The Phillies Future Is Not Now, but 2013
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The Phillies Future Is Not Now, but 2013
Marc Narducci
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says he hasn’t given up on this season. Now only if his team could follow suit.
Before Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Amaro refused to wave the white flag.
“I remain optimistic that we have a chance to get back in this,” he said.
Then it seemed that realism hit.
“It is still a daunting task,” Amaro continued. “The opportunities to get back in the race, particularly the wild card race, will be difficult.”
He didn’t use the word “impossible” although the fan base may feel that way. The Phillies (47-59) are 16 games out of first place in the N.L. East and 13.5 out of the second wild card spot.
And while the players and Charlie Manuel talk about winning as many games as possible, everybody understands that full-fledged auditions for 2013 are under way.
At least the general manager still believes in his personnel.
“We still have a lot of talent on this club,” he said.
Players have echoed this thought, but a team 12 games under .500 can’t be overstocked with talent. Or maybe stretching the point, it is faded talent.
The Phillies have gotten old in a hurry.
Amaro feels the trades that rid the team of the salaries of Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and now Joe Blanton will give them financial flexibility for next year.
He had a chance to rid himself of Cliff Lee’s contract when the left-hander was claimed off waivers, but Amaro insisted before the game that Lee isn’t going anywhere. While it’s a popular notion to unload Lee’s contract and the estimated $95 million remaining, he still appears as if he can be a quality pitcher. For a team that has too little power and speed, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have pitchers who can keep his teammates in a tight game.
Even though Amaro feels there is talent, he isn’t going into this with blinders. He understands there are several holes to fill.
And there isn’t that much money, regardless of the 255 consecutive regular season sellouts.
As Inquirer Phillies beat writer Matt Gelb has pointed out, the Phillies have $132 million invested in nine players in 2013.
Even if they go over the $178 million luxury tax threshold next year, the money can go fast, especially if spent on a highly regarded free agent.
Before going to next year, Amaro says that he is still addressing this season. He said the team has put in some waiver claims for players.
“We are still trying to improve our club for this year and beyond,” he said.
Looks like beyond is the much better strategy at this point.
Everybody can talk about this year, but despite not wanting to make it look to the fans as if the Phillies have abandoned 2012, every move made should be with 2013 clearly in mind.
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No position players in the farm system? Who are you kidding? The Phillies have 2 of the top 10 rated catchers in MiLB in Valle and Joseph. Rupp is having a solid year at Clearwater also. Ceasar Hernandez was an all star at Reading at 2B and was recently promoted to Lehigh Valley. 3B Cody Asche and OF Leandro Castro and Jiwan James are MLB prospects also. The lower minors has many position players. You just drink the kool aid that is poured by those that don't know.
By the way, I haven't included Galvis or Brown who are both with the big club (although Galvis is both hurt and suspended).
Paul Owens once told me a good farm system produces 1 1/2 players for the MLB roster every year. The much belittled Phils minor league system has continued to do that for many, many years even with all the trades.— Jersey_Joe- Amaro will fire Cholly at the end of the year to deflect blame for the disaster of a team he has put together.— subgen
- 2013. Hamels, Halladay, Lee with a lot to prove should be enough and worth the roll of the dice. Upgrades in relief, paramount. Best outfield money can buy. What always worries me is that this team needs to play extremely well to overcome its manager. Best team in baseball the previous few years, and nothing to show for it -- using Vegas as the barometer. Hell, I think the Phils were odds on to win it all again this year. Don't believe the players trust current management crew, and it reflects in play. Too bad. Usually two of the best pitchers in baseball used to be enough. This team has three and still can't get to the finish line on top. Really hope the team makes the biggest change necessary.— JRum
- Halladay may have worn down and his recovery is in question. Back in the days when Roberts pitched he was expected to finish what he started. By the age of 29 his fastball lost velocity and he battled but his E.R.A. and home runs yielded soared for a couple of years.
Remember how testy Halladay was when Murphy questioned pitching speed in March? It's like a brain surgeon in the early stages of dementia. Robbie and others recharged their arms and approach and had good, not overpowering, late careers. Heck the Phillies could have used him in '64, when the young guns Bennett, Culp, and Mahaffey were all ill-armed by September. Shilling and his arm troubles set the Phils back in the 90's, then he excelled for two other teams, when the then
tightwad Phillies wouldn't pay the going rate for a horse that took teams to the big dance.— retzlaff - why can't our ballplayers holdup on pitches? they all do it, two strikes and no balls and then swing and miss,on a pitch out of the strike zone. They should know the pitch will be a ball in the dirt..
many times has Howard done this same mistake and others too. what happen to a walk is as good as a hit!!A new Hitting instructor would be a wonderful thing in Phily.
R.J.M.— Mack1945 - All I'll say right now is JOSH WILLINGHAM!!!!!!— bornphila
- I continue to be amazed that the team became "old" all at once. Duh. Amaro and the top brass couldn't see that the fielded team were all in the same age bracket? What an indictment of leadership not to have a plan to transition in younger players over time. Of course, having sold the farm to 'win now', I guess that strategy was an impossibility. We followed this line before yielding the same results. Stupidity.— DameB
- Torii Hunter can be a stop gap for next year if we are serious about contending. I don't see how we can contend with Howard at first base and a big hole at third base. We need a better OBP at leadoff. The average OBP for a MLB player is .320. Rollins can't cut it with his .314. Utley is no longer capable of carry the team on his back.
If you study the 2013 Free Agent List, you'll find there is no young talent of any quality available. The farm system can help fix the bullpen but we still need a Madson-like setup guy to contend. It just doesn't look good for our offense.— fafink - If you read between the lines on Amaro's dialogue I think I know whet he is trying to do. We all know are weaknesses, a power righthanded bat. We all know we need someone in the middle of the order. We all know we need someone who can field his position well. We all know Placido Domingo (hahaha) is done. And we all know the mets have cash problems. Amaro said he is trying to claim players of waivers. Does anyone want to guess who we are trying to get?— wildgreenman
- All roads lead to the tired,old fool manager. Caught lightening in a bottle in 2008 by nothing more than pure luck then proceeded to snooker the uneducated Phillie baseball fans into thinking he was a "hitting guru" and baseball maven. He's an idiot and best suited to managing some minor league team going nowhere than a major league team in LAST PLACE. Sure, Jimmy Poppins, the Nose, the Cripple, Mini-Mart et al love him. WHo wouldn't? No one is accountable for anything— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
I'd like to know exactly what drugs Amaro is taking and, more importantly, where I can get some!- Please stop with the Michael Bourn, Victorino is a better player.
Harlie must go. He messed up, victorino and maybery but putting all over the lineup, bastardo but making pitch more than he should (he is a left handed specialists no more ). Kyle Hendrik can be a starter if you let him and not monkey him around. Carlie is NOT a national league coach, he does not bunt, he does not give free passes, he makes bad double changes, he relies too much on the long ball of which we do not have like before and that is amaros fault. AND Uttley does look good hes fielding is a little off though.— wildgreenman - Jersey Joe get back to me in 5 years to let me know if any of the guys you mentioned do anything. Freddy is one who I think can make it..but don't tell me about 2 catchers when you only need one and you have Ruiz still in play.— mbutley
- not going to happen— wormerino
- Martinez. Endy Chavez and Steve Jeltz. Neither player should have ever been on a big league roster. Chavez is still playing! Why the Phillies love Martinez who is almost 30 and no longer a prospect, I have no idea.— hawk18
