Because pressure and the standings are enough, the rookies from the Allentown affiliate are able to thrive in the unusual environment currently on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Next Countdown Begins:

On many occasions, the future either never seems to arrive or is late, but an early tomorrow like a total eclipse is possible.

From my experiences in music, songwriters set the tone for the degree of excellence leading to the finished product. Singers, guitarists and drummers bring their best for top-notch material, and bandmates push each other to achieve more and keep up. It’s contagious!

While many MLB rookies enter the clubhouse with little or no fanfare, they wonder if they belong at the top plateau. They are in a new dugout and on a different field, and almost no one is familiar.

After Nick Williams had taken advantage of fastballs, he gained the confidence to make the adjustments when pitchers decided he needed a diet of off-speed stuff. Yes, some Triple-A teammates from the last two campaigns were here, on the disabled list, or shuttling from Philly to Allentown and back. He recognized some faces.

With bundle-of-energy Williams already here, Rhys Hoskins joined the parent club and feasted on heaters, while the opposition searched for holes in his swing. He brings a level of comfort to Jorge Alfaro, J.P. Crawford and the rest of the lineup too. But keep in mind, Alfaro and Crawford have an easier time adapting due to familiar stars from the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, so they play with a relaxed confidence. Ergo, producing is easier.

In the major leagues, pressure is also present in other forms. For instance, the dread of returning to Triple-A after reaching the majors is one of their many motivations. Being left behind is another demon lurking during slumps and difficult patches for the team. And hitting coach Matt Stairs is near the bat rack to remind them of certain deficiencies before every at-bat and quiz them after it. Unavoidable!

On the other side of the ledger, they compete with each other for stats, jobs and playing time. They root for and celebrate with their positional rivals. Yes, competition brings out the best of each, and the top producer will earn the role.