LOS ANGELES -- It has not been pretty, but it has been interesting.
The Phillies left Spring Training in April knowing they would struggle, but they never expected the struggles to be like this. The franchise is on pace for its first 100-loss season since 1961, thanks to an offense that lacks power, a rotation rarely lasts six innings and a farm system that is only now recovering after years of unlucky Drafts. But the action on the field has been almost overshadowed by the action off of it. Ryne Sandberg unexpectedly resigned on June 26, and just three days later, owner John Middleton introduced Andy MacPhail as the next team president.