Open Discussion: Week of May 11th

Weekly Discussion

I hope everyone continues to be well.  This is week nine of my self-quarantine.  I am a longer-haired, bearded mess.  I am growing accustomed to not going outside.  I am sleeping later because I am staying up later.  If baseball were to return to Clearwater, I think would have difficulty getting back on my regular baseball schedule.

We have added Hulu and Disney+ to our Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Fire Stick options.  I may never go outside again.  I have added Impractical Jokers to my viewing schedule.  I forgot how funny this show is.

The  June 10th and July 1st dates that surfaced last week were not rumors.  Nor were they actual, set in stone start up dates for spring training 2 and opening day.  They were reasonable, possible target dates that were fluid in nature.  They were on a sliding scale that could move forward (not likely) or backward (very likely) depending on the pandemic.

It would be silly to think that baseball would not be discussing start dates and preparations well in advance of any actual start date.  They wouldn’t wait until June 6th, for instance, to decide that baseball was going to start on the dates above.  Many people have to be notified.  All sorts of logistics have to be worked out.  In fact, I’m sure that all 30 front offices have been working on multiple plans for a restart.  And I’m sure that those plans covered May, June , July, and August start dates; Florida, Arizona, home, and neutral sites; and many other aspects including cost.

All preparations may be moot if MLB and the MLBPA can’t come to an agreement about money.  MLB wants to pro-rate players’ salaries on games played.  The MLBPA wants to avoid giving anymore salary back.  Assuming baseball CAN continue this season, this will likely be the “petard that either side is willing to be hoisted”.  (Apologies to Shakespeare).

The owners have all the leverage.  They can afford to NOT play a season.  The players already agreed to one salary cut.  Whether they agree to a further cuts or decide to NOT play, the players will have to face the likelihood of a contentious negotiation over a new CBA, and the possibility of a work action next spring.  Tough to imagine players doing that after ceding the rest of this season’s salary instead of accepting the owners’ demands.

As was mentioned in the Comments Section last week, it is true that the players down here are only using the fields.  They are not using the facilities like the batting cages or weight room.  They are not entering the club house or buildings in any way.  It was a courtesy since so many outdoor facilities were closed.  Safer to allow them to play catch on unused Complex fields rather than in parking lots and tennis courts.  The group throwing on Bowa Field included Mr. S’s relation, the pitcher he mentioned, and 3 other “starting” pitchers – V,P,A (I think).

Oh, look!  A transaction.  RHP Jason Lott was assigned to GCL Phillies East.

This is the Phuture Phillies Open Discussion for Phillies and other baseball topics.

Key Dates:

  • March 17, 2020 – Start date for minor league spring training games
  • March 2020 – Americas Qualifier in Arizona (2020 Olympics qualifier)
  • March 23, 2020 – Final spring training home game v. Rays
  • March 26, 2020 – Phillies’ opening day at Miami, active roster reduced to 26 players
  • March/April 2020 – At-Large Qualifier in Taiwan (2020 Olympics qualifier)
  • April 2, 2020 – Phillies’ home opener v. Milwaukee
  • TBD, 2020 – Tentative restart of spring training
  • TBD, 2020 – Tentative opening of 2020 MLB season
  • TBD, 2020 – Tentative opening of MiLB season
  • June 10-12, 2021 – Amateur draft in Omaha, NE
  • June 15, 2020 – International amateur signing period closes
  • July 2, 2020 – International amateur signing period opens
  • July 10, 2020 – Deadline for drafted players to sign, except for players who have exhausted college eligibility
  • July 14,2020  – All-Star Game at Los Angeles
  • July 31, 2020 – Last day during the season to trade a player
  • August 31, 2020 – Last day to be contracted to an organization and be eligible for postseason roster
  • September 1, 2020 — Active rosters expand to 28 players

The rosters and lists are up to date as of May 4th … 382 players in the org

Transactions (newest transactions are in bold print)
  • 5/7/2020 – RHP Jason Lott assigned to GCL Phillies East.

87 thoughts on “Open Discussion: Week of May 11th”

  1. Gut feeling says no baseball this season.
    I read somewhere the MLBPA will probably reject it which means there will be a ton of back and forth. At some point there’s not going to be enough time for a reasonable amount of games.
    We will know this week and I am hope my gut is wrong.

