Leap of Faith

The Big Piece is 3rd in the NL in RBI and 7th in Home Runs.

I’m bummed out writing this.  I really wanted to get this post up following a Phils win and a series win in St. Louis. It was not to be.

The Phillies won 5 in a row this week (for the first time since 2012!) and had won 9 of 11 overall. Unfortunately, they fell flat during the second two games of a four game set in St. Louis and have now lost two straight. Despite the back-to-back losses the Phils have managed to bring themselves back into contention in the NL Least, excuse me, the NL East.

Even with those two losses, the Phils still went 5-2 on their road trip and there’s several things I have to point out as to why they may be able to make a run at this division. Individually, these aspects do not require a giant leap of faith to believe these old heads can make a run. For them to all happen though, we will need that giant leap of faith. So let’s get into it. Why not the Phillies?

First and foremost, this division sucks. The Nationals are underachievers. They have the talent but can’t seem to put it together. They have to be considered the favorites to take the division at this point, but just like every other team in the division, they lack consistency. The Braves, wow, the Braves just flat out can’t hit. If you find the Phillies offense frustrating don’t watch a Braves game. Those guys make Ben Revere look like Tony Gwynn. The Mets and the Marlins are the Mets and the Marlins. Nuff said.

Next, we have The Big Piece. Is Ryan Howard finally healthy? Bashing the ball like the Piece of old. He’s waiting on balls and driving them out to left field with consistency we haven’t seen in I don’t know, 3, 4 years? It’s a welcome sight. He put the team on his back for the 5 game winning streak and it didn’t even seem that heavy. If Howard can continue at his current pace, projected to 31 home runs and 115 RBI, the offense can relax a bit and not press because Howard’s walking softly and carrying that big stick. The Piece is also on pace for a career high 210 Ks. Good god that man can swing and miss with the best of them. Right up there with Marlon Byrd for that.

Remarkably, unbelievably, stupefyingly, the Phillies biggest weakness this season has been turned on it’s ear and has become a position of strength. These young arms in the bullpen are putting up goose eggs like we did not think possible. It starts with Papelbon being damn good but how bout the other guys? Jake Diekman seems like he may have figured it out, and when you can throw 100 MPH figuring it out should be doable. Justin De Fratus hasn’t given up a run since he got called back up at the end of May. After Antonio Bastardo looked like he may have been out of a job, he has miraculously started throwing strikes and getting people out. And of course, the Phillies have called up the righty flame-thrower Ken Giles. The rookie obviously has the talent so let’s hope he can harness that arm and become a stalwart of this bullpen in the future. Two guys throwing 100 MPH, one righty one lefty. Man, that’s gas.

Can you believe I just typed that paragraph?!? I can’t.

This is a joke right?

Let’s see what else could happen that doesn’t seem too far-fetched? I know, Cliff Lee will come back and be Cliff Lee. We’ve heard reports that Cliff is “long tossing” and “throwing off a mound” and conducting a “normal bullpen”. There haven’t been any set-backs. Let’s say worst case Cliff starts the first game after the All-Star Break. If the Phillies can continue to stay within earshot of whoever is leading this crap division, when Lee comes back to this rotation you have to believe his presence will provide a serious jolt of energy.

Another bonus / upgrade to the lineup is the return of Cody Asche. Here’s another sentence I can’t believe I’m typing but I enjoyed the Reid Brignac era. The guy got some big hits. The guy played really hard (as evidenced by how he got injured). And he just did a solid job filling in. Having said that, the Phillies scored 3 runs today and they all came on a bases clearing double from Cody Asche. Asche is one of the few position players on the team that has a chance to be on the team in 5 years, so it would be nice to see him continue to develop as a fielder and a hitter. There’s potential in that bat.

Lastly, and this may be the biggest leap of faith but Dom Brown is the hinge in this line up as my friend John Gallagher likes to point out. If you go Revere, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Byrd to start your lineup that’s a lineup you can hang your hat on. You know what you’re going to get out of those guys and they are all capable of solid work with the bat. Dom Brown has just been crap all season and it needs to change. If he finishes the season continuing to pal around with Luis Mendoza then the Dom Brown era may have to come to an unceremonious end. If he can somehow manage to start hitting the ball, and hitting the ball with power a little bit, the Phillies lineup could really start to churn out some runs. I don’t know that Dom is capable but I’d like to think he could hit 250 for the remainder of the season.

Well, that’s my argument. Is it too much to ask? Almost certainly. Is this crappy division holding Ruben up from blowing this team up and starting the rebuilding process while we can still get decent assets for the old regime? Almost certainly. Whatever, I say let it ride with Jimmy, Chase  and Ryan if they have a chance to win the division (Less than let’s say 6 out with a week before the trade deadline). There’s a reason all these guys still play for the Phillies. Let’s see if they can make it count.

Why not?