- Despite the Phillies' loss to Cincinnati last night, they remain 2 1/2 games on top of the NL East. The Phils tied a team record by hitting 7 home runs on Thursday night. F. Give the riday night the Reds went long-ball two times.
- Nick Pivetta had another poor outing, despite striking out 12. Cole Hamels would've looked nice in the No. 5 slot in the rotation. Pivetta, with his fastball, would've improved the bullpen. Before Tuesday's trade deadline another pitcher to add to the starting rotation or bullpen would solidify the staff. Rumors of obtaining Tampa Bay hurler Chris Archer are probably far-fetched. He would cost too much for this frugal Phillies front office. Archer is only 29 and is a two-time All-Star.
- Baltimore's Adam Jones is still a good get, an excellent outfielder with power and experience. He's a free agent after the season but with his Oriole connections in the Phillies organization- MacPhail and Klentak- he may be willing to sign a longer-term contract. The Indians reportedly have the inside track on Jones.
-Give the Phils credit for attempting a comeback in the 9th inning. Down by 3 runs, they did manage to get Rhys Hoskins up with the tying runs on base and two outs. Magic if he hit a game-winning homer, but Hoskins grounded out to third to end the game.
- The Phillies will miss the tremendous Chris Sale when they visit Bosotn for a brief two-game series starting on Monday. Philadelphia's ace, Aaron Nola, will go for the team on Monday. Splitting with the Red Sox ( the best team in baseball) would be OK, as the teams will match-up again at Citizens Bank Park on August 14-15. Last summer I saw the Bosox in Philly when Sale and Pivetta hooked up in a classic 1-0 Phillies win. I would love to see a Sale-Nola duel in two weeks.
- I think the Nationals are cooked, but they have won 3 games in a row and are creeping up on the Braves, 6 out of first and 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta. Reportedly, the Nats will be buyers or sellers before Tuesday depending on their weekend series in Miami.
- Hamels went to the Cubs, where I think he will do well. He is a big-game pitcher and should benefit from being back in a pennant race instead of 25 games in last place with Texas. Plus Hamels has always pitched well in Wrigley Field, going 3-1 with a no-hitter 3 years ago as a Phillie.
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