After the Phillies 1-6 road trip, there isn't really much to be excited about on this team, with the exception of Odubel Herrera, Cody Asche and even Freddy Galvis. There are plenty of questions surrounding the team, so let's get started on some of the fan submissions from today…
With Franco off to a great start in AAA, how long will it before Cody Asche gets moved to LF and Franco gets promoted?
This question is probably on the minds of many with Franco hitting .354 on the season. Tonight, the Phillies #3 prospect went 0-for-4, snapping his five-game multi-hit streak. The Phillies started Franco in AAA for two reasons. First of all, he didn't look comfortable at the plate in spring training. Secondly, if Franco spends about 40 days with the Ironpigs, the Phillies will have team control over Franco until 2021, rather than 2020. Expect him to stay down there for at least that long. As for Asche moving to left field? I don't foresee the Phils doing that now that season has started. If they were going to test that out, it would have happened in spring training. Though Revere is struggling, I imagine he'd solidify the left field job here in the next couple of weeks. I'd think it'd be more likely that they'd move Howard somehow to make room for Franco if push came to shove. With Asche's hot start, he's not going anywhere, that's for sure.
Is it possible the Phillies could just put Ryan Howard on the DL for some reason?
Well, this is not going to happen, but I'm sure there are some folks out there that are hoping The Big Piece gets hurt so Franco can step in at first. The Phillies have given more playing time to Darin Ruf, but he has just three hits in 28 bats so far. Ruf could head back to Triple-A after Domonic Brown is activated. Unfortunately at this point, it seems like we are stuck with Howard at first, but Ryne Sandberg hasn't been shy in shifting him down in the lineup. Howard has looked terrible at the plate this season and you have to figure it's only a matter of time, we hope, before the Phillies cut their losses and move on. He's just painful to watch at the plate and is serviceable, at best, on defense.
With our rotation being unproductive, when will we see the young arms?
I can tell you this much, the only time we might see any of the young guys is when September hits. Aaron Nola seems like the most likely guy in the minors to join the Phillies at some point this season, but his rotation mates in Reading still have some work to do before the Phils consider bringing them into the mix later in the year. I don't think we'll see Eflin, Lively or Windle at all this season, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nola is a September call-up. Crazier things have happened. Right now, it seems like the only young pitching you'll see is David Buchanan.
Will Domonic Brown ever pan out?
I don't think so at this point, though it seems that Ruben Amaro and the Phillies management plan to give him every opportunity to prove us wrong. To be frank, Brown would be a refreshing site to see in the outfield over Grady Sizemore and perhaps even Jeff Francoeur. That being said, this is Brown's year to show us that his 2013 season wasn't a fluke. If he continues the pace he did in 2014, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Phils part ways with him after the season. He'll be back in his natural position, right field, and he has the arm on defense to contribute there. It's about his comfort and plate discipline on offense. If he doesn't get those under control, he'll be floating around the mendoza line all season long. Realistically, I think Dom will bounce back and hit in the .250's or .260's, which will likely be enough for the Phillies to hang on to him for another year whether we like it or not.
With the team not going anywhere, will Chase accept a trade somewhere?
Chase has said time after time that he wants to end his career as a Phillie and I really don't see that changing. Will the losing eventually build on him? Sure, but to be honest, I'm not sure winning is really a priority for Chase as much as comfort level is. I think he has been in Philadelphia his whole career, he's made a family here and he's comfortable. He has a World Series ring and mostly everyone in Philadelphia loves how he plays, so why leave? On the other side of things though, I do think that if the right deal came along to Ruben Amaro, Chase may waive his rights with respect to the organization. If they get a good offer to Chase, I think he needs to seriously consider packing his bags, because it could come a long way in speeding up the Phillies transition to rebuilding.
What do I need to know about Odubel Herrera and what can we we expect from Billingsley when he comes up?
Odubel Herrera is what everyone hoped Ben Revere would develop into by now. The Phillies Rule-5 pick can not only cause havoc on the base paths, but he can hit for extra bases at the top of the lineup, something Revere hasn't really done much. Revere was tied for the National League lead in hits with 184 last season, but 162 of them were singles. Herrera has 13 hits on the season, seven of them for extra bases. Just seeing the way he plays…the energy he has is really fun to watch on a team that doesn't have anything going for them this year. His defense in center is still a work in progress, but I wouldn't be surprised if he hits over .300 in his first big league season and let's not forget, before this year, he hadn't played above Double-A. If you haven't seen him in action, I suggest you keep an eye out for him the next time you watch a game. He really gets things going at the top of the order.
As for Billingsley, I think he'll easily slide into the rotation and take Sean O'Sullivan's spot when he's healthy. What to expect? I don't think we'll be blown away, but I think that he'll provide a quality start here and there, giving up 2-4 runs per game probably. You hope he turns out more like what Aaron Harang has been so far this season, because with Cole Hamels struggling, there isn't much to look forward to in the rotation anymore.
How long until Ryne Sandberg gets fired?
This is a tough one. I think he'll be here through the season simply because since he's arrived, he hasn't had much of anything to work with here. That being said, it wouldn't shock me if he's gone before the All-Star break. As I see it, I just don't think he has much control in the clubhouse and with the way the team is playing, I'd imagine there's a leadership issue in the locker room as well. Personally, I've never really been a Sandberg fan, but if I had to put money on it, I'd say he's the Phillies manager for at least this season.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
