2021 General Minor League Discussion

[andyb]

Alternate site games started 4/4 I think. First game Sanchez struck out 6 in 3 IP. Today saw a couple of random tweets but Kingery was 2-3 and Falter started and got 9 consecutive outs with 5 Ks. Playing the Yankees 4 times a week and that is it. Scoreless innings for Addison Russ and Reggie McClain against us.

Someone must be keeping stats somewhere. It does look like Spring Training rules so innings can be ended after lots of pitches. 10-man lineups occasionally also. A little more lax than regular games.

Lineup today:
https://twitter.com/Kram207/status/1379178771568267268

[zambonir]

I read we're playing the Mets in Brooklyn too (and vice-versa). That's a tougher trip for sure though.

[andyb]

I think today may have been the Mets actually. Maybe we'll play more than 4 times a week.

[zambonir]

That still sounds about right tbh. Two road, two home, two workouts or sim/intrasquad games. They probably don't want any overnights.

Here we go. 18 games total. I assume just a single trip to Brooklyn, or maybe they would do two games there? (With the Mets playing 1 in Allentown and 1 in SWB?)

The Service Electric Network will be broadcasting all home games starting on Monday, April 5 (excluding Saturday, April 17). Games between the Phillies and Yankees (and one game at Coca-Cola Park vs. the Mets) will begin this Saturday, April 3 at 4:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. There will be a total of 18 games alternating home and away between Coca-Cola Park and PNC Field (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) in addition to the game on Monday, April 5, vs the Mets.

Here is the broadcast schedule for the Service Electric Network:

· Monday, April 5 at 3:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Mets

· Tuesday, April 6 at 1:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Wednesday, April 7 at 12:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Monday, April 19 at 3:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Wednesday, April 21 at 12:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Sunday, April 25 at 1:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Wednesday, April 28 at 3:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

· Saturday, May 1 at 4:05 p.m. – Phillies vs. Yankees

Three Allentown games will have fans, 4/17, 4/25, and 5/1

Spring Training Comes to Coca-Cola Park

[andyb]

Down 6-0 today unfortunately. Both Parkinson (the starter) and Llovera both had an inning "rolled" before they got the 3rd out.

[LoneStarPhan]

Interesting that some phans will be able to see some of the alternate site action. While we watch for news and hope the players there are getting valuable playing time to keep sharp and continue their development, we should not lose sight of the fact that the results probably don't tell us much. I read somewhere that, in the first game at least, there were no umpires. Catchers were calling the balls and strikes.

[Philsmania]

Is the delayed start of minor league season just a one year thing or will minor league season now permanently run from early May through late September? I get the sense that with the new ML roster rules, September recalls are largely a thing of the past.

[andyb]

Just 2 September recalls. Not that it mattered for the minor league playoffs of course.

I think they are still working out some details, but before they delayed everything they were doing a slightly staggered start. 144 games in AAA and AA. 138 in High A starting 1 week later and 132 in Low A (2 weeks later). There is also no reason to wait till July for short season ball since the intent is not for new draftees to play. So I bet in the next normal year they start GCL earlier, like in mid-May to early June.

[zambonir]

This delay is still more about COVID, and the inability to have spring training until now. I wonder what sort of protocols will be in place once the season actually begins though. For instance, the Reading catchers and pitchers likely wouldn't be available for a direct call-up to MLB - anyone who is in that pool basically needs to be in AAA.

I think if I were a minor leaguer I'd want to be vaccinated even more than the major leaguers, limits on travel and dining about and socializing would be more of a drag when you're not making money and are on the road (or even in Allentown).

[andyb]

Chatham was resigned to a minor league deal.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Interesting to me the local news out of Scranton Wilkes Berra said the Phillies and Yankees alternative game for today was cancelled. They went on to say the 2 teams have been practicing and running drills together. I don't know if this was done yesterday and the teams travel for practice or if the Phillies have been staying in the SWB area for a couple of days to be able to practice together.

[zambonir]

I hear Scranton Wilkes-Berra is so crowded that no one goes there anymore

[Philsmania]

A friend of mine and I may head up to Allentown on Saturday for the Alt Phillies-Alt Yankees game.

Why are they only playing the Yankees and Mets? Is the Red Sox alternate site in Worcester? And the Orioles and Nationals have theirs in Bowie and Fredericksburg respectively. And, the Pirates have theirs in Pittsburgh.

Here are 2021 alternate training sites

[zambonir]

I just don't think there's any interest in the travel, expense or additional mingling of rosters, even though we've never seen between-team transmission. According to what I posted they are not even playing the Mets but once, and that already happened. Allentown to Moosic is simple and short.

[andyb]

Only 22 days away from the real thing (May 4). Minor league Spring Training games start Friday (looks like they will be against Toronto and Detroit mainly or even exclusively). Two groups will travel, two will play at home.

[andyb]

PhuturePhillies has some minor league game reports as games started last Friday.

Minor League Spring Training 2021, (4/17/21)

Abel is supposed to pitch later this week. I think today got rained out down there.

[zambonir]

Today's @Phillies taxi squad lineup vs. @Yankees
Kingery 3B
Herrera DH
Vierling 1B
Hall RF
Maton 2B
Marchan C
Jankowski CF
Listi LF
Brito SS
Francisco Morales RHP

— Tom Housenick ( @TomHousenick ) April 19, 2021

[andyb]

I do wonder if the young 40-man starters will be in the mix for spot starts if the team needs to do something about Moore. Velasquez really has not earned a start with his outings. Howard was not very impressive in his inning (throwing hard but that was about it) and is not being stretched out at LHV.

That leaves Falter, Medina, and Morales as spot start candidates. Morales is not ready by any stretch, but the option has been used and he might actually be tough to hit without much of a scouting report the first time around the league. I'd probably bet on Medina getting the first shot because of experience, but to me he might rank third these days among those pitchers in terms of rotation potential.

Billy Sullivan sighting in that High A group. I would not be shocked if he got close to the majors by the end of the year. High 90s college free agent with the bonus of being local. He should move quickly.

The 4 minor league groups BTW are much more accurate representations of final rosters this year since there is not going to be too much pushing down of players after cuts. The alternate roster is not a perfect representation of the LHV roster, but it is the right size (30) and close to what we will end up with. Some players like Morales and Brito probably go down to Reading (and a handful of players at minor league spring training might move up correspondingly), but the groups this year are probably pretty close to what we'll get. There will be a round of cuts and releases like there always is, but most players are probably already at their designated level.

[zambonir]

I still don't see how they don't try Velasquez though. If they pull Moore from the rotation he still has to go to the pen (unless they DFA, I suppose he wouldn't get claimed). You could also tandem VV and Hale, or use Howard in that role.

But we're at least 2-3 starts away from this conversation I think. A spot start is one thing, but if you're simply replacing Moore in the rotation it's not gonna be any of those minor leaguers. It is why Velasquez is still here, and his bullpen role is tailored to that eventuality (which also continues to leave him with no chance to adjust to a more typical or higher-leverage bullpen role).

Suarez and Mitchell would seem like the best candidates to me for a true one-off but I believe they are both relievers at this point.

[andyb]

Randolph added to the alternate site roster today. He had been down at minor league spring training with the AA group.

I guess they need bodies at LHV.