2022 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

Austinfan 2022-05-09 12:21:08 UTC #303

To slit the DH against a top pitcher in the first game and using a bullpen to pitch the second game ain't bad.
Of course Girardi leaves in Nelson too long.

VoteForKalas 2022-05-09 13:01:12 UTC #304

Nice, SF! We went the north and middle routes. Tons of fun

VoteForKalas 2022-05-09 13:02:54 UTC #305

Or Girardi is....

BostonRoss 2022-05-09 13:44:20 UTC #306

I also recommend a cross-country trip although I haven't done one in so long that I saw a game (actually a doubleheader) in Cleveland Municipal Stadium on the trip. A pre-Phillies Larry Andersen appeared for the Indians in relief.

Although I haven't managed my time well enough to go cross-country again yet, I have managed to see games in 40 MLB parks over the years. I've seen games in every MLB city except Cincinnati, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and San Diego.

bkeich 2022-05-09 13:51:27 UTC #307

Those could be one trip with a little scheduling...

zambonir 2022-05-09 15:37:54 UTC #308

I doubt I have been to more than half of the MLB ballparks (or in some cases, cities) but it is always fun to do a Phillies road trip or just catch any game if you can. Looks like I've been to 13. There are some surprising or at least easily fixed omissions (like I've been to LA and SF - both parks - but not San Diego, Anaheim or Oakland. Cubs but never White Sox. And have gone to Denver plenty but never caught a game). Have yet to go to DC and will probably never see an MLB game in Florida unless it's a Phillies post-season game.

Cross-country, I haven't really done it for vacation per se, but have still done some long ones. Texas-British Columbia, Ohio to Oregon, Texas to Philly.

BaseballCat 2022-05-09 16:34:08 UTC #309

You are not missing anything in DC. We went there for the Future's game a few years ago and it had to be the most disappointing new park I have ever been in. No interesting food to eat (maybe I missed it) and the park is a battleship grey with little unique features. I think the color is intentional (navy connection maybe - I really felt like a battleship or sub), but besides maybe seeing the Phillies there, I don't feel the need to go back. Now if you have not been to Pittsburgh or Baltimore - those are some of my favorites.

bkeich 2022-05-09 17:12:28 UTC #310

I have done poorly on ML parks, but strangely enough have done really well on Minor League parks (between 25-30 at this point)

The best, by far. Pensacola Florida for anyone that is ever there. The park is just beautiful, the OF looks out onto the Gulf of Mexico (well, technically the inland waterway, but you cant really tell the difference), there is truly not a bad seat in the place and the food and service is way, way above average. Not expensive (AA for the Reds I believe).

The fun part was the first year it was open they had Billy Hamilton, and while his ML career fizzled he was a terror in the minors, stealing a record 155 bases one season (yes, you read that correctly). Even on pitchouts they could not get him. After awhile they just let him run to 3rd on the first two pitches because there is NOTHING they could do about it.

zambonir 2022-05-09 17:18:00 UTC #311

I have been to Camden Yards. Haven't been into the park in Pittsburgh but kind of got the gist (was actually nearby for a football game). I'd happily go to a Nats-Phils game, wonder when they will feel important again (or if they ever were, for both teams at the same time).

Philsmania 2022-05-09 18:10:47 UTC #312

I've been to CBP, the Vet, Shea, Citi Field, Fenway, Old Yankee (but not New Yankee yet). Camden Yards, Memorial, Dodger, Anaheim (up in the OF upper deck that has since been demolished), Oracle Park (back when it was still Pac Bell Park), Nationals Park and RFK. I regret never getting to Olympique and Three Rivers since they were not all that far away. Funny how many of the old parks were called "Stadium" even if they were baseball-only parks but hardly any are called that nowadays.

Minors: just Reading, Allentown, Lakewood, Trenton and Wilmington

ST: Clearwater & Dunedin

Philsmania 2022-05-09 18:22:55 UTC #313

Busch III and CBP were probably where the new ballparks started to get generic. San Diego was the last new one that really exuded uniqueness (and even that was a bit of a copy of Baltimore in the way it incorporated that old building in left field). New Yankee is a recreation of Old Yankee, Citi is a poorly-done knockoff of Ebbetts Field. Nothing about CBP really exudes Philadelphia or unique aspects of the part of the city where it is located (aside from the view of the skyline in left-center).

zambonir 2022-05-09 19:29:53 UTC #314

Yeah, going to the previous Ballpark in Arlington was just like going to Baltimore, and there's probably 10 more like that. (And yet the new one in Arlington looks hideous.) I suppose the SF ballpark is also in that template, but still pretty great location/setting (and certainly a big upgrade over Candlestick though I remember those long trips and awful windy days fondly).

I'd almost forgotten there was a new Yankee Stadium, have not been.

Having not lived on the East Coast for decades I have barely been to any Phillies-related minor league parks (not even Reading which is kind of hard to believe. Also used to drive through Aberdeen, MD all the time but never got there). Just Allentown, and then also Round Rock, Portland (before MLS booted baseball) and Missoula - i.e. just the places I have lived, along with Cincinnati where I have seen the Reds.

Have yet to catch either of the newer teams in Portland (single A Hillsboro or semi-pro Pickles). Did go to a game in Keizer/Salem, when they played at 9am during the full solar eclipse.

andyb 2022-05-09 20:35:03 UTC #315

Moving the roster discussion here from the minor league thread. The Phillies need starters for Wednesday and Thursday if Eflin and/or Wheeler cannot go.

Sanchez pitched a little more than 2 on Sunday so he could be in the mix for a 2-3 inning opener. I assume they just have to bring Falter out West because he is on the 40. They probably bring everyone else too. No need to send Morales down and he has been pitching mostly 2 inning outings. Brogdon is probably the easiest demotion. He got lucky yesterday but he was 93-94 with poor command of both his fastball and change. His minor league outings seem to be the mirage. Norwood probably kept his spot with a decent inning yesterday.

Guessing the Phillies hope one of the Zachs are ready by Thursday and will do something like a Sanchez/Morales bullpen game on Wednesday.

gmwannabe 2022-05-09 21:19:24 UTC #316

Abel and Painter??? Why Wait.

allentown 2022-05-09 21:59:51 UTC #317

Because it messes up the 40-man roster and likely Painter and Abel as well.

bkeich 2022-05-09 22:09:43 UTC #318

Because they arent even laughably ready and you dont want to have to release 2 guys to put them on the 40 and you dont want to have to option them each of the next couple years and then lose all your options. Lots of reasons.

zambonir 2022-05-09 22:09:49 UTC #319

I'd say GM needs to start using emojis but really everyone should be able to recognize a tongue in cheek or hyperbole by now.

andyb 2022-05-09 22:24:43 UTC #320

Well Sanchez got optioned back today so they are down to 26 again. I guess it is possible they will just use Morales one of the next 2 days and swap him for Falter Wednesday.

Grumpy me wants to see Morales pitch, but is thinking it might happen around 12:30 AM....

allentown 2022-05-09 23:38:41 UTC #321

Should be able to. Apparently not all of us are. It wasn't a totally absurd suggestion. There actually was a time in MLB, pre-draft era, when HS players signed above a certain bonus limit had to be carried on the MLB roster. In 1964, the most nostalgic Phillies team for me, the Phillies carried two 18-year old pitchers: Rick Wise and Dave Bennett. Bennet was barely used, but Wise won 5 games, with an ok ERA.

zambonir 2022-05-09 23:55:44 UTC #322

The Curse of David Clyde!

Grumpier me says if he's pitching it's probably the 6th inning and we're losing, too. (Even if he is a closer and potential higher-leverage piece.)