Phillies baseball is unbearable, but changes aren’t coming anytime soon
An 8-1 loss to Colorado at home left Phillies fans as disgruntled as ever, calling for the heads of coaches, players, and executives across the organization.
Unfortunately, no one is going anywhere in this organization anytime soon for several reasons.
First is the coaching staff, which is the root of many fan’s frustrations. It was a bad move by the organization to give Pete Mackanin a short-term contract extension less than two weeks ago. Moving on from the manager after giving him a vote of confidence embarrasses the front office, and they aren’t in a position to make a move like that.
Pitching coach Bob McClure is the face of fans unhappiness, but general manager Matt Klentak stood behind the coach. Matt Stairs has the right idea when it comes to hitting, but are the players buying in?
Larry Bowa might be the only safe man in the organization, and if Mackanin is canned, Bowa might get another chance to manage a ballclub. Players didn’t respond well to Ryne Sandberg and his authoritarian approach, but Bowa is more demanding than authoritative.
On the field, there are no prospects worth calling up at this stage of the season based on production in both the minor and major leagues. Only two players have earned the chance to appear in the everyday lineup; Rhys Hoskins (AAA) and Scott Kingery (AA), have dominated opposing pitchers.
The biggest problem with calling up those two hitters? There is a logjam at their positions in the major leagues, and the current starter is performing somewhat well.
Hoskins can’t surpass what Tommy Joseph is doing in May, which includes a .345 batting average in the past 22 days. Kingery, as powerful of a bat he may have, can’t surpass the team’s only legitimate all-star candidate Cesar Hernandez at second base.
The only players in Lehigh Valley or Reading that have a slight chance of getting called up are bullpen arms, but most are veterans scrapping their way through the minors. Regardless, fans might generate some buzz if switch-pitcher Pat Venditte was called up over Luis Garcia.
If top prospect J.P. Crawford was consistently hitting the cover off the baseball in Lehigh Valley, his arrival would be imminent at this point. But right now the shortstop is hitting below .200 for the IronPigs. Hopefully, a hot streak can propel him during the summer over Freddy Galvis, who might have a major league glove, but not the consistent bat.
Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro and Dylan Cozens haven’t done anything fantastic either in Lehigh Valley except hit home runs. Williams is hitting .259 with five home ams is hitting .259 with five home runs, but has struck out 47 times with only six walks.
Alfaro has 44 strikeouts, but only two walks, while Cozens owns a .280 on-base percentage.
A lot of people have made mistakes in this organization over the past five years, whether it be David Montgomery, Ruben Amaro Jr., Ryne Sandberg, Pete Mackanin, Andy MacPhail, or anyone who thought this team could stay above water.
At this point, the only thing we can do is ride out the storm as fans and wait for some legitimate prospects to arrive with impact bats and arms. The future is not Freddy Galvis, Aaron Altherr, or maybe even J.P. Crawford. It’s Mickey Moniak, Franklyn Kilome, and the other stars earning their pinstripes with Lakewood, Clearwater, and Williamsport.