Section 215
Fansided

PhilsMonth! – The Philadelphia Phillies March Towards 100 Losses

By Mike Lacy

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Remember those fun days after the All-Star break when the Phillies were playing well? When it looked like the team might not lose 100 games this season? Those good times didn’t continue.

During September, the Phillies have mostly played like what they are: A team that is short of legitimate major league talent. For instance, the team has gone with a six-man rotation over the past couple of weeks, but it isn’t clear if more than one or two of those six pitchers actually belong in the major leagues at the present time.

As a result, they’re approaching a “milestone” that the team hasn’t reached in the lifetime of most fans.

Super Important Storyline of the Month: 100 Losses?

I’ve had the misfortune to see a lot of bad Phillies teams in my time. Despite some of those teams being dreadfully awful, none of them played poorly enough to lose 100 games. That appears as if it is about to change. Depending on

Aug 27, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin (45) walks towards the mound during loss to the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets defeated the Phillies, 9-5 in 13 innings. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

how the final series against the Marlins goes, the Phillies may lose 100 games for the first time since 1961.

This milestone isn’t especially surprising. The Phillies were expected to be bad before the season started, and they’ve proceeded to trade away most of their good players. What’s left is a collection of past-their-prime former All Stars, fringe major league journeymen, and a bunch of young players who have experienced some growing pains.

The news isn’t all bad though. Some of those young players have shown some potential, including this month’s featured Phillie.

Featured Phillie of the Month: Jerad Eickhoff

Trading for Cole Hamels seems to have worked out well for the Rangers. Since arriving in Texas, Hamels has gone 5-1 with a 3.41 ERA. More importantly, the Rangers have gone 35-20 and have taken over first place in the American League West.

Sep 25, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff (48) throws to the Washington Nationals during the during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

There are signs that the trade might work out well for the Phillies too. The prospects thought to be the keys to the deal – Nick Williams, Jake Thompson, and Jorge Alfaro – have all shown promise in the minor leagues. But those guys won’t make their major league debuts until 2016 at the earliest. In the meantime, two of the less-heralded players from the Rangers have already made it to the big league club, and one of them has excelled during his brief time in the majors.

Jerad Eickhoff wasn’t regarded as a top prospect. Most projections didn’t think he’d be more than a mid-rotation starter at best, but as the 2015 Phillies have shown, there’s nothing wrong with having good mid-rotation starters on the team.

In seven starts, he’s gone 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA. He’s also shown a nasty curveball that opposing batters have had all sorts of problems with. In his most recent start against the Nationals, he struck out ten batters. Most notably, he struck out presumptive league MVP Bryce Harper three times.

There is no guarantee that Eickhoff will continue to pitch this well. One season’s promising rookie often becomes the next season’s disappointment. (Looking at you, David Buchanan!) But at the very least, Eickhoff seems to have laid a pretty solid claim on a rotation spot for next year, and gives the Phillies a little more hope for the future.

Phlashback of Phutility: Mike Mimbs

Not every young pitcher who shows promise develops into a good player. Some turn out to be mere flashes in the pan.

Before the 1995 season, Mike Mimbs was selected by the Phillies as a Rule 5 Draft pick out of the Montreal Expos organization. For a month-long stretch, it appeared as if they might have uncovered a gem. From May 21 to June 22, Mimbs was stellar. He pitched 52.1 innings giving up only 15 runs, and won five games during that time.

The good times did not last. Mimbs was shelled in his next six starts, and the team was forced to move him to the bullpen. They tried him as a starter again the following season, but he was never able to match his earlier effectiveness. After another poor stint in the 1997 season, Mimbs’ major league career was over.

Secondary Storyline: At Least They’re Not the Nationals

The Phillies have been bad in 2015, but they were expected to be bad. On the other hand, the Washington Nationals expected to be great, and they have most definitely not been great. Despite employing a so-called “super rotation,” the Nats will miss the playoffs, and are struggling to even finish with a winning record.

Jonathan Papelbon. Image Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Inadvertently, the Phillies contributed to the Nats’ downfall. When the Phillies traded Jonathan Papelbon in July, they were trying to get rid of an unhappy player, and maybe get a decent prospect in return. The fact that Papelbon helped cause the Nats to implode is merely a happy bonus.

I attended the game at Nationals Park on Friday. The Nats fans didn’t like my loud cheering, and tried to chant, “Still in last place.” I countered with a chant of my own: “Not in the playoffs.”

I’m not sure if that was what prompted the fans to leave the game early, but I’m sure it helped.

Statistical Oddity

Tweet of Importance

The Good News

All of the losing hasn’t been much fun, but at least it’s almost over.

The Bad News

It doesn’t seem as if the team will be much better next year.

Looking Ahead

The Phillies will play four games in October. Can they win two of them and avoid 100 losses?

Next: Kiko Alonso Does Not Have Torn ACL

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