The Phillies are having a bad year, to say the least. The club has the worst record in baseball and is on pace to lose more than 100 games for the first time since 1961. The manager just resigned, and former Dave Henderson Jersey stars like Chase Utley are having truly dreadful seasons.But things are about to get better. That's because to long-time MLB executive Andy MacPhail, which probably means the end of Ruben Amaro's tenure is imminent. Based on what MacPhail accomplished in his last job, fans in the City of Brotherly Love have plenty of reasons for optimism.MORE: | When MacPhail took over as the Orioles' president of baseball operations in June 2007, Baltimore was in the midst of its tenth straight losing season. By the time he left following the 2011 season, the streak was at 14 seasons. But MacPhail had laid the groundwork for succe s. Since the beginning of the 2012 season, the O's have had their most prolonged period of succe s in three decades, with two postseason appearances and more regular season wins than any other American League team.None of that would have been po sible without five key moves MacPhail made in Baltimore. In Philadelphia, he will be tasked with making similar decisions.1. Hiring a managerReplacing Ryne Sandberg will be one of the Phillies' top priorities. MacPhail's first managerial hire for the Orioles was Dave Trembley. That didn't work out so well. But when he had a second chance, he hit a home run, bringing in former Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers skipper Buck Showalter in 2010.Showalter hadn't managed in four years at that point and didn't have the best reputation. But he has found a home in Brett Anderson Jersey Baltimore and established himself as the second best manager in Orioles history. Showalter is the first skipper to lead the team to multiple 90-plus win seasons since Hall of Famer Earl Weaver. He was the 2014 AL Manager of the Year and really should have won the award in 2012.And don't forget MacPhail gets credit for making Tom Kelly manager of the Twins in 1986. Kelly would go on to lead Minnesota to two World Series titles (or as many as the Phillies have had in their entire history).2. Trading an aceAfter years of rumors, the Phillies are expected to trade lefty ace Cole Hamels before the non-waiver trade deadline. Phillies fans expect the team to get a big haul of prospects in return. Well, the last time MacPhail traded a lefty ace, he pulled off perhaps the best trade of the young century.Before the 2008 season, MacPhail traded Erik Bedard to the Mariners. Bedard was coming off two solid seasons and had been one of the AL's best pitchers in 2007, finishing fifth in Cy Young voting. In return, the O's got Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill and two other prospects.Jones alone would have made the deal a steal. Stephen Piscotty Jersey While Bedard struggled and never lived up to his early promise, Jones flourished in Baltimore, becoming a four-time (so far) All-Star and Boog Powell Jersey the face of the franchise. Tillman, meanwhile, has been one of the team's most reliable starting pitchers in recent seasons. Even Sherrill managed an All-Star appearance for the Birds before has was traded for more prospects.3. Trading a relief aceKoji Uehara was only a sometimes closer when MacPhail traded him to the Rangers during the 2011 season. The Phillies' Jonathan Papelbon, on the other hand, is one of the best closers of his generation. So if MacPhail landed Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter for Uehara's expiring contract, what might he get for Papelbon?Davis has been inconsistent, for sure, but he was a key part of the Orioles' 2012 wild-card team and put up a monster year the next season. He has been a reliable source of power for a team that relies on the long ball more than most. Hunter has been a decent bullpen arm for several seasons.4. Maximizing an early draft pickThe Phillies will have a high draft pick next season, likely the No. 1 selection. When the Orioles had the No. 3 pick in the 2010 draft under MacPhail, they selected a high school shortstop named Manny Machado. Machado was in the big leagues just two years later and was an All-Star by 2013. This year, the third baseman has emerged as one the best players in baseball, an elite defender who also can hit and steal bases. He's 22 and under team control until 2019.5. Winning under-the-radar tradesIn addition to acquiring Jones, Tillman, Davis and Hunter through key trades, MacPhail also landed J.J. Hardy, one of the more consistent shortstops in the AL. After the 2010 season, the O Catfish Hunter Jersey 's traded Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey for Hardy and another player. With his combination of power and solid defense, Hardy registered a WAR of at least 3.2 each of his first four seasons in Baltimore. Jacobson, meanwhile, never made it to the big leagues while Hoey pitched all of 26 games for the Twins.