2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

[bkox]

Official word: Phillies-Nats will play a single admission doubleheader at 12:05 tomorrow

— Jim Salisbury ( @JSalisburyNBCS ) July 28, 2021

[andyb]

We actually have no idea how bad the Nats roster is yet. Not that the Phillies took advantage of the Marlins last year of course.

[zambonir]

I stand corrected! I guess with the shorter games they can still meet the cut-off? Or does it not even matter that it's a DH as long as the start time isn't too late?

[zambonir]

Well, it seems pretty likely Scherzer's gone but I guess we were already gonna miss him in the meantime.

[bkox]

maybe because the Nats only need to travel to DC and the Phils only need to go across state to Pitttsburgh

[zambonir]

Yeah, I think you are right, the rules only apply to flights, and of a certain length

[andyb]

It is not as if teams never play night games before travel. It happens all the time to destinations that are less than a 2-hour flight away. It is just not preferred and there is probably a limit on the number of times teams have to do it (like the NBA limits back to backs). Sunday Night Baseball is kind of the definition of teams having to travel after a night game and it is probably less than 50-50 that those teams have Monday off.

Athletic beat reporter for the Nats says 12 total positives but only 4 players including Turner. Sounds like it got much of their coaching and training staff.

[zambonir]

It looks like the key stipulation in the CBA is actually a 1 1/2 hour flight.

[bkox]

Of the dozen Nationals players and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19, the vast majority were vaccinated, sources tell ESPN. A number of the breakthrough positives came with those given the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) July 28, 2021

[andyb]

This is closer to the Yankees breakout then I guess. Medically J and J may be almost as good at preventing hospitalizations and serious cases, but if it is easier to test positive after it then it does put teams at a competitive disadvantage since the baseball rules are more based on positive tests.

[bkox]

this... sounds bad: (but im at my limit so I cant read it)

Phillies’ Zach Eflin: ‘I don’t know if there’s a timetable’ for return from knee...

[zambonir]

Another really big crossroads there - does it make you more of a buyer or does it makes you go, "oh well, not our year." (Though the headline already has an answer.)

He's calling it day-to-day but is still in pain. Better news than "out for a month' but not good news either.

[bkox]

Rafael Marchan is with the Phillies today as Andrew Knapp goes on the paternity list. Marchan probably starts one of the games. Zack Wheeler will start Game 1 at noon. Still unclear who will play and pitch for Washington. More testing this morning.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) July 29, 2021

[bkox]

Girardi: Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins are termed as day-to-day. Harper's back locked up again. Hoskins injured his left groin. Harper said he'll play tomorrow.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) July 29, 2021

[Philsmania]

Random speculation on my part but I wonder if this offseason Gregorius might get dealt in a deal reminiscent of the Braves-Indians Chris Johnson for Michael Bourn & Nick Swisher deal. All players were released shortly thereafter. They basically traded a big sunk cost for one season in exchange for a comparable sunk costs spread out over two seasons. Perhaps the Phillies can do that with Gregorius and his $15.250 million in exchange for a guy or a couple of guys making roughly that amount over the next two seasons.

[bkox]

Zach Eflin threw from 110 feet yesterday in Philadelphia and the Phillies remain optimistic that he’ll soon rejoin their rotation. No timetable yet and no date for when he’ll throw off a mound.

— Matt Breen ( @matt_breen ) July 30, 2021

[Patchmk88]

So now let’s talk roster moves. We have to make space on the 40 man for two players. Need one right now for big league roster and 2 when Galvis gets back l (not to mention other guys coming back).what are your all’s thoughts?

[zambonir]

I think Didi's outlook is better than that. You'd get something for him picking up salary, or you might get a more useful sunk cost type piece if the money matches. You could also trade Segura (who you can't necessarily assume will be this good again) and hope Didi's bat bounces back as a 2B.

Gotta confirm there's a DH, make a decision about Bohm, and then address the rest of the infield from there. Who knows, maybe Freddy returns.

I guess if they wanted to be done with Herrera (and let Williams be the other CF) that would open up a spot on the 40 and the 26. But I kind of doubt they'll do that. And Kennedy and Gibson are already on the 40 - the space is there until Falter and Jankowski come back. I assume they will release Joyce, and then probably DFA Hammer or De Los Santos, unless they are finally ready to DFA Anderson or Vince. But probably not.

[bkox]

#Phillies president of bball operations Dave Dombrowski: Unclear if Ranger Suarez will move to starting rotation now that Ian Kennedy is here as closer. It's Joe Girardi's decision.

— Tom Moore ( @TomMoorePhilly ) July 30, 2021

Feel like now we are messing with Ranger

[bkox]

Dave Dombrowski said #Phillies officials will meet to revisit the idea of signing free agent Cole Hamels. Several teams figure to do the same now that they can no longer add players via trade. Phils were among the teams that attended Hamels' showcase in Texas two weeks ago.

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) July 30, 2021