41 thoughts on “Phillies’ Affiliates Recap (8/6/2022)”

1. Gonna take me a while to get over the Brown deal. Not gonna lie.

   1. Same, especially if he keeps putting up numbers like he has been. He’ll be starting games at Wrigley next year if so.

   2. Yep.

      There is no guarantee that Brown will become a productive MLB starting pitcher, and Robertson should help the Phillies bullpen in the next couple months. So on one hand I get the trade, but I also don’t like it. Brown has flashed enough potential that I wouldn’t trade him for a 2-month bullpen rental, even if the Phillies are desperate to finally make the playoffs.

      Mini-rant over, and that’s all I’m gonna say on the matter.

      1. I could’ve written that word-for-word. I know DD was trying to improve the team for this year (and he did, to be fair) but DAMN.

         1. Brown was a pretty big overpay. He will be a middle rotation pitcher by the middle of next year. Those guys have extreme value. I wish it could have been Rojas instead of Brown.

            1. Cubs wanted a pitcher..they already have three OFers on par or better than Rojas……Davis, Armstrong and Alcantara…. in their system.
               I was hoping Miller or Morales would be enough for them.

      2. There’s a real possibility that Robertson has a good time here down the stretch and signs a two year extension this offseason.

2. Trading Brown hurts but enjoy the fact that Abel and Painter look legit too. They look like possible top of the rotation guys who are getting better. I’m curious if they both might get sent to Reading for their last start or two of the season.
   I also love to see Rojas and Muzzioti both hitting, we really need some hitters to step up.

3. Brown, O’Hoppe and Mickey Mo all have done well this week.
   Congrats to them and wish them more success.
   I just hope big Ben does not turn into the next version of Fergie Jenkins with the Cubbies, at least when he is facing the Phillies down the road.

   1. Mickey Mo might have broken his finger last night. He might be done for the year. He has had a string of bad luck. Ben Brown might become the next Kyle Drabeck, 8-15, 5+ ERA.

      1. Yes Denny……pitching prospects do have cautions concerns ….Brown also had TJ three years ago (May 2019) so that is in his history as well. He has however seem to have overcome that hurdle.

4. Yea the O’Hoppe/Brown trades are gonna be tough to get over. Both trades just reek of awful asset management. You wanna trade them? Ok but at least get something better than a no bat CF and 2 months of Robertson. I just hope they win the World Series so we just justify these turd trades.

   1. I like Brown, too, but Dombrowski has a great track record in knowing what prospects to keep and which ones to trade.

5. Maybe this guy replaced Been Brown in our hearts,
   LH Ethan Lindow – 7 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 0 BB, 1 K – 73 pitches – 54 strikes – fire Reading last night. And is a lefty.

   1. Any current scouting report on Lindow? Curious to see what he throws.

      1. Soft tosser. More command over “stuff”. Not saying he can;t be a SP5 or SP6. Just saying it’s going to be a real uphill climb.

         1. Ok thanks for the info.

         2. Tom Glavine is his mentor, i believe. It “should” help a bit. I’m sure he passed on some of Maddux’s secrets, let’s hope he was listening.

   2. He could maybe replace Bailey Falter in our hearts but he doesn’t have Brown’s upside.

      I think Lehman could be something but probably just a middle reliever. Still it’s good to find that kind of potential from UDFAs.

6. Watch out for this guy for Reading, LH Taylor Lehman – 1 perfect IP – 2 K’s – 13 pitches – 9 strikes 👀 – throwing mid nineties with movement since returning ( TJ ).

7. Just heard Logan O’Hoppe on MLB Network Radio (SiriusXM). A few highlights from the interview: Grant Paulson

   ✳ Knew there was a chance he could get traded.

   ✳ Was stressful period of time leading up to the deadline because he was comfortable in the Phillies organization.

   ✳ Got word (“quick and to the point” phone call) of the trade from the Phillies while out to lunch with his family, and his girlfriend’s family.

   ✳ Was surprised it was Angels who he was sent to (never considered them).

   ✳ Knew a couple of his new teammates (1 former Phillie & 1 from winter ball)

   ✳ Gave Jason Ochart credit for helping him cut down his K%.

   BTW … the host (Grant Paulson) gave the Phillies credit for drafting and signing O’Hoppe. He also said he probably wouldn’t have dealt O’Hoppe for Brandon Marsh.
   I like the deal for the Phillies. IMO, O’Hoppe was not only behind JTR, but also Rafael Marchan (who doesn’t get enough love here).

