimore falling back.

There is a fierce battle for the wild card, with the Yanks in, along with the Angels, but teams such as  Minnesota and Kansas City merely a game back.

American League Central-

Reigning AL Champ Cleveland has taken control of the division. with the Twins and Royals still capable of making runs. But with the Red Sox and Astros around, I don't expect the Indians to get back to the World Series again.

American League West-

Despite injuries and playing lousy ball, Houston still holds a non-threatening 12 game cushion in the division. The Astros need to get their act together soon, however, or their stay in the post-season will be a short one.

All but the A's are fighting it out for a wild card spot.

The wild card makes the season more interesting and exciting right down to the end, even if most the division races are pretty fore-gone conclusions.

I'm sticking with a really thrilling World Series, pitting Los Angeles and Boston against each other. A Chris Sale vs. Clayton Kershaw pitching match-up would be classic.

I have the Dodgers finally winning it all in 6 games.