MLB completed their scuttling of the Minor Leagues when they transferred the minor league offices to MLB headquarters in New York City.
The Professional Baseball Agreement (PBA) between the two entities expired on September 30th. The move effectively makes the minor leagues a branch of MLB. They are already referring to minor league teams as “licensed affiliates”. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 12th
I imagine most if not all of you are dissatisfied with Meddleton’s half-measure solution exercised this week. Although I wasn’t necessarily in favor of removal, Meddleton’s actions don’t really address the issues in the front office, and actually may just perpetuate the status quo for another season. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 5th
The Phillies missed the playoffs when they could only win one of their seven games this past week, and one of the last eight. Wait til next year! Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of September 28th
The Phillies went 4-4 last week, but still have a 73.9% of making the playoffs. They closed out their series in Miami with a loss on Monday, then dropped two of three to the Mets at home. They began a crucial series against the Blue Jays with a double header sweep on Friday, their first double header sweep since 2012. They went on to split the remaining two games with the Jays over the weekend. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of September 21st
The Phillies lost an important double header on Sunday. But, they aren’t out of the playoff race. In fact, ESPN gives them an 84.6% chance of making the playoffs. They give the Marlins a 70.4% chance. I guess that’s because the Marlins only have one more game against the Phillies. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of September 14th
The Phillies won 10 of 11 games and overtook the Marlins for second place in the division. Then they played the second and third games of their four-game series with the Mets. They dropped both games by a combined 19-2. They maintained their position, but missed an opportunity to bury a division foe.
“We need to win nine out of ten.” That Bryce Harper quote and a very short, 15-second comment behind closed doors by manager Joe Girardi may have turned the Phillies’ season around. They went onto a 5-game wining streak and propelled themselves into the thick of the division and wild card races. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of August 31st
Terrible week. Seven games in six days. Five losses sandwiched by two wins. And their most effective relief pitcher went on the Injured List after taking a line drive to the groin and suffering a testicular contusion.
The Phillies made a couple trades aimed at bolstering their “worst-in-baseball” bullpen. They added David Hale from the Yankees for Addison Russ. In the “bigger deal”, they procured Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree from the Red Sox for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold. They also received $815K plus a player to be named later (PTBNL).
“Phillies notch first series win in mid-August.” That would be a terrible headline any other season. Fortunately, this year it just signifies mediocrity seventeen games into the season. The Phillies started the week by closing out their 4-games series against the Braves with a win on Monday, continued by dropping a 3-game series to the Orioles, and finished the week by sweeping the Mets. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of August 17th
The Phillies are 4-6 .400, 3.5 games out of first place with 7 games in hand. They split a four-game series with the Yankees and dropped two of the first three games in a four-game series with the Braves.
This week they close out the series with the Braves, then play three-game series against the Orioles and Mets. That will end a stretch where the Phillies could have played 16 of their first 17 games in CBP.
Phuture Phillies 