There's been a lot of chatter in the baseball sphere about the crash of Philadelphia's multi-year rebuild. The Phils have the worst record in the game in 2017, the year their youth movement was supposed to bear fruit. It's the fifth straight season they have fielded a sub-.500 team.
It may be that the front office overestimated the talent of their rebuilding core, or they poorly developed them. It could be that the core has struggled in unity as prelude to a system-wide breakout. Perhaps we'll find out next season. This squad is fat with potential.
Home of the Braves
The Braves teardown began one year later, and with the new ballpark in the suburbs opening this season, there was hope the team would be ready to shine. Atlanta has taken a different road than Philadelphia, attempting to weave veterans in with the graduating Minor Leaguers as they look to improve.
As a result, the Braves have bounced back quicker. They stand today 10 games clear of the Phils after finishing three behind last season.
However...
And certainly the Braves seem to have some better assets. Freddie Freeman is a certified star in this game. Had he not missed a month of play he would be part of the NL MVP discussion. Ender Inciarte is a superb center fielder who can hit a little and Mike Foltynewicz shows a great deal of promise on the mound. Freeman and Inciarte are superior to anyone the Phils can run out daily.
Yet, the Braves' rebuild, masked by veteran talent, is in much worse shape. Nick Markakis has delivered as advertised on his three year deal, and Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips have returned from the dead with solid contributions. The backstop pairing of Flowers and Suzuki has been a revelation. R.A. Dickey is eating innings and while Bartolo Colon was a bust, they jettisoned him early to limit the damage.
All over 30, those guys are supposed to be a bridge to the good times, not their main source. The youngsters were supposed to start toddling without help by now. Instead, #1 pick Dansby Swanson, Julio Teheran and several of the younger pitchers have stepped back this year, and no one from the farm has burst on the scene Judgelike.
In short, there's nothing to dream on here.
It's been a long summer in Philadelphia, much longer than in brand new Sun Trust Park. But the return to contention may take a lot longer in Marietta.
2 comments:
Amen. The weakness of the Phillies rebuild has mostly been pitching. That's a problem, but one fans are hopeful will improve.
Rhys Hoskins, Nick Williams and Alfaro are already showing why the Phillies farm system was rated so highly.
In 2018 we expect it to be: Alfaro, Hoskins, Kingery, Crawford, Franco (ugh) and Williams, Altherr and Herrerra in the outfield. That's a lineup to be optimistic about, IMO. And with Nola pitching better than Hamels there's some hope for the pitching. I would expect Velazquez will end up the closer and all we fans want for 2018 is for these young guys to play well enough that superstars like Machado and (dare I say it) Harper are open to coming to play for the BOATLOAD of cash the Phillies have just building up dust (and interest) in the back room.
GO Phillies!!!
(ps - the Braves suck and should ALWAYS suck until they change that racist name and chant).
Oh, and GG gRyse Lighting!
Hope springs eternal...
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