2017 Season Phillies Discussion (News/Notes, etc.), continued

[Lawman]

So, the new plan to get Hoskins to the ML level seems to be the route that the team didn't want to take.
OF could take the shape of Williams, Herrera, Altherr, and Hoskins.

Rhys Hoskins' ticket to big leagues could be out in left field

[Austinfan]

Hoskins in the OF is an expedient to get him on the field, as well as a response to injuries to Altherr and the potential trade of Nava.
Since Cozens, Pickett and Hall are all potential LH 1B down the road, it won't hurt if Hoskins has some LF experience even when he becomes the starting 1B.

[Philsmania]

So, the new plan to get Hoskins to the ML level seems to be the route that the team didn't want to take.
OF could take the shape of Williams, Herrera, Altherr, and Hoskins.

Rhys Hoskins' ticket to big leagues could be out in left field

I would not be completely surprised if we've seen the last of Altherr for 2017. After he came back quickly and got hurt again, they may just give it six to eight weeks for it to heal which would basically mean the rest of the season.

[andyb]

I would say there is about a 90% chance of Hoskins being the starting 1B next season with very little chance of him playing any outfield. This is a temporary move in response to injuries and Hoskins being blocked and nothing more than that. I could also see Hoskins playing more 1B than OF in September as there may be less reason to play Joseph then and we should get a few more minor league outfielders promoted, perhaps both Cozens and Quinn. Stassi would be back up as well, so even if Altherr does not return and we get rid of Nava there will be other outfielders to play.

[DurhamBull]

I would not be completely surprised if we've seen the last of Altherr for 2017. After he came back quickly and got hurt again, they may just give it six to eight weeks for it to heal which would basically mean the rest of the season.

That makes sense. Altherr has nothing left to prove for 2017. He's been a real bright spot and has secured a starting OF position for 2018. Let him heal up and give Hoskins some playing time in LF now while there's nothing at stake.

[andyb]

I'd offer the counter argument on Altherr. Certainly they should allow extra time for the injury to heal, but we are in early August. Hamstring injuries are usually not more than a month, assuming he has not torn something. If Altherr is back comfortably in early September why wouldn't we want to play him? After all, even if he had a relapse he would have all winter to get healthy.

These are not the Sixers. Young players need to play if they are not risking long term injury.

[jimbomill]

Good post. If he's ready, get him his reps!

[California_Dreamin]

Agreed...if Altherr is healthy he needs to play. I think we often forget that in sometimes doing something favorable to one player it hurts others. I think we saw that last night when Hoskins played LF.

While many viewed this as favorable for Hoskins chances of being promoted in a few days one player that it probably hurt was struggling starter, Jake Thompson. Thompson had a shutout and 2-0 lead going into the 6th inning when a ball that many good left fielders would have caught was not caught by Hoskins. This eventually led to a 3 run inning and yet another disappointing loss for Thompson, a guy we really need to turn it around.

Sure enough, today and a few other sites the talk was the same...Thompson is done, move on from him. Yet if the ball is caught Thompson probably has another shutout inning, leaves with a 2-0 lead and probably renewed confidence.

in regards to this I am always reminded of a story I read about the last game of 1962 when A] young star Johnny Callison had a .300 average and B] young star Art Mahaffey was going for his 20th victory. Mauch sat Callison to protect his .300 average, his bat was missed that day and Mahaffey lost out on a chance to win 20.

There are young pitchers on this Phillie staff that likely will benefit from a healthy, talented Altherr in the outfield as opposed to a experimental Hoskins. If he is healthy he should play...and I believe he would want to,.

[Philsmania]

Agreed...if Altherr is healthy he needs to play. I think we often forget that in sometimes doing something favorable to one player it hurts others. I think we saw that last night when Hoskins played LF.

While many viewed this as favorable for Hoskins chances of being promoted in a few days one player that it probably hurt was struggling starter, Jake Thompson. Thompson had a shutout and 2-0 lead going into the 6th inning when a ball that many good left fielders would have caught was not caught by Hoskins. This eventually led to a 3 run inning and yet another disappointing loss for Thompson, a guy we really need to turn it around.

