TWICE, Pete Mackanin summoned three intriguing words to convey his point. This was Wednesday, in the long-dormant interview room at Citizens Bank Park where he met the media after each of the Phillies' 37 wins and 44 losses at home last season. Reporters were asking him this year's version of a question that has defined the club since Mackanin's bosses acknowledged the obvious and officially labeled themselves rebuilders.
Once upon a time, everybody would have spent the session blowing smoke up each other's keisters with talk of Howie Kendrick or Michael Saunders or Danny Tartabull being just what the doctor ordered to make a serious playoff push.