PHILLIES PHODDER

 * Rhys Hoskins continues to amaze. Another home run yesterday- 11 in 18 games, a major league record. He broke the Phillies' all-time record for home runs in the month of August by a rookie. Incredible, since he was only called up on August 14. He is tied for the club record for RBIs in a month by a rookie ( with 3 games yet to play in August). His average is hovering around .300. He has more walks than strike-outs. And he has given the franchise and it's fans hope and something to cheer about.

Every great player needs a nickname. Here are a few I've heard so far in regards to Rhys (pronounced REESE):

- Rhys the Beast (good one)
-Rhys' Pieces ( more like a fan club)
- The Big Rhys ( too close to The Big Piece, Ryan Howard's nickname)
- Rhys Lightning ( more for a speedy base-stealer)
- Big Hoss ( his personal favorite and the name his teammates are starting to call him)

and, some sayings...

- Rhys is The Word ( a take-off of "Grease is The Word")
- "All we are saying, is give Rhys a chance.." ( credit to fellow Beatles-fan Steve Trevelise for this one).

I'm sure there will be more as time goes on. I know Hoskins will cool off and the league will figure him out. Hoskins will readjust. It's only the beginning. Think of another 10-15 years ahead of Hoskinsmania.

* The Phils play Atlanta tonight, the start of a 3-game series, after beating the world champion Cubs 2 out of 3 games over the weekend.  The Cubbie fans were out in force- I almost thought I was at Wrigley Field on Saturday night, but for a team struggling to win it's division and hold off Milwaukee and St. Louis, losing a series- even on the road- to the worse team in baseball is not a good thing.

If Chicago wins the NL Central, they will most assuredly play Washington in the first round of the playoff ( the Dodgers would play the wild card survivor). The Nationals won't be an easy out. They have good starting pitching and a potent offense, led by Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman. Washington is a hungry, desperate team, knowing they may only have 1-2 more chances to get to the World Series before Harper bolts for free agency. Plus the Cubs can't be as hungry as they were last season. Everything went right for the Cubs. it was their year.

Enjoy it while you can, Cubs fans!

At the end of the week the Phillies can bring up more young talent from their farm system. Is there another Rhys Hoskins in Lehigh Valley or Reading, waiting for his turn to shine?

I like Scott Kingery. So do the Pihllies. Hoskins calls it "the most complete ballplayer I've ever played with." But he won't be a September call-up because of his service time.

Dylan Couzens, the second half of the Bash Brothers combo ( along with Hoskins) should get  a look, despite his low average and tendency to strike-out. Couzins hits home runs ever father than Hoskins. It would be fun to see what he can do in Citizens Bank Park.

Other than Drew Anderson- who is with the big club now- the organization's top young hurlers are all in low-level ball right now. So, pitching-wise, what you see is what you get.

Still, as football season begins, watching Hoskins and his fellow Iron Pig teammates make it to Philadelphia will be something to keep an eye on for the future.

* Hoskins started a triple play in Sunday's game, the first triple play started by a Phillie outfield since 1964. More magic during a Roy Hobbs-like magical beginning got Rhys Hoskins.