    1. Of course, the MLBPA rejects the the first offer. That goes without saying. I’d be hesitant to believe any report/rumor that suggested they weren’t going to reject it. There doesn’t have to be a resolution this week for baseball in July.

  2. I think the money negotiations will go beyond just prorating salary on games played. I think the owners will also want to prorate based on zero ticket revenue. It will be a difficult negotiation. All the sports will have the same difficult discussions with no fans and no ticket revenue.

  3. A season is definitely unlikely for 2 reasons. First, the pure situation around the pandemic and the challenging medical risks it may cause to older umpires, managers, coaches, etc. Second, the cost benefit trade off is going to be tough to make the math work. From the players perspective, you’re going to ask me to play at a highly reduced salary, while putting myself and family at risk, and causing me to have to live away from certain family and friends? From the owners perspective, that is the only business reality that works.

    I know we don’t want to hear it, but I think we’ll see baseball in empty stadiums starting Sunday night March 28th, 2021.

  4. The negotiations for both sides will have give and take and PR announcements from each side that will have the usual media people repeating the talking points each side wants the public to hear… I don’t see the players giving up too much on the reduced salary issue although they will have the PR nightmare of how to answer why they should get their full prorated salary when MLB office and stadium employees have either lost their jobs or are taking pay cuts. My guess is either the players give on the 2020 salary to get it back in 2021 or reconsider an offer they rejected earlier of profit sharing. Bottom line; there will be a season this year… Too much money to not have one.

    1. I am in complete agreement. While the owners want to redeem the season in some way or another, the players are even more desperate, health and family factors aside. This is about leverage, and the players have none. There will be baseball in 2020.

  5. I just got a sick feeling in my stomach. Like Jim we have been self quarantining for 9 weeks. I am not having much confidence in any sports coming back soon. One might start but then someone will contract the virus and it’s Chutes & Ladders; we slide back. I don’t even have the desire to follow sports on the TV, radio or even watch politics. I don’t even care if Joe Biden is stumbling and bumbling around the White House soon. I need to talk to a shrink and fast! Sorry for this post, but I needed to get it all out to maybe get back to my norm. Thanks for the time and space guys.

  7. I read today the owners gave the MLBPA a $170 mil advance and then the MLBPA had to work out how to compensate the players from that advance.

    Note the keyword in that phrase was advance.

    It also notes the longevity of owners to make money vs. a players finite career. Only 2 teams have changed ownership in the last 8 years the Royals and Marlins. Ownership groups enjoy significant appreciation of their clubs when they do sell.

    My takeaway is that players should not be asked to give back any more than they already agreed to just because gate revenues are going to be down.

    1. One MLB pitcher said last week……players do not get raises when teams have sell-outs

        1. @8mark LOL

          My heart never breaks for the owners; rarely breaks for the players; almost always breaks for the fans for without them none of what they make would be possible.

          1. Yeah, breaks my heart……….billionaires contesting with millionaires while servitude antes up the stakes.

  8. Report just broke that owners have approved the startup offer to the players union, with whom they’ll meet tomorrow.

    1. ….however, Joel Sherman says the revenue sharing proposal is a “non-starter”, but as Jim mentioned, the first proposal is always rejected. I expect the deal to be hammered out by the weekend.

    1. I’m a NL fan but I don’t see the DH going away after this season, if they have a season to use it. Jay Bruce will look good as our daily DH although Cutch could do it also to rest his knee. I think they’ll work out the money issues and play some in July. I think the union has lots of young players not making much money who will vote to accept the deal with reduced salaries. However there will be an initial rejection of the offer to get more and I’m sure the owners anticipate that. I think it will be June in Clearwater for them. What happens when a player gets sick? Lots of eyes on Korea

      1. Yeah….agree..the DH will stay.
        As for the matter of finances for players/owners…..at this point I am getting a little tired of hearing them bicker.
        Seems they temporarily forget about the fans.

  10. If there’s no baseball so be it. I find it funny that some of healthiest and wealthiest people with the access to great healthcare are only worrying about themselves for the most part. It’s ok for the truck drivers, grocery workers, and healthcare professionals to risk getting sick and make sacrifices but not them. If said player doesn’t want to play then the owner shouldn’t pay them, I don’t care if it’s mike trout or steve jeltz.