Sure enough, today and a few other sites the talk was the same...Thompson is done, move on from him. Yet if the ball is caught Thompson probably has another shutout inning, leaves with a 2-0 lead and probably renewed confidence.

in regards to this I am always reminded of a story I read about the last game of 1962 when A] young star Johnny Callison had a .300 average and B] young star Art Mahaffey was going for his 20th victory. Mauch sat Callison to protect his .300 average, his bat was missed that day and Mahaffey lost out on a chance to win 20.

There are young pitchers on this Phillie staff that likely will benefit from a healthy, talented Altherr in the outfield as opposed to a experimental Hoskins. If he is healthy he should play...and I believe he would want to,.

I don't think anyone is saying "bench Altherr for Hoskins". Rather, they are saying don't play Altherr again this season unless they are sure he is completely healthy and make sure they take as long as necessary for his injured hamstring to heal.

[bigegypt0417]

I don't think anyone is saying "bench Altherr for Hoskins". Rather, they are saying don't play Altherr again this season unless they are sure he is completely healthy and make sure they take as long as necessary for his injured hamstring to heal.

I'm pretty positive there is no one on this board saying Hoskins over Altherr.

CD seems to have gone in the complete opposite direction over the last year or so...

[David_Criss]

This is absolutely an answer to Altherr on the DL and Nava being traded. After that you have Williams and Hererra and you need three to start. At this point Aug. 31 is not that far away for rosters to expand. I don't understand why this team seems so gun shy on using the DL i.e. Knapp. let Hoskins play a few games in LF at AAA, trade Nava for a lottery ticket and callup Hoskins for he and Perkins to see some Major League pitching. Let Altherr take his time. If he is ready in two or three weeks he comes back when the rosters expand.

[bkox]

MRI reveals a fracture in Knapp's finger according to Gregg Murphy (I thought MRIs are for soft tissue?). Knapp will now be out til September. The Jorge Alfaro era has begun

[Philsmania]

At this point, Hoskins playing left for the Pigs is a front page story on Phillies.com. Looks like barring an injury to Hoskins, this is going to happen.

Prospect Rhys Hoskins plays LF at Triple-A

[teabag259]

They need to ship Nava off somewhere for Hoskins to get the call.

[zambonir]

They could just send Perkins back down (and I doubt Zolecki is just blowing smoke). Yeah, they want to play/trade Nava, but he doesn't have to play every day. He's healthy and teams know what he can bring to the role he'd fill. Plus there's a pretty good chance the Phillies are only going to be able to trade him to one team.

[California_Dreamin]

It is interesting that the Phillies future lineup is taking shape right before our eyes. Williams is up, Alfaro likely to stay up for the rest of the year, Hoskins coming up probably tomorrow, Eflin and Pivetta primed to be in the rotation for the rest of the year, bullpen full of youngsters.

Someone on this site said in April that the team would look completely different in August and that is true. Nice to see.

[Lawman]

I'm actually planning to be at the game tomorrow night....would love to see Hoskins' debut.

[phillychuck]

I'm still not sure if Alfaro is part of the future lineup. It's a close race between Rupp/Knapp/Alfaro, and I suspect the two winners will be whoever we don't get a good trade offer for.

[Lawman]

http://www.philliesnation.com/2017/08/despite-great-play-time-to-sell-high-on-hernandez/

[Austinfan]

Klentak will be making some deals this winter/next summer.
But he doesn't want to be boxed into making bad deals just to move players.
So I can see moves like Hoskins to LF, maybe Crawford taking some games at 3B, Knapp at 1B/OF, Alfaro in RF.
The idea is to be able to carry prospects on the ML roster until the right trade comes along.

Two reasons:
1) some players like Alfaro have to be on the ML roster next year
2) if someone like Knapp can play multiple positions, you can not only carry 3 catchers, but you don't have to waste a 25/40 slot on a veteran 1B/OF like Nava this year.

It's a short-term expedient, but one that allows Klentak to preserve "option value," think about players who got away because we lacked roster spots,
Of course, if the right deal comes along, I expect him to pull the trigger.