The Philadelphia Phillies fired Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start and have gone 48-32 under Don Mattingly.
The Phillies are in postseason position, and with the trade deadline approaching, Bryce Harper has made it clear that he thinks the current team is not good enough.
"I think we need some help," Harper said when asked if he thinks the lineup is good enough to beat good pitching in October.
The Phillies could use an outfielder and perhaps another arm or two. In October, they won't have the luxury of facing weak arms out of the bullpen or weak starters. The Phillies have been trying to get back to the World Series ever since the Houston Astros defeated them in the Fall Classic.
Harper is not getting any younger, and the Phillies need to try to capitalize while he's still playing at a high level. Harper was an All-Star this year, slashing .252/.358/.488 with 22 home runs. However, he is having a terrible month of July. He is hitting just .165 this month.
The reality is, the Phillies will not be able to win the World Series unless Harper starts to swing a hot bat again. He has noted that he is willing to move back to the outfield if the team sees a path to improve the offense by adding a first baseman. He seems to be willing to do whatever is needed to win a World Series. The ball is now in Dave Dombrowski's court. The trade deadline is right around the corner and Harper has made it known that he wants to see some additions.