88 thoughts on “Phillies Discussion (9/3/2026)”

1. Gage mowing them down this evening, after 4 inn. 2 Hs, 2 BBs, and 10 Ks …… yeah 10 Ks!

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   1. Nice! Glad to see the numbers

      Let’s get these games here.. some big ones.. need the bats to stick to the plan and zone hunt and be patient with it, they give the walks take the walks etc… let’s see some gameplay instead of swinging out of our shoes

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2. When the Red Sox and the Yankees aren’t playing, NESN and YES will usually broadcast a minor league game. NESN televised the Yard Goats-Reading game both Tuesday and Wednesday while YES showed the Iron Pigs game against the Yankees AAA team last night.

   Gage Wood sailed through the first four innings with 11 Ks as Old Ruff wrote above. His curve and slider were both biting and his FB clocked mid to high nineties. In the fifth inning he started with a walk and two singles driving in the first run against him.

   He was now approaching 100 pitches so he was pulled. The reliever got the next two batters and then a grounder to SS for what should have been the third out. The runner on first took off with the pitch and Rincon lollipopped the throw to second.

   He was too late. Aroon threw to first when he knew the runner was safe at second but his throw was late, too. Wood should have been charged with only one run. Wood, as I said, looked good but one has to remember these were AA hitters chasing his breaking stuff.

   This brings me to Rincon. He has fifteen at bats so far in the three games. He is 0-12 with 3 walks and 6 Ks. He has not looked good at all. From the left side he is a sucker for the breaking pitch down and in and the fast ball up and away. He’ll need a year in AAA for sure. On the bright side Nori looked very good.

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   1. Here’s my view on Wood. The fastball is, at the very least, a plus pitch, which is great. He’s working on his breaking stuff and it’s developing but overall, the guy is really learning how to be a starting pitcher. He was converted from a reliever I believe only his last year in the college, so he’s working on many pitches and also on throwing longer – it’s still pretty new to him. Overall, I really like him as a prospect. I don’t like him as much as Marquez, but I like him a lot. He doesn’t have the perfect body type for a longer career (shorter power pitchers tend to burn out earlier), but he is completely on track for a promotion sometime in 2027, if there is a 2027. Overall, he was a very good pick and, as I said earlier in the year, on the whole, the Phillies recent first round picks, while all of them haven’t entirely worked out, have been very, very sound and well conceived picks.

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      1. I don’t know why they aren’t pitching him in AAA. If no other reason than to get used to the baseball which is the same as the MLB baseball.

         For the record, I think it is insane that they use a different baseball in AA and below than they do in AAA and the majors. Makes no sense to me.

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         1. From what I read the lower levels …AA and lower….use less expensive balls to reduce operating costs across the  hundreds of minor league teams and games….but also there is another major difference, minor league balls at the lower levels have the  higher raised seams….. easier to  grip and creates more pitch movement. The official MLB balls have flatter, hand-sewn seams that would seem to reduce pitch movement.  Does it make much sense, not sure about that.

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         2. Sounds like its a cost saving move as the AA balls are cheaper to produce.

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   2. My take on Rincon, he has 19 errors already, prepping him so he can slide right in and take over for Turner with no noticeable difference.

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3. I mentioned to Ruff last night that if Wood was added it would only be in a BP capacity now. He does not need 4 or 5 innings at this point. Not even sure if he can at this point.

   I still think the Achilles heel for the Phillies in playoffs will be the BP to Duran. One reason they are trying to have Duran extend to 2 innings a bit. Plus, the offense is just so inconsistent. It has been better, but they did mention that 10 times since All Star 1 or 0 runs. Couple of those in October and you are packing bags for the winter.

   Rocco. I watched Saratoga for a bit. I kept looking for you with you saddle bags. Hope you did well and had nice time.

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4. Sale vs Sanchez…..bats need to show up tonight. Assume Marsh and maybe Stott sit.

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5. yikes, I hope it’s not on apple TV

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   1. I do not think so. It is on my Extra Inning lineup and would not be if on Apple.

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      1. NBC sports. Sosa in LF (WTF has de La Cruz done to Mattingly to deserve burial?), Hill in CF.

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         1. I heard he put “starch” in the underwear load …… and it’s very scratchy!

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6. Phils posted their 2027 spring training schedule today. Now that’s positive thinking. One of their first games is Feb. 22 at the Twins, which is near me. Whaddya think the chances are that game gets played?

