2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion (part 2)

[zambonir]

He's been hurt since late June too. But clearly that is the plan. Galvis, Torreyes and Didi share the two positions. Segura with the odd day off, perhaps. Galvis could also play CF in a pinch, or be a defensive sub in LF.

[bkox]

Galvis could also play CF in a pinch, or be a defensive sub in LF.

That would have to be a big pinch I would say. He hasnt played in the OF since 2017. And only 2 games then

[zambonir]

probably still better than Cutch now.

It reallly just depends on the make-up of the roster. and the ego management. Freddy's probably just happy to be here. Doesn't mean Didi wants to play 3B (or be on the bench). Which, y'know, tough, but he's also the manager's other favorite along with Torreyes. (If this all ends badly, we will have to discuss the fact that Joe did not seem to have any rapport with younger and less polished players, not that we haven't seen a million other managers be the same way. Even Kapler had Rodriguez).

[zambonir]

Phillies not yet ready to try Alec Bohm in outfield

[andyb]

We are now 5 games out to the Braves AND the wild card (Reds). While there are more teams to pass in the Wild Card race (Reds, Padres, Cardinals) I wonder if we have a better shot at that than passing the Braves. The Padres have a really tough upcoming schedule. Reds and Cards could beat each other up a bit. I just have a harder time seeing the Braves collapse at this point to the degree that it would let the Phillies back in the race.

[zambonir]

Mathematically speaking, that is still probably not true.

Not that projections are science (or predictions) either, but FG puts our playoff odds at 20.2% - 16.5% division, 3.6% wild card. Up to almost 84 wins!

BBRef has us at 17.2% - 13.5% division, 3.7% wild card.

I think we really need to hope to make up two games over the next 10 days, then 1 or 2 more in September. Go into the final series down 1 or 2. Heck in theory we could go into that final seriers down three and force a tiebreaker game.

Or the Braves could have a 4-game lead by then.

Honestly we wouldn't have even returned to first place had the Mets not also played so badly (which was also true in 2007). We don't need that level of collapse from the Braves quite yet. Time will eventually get short, but for now the Phillies need to do the bare minimum, which they failed to on the road trip.

[andyb]

Not about the math (which is very faulty of late). More about how the Braves are playing well and don't really have that hard of a schedule. I would not have bet on the Phillies when our chances for the division were about 65% a couple of weeks ago. History (and not math) would have told me that was a bad bet.

[zambonir]

Agreed, but, crudely, I would say we might have a better chance of catching 1 of the 2 WC contenders than we do the Braves, but not both of them. And the addition of the Cardinals makes it even steeper. Plus the Brewers could end up in the mix (comfortable lead right now, but about to play the Reds, Cards and us, all at home).

Honestly our season could end in Milwaukee, especially if we have our usual issue with the Marlins before that too. We beat Brewers 4 times at home, all close games, in early May, but probably won't take a road series against them the way they've played since then.

[BostonRoss]

Wow, the Braves actually lost a game.

[Philsmania]

Wow, the Braves actually lost a game.

Only because they played the Yankees who had a nine game win streak of their own.

[bkox]

I was kinda hoping that they both would have played to a 60 inning tie and then would be too exhausted to continue their seasons.

[Philsmania]

Phillies play the Rays. Seeing how hot the Yankees are, it's not a laughable idea that the Yanks could possibly reel them in for the AL East title.

[bkox]

Freddy Galvis is active tonight for Phillies. Girardi said he will play all over infield.

— Jim Salisbury ( @JSalisburyNBCS ) August 24, 2021

Apparently this includes 1st base

Freddy Galvis and Sam Coonrod activated from IL. Jorge Bonifacio DFA’d and Enyel De Los Santos optioned.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) August 24, 2021

[andyb]

As suspected, Bonifacio was just keeping both the 25 and 40 man spots warm for when we had to do the Coonrod move. At least he got a few days of major league pay out of it.

Hoskins and Cutch sitting at the beginning today against an opener (Rasmussen) who might go 3-4 innings. I really have no confidence in our run scoring ability against a good team when our 5-8 is Didi, Miller, Torreyes, and Jankowski.

Maybe everyone should just bunt the ball to 1B tonight. Nelson Cruz in his first defensive game since 2018 and his first ever 1B appearance. Bunt. Bunt. Bunt.

[bkox]

Maybe everyone should just bunt the ball to 1B tonight. Nelson Cruz in his first defensive game since 2018 and his first ever 1B appearance. Bunt. Bunt. Bunt.

and his first day off the COVID-IL

[bkox]

Jose Alvarado and Seranthony go to the Iron Pigs for rehab

[bkox]

Joe Girardi said Zach Eflin will return to the rotation Thursday night and start vs. Arizona

— Jim Salisbury ( @JSalisburyNBCS ) August 25, 2021

[Philsmania]

Sounds like Hoskins is just going to be day-to-day from here on out. I wouldn't be surprised to hear the day the season ends (or the day after they are eliminated from Postseason contention, if sooner) that Hoskins will be headed for some kind of sports hernia surgery.

[zambonir]

Didn't he have the same injury - which also played a role in them falling out of playoff contention - last year? Or was it just JT?

(Ok, checked transactions, he was on IL from 9/13 to 9/28 but it was elbow).

[Philsmania]

Didn't he have the same injury - which also played a role in them falling out of playoff contention - last year? Or was it just JT?

(Ok, checked transactions, he was on IL from 9/13 to 9/28 but it was elbow).

Hoskins ended up needing Tommy John surgery on his non-throwing elbow.