Discussion

andyb 2018-03-01 18:41:52 UTC #161

Spring training for the analytics guys too. I think they were tasked with proposed shifts for Spring games, just like the coaches are tasked with implementing them with the players. "Find me a couple of opposition players where it would make sense to do this LF/RF shift".

gmwannabe 2018-03-01 18:42:50 UTC #162

pivetta hurt? removed with 2 outs and the bases loaded in the second inning. if not, that's not giving him any chance at gaining any confidence getting out of jams.
gm

David_Criss 2018-03-01 18:55:58 UTC #163

Hoping he was just on a pitch count, but then again 22 is an odd number to be limited to. He threw 10 strikes and 12 balls - could be a precautionary pulling. Hopefully we will hear soon.

andyb 2018-03-01 21:41:24 UTC #164

Today's box: Rhys HoskinsRF-LF-RF-LF-RF-LF. Danny Ortiz with the opposite positions so they did it at least 3 times.

andyb 2018-03-02 01:05:30 UTC #165

Roman Quinn - worth the read. Seems like a really good kid who just needs a positive break.

It would be great if he and maybe even Valentin could hold down the open bench spots. That would give us lots of 40-man flexibility to mix and match on the pitching side.

zambonir 2018-03-02 02:03:26 UTC #166

I'd certainly rather watch that bench. Not that I think veterans are automatically bad, but it would be refreshing, and they are on the 40. Let the journeymen guys who don't have opt-outs hang out in Allentown, they will turn up eventually.

andyb 2018-03-02 21:35:33 UTC #167

Kingery with his 3rd HR of the spring. Valentin also went deep. It might be tough to cut Kingery at the end of Spring Training. He certainly could play a speedier version of Ben Zobrist if they decided the club was better with him than without him. If it is a 4-man bench then I am sure he'd get plenty of playing time.

Hutchison with 3 scoreless also (2 H, 2 BB). If the team does not add a veteran starter he probably has a pretty good shot at making the roster.

zambonir 2018-03-02 21:53:33 UTC #168

It's not gonna be that tough (or rather, it might be tough, but they'll still do it. In fact the better he looks, the more motivation they have to keep him down until the cut-off).

The Inquirer basically agrees with both of us. Leash on Franco could get mighty short.

The Scott Kingery hype machine received a bit more fuel. He homered to the opposite field in the third inning for his third blast this week. The Phillies will keep him at triple A for the first two weeks of the season to gain an extra year of club control. Expect his arrival to the majors to be the most anticipated story line of the season’s first month. He looks legit this spring.

Squire 2018-03-03 17:48:47 UTC #169

So I got stranded in Florida because of the Nor’easter and am at today’s Phillies-Orioles game

phillychuck 2018-03-03 18:03:18 UTC #170

Enjoy, and be sure to share observations!!

Posting this in the top of the 5th:

My, aren't you the good luck charm!?

Top of the 8th:

OK, you've got 2 innings to get us a run. Or at least a hit! Get to it!

tom81 2018-03-04 02:45:58 UTC #171

Good article from Gelb. He speculated that Kingery could get called up in April.
“Here's the thing lost in the service-time banter: The Phillies can have Kingery in the majors for almost all of the season and still delay his free agency until after the 2024 season. A year of service time is 172 days. Major League Baseball has elongated the 2018 schedule; the Phillies will play their 162-game season in 186 days. Kingery, in theory, could come to the majors on April 13 — for the Phillies' 13th game of the season. He would then spend 171 days in the majors, one day shy of a full year of service time.”

Squire 2018-03-04 14:21:50 UTC #172

Yeah...not much to report yesterday. Gausman was dominating. Eshelman threw a ton of pitches to get through 1 and 1/3rds and was barely touching 90 on the gun. Wind was blowing in. I think Santana and Franco would have had home runs under no wind conditions. Very boring game to be honest.

gmwannabe 2018-03-04 14:48:18 UTC #173

you're right squire. i watched some on tv and the phils bats looked really slow. De Los Santos sp? looked pretty good though. he looks like he slings the ball when he pitches. hardest ball hit looked like williams' foul ball down the right field line.
gm

andyb 2018-03-04 16:29:29 UTC #174

This is the second article I have seen that has floated that service time move (which they did with Franco also). If Kingery gets sent down I almost hope they let him play 50 games down there so the move is not so transparently anti-player. I also hope the organizations starts sending messages (maybe with Nola now) that they will resign their young players to deals that buy out a year or two of free agency anyway.

Given that this theory is now being freely floated to the press (I am sure by someone connected with the team), I am guessing the team is actively considering it.

tom81 2018-03-04 18:05:36 UTC #175

Outside of 4 games at 3B and 2 at SS last year Kingery has played all of his minor league games at 2B. If they play him at 3B, SS, CF, etc. in his first three weeks of the minor league season and then call him up to do the same on the major league team this will not look anti-player at all. Calling him up after 3 weeks and having him just play 2B and pinch hit will look anti-player. If they do bring him up in April I bet they make it look good and you hear no complaints from Kingery.

andyb 2018-03-04 18:09:06 UTC #176

But the player's association will say something. It is not in Kingery's interests to be vocal if the Phillies game the system but is in other people's interests. I know they can paper over the move with the position switch, but they had all winter and spring training to deal with that. JP Crawford was just fine at 3B with like a week's advance notice.

zambonir 2018-03-04 18:25:32 UTC #177

What jumped out for me was Gelb referenced Franco filing a grievance but we never heard how that was resolved. I assume that means nothing came of it. Also, maybe a good thing he didn't get the early contract extension?

But Franco's time had to be manipulated - and was more blatant - because he'd already been in the majors the previous season. With Kingery not being on the 40 it's not as big a deal (it resembles Kris Bryant too, but he was a top pick and had Boras squawking).

And it may even take care of itself. Not that I want him to struggle, but spring training doesn't always tell the full story. Once he gets to Allentown if it's obvious he doesn't belong there they can bring him up and if it isn't obvious, a full month or more isn't gonna hurt. Especially since playing time would be something of an issue no matter how much Kapler preaches flexibility. I know the Dodgers found time for a lot of guys but they had older (and injured) players they could rotate out. Kingery being able to play CF or SS isn't going to get him a lot of starts at those positions. Unless, of course, they punt on Franco quickly.

andyb 2018-03-04 20:08:36 UTC #178

I was never in the camp that thought Franco should have been given a quick long term deal and that is because he never profiled well for the position defensively so we would pay extra for the HRs which are only part of the game. Kingery (and Crawford and Nola and a couple others) are different. Well rounded players that we should risk some short term money to keep them long term at a discount.

zambonir 2018-03-04 20:58:21 UTC #179

Well, I think it's still a little early to lock up two players who haven't even spent a week starting in the majors, but sure, I wouldn't worry that they aren't going to be useful going forward (and even if they don't pan out the contract wouldn't likely be odious, Herrera's certainly isn't). The idea that the Phillies will delay Kingery's service time but then reward him with more money than he would otherwise make as a second or third year player is definitely good business.

andyb 2018-03-04 21:29:35 UTC #180

Never said they need to do it now. Maybe a year from now. The one player they should do now is Nola. I'd think about Neris maybe also. That is about it.