    1. Who is saying that is all they are worried about? I’m sure they are concerned about the everyday essential workers who are making these sacrifices. The difference is that baseball, as much as we all love it and want it back, is absolutely not essential. They aren’t being asked to make sacrifices to provide essential services, products, etc., but rather to provide us with entertainment. It doesn’t really matter whether they have access to the best healthcare or not, they are being asked to put their health on the line during extraordinary circumstances at a reduced rate to what their contract and the deal agreed upon six weeks ago dictate. They should fight that tooth and nail if they aren’t being fairly compensated and the appropriate safety measures aren’t being implemented.

      I also don’t think a single player is expecting to be paid if they do not play games, considering they already agreed to prorated pay based on games played.

      1. There have been players like trout and wheeler who pretty much said that they won’t play due to having to be isolated from their families. I have no issues with that at all and honestly it’s not a bad idea. Yes they already agreed upon a reduced rate but that was before all the current developments that have happened like no fans which is a huge revenue stream for the owners. The owners have a right to ask for another reduction in pay in this instance. wether they get it or not is a different story.

        I overstated that they don’t care that’s not fair to them. There have been numerous players who have donated during this crisis.

        I don’t think there has been a real disagreement on any safety measures, that is still being worked out.

        My wife and I are both healthcare workers and it does really matter how good your healthcare is not just during this pandemic but for overall health. You can get to treatment and get treatment a lot faster.

        I have had my hours cut. I have friends who are physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who have taken a cut as well. I’m not losing any sleep over harper, trout, or any other professional athlete having to take a significant pay cut. They can afford it, the rest of us can’t or it makes it really difficult. The money aspect is where the owners and players lose me.

        Be well and hope you’re safe.

  11. Todd Zolecki ranked the fives best international signings by the Phillies:
    1. Ferguson Jenkins….(84.2 bWAR)
    2. Julio Franco (43.6 bWAR)
    3. Carlos Ruiz (22.5 bWAR)
    4. George Bell (20.0 bWAR)
    5. Juan Samuel (17.0 bWAR)

  12. While the virus will dictate whether any of this happens, I don’t think money will be a barrier to restarting. It could get a little ugly of course. MLB owners want to share the financial pain of the virus equally with the players. Hence their revenue sharing split (50-50). This is not fair to the players since they have shorter careers and owners will probably not take a hit in the long term on things like franchise value. If MLB ups the player’s share a bit (55%?) this thing will get solved relatively quickly.

    1. Romus … I’ve been following Luke Little for the Phillies third round pick (#90 overall) for a while now. He hit 102 a couple of weeks ago.

      This year, he missed some time with a back injury. He totaled 9 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 17 K.

      1. The other thing about Little is … he’s still young. He won’t turn 20 until the end of the summer. Little is 6’8″. The other big college pitcher throwing 100 MPH is Notre Dame’s Joe Boyle. Boyle is a 6’7″ RHP, and is also young for the college class (20 YO until the end of the summer). Boyle racks up lots of K’s and lots of BB’s. This season, he totaled 8.1 IP, 3 H, 13 BB, 17 K.

        1. Hinkie…agree…hope Matt K will make him their 3rd round guy…..if he is still there, which could be an issue since he posses what most scouts like in pitchers…high velo and size.
          The control is the one big detractor I suppose.

  14. Romus, Jenkins went in one of the worst trades in Phils’ history, along with Adolfo Phillips, for Bob Buhl and Larry Jackson. Not a great move. Bell we lost in the Rule V draft. 2 of the top 5. And, most of Franco’s WAR was elsewhere. We haven’t exactly set the world on fire with our signings.

    1. matt….agree.
      However, the Phillies did nurture them in their early developmental years.
      And of course they are not alone in signing young kids and watching them go to another team and prosper. For example, Dodgers with Clemente. Pedro, and Adrian Beltre or Mariners with Big Papi. Virtually every team has some miscues and missteps in their decision making in their history

  15. Saw this gem tonight as I near the end of the Office’s final season.

    “Nostalgia is truly one of the great human weaknesses. Second only to the neck.
    People underestimate the power of nostalgia. If baseball can use it to get people to care about that worthless sport, then I can use it to get my siblings to care about the farm.” – Dwight Schrute

  16. I’m not sure (kind of skeptical) that we’re going to witness baseball games anytime soon. Thank God the MLB draft is locked in for exactly four weeks from today. I’m looking forward to that even though the 2020 event will only exist for five rounds.
    So who might the Phillies take with their first round pick (1-15)?

