2022 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion Part 2

[zambonir]

I do think they would lose Plassmeyer too, but if it happens it happens. Non-playoff teams don't necessarily have the same 40-man squeeze as teams trying to get through September. And for another week claims are still the only way for all the teams to add someone (who's been on a 40).

[tom81]

This Manager Might Not be Anonymous for Long

[BaseballCat]

Nice article- thanks for posting.

[Austinfan]

Sanchez and Falter are making life easier for DD.

Sanchez was consistently hitting 93-94, which is fine for a LH pitcher, slider was decent, same with changeup. Needs to refine those secondary pitches, but there's enough to work with that incremental improvements could have him as a rotation candidate next season.

So if you resign Thor, have Falter and Sanchez as your #5/#6, with McGarry, Abel and Painter in AA/AAA to start the season, you're not in bad shape. If Eflin can return for one season, that buys time for the young pitchers.

Miller and Morales are BP options.

[zambonir]

Maybe he'll out-WAR Curtis Mead yet.

Gibson and Thor are both equal considerations I'd say. Eflin might be the odd man out simply for health reasons, unless it's an appearance-based deal. Technically his season still isn't over, we'll see.

[andyb]

Depending on how Bryce feels, it looks like he could be available sooner than the original timetable. Note that he is eligible to come off of the 60-day IL starting today.

Harper hits walk-off double, timetable could move

[zambonir]

That quote from Thomson was on Wednesday afternoon when Harper had still only played the one game. Not sure if Harper spoke to the media last night. It will be interesting to see. Especially with all the tickets that have been sold. Not that the Iron Pigs' bottom line comes ahead of the Phillies' needs.

It's kind of a process/results question right? I mean, Segura was down there for 8 games and 30 ABs for a similar injury and never actually hit, but that didn't mean he needed more time. Conversely Harper is clearly a a man among boys but that doesn't mean he can't still use more ABs - or would look/feels as good if he was facing major leaguers.

(Though, with the Pirates, it might not be that different).

[bkeich]

(Though, with the Pirates, it might not be that different).

Besides, I have tickets for the Phillies on Friday....

[BostonRoss]

Maybe he'll out-WAR Curtis Mead yet.

He already is!

[andyb]

Well they are not going to recall Bryce for tonight. Lots of subs in the lineup. Stott hitting 3rd as Bohm gets a day off and Stubbs, Vierling, Zimmer, Sosa holding down the 6-9 spots in the lineup.

[BaseballCat]

Looks like you will get the Harper special on Friday. Have fun - I expect it to be packed!

[andyb]

Brandon Marsh will DH in Lehigh Valley tonight. He'll play the outfield tomorrow and could possibly return to the Phillies on Saturday.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) August 25, 2022

As @JSalisburyNBCS said, Bryce Harper is not playing tonight with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He’s fine. Gonna work out, etc. Phillies have said the last couple days that a return this weekend is possible. Stay tuned.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) August 25, 2022

[zambonir]

Okay any Brandon Marsh nuts out there who want to buy a pair of tickets for Friday's Pigs game?

(Not that I wouldn't happily go anyway but have a lot of other family stuff going on so was probably only going to make a few innings to begin with. Otherwise I might be joining bkeich!)

[zambonir]

Phillies place Zack Wheeler on 15-day IL with forearm tendinitis

You don't need to plan on a 6 (or 7!) man rotation, the plans get made for you.

[gmwannabe]

uh oh.

[zambonir]

On a more optimistic note:

The Phillies (69-55) are 3 1/2 games — functionally, 4 1/2 games because they own the tiebreaker — up on the Brewers for a playoff spot. No one is suggesting the Phillies will cruise into the six-team National League tournament, but they are not living and dying with every pitch right now.

And, it could be worse:

Remember back to this time last season. The Phillies were nearing a decision to remove Matt Moore from the rotation yet again without an evident backup plan. Six of the team’s final 30 games last season were either bullpen games or starts made by inexperienced call-ups. Sam Coonrod started two September games. Cam Bedrosian started one. Adonis Medina had a start. Hans Crouse was summoned at the end for two starts.

Phillies think big picture as they look to bolster pitching staff for stretch...

[Aquapong]

So Bryce will be back and Marsh likely right behind him, but we lose Wheeler? Hopefully it’s not something serious. We should be able to get to the playoffs without him, but we need him for the postseason.

[Philsmania]

These injuries are getting ridiculous. But, to the Phillies credit, they've been "next man up" lately.

[flyers19rw]

It’s not just the Phillies; many clubs are losing goof talent to the IL. Wonder if the shortened ST has anything to do with it?

[Aquapong]

If we keep cleaning up against these bad teams, 90 wins should be pretty much the minimum we should expect. We have 6 games against the Braves, 3 with Houston, 2 against Toronto, and all the rest are against sub .500 teams.