2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion (part 2)

[andyb]

They kept him on the roster all September because there was no 28-man limit but it was just the elbow injury on a collision play at 1B. JT had a hip issue that month too but I think he made it back for a few games at the end.

The DH in play next year does make it easier to keep Hoskins, though in practice I think they'll want to rotate players rather than have a dedicated DH. Hoskins is not great defensively at 1B, but it also does not matter that much if he is healthy. Bohm's bad defense is a little more impactful because 3B is higher on the defensive importance spectrum.

[zambonir]

JT was the one they never put on IL, they kept thinking it was going to be less than 10 games and then it was almost exactly that. Marchan had come up on September 13th and JT returned on the 22.

Hoskins actually did go on the IL but I see what you mean - he never actually came off it, "activated" only for end-of-season housekeeping.

It's kind of funny to think that Klentak really only got fired because the team didn't make the playoffs as they probably would have with those two guys healthy. I don't know that a 7th-place finish in a fake season would have been good enough, unless they'd won in the first round as well, but I do think it was mostly a PR firing - especially given how close they came to just letting MacPhail and Rice run things this year - and admitting the entire system was a problem only came later.

I would say that one way or another, Dombrowski is going to have to trade a current starting position player this off-season. Hoskins is the easiest guy to trade. Bohm would be the most controversial (but still probably the most valuable and you can't rule it out). Segura would be the bold choice (gambling he won't be as good while being able to get a better deal for him than you could for Didi). Or Didi. All four of those guys need days at DH and so does JT and Harper.

[andyb]

Matt Joyce rehabbing at Clearwater today Not sure what he would bring to the bench with the expanded 28-man rosters given that we'll always have Herrera and Jankowski and Miller as options. I guess the Phillies want to see how he looks and they can keep rehabbing him for a couple of weeks since the minor league season goes longer this year. Bringing him back would mean a 40-man move (as would Seranthony). Tyler Phillips is probably someone we could move on from. Velasquez too if they don't choose to bring him back when the rosters expand. Not too many people on the 10-day IL we could move to the 60. Eflin and Alvarado are definitely coming back. Vince is the only other 10-day guy at the moment.

[zambonir]

I can't imagine they are in any rush. He gets his major league pay and major league service time until the rehab clock is up. May as well keep him just in case, a spot could always open up (especially with COVID). I would still think roster spots 27 and 28 go to pitchers, especially if they don't DFA Anderson or Vince (and with both Eflin and Alvarado coming back, it's time. As it is they'd still have to option Hammer).

[andyb]

Not sure what use Anderson will be if Eflin is back and we have an expanded bullpen (with or without Vince).

Agree that they probably just go with 15 pitchers and a 5-man bench. Maybe they start with that and bring Bohm back after a couple of weeks hopefully after he has had a decent stretch. There is still part of me that looks at the lineups we are running out and having Bohm in there for the first 3 AB and 6-7 innings before his defensive replacement might be the best thing for the team. Girardi of course probably wants that veteran pinch hitter (Joyce) if he carries a 6th bench player.

Hammer or Falter probably go down for Alvarado shortly. Moore kind of slides into the Falter long role anyway and we could always bring Falter back in 10 days (or sooner if there is another stubbed toe injury).

[schillingfan]

I would be upset to see Hammer go down. He has pitched really well this year, since his Covid19 episode. Maybe he has figured out at 26 how to pitch in the big. Besides, ever team needs a “Hammer” in its bullpen.

[zambonir]

But who would you send down instead, Brogdon? There just aren't any other optionable arms and his success has generally - if not exclusively - been in low leverage action. He was an injury replacement while Falter, Alvarado and Coonrod were out, and his performance doesn't quite rise to Wally Pipp levels.

Don't get me wrong, I would cut Anderson, but not sure it's realistic to expect that, especially when Hammer can just come back in 10 days. Merely staying on the 40 and being in the mix for next year's team is already a huge win for Hammer and the Phillies.

[David_Criss]

My guess - Eflin activated on Thursday and Anderson DFAed.
On Sept. 1 - Alvarado and Bohm or Moniak - VV is done. They need hitters, not saying Bohm and Moniak are the answer, but they are the best options we got for bats.

[zambonir]

Just no reason to let either of those guys sit on the major league bench. Especially when the manager doesn't play them (or see Moniak as a CF).

[Austinfan]

This season is a lost cause, leave the kids in AAA to play every day and get a jump on next season.

[andyb]

I think Falter gets optioned first. He is really not a short reliever and Moore slides into the long reliever role. His ERA is now 5.48 and Alvarado will get the shorter outings. I would get him a couple of starts in AAA in case they have some DHs that come up that require an extra starter in September.

[David_Criss]

That makes a lot of sense. Falter should be a starter for the future. Alvarado and Moore "handle" the left handed BP needs. Eflin replaces Moore in the rotation.
You guys are right, if Bohm and Moniak aren't going to get to play, no reason to recall them to bench them, so it will be VV and DLS on Sept. 1. But who knows, knowing Girardi's love for veterans, Joyce could be activated for all I know.

[zambonir]

I still think it's just gonna be two pitchers, and one of them will be the guy they send down today, so there's really only one spot unless they DFA Anderson.

I might bring up Marchan if anyone, though Knapp's bat has been so bad this year that "freeing him" for pinch-hits or double-switches isn't necessarily a good thing.

Guess we'll see the pitching move soon enough but Alvarado may not be ready, so I think they might want to keep Falter for general bullpen use while also keeping Moore on turn with Eflin for at least one more start.

[zambonir]

Eflin up, Anderson DFA'ed.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Hoskins to IL; Chase Anderson DFA-ed. Alvarado and Eflin activated.

[zambonir]

oh dang, I buried the lead!

I'm starting to think that we'll be talking about giving "the kids" more playing time in the major leagues two weeks from now, when the race is over.

Maikel Franco still available?

[David_Criss]

Anderson gone and VV still at single A....Falter, Moore and Alvarado all in the pen.

They need to decide is Bohm's future at 1B, LF or 3B. If it is 1B, I want to see him paying there everyday in place of Hoskins - no more Miller as a 1B.

[andyb]

I guess these are the right short term moves, but I agree they really need to bring back Bohm and play him at least 50% of the time at 1B if Hoskins is out. Hope they do that tomorrow (because they might want an extra arm for tonight).

This is an offensively challenged team at the moment.

[bkox]

Hope they do that tomorrow (because they might want an extra arm for tonight).

He was sent down on Sunday.. so hes not eligible to come back up for 10 days unless they place someone else on the IL right?

[Philsmania]

It is hard to foresee whether or not we see Hoskins again this season.