2020 Phillies Spring Training News, Notes & Discussion

[zambonir]

Well, I'd like Cutch to be ready after two weeks. The Quinn question is whether he can stay healthy for 3-500 ABs, whatever his role. The fact that he can't be optioned tends to become moot when he ends up on the DL. He didn't even get out of spring training last year so if he does that it's already progress.

As always lots of good stuff in this column but a few interesting notes...

Local 9: Phillies won't rush the acclimation process with...

- Baseball-Reference developed a metric that tracks the caliber of opponents faced in spring training based on their highest level played in the previous season — a 10 is MLB and a 4 is Low-A ball. Bohm, who was 7-for-12 entering the weekend, had faced pitchers with a cumulative 5.7 quality rating; that equates to something between High A and Double A.

Story also notes that minor league ST games don't begin until March 17, so it could be a while before they start sending guys down from the current 70+. The first AAA game isn't until April 9 so in theory Cutch, in the best-case scenario (and the one in his head) could still make it back to MLB by just rehabbing in Extended ST.

[DurhamBull]

Quinn will play a ton if Cutch is out but I was replying to Andy's speculation that Quinn could actually play more than Haseley in CF, in general (having read the Athletic piece he then posted). And next year there could be more than enough playing time for Haseley and Quinn in both LF and CF (Bruce will be gone, Cutch might only be a platoon player). Let's not forget many think Haseley is still a 4th OF or a LF in the end.

Fair enough. My guess is that a healthy Quinn > Haseley, but we're still learning what each of them has to offer. It'd be great if so many OFs are healthy that there's actual competition for playing time.

[andyb]

Fair enough. My guess is that a healthy Quinn > Haseley, but we're still learning what each of them has to offer. It'd be great if so many OFs are healthy that there's actual competition for playing time.

That is what I think too. Haseley really does not have the offense you want in LF too so if Quinn was actually healthy and Haseley struggled a bit, you could even see him bumped down to AAA for a bit where he really did not have that much experience.

We really don't have an ideal solution for CF or LF at the moment so we will likely mix and match. We just should not dismiss someone winning a job outright (like Herrera did out of nowhere). It might take a few months to sort out.

[allentown]

In today's Athtletic, Keith Law ranks the Phillies farm #22, puts Braves #2 and Nats #29. He blames our development side.

1. Philadelphia Phillies
   The Phillies have made some quixotic decisions on the development front — pushing very young, often physically immature players to full-season ball, then starting college products like Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard in Low A — that seem to have held back their system as a whole despite better drafts the past 2-3 years and continually productive international classes.

[andyb]

He was really negative on that podcast about the Luis Garcia to Lakewood decision (and Bohm too for opposite reasons).

[zambonir]

I think we can dismiss the idea of Quinn staying healthy enough to win the job outright just the same as we could dismiss the idea of Franco ever becoming a plus starting 3B or Neris becoming a true lockdown reliever. It could happen, but we'd have to see it happen. I hope he's able to stay off the DL, he's a major leaguer even if he's not regular.

Garlick would be the interesting wild card to me if Cutch is out for longer. If he got 48 ABs and did what he did with the Dodgers he and Bruce would certainly fill the hole.

Viewing this OF as a more platoon-forward squad (except for RF) probably makes sense anyway. Cutch is going to be out and should probably get a couple of days off a week once he's back (and Bruce certainly won't be happy if he doesn't get 1-2 starts a week). And Quinn doesn't have to be the the low side of the platoon if Haseley struggles, since he switch-hits.

[allentown]

Of course Quinn can win the job outright. He may subsequently go on the DL by August, but that is entirely different than not being able to win the job outright. Franco just wasn't good enough. Any OF can go down and as of now, only Harper looks like he has a chance to be healthy enough and we know he's good enough to hold an OF spot for the whole season. Can't honestly say that about anyone else.

[zambonir]

He can win a job outright if he ever stays healthy. Last year he didn't make it to Opening Day and he also had no opportunity to fill the hole left by Herrera either. If he made it to August that would be remarkable. I have the same faith in his health as I do in Franco's ability. Less, in fact. I'm not questioning Quinn's ability.

But even so, whether a healthy Quinn is the player we hope he can be also remains in question. We simply don't know. He is career negative-WAR, under-.700 OPS player. But it's impossible to separate that from his health (both because he has played hurt and because he's never been able to play enough to become consistent/improved.

It's just hard to have Quinn as your insurance policy (for Cutch or Haseley) when you need one for him too.

[LoneStarPhan]

Phillies end the losing streak (at 2) with come from behind win over the Braves tonight. Eflin gave up 3 in the first and the Phillies were down 4-0 after 5 innings. They win with 6-4, scoring 4 in the top of the ninth. While we all know these games are not really about wins and loses, it is always fun to win. Phillies now 7-3-1 in Grapefruit action. Tomorrow is an off day and they come back with a split squad two game Wednesday.

Bethancourt had two solo home runs tonight after taking over catching the second part of the game. With Knapp slowed by injury, he might be in serious running for the back up catcher job to start the season. Knapp still has options. Bethancourt does not and is not on the 40, so if they do add him to start the season, they could lose him if they later want to make a change, so that is another consideration.

[zambonir]

And Devi has options too. Wonder if Bethancourt has an opt-out, usually when we bring in the veteran catchers they do, though those guys were proven major league journeymen and Bethancourt is more of a failed prospect looking for another chance.

