Happy Holidays everybody! No matter what you celebrate, I hope you all enjoy your seasonal holiday. And, if you don’t celebrate, then Happy Baseball!!! Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 20th
Category Archives: Weekly Discussion
Open Discussion: Week of December 13th
It started out as a quiet week. The Winter Meetings were relegated to a bunch of zoom sessions, the Phillies had lost all but one candidate for their vacant front office position, an unexciting Rule 5 Draft was on the horizon, and a former Phillies’ great player(and shoulda-been-hall-of-famer) passed.
Then all heck broke loose.
Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 13th
Open Discussion: Week of December 6th
Monday, the virtual winter meetings begin. I don’t think we can expect a lot of interesting reporting. I do expect that a lot of breaking news will put the owners in a good light. Their waterboys in the national media will probably get all the scoops. Just like during all the drama during the COVID negotiations in March…April…May… Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 6th
Open Discussion: Week of November 30th
Wednesday is the last day that teams can offer 2021 contracts to unsigned players, either pre-arbitration or arbitration eligible on their 40-man rosters. A non-tender sends the player to free agency.
Speculation surrounds the Phillies’ Vince Velasquez, Seranthony Dominguez, and David Hale. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 30th
Open Discussion: Week of November 23rd
The Phillies announced the signing of 33-year-old Caleb Cotham as their pitching coach. As I mentioned last week Cotham is a Driveline type coach. That would seem to cement Driveline in the organization from top to bottom. There should be no disconnect as pitchers move up levels and eventually pitch for the Phillies. It also appears that the more traditional pitching instructors will continue to be weeded out when their contracts are up or offered buyouts.
Open Discussion: Week of November 16th
“There shall be no Competitive Balance Tax in place following the 2021 championship season, and the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Article XXIII (except those concerning the collection and distribution of the Competitive Balance tax proceeds for the 2021 Contract Year and the assessment of any associated penalties for exceeding the Base Tax or Surcharge Thresholds) shall not survive the expiration of this Agreement.”
Open Discussion: Week of November 9th
It’s always nice to read good reports on our prospects. Or, is it?
Within the past 10 days, two articles have been published about our prospects who attended Instructs. One by Jim Salisbury for NBC Sports on October 29th and one by Jonathan Mayo for MLB Pipeline on November 6th. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 9th
Open Discussion: Week of November 2nd
I went to the Complex Saturday to watch my third and final Instructional League game between the Phillies and Blue Jays. Mark Wylie and I were the only TWO people in attendance. The game started at 9:30 AM and was over by noon. Word is that a lot of players were going home that afternoon. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 2nd
Open Discussion: Week of October 26th
I went to the Complex Saturday to watch my second Instructional League game between the Phillies and Blue Jays. I was one of SIX people in attendance – my friend Steve Potter and his wife and daughter, my friend and photo contributor Mark Wylie, me, and Mike from Harrisburg. Mike read last week’s account of the game and flew in Friday to join us Saturday behind the left center field fence on Roberts Field. Sort of a Clearwater branch of the Phandemic Krew. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 26th
Open Discussion: Week of October 19th
I went to the Complex Saturday to watch an Instructional League game between the Phillies and Blue Jays. I was one of five people in attendance – my friend Steve Potter and his wife and daughter, my friend and former photo contributor Mark Wylie, and me.
The game was held on Roberts Field. If you are familiar with the Complex, you’ll have noticed that a walking and bike path runs down Old Coachman Road, crosses the road at the north end of the Complex parking lot (where the pedestrian light is installed), and continues between the Complex and Clearwater’s regional trash collection point. The path skirts the outfields on Carlton (CF and RF) and Roberts (LF and CF) Fields. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 19th
Phuture Phillies 