2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

[bkox]

Looks like Vince Velasquez might be our victim of the sticky stuff crackdown. Spin rate down 176 rpm since the crackdown

[andyb]

Bohm apparently was cleared yesterday to return to the team, so I guess it was not strictly a 10-day COVID absence. They are determining whether he is in baseball shape now after the absence. Hopefully he can play tonight.

[bkox]

#Phillies recalled RHP Spencer Howard from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. OF Mickey Moniak optioned.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) July 21, 2021

[bkox]

OF Odubel Herrera activated from IL. INF Nick Maton optioned.

3B Alec Bohm begins a rehab assignment tonight with Triple-A.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) July 22, 2021

[bkox]

Sam Coonrod had been shut down from throwing for three days. He still feels something in his right elbow.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) July 23, 2021

[andyb]

Bohm is back and Llovera was optioned also. FWIW I thought Llovera was a bit better this time around than in the past, though he is still vulnerable to upcoming 40-man roster moves if the team needs to add in the near future.

[zambonir]

I think it's safe to assume some guys on the 40 will get subtracted as well as added (trade-wise). Possibly including Llovera himself. And surely they will finally DFA Matt Joyce (if not Anderson).

[Sabin]

Last four starts...

Wheeler (2-1)
3.08 era
.252 / .284 /.340 (.624)
.342 babip
30k / 5bb / 1hr / 6xbh
26.1 innings (6,2 innings / start)

Nola (1-2)
6.33 era
.270 /.305 /.506 (.811)
.388 babip
36k / 3bb / 5hr / 10xbh
21.1 innings (5.1)

Eflin (2-1)
3.32 era
.232 /.300 /.354 (.654)
16k / 6bb / 2hr / 6xbh
21.2 innings (5.1)

Velasquez (1-2)
5.75 era
.240 /.329 /.493 (.823)
.245 babip
17k / 9bb / 5hr / 9xbh
20.1 innings (5)

Moore (0-1)
5.79 era
.267 /.345 /.507 (.852)
.302 babip
18k / 8bb / 4hr / 10xbh
18.2 innings (4.2)

[Austinfan]

Velasquez spin declined after the crackdown, given his FB has slipped, I think this is the end of the road for him.
If Howard could only build the stamina to go 5 innings.
And Falter really needs to be moved to the rotation and Moore kicked to the curb.

[zambonir]

Who knows, by the time Falter comes off of his second stint on the COVID-IL they will probably have another pitcher.

[bkox]

#Phillies announce OF Adam Haseley has been put on COVID restricted list. Also, Phillies have claimed RHP Tyler Phillips off waivers from the Texas Rangers.

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) July 24, 2021

[zambonir]

Haseley could be on that list for the rest of the summer if they are using it to open up a 40-man spot. A couple of weeks out of action and then a month of "rehab."

[bkox]

Monday's spot in the Phillies' rotation had been TBD but it will go to Spencer Howard.

"We like some of the improvements he’s made so we’ll give him a chance to do it again." https://t.co/RFScebXXLA

— NBC Sports Philadelphia ( @NBCSPhilly ) July 24, 2021

[andyb]

Tyler Phillips Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

Phillips does not seem like much. Sinker ball pitcher who had good control in the low minors, not much success in AA and above. Phillies probably hoping they will slip him through waivers when they need 40-man spots back, though who knows how much they can play with the COVID rules here as they have been aggressively using them all year.

[zambonir]

What's surprising - but also certainly for the best - is that they've never actually had enough guys on the COVID-IL where they could actually use someone who isn't on the 40.

Joyce, Anderson, Phillips are all guys who could be gone in eight days, depending how the trades go down. Could also be including prospects from the 40 in trades, or superfluous major league parts for that matter. I also have no doubt this front office would give up a prospect to move a contract before they'd pay the tax, if it's close.

[bkox]

Is the 40 man a concern for the winter? Do we have any idea how many we need to protect?

[zambonir]

Even if we have a lot of prospects to move on before Rule 5, I very much doubt it, just because of all the major league free agents. I count nine on the current 26-man roster, and still plenty of fringe pitchers on both rosters (plus two more FAs on the IL).

And just wait until the trades...

In brighter news, they may actually need to free up a spot on the 40 for Seranthony in September. He threw in Philly today.

[zambonir]

I find this to be kind of an incredible quote. Like, I realize Dombrowski didn't originally sign a single starter on this roster, or hire the manager and coaches for that matter, but he came into the season with this team, and presumably spring training is the time of year when you can do something. And if the hitters and pitchers haven't been enough to compensate, that's on him and Joe too.

“We’re just not a real good defensive team,” Dombrowski said. “We need to make the routine plays defensively and we need to hit, and when we don’t hit, the defensive shortcomings are going to show up. I don’t think there’s much we’re going to be able to do about that at this time of the year. I really don’t.”

Vince Velasquez gets rocked in another short start and other observations from...

[bkox]

Travis Jankowski was placed on Covid-related IL this morning and Chase Anderson was reinstated from the Covid list. Mickey Moniak was recalled from LV and Cristopher Sanchez was optioned to the Iron Pigs.

— Bob Brookover ( @brookob ) July 25, 2021

[andyb]

I'd feel better about these promotions if the club actually wanted to play them. There is a strong case to make with Moniak that he is earning this. But they are really just jerking him around because he is a warm body. He should be starting today. Anderson is more shuffling the life vests on the Titanic. Can't imagine they want to see him in relief though Sanchez probably needs a day or two of rest.