2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

[andyb]

And my question about Moore as a serious left-handed short relief option is not something they are considering. I imagine they want to keep both Velasquez and Moore around until at least the point Howard is ready (2-3 more minor league starts?), but there may very well be 5 more IL moves between now and then.

[David_Criss]

Still no Segura? Romero and Suarez - are they starters or bullpen arms? I like the idea of both of them starting at AAA. The team can always get a Watson but starters is what is and will be needed down the stretch.

[bkox]

Still no Segura? Romero and Suarez - are they starters or bullpen arms? I like the idea of both of them starting at AAA. The team can always get a Watson but starters is what is and will be needed down the stretch.

LHP Ranger Suarez, who has made two starts at @Phillies alternate site after visa issues delayed his spring training, was called up today to replace LHP Jo Jo Romero (elbow strain).

Suarez was scheduled to start Friday's @IronPigs game

Suarez threw 53 pitches in his last outing

— Tom Housenick ( @TomHousenick ) May 6, 2021

[David_Criss]

So they could option him after todays game and he makes his next start and they recall Segura.

[zambonir]

You can't indefinitely option and call up these guys without additional injuries. Suarez is probably here for a while, it's just a question of whether they want him or Moore to take the long role. Given he's on turn to start Friday he could give you two innings Saturday if he doesn't pitch today. Friday too but hopefully Eflin gives you inings.

We're also still stuck with Hale as, if not a high-leverage arms, more than just a mop-up guy.

Segura's roster spot is easy, Kingery goes back down.

Still 3-5 weeks away from any trades I think. We're in first place! A trade now still gets you either a ho-hum player or costs you too much. Even if the Royals had Detroit's record they wouldn't give up a trade chip now unless the offer was better than what they think July would bring in a bigger market.

[bkox]

Jean Segura will travel with the Phillies to Atlanta, meaning he should be activated off the injured list before Friday’s series opener.

— Matt Breen ( @matt_breen ) May 6, 2021

[bkox]

Things you wouldn’t have expected to say two weeks ago:
The Phillies have the same record as the Dodgers (17-15).

The only teams with more wins than the Phillies, currently: Oakland, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego and St. Louis.

— Ryan Lawrence ( @ryanlawrence21 ) May 6, 2021

[zambonir]

Expected W-L is 15-17, as you might expect with all those one-run games. The problems we've been harping on are certainly real, but not necessarily bigger than other teams' problems.

Dodgers XWL is 20-12 (goosed by that one win over the Brewers no doubt).

[bkox]

The Phillies have optioned OF Mickey Moniak to Lehigh Valley (AAA). INF Jean Segura will be reinstated from the injured list prior to tomorrow’s game in Atlanta.

— Matt Breen ( @matt_breen ) May 6, 2021

[zambonir]

So now we should finally find out - will they try Maton in CF? KIngery? Will Torreyes come back?

And just as importantly, what's up with Harper? Hopefully this means they expect him back this weekend, otherwise it would be time to postdate a move.

[andyb]

Hard to believe Torreyes should be back since Maton is now here and we'd actually lose his roster exemption by bringing him back. They can easily send a pitcher down, but not sure they want to DFA one quite yet unless that is Hale (who seems to have 9 lives).

I would not be surprised if Maton did get a look in CF. Of course he has cooled off at the plate too. Harper is hoping to be back tomorrow. I think you can only post-date the move by 3 days, so they would be wasting time if they delayed.

[zambonir]

I would not think Torreyes comes back, but they still gotta DFA him eventually. And just having Kingery around while Quinn and Joyce are hurt isn't necessarily helping Kingery.

[bkox]

Harper and Segura in tonights lineup

[LoneStarPhan]

Segura was hitting very well prior to going of the IL. I hope he can get back on the same hot track coming back this week.

[andyb]

No Maton as Herrera is in CF. I suspected they were not going to jump into that CF experiment really quickly. Question for me is whether it is OK for Maton to be in a largely reserve role or if he should be playing every day in AAA. 2-3 starts a week might be OK for him since clearly he is better than Kingery or Torreyes at that role (middle infield reserve) for now.

[zambonir]

When the time comes, I think it is more important for Kingery to be playing every day in AAA than it is for Maton. If you think it's also important for Maton to play every day you bring back Torreyes (or add Tejada). But for now he'll continue learning to be a utility guy in the majors on the fly, and could still go back to AAA later in the year as other pieces do or don't fall into place.

[David_Criss]

Hale and Suarez anyone else available out of the pen tonight? Maybe Moore.
Any chance DLS optioned for Rosso before tonight.

[zambonir]

Nearly everyone should be available, nobody pitched Friday except for Brogdon and the outings weren't that long. Really Moore probably isn't available because he's still not used to relieving. And if we're needing a relief pitcher before the 7th inning we've got bigger problems.

[andyb]

Off day tomorrow so the bullpen should be OK, though it would not be a shock to see them shuffle in an arm for EDLS. Rosso threw 50 pitches Friday night so probably not him. Damon Jones maybe? He went 2 IP Thursday and was really good.

[bkox]

From @EliasSports : Jean Segura has not struck out in his last 32 PAs, the longest current streak in the NL. A related note: Segura is batting .333 with two strikes in the count this season; that MLB average is .156.

— Buster Olney ( @Buster_ESPN ) May 9, 2021