The Phillies have been trying to hang on to their glory
years, keeping their well beyond their prime stars after having devastated their
farm system in the attempt to stay on top after their 2008 World Series
Victory. Their recent signings have been
older players such as A.J. Burnett and Marlon Byrd, players whose contacts will
expire at approximately the same time as the core 4 of Utley, Rollins, Howard,
and Ruiz (along with Lee and Papelbon). At that time, the cupboard will be
bare. The farm system has failed to produce viable replacements, with such disappointments
as Domonic Brown, Freddy Galvis, and Cesar
Hernandez, and utter failures such as Sebastian Valle, Tyson Gillies, and Tommy
Joseph. Only Cody Asche and a few of the
bullpen arms (Justin DeFratus, Jake Diekman, Mario Hollands, and Ken Giles)
show promise. The farm system was also
devastated by high risk/high reward draft picks the Phillies made when they
were drafting low in the order thanks to all their first division finishes. Few
of these panned out, others are years away, leaving the cupboard bare at the
upper levels. Recent drafts have focused on more major league ready players,
but no one ready to step in to help today, or even tomorrow.
Additionally, the training in the system has to be
questioned, when so few prospects appear to be major league ready when they do
arrive, some, such as Domonic Brown, display a shocking lack of knowledge of
how to play the game, running poor routs in the outfield, swinging at the first
pitch after the opposing pitcher has walked three in a row, etc.
The Phillies are in a bind. Other teams are locking up young stars before
they become free agents, and trades are difficult with nothing to send back
except high contracts. The only real solution is the long route, draft well,
focus on development, and perhaps step up international scouting and signing.
Unlike the Sixers, the Phillies future is not so rosy, even for a few years
down the road.
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