Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Phillies, Hamels set to open season
Trade talk may overshadow Phillies’ season
PHILADELPHIA >> Even if it is reality, even if it is a couple of years overdue, the fact that the Phillies are entering the 2015 season in the middle of a dismantling project does bring an odd feeling to this Opening Day.
Even the last two seasons, when general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and the ownership were chasing mirages with the bloated, aging and overpaid teams they put together, there was something about the fact that the Phillies still intended to compete — as delusional as that intention was — that offered solace.
For the first time since the start of the millennium, the Phillies go into the opener against the Red Sox with absolutely no one holding hope that six months from now they will be part of the postseason.
The goals are rather morbid: Hope that veterans like Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jonathan Papelbon perform well enough that they could command value relative to their skills in trades.
The cold reality is that the Phillies aren’t working from a position of strength on the trade market. A handful of other teams are unloading veterans. The Braves have been the busiest of the bunch. They spent Easter Sunday hammering out a deal to send outfield bust Melvin Upton and closer Craig Kimbrel to San Diego.
Of that quartet, Hamels seems to be the most surprised that he remains in red pinstripes. He joked that he knew he would be in Philadelphia for Opening Day, hint-
ing that he wasn’t sure if it would be as a member of the Phils or Red Sox.
Hamels has kept a balanced head about his situation, pointing out that it is possible to both be self-interested and a productive member of the Phillies until a deal occurs.
“To be a starter, you have to be selfish in order to get this far,” Hamels said. “We’re the ones on the mound by ourselves, trying to make the pitch. You have to focus on yourself and what you have to do. Once I get to the ballpark, it’s game on. I have a job to do and I have to be accountable.”
“Cole has been on board with preparing for the season, being one of the leaders on the team,” manager Ryne Sandberg said. “He has been outstanding. All of the veteran guys who have been in that boat have been very good about sticking to business and concentrating on being a Philadelphia Phillie for the time being.”
If anything, the fact that the organization has closed the book on rediscovering the era of success the Phils had, the peak coming with a 2008 championship, has reduced the toxicity in the clubhouse.
“I feel like the clubhouse that was a lot more enjoyable this spring,” Hamels said. “I think we have some pretty good personalities. There are lot of hidden moments, behind the scenes, of teamwork and camaraderie, and I think the guys are finally starting to pick that up and be more together as opposed to what it was like last year.”
Clubhouse harmony doesn’t mean what happens on the field is going to be symphonic. Talent matters, and the Phillies aren’t taking very many high ceilings onto the diamond.
The infield is split into halves. The right side is Howard and Utley, representing players past their prime, with Howard a shell of his peak self, and Utley unable to make the skills he still owns stay at a high level as the season grinds into August and September. The left side is Cody Asche and Freddy Galvis, neither of them considered a threat to make an All-Star appearance in the near future.
Carlos Ruiz remains at catcher, though his age and predictable annual stint on the disabled list making him tough to lean on for six months.
The outfield is a frightening world.
Ben Revere has moved to left field and although he’ll never be an extra-base-hit machine, his speed and ability to hit .300 bring legitimacy to the top spot in the order. He moved from center to make room for Rule 5 project Odubel Herrera, whose inexperience as an outfielder and aggressive plate presence will re- quire Sandberg to exercise patience.
In right field, Dom Brown is following a disappointing 2014 by starting the season on the disabled list. In the meantime, Grady Sizemore and Jeff Francoeur, the aged ghosts of former phenoms, will split the time.
The rotation after Hamels is uncertain at best. Aaron Harang had a nice season in spacious Turner Field last season, but the veteran could be a home-run machine at Citizens Bank Park. David Buchanan had an impressive spring training after holding his own during his rookie year. The Phils hope he is the exception to a star-crossed collection of starting prospects that has been either slowed or shortcircuited by injury and inconsistency.
The bullpen seems to be a strength on paper. However, beyond Papelbon the other relievers had unsettling springs. Ken Giles, who wowed with his electric stuff last summer, had a back issue and doesn’t seem to be throwing with the same crispness. Jake Diekman also had a rough spring, and beyond that the Phils are trying familiar names (Justin DeFratus, Luis Garcia, Cesar Jimenez) who still have to show enough steadiness to be considered dependable.
The Phillies acquired veteran Dustin McGowan in a minor trade with Toronto Saturday night to round out their pitching staff, though it’s difficult to figure out how the 33-year-old righthander fits with a team that is seeking to get younger and more projectable.
This is the final year of Amaro’s contract, and there won’t be a push to change that status during the season. But the organization still needs him to close out this dismantling project, and while that will have little bearing on the team’s barren hopes for 2015, it will be important to making sure there aren’t many more Opening Days accompanied with the hollow feeling that this one possesses.