Losing isn't fun. I get that. Last Sunday, the Phillies had a 4-1 lead, and were about to sweep the Mets to get back to .500. Then Antonio Bastardo, and the larger bullpen happened, and they haven't won since. The Phillies disaster of a bullpen has lost seven games this season, their rotten defense a few more, and their young, seemingly lacking guys a few more yet. If the "old guys" on this team were in 2007 form, perhaps the fact that Cody Asche's glove is awful, or that the bullpen is incapable, or that the bench is rotten, may matter less, but the reality is that this roster, right now, isn't where it needs to be. People like to make the issue Jimmy Rollins or Ryan Howard, or maybe like to blame Cole Hamels' DL stint, or maybe like to even just blame the payroll, but this roster just isn't deep enough really.
So what kind of help can they get, since they're not out of it yet? Well, you can hope they sign Kyle Farnsworth today, which I think would be smart for both sides. You can also look at Jeff Francis, recently released by the Reds as a starter, as a potential lefty help (though I'll be the first to tell you he's not Farnsworth). You can hope that Jake Diekman's consistency improves, and that Mike Adams improves as he recovers from his surgery. Mario Hollands still leaves me hopeful too. De Fratus is throwing really well now in AAA, so maybe he helps at some point, and Ken Giles could eventually help this season. Another name that is very close is Ethan Martin, who could help now. Bastardo's inconsistencies are what they are, so I think we have to hope that good Antonio shows up at some point. Manship and Garcia simply are what they are, and there's not much more to say about them. In reality, the Phillies shouldn't get stupid trading for relievers, but should be taking a real look at every guy that reaches the waiver or free agency wires.
Then there's the starting situation, which isn't so bad. Cliff Lee is Cliff Lee, Burnett has been good, Kendrick has been serviceable, if nothing more, and Roberto Hernandez has been a solid fifth starter. Cole Hamels is coming off of a 10 K game last Sunday, and I think we're seeing him get his legs under him. Now comes word that Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez is throwing 95 MPH heat, and moving up the system towards the bigs, but Jon Pettibone's season could be done if he needs shoulder surgery. If Gonzalez were to be ready a month from now, this would leave the Phillies with six starters. They would have basically three options: 1.) Let him throw in AAA and learn professional baseball, 2.) Trade one of these six for bullpen and bench help, or 3.) Move someone into the bullpen. None of these are a bad thing, and this could get even more crowded later this season if Jesse Biddle continues to throw well in Reading.
Finally, this all leads to the offense. The bench of Wil Nieves, Reid Brignac, Cesar Hernandez, Tony Gwynn Jr., and John Mayberry Jr. still stinks. Of them, the only one I have any long term hope for is Cesar, but he's still learning the defense out there on the left side of the infield. This team desperately needs an upgrade, and really the only one close is Darin Ruf. The line-up is carrying around some deficiencies too, all over the place. The only really close potential starter is the suddenly hot Maikel Franco, and they've been clear they will not rush him. What you have now is probably what you get, for the most part.
I know we'd all like to see some changes to this squad, but there probably aren't going to be many wholesale changes. Thinking this through further, if the small changes don't change the team's fortunes, one has to ask whether we even want a deadline sell-off, unless Ruben is fired? I mean, to be fair, this guy has several times failed to get a good haul back for players he traded (remember Cliff Lee to Seattle). Even a sell-off should be delayed until the season's done, and Ruben is hopefully out.
All of this leads me to the future outlook of this team, and whether or not you have to watch losing streaks like this in the long-term. I still maintain the answer is no. I would like to see Farnsworth, Martin, and maybe even Gonzalez and Giles brought in, and some of the garbage in the bullpen shipped out. That alone should make this team's end result look better than last year's.
Beyond this season, consider the rotation they could pack next year- Lee, Hamels, Burnett, Gonzalez, and Biddle. It's not bad. Consider the bullpen they could put together- especially with Giles and Martin coming around, Hollands and Diekman turning into what you hope they can be, maybe De Fratus coming around, and hopefully a continually dominant Papelbon anchoring the show. Suddenly 2015 doesn't look so bad. The offense could get a shot in the arm this season, and certainly next, from Maikel Franco, if he continues to progress, but that still leaves a rotten bench and a mediocre line-up on the whole. The Phillies will need another outfielder, preferably in center right now, to improve this line-up.
Either way, I'm getting way ahead of myself, because this losing stuff sucks. Hopefully we get some good news, and a win, today.
