2019 Phillies Season Discussion

[schillingfan]

That having been said, watching Hockey in the US and watching Soccer in the US is very, very different. Watching Hockey in the US you are seeing the best players in the world play in a competitive season (6 months). Watching Soccer (MLS) is about the 10th best league in the world (if that). You are seeing marginal players that probably could not even play in Germany or England or other strong leagues. Basically, the MLS is about a High-A league level with players too old to be called prospects (obviously there are some exceptions)

I’m pretty sure that the World Cup winning women’s soccer team would disagree with you on the quality of soccer in the U.S.

[bkeich]

Well, they also complain that they don’t get enough money and their US League is not exactly a big crowd draw. I actually didn’t even realize there was a women’s league again, they are doing an excellent job of keeping it a secret.

[zambonir]

Now we're way off-topic but women's soccer is a whole other issue (both their relative dominance internationally and the sad state of the NWSL - which sells out every game in my city, but not many others). You don't see any American players leaving the US to play professionally overseas, because there's no better or better-paying league to go, whereas the best American men are not the best players in the world, but the good ones are still too good for MLS.

Anyway, almost time for the all-star game right? I don't even have a TV tonight (but fortunately everything is a TV).

[julio]

Yeah, we're off-topic (but everybody does it, so...), but if you find MLS too unskilled, and you have cable (I don't, but most of you do, and even if you don't, there are ways), try FA Cup soccer - the Brits. Those clubs are absolutely world-class... and the British know how to televise the game.

I'm old (favorite lament!), and remember when the major US networks tried to cover hockey in the 1970s. I had been exposed to real TV coverage of the NHL (in Boston, watching the Bruins, either at home or - even better - when they were in Montreal against Les Canadiens), and it was painful to watch the network effort. Too zoomed in, losing the puck. Wanting to go to commercial when there was no stoppage. Poor coverage of soccer suffers from some of the same - you can't appreciate the game if you're just watching the guy with the ball. Positioning, anticipation on the part of teammates. Bad coverage misses all that.

I mean, you have to watch the midfielders! (Yeah, I played in high school... )

[andyb]

Arrieta to continue to pitch while Phillies assess his elbow (and performance). 85% of Arrieta is better than what we have at AAA is the quote.

Arrieta to pitch while Phillies evaluate elbow

[Patchmk88]

This is sad

[julio]

This is sad

Matt Breen (matt_breen)

This suggests that Arrieta should stop trying to throw the breaking pitches, since they're getting hammered. Of course, without the breaking pitches, his fast ball becomes inviting. All of which suggests he should have the surgery, because he's just likely to get hammered if he continues to pitch.

[Patchmk88]

Kapler says that Arrieta basically has no idea where he is throwing the ball, but we are going to keep trotting him out there.

[Lawman]

Got it. So absent any trades, our staff is "Nola and the Pray for Rains". And, that's only if Nola is the 2018 version.

[California_Dreamin]

No, it Nola and the rest, and pray for the best...

[Austinfan]

Nola right now is as good or better than the 2018 version, he's got his nasty curve and his changeup is improved.
Eflin has been up and down but he's still a solid middle rotation guy.
The rest, well, pray. Pivetta and Velasquez could get hot, or not.
Still think they should just shut down Arrieta, if you have no command, you have no chance.

[Lawman]

Eflin has been awful his past few starts and can't be counted on either.

[bkox]

Meghan Montemurro (M_Montemurro)

Meghan Montemurro (M_Montemurro)

[allentown]

Not any glory for Phillies training/medical staff. Although he pitched less than an inning on June 19, he's basically been hurt since his prior appearance on May 23. Did pitching on June 19th cause the partial tear off the bone?

[zambonir]

Rotator cuff in May, hamstring in June, so no.

[allentown]

I forgot the rotator cuff. So he's basically a wreck.

[Squire]

I agree with MacPhail. I wouldn't buy to add to this team at all.

[zambonir]

Is that really what he said? I haven't read anything yet but sounded like the same old same old, "we think the guys we have are good enough, it's up to them."

But in any case, why would he publicly say "we're going to be aggressive at the deadline and we have huge holes to fill and none of our prospects are untouchable."

It just looks like there are too many holes to fill at an acceptable price. Neshek and Seranthony aren't coming back really. Robertson is still not clear either. Rotation now has as many as three holes instead of 1-2.

It will take care of itself though. You don't make decisions based on small samples, whether they got 0-4 or 4-0 against the Dodgers. But the path will be pretty clear as the market heats up.

[allentown]

Totally agree. This year's team is cursed and has developed too many holes. I wouldn't trade what little precious minor league top talent we have to tilt at 2019 windmills. Next two years we have a decent chance to be better. We know where the gaps are a lot more than we did prior to season. Injuries happen, but there were holes and the team is just unbalanced with too many $ going to old relievers.

[fish]

This team hit the wall in the rebuild. There isn’t much more coming after Bohm and Haseley. Holes and bad players abound- they need to take every opportunity they can to add guys that will be useful for more than this season. Use money to get guys or packages of guys. No degree of patience is going to make talent appear out of nowhere.