Don't Look Now But Here Come the Phillies

Phillie fans began realizing last year that they were in for an Astros-Pirates type of rebuild that hadn't even started yet. Their aging core of highly paid former stars was in deep decline and the team didn't have much in the pipeline. Worse yet, management didn't seem to recognize that the Everything Must Go! sale needed to begin ASAP.

The meritocracy of baseball has a way of steeling minds against cognitive dissonance. A GM can only deny reality for so long before the standings tell him objectively that his theory is faulty.

So, with the team well-positioned for oblivion, Ruben Amaro finally acknowledged what was obvious two-three years ago and has begun the sell-off. And -- surprise! -- he's reaped nice returns for some of the pieces.

The result suggests a condensed rebuild schedule: since the All-Star break, Philadelphia is 21-12 and has climbed out of sole possession of the NL East cellar. Another week of Atlanta losses and the Phillies could claw themselves into third place.

The best part is, it's not newly oiled rusting parts, but the young pieces that are carrying the team, which gives rise to hope. While Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz take to the bench, and Chase Utley and Cole Hamels have been sent to greener pastures.

The heart of the resurgence is under 25, led by slugging outfielder Maikel Franco (now on the 15-day DL), and buttressed by righty Aaron Nola, shortstop Freddy Galvis, speedster Cesar Hernandez at the keystone, promising center fielder Osdubel Herrera and catcher Cameron Rupp. Nola, a recent call-up, is 4-1, 3.59. Franco, the Phils' best hitter all season, has supplied on base and power production; Herrera offers speed, defense and a .294 batting average; and Hernandez has delivered 18 steals and a .345 OBP.

Add to that the haul produced by Utley, Cole Hamels, Ben Revere, Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd, some of which will soon join the nubiles now exciting the faithful. Among the dead weights, only Howard and Ruiz are signed through next year, which means the roster has nearly completely turned over. 

So here's where the Phillies stand: right now, they are the third best team in the NL East. Though that's damning with faint praise, it's still two notches higher than they were at season's commencement. With some more seasoning, the youngsters could be even better next year, multiplied by the next round of talented call-ups. The corner has already been turned, the bottom already hit. The team has spent all of 2015 looking up at their opponents in the standings. Now things are looking up for them.