Before tonight BBRef showed Bethancourt with a .393 OPS against AAA quality opposition; I assume the two HRs will change that greatly, but the opposition level won't be better. He was good in actual AAA last year. I think they'd rather give Devi the look, since as you note they could also lose Bethancourt if they add him and then send him down.

Kind of a drag this game wasn't on TV, things have really changed for the Braves too! Night game, new stadium, back in the day it would have certainly been on TBS.

[mdougherty12]

And Devi has options too. Wonder if Bethancourt has an opt-out, usually when we bring in the veteran catchers they do, though those guys were proven major league journeymen and Bethancourt is more of a failed prospect looking for another chance.

Before tonight BBRef showed Bethancourt with a .393 OPS against AAA quality opposition; I assume the two HRs will change that greatly, but the opposition level won't be better. He was good in actual AAA last year. I think they'd rather give Devi the look, since as you note they could also lose Bethancourt if they add him and then send him down.

Bethancourt’s good AAA year was actually 2018, though it was in the PCL at Colorado Springs, a very hitter-friendly environment. Last year, he played in Korea.

[zambonir]

Ah. Well, all, the more reason to think he's going to AAA if he doesn't have an opt-out. He's not making anyone else's 40 and we're not carrying four catchers on ours.

I think people are too hard on Knapp but if they were to replace him I'd go get Russell Martin (probably not affordable with the CBT issues) or someone more defensively proven. If Knapp isn't out long Devi is fine, especially since AAA games don't even start for 10 days after MLB, he'll get his everyday reps eventually.

[andyb]

Bethancourt is really just emergency depth. He really is not a major league hitter even though his defense is decent. That is why they attempted the pitcher conversion. I recall that he was signed after other AAAA catchers did not sign with the Phillies because they assumed that both young catchers (Knapp or Grullon) would be fine in the backup role and both had options. No need to blow a 40-man spot on a guy like Bethancourt would likely pass through waivers in almost any situation.

[Jazzhead]

Bethancourt's defense is more than decent. He's got a cannon for an arm. I would like to see the back-up catcher's spot go to the best defender, notwithstanding possible offensive deficiencies. I'm rooting for Bethancourt to make the team.

[andyb]

While a good arm is obviously great for a catcher to have, I think its importance is overrated in today's game where there simply are not a lot of stolen bases. Blocking balls in the dirt, framing, and calling a game are all more important in addition to offense.

I think the Phillies like how Knapp calls a game. His offense is probably better than he has showed as well. Grullon also is better offensively because of his power, but is not as good defensively (though the arm is close). Just not sure there is a reason for Bethancourt.

[teabag259]

Regarding Bohm on the opening day roster...I can’t help but think of Charlie’s statement years ago when A young Dom Brown has a monster spring, “He hit his way outta here”.

[Jazzhead]

While a good arm is obviously great for a catcher to have, I think its importance is overrated in today's game where there simply are not a lot of stolen bases. Blocking balls in the dirt, framing, and calling a game are all more important in addition to offense.

I think the Phillies like how Knapp calls a game. His offense is probably better than he has showed as well. Grullon also is better offensively because of his power, but is not as good defensively (though the arm is close). Just not sure there is a reason for Bethancourt.

Bethancourt could be the ultimate "26th man". Not only can he be the back-up catcher, he can also pitch (!) and play the outfield. I've long been an advocate of sticking with a 12-man pitching staff and adding strength and options to the bench. Playing with a four man bench truly limits late-game options, and makes for boring baseball. That's why I applaud the new 26-man rule. But Bethancourt's a potential two-fer!

[phillychuck]

Honestly, the most important position for a bench player is "batter"--it is where they are most likely to make a difference in the games. Lets get some decent 700+ OPS guys on the bench.

[zambonir]

Now that it's a 5-man bench, the back-up catcher's bat won't be as important. That's the real reason why so many people were down on Knapp, he was just used as a PH so often and people remember the times he failed even though our brain can't really tell the difference, over 15 games, between a guy who gets 3 hits in 10 ABs and a guy who gets two. In reality he's probably a perfectly adequate/average PH (which is to say, to be a .200 hitter is fine and a .250 hitter extraordinary).

He was also pretty darn good overall in the second half (.760 OPS). Like a lot of players it seems like more starts made him play better (with JT hurt he had as many in September as he did in any other two months combined). Between his pitch-calling and his switch-hitting he's an asset.

In any case even with 26 men and an injury they are not carrying 4 catchers on the 40. If someone winds up on the 60-day and then there's another injury Bethancourt would get a look.

[bkeich]

That's the real reason why so many people were down on Knapp

I actually remember a very high number of completely gaffe's on the field also. He had some amazingly bad baserunning mistakes and didnt seem to know what to do in many at bats (obvious bunting or move hitter over positions). He simply is a below average baseball IQ guy on offense, a below average hitter with the only skill being he can draw walks. I would really like to see us upgrade the backup catcher position, Realmuto is going to wear down if we keep giving him 1100+ inning seasons. I also question Knapp's defense, he actually got on a hot streak at the end of the season throwing runners out to get to league average, but his 14 Wild Pitches (Realmuto had 30 in 3.5 times as many innings) were obviously high.

One of the reasons he walks so much is that he doesnt put the ball in play much anyway. His 37% strikeout rate is extremely high for a guy with absolutely no power. His lifetime .336 slugging percentage is about as low as you can find in the majors.

Knapp is not an average player overall, he is significantly below that. In 3 seasons he has a total of 0.1 WAR. Replacement level. I hope he is replaced.