The Phillies are really something, eh. They fall behind like on Sunday, and I’m ready to accept a loss. I mean, they been winning so much, it’s unreasonable to expect them to win every game. Plus, the bats were being held in check by a good starting pitcher. Then, they make a bunch of really solid contact and they put four up on the board. And another win.
I’m trying hard not to get spoiled by all the winning. It’s early, still. The games won in Aprill, May, and June are just as important as games won in July, August, and September. But, it’s also important to be winning later in the season. So, yeah, it’s still early. But, they sure are fun to watch, eh.
All these wins make it tough to complain about any facet of this Phillies team. But, we’re Philadelphians or Phillies fans at the very least. So, let’s have at ’em. I’m kidding. I’ve got nothing to complain about. Well. maybe about some of the in-game BS that is part of their programming. Maybe BS is too strong even in initials. Fluff is a better word. I think you’ll know who I’m talking about. I’m also tired of Ruben. He talks too much and comes across as less knowledgeable about some baseball things he should know. He made a major faux pas during one of his speeches yesterday and TMac professionally corrected him without embarrassing him.
Here are some observations.
- I just watched the Padres come back from 5-0 to beat the Braves. They complete a doubleheader later tonight. The Phillies have a 5.5 game lead in the division. The Brave will be 5 or 6 games back depending on the outcome of the night game. They will hold 4 games in hand and have to win 3 or 4 of them to catch the Phillies.
- How does the league schedule games and have a 4-game disparity between teams this early in the season? Haters like to point out that the Phillies have had an easy schedule. Well, they’ve had fewer off days so far this season. Plus, they played the Pirates and Reds when they were the hot teams in the league. Can’t help the schedule, you can only play the team in front of you.
- How about Alec Bohm? All Star? His hitting has really come around, and his defense has improved. He’ll likely never be a golden glove, but he’s an important part of the offense. I like him batting behind Harper, too.
- I like Realmuto in the two-spot.
- Edmundo Sosa has really stepped-up during Trea Turner’s absence. I still don’t see him as an everyday player, but he’s been a net positive.
- Kody Clemens, wow! The announcers (mostly Schmidt) wondered how he goes back to Lehigh Valley when Turner comes back. Well, that’s a decision that doesn’t have to be made for a couple weeks. I agree, though. If they find a way to keep him. he’ll have earned it. The guy who lifts out most easily is making $8M. I don’t know if they do that unless they work a trade.
- The roster looks like it could suffer some upgrades. I’m hesitant to mess with the outfield or bench right now, but I think we all expect a bullpen addition by the break. Tweaks around the edges can probably come from within the organization. I think that a major back-end guy is on the menu. I think he’ll be a guy who can fit into their closer mix with the expectation that he becomes the go to closer in September and through the playoffs.
- I think some of the players being floated in trade talks are more than the Phillies will give up, especially for a rental. I don’t think we have many, if any, untouchables, but anybody can be had in the right deal. I don’t think we’re giving away young SP prospects without a proper return. You know the guy most asked about by teams who call is Crawford.
- Have you noticed that the Phillies starters are going deeper into games than other teams? We’ve had minor league starters throwing 90-100 pitches. I think that’s by design. It is certainly a change from past years. I attribute it to a new way that some teams are addressing arm concerns and building up arms. They are building up arm strength and durability by carrying a heavier workload in the minors. If you haven’t seen this, check out this Baseball America article by Josh Norris. It’s not behind the pay wall.
This is your current Phillies Discussion.
Important Dates
- January 13, 2024: Salary Arbitration Exchange Date
- January 15, 2024, 9:00 a.m. ET: Opening of the 2024 International Signing Period
- February 14, 2024: Voluntary Report Date for Pitchers and Catchers
- February 19, 2024: Voluntary Report Date for Position Players
- March 2, 2024: First date to renew Major League contracts
- March 3, 2024: First date clubs may ask waivers on selected Rule 5 or draft-excluded players
- March 8, 2024: First date clubs may assign draft-excluded players
- March 11, 2024: Last date to renew Major League contracts
- March 11, 2024, 2:00 p.m. ET: Last date to request UR waivers to owe 30 days’ termination pay
- March 12, 2024: UR waivers requested 3/12 through 3/26, Club will owe player 45 days’ termination pay
- March 12, 2024: Last date to assign injured player to a Minor League club, if applicable
- March 18, 2024: Last date XX(B) players signed to a Minor League UPC qualifies for opt-outs
- March 19, 2024: Earliest date a player may be placed on the 60-day Injured or the Minor League Full Season List
- March 23, 2024: XX(B) Minor League player may require release if not added to the 26-man roster
- March 24, 2024: The earliest date that a Club may backdate a placement on the 7-day Concussion Injured List
- March 24, 2024: Last date to request UR Waivers to owe 45 days’ termination pay (before 2 pm ET).
