2021 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

[California_Dreamin]

bkox...I don't think so, I think it has to do with if Hamels signs or not. If he signs, Suarez becomes a very valuable 8th inning guy and sometimes closer. If Hamels doesn't sign, Suarez could slide into the 5th starter role.

[bkox]

Phillies needed to clear two 40-man roster spots and they do that by DFAing Brandon Kintzler and moving Matt Joyce to the 60-day IL. They will play tonight with 25 active.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) July 30, 2021

[Philsmania]

The day gets even better.

[bkox]

Travis Jankowski has been activated off the COVID IL

— Mitch Rupert ( @Mitch_Rupert ) July 30, 2021

[bkox]

Posting here because it affects the division race:

News: Jacob deGrom has suffered a setback -- additional inflammation in his right arm. The Mets are shutting him down from throwing for two weeks, and he will require a ramp-up after that. September is now looking like a best-case scenario for deGrom's return.

— Anthony DiComo ( @AnthonyDiComo ) July 30, 2021

[zambonir]

Funny, I actually think it should be up to Girardi whether or not to make Kennedy the closer (and they probably should, doesn't mean Ranger won't still get saves). Whereas making Ranger a starter would be a much bigger organizational decision, and also affects several other roster spots.

I don't necessarily applaud the Kintzler move in and of itself but it makes sense so long as Eflin's out. Once he's back we don't need both Velasquez and Anderson in the bullpen, and if Suarez became a starter you'd be giving a meaningful relief role to Moore.

[bkox]

So I think the best team the Phillies can put on the field right now (assuming everyone is healthy)

2B - Segura
C - Realmuto
RF - Harper
LF - Cutch
1B - Hoskins
3B - Bohm
SS - Galvis
CF - Jankowsi

Rotation:
Wheeler
Nola
Eflin (Moore until Eflin returns)
Gibson
And then for the 5th starter.. start Falter and piggy back Anderson and Suarez

Bench:
Odubel
Knapp
Miller
Didi
Torreyes

Pen:
Neris
Kennedy
Alvarado
Brogdon
Bradley
Anderson
Suarez

and im not sure if you keep Vince and put him in the pen or keep De Los Santos or Hammer.. This last spot would go to Coonrod when he comes off the IL

Either way when Eflin comes back.. one of Moore, Anderson or Velasquez will have to get DFA I think. Maybe two if you you dont want two of them in the pen

But this also points out one glaring issue. Our best right handed hitter off the bench is Torreyes (or Galvis I guess. But I really think we are better if he starts).

It would have been nice if we had picked up a right handed bench bat before the dealine.

[zambonir]

Yeah there was just no way to prioritize both a RH bench bat and the defense. You just have to accept that Torreyes or Galvis are it, unless they want to keep Williams over Herrera (but he's probably not the answer either).

Plus I think Didi still starts 3 times a week (at least), so two of Bohm, Torreyes and Galvis will be off the bench for those games. Maybe Segura gets an automatic game a week off too.

[bkox]

Maybe Segura gets an automatic game a week off too.

maybe but they better get Torreyes and Galvis some fielding practice over at 2nd. Torreyes only has 5 games there since 2018. And Galvis hasnt played anything but SS all season.

I know Miller can play there but i dont consider that his strong position either

[zambonir]

Granted the bulk of Freddy's starts at 2B were early in his career, for the Phillies, but I think he can handle it, and I also think you try Didi there too. Gotta trust in the defensive spectrum a little bit (and also in the fact that both positions participate in double-plays and covering second in general).

Just not seeing a scenario where either Dombrowski or Girardi make it seem like Didi has been benched.

[bkox]

Girardi: Vince Velasquez will not make his next start. Chase Anderson will replace him. Velasquez moves to the bullpen.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) July 31, 2021

[bkox]

I think this is a mistake:

The Phillies are starting their closer, Ranger Suárez, on Monday. They have made the decision to put him back in the rotation. He’ll begin at 3 innings and they’ll build him from there. Matt Moore is moved to the bullpen. Ian Kennedy closes.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) July 31, 2021

[zambonir]

We just need Eflin back pretty badly, and for Nola to come through. You can still survive with a mediocre to bad fifth starter - heck, they've been playing around the same .500 ball with two of 'em as they have in the games started by the top 3.

If they every get fully healthy either Vince or Anderson takes the mop-up/David Hale spot and one of them is gone. But given COVID makes sense to try and keep as many sentient beings as you can.

Oh wow - I guess if you're gonna do the Suarez move there's no point in waiting to do it. But the closer part aside, that really puts a lot on Alvarado and Moore as lefty relievers.

[bkox]

It has been over two years since Ranger Suarez started a game and he wasn’t particularly good at it (and even if he was he profiles as a 4th starter) https://t.co/bySjJsxhRI

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) July 31, 2021

[flyers19rw]

Isn’t Seranthony due to begin his rehab next week. If that goes well, and indications are that it will, he could be another component in a rebuilt BP.

[bkox]

sn’t Seranthony due to begin his rehab next week. If that goes well, and indications are that it will, he could be another component in a rebuilt BP.

yes but might need the full rehab time.. I had read that his velocity is still building up

[andyb]

Agree that it seems a mistake. I wish Falter was not on the COVID list because I think he is better suited for the role and also might benefit from a first time around the league exposure.

I wonder if we really need to rethink high leverage bullpen roles. Suarez seems well suited to pitch 2 or 3 innings every few days. Those innings don't have to be blowouts. We have a right-hand dominant rotation. Why can't he finish games by Nola and Wheeler and save the whole rest of the bullpen for these "bullpen games"?

[zambonir]

Yeah just moving Ranger back into his previous bullpen role seemed like a much better idea. Also this would seem to signal they don't expect to sign Hamels.

Don't think Seranthony appears before September.

[bkox]

Didi Gregorius is hitting .167 since returning from the IL on July 2. He’s been held hitless in 9 of his last 13 starts coming into tonight. His on-base percentage for the season is .260

— Corey Seidman ( @CSeidmanNBCS ) August 1, 2021

[bkeich]

Please finally leave VV in the bullpen. Stopping putting him back in the rotation.

I am thoroughly convinced that he will be A very good reliever. Sadly it will be for someone else