What I want from the Phillies for Christmas this year
The Phillies have more than enough to accomplish next year and beyond. This is what I want from them for Christmas this year.
Every year all throughout the world kids are writing lists telling jolly old saint Nick what they want for Christmas. So why can’t a baseball team? Santa, I will not waste your time. On behalf of all Phillies fans, we want Manny Machado and Jake Arrieta. That’s it.
Sadly however, getting those two are about as likely as the Phanatic getting coal. You never know though, he gets pretty wild on that RV, injuring people could land him on the naughty list. So instead we will look at eight maids a milking, or in non christmas terms, eight realistics wants for the 2018 season.
1: Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter to have sub 2.50 ERA, entire bullpen to be sub-3.50
Everyone loves getting new toys for christmas, the only thing better is actually getting to play with them. Neshek was superb in his tenure last year as a Phillie, in 43 games he matched a 1.12 ERA with three wins and a save. An ERA below 2.50 is almost a guarantee for the reigning All Star as in 3 years in the National League (167 games) he has delivered a phenomenal 2.10 ERA out of the pen.
Hunter’s goal is not as much of a guarantee. ERA wise, Hunter is coming off his best year. He he has a bumpier career, however he has had a solid career and while fans shouldn’t be as confident in him, it is definitely a possibility. Hopefully not only their skill, but veteran leadership can improve super dependable bullpen that finished with a 4.18 ERA and just 33 team saves, 26 from primary closer Hector Neris, in 57 opportunities. If the Phillies want any Wild Card hope, they will most definitely need to improve the pen.
2: .300 Batting Average from Odubel Herrera
This one is definitely possible. Herrera, a career .288 hitter, struggled to start his 2017 campaign but finished by batting over .320 in June, July, August and a very short October. A former All Star, Herrera definitely has superstar potential. He has the qualities of a .315 hitter who could also slug 45 doubles with 15 homers and swiper 10 or more bags. In addition to a skill improvement, a maturity one would also be nice. Herrera has been benched countless times for shenanigans like not running out a pop up. Hopefully a seemingly strict Kapler can improve multiple phases of Herrera’s game.
3: Larger Roles From J.P. Crawford and Jorge Alfaro
While larger roles are pretty much guaranteed, it is now time to see how they perform. In 2017, Alfaro’s second run at the show, he was outstanding. The promising catcher batting .318 with 5 home runs and 14 RBI in just 29 games. He has shown solidity behind the plate and hopefully can pick up from where he left off in 2018. Crawford was not as impressive in his short appearance as a a pro. He batted just .214 and still awaits his first career MLB home run. Hopefully those were just some jitters as the shortstop position is in his hands as the club traded Freddy Galvis earlier this month. If they can perform in the upcoming year, they prove alongside Herrera and Hoskins that the core is done and it is time to bring winning baseball back to Philadelphia.
4: A 30 Home Run Season From Rhys Hoskins
That Hoskins guy, he’s kind of good. Rhys Lightning bolted into the record books with his surplus of bombs at a record speed. But was the bolt a bust? 2018 will prove Hoskins is the real deal. Hopefully he can do something no Phillies player has done since Ryan Howard in 2011. Hit 30 home runs. While his 2017 pace would have led to 58 bombs in a full 162 game season it is unlikely he will keep up that pace, but hey we can pray and dream right? Hoskins looked like the cornerstone the franchise could build upon. Hopefully 2018 will build upon that claim instead of diminishing it.
5: Carlos Santana To Be On The 2019 Roster
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Santa, Santana what’s the difference? Well Santa delivers gifts while slugging first basemen Carlos Santana was a gift. But who wants a gift to just be given away during the year. Last season alone we saw something possibly similar to this when the Phillies acquired household names like Howie Kendrick, Pat Neshek and Michael Saunders, all to just give them away by the trade deadline.
While Santana has a lot more star power than any of those players, I don’t think anyone would be completely and utterly blown away if Santana was given away for some prospects if the team is under performing. Hopefully that doesn’t happen and Santana is still in red pinstripes come 2019.
6: Flashes of April 2016 Vince Velasquez
Anyone else remember Ken Giles? A hundred miles Giles? For about a month it looked like his trade would be a Phillies success.
More from That Balls Outta Here
- Does Bailey Falter have a future in Phillies’ rotation?
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- Phillies rumors: Club targets Seth Lugo for possible bullpen role
- Pirates’ bizarre Vince Velasquez hype video will make Phillies fans laugh
In April of 2016 Vince Velasquez went 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA. In fact, pre All Star game he was 8-2 with a 3.32 ERA. Looked like it would be a Phillies steal. In the about 18 months since Velasquez has gone 2-11 with a 5.22 ERA and Ken Giles won a World Series. Winning. Velasquez proved he not only had fourth man material, but possible ace potential.
A 15-4 record with a sub 3 ERA season is not expected of Velasquez (but Santa if your feeling really giving we wouldn’t mind one) but just a couple starts or streaky months to show that the possibility is still there.
8: An Above .500 season
Finally, the partridge in the pear tree. The Phillies have not been above .500 since 2011 and have shown little to no promise of achieving that goal since. Now it looks like they are one starting pitcher away. With Darvish seemingly headed to the Chicago Cubs it seems like Arrieta is the lone superstar pitcher remaining in free agency. If the Phillies could land him, they could be a Wild Card contender.
Next: What's left for Matt Klentak to do
Hopefully the Phillies made the nice list this year. I don’t recall any brawls so I think they are in good shape. Perhaps Santa could throw a couple bones to a franchise and city in a desperate need of luck.