2022 Phillies Major League Regular Season Discussion

[zambonir]

Gelb's reporting here certainly explains why there's been no rush to see put Appel on the 40. Essentially they don't like him any better or worse than Nick Nelson.

The Phillies are relevant again, but which players can they trust?

Maybe, at some point, it’s as easy as releasing Familia. But the problem is the Phillies are carrying, arguably, the 13 best relievers in the organization. Maybe Cristopher Sánchez would fit well in a big-league bullpen, but he’s needed in an even thinner area — rotation depth — so the Phillies have to keep him stretched out at Triple A. Mark Appel, the No. 1 pick in 2013 who walked away from baseball, has thrown well at Lehigh Valley but evaluators see him as a long man in the majors, someone who could fill the last spot on a pitching staff. If that is Appel’s ceiling and Familia’s floor, then the Phillies will keep trying to squeeze something more from Familia.

[bkeich]

Given the state of the farm and the almost complete lack of help from young players I think I would pay more attention to performance and ignore the teams "evaluators". If Appel is pitching well in AAA move him up

[andyb]

Unsurprisingly the Phillies have 3 of the top 10 NL individual players most important to the team's playoff chances. Wheeler (3), Harper (5), and Nola (9). Comment on Wheeler is interesting in that it highlights Noah Skirrow as a prospect that Zips likes.

Skirrow has kind of flown under the radar but has been solid at Reading and is still only 23 even though he was a free agent back in 2020 (one of the $20K signings after the 5-round draft). K rate is 12.2/9. Maybe all this is small sample size because he has only given up 1 HR in Reading which is hard to do. Or maybe he is a starter that keeps the ball in the park. Someone to watch a bit closer at any rate.

Who Is the NL’s Most Irreplaceable Player in 2022?

[zambonir]

I imagine the "evaluators" are named Dombrowski and Fuld and all the other people in the front office. So sure, the same people who signed Familia and Knebel!

I think the point of the evaluation is, "based on his performance in AAA, this is what he would do against major league hitters." Too bad there wasn't a similar evaluation of Stott in spring training.

[andyb]

No Machado in the lineup for SD tonight. Day to day with a sprained ankle though they have not put him on the IL.

The SD cleanup hitter (at DH tonight) is old friend Jorge Alfaro. With an 826 OPS so far this year. Still a horrendous BB/K ratio but maybe he is figuring some things out.

[bkeich]

I hated to see Alfaro go and wish they had picked him up as a backup when he was available. He has crazy power (but minimal bat control or pitch recognition) and it seemed like he was handing the ball to the 2nd baseman on throws. He has one of the strongest arms I have ever seen.

I can't help but wonder if he isn't the same alien race that Reggie White was, simply non-human strength.

[BaseballCat]

Mark Appel is being called to the big leagues - I wish him well

Phillies To Select Mark Appel

[zambonir]

So what's the roster move, or does COVID mean there isn't one? (I thought you had to have several guys out for that loophole).

[andyb]

Pretty sure the COVID IL rules are still in effect so a 40-man roster move is not needed now, but will be needