Reviewing the Kid GM's First Two Months

My introduction to Matt Klentak came via a photo that made him resemble Mike Damone from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

Damone was a third-rate high school huckster who hit on his best friend's girl, then stood her up when she had to abort his baby. Not exactly inspiring.

Despite the above storyline, the movie is actually a classic 80s comedy. But Phillies' fans have had enough laughing at the player moves made by Klentak's predecessor in the general manager's office.

At 35, the youngest GM in Phillies' history, Klentak is being thrown into the fire. After nearly two months on the job, he's been steady, largely unspectacular, but executing a clear plan.

And the plan is pitching. Klentak has sought and bought arms via every means possible. The end result should shore up the most embarassing aspect of the 2015 Phillies.

Ruben Amaro's pitching staff featured 77 starts by Jerome Williams (21 starts), David Buchanon (15), Sean O'Sullivan (13), Chad Billingsley (7), Severino Gonzalez (7), Alec Asher (7), Kevin Correia (5), Phillipe Aumont (1) and Dustin McGowan (1).

I am offering 7-1 odds against this group of pitchers starting even one game in 2016.

The term is "garbage starts" and every team has a handful each year. At least one or two. The bullpen game. The Triple A starter called up for the second game of a doubleheader. That kind of thing.

The Phillies had 77 garbage starts last year, nearly half their games. This gang of nine combined for an appalling 6.81 ERA. The individual numbers are about as ugly and uncomfortable as a Trump immigration rally.

Buchanon pitched to a 6.99 ERA, while Gonzalez managed a 7.92. Asher outdid everyone, posting a 9.31, leaving his last start with a pasty white look after giving up six hits and three runs in just two frames. Hopefully, he isn't lost forever.

Look, you could argue Williams deserved 10 starts based on what he did in 2014, but none of the other eight deserved a start in the Major Leagues this year. As a result, the Phillies lost way too many games before the celebrity first pitch was thrown.

Klentak is aiming to change that, and good on him. As things stand on Dec. 17, the acquisitions of vets Charlie Morton and Jeremy Hellickson, along with prospects Vince Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer and Mark Appel, means the Phils will enter Spring Training with seven quality starter candidates.

Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and Adam Morgan are the holdovers. Appel, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, joins Jake Thompson and Zach Elfin as strong propects who will likely start at Triple A.

IF one (or more) of them end up starting games for the big club in 2016, it will be because they pitched their way to the opportunity.

Not because they had to.