One win last week. Five losses. The Phillies were swept in Fenway before taking just one of three in a home series against Atlanta. Their five losses saw an average of over seven runs allowed per game by Phillies pitching. However, Philadelphia’s one win last week was indeed a shutout. It seems the bits of optimism that fans were finding not long ago have just about disappeared entirely after this week. Let’s take some time to analyze the calls from the dugout steps and manage Mackanin.
September Sees New Faces: Pitchers Ken Roberts and Nefi Ogando made their Major League debuts in Wednesday’s game against the Braves. The Phillies have now used 49 different players this year. In fact, the Phillies currently have thirteen players on their active roster with rookie status. That’s good for second most in the Bigs.
Roberts, selected off waivers by the Phillies at the end of August, had already pitched in nine games for the Rockies in 2015. Ogando, on the other hand, is one of ten players that have made a Major League debut this season in a Phillies uniform. In 45 appearances between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley this season, Ogando carried a 2.86 ERA with a 1.317 WHIP and 1.77 K/BB rate. On Wednesday, Ogando allowed three hits and two earned runs in one inning pitched.
Pinch Me, I Must Be Dreaming: In a pinch-hit appearance, Brian Bogusevic went yard in the fifth inning of Monday’s game. He became the eighth different Phillie with a pinch-hit homerun this season – a franchise record. It was also the Phillies’ ninth pinch-hit homerun, which leads the league. The team is just two pinch-hit homeruns short of the franchise record of eleven, set in 1958. Another example of the manager calling the right names off the bench at the right times, something we’ve seen a good amount of this season.
Mackanin’s Final Audition: With just twenty-two games left in the season, Mackanin may be in his final days as Phillies manager. After an impressive stint of success following the All-Star break, things have regressed to the norm in Philadelphia. The Phillies are 2-8 in their last ten games. The team was eliminated from playoff contention last Wednesday and may not see Maikel Franco again in 2015. With plenty of potential 2016 and 2017 Phillies expecting a September tryout, it’s likely winning ballgames has fallen even deeper on Mackanin’s list of priorities. Still, if Mackanin wants to maintain his position with the club, he must continue to show competitiveness on the diamond in these finals weeks.
