Maikel Franco

Before play on Tuesday night the Phillies stand at 15-11 on the season despite this team going through a rebuilding phase.  ESPN.com MLB Columnist Jerry Crasnick says that this season is not about wins and losses but about seeing who can play for the future:

Before the Phillies game on Thursday their record on the 2016 season stands at 11-10 which far exceeds many people's expectations.  ESPN Baseball Tonight Analyst Jim Bowden is the  former Reds and Nationals General Manager, he spoke with Mike Gill on Wednesday about the Phillies and explained why the team is playing better than many fans and experts anticipated: "There's a lot of positive thi

At 23 years old, Phillies Third Baseman Maikel Franco is viewed as one of the centerpieces of the team's youth movement as they rebuild towards the future.

The Phillies have started their season 7-9 and in some ways have exceed some expectations.  But 2016 is still a season to allow the young talent develop and as NBC Sports Lead Baseball Writer Craig Calcaterra explains this season will come with ups and downs for this young team:   "You're going to see guys like (Maikel) Franco have a amazing weeks where they're just complete beasts and then h

2016 season is one in which the Phillies have committed to the future and that future looks promising. NBC Sports Lead Baseball Writer Craig Calcaterra spoke with Mike Gill about how the Phillies are going in the right direction:

The 2016 season is just about to begin. The 2015 Phillies finished the season with the worst record in baseball. Could the Phillies improve upon the record in 2016? Perhaps a little bit, but the primary goal in 2016 is player development...

The Philadelphia Phillies begin their Grapefruit League schedule this week and that means thousands of Phillies fans will make the journey to Clearwater to watch the youth movement taking place.

We are just a few hours from the first pitch of 2016 Spring Training Grapefruit League play, and the opening lineup is out.  Manager Pete Mackanin has posted what mostly looks to be a lineup of regular players.   This could show some insight into what Mackanin is thinking when we get to the regular season...

The Monday Mailbag is back open again, and we are addressing your questions submitted on Twitter.  Feel free to send a Tweet to @FrankKlose973 at any time to be included in the next Monday Mailbag! Can Cody Asche play second base? ~ @WiffleBall1 on Twitter The Phillies actually devoted one season to Cody Asche playing second base already, and they were not too fond of the results...

The early returns on the summer trade hauls of the Phillies have been positive. A system that was once thought of as one of the worst in baseball, is now filled with strong young talent with some intriguing young players that came over in the Cole Hamels trade - two of which Jerad Eickhoff and Alec Asher have already appeared at the big league level...