DESPITE WATCHING their major league team enter the final month flirting with 100 losses, there has been cautious optimism among Phillies front office executives within the last six weeks or so.
The pre-deadline trades of Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Ben Revere and Jonathan Papelbon brought in an influx of talent to enrich the farm system.
Their optimism was cautious, though, because they understand it takes starting pitching depth to enjoy sustained success at the major league level and, if they evaluated their upper minor league teams with an honest eye, they know there are more than a couple of question marks and few certainties.