    PREP ARMS: There is no reason to believe the Phillies would select a HS pitcher (especially with this draft being so deep in college arms). However, if Matt Klentak wanted to shock the world, he could “Pick Mick”. Mick Abel is a 6’6″, 195 lb RH thrower from an Oregon HS who has been a fixture on the summer showcase circuit since his sophomore season. Abel is ranked the #11 draft prospect by MLB.com (Mayo & Callis), #8 by Fangraphs (Eric Longenhagen), #17 by the Athletic’s Keith Law, #18 by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, and #7 by Prospects365 (Mason McRae). He has been a little inconsistent at times, but … at his best, Abel throws upper 90’s (with more to probably come as he fills out) and mixes that with three other average to above offerings. He just sent MLB clubs a clip from a recent workout that showed him throwing 99+ MPH.

    1. PREP BATS: Zac Veen would be a HR pick at 1-15, but he’ll never get there. Austin Hendrick (OFer), Ed Howard (SS), and Robert Hassell (OFer) all fall in the next tier, and are pretty good bets to be available. All three are generally ranked in the teens. Again, it’s hard to see Matt Klentak picking a HS player in a draft loaded with high end college players/pitchers, but it’s not inconceivable.

      1. COLLEGE BATS: Spencer Torkelson, Austin Martin, and Nick Gonzales are completely out of reach. They’re top 5 picks. Arkansas’ Heston Kjerstad, UCLA’s Garrett Mitchell, and NC State’s Patrick Bailey have outside shots (but I wouldn’t hold my breath) of lasting to the 15th spot. I like Kjerstad the best of that group. The Arkansas OFer has been one of college baseball’s top offensive performers since the day he stepped on campus in Fayetteville as a freshman. During his three seasons, the 6’3″, 205 lb LH slugger has slashed .343/.421/.590 and has belted 37 HR’s. On top of that, Kjerstad was the top hitter for the US National Collegiate team last summer when he put up a .395/.426/.651 line over 14 games. Kjerstad is ranked #10 by MLB.com, #7 by Eric Longenhagen, #13 by Keith Law, #15 by Kiley McDaniel, the #10 college prospect by D1 Baseball.com, and has been the Phillies pick in Prospects365’s last two mock drafts.

        A more realistic possibility might be Austin Wells. The 6’2″, 220 lb University of Arizona LH hitting catcher is ranked #27 by MLB.com, #21 by Keith Law, #53 by Kiley McDaniel, #64 by Prospects365, and the #15 college prospect by D1 Baseball.com. New Phillies Amateur Scouting Director Brian Barber was a part of the NYY’s scouting department that picked Wells in the 35th round of the 2018 draft (as a prepster). Wells (soph eligible) is a former Las Vegas HS star (like Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott). The sweet swinging backstop gets some Kyle Schwarber comps. He probably won’t be good enough defensively to remain a full time MLB catcher, but his bat should be loud enough to profile in LF/1B/DH. As a Freshman, Wells slashed .353/.462/.552. He also had more BB’s than K’s. This season, he hit .375/.527/.589. To top it off, Wells was a beast on the Cape last summer (voted the #2 prospect there by Prospects Live) when he slashed .308/.389/.526, 7 HR’s, 8 SB’s with a wood bat.

        1. COLLEGE ARMS: This draft is packed (quality and quantity) with college pitchers. Emerson Hancock and Asa Lacy will be long gone. Max Meyer and Reid Detmers are almost assured of being off the board before 1-15 as well. Cade Cavalli and Garrett Crochet could be possibilities for the Phillies.
          Cavalli is a strapping hurler. The 6’4″, 220 lb RH thrower looks like a future MOR workhorse. He packs three potential above avg to plus pitches (mid 90’s FB, power CB, and CT). He’s also working on a CH that shows promise. This season at Oklahoma, Cavalli went 23.2 IP, 25 H, 5 BB, 37 K. He is ranked #22 by MLB.com, #9 by Keith Law, #13 by Kiley McDaniel, #14 by Eric Longenhagen, #33 by Prospects365, and ranked the #9 college prospect by D1 Baseball.com.

