PHILLIES PHODDER

* Interesting....Lehigh valley played Rhys Hoskins in left field last night. He had played some outfield in college, but not since then.

With Tommy Joseph anchored at first base in Philadelphia for now, and the Phillies wanting to give Hoskins about 150 at -bats before the season is over, getting Hoskins in left field may speed his promotion to the major leagues.

Hoskins has 27 home runs this year for the Iron Pigs. He is ready to help the Phillies. He is only 24. He needs to start his career in Philly.

If Hoskins succeeds in left field, how does that change the outfield dynamic going into 2018? Aaron Altherr deserves a spot next season. He shouldn't play again if he is going to keep aggravating his hamstring. You know what you have in Altherr. Nick Williams has come up and has given the team youth, energy and hustle.  Odubel Herrera, good and bad, is a proven commodity. So who is left out?

Maybe the Phils know that Altherr is going to be sidelined for a while for the rest of the summer. Maybe the organization has plans to trade Herrera during the off-season and let either Altherr or Williams patrol center field. Or maybe the plan is still to trade Joseph, then shift Hoskins back to first.

Either way, I can't wait for Hoskins to come up and bat clean-up and give the long-suffering fans some hope and a taste of things to come.

* I watched the Dutch Daulton salutes last night, especially a replay of Game Six of the National League championship series. It was great to relive that game again, the one which would propel the Phillies into the World Series after 10 years,

I had forgotten that Atlanta had won 104 that year, and that the Braves were favorites in the series. A rotation of Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz would carry Atlanta to a World Series title in a few years. All Hall of Famers. Even more amazing that the 1993 Phils beat them in six games.

It was nice to see the Vet again. That place was massive and loud. Game six was completely sold-out and it brought back memories to see the place packed to the gills.

The only disappointment wsa that Comcast used the CBS broadcast of the game, which wa sok, but not nearly as thrilling as the harry Kalas/ Richie Ashburn call of the game. When Mickey Morandini hit a bases-clearing triple to assure a Phillies win and a trip to the Series, Ashburn had a now-famous call of "There they go! Watch them run!"

It was exciting times, watching Mitch Williams anxiously close the game. the youth ( and steroids) of Kruk, Hollins, Stocker, Dykstra and , of course, Daulton. Bittersweet in knowing it would all end in disappointment soon when the Blue Jays defeated the Phils in the World Series.

* The Phillies have got to make Saturday night a celebration and tribute to Daulton. Originally it was supposed to be Pete Rose Wall of Fame night until that all blew up this week. now the organization has the perfect opportunity to not only honor Dutch, along with Wall of Famers Dallas Green and Jim Bunning who passed away this year, but to fill in an even better event for the fans who already had tickets.

I can imagine there will be an awesome video salute, the kind the Phillies do best. Hopefully there is also some memento given away to fans that evening, as a remembrance of the three late, great Phils.

The alumni will already be in town. What better way to honor and celebrate?

From a potentially night full of disgrace to a night of reflection and appreciation, Saturday night should be a night for Phillies' fans to always remember.