The prevailing opinion as we tick, tick, tick toward Major League Baseball’s trade deadline Monday is that the Phillies will be unable to deal first baseman Tommy Joseph, which will likely create a dilemma for manager Pete Mackanin in the near future.
All indications are that Rhys Hoskins’ minor-league marination is just about complete. The 24-year-old first baseman hit another home run for triple-A Lehigh Valley Wednesday night, giving him four in his last six games and an organizational-high 24 for the season. Tack on the 38 dingers he hit last season at double-A Reading and it is obviously time to see what he can do in the big show.