          Crochet is a high risk/high reward candidate. The Univ of Tennessee southpaw has great size and some of the best “stuff” in the draft class. At his best, the 6’6″, 220 lb LHP features a 97-99 MPH FB and a sweeping SL (he gets some Andrew Miller comps). The problem is … Crochett’s velo has been inconsistent. I saw him throwing mostly 91-93 in a couple of starts last season. He also missed his first three starts this year with an upper back/shoulder problem. He did manage one start before the COVID-19 outbreak. He was impressive. On that day, Crochet threw 99 MPH, and went 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 6 K. The lanky lefty is also young for the class (won’t turn 21 until two weeks after the draft). He’s ranked #18 by MLB.com, #14 by Kiley McDaniel, #19 by Eric Longenhagen, #22 by Keith Law, #12 by Prospects365, and is ranked the 14th best college prospect for the draft by D1 Baseball.com

          1. The two other college pitchers I like a lot for the Phillies at 1-15 are Bryce Jarvis and Cole Henry. Jarvis is older (will turn 23 at the end of this year). Henry is young (20 YO eligible sophomore).
            Jarvis is a 6’2″, 190 lb RHP from Duke. He was drafted by Brian Barber and the Yankees last summer (37th round), but took a pass to work out with a trainer and return to throw for the Blue Devils. His winter workouts paid off. He bulked up a bit and added velo. His FB went from 89-91 to 93-95 (T 96) in 2020. In addition to the improved FB, Jarvis features one of the best CH’s in the class,and two above avg to plus breaking balls. IMO … he makes the ball move better than any other pitcher in this draft. The Duke “ace” was dominant in this truncated season. He went 27 IP, 11 H, 2 BB, 40 K (including a perfect game). Jarvis is ranked #25 by MLB.com, #24 by Eric Longenhagen, #42 by Kiley McDaniel, didn’t make Keith Law’s top 30, #103 by Prospects365, and listed as the 18th best college prospect by D1 Baseball.com. Because of his age, the Phillies could probably get him for a pretty nice discount at 1-15.

            Henry is the best pitching prospect produced by LSU since Aaron Nola. The 6’4″, 205 lb RH hurler features a mid 90’s FB w/life (arm side run) and a plus CB (one of my favorites in the draft). He missed some time in 2019 because of a nerve issue, but threw with no health issues in 2020. Henry has put up good numbers in the top conference in America (SEC) over his two collegiate seasons. He went 58.1 IP, 50 H, 18 BB, 72 K as a freshman and 19 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 23 K this year as a sophomore. The Cole Train is ranked #45 by MLB.com, #65 by Kiley McDaniel, #61 by Eric Longenhagen, #34 by Prospects365, the 16th best college prospect by D1 Baseball.com, and falls outside Keith Law’s top 30.

            1. Also … The Phillies continue to focus on procuring and developing catching prospects (much like the Eagles are doing with QB’s 🙂 ). The team is expected to sign 16 YO Venezuelan backstop Ricardo Perez. The LH hitting catcher is MLB.com’s #8 rated J2 prospect for the 2020 cycle.

              https://www.mlb.com/video/top-int-l-prospects-perez-c

            2. Hinkie…for 16 years old he already has decent size at 180 lbs. In three or four years he could top out at 200/210 lbs. And he can run a little for a catcher….most hover in that 35/40 rating….he comes in at an average 50, which is something to get excited about.

    2. I read scouting reports on Abel earlier this year where he was projected as a future workhorse/frontline starter if all works out. If Phillies weren’t so conservative/risk averse when it comes to drafting I would have hopes of them taking him, but alas…

  17. KLaw, in the Athletic, did his Mock today. He has us taking Austin Hendrick. My opinion has been, like Romus, that no way would Klentak take a HS bat. I thought a college SP was a dfinite. That may still be true, but I am less opposed as what I read is that Hendrick’s bat is exceptional. I still think the pick is College Pitcher.

    1. matt13….if Matt Klentak was in his 1st or 2nd year of his contract….I would make a guess he would go for someone like a Hendricks, a high ceiling HS bat……but seeing that he is close to the end, he probably is in survival mode and will go for that collegian player for quicker return on investment…and most likely a pitcher this time after three straight years of college bats.
      And hope he gets a fast burner like Nola….14 months after being drafted ends up in the rotation.

