Phillies Discussion 4/14/2025

Other Stuff

The Phillies returned from their road trip with a disappointing 2-4 record.  They had a chance to bury the Braves and blew it.  They had a chance to salvage the trip against the Cardinals and were shut out twice.

The Phillies’ difficulty with starting pitchers continues.  Through 15 games, opponents’ starters have compiled a line of 80.0 IP, 73 hits, 22 runs, 20 earned runs, 25 walks, 74 Ks, 3 HR, and a 2.25 ERA.  If you overlook their success against Glasnow and Sale, opposing starters have a 1.13 ERA against the Phillies.

This is your Phillies discussion.

A few “too early” observations, continued.

  • I know it’s early, but this team that is often described by the manager up to the POBO as a team that will score runs, better start scoring runs.  And in a consistent way.  Not a bunch of runs every fifth or sixth game and struggling in between.
  • The starting rotation is pretty good, but they can’t be expected to pitch shutouts while the offense struggles to get untracked through the early innings.  We can’t expect all bullpens to be as bad as the Nationals’ and Rockies’ pens were the first week of the season.
  • Thomson and others are very patient when it comes to optioning a player to Lehigh Valley.  Last season, they waited until June 17th before finally optioning Johan Rojas.  At the time, Rojas was slashing .235/.271/.295/.566 in 53 starts and 183 at bats and the Phillies were in first place by 8.0 games with a 48-24 record.  Through 13 starts and 37 at bats Brandon Marsh is slashing .108/.250/.189/.439.  The Phillies are in second place with a 9-6 record.  We’ll see how patient the Phillies can be.

Minor League News

Griff McGarry had another good outing.  Four IP, no hits, no runs, 3 walks, 5 Ks.  Through 2 starts, he has tossed 8.0 no hit, shutout innings, 3 walks, 13 Ks.

This week, Ranger Suarez is scheduled to four innings or 55 pitches on Wednesday for Clearwater.  Andrew Painter is scheduled to throw three innings or 50 pitches on Friday for Clearwater.  Unfortunately, the Threshers are in Palm Beach this week.  I hope they make another start for Clearwater the following week when the Threshers are back home.  However, they are both too strong for Low-A.

Important Dates

  • April 4, 2025: MiLB roster limits decrease from 175 to 165 players
    • April 4, 2025: MLB optioned players begin counting against player limits
  • April 7. 2025: Start of XST
  • April 14, 2025: First XST game
  • May 2, 2025: Last XST game
  • May 3, 2025: Opening of FCL season, Phillies host Blue Jays
  • July 24, 2025: End of FCL regular season
    • July 26, 2025: One-game FCL semi-final
    • July 27-29: Best of three FCL finals
  • July 31, 2025: MLB trade deadline at 6:00 P.M. EST
  • Note: These dates will be used unless/until notified differently.

Transactions

April 2025
4/13/2025 – Reading transferred RHP Mitch Neunborn to the Development List
4/13/2025 – Reading activated RHP Gabe Mosser from the Development List
4/12/2025 – Lehigh Valley placed C Payton Henry on the 7-day IL retroactive to 4/10 right hand contusion
4/12/2025 – Lehigh Valley transferred C Carson Taylor from the 7-day to the 60-day IL
4/12/2025 – Reading transferred LHP Tristan Garnett from the 7-day to the 60-day IL
4/11/2025 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Austin Schulfer from the Development List
4/11/2025 – RHP Andrew Painter assigned to Clearwater from FCL Phillies
4/10/2025 – Phillies sent LHP Ranger Suárez on a rehab assignment to Clearwater
4/09/2025 – Lehigh Valley placed 2B Christian Arroyo on the 7-day IL
4/09/2025 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP John McMillon from the Development List
4/08/2025 – Phillies sent LF Weston Wilson on a rehab assignment to Clearwater
4/08/2025 – Lehigh Valley placed 3B Matt Kroon on the 7-day IL retroactive to 4/7, right oblique strain
4/08/2025 – Lehigh Valley activated SS Erick Brito from the Development List
4/08/2025 – Reading placed RHP Daniel Harper on the 7-day IL
4/08/2025 – RHP Andrew Schultz assigned to Reading from FCL Phillies
4/07/2025 – SS Romeli Espinosa assigned to DSL Phillies Red

159 thoughts on “Phillies Discussion 4/14/2025”

  1. Real bummer. Sorry to see Carson Taylor have the need to go on the 60 day IL….recovery from labrum surgery could keep him out longer. Wish him the best in his recovery.