   And Paulson (who hosts the Minors and Majors program) mentioned the Abel and Painter doubleheader, and said, “The Phillies have to be pumped up about them”.

   🚨 PROGRAM ALERT 🚨 … Dave Dombrowski is going to be on the Front Office Show with Jim Bowden and Jim Duquette at 11:30 (SiriusXM if you get it).

   1. I think O’Hoppe had solidly passed Marchan in terms of future org rankings, and I like Marchan. I also don’t really buy the “O’Hoppe was blocked” angle. He could have spent most of next year in AAA, spent ’24 in a backup/timeshare role with JT and then taken over most of the starts in 2025. By then JT will have 1 year left on his contract and would be more easily tradeable or possibly willing to accept a lesser role if his skills have eroded.

      That said, I don’t think the Marsh trade is a bad one. I’m operating with the belief that Marsh has more potential to be unlocked and if he ends up being an average hitter, then we’ve got a young, 3+ WAR CF with a plus glove who seems like a good clubhouse guy. And if things go really well, he probably has more ceiling than that.

8. This past trade deadline for the Phillies showed me a couple of things.

   1. That as much as we like to think that we know all about our prospects, the other team knows almost as much as we do. Outside of Syndergaard (which was a salary dump initiated by the Angels with time running out), the Cubs/Angels went after the players that we value the most (Brown, O’Hoppe) and stayed away from certain others that we don’t. That is not a coincidence.

   2. That as much as we love our prospects, other teams see their value differently. It takes 2 to make a trade, so before you say why this player wasn’t traded instead of another, it’s probably because the other team does not hold that same player in high regard as you do. And if more teams feel that way, then maybe a reevalaution of that player’s value is needed.

9. McGarry, who was scheduled to pitch last week, is now pitching today. Any word on why his start got pushed to today? Managing his innings? Blister?

10. Ok losing Brown for a rental and O’Hoppe for a player with flags are certainly bummer, but can we call out some positives here?

    Painter AND Abel were flat out dominant yesterday. I’ve been extremely critical of this team, especially how poorly they’ve drafted and developed, but these 2 guys have been outstanding, and have massive upside – so credit where it’s due. I’m also happy to see more wins than losses. I know it’s more about player development, but winning helps to build confidence individually and collectively, which can often help booster development. I’m much happier with the game than I have been over the last 5-6 years.

    1. Happier with the “team” not “game”

    2. You would think because of their consistent dominance both would be promoted to reading in just enough time to see if either would be an option in 2023 rotation

11. Here are a few highlights from Dombrowski’s appearance on The Front Office Show (SiriusXM):

    ✳ O’Hoppe was blocked in Phillies organization “by somebody we like a great deal”.

    ✳ “Where we are as an organization, we need some young players coming in here if we’re going to be trading young players.”

    ✳ They’ve liked Brandon Marsh for a long time. Great defender. Great athlete. Hadn’t played as much baseball (summer circuit) as other top HS kids because he starred in football also.

    ✳ Kevin Long and Howie Kendrick (now working for Phillies) both looked at his swing, and believe he is fixable.

    ✳ Likens Marsh’s early career hitting struggles with those of Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm’s last season. Said club has been able to straighten out Alec, and feel good about Stott and Marsh.

    ✳ Had been talking to LAAs about Syndergaard for weeks, but felt Angels had another deal lined up until near the deadline.

    ✳ Believes Cubs made a shrewd move in acquiring Ben Brown, but Brown was expendable because of the Phillies MiLB SP depth.

    ✳ Harper is making great progress. Would not give a date for return.

    ✳ Gave props to Bobby Dickerson and Paco Figueroa for their work with the IF and OF defensive improvements.

    ✳ You don’t want to make a move just to make a move … but … trades do send a message to the clubhouse that the FO believes in the team.

    ✳ Phillies have plenty of stars. They needed to make moves to round out the club.

    1. Hinkie…thanks for that synopsis….Dombrowski seems to know what he wantr=ts and what it takes to be winners.
       As Handzus mentions concerning O’Hoppe…maybe he could have been eased onto the scene over the next two years…AAA in 2023 and back-up in 2025, then shared duties with JTR in his last year or move JTR.
       That may have been my plan…….but O’Hoppe was a hot commodity and probably their best trade chip, so …..