      1. I tend to agree, Romus. I’m not sure how much many of these draft mockers take into account the GMs sense of urgency.

          1. Sounds like KLaw is more speculating on the Phillies pick. He doesn’t mention he’s heard anything. Austin Hendrick is definitely an exciting player, but it would be hard for me to pass on Cade Cavalli or Bryce Jarvis in Law’s mock. Crochet scares me so I’d be ok with Hendrick over him. Cole Henry gets no love. I think because of present stuff, future projection (the fact that he’s young for the college class), and performance in the SEC he should be under consideration.

            The most interesting thing Law states is he’s heard teams are going to make “take it or leave it” discount offers to kids because they are fine with a compensatory pick in 2021. This has always made sense to me because clubs will be making 20 picks (at least) next June and could use a bigger budget to play with/sign higher ceiling kids later in the draft. Next year’s class should be very deep because lots of college kids not picked next month will return to school, and lots of prep players will head to JUCO’s to also be available for the 2021 draft.

            The “take it or leave it” game plan to be used throughout MLB could actually help big market clubs like the Phillies next month. Many smaller market franchises will make discount offers to simply pocket/save money. John Middleton OTOH should be fine spending every bit of the Phillies $5,420,900 budget + their $271,045 5% overage allowance. They could outbid smaller market clubs for kids in the third, fourth, and fifth rounds.

  18. Maybe someone, after rejecting that approach, falls to us. We could use a little luck Hinkie!

  19. Phillies are not alone in losing a pick in this 5 round draft, for their Wheeler signing.
    Teams Who Have Lost Picks:
    …. Astros penalized, lost their top two picks
    …. Red Sox a pemalized, lost their second rd pick
    ….Yankees lost two picks…second and fifth rounds for Cole signing.
    ….Twins lost third-round pick….Donaldson signing
    …..Angels lost second-round pick…Rendon signing
    …. D-Backs lost their second-round pick…MadBum signing
    ……Braves lost two picks…. second- and third round picks.. Will Smith and Marcell Ozuna signings

  20. At what point do the Phillies and JT start up negotiations? Would it be when a season start date is decided?

    Name change alert: I’ve decided to change my name from TrollU to Phillies84

        1. Phil, you are a youngin’

          I’d tell you the year I was born but I don’t think any of us can count back that far.

  21. The negotiations between the MLB (owners) and MLBPA is going about how I thought it would or slightly better… I thought it was a good sign and a smart negotiation tactic to start on the less contentious issues of health and safety, logistics and scheduling before finances.. Build up some momentum by getting agreements on a few issues then address the player compensation. I expect these negotiations to go well into next week with a few ‘news flashes’ that the season is doomed but in the end an agreement will be achieved… The players will give and so will the owners… Some teams like the Pirates, Marlins, Rays and A’s who are at the lower end of the profitability spectrum need to get to B/E for the year… They all have crappy local/regional T.V. contracts that when combined with the national T.V. contract money + social media may put them in a position where they lose money by playing the season… As I wrote earlier, get the teams to B/E, don’t force a salary cap on the players and construct a deal with some deferred money paid back next season and the owners can promise some improved future retirement benefits or service time tweaks/inducements favorable to the players… Then get on with the season…

  22. MLB.com (Jim Callis) has released his initial mock draft. Says the Phillies are hoping for one of the top college bats to make it to them (definitely Matt Klentak’s MO). In Callis’ mock, none does (Heston Kjerstad goes 1-7 to the Pirates) so the Phils take Cade Cavalli.

    1. Well at least he seems to realize the situation with the GM and what direction they may be leaning ..specifically the pitching aspect.
      As what happens with most professional sports draft….some team throws a wrench in the pre-draft expected selections and maybe Detmers or Crochet fall to the Philies at 15….though Cavalli is probably a good choice.

      1. TBH … Garett Crochet scares me: inconsistent velo (was only throwing low 90’s in a couple of starts I saw last season) and upper back/shoulder issue this season. I’m good with Cade Cavalli.

