Philadelphia pushed towards respectability after trading Scott Rolen and currently holds a .500 record. The Phillies called up OF-R Marlon Byrd, C-S Johnny Estrada, IF-S Dave Hollins, RHP Eric Junge, LHP Hector Mercado, SS-S Nick Punto, RHP Jose Santiago, and OF-L Eric Valent to help them this September.

After Philadelphia drafted Byrd out of Georgia Perimeter Junior College in the 10th round of the 1999 draft, they assigned him to Short-season Batavia in the New York-Pennsylvania League, where he spent the remainder of that season. Byrd spent a full season at Piedmont in the A South Atlantic League in 2000 and then advanced to AA Reading in the Eastern League last season without any time at A+. Following a trip to the 2001 Arizona Fall League, Byrd tackled AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre this season. In 538 AB, he hit .297 with a .362 OBP and .476 SLG on 160 H, 37 2B, 7 3B, and 15 HR with a 46:98 BB:K and 15/16 SB%. While improving his plate discipline will make him a stronger player, he owns developing power, good speed, and appears ready for the majors.

Byrd stayed with the AAA club until they were eliminated from the playoffs before joining the Phillies. A late August altercation with his girlfriend led to charges of simple assault, disorderly conduct, reckless endangering of another person and harassment, for which Byrd has been sentenced to seek anger management treatment and abstain from alcohol. While the incident might have threatened his promotion this month, the Phillies appear to have let it slide after Byrd entered an employee assistance program. The 25-year-old is receiving his first taste of the majors in this September cup-of-coffee, starting about four days a week with an occasional pinch-hit appearance, and should exit Spring Training as the starting centerfielder.

I don't have much to add to what I said of Estrada when the Phillies announced Mike Lieberthal's extension. With the season winding down, he received a start after pinch-hitting a few times. However, the Phillies aren't likely to start him next season given Lieberthal's new contract, so his best shot at a starting job is if he's traded or Lieberthal's injured.

An infection from a spider bite he received in Spring Training, which was complicated by his diabetes, limited Hollins to 38 AAA AB in 2002. Although he was still bothered by the infection in early August, Hollins joined the major league team this September, making two starts and pinch-hitting a half-dozen times. The Phillies were lucky to have the excuse not to use Hollins this season, and the 36-year-old shouldn't receive a job in the majors next year.

Los Angeles drafted Junge out of Bucknell University in the 11th round of the 1999 draft and traded him to Philadelphia with Jesus Cordero for Omar Daal in the 2001 off-season. After a full season at AA Jacksonville in the Southern League last year, Junge advanced to AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre in 2002, where he compiled a 126:67 K:BB with 170 H and 16 HR in 180.2 IP for a 3.54 ERA as a starter. His strikeouts are a bit weak and his walk rate is above target levels, however he deserves an extended tryout in a major league rotation. He's made four appearances this month, including one decent start, compiling an 11:5 K:BB with 14 H in 12.2 IP. Competition for the Phillies' rotation in 2003 will be somewhat tight, so the 25-year-old may either return to AAA for a half season or spend some time in the bullpen.

Mercado received an opportunity to make three starts this month due to injuries to the Philadelphia rotation. In addition to losing Robert Person at the end of July, Dave Coggin is out for the season following mid-September surgery to repair a torn labrum. He likely won't pitch again until late 2003. Vicente Padilla left his start earlier this week and is out for the season with tightness in his back and shoulder. Reliever Rheal Cormier is also out for the season after a mid-month MRI revealed tendinitis in his shoulder. Mercado doesn't deserve to start over the younger pitchers in the Phillies' system, so he shouldn't have a spot in the Philadelphia rotation next year. However, his performance this month could earn him a job as a lefty reliever and potential spot starter in 2003. Jose Santiago's pitched much closer to Philadelphia's expectations this month than he did earlier in the season, but I don't know that the team will bring him back next year.

The Phillies drafted Punto out of Saddleback California Junior College in the 21st round of the 1998 draft. Punto put up impressive numbers in his second season at AAA this year, hitting .271 with a .378 OBP and .327 SLG on 120 H, 12 2B, 5 3B, and 1 HR with a 76:84 BB:K and 42/50 SB% in 443 AB. His speed matches that of Jimmy Rollins and his plate discipline is considerably better, though Punto doesn't appear to have the power upside of Rollins. However there's no need for the two to compete for playing time; Punto should simply move to second base, allowing the Phillies to say goodbye to the arbitration-eligible Marlon Anderson. Unfortunately, I don't think the organization shares my enthusiasm as Punto's received only a half-dozen scattered at-bats this month while also occasionally pinch-running.

Philadelphia drafted Valent out of UCLA with the 42nd overall pick in the first round of the 1998 draft. He also repeated AAA this season, though with less positive results. Valent hit .251 with a .311 OBP and .370 SLG on 137 H, 34 2B, 2 3B, and 9 HR with a 49:94 BB:K and 0/2 SB% in 546 AB. The power potential he showed last year is still evident in his doubles, but he needs to improve his strike zone judgment and the quality of his contact. At the moment, he's no better than a reserve outfielder, which has been his role this month.