- March 25, 2024: The earliest date that a Club may backdate a placement on the 10 or 15-day Injured List
- March 25, 2024: Last day to request OR waivers prior to Opening Day
- March 26, 2024: Last day to request UR waivers prior to Opening Day
- March 28, 2024: Official opening of 2024 season; rosters reduced to 26 (13 pitchers) by Noon ET
- March 28, 2024: After noon, optional assignments begin to count towards the annual option limit of 5
- March 29, 2024: Triple-A Opening Day; Domestic Reserve List limit reduced to 165
- March 31, 2024: First date 7-day Injured List players may be reinstated, if applicable
- April 4, 2024: First date 10-day Injured List players may be reinstated, if applicable
- April 7, 2024: First date optioned players may be recalled, if applicable
- April 9, 2024: First date 15-day Injured List players may be reinstated, if applicable
- April 11, 2024: First date optioned pitchers may be recalled, if applicable
- May 1, 2024: XX(B) Minor League player may require his release if he is not added to the Active Roster
- May 4, 2024: Start of the Florida Complex League
- May 15, 2024: Earliest date Clubs may re-sign Major League players they released after August 31, 2023
- May 27, 2024: First date that players on the 60-day Injured List may be reinstated
- June 1, 2024: XX(B) Minor League player may require release if not added to Active Roster
- June 3, 2024: Start of the Dominican Summer League
- June 8-9, 2024: MLB London Series (Mets vs. Phillies)
- June 15, 2024: First date Clubs may trade a XX(B) player without his consent
- June 17-22, 2024: MLB Draft Combine, Phoenix, AZ
- July 7, 2024: Start of the Closed Period for the 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft
- July 13, 2024: 2024 MLB All-Star Futures Game, Arlington, TX
- July 14-16, 2024: 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Arlington, TX
- July 15, 2024: 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
- July 16, 2024: 2024 MLB All-Star Game, Arlington, TX
- July 19-22, 2024: Hall of Fame Induction Weekend
- July 25, 2024: End of the Florida Complex League regular season
- July 30, 2024, 6:00 p.m. ET: Trade deadline
- August 1, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET: Signing deadline for drafted players – (First -Year Player Draft)
- August 15, 2024: Last date to select a player to avoid draft-excluded status
- August 30, 2024: Unconditional release waivers must be requested by 2 p.m. ET to avoid May 15, 2025 signing restriction
- August 31, 2024: Post-season eligibility lists are established at 11:59 p.m. ET
- September 1, 2024: Active Major League player limit increased to 28 and 14 pitchers
- September 6, 2024: Players optioned today through the end of the season accrue MLS while optioned
- September 8, 2024: End of Jersey Shore’s regular season
- September 8, 2024: End of Clearwater’s regular season
- September 15, 2024: End of Reading’s regular season
- September 22, 2024: End of Lehigh Valley’s regular season
- September 29, 2024: End of the Phillies’ regular season
- September 29, 2024: Last weekend date waivers will be processed until next Spring Training
- September 29, 2024: Last day of the 2024 championship season
- September 30, 2024: All players on optional assignment must be recalled
- September 30, 2024: All players on the 7-day, 10-day and 15-day Injured Lists must be reinstated
- September 30, 2024: Minor League UPCs may now be traded between Major League Clubs
- September 30, 2024: Injured players may now be assigned to the Minor Leagues until Nov. 19, if permissible
- October 30, 2024: Article XX(D) Free Agency period. 48 hours following the last game for Postseason teams
- AFTER the WORLD SERIES
- 1st Day After: Eligible XX(B) players become free agents (start of the quiet period)
- First date players may be traded between Major League Clubs
- 4th Day After: Last date to request waivers on draft-excluded players until next spring
- 5th Day After: Last date to outright potential Minor League free agent without Major League contract, if applicable
- Last date for former Club to tender qualifying offer to XX(B) players, if applicable
- Domestic Minor League Player Limit increases to 175 players
- Minor League players become free agents at 5:00 p.m. ET, if applicable
- End of Quiet period, XX(B) free agents may sign with any Club
- All players on the 60-day Injured List (Major and Minor) and Full-Season Injured Lists must be reinstated
- 1st Day After: Eligible XX(B) players become free agents (start of the quiet period)
- November 1, 2024: Deadline for the 2025 International Player Registration Period
- November 15, 2024: Last date to ask Outright Waivers on an injured player, if applicable
- November 19, 2024: Last date to outright an injured player to the Minor Leagues, if applicable
- November 19, 2024: XX(B) players decide to accept qualifying offer from former Club by 4:00 p.m. ET. if applicable
- November 19, 2024: Reserve lists for all Major and Minor League levels filed by 6:00 p.m. ET (all Transactions MUST be entered by 5:30 p.m. ET)
- November 22, 2024: Tender Deadline
- December 1, 2024: Release of the 2025 International Registered Players List
- December 4, 2024: Last date to request Outright Waivers to assign player prior to Rule 5 Draft
- December 7-11, 2024: Baseball WInter Meetings, Dallas, TX
- December 8, 2024: Last date to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft
- December 10, 2024: MLB Draft Lottery.