        1. That would be an issue with Crochet. He says he is fine.
          Cavalli also had issues…back and tendon strain.
          If the teams were able to give them medicals or at least see the players last imaging results that would go a long way in making decisions.
          I do not think the teams are able to do that.
          I think they just get latest medical reports. From what I gather the top 50 players are determined by MLB Scouting Bureau Then all draft-eligible players must be registered with the MLBSB, and that responsibility falls on the bureau and MLB. It’s up to them to register the player, not the player himself. For obvious reasons, teams have been trying to gain additional access to the medical records They want to know as much as possible before the draft. At the same time, we’re talking about private and personal medical information. Amateurs don’t want to hand that out. I don’t blame them So it is voluntary from what I understand..

        2. Not sure this still applies from what Jon Moresi tweeted back in 2016.
          Jon Morosi
          ✔
          @jonmorosi
          In @MLB Draft, there’s a new program in which top 50 pitching prospects are asked to (voluntarily) undergo a pre-draft MRI on throwing arm.

          2:38 PM – Dec 8, 2016

            1. Not sure if it’s still how it works … but … the players/agents used to have control of their medicals. They could choose to share them with certain teams and not others. Again, I’m not certain if that is still the way that works or not.

  23. In between episodes of The Masked Singer and Divided (you gotta’ stay up real late one night and watch this show on Game Show Network … LOVE IT!) last night, I put together another Phillies only mock draft. Here it is.

    ROUND 1: Austin Hendrick … has been mentioned to the Phillies by Keith Law in his first mock draft. The LH hitting OFer was considered the top prep prospect available until Zac Veen blew up about eight months ago. Hendrick packs some of the top bat speed/power in the entire draft class. He crushed a ball into the third deck of Cleveland’s Progressive Field last summer. There is probably too much swing and miss to his game, but there is no question about the 6’0″, 195 lber’s offensive potential. Check out the clip below. He’s got a Bryce Harper vibe about him.

    ROUND 2: This pick was forfeited for signing Zack Wheeler. This was a no-brainer for Matt Klentak.

    1. ROUND 3: Luke Little … has become an overnight sensation for the social media posts showing him hitting 102 and 105 MPH recently. However, Little has been on radars since the 2019 draft when he was eligible as JUCO1 and throwing mostly mid 90’s. The behemoth (6’8″, 230 lb) lefty pitches for San Jacinto JC in Texas. That’s the same school that produced another massive 100+ MPH thrower last year: 6’8″, 250 lb Jackson Rutledge went 1-17 to the Nationals. Little is still working to develop a CB and SL, but there’s obviously plenty of projection to him.

      1. ROUND 4: Kevin Abel … is pretty much the polar opposite of Luke Little. The 6’1″, 195 RHP does not throw hard (mostly 89-92), but dominates with his secondaries. Abel wins with a plus CB and an absolute killer CH. Abel literally strapped his Oregon St team to his back and carried them to the College World Series title in 2018 (his freshman season). Unfortunately, the wear and tear (129 pitches in the series clinching game) of that post season (probably) caused him to fall victim to an arm injury that sent him in for TJ in 2019. He was scheduled to return to the mound this spring, but that never happened because of COVID-19. During his abbreviated career at Oregon State, Abel totaled 97.2 IP, 59 H, 55 BB, 133 K.

        ROUND 5: Jackson Wolf … is a tall and lanky (6’7, 205 lb) low slot lefty. The WVU LHP throws a low 90’s FB (could add velo as he fills out) and mixes in an avg to above SL and CH. He totaled 25.2 IP, 15 H, 5 BB, 27 K’s as the Mountaineers Friday night starter in 2020.

        1. Hinkie:
          Abel……Nats normally take TJ pitchers.
          My money is on them taking the chance with Abel.
          I do not see Klentak being that daring.

          Two Abel pitchers from Oregon, a collegian and HSer…wonder if they are related in some way!

          1. They’re not related. Mick is from Oregon. Kevin is from So Cal (I think SD).

            1. I can envision the Nationals picking JT Ginn (recovering from TJ) at the end of round one.

            2. Oh yeah..forgot about Ginn…that is who they will go for.
              Mike Rizzo is obvious to read…Lucas Giolito, Jesus Lusardo, and one other who escapes right now…all TJ guys and he picked them.

