July 21, 2011GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEOJim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
In recent years, ever since they started rubbing elbows with baseballs big boys -- heck, they are one of baseballs big boys -- the Phillies have focused on trying to win that seasons World Series.
But it is the responsibility of any organization to keep an eye on future seasons, as well. The Phillies have done that. No matter how much you detested the Cliff Lee trade of December 2009, it was made partly because the Phils management had an eye toward the future and wanted to restock a farm system that had become thin after several big trades. In approaching trades, Phillies officials are always looking to obtain players they can control for more than one season. So even as they are looking to win now, they look ahead.
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One has to wonder if we are seeing some of that philosophy in the teams handling of its current closer situation.
Ryan Madson, who deserved some consideration for first-half team MVP before he went down with a swollen right hand in mid-June, is back from the disabled list, but he still hasnt been re-anointed as closer, even after going 15 for 16 in that role after Jose Contreras went down three weeks into the season.
Antonio Bastardo handled save situations while Madson was out and has continued to do so -- very impressively, we might add.
The Phillies open a 10-game homestand on Friday night during which they will entertain a team that has some trade pieces that intrigue the Phils and two teams that could be possible postseason opponents.
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Lets skip forward to next week first. The NL West-leading San Francisco Giants come to town for the first time since they danced on the Citizens Bank Park lawn after beating the Phils in last years NLCS.
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