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   1. Chance? Hah, slim and none.

      Now i wonder if minor leaguers will be doing spring training….though if they do…they will not travel long distances ….probably do the Covid schedule….all opponent teams around the Complex…..Jays-Dunedin, Yanks-Tampa and Tigers-Lakeland….maybe Os-Sarasota.

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      1. Yep. A little disheartening.

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7. https://x.com/MattGelb/status/2096011543489990899

   Aida Miller playing saturday

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   1. Here”s hoping he goes four-for-four.

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8. Phils lose and go 5 back. They’re not catching the Braves but they still have a great chance to get a wild card. Need that first spot to get home games. Kerkering really stinks. They should have traded him after the playoff disaster.

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9. 1st Round Pick Tyler Spangler hit his first professional Home Run tonight

   https://x.com/PhilsTailgate/status/2096055863416897904

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10. I’m going back to September 1978 when “I wore a younger man’s clothes”. The Yankees were coming into Boston for a 4 game set. They had been 14 games back but were chipping away at the lead. Catfish Hunter started the first game. He was the highest paid Yankee with a salary of $640K (Reggie Jackson was second).

    The Yankees scored 12 runs in the first inning and Hunter got hurt and left the game with a 12-0 lead after pitching 3 innings. It was said that the relievers were tripping over each other to come in because a sure win was in hand to pad somebody’s W-L record. The Yankees went on to win that game and the next 3. It was known as the Boston Massacre.

    The following week Boston went two Yankee Stadium and dropped 2 of 3. The Yankees went on to tie the Sox and force a one game playoff back at Fenway Park. It was the game that Lou Piniella made the blind catch in the sun in right field and Bucky Effing Dent hit the ball over the Green Monster to give the Yankees the pennant.

    Okay. Why did I write all this drivel that happened almost a half century ago? Does a 4 game series with 3 more the following week sound familiar. It’s what we’ve got going here. I’m just hoping that the Phillies play their tails off and don’t get lost totally in the dust.

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11. Welcome back Aidan Miller – double in his first AB

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12. Jim, may I ask if you are planning to attend any of the FSL playoff games?

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13. I think we’re at the point where you have to replace Stubbs at the same time Nola leaves the game. It’s insane how he makes EVERY OTHER PITCHER on our roster worse.

    Calling 8 straight fastballs against Acuna, while you could see him catching up to it real time, was criminal.

    Whatever about him is helping Nola is enough to keep him on the roster, but we have 3 catchers on the roster so it’s a good time to make him LITERALLY Nola’s personal catcher and not a single other person.

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    1. Indirectly, you are also giving credence the extreme importance of J.T. Realmuto as this team’s starting catcher. On a team where pitching is the team’s greatest strength, overpaying a great defensive catcher who is good at calling games has a very real value.

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       1. Oh absolutely. I’m definitely not one of the people that has a problem with JT’s contract. He’s probably overpaid, but not by as much as it seems. I’m not a huge believer in, “intangibles.” I know they exist, but things like being a clubhouse leader or a vibes guy are pretty easy to find, so I don’t value them highly. But JT has proven time and time again that his game planning is second to none, and THAT is absolutely valuable.

          Plus he still controls the running game extremely well and he’s the best ABS challenger in baseball. Do I wish he were still a good hitter? Yeah. But there’s not many catchers in baseball I think would improve our team over him. And none of the ones that would are/were available. So holding onto him was the right move for sure.

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14. The Luzardo trade buys DD a heck of a lot of mistakes, if you ask me! Wow. If Painter keeps it up, the top three is set for years.

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15. There was a trade that conceivably the Phillies could have made, but didn’t, for Rutschman (sp?) and history is filled with trades the Phillies did make losing players who then became future Hall of Famers. But, recently, if you could have a “take back” of trades of prospects for players, which would you take back? Arraez? Duran? Marsh? Luzardo? Cristopher Sanchez? Alvarado? Realmuto? or going a bit further back, Roy Halladay?

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    1. Ben Brown for David Robertson.

       Robertson was fine. But Brown has already been way more valuable. And if he can stay healthy, we’re gonna regret that trade for a while.

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       1. Poor Ben….will be done until next season. Now a stress reaction in his C5 neck vertebra. This may be something he may hav eto deal with again.