12. If things break right, Lindow could be Cole Irvin, and that is HUGELY valuable. Irvin is at 2.8 WAR so far this year, more than 1 WAR better than any of Gibson, Ranger, and Thor. And he makes just over $700k.

    Comparing their age 23 seasons, they both split time between A+ and AA in the Phillies org:

    Irvin, 9-9 record, 3.38 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.176 WHIP
    Lindow, 5-3 record, 3.32 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 1.169 WHIP

    Almost identical at the same age, with the difference that Lindow strikes out more hitters,though Irvin pitched more innings.
    It’s the Phillies’ Development team’s job to turn Lindow into Irvin over the next few years.

    1. I would caution you to take a peak at Irvin’s H/A splits.
       Among the highlights ⬇

       * only allowed 1 HR in 62 IP @ home
       * coughed up 12 homers in just 53 IP on the road
       * opponents .495 OPS @ home
       * opponents .821 OPS on the road

       He gets a big boost from pitching in Oakland’s cavernous stadium. That said, good for Cole Irvin taking advantage of a pretty good situation for him in Northern California.

       1. This is misleading. WAR already accounts for park factors, and it also accounts for the strength of the opponents’ faced. See https://www.baseball-reference.com/about/war_explained_pitch.shtml

          He has gotten a little lucky this year — his FIP is 3.87.

          And if he is simply a product of his home park, why has he been their best pitcher (better than Montas even)?

          Look, I know that you didn’t think Irvin would be good. I’m in the same situation with Darick Hall. I’m watching him and thinking “maybe I was wrong.” If I want to insist that I was right, I could point to his 30/4 K/BB ratio and . . . yadda, yadda, yadda. But so far, Hall has been good. And cheap.

          And if you want to say Lindow will never be more than a SP6, sure, MOST prospects don’t pan out. But that’s not his ceiling.

          1. You could be 100% correct. Time will tell. I’m just giving you my opinions.
             And I was right there with you on Darick Hall. I apologize to Romus, who was on the Long Ball train since it first entered the station.

             1. Hinkie…..LOL
                Hall did it today again today.
                .

13. Also, Cole Irvin’s fastball has averaged 90.6 mph in 2022. Lindow is similar:

    James McArthur saw a big uptick in stuff, but historically hasn't been great. Ethan Lindow has great command and feel but he is 88-92 lefty. Gunner Mayer is projectable and has arm strength but has barely pitched at all.

    — Matt Winkelman (@Matt_Winkelman) March 30, 2021

    1. I Have never seen OHoppe play, But i have seen Marchal play in majors and minors, He imo based on his defense. which is excellent at worst is a major league backup, all depends on his offensive But i think he is a really good prospect. We all have seen Moniak and i hope he does well, but at Lehigh valley and majors he hasn’t shown the ability to hit off speed pitches and bails on left handers, maybe he will get it, but you traded a okay outfielder who isn’t a real center fielder, for a guy who is excellent in the outfield and has same problem hitting, so it isnt like we gave away a lot to get Marsh, one trouble outfielder for another, Brown i dont know a thing bout him, but the comments are like he is the next jenkins,

       1. Marchan’s hitting stats show a good bit of good. 250 hitter with 14 doubles plus 3 homers, but what is telling is 16 BB to 22 SO. Also note Sands who is hitting 317 with 10 doubles plus 5 homers has 38 BB to 40 SO. Both of these guys seem to have a bat which should play at least decent to good in majors (IMO).

       2. rocco……Brown has had a break out over these last 3 1/2 months…..before this year due to injuries and the pandemic it was like 30 innings pitched. He was not on anyone’s radar as a top prospect.
          And when I mentioned Fergie Jenkins(Larry Jackson/Bob Buhl trade) ….it was a similar situation, pitching prospet for veteran arms to get the Phillies over the hump under Gene Mauch in the nid-60s……..whether or not Ben Brown has a Hall of Fame career remains to be seen.

          I think the Phillies however, will offer Robertson a contratc based on what he does over the next 8 weeks. So it may be more than a two-month rental if accepts their offer.

14. This is a fun game. So happy for Hall and Hoskins. And I’ve never seen Nick Maton hit a ball like that before. I really hope he gets a chance next year. I think he can really play.

    1. Speaking of fun games (and small sample sizes) Catch, as I type Hall has the highest slugging percentage of any Philly in the line-up at 0.600, except for Maton whose slugging percentage is more than double that.

15. Ouch, ohhhhhh, the Pigs are getting their bacon handed to them.

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