- December 11, 2024: Major League Rule 5 Draft – Winter Meetings, Dallas, TX
- December 15, 2024: End of 2024 International Signing Period
- Note: : : These dates will be used unless notified differently.
Transactions
May 2024
5/20/2024 – Jersey Shore sent RHP Jonh Henriquez on a rehab assignment to FCL Phillies
5/19/2024 – RHP Eury Ramos assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/19/2024 – Reading activated RHP Zach Haake from the Development List
5/19/2024 – Reading activated C William Simoneit from the Development List
5/19/2024 – Reading placed LHP Wesley Moore on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/18
5/17/2024 – Lehigh Valley placed 1B Darick Hall on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/16
5/17/2024 – Reading activated LHP Matt Osterberg from the Development List
5/17/2024 – Reading transferred LHP Lachlan Wells to the Development List
5/17/2024 – C Jared Thomas assigned to Clearwater from Jersey Shore
5/14/2024 – Phillies sent C Rafael Marchán on a rehab assignment to Clearwater
5/14/2024 – Jersey Shore activated LF Hendry Mendez from the 7-day IL
5/13/2024 – Jersey Shore transferred C Ryan Leitch to the Development List
5/13/2024 – FCL Phillies transferred LHP Angel Liranzo from the 7-day IL to the 60-day IL
5/12/2024 – Reading activated RHP Robinson Pina from the Development List
5/12/2024 – Reading activated C Caleb Ricketts from the 7-day IL
5/12/2024 – Reading transferred C William Simoneit to the Development List
5/12/2024 – Clearwater placed RHP Jake Eddington on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/10
5/12/2024 – Clearwater activated RHP Ethan Chenault from the 7-day IL
5/11/2024 – Clearwater placed OF TJayy Walton on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/9
5/10/2024 – Reading transferred LHP Matt Osterberg to the Development List
5/10/2024 – LHP Angel Liranzo assigned to FCL Phillies from DSL Phillies White
5/09/2024 – Phillies signed FA RHP Ricardo Pinto an MiLB contract
5/09/2024 – RHP Ricardo Pinto assigned to Lehigh Valley
5/09/2024 – Lehigh Valley activated LHP Tyler Gilbert
5/09/2024 – Reading placed RHP Christian McGowan on the 7-day IL
5/09/2024 – Reading activated SS Kendall Simmons from the 7-day IL
5/09/2024 – LHP Kolby Allard assigned to FCL Phillies from Lehigh Valley
5/09/2024 – C Santiago Prado assigned to DSL Phillies White
5/08/2024 – Lehigh Valley placed RHP Zac Houston on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/7
5/08/2024 – RHP Max Lazar assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/08/2024 – RHP Tyler McKay assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
5/08/2024 – Reading activated RHP Efrain Contreras from the 7-day IL
5/07/2024 – Phillies signed FA RHP Gerardo Lopez to an MiLB contract
5/07/2024 – Cincinnati traded LHP Tyler Gilbert to Phillies for cash
5/07/2024 – LHP Tyler Gilbert assigned to Lehigh Valley
5/07/2024 – Lehigh Valley activated C Cody Roberts from the Development List
5/07/2024 – LHP Wesley Moore assigned to Reading from Jersey Shore
5/07/2024 – Reading activated RHP Noah Skirrow from the Development List
5/07/2024 – Jersey Shore sent RHP Josh Bortka on a rehab assignment to Clearwater
5/07/2024 – Jersey Shore placed LF Hendry Mendez on the 7-day IL retroactive to 5/6
5/07/2024 – RHP Andrew Baker assigned to Jersey Shore from Reading
5/07/2024 – RHP Max Castillo assigned to FCL Phillies from Lehigh Valley
5/06/2024 – LHP Benony Robles assigned to Jersey Shore from FCL Phillies
5/05/2024 – Reading transferred RHP Zach Haake to the Development List
5/05/2024 – Reading transferred RHP Robinson Pina to the Development List
Phuture Phillies 