2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion

[zambonir]

Harper leading off has always been a reasonable idea though I think he likes hitting third even more than Schwarber likes hitting first. Obviously "if it ain't broke don't fix it" doesn't really apply here, though Schwarber's performance in June (if not recently) and the team's record isn't broke, even if Harper is. Would certainly be nice to put more guys on base for Schwarber.

[Austinfan]

I don't think it'll take until next year for Harper, the power is there, the timing is off, and that can turn around quickly.
Turner is more a matter of him pressing, trying to justify his contract.
Bohm is just weird, at time he looks like an elite hitter, at times he looks hapless.
Marsh seems to have rediscovered his mojo.

Harrison and Sosa are subs, nothing more.

[phillychuck]

I would not worry about the batting order. Lineup position has been shown repeatedly to have almost no effect on run scoring, especially in DH lineups. Bat players where they are most comfortable (within reason). You wouldn't lead Marsh or Sosa off, for example, even if they loved it there...
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[andyb]

Turner has a 798 OPS in June. 10/18 BB/K ratio. .367 OBP. Power is down a bit from last year but this might be what Turner is in his early 30s. It would be nice to get one or two more great years out of him, but 750-800 OPS production for the next 5 years is likely the norm. That can be a 4 WAR player if his defense holds up.

[Callison]

bk - agree on the Harper assessment - he's hitting singles, not homers and doubles yet and we're all just waiting until he does, so why not replace a sub-Mendoza leadoff guy with a .295 leadoff guy? But Big Rob doesn't do things that way. REAL stubborn about HIS way of doing things too. Was HIS idea to bat Schwarber leadoff. So makes sense, never happen.

So Harper will relearn to hit those homers and doubles at #4. IMHO, when that happens -latest estimate seems to be August - it will lift the team a level and the Phils can play with the Braves.

[zambonir]

2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

Bellatti has pitched well at LHV. Brogdon not so much. I'd like to see them option Marte and call Bellatti back up since the seemed determined to keep Covey for some reason.

They should also option Clemens and recall Hall - infuse some more power into the lineup.

Wish they could find a way to get Cave back, too but that would mean Harrison most likely and like Covey, the seemed determined to keep him even though Kingery could probably do better.

I think Hall will either be up tomorrow or Friday. And Bellatti is going to get the call soon enough, hopefully because they want to rather than because they need to (I still think Strahm is a time bomb and Seranthony is apparently going to be out longer). They really like Marte though. Brogdon will probably get his turn eventually too.

Hoffman is the guy who probably doesn't last past the trade deadline. Not because they might get someone else who's not already in the org but because he can't be optioned. Covey also won't stay forever. Song remains the x-factor as far as both the 40 and the last spot in the pen.

I doubt Kingery will get back on the 40. Maybe they'll throw him into a trade. But he's not the RHB they're looking for even though Harrison isn't either. In any case, Cave's not RH.

[Aquapong]

Heck give Kingery another shot. It’s not like Harrison is doing anything for us.

[zambonir]

Ellis is doing better than Kingery and he's on the 40. Heck Dalton Guthrie still had better AAA numbers than Kingery (but obviously he's no longer an option).

I'll be surprised if Josh Harrison isn't on the Phillies October 1 but he's definitely not going anywhere before July 31.

It's still puzzling to me that we have a primarily RH 3B (and, until Rhys got hurt, 1B) and a primarily RH SS and they added Harrison to Sosa off the bench. Especially since Stott rarely sits.

[Aquapong]

Well at least we’ll miss Stroman this time through the Cubs.

[Patchmk88]

Need a good week this week. 4 or 5 wins.

[zambonir]

I'll take four given the way the Cubs are playing (they also have a better differential than the Phillies) and it's a road series (and how badly they did there last year). But either way, sweep the Nats. The games against the Florida teams will be interesting.

[bkox]

Soooo.. Wildfire smoke has Chicago with the worlds worst air quality today... Zip Code of Wrigley showing 228. Do they play tonight?

Chicago's air quality ranks worst in the world as smoke from Canada wildfires...

[zambonir]

Heck, for "worst air quality in the world" standards that is nothing. For baseball, we'll see. They have certainly played in the 150+ range but not >200

No surprise here (as of two hours ago).

Tonight’s game still on. Only Commissioners Office and Players Union can decide to postpone due to air quality issues, as they did last month for Yankees and Phils. pic.twitter.com/UPWtNOY5bp

— Paul Sullivan ( @PWSullivan ) June 27, 2023

[ER222]

I’m in the suburbs, and it’s pretty bad. I can’t imagine they’ll play. I’d stay home if I had tickets. I’m supposed to go on Thursday, hopefully it clears up.

[Aquapong]

The Mariners Dfa’d Chris Flexen after a rough start to the year. Any chance we claim him to see if he can regain his effectiveness of the last two years? He’d be due ~$4 million for the rest of the year.

[bkox]

I’m in the suburbs, and it’s pretty bad. I can’t imagine they’ll play. I’d stay home if I had tickets. I’m supposed to go on Thursday, hopefully it clears up.

Im down in Decatur and its not great here. about 150. Can smell smoke outside.

[Aquapong]

Phils are 2-0 in pollution games.

[phillychuck]

Phils are 2-0 in pollution games.

They're smokin'!!

[el-pietro]

It would be nice if anyone else in the wild card race would lose a game once in a while

[zambonir]

The Cubs lost!

We still got games with the Brewers,and Giants. And Miami of course. Cubs and Padres way down there but have the 3rd and 4th-best run differentials. But sometimes that luck doesn't even out. It's also starting to look like Miami's luck won't run out.

As with last year it won't be enough for the Phillies to hold up their end, someone else is going to have to choke a little too.