Klentak: Starting pitching best success story

ATLANTA — Phillies general manager Matt Klentak marks his one-year anniversary with the organization late next month. He likes what he has seen in his first 11.

“If someone had told me last October that this was where the franchise would be this September, I would have signed up for that 100 times out of 100,” Klentak said this week at Turner Field.

• Offense headed in right direction

The Phillies entered Thursday night’s game against the Braves at 70-88, meaning they won at least seven more games than last season with four to play. Klentak cited the team’s improved record, but he also mentioned the performances of some of its younger talents like Cesar Hernandez, Cameron Rupp, Odubel Herrera, Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez and Hector Neris.

“I’m missing plenty of them,” Klentak said. “I’m not trying to single anybody out. I think that all suggests very positive things for the future. On top of that, and this has been well documented, but just the performance of the Minor League system. Collectively, with the winning percentage, but also the performance of individual prospects, the accolades that those players have received, it would be hard not to look at this season as a real positive step in the right direction.”

Klentak believes the club’s starting pitching is perhaps its best success story. Phillies starters ranked 29th last season with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. This year, they rank 19th with a 4.45 ERA and ninth with a 1.28 …

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