2018 Phillies Spring Training News/Notes/Discussion

[EDmuch]

What credit does Alamraz get? Who did he bring into the system in that draft that has been successful? Certainly Randolph is not living up to the expectations of a first round draft choice.

[andyb]

Who did he bring into the system in that draft that has been successful?

Kingery. Could end up being a really good 2nd round pick historically. Not saying he is Rolen or Rollins yet, but hitting on a number 2 with an above average starter is good.

[EDmuch]

Oh ! Sorry, my mistake. HIs pick of KIngery is certainly likely to become one for the ages.

[el-pietro]

Rough start for Arrieta today. Just finished the first inning on 25 pitches. Gave up four runs including a three run homer to Josh Bell and two of the three outs were relatively hard hit. A dropped fly from Hoskins for a double didn't help him though. They blamed the wind on the tv but I think he should have had it.

[el-pietro]

The not so great start continues. Odubel with a two out single but then got thrown out at second. I guess if you are gonna try things spring is the time.

[zambonir]

‘You can trust Scott Kingery’: How an undersized...

Some good details from Gelb

Brad Holland: “They moved him to second base for his junior year. I had a super-utility role on him. My first report was super utility. A Reed Johnson type. A Ben Zobrist, super-utility role. That was my first report. As the season went and I watched him more, it was, 'Wait a minute. This guy could be an everyday second baseman in the big leagues.' I think I updated my report four times that year. I don't care. We have to do whatever we can do to get this kid. He's going to play in the big leagues — if it's center, if it's short, if it's second. I don't know.”

So Ruben Amaro Jr. and Pat Gillick came to Arizona. The Phillies had the 10th-overall pick. Newman was a consideration there. Holland: “They both walked away going, 'We like Kingery better.'” Newman went 19th to Pittsburgh. Kingery lasted until the 48th pick. The Phillies never predicted him being available then.

[andyb]

So Ruben Amaro Jr. and Pat Gillick came to Arizona. The Phillies had the 10th-overall pick. Newman was a consideration there. Holland: “They both walked away going, 'We like Kingery better.'”

Well there goes our theory about giving Almaraz all the credit.....

[bigegypt0417]

Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter

[zambonir]

Yup. Really, we have no clue how any of it works. 90% of Almaraz's job might be paperwork and communication with the scouts, and 90% of the top pick decision (as has often been said here) might be made by the GM. Almaraz may not even travel much?

Gillick played a big role on Moniak too.

[donaldorc]

Has anyone else thought about how odd our opening at Atlanta is? Starts on Thurs. then on to Fri. and Sat., with an off day on Sunday. Has there ever been a Sunday open day on the schedule before?

[donaldorc]

Rough start for Arrieta today.

Didn't look very domineering! But it's early and he hasn't had as much time to get ready since his signing was late.

Phillies rallied with their scrubs and the game ended in a tie. 5-5.

[andyb]

Has anyone else thought about how odd our opening at Atlanta is? Starts on Thurs. then on to Fri. and Sat., with an off day on Sunday. Has there ever been a Sunday open day on the schedule before?

This is the new schedule that starts 4 days earlier to put 4 more off days in the schedule. Sunday off day might be a 1-time thing since it is Easter (not that it has stopped them from playing on Easter previously).

[Austinfan]

Arrieta was only 91-92, his curve was very good, his FB had movement but he struggled with location.
Since he's two weeks behind and working on things, I wouldn't read much into it.
But the loss of velocity last season may be the new reality for him.

Thompson wasn't throwing as hard as his last couple outings, wonder if coming out of the pen makes it hard for him to get loose, some guys are just better suiting to starting. We'll see.

[zambonir]

Almost time to lock this thread!

I like the new schedule, the Tuesday off-day after just one game was always annoying. But a little odd to already have baseball the weekend of the Final Four.

[el-pietro]

I stopped watching after Arrieta came out! I should have kept watching!

[EastFallowfield]

I attended an awful rainy Roy Halladay start when his decline was in effect in Atlanta in 2013 a couple days before the Final Four was held there so it's not unprecedented.

Louisville went on to win and later had that vacated.

[Patchmk88]

I was at that Championship game. They can vacate it but they can’t take it away!

[Lawman]

Am I reading the schedule right that they actually have an off day on a Sunday, April 1? When was the last time a team was off on a Sunday?

Weird.

[David_Criss]

It is Easter Sunday, not sure if the holiday played into the scheduling or not.

[Earl_U]

There are several games being played on Sunday,

Another small quirk, The team has an off day on Friday, April 6.