Read a comment last week from one of the sites regular posters [and one I respect and usually agree with] about how I seem to have completely flipped in the last year...from being the organizations biggest defender to one of its larger critics. Truth be told, this is not the case at all BUT as one who was most outspoken about wanting the organizational changes and philosophical changes that I finally got, I admit to some disappointment to this point.
Widely respected ESPN baseball writer, Dave Schofield, just today asked the rhetorical question, "Am I the only one who feels the Phillie rebuild is not going well?" Ahhh, no, Mr. Schofield, I too am feeling that way and have verbalized it here on this site, much to the chagrin of some who remember my almost Pollyannish support of the past management and what I believed were their goals.
My concerns are thus...too many of the young hurlers we counted on seem to either be treading water or drowning right now as they get higher up the system ladder. Our last three #1 picks, all reputed to have outstanding "hit tools" are struggling in the system and two of them are reputed to be feeling tired. As if this tiredness doesn't affect, oh about 1000 other minor leaguers?
Right now, the two best players {Nola and Herrera] both seem to be succeeding NOT because of the coaching they are receiving BUT because they seem to be the two players who have succeeded because they ignore the coaching and choose instead to "do things the way they believe will make them most successful."
I am not a phan of either our manager or pitching coach and have made no bones of the fact I believe neither is the right man at the right time for this current crop of youngsters.
Finally, let me say unequivocally that right now I am still a big phan of both Almaraz and Jordan and am an unabashed believer that Sal is the absolute MVP of the entire system...which begs the question of why he is not given the financial resources to do even more with that MVP rank?
Look, I love this team, love the young players in the system and still hope and yearn for a 3rd strong and lasting run at excellence since I became a phan. But I am also reminded that it is almost the end of the 2017 season and we are on pace for a 60-102 record, a year BEFORE Pat Gillick originally said [and I still love the guy!] the Phils would once again become contenders.
This, then, is my frustration and not that I have suddenly flipped in the way I view the team. I view it the same way, just fell less inclined to give it the benefit of the doubt. Lord knows, I have been doing that since Hunter Pence was dealt to Houston on July 29, 2011. Even for me, 6 years of rose colored glasses shows that those rose colored tints are due for an eyesight checkup.