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16. Their bats need to come alive…..not for 10 runs….but at least 5 a game. Now 81-63…….18 games left…..need to put it all together.

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    1. Yes, …….. bless you my son …… they really do need to come to life ……. and just not be on life support, but break out in an epidemic, they can go into hibernation in December!

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17. Ben Brown is on the 60 IL with a neck injury. They can be tricky.

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18. Ramon Marquez on the 7 day IL with an undisclosed injury. It’s a long way from A ball to the majors.

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19. Two of the best pitching efforts were turned in by Nola yesterday and Luzardo today. Absolute gems. As far as Im concerned Nola gets a +1 on the season W/L stat line

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    1. So far Nola has righted the ship. Of his 29 starts, he has had a Game Score of 51 or better in 16 of them with a 2.4WAR for this season. Ten starts, however, could go down as clunkers and three were MEH.. And because of those ten below par starts, his FIP of 4.7 is the highest of his career.

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       1. Nola’s turn around is really remarkable.

          From the start of the season until his start against the Dodgers on 7/22, Nola made 21 starts with an ERA of 5.82, FIP of 5.05, and had only 3 starts with no HRs allowed as well as only one start of 7+ innings.

          Since then, he’s made 8 starts of 2.31 ERA and 3.93 FIP. Of those, he now has back-to-back starts with 0 HRs, and also 2 starts of 7+ IP. He also matched the number of both 9 strikeout (1 game each), and 8 strikeout games (2 each).

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20. All four starters pitched well against the Braves. That’s a very good sign.

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21. ESPN has an article about prospective cities for MLB expansion and it’s interesting. Did not realize that Utah was that far advanced in positioning itself to get a team. And as much as I want to see baseball return to Montreal, it’s a pipe dream. It would have to be a consortium of owners and even though it would be difficult, it’s doable and actually the easiest issue to overcome. The bigger issue is that the stadium will have to be fully privately funded. There’s no way, after the Olympic Stadium fiasco, that the province will give tax payer money. And the last issue (another biggie) is that there’s no land downtown for this. There’s no way that Montrealers will go into the suburbs to watch a game (like the Braves).

    So please scratch Montreal off that list.

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    1. Salt lake City seems to be booming. The NHL team has exploded there. Then there is also Nashville. It may be on the agenda…..Dave Dombrowski was leaning for that years ago. If it is Canada,, Vancouver would be a nice place to put a MLB team…a rivalry with the Mariners would be ideal. There are also other US cities that may put in bids….Indianapolis, Okie City, New Orleans and maybe even Charlotte, NC, which would put a dent into the Braves and Nationals fan base.

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       1. The problem is no province wants to use tax payer money to fund a new stadium.

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          1. I guess you cannot blame them…..developers always say the return on investment will be great…..but not sure if the people actually see it. Then there is that segment of a population that are not driven by sports or just do not care for sports in general..

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             1. Even though Rogers Centre (nee SkyDome) is the 6th oldest ballpark, there was zero mention about building a new stadium. Instead, $400M in renovations were done and to be fair, the stadium looks great on tv. However, it’s only a matter of time before a new stadium will have to be built and it’s going to get interesting when the lobbying (or begging) for public money begins.

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                1. Just look here in Philly now…announced recently the 76ers and Flyers going into a new bldg in 2030…..seems the 30 year old structure they play in now is outdated.

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                2. I think it’s only a matter of time before the Linc (which, frankly, I never liked all that much) is replaced with a new stadium and, most likely, a retractable domed stadium – Jeffrey World.

                   By the way, the new 76ers/Flyers facility is privately funded, which means they are going to control all pricing with essentially no oversight/input – expect the price gouging to be insane.

                   I just secured postseason Phillies tickets through my partial plan and the pricing was ridiculous – I can only imagine what Sixers season tickets will cost at that point (and, no, I’m not buying those!!).

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                3. If there is a domed stadium for football in Philadelphia, it will virtually guarantee hosting a SB in the near future.

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                4. I guess that will be Jeffrey L’s selling point to the city and PA….the revenue generated from the glitz of a SB.

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    2. The article mentions both Portland and Orlando.

       Three teams in Florida…..they would join California with three MLB teams in a state. Cali will go from four to three soon. Portland would also have a deep rivalry with the Mariners. Expansion seems inevitable with its $$$$$$, at this point

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       1. When the A’s move, California will go from five teams to four.

