The 2014 Phillies are who we thought they were. A mediocre team struggling to stay at .500.
A couple of interleague losses this week and they currently sit at 17-21. Sure, you can look at the NL East and point out they're only 4.5 games out but nothing about this ball club over the past few weeks should give you any confidence in them turning into a legit contender come October.
Which brings us to the future. Phillies' scribe Jim Salisbury, who is has the finger on the pulse of the team as closely as anyone, believes it's time for Ruben Amaro to start considering any and all trade offers that come his way.
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We’re not saying it’s time to stick a For Sale sign on Cliff Lee, A.J. Burnett, Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Adams, Antonio Bastardo, Kyle Kendrick, Roberto Hernandez, Domonic Brown, Marlon Byrd, Ben Revere or any other Phillie. But if some quick-striking team calls with the right package, Amaro should listen. Right now. And if Chase Utley would waive his no-trade rights and bring a sweet return, Amaro should listen on him, too, and Jimmy Rollins, as well, after he breaks Mike Schmidt’s hit record. Rollins is on record as saying he might -- might -- be willing to go somewhere else after he gets the record. He’s 24 hits shy. Ryan Howard remains untradeable because of his contract -- the remainder of $25 million this year plus a guarantee of $60 million through 2016.
The initial pain of seeing Chase Utley potentially play in another team's uniform would be tough, for sure, but do you really believe he'd still be around by the time it takes this team to turn it around? Assuming that will one day happen.
As Salisbury points out, the organization isn't exactly bubbling with guys in the minors waiting to breakout in the bigs. Ruben Amaro's cupboard isn't exactly stocked. Hitting in the draft and making some trades are the only ways to fix that.
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News
In other quality Phillies reading today, Corey Seidman looks at the failed Ben Revere as starting center fielder experiment. The numbers are bleak.
Revere in 36 games has hit .268 with a .284 on-base percentage. He's walked three times in 142 plate appearances -- that 2.1 percent walk rate ties him for dead last in the majors with Jean Segura and Khris Davis of the Brewers.
Over his last 13 games, Revere has a .196 OBP in nearly 50 plate appearances, all out of the leadoff spot.
Which invites this question: Is he even an everyday player?