PHILADELPHIA -- Cody Asche always understood the importance of the 2016 season to his future with the Phillies.
But the season has not gone according to plan. He missed the first two months with a strained right oblique and then hit .213 with 14 doubles, four home runs, 17 RBIs and a .643 OPS in 192 plate appearances over 57 games. He has hit .120 with a .370 OPS in his last 26 games, which is why the Phillies optioned him Friday to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
"That basically sums it up," Asche said of his lackluster offense as the key culprit for his demotion.