2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion (part 2)

[zambonir]

What Perez has done the past season-plus is pretty insane, certainly worth finding out such a move would boast JT's offense.

Meanwhile Posey is 34 and has a 144 OPS+. But Posey was always a big bat.

(Also, according to this Perez actually leads the major in starts by a catcher, with 107. 30 more as a DH. JT has 97, 7 as 1B. So he's already getting a rest - some of it from being injured - and it's not helping.)

Rosenthal: The wisdom of the Salvador Pérez extension; why Braves acted on...

[DurhamBull]

This year the MLB average OPS for DH is .758. Fr 1B its .786.

Interesting that the designated hitters are getting outhit by position players. "You had one job..."

[Austinfan]

Self-selection? Guys in the field are better athletes than guys who are limited to DH roles, and that may carry over to hitting. So your DH guys tend to be one trick ponies or older veterans (Cutch is destined to be a platoon DH for the rest of his career).

[bkox]

Since August 3 (34 games), Bryce Harper alone has accounted for:

-28% of the Phillies' HR
-21% of RBI
-20% of extra-base hits
-20% of walks
-17% of runs scored
-14% of all hits

— Paul ( @paul_boye ) September 10, 2021

He has 30 home runs this season, 23 of them have been solo homers. Here is his OPS in two situations on the year:

Bases empty - 1.018
Men on base - 1.018 https://t.co/BjTX1B6rKe

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) September 10, 2021

[zambonir]

I'm sure the designated hitters who are actually full-time designated hitters are out-hitting the position players. There aren't many of them left. Also that number includes all the NL 1B right?

And the guys who get a turn aren't just corner IF/OF bat types either. Cesar Hernandez has 7 starts at DH this year. He has a .700 OPS.

A lot of players believe you hit better if you also play the field, that it's hard to keep your head in the game just batting. One of the better DHs, Yordan Alvarez of the Astros, has a 1.200 OPS in his 30 LF starts, but just .769 in 87 as DH. (I'm sure sample size and pitchers faced is part of that too).

[bkox]

The #Phillies have had a lead in 106 of their 140 games this season. By comparison, San Francisco – with a 19-game lead over Philadelphia for the best record in baseball – has led in 109 of their 140 games on the year.

— Ryan M. Spaeder ( @theaceofspaeder ) September 10, 2021

[Philsmania]

So, what is wrong with Realmuto? Banged up? Just not having a good season? The aging curve has come on faster than we anticipated (meaning his contract may be Ryan Howard 2.0)?

[bkox]

So, what is wrong with Realmuto? Banged up? Just not having a good season? The aging curve has come on faster than we anticipated (meaning his contract may be Ryan Howard 2.0)?

Maybe we are being too hard on Realmuto. Fangraphs has him at 3.9 WAR. 3rd most among catchers and 44th among all MLB players (but I take this with a grain of salt since Salvador Perez is behind Realmuto at fangraphs). At BBRef hes 7th among catchers with 2.9 WAR. And his defense is still elite behind the plate

[zambonir]

He's got a bum shoulder and a bum ankle, seems pretty self-explanatory. Joe says he won't need surgery but Joe is also a proven liar. If it were earlier in the season he'd probably be on the IL; if we get eliminated I bet he becomes pretty scarce.

Having a catcher be your third or fourth-best offensive player is both a luxury and something that shouldn't have to happen. Give this team consistent offensive production from LF and 3B for a couple of years (if not also SS or CF) and JT will be fine. After that, who knows, but that was true the day they signed him.

[bkox]

Lowest batting averages from Phillies hitters in the leadoff spot in the live ball era (1920 on)

1. .221 (1941)
2. .226 (1940)
3. .227 (1989)
t-4. .228 (1952)
t-4. .228 (2021)

— Paul ( @paul_boye ) September 10, 2021

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Velasquez DFA-ed. De Los Santos and Rosso optioned. Jankowski to the IL with a foot contusion.

Joyce, Moniak, and Medina to the active 28-man roster.

[LoneStarPhan]

Velasquez would have become a free agent after the season so they let him go now.

[bkeich]

It is fair to say I would rather have seen Velasquez hitting than Moniak of the .384 OPS. (Velasquez is hurt of course).

[zambonir]

Heh, well, mis-guessed that one! Still think Vince might have had another one or two good outings in them. Of course they'd be followed by one or two bad ones.

He can't appear in the post-season for a new team right? Or is that rule completely gone now?

Moniak presumably goes right back down for Williams.

[bkox]

I would rather have seen Vince pitch 2-3 innings every 5 days then blowing through 7+ relievers every 5 days.

[zambonir]

Until yesterday it seemed likely he wasn't coming back, and then i really thought he might. But it probably doesn't make a difference. Moore, Falter, Rosso and now Medina are all also guys who can give you 2-3 innings every five days. It's just that one of them has to be good enough to actually last 3 innings. But Vince might not have been able to either. It's one roster spot in the bullpen no matter who takes it.

[bkox]

That 7 person trade the Phils did with sending Ken Giles to Houston really didnt work out very well.

Giles hasnt been as dominant as he was in his 2 Phillies years, but I think I would have loved to have him in the pen vs Vince in the starting rotation 2016-2019. Hes recovering from TJ and missed this year but signed a very club friendly free agent contract (1.25M this year, 5M next year. 9.5M club option in 2024 with 500K buyout)

[bkox]

Among pitchers who made at least 100 starts with the Phillies, Vince Velasquez has the highest home run rate and opponents’ OPS in franchise history and the highest walk rate in 83 years.

— Corey Seidman ( @CSeidmanNBCS ) September 11, 2021

[zambonir]

Vince was not without value, he just never became better than a #5. And the Phillies needed bulk prospects, never mind that they seem to misjudge or fail to develop most of the o nes they get (reallly the Hamels trade was worse!) There was no point in having a great closer, and Giles really didn't work out very well for Houston in the end. He'd lost his job (not only as closer but, period) by the World Series, there was drama (as there'd been in Philly) and his trade value was only high enough to get a domestic abuser in return. We would likely not be signing him to the contract Toronto did in that alternate reality (but it's also basically Bradley's contract, except for next year).

[bkox]

(reallly the Hamels trade was worse!

Depends.. Alfaro ended up being part of the Realmuto trade. So that worked out. I still hate we gave up Diekman in that trade though. Hes only had one bad season since. Imagine Diek and Giles in the pen for the last 5 years