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| Photo by Richard Wilkins Jr. |
The Phillies went 5-2 in a week where they went to Atlanta and St. Louis. They've went 9-4 over the last two weeks. They're back to just five games out in the brutally awful NL East, and six in the Wild Card race. In short, they're alive enough to warrant not blowing the team up. In fact, that's the cool thing to advocate right now.
I'll take the alternative. I think things are still heading towards a sell-off, whether you want to do that now or in three weeks. Here's the truth about this team- they have to many holes to make a post-season run, and not enough emerging assets in the minors to fill them anytime soon. Can a team with Ben Revere and Dom Brown make the playoffs? If you bench them, what are you putting in their place? Right now, nothing better. Maybe Darin Ruf deserved a shot to start on a corner, I tend to think so, however he's hurt now. Cameron Perkins is struggling in AAA at the outset, Aaron Altherr isn't tearing up Reading, and Zach Collier isn't showing much either. Yes, everyone is euphoric about the minor league debut of first round choice Aaron Nola tonight, but what minor league arm is ready to help? The answer is no. The answer remains looking the same for 2015, as is.
Now, I'll say this- I wouldn't give players away, and I also tend to side with not trading Cole Hamels. For the second straight Summer, I keep coming back to dealing Chase Utley, but I know that's unpopular. I'd just say the Phillies should tend towards blowing this team up. Yes, I'd fire Ruben Amaro first, and I find myself asking if David Montgomery even watches baseball when he gives a dud like Ruben his endorsement to lead a rebuild, but even so, I'd lean towards rebuilding.
In short, I'm not being fooled by a good week or two. If this lasts a month, maybe my mind changes a bit. It hasn't lasted a month yet. For that reason, it's time for a change.