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          1. Oops….correct, ….thanks for the geo-math correction.

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       2. I live in Orlando and the proposed location is by the theme parks- locals stay away from that area at all costs. I’d like to see SLC and Portland in the AL West, then move Houston to the NL Central and Texas to the AL Central

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22. I’ve lived in Portland, Oregon for 11 years after growing up and living in the Philly area until my mid 20’s. Have been following the Portland Diamond Project’s efforts to bring a MLB team here for quite a while now and I’m still praying it will come to fruition. On paper, Portland makes a lot of sense as one of the largest (maybe the largest?) markets with only 1 major sports team. Despite our reputation as being rainy, the weather here in the summer and early fall is actually some of the best in the country. It would also create a geographical rival for The Mariners, who are very isolated up in Seattle (we are only about 2.5 hrs south on I-5).

    It is a bit disheartening to read about the momentum that SLC has. I think Portland was favored for quite a few years, especially after Vegas was removed as a location.

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23. Miller assigned to Reading and in lineup tonight batting third.

    https://x.com/ReadingFightins/status/2097403757667446994

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    1. Wonder if he has done any interviews on how his back is doing and what exercises/programs he has to do to prevent it from coming back.

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       1. https://x.com/JeffKerrPHL/status/2097436789715665292?s=20

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          1. Ok, thanks for that.

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    2. Remember when you said he wasn’t even going to play in the AFL. Clueless Jim! This is why no one likes you.

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       1. Come on man. The personal attacks are not needed.

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24. Romus …….. I know over the course of time bats need to be replaced because they are broken or cracked, but … (and you are the expert on this) ….. can they lose their singe and need to be re-singed at some point? SHOULD AN INSPECTION BE CONDUCTED ON OURS?

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25. Bohm largely cost us that game with his dumbass base running. His ass should be sat firmly on the bench. That is losing baseball. Marsh should be sat as well for his base running blunder as well. not hustling, Brewers coach sat Cooper Pratt.

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26. https://x.com/FuturePhils/status/2097468636399038669

    Rincon

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    1. Rincon & Miller in the same lineup, glimpse of the future!

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27. I really can’t fault Bohm on holding up the line on Marsh’s double. He probably thought the ball might be caught so he wanted to tag up and be on third base with only one out. Marsh and Sosa were definitely base running blunders.

    And finally, after watching Diaz play right field and comparing it to how Harper is doing out there, I feel really sad for Harper. He is taking one for the team and trying his best but there is no way he is helping the team out there.

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    1. First, I don’t blame Bohm either. Varsho is near GG caliber and he came close to that ball. If Varsho caught it, Bohm needed to tag up and be at 3B.

       Second, did anybody see the look on Painter’s face when Harper couldn’t get to a ball near the RF line? I think it was early in the game. Harper’s range is hard to watch. Harper is not surprisingly -0.8 dWar and likely going to get worse as he continues in RF.

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    2. Also, Besides Sosa’s base running blunders, I could only give him a 5.5 on the “belly flop” when he tripped over the 2nd base bag. My official review still stands 5.5 is as good as I can do even though he landed on his belly button with legs and hands extended!

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28. Wood 78/54 7 H 2 R 2 ER 5 K 1 HR

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29. Is it possible, with length of Harper and Turner contracts, and the possible salary cap, could Renteria and Miller be the most critical Phillies prospects in the last 20 years?

    The Phillies will need star players on cheap contracts. Renteria and Miller might be the only superstar prospects in the current pipeline

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    1. Maybe? But I think the length of those contracts are killers bc the AAV ends up being lower.

       I think its a little more about players not getting to free agency – thus making FA a tougher option. The 2027 FA class for position players isnt great but maybe better than 2026. Marsh and Stott may be two of the best? Caveat is that I know nothing of the NPB

       Also, labor neogtations could make everything i just typed useless

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    2. For the hitters, yes. The Phillies have been searching forever for a 3B prospect since Scott Rolen and Miller was supposed to be that guy. Heck, I would be ecstatic if Miller was the next Matt Chapman. There’s a lot of hope attached to Miller.

       By far, Renteria has been the most hyped Phillies prospect even before he swung a bat. More than Mickey Moniak and even more than Pat Burrell. And Renteria has lived up to expectations as a 17 year old. When he reaches stateside in 2027, there will be a lot of eyes on him. He has the potential to be the next Ronald Acuna Jr (hopefully without the injuries).

