Well, Ruben Amaro Jr. is lost, folks. First, he sent the only legitimate power threat on the bench, Darin Ruf, to AAA to create space for Phillippe Aumont and Cesar Jimenez (Jeff Manship went to the DL too), then Aumont served up a two-run homer to take the loss Sunday against the Mets. That's bad enough, but if you look closer, the move makes no sense. First off, Ruf may not be a major league starter at any position, but he can put on a glove and play left field, which makes him a better option right now than Dom Brown. Second off, Aumont is a stiff and should be DFA'ed, not called up. Third, Giles is a much better option than Aumont, even he sucks just as bad, because there's upside.
In case you haven't watched the Phillies series to this date either, Bobby Abreu, who Ruben cut in Spring Training, remains a much better offensive option than Tony Gwynn Jr. or John Mayberry Jr., both of whom are stiffs too. I haven't seen his horrible defense decide a game yet either. I hate to say I told you so in Spring Training, but, I told you so.
The problem is that Ruben refuses to cut bait with prospects who don't pan out. Dom Brown has had one good month in the majors, in this his fifth partial season. He makes mental mistakes, he doesn't hit consistently, and his power is hit or miss. Since Ruben refused to trade him for any of the big players he picked up in the contending days though, he won't just cut bait with him. Hence, we're watching a .200 hitter with a bad glove and average power at best. He is making us suffer through another Aumont chapter as well, even though the former prospect picked up in the pre-2010 Cliff Lee trade still stinks. Aumont still can't throw strikes, and still just stinks in general. Oh, and Tyson Gillies still has a 40 man spot too.
There are certainly some head-scratchers from Sandberg, and plenty of underachieving players on this team, but Amaro is the main issue this team has. While Ryan Howard has at least hit homers, Jimmy Rollins has at least learned to take some pitches, Chase Utley has been awesome, and Byrd and Chooch are productive, this team stinks because of a lack of depth, and that lack of depth all leads directly back to our unproductive GM. The Phillies will lose this five game series to the Mets for certain, and now sit a season high six games under .500. A 24-30 team ends up as a rebuilding team by the trade deadline, smart money says. If that's the case, then it's time to fire Ruben Amaro, before he trades the assets he has for pennies on the dollar.
