The Phillies stink. They know they stink too. They are now far enough under .500 to assume they won't get back there, and far enough out of the race to laugh at any talk of the standings. In essence, 2013 is over. With Chase Utley re-signed, there's nothing more to happen this year, other than (hopefully) shuttling off a couple of players in August deals for some kind of pieces to help the future. There will be more games, but the results of those games, in wins and losses, don't matter.
Building next year's team does though. I am worried about their lefty-centered line-up, but it's not the main concern to me. I'm worried about the lack of opportunities to change this team. So now with Chase and Jimmy under contract up the middle, Dom basically a staple in a corner outfield spot, and Ryan Howard basically unmovable, half the line-up can't change. Yes, catcher is a total mess for 2014, with Tommy Joseph shut down for the year, and probably changing his position (back to first for him). If they get stuck with Chooch back, an awful outcome, then what? One would figure that it makes little sense for the Phillies to look outside the organization at third base, with Asche up and Franco likely heading for AAA next year. Darin Ruf has played well enough so far to warrant a rest of the season look in the outfield on a corner, so maybe he can fill in a spot. Ben Revere was leading the team in hitting when he went down, and if the Phillies decided to move him for more pieces, they'd probably give Cesar Hernandez a look there, since he can switch hit (and wouldn't be just another lefty). Even so, that's a very left-handed team, with a giant hole at catcher.
The bottom line is, Ruben can say what he will about leadership and such, he'll have to be pretty bold to drastically change a poor line-up. Looking to trade Ryan Howard will be a popular, but difficult way to do it. Would he eat over $40 million to do it? Would he trade Ben Revere to open a spot? Would he sign McCann behind the plate? Can we assume that additions like Ruf and Asche will even drastically change this team? The jury still seems very out on Ruf's abilities, and Asche's still a bit of a work in progress (though his track record in the minors suggests good things). One has to wonder if the pieces are even here. Again, i'm less concerned that the players hit lefty, than that we may be clogged up with players that just aren't going to hit.
Going forward, it's hard to get too angry at the Utley re-signing (even though I was pro-trade), as he has been the second best player on this team, and has one of the top OPS in the league at second base still. Still, you just have to wonder if 2014 is going to be another year of taking it on the chin to get out of the mess this team is in. The outlook isn't great right now.