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  2. Marsh sitting a few days, per Gelb on Bluesky. If he gets sent down I bet Mercado gets the call for a bit, if Wilson isn’t ready soon. They won’t rush Crawford THAT much

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    1. Based on his behavior that we’ve seen, I have no doubt that Marsh will not complain or sulk from this break or even if he ends up getting optioned to work on things.

      So all I’m worried about is if it will get in his head. Some guys just can’t get it out of their minds and just keep pressing trying to get back to where they were. I really like Marsh, so I’m very much hoping this gets him reset.

      And yeah, I think it’s Wilson or Mercado in his place if he gets sent down. Let Crawford bust down the door so he comes up being “the guy” rather than just a need.

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  3. Got to tell ya, watching the Phanatic and the Hatfield Mascot throwing hot dogs out of the broadcast booth has been the most entertaining part of this game, so far!

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  4. Tanner Banks could transition so easily and comfortably into being a spectator in this sport. Hitters look so comfortable facing him I‘d much rather see Max Lazar.

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    1. I’d much rather see Lazar than Banks. Much rather see Able than Ross or Hernandez (I know they are trying to keep him a starter but I think he could be a very effective reliever). Id much rather see Otto Kemp than Bohm. And Id much rather see Crawford than Marsh. But we wont because this team doesnt believe in making bold moves or challenging the status quo.

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  5. I wish it had been Harper instead of JT to get that ridiculous strike 3 call. If JT was that upset, you just know Harper would have gone ballistic (and gotten ejected). And maybe that would wake up some people on the team.

    Oh well, long season and we gotta try not to hang on every defeat.

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        1. You mean just to fire up the troops? Obviously arguing balls and strikes does no good in terms of getting the ump to change his call or even call a better game. It was a horrendous call, however. The ball/strike challenge rule can’t get here fast enough. And it will show just how bad some of the umpires are. Angel Hernandez is gone, but CB Buckner is just as bad. One of the worst umpires I’ve ever seen.

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  6. This team has no offense and no oomph. It is going to be a long year. 81-81 might be good ? Time to retool ?? – except for really good SP.

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    1. As Harper goes , so goes the Phils. He’s not near his average right now. I still like Stott at the top of the lineup and the Schwarberian protecting Harper. Turner has to pick his game also.

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  7. It wouldn’t be so bad if we didn’t know this was costing us what $307 Million.

    What is the old cliche “better a year too early than a year too late”

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    1. Your cliche highlights DD’s greatest weakness. The ridiculously long contract. When he does this, he not only ties up payroll for the present, he weighs the team down and limits its options far into the future. The Castellanos deal was bad, the Walker deal was far worse, but in the long run, the Turner deal could be the worst. I hope not, but I think it’s probably not going to turn out very well. We’ll see. Still waiting for the star player we were promised.

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        1. Agreed. It was 4-5 years too long, which is bad enough, but those 4-5 years could end up being just dead money with little to no production coming whatsoever. There are risks as an organization that you have to take that cannot be avoided – like signing a pitcher in his prime to a long term contract not knowing if he will need TJ or will simply lose velocity. But the Turner risk was entirely knowable and avoidable. Stupid money indeed.

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          1. not saying the contract is good, but I feel like Turner will age better than most. He’s got the build that generally should last. His speed will drop but he will still be near the tops in the league. Also, 27mil in 7 -9 years… might be more like what a 15mil deal it now. will see.. but yes… gonna feel like a long time… so long… we’ll be complaining about another bad contract 🙂

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            2. Stott had an off year last year because he was hurt, but, you know, I think he’s a pretty darned good player and I would be reluctant to move him. I think this year, he’s a 3.5-5 WAR player (more WAR than Turner, fyi) – so he shouldn’t go anywhere for now. Turner might be a really good option in left if/when Miller comes up. That said, I’m starting to suspect that the big star we have in the minors, might just be Aroon Escobar so that could alter some plans (Miller to third? Stott to ss, Escobar at 2nd?). If he does this for another month, Escobar will be in my top 5, perhaps as high as 3. Huge, huge up arrow for him.

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  8. If the team’s hitting doldrums last into late May, Kevin Long will be the first to get fired, whether it’s deserved or not. That’s how it goes in the big leagues.

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    1. He does deserve it. Not one player is a better hitter now than they were in 2022. Bohm never became a star. Stott is fine but hasnt become the batting title contender we thought. Marsh has regressed. The methods he teaches dont work in today’s game with the crazy spin rates modern pitchers have. They can’t adapt and he needs to go.

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  9. I Know it’s “Early” but do You think the 200 innings, Plus Post season pitching Innings have or will take its toll with Both Wheeler and Nola this year? Looks like both are not Quite “There” for their Standard. Phillies Hitters cannot hit Good Pitching with Command especially the Breaking Ball ,Change ups. The Book is/Was Out they were Espoused in 3 Post season appearances. The Arizona Series did them in ; perfect storm the Diamondback pitchers carved them up. Nothing changed last Year. This year so far they look atrocious against Good Solid Command Pitchers and too bullpen guys. They feast 6 months on Secondary Pitching, bad Bullpens, mistakes and 4-5 th starters.

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  10. Approximately 1/8th through the minor league season (so still very early) but here is who is standing out to me:

    Looks great:
    1 Painter. On schedule. Looks elite.

    3 Crawford. The kid continues to outperform expectations. He’s an electric athlete. Good contact. I see him in Philly this year.

    4 Tait. Explosive power. Good contact. Really looks like a special bat.

    13 Escobar. Feels like he has a 60 hit tool. Best hit tool in our system. He might have 50 power too. Very impressive young hitter. Exciting.

    And those who are concerning to me:

    2 Miller. Yikes. 12 Ks in 29 ABs. Horrible start. But not concerned long term. I am confident he will find it soon.

    5 Chase. Dip in velo is extremely concerning. It almost always signals bad news. Hope this is an exception and he find it soon.

    9 Saltiban. 3 for 30 with 13 Ks. Ouch. He has always been a slow starter but this is a really bad start.

    10 Rincones Jr. it might surprise you that I put him on this list because his overall numbers are really good. Both power and average. The issue with GRJ has always been his LHP split. It’s only 19 ABs vs LHP this season, but he is batting .105 with a .105 OB% and a .105 slug. That screams platoon. He is a mediocre defender so really that’s the profile of a 5th OF/AAAA type.

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    1. I just can’t ignore Otto Kemp. He started last year in low A ball and is now tearing it up in AAA. Still young enough to be a prospect and hits the living hell out of the ball. Right handed. Plays third. There may be a path forward for him sooner than we anticipated.

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      1. Kemp 4-6 today, 2 doubles and a home run. Crazy to think this guy started in Clearwater last year. If he keeps hitting like this, he’s going to get a chance in the big leagues sooner rather than later. My guess is that they are going to try him at second and the outfield as well to see if they can get his bat into the line-up.

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        1. He only started in Clearwater because he was coming back from an Oblique injury suffered during spring camp. Otto has always shown the ability to hit – is certainly turning heads now but he’s been a hitter all along. Am very happy for him.

          Steve Potter

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          1. Fair enough but his regular placement was in A ball – he’s progressed very quickly since last year. And nothing in his minor league stats up until last year suggested he was capable of this. Good for him!!!

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            1. sorry but Otto was placed on Reading last summer out of camp – his time at the A level at both JS and CW was on rehab assignment. While stats may not have indicated to some he was capable of hitting it was well known to those who watch daily and report on it either via scouting reports or articles. No worries – just pointing out the facts of the matter is all.

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            2. Interesting – thank you. Obviously, you’re on the spot there in Clearwater and know the ins and outs of player placement far better than I do. So, I’ll just be quiet and enjoy watching the Otto Kemp box scores.

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      2. Whit Merrifield didn’t reach the Majors until he was 27 and Kemp certainly has the power package Whit never had.

        Honestly I don’t know how Kemp plays out in the field. I know he plays 3b,2b,1b and a game or two in the outfield. But I’d like to see how he would fare in the Phillies lineup.

        He’s got to be better than Rojas or Marsh if he can even play the outfield. If they use him sparingly like Kody Clemens don’t even bother to bring him up.

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        1. Agree…….let him have his opportunity. He has shown he can handle the bat thru the minors, even in the AFL in the fall…even think Harper was impressed with him in the spring.

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        1. I dont know for sure, im not an insider but… it sure seemed like those stones were on the table this offseason…. Just didn’t get the fair value

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    2. Miller will adjust, one of the youngest players in AA. Saltiban is from Hawaii, first time playing in cold spring weather(and its been brutal in the NE for baseball). Im waiting for Chase to be shutdown and then not to see him for 18-24 months. Escobar I am starting to sense is going to be our El Dorado: the long sought after LA superstar.

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  11. Gelb just noted that, through 16 games
    2024 Phillies
    .234/.310/.354, 16 HR, 58 R

    2025 Phillies
    .236/.326/.373, 15 HR, 64 R

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  12. Fightin Phils had a good game. Moore 2 dingers (3 hits), Prado and Miller with a dinger. Miller also with 3k’s. Castellano with the win, 3 scoreless innings, Chace started (2.1 innings) gave up 2 runs.

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      1. No, absolutely not his first struggles. He struggled a ton to begin last season – to the point where it appeared it might be a major problem. Then he suddenly broke out of it. I don’t know if he’s a slow starter, just in a slump or has problems with advanced pitching. We’ll know more soon enough.

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  13. Im begining to dream on Escobar, he has the bloodlines too. Otto Kemp will hit in the MLs, the question is if he ever gets a real shot here. I saw Marcus Lee Sang is out for the year, what happened?

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    1. Matty Winks is the best. You won’t find a more probing and accurate analysis of prospects anywhere. I have no idea how he does it, but he does. Even when I don’t want to agree with him, in most cases, I grudgingly do anyway.

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  15. Beginning to think the Os knew something more about Moises Chace than they let on. Perhaps the chilly weather is affecting him, and once the weather warms up, maybe his velo will also rise and control come around. He is ranked 5th on the prospect board by MLB……that is in jeopardy of dropping by mid-term if he doesn’t come around.

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  16. Watching Spencer Strider in his debut this season vs the Jays…..velo sitting at 93-95T96 closing in on 85 plus pitches. Still has that slider and curve ball. Assume there is some rust going on, since ’21 thru ’23 he was at 97 and 98 mph.

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    1. Murray, I think that ship sailed in like 2017. Actually, the conversation lately has been very minor league focused – way better than usual.

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    2. “Phillies Discussion” appears to be a flexible mixture between the big club happenings, and the minor leaguers in the system. Above,it looks like approx half the comments are on each.

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  18. This is like a minor league stat: The Bravos Kd 19 times in their 27 outs this afternoon. Harris and Riley went back to back in golden sombreros.

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  19. Nola and Turner. Just wow. Unnecessary contracts that will most likely alter our abilities to surround all the prospects that are racing towards CBP.

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      1. No, you don’t. You don’t have to give stupid contracts to compete. You have to be selective in who you extend and for how long. By the way, the Nola contract could still end up being fine. We are suffering from some recency bias with him right now. But the Turner deal? It was stupid from the moment it was signed. It’s one thing to have a dead year or two at the end of a contract – I get that – but that could be 4-5 dead years. Ridiculous.

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        1. It’s okay to give big money to truly great players players, but you’ve got to be selective and you don’t give great contracts to good players and good contracts to okay players. Look at the Eagles. They will not give a good player a great contract. And it’s very smart. That’s why Williams and Sweat are elsewhere.

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        2. In fairness I don’t think they give that contract to Turner if BH doesn’t come on live TV and say he’s his favorite guy in baseball.

          At some point we have to acknowledge that JM put all his eggs in the Harper’s basket. JM is not the kind of guy that is going to put himself out there like that and then go back on his word.

          At least he doesn’t strike me as that type of guy.

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          1. Harper is not the GM. You don’t sign a player just because he’s wanted by another player. That is GM malpractice. So, they don’t get a free pass for that. And, by the way, that doesn’t mean you don’t listen to your best player, but you’ve got to make your own, independent decisions. If you don’t . . . well, things tend to get screwed up.

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            1. LOL he may not be the GM but he wields a lot of influence.

              You’ve always held this strange belief that all GMs operate with complete autonomy and that owners are not making mandates behind what is public.

              I think you are greatly underestimating the relationship between Middleton and the Harpers.

              Are you forgetting that the Middleston’s flew their private plane out to Vegas and dined with Kayla and Bryce sans Klentak and basically made that deal happen between themselves.

              Those 2 are tied at the hip for better or worse.

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            2. I don’t think GMs operate with full autonomy at all. And, I think Middleton generally wants to keep Harper happy of course and things being roughly equal he is going to try to give Harper what he wants. But if Middleton is forcing his GM to go with option A in a matter as important as signing a big FA, because Bryce Harper wants that, when the GM wants to go with option B (which I seriously doubt is the case – I think this GM has a ton of power), then this organization has big, big problems.

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        1. Actually, I exchanged the tickets from yesterday to another day – after posting I realized my message was confusing. Good news is that I missed that awful, cold game.

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      2. The Home plate umpire turned last nights game into a travesty from inning number 1.

        Both teams were more baffled as to where the strike zone was and the weather and the wind didn’t help things out either.

        I can’t defend the Phillies either. They played the game like they didn’t want to be there. I hope it’s just the fact that it’s early, but they are not playing like a playoff team.

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  21. I know it is early in the season but this bullpen is going to kill this team. Dombrowski to think Ruiz and Ross could pitch in high leverage situation is absurd. You didn’t want to go over the luxury level to save the difference of Hoffman and Estevev (about 15 million and yes a few years of contract) is going to be the death of them

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  24. Looked at Blue Claws box score from yesterday. First 6 batters all batting under .200. Got 3 hits as a team last night. YIKES

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    1. They saw the big team do that back to back the other night and thought that would be the script for making the big time!😉

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    2. I think they’re are a few Threshers players who need advancement, but what do I know. I’m just a fan not a scout.

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      1. this FO player development staff likes to make their promotions where warranted somewhere around the 1st of May.

        That’s been my anecdotal observation the past few years.

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      2. From Gelb’s article in the Athletic.

        “Another development to note: Otto Kemp, a 25-year-old undrafted player from Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University who has hit his way to Triple A, started in left field Thursday for the first time in affiliated ball. Kemp could be a bench player in the majors later but must add some versatility. The righty hitter is considered a below-average defender on the infield.”

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  26. Nice outing by Sanchez. The Phillies really needed that to get a split. Two errors by Turner is worrisome. Would be great if they can sweep the Marlins before heading the Citi Field.

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  27. Sounds like Abel had another decent start – maybe he’s going to become if not an ace, a serviceable #3 or #4 starter. Hope his early promise re-emerges.

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    2. Abel was sitting in the high 90s – something he hasn’t done regularly since 2023 and something he didn’t do at all last year. Very encouraging.

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        1. This is never going to happen even if Nola were truly injured, which it appears he is not. If Nola were injured they would slide Suarez into the rotation and keep Walker where he is. Abel is not ready to be a big league pitcher – he is still developing. Some take longer than others. If they needed a guy from the minors right now, it would probably be Seth Johnson.

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    3. Sanchez was 10th in NL Cy Young voting in ’24. He’s not hurting himself this year. If that amounts to being a 3/4 starter, then this rotation is the stuff of which legends are made.

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  28. Of the first 19 games of the season, Realmuto has appeared in 16 of them. Not sure how many were starts. In 64 plate appearances, he has struck out 20 times (31%). He is batting .214.

    Wasn’t Marchan kept on the roster so he could play like 20-25% of the games? He has one hit for the season but he has drawn 5 walks, I think. I don’t understand his inactivity.

    I know he has no options remaining but he is being wasted in the role he is playing right now. In the minors, he’d at least be playing almost daily. And Stubbs is playing well to boot.

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    1. Except he wouldn’t be in the minors, he’d be with another team. He’s the backup catcher specifically because he had no options.

      JTR is the starting catcher and is going to catch most of the games. I saw no one claiming he was going to catch 20% of games except for some posters on here.

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    2. A few things. I may be wrong, but I actually think Realmuto looks incredibly athletic and healthy this year – and you can see it in his defense and the way he is running and driving the ball. I think he’s going to have a very solid season, although I wouldn’t be rushing to extend his contract. Second, sooner or later Marchan is going to have to take his place as a back-up catcher. He’ll get more at bats as the season goes on – this is only natural.

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      1. The point that was made about him being on another team is the most important – this is his time. He should absolutely be this team’s back-up catcher right now.

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    3. If Top follows protocol…Marchan should catch Sunday after a Sat night game where JTR caught. This weekend the Sat game however is at 1PM, so Marchan may be shut out…I hope not. maybe Marchan will get the call tomorrow afternoon.

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  29. I look to how Topper handled Castellanos last year as an indication of what we can expect to see behind the plate. Topper will likely lean, but only a little, on trimming Realmuto’s playing time so long as he’s healthy.

    The Phils have to be thinking of a succession plan. Losing Marchan, who is out of options, was not consistent with any plan. Retaining Stubbs is useful for this year alone.

    There’s no history with Thomson to suggest he won’t give Realmuto a long leash. If Realmuto is hitting .214 with an OPS of .634 in July, things could change. I don’t think Marchan has been promised anything. Like any back-up catcher, he can help himself by maximizing the opportunities he gets. Marchan is being “wasted” only if he outplays expectations in those opportunities he gets. Stubbs is pretty much an irrelevancy. He’s an insurance policy this year and a player switch no path forward with the Phils thereafter.

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  30. Yes, 3up, I understand he’d be on another team. I noted that in my third paragraph when I wrote that he has no options available. My point is that he should be playing every 3rd or 4th game. It would keep him game ready and give Realmuto some rest.

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    1. That’s where we disagree. He shouldn’t be playing every 3rd or 4th game because he’s not better than Realmuto.

      Marsh is hitting .095 in 51 PAs and everyone of freaking out. Marchan is hitting.083 in 16 PAs and he should be playing more? Both are small sample sizes that don’t mean much but Marchan hasn’t shown that he deserves more playing time.

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  31. Realmuto, with 0.5 WAR through 19 games, is on pace for a 4 WAR season. That would be a great result if he is able to keep it up all year. Is Marchan a 4 WAR player?

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      1. A bunch, but it’s part of my point that, physically, he looks excellent and he’s hitting the ball hard. I’m as critical as anyone about extending him but he objectively looks very good and strong this year.

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  32. Quick Thought for all… I know Nola’s stuff has ticked down but does anybody think the catcher could be to blame some??? Marchan has caught 3 of the 4 starts

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    1. It’s easy to blame the catcher but in this case, it’s definitely not the catcher. He got hurt early with the long ball, his velocity is down so he’s been nibbling on the edges a lot. His walk rate has jumped considerably to 3.7. In fact, he has the highest walk rate out of all the 5 starters.

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      1. If we wanna hope on something to blame that isn’t just Nola himself, it would be the weather (or just time of year). He typically doesn’t have his full velocity in April/May. He’s also been pretty unlucky (both xERA and FIP sit more than 2 full runs lower than his actual ERA), but even his expected numbers aren’t as good as we would expect.

        It’s been rough, but even the best pitchers sometimes have stretches of 4 bad games. Just gotta hope he comes around soon.

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  33. Looks like another good outing by Painter.

    The CF Campbell that we got from the Dodgers is doing well at Jersey Shore. Anything special about him?

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  34. If you ran the Phillies, would you start Rojas against LHP and Marsh against RHP? Call up Kemp or Wilson in place of Clemens to provide another right-handed bat (maybe platoon in left with Kepler?)? Sit tight and wait for Marsh’s luck to turn?

    By the way, Schwarber and Castellanos are both off to really good starts.

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    1. Kemp or Wilson, yes. Possibly. Not much for sitting, might not have enough time. Yes, they are …. shhhhhhh .. hang up “do not disturb” sign!

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      1. Skeet….Kemp needs to be called up as he keeps raking at LHV. I give Otto another approx 70 PAs in LHV and if he is still doing his thing…then he gets 40 promoted and brought up.

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        1. I’d like to see Kemp up and get some playing time. Would like to see one of these guys become an everyday player. Hard to develop any confidence or continuity the way they are being used.

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  35. I’ll take the easy part first. Weston Wilson gets one, and only one, more bite at the apple. He needs to settle in and excel at Lehigh Valley. Without that or a significant injury on the big team, there’s next to nothing to discuss. If the Phils were inclined to establish a platoon in LF, at the moment it bolsters Sosa and not Wilson. The way that might change is through Wilson kicking open a door for himself through his work at LV.

    I’d platoon Marsh and Rojas in CF without great confidence in either. It’s absurd to assert that either has made the case for a full time role. Each of these guys has to make a case for deserving consideration going forward. What’s wrong with this position in Philly is glaring and not recent. It’s not the weather, it’s the talent. Or lack thereof. If I’m wrong and it’s somehow the weather, it will become clear. I don’t expect the Phils to change the mix until the warm weather of June arrives, at the earliest.

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  36. Right now, I see Wilson in competition with the left handed bats Crawford and Rincones and the right handed Kemp, who is being given time in LF. In what should be a straight on competition, Wilson’s advantage is being on the 40 man roster.

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    1. Here are my scenarios:

      If Clemens or Sosa gets hurt, Wilson is up.

      If Marsh/Rojas gets hurt, Crawford is up.

      If Castellanos/Kepler gets hurt, Rincones is up.

      If Bohm/Schwarber gets hurt, maybe Kemp comes up but not before Wilson.

      If any starter goes down, Seth Johnson comes up.

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      1. Still wondering if Crawford will ever get his batted ball GB% below 50/55% …right now sitting around 65%. The MLB average GB% is around 44%….meaning approx 44% of batted balls in play are ground balls. …and hit at an angle of five degrees or lower.  MLB infielders are the best at what they do, and can make the adjustments for the speedier batters.

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  37. Wow, Cal Quantrill is pitching himself out of the league very soon. He’s finished. His SO rate is abysmal.

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  38. I’d take Max Lazar in any situation I can imagine over Hernandez, who inspires the sale of anti-acids throughout the viewing area.

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  39. Interesting bench we have, Sosa is hitting. 414 and the other 3 are .ohhhhhh no, ohhhhhhx and ohhhhhhx! Ohhhhh my!

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  41. I hope this game causes them to rework this bullpen !!!!! Whew …. I don’t know how you do that this early but they have no middle relief and are really short one leverage guy too !

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  42. That’s got to be eight and a half million dollars that Dombrowski wishes he still had in his pocket.

    In defense of Hernandez, he probably should’ve gotten out of the inning with just one run scored.

    Schwarber is not very good at all in left field. He took a step back on a ball that was basically blooped in.

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    1. I’m stunned when people comment how poorly Schwarber plays in the field. He’s a DH, he shouldn’t be playing in the field. His lifetime dWar is -11.1.

      Nick Castellanos is in the same boat. Alec Bohm will eventually get there.

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  43. When Ranger makes it back, that’s one less spot for the pitching dead wood.. But that’s not enough. I’m hoping Max Lazar gets a chance to provide an upgrade. Ruiz, Ross and Walker provide as much low leverage talent as a contender can bear.

    This BP is squarely on Dombrowski. I will be interested in how Painter’s innings get massaged. Before today, I didn’t envision a significant BP role for him.

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    2. Carlos Hernandez should be DFAd once Ranger is healthy. He’s just too wild.

      Ruiz and Ross are getting more high leverage opportunities because Romano has been a disaster. But Ruiz will likely be the first one to get shipped out because his salary is pretty low.

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  44. Aroon Escobar is just ripping it at Clearwater. He’ll be going the top 100 (and JS) in the near future.

    Dylan Cambell is getting hot at JS. Not sure how sustainable that is.

    Now repeating Reading, Robert Moore is on fire. He’s a candidate to get moved up soon.

    Kemp has been putting on a show at Lehigh, but where’s he going to play at the big league level?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am racking my brain to think of another Phillies prospect that had a better hit tool than Escobar. Feels like an easy 60 but may be a 70 hit tool. Need more data. It’s still early. But jeez that kid rakes.

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      1. Willians Astudillo.

        Had no other tools worth mentioning. But if your life depended on a guy putting the ball in play, he was a pretty safe bet.

        Liked by 1 person

          1. Same here, I was a 15 year old when he tore up Clearwater. Back then, minor league info was scarce, so he was a legend to me. Remember him coming to the big leagues and having success followed by bad injuries.

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      3. If he truly has a 60 hit tool then he will be a big league star because he also has power and can field. Let’s see how he does in AA before we anoint him as the next coming. That said he is a very, very exciting prospect. It’s not easy to overshadow Eduardo Tait.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. ya all haven’t seen him play yet but Griffin Burkholder is gonna garner a great deal of attention when he rejoins the Threshers – has excellent tools and baseball smarts

        Steve Potter

        Liked by 1 person

          1. From a reply on March 31st: “Romus, Burkholder had all of 2 plate appearances before he was shut down by a leg injury last year. He was cleared to play this spring and suffered another injury. He’ll be in Clearwater once the training staff clears him again.”

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    2. I think the Phillies are thinking like you….where to play Kemp…..looks like LF is their latest experiment with him.

      I always liked Aroon Escobar. He should be promoted in a month or so.

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  45. They list Tait at 175 lbs and Escobar at 180 lbs……I assume that was their weight when they were recruited to sign at 15 years old. MLB teams probably do not put the correct size and weights on prospects until they hit the majors.

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  46. Unlike last year when he was pretty much a third baseman (all but one of his starts in the field in Reading and Lehigh Valley were at 3B), this year it looks like Kemp is being groomed for the 26th man role currently occupied by Kody Clemens and potentially occupied by Weston Wilson — so far this year he’s made 9 starts at 3B, 5 starts at 2B, 5 starts at 1B, and 1 start in LF. Can’t play SS in a pinch (unlike Wilson), but if he can fill in at 4 spots, plus pinch hit, I would swap Clemens for him.

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    1. He definitely knows what to do with the bat in his hands. Assume they may want to get him 2 or 3 more dozen games in LF this year to further enhance his versatility..

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  48. Phils have recalled Cal Stevenson with Marsh on the IL. Cal wan’t mashing but he is on the 40-mn. I see this an indication that they want to maximize the AB’s for Crawford, Kemp , Rincones and the rehabbing Wilson.

    Let the success of these 4 at LV be the key to their promotion.

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  49. Escobar 3 for 5 today, Saltiban hitless again. Any idea whether they might swap places?

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    2. I think that they like to give a prospect at least 100 PAs at a level before moving him up. Escobar is at 57. So another 10 games or so at CLW before moving him up?

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      2. If he keeps hitting like this for another 2 weeks, there’s a good chance he will be moved up. He’s 20 years old, so it’s not a crazy aggressive placement. As for evaluating hit tools, I don’t think you really know that for sure until a player hits AA or even AAA. I thought J.P. Crawford had a 70 hit tool, but he was overpowered by AAA pitching and it took him several years into his major league career to adjust. That said, what Escobar is doing is certainly consistent with a player who has a 60 hit tool so it’s very encouraging right now. Very.

        Liked by 1 person

  50. Good back to back series starting today. Would be nice to take 4 of 6. Yesterday a waste of fine work by Luzardo. Appears that the concerns of spring training are still the concerns. IMO the BP and OF are troubling. Good opportunity for Rojas to prove he is worthy …. if he gets the opportunity. Would like Kepler to prove himself, also. Schwarber in a little bit of a funk, maybe get untracked this week. Disappointing finish to what should have been a sweep!

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  51. The top of the batting order seems resolved, at least against opposing right handed starters. But early on it seemed like the lineup needed/needs a jolt of adrenaline from somewhere. The Mets are surging based on a better than expected starting rotation.

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  52. Every win counts especially if you come up short of the division. After that though its extremely important to win series against teams you may end up competing for a WC spot with.

    The central looks pretty week for WC births but the West lookout. And of course this series against the Mets is pretty big.

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    1. The Phillies will be facing Megill, Canning, Peterson. Yes, it’s on the road but if the Phillies can’t do damage against these guys, the Phillies will be in trouble. They are performing well but they are not Wheeler and Sanchez.

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  53. It’s still early, but Bohm already has -1.1 WAR. He’s making $7.7M this year in arbitration. If he finishes the year with say 1 WAR and he’s asking for $12M in his final year, I would consider DFA him and let him go.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Or DFA him. If you don’t want him for the salary he might get, it’s always a realistic option. It happens, although his replacement is not obvious at this point. That said, it’s very early – he’s likely to bounce back quite a bit here.

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      2. You know that Bohm is going to ask for a raise. If you don’t want to deal with badmouthing him to a number that you’re willing to give him, just DFA him. Bohm put himself in this mess.

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        1. That is an option. Just do not think the Phillies will do that. Especially since they may have to find another 3B for 2026. Now, iIf they feel Kemp is ready that could be their option. I think they will try to trade him again and hope for something in return before they decide to DFA him.

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          1. We are overreacting to less than a month’s worth of play. He’s likely to bounce back and then they can make a logical decision about what to do with him when the season ends. But he’s at the weird point of his career where he may make too much to keep him. Howie trades that guy and drafts or signs the right replacement. DD usually signs and extends that guy even if he’s overpaid. That’s why Howie wins Super Bowls. DD – not so much recently.

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            1. Actually I think they have already made that decision …. the fan base and the player are simply awaiting the confirmation.

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