The 2014 season has been a huge disappointment for Phillies fans. The Phillies find themselves 13 games under .500, and in last place in the NL East. The core group of players have not been productive enough to save this team, but some newcomers have found success since putting on a Phillies’ uniform. Those newcomers include Ken Giles and Grady Sizemore.
Since signing with the Phillies, Sizemore has shown flashes of the young, talented, all-start center fielder he used to be back in 2008 with the Indians where he hit 33 home runs and drove in 90. He played 157 games that season, his last full season.
In 14 games with the Phillies this season, Sizemore has a .314 batting average, a .352 OBP, and hit his first home run as a Phillie last night against the Mets. It’s a small sample size, but the Phillies have struggled in the outfield all season long (besides Marlon Byrd). If Sizemore can finish the year strong, he could play into the Phillies’ future plans. Albeit the Phillies will likely be in the beginnings of a rebuilding phase, it would still be nice to watch Sizemore try to find the player he used to be back in 2008. Hopefully his injury days are over.
Ken Giles has been absolutely lights out since coming up to the big leagues. Hitting 100 mph at times, his fastball has been blowing by Major League hitters, and just jumps out of his hand like a rocket. Down 0-2 against him? You better watch out for a nasty slider. Needless to say, Giles has been very impressive in his 18 games with the Phillies. In 19.1 innings pitched, Giles has a .93 ERA, has struck out 27 batters (wow!), and has only walked 4 batters. Like Sizemore, Giles will definitely play into the Phillies’ future plans, and is shaping up to be their closer of the future. We could be witnessing the making of a star in the bullpen for the Phillies.
As we enter into a rebuilding period for the Phillies, these players could make the transition a little less painful.
