2019 Phillies Season Discussion

[andyb]

BTW day game today. 0-0 in the top of the 3rd. Eickhoff vs Flaherty. Bot takes day games off after night games?

[David_Criss]

That is my thought, but it sounds like VV gets at least one more shot after his talk with Young and Realamuto following his last game. Rodriguez and Gosselin, have been a nice surprise for the bench, albeit in a small sample size.

[LoneStarPhan]

After the day off today, the Phillies start a 17 games in 17 days string of games including ten on the road (Royals, Cubs, Brewers) and seven at home (Brewers, Rockies).

My hope is that they can win at least 10 of the 17 games in this tough string. That would be equivalent to winning the 3 game series and splitting the four game series.

[David_Criss]

I'll be at the K in Kansas City this weekend rooting on the boys in red.

[el-pietro]

10 out of 17 would be fantastic. I'd take 8. Its a very tough run of games.

[zambonir]

Such a fine line between 10-7 and 9-8. Really you have to make it about the 20 games (since it's the same road trip) and they are already 2-1 against a tough team.

Figure, ideally:

3-0 @ KC
2-2 vs. Milwaukee (but 3 would be nice)
2-1 vs. Colorado (but possible sweep)
2-2 @ Cubs
1-2 at Brewers

That's another path to 10-7, seems reasonable. If you drop one in KC hopefully you get another at home. Of course they could go 2-5 on that road trip but based on what we just saw in STL why not be optimistic!

[el-pietro]

Apologies, I had in my head that it was a longer stretch of games. I don't know why I thought 17 days was basically a month.

Between now and mid June they basically play every good NL team outside the East, plus the Royals, and Reds, and I'm not sure the Reds aren't a very good team, they have a very bad record in close games but they have given up fewer runs than any team in the NL. I'm hoping for roughly .500 play over that stretch.

[DurhamBull]

Apologies, I had in my head that it was a longer stretch of games. I don't know why I thought 17 days was basically a month.

You're thinking of a metric month.

[Squire]

I think Aaron Altherr's 7 days since DFA ends tomorrow.

[zambonir]

Now a San Francisco Giant.

News of Former Phillies 2019

I would have liked to see Altherr make it though waivers and end up in LV, but in reality, this is probably best for him.

I think it's actually good for the Phillies to shed his salary. Like, for instance, if they end up DFAing Alvarez and nobody claims him they'll still be paying for him, so this little bit might help

[julio]

Things happening:

Meghan Montemurro (M_Montemurro)

Tom Housenick (TomHousenick)

Jim Salisbury (JSalisburyNBCS)

Scott Lauber (ScottLauber)

[zambonir]

Too bad but will be fun to see Irvin. I assume Pivetta not on turn.

[julio]

Too bad but will be fun to see Irvin. I assume Pivetta not on turn.

Pivetta pitched seven innings on Thursday. So no, not available for tomorrow.

[andyb]

Kingery is close to being ready. Possible they will activate him Sunday to get the extra 40-man slot for Irvin when they DFA an infield reserve. Kingery was scheduled to play with Lakewood on rehab on Monday.

Also Realmuto probably the DH tonight to keep Knapp and Eflin together. Cutch to DH Sunday (planned anyway).

[schooldoc]

The Phils could have started Nola tomorrow and Eickhoff on Monday, if they wanted to go with Pivetta on Tuesday. Nola and Eickhoff would have still been on 4 days' rest.

So bringing up Irvin for the start on Sunday means some combination of things:

1. They want to take a look at Irvin! This is understandable in that he is 25 and has shown about all he can at the AAA level over 1-plus seasons there.

2. They aren't convinced Pivetta is ready to come back. I haven't watched the starts, so I can't say. Although Pivetta's AAA numbers are good, it's not always wise to scout the box scores.

3. They still want to give Nola and/or Eickhoff their extra rest. Given their work last time out (over 100 pitches each in St.Louis), the upcoming schedule w/o days off for a couple weeks barring rainouts, and Eickhoff's recent health history, this is understandable too.

[tom81]

4. They would like to have a lefty in the rotation and this gives them a chance to see what it looks like.

[zambonir]

I definitely don't think they had any interest in disrupting Nola's routine on short notice.

I doubt that Kingery is coming back w/o any rehab. I think it could be Alvarez. Because even if they swapped Kingery for Gosselin to open the 40-man spot they're still gonna have to send Garcia down to open up the 25-man spot (or send Davis right back) too.

[flyers19rw]

Interesting read on the state of pitching in general and specifically BP work. Things that we're seeing on a daily basis with the Phillies:

Major league bullpens faltering under heavy load created by short starts

It does seem that the hitters have caught up to velocity. Perhaps the future will see more emphasis by pitchers on location, movement and changes of speed.

[kmc1019]

If you would have told me that the Phillies would receive nearly nothing from 40% of their original starting rotation this year yet still be playing well and comfortably in 1st place, I would certainly wonder how that is possible.
Grear to see Efliin and Eickhoff making such valuable contributions !

[Philsmania]

Phillies are on Bumgarner's eight team no trade list. Interestingly, all the teams on the list are contenders, indicating that he wants a concession (an extension?) before being moved.

Details On Madison Bumgarner's No Trade List