  24. JTR says they were about to go quickly in the right direction for a contract extension.

    https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1974045/realmuto-free-agents-might-feel-the-wrath-of-pandemic-related-losses

    “The 29-year-old said his camp had only reached the early stages of extension talks with the Phillies before the COVID-19 crisis interrupted spring training and indefinitely delayed the regular season. The team had not made a formal offer when MLB announced its hiatus, though Realmuto said he believed “things were about to start moving pretty quickly.”

  25. No one could have predicted this pandemic, so I am clearly not blaming Klentak for this. My problem is the whole off season narrative being “stay under the first CBT level”. We have all shared our opinion of that relative to wanting more Pitching. but it was, in my opinion, the reason we don’t already have a LTC with JTR. The Phils were certain they would win the Arb hearing, therefore keeping his salary, for this year, within what they wanted, staying under that first level. If not for that, there would have already been a deal. Now, all the leverage is with JTR. The argument can be made that the virus will cause less $ to be spent on FAs, but I don’t believe that will affect Realmuto or Betts. Failing to secure JTR long term, and I still believe we will, would be a monumental failure.

  26. “BLAKE SNELL: I “GOTTA GET MY MONEY.” In the media PR battle Blake Snell just made the players appeal to the public’s goodwill that much harder… His Instagram post went further and it was an embarrassment. I guess the owners ability to keep bad PR statements to a minimum is easier with only 30 people than the MLBPA trying to keep over 700 in line…

    1. Players are generally focused on one thing – leverage. They are trying to push the owners so they can give up as little as they can. Once in a blue moon an issue is so electric that they care about the public’s reaction (drug testing was a good example), but usually they are trying to extract as many concessions from owners as they can. It’s a game of chicken in an economic stand off – they are not focused on what we the fans care about. The owners care about the fans (because they are the ones who sell directly to us, the public), but the players really aren’t focused on the fans when it comes to their salaries, rules and benefits. And, as a general rule, they are right, the public perceives them to be “nice” when they give in, not when they fight for more.

      1. Spot on….”….the public perceives them to be “nice” when they give in, not when they fight for more”

        And once that first pitch is thrown …all is forgotten, or pushed deep into the recesses of the psychic…and we are all kids again.

      1. I don’t blame him for wanting to get his money… The optics weren’t great… A lot of baseball people from the MLB down to high school coaches have been fired, furloughed or had salaries reduced that may not be sympathetic to Snell. That said; if he doesn’t want to pitch in this environment for the money offered that’s his right. Manfred said no player will be forced to play or sanctioned if they don’t… Now they won’t get paid either. So we’ll see.

        1. Bryce Harper appeared on some podcast since then (I believe with his Vegas pal Bryson Stott) and expressed his approval of Snell’s comments. All for effect? Perhaps. The players aren’t in a great position. While I sympathize with nobody in this scenario, I don’t blame the players for angling any which way. The proof will be in whether they step onto the field or not. Until then, it’s all talk and posturing for leverage.

          1. ….NOW, having said that, if the owners really wanna call their bluff, scuttle the 2020 season.

            1. Bryce and also Nolan Arenado both agreed with Snell….FWIW, however, both have ‘got theirs’
              Like to hear what JTR and Betts say about it..though they will stand to make very good $$$ in their final arb year.
              Snell just happens to be caught in a bad place not being a free agent until 2024 going into his age 31 season

  28. Has anyone seen a number put out by the MLB/MLBPA for rosters sizes if the season resumes?

    1. I think that detail would fall under compensation/revenue sharing, which is reportedly the biggest lynchpin of the negotiations. So no, that would be mere speculation at this point.

  29. Stephen A. Smith jumping from basketball to baseball:

    First Take
    @FirstTake

    “You just signed for $300 million plus. … Why are you opening your mouth? SHUT UP!”
    @stephenasmith
    is not having it with Blake Snell and Bryce Harper’s recent comments.

    1. Clever ideas from Bryce. I pretty much like them all, including having the playoffs in Las Vegas so one of the huge hotels could house everyone making it a kind of quarantine for safety. Not sure an all-star game is necessary, but a home run derby would be fun.

      1. Most of his ideas are interesting. His total number of games is a bit ambitious, however. I was hoping for 108 games at one point but that ship has sailed. 82 seems manageable. One thing I do look forward to is the East matchups which pose to be a challenging schedule, but an exciting one all the while.

  31. Wow! Now THAT’S a mouthful….of what I have no idea. You gotta love the social media market. Bon voyage?

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