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30. https://x.com/ReadingFightins/status/2097852002793296211

    Heredia

    .280. 23 HR. 75 rbi. 25 SB.

    22 yrs old.

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    1. The ballpark at Reading, has unfortunately , got the rap like some of those old ballparks in the PCL A hitters bandbox, which in turn does not paint a great picture for outstanding offensive production by the Phillies prospects. The hitter still has to be able to make contact and hit the ball, though the Berks’ air flowing thru the park, may make the trajectory a bit better.

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       1. True nuff, and marry that with the rumor they are experimenting with a “new” livlier baseball …… we might be in deep deu deu! Certainly not on the cusp of building an offensive juggernaut. MO, but the Ironpigs roster is the weakest that I can remember and certainly wouldn’t surprise me to see a “dfa” El Grandee at year end.

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          1. Agree Skeet……of these four OFers on the 40 (60 IL also)….Rojas, Kemp, Rincones or Reyes….two, maybe even three get DFAed.

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31. https://x.com/NBCSPhilly/status/2098049011500364083

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32. Keith Law has a new favorable report on Wood, noting he’s developing a splitter for use against lefties. Law thinks he should dump the curveball and focus on his slider.

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33. Our boys get 3 hits, one being an infield hopper by Crawford. Spiderman coughs up a long ball. The Braves give Sale an extra day’s rest so now he’ll open the series Friday night. Houston, we have a problem and part of it was Houston.

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    1. It’s not time to panic. But I think it’s time a statement needs to be made. Maybe you bench Bohm, even though he’s hitting. But it might send a message that you need to be good at all facets of the game, not just hitting.

       We’ve been in the “sprint” for a while now. How many runs/games have we given away from just stupid baserunning? Can someone please show some fire?

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       1. ……. and intelligence.

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34. I wish the Phils knew how to bunt…Bunt for a base hit and a few times for a sacrifice….

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    1. As the saying goes…cannot teach new tricks to an old dog.

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35. A very frustrating team to watch….10 runs one game, zilch the next. A $321M team, 4th in the majors in payroll.

    Turner, JTR, Harper, and Schwarber…….combined almost $90M AAV…..six MLB teams have that amount of a payroll or less….As, Guardians, Rays, Marlins, WSox and Nats.

    And the Phils have to come back again next season with the same lineup and crew, except maybe Bohm!

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    1. I find it frustrating/interesting that Bryce Harper can kind of just be average and a little under the radar for 4 months, then be elite for 1 month, and lets see how he finishes. I don’t think he’s homered in like, 14 games. I was thinking he gets to 30, easily. He can still do it, but come on man.

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    2. Would love to know how DD explained to Middleton the length of these contracts. Especially, the Turner contract. The desperation throw last night, think it ever crossed his mind …… “maybe I should just hold this”.

       Bohm is probably gone, but then again, maybe DD will give him a “lifetime deal”!

       Arraez wins the batting title, he’s gone, not affordable, IMO.

       Must be some way to unload Turner!! Think ….

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36. So how do we feel about Bryan Rincon? Certainly, this has been an exciting season. Do we buy in or do we think he’s a prime trade piece? What if he could be a major piece in a player such as, Wyatt Langford. Would you consider something like that?

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    1. I’d trade him for Wyatt Langford in a heartbeat. Rincon’s having a great year, but I don’t fully buy it. I don’t trust that he’ll be able to hit in the majors.

       Langford, on the other hand, has established that he’s an above-average major league player at just 24. The Rangers would have to be unbelievably enamored with Rincon for them to even consider that trade. Only way I see it evening out on the scales would be if we included Luzardo or Sanchez, which I also can’t see happening.

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    2. Here we go again. Rincon is not a top 100 prospect and he’s only been hitting well this season. There’s no way that Rincon is the major piece for any decent player, let alone Wyatt Langford. Langford is still only 24 and he won’t be a FA until 2030. Not only that, Langford has already accumulated 12.5 WAR in 3 seasons. Gage Wood and Rincon wouldn’t be enough to trade for Langford.

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       1. I was just throwing it out there. I’m not someone who hugs prospects. I guess my main point was, “would you sell high on Rincon?” I was keeping an eye on deGrom’s perfect game and was looking at Langford and felt that he’s the type of player I wish we could target and/or develop. I wasn’t trying to come up with an unreasonable trade.

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