Philadelphia Baseball History

It was late in the season in 2017.  The Phillies had already traded away the last of the members of the 2008 World Championship team.  Despite a fast start in April, including a six game winning streak at the end of the month, this was clearly a rebuilding year.  This was the second full season for team President Andy MacPhail and General Manager Matt Klentak, and while fans were asked to endure some difficult times, there was supposedly promise in the years to come.  Analysts promised fans that there was talent in the minor league system, just waiting to burst through and bring contention to the Phillies.  One such prospect was Rhys Hoskins. A fifth round draft pick in 2014, Hoskins impressed with his offensive prowess in the minors.  In 2015, spending half his season each at low A Lakewood, and high A Clearwater, Hoskins batted .319 with 17 home runs.  In the next season, he developed his power with AA Reading, hitting 38 home runs, just 2 behind...

(Photo by Yong Kim, philly.com) It's only spring.  (The Phillies are 10-3-2 in Spring Training games.) These games don't count.  (They are ties with Toronto in the Grapefruit League and Arizona in the Cactus League for most wins.) You have to temper your expectations.  (Maikel Franco is hitting .346 with 4 home runs and 10 RBIs.) This is a young pitching staff, and you can't expect much.  (Vince Velasquez has a monster fastball and has struck out 9 in 9 innings of work.  In 8 innings, Brett Oberholtzer is yet to give up a run, and has a WHIP of 1.13.) We can't expect them to score runs.  (The Phillies are second only to Arizona in runs scored in Spring Training, with 89.) Teams don't play their best players in Spring Training.  (Adam Morton blanked the presumptive Yankees starting line-up yesterday in 4 innings of work.) And everyone who is anyone is picking the Phillies to come in dead last for the foreseeable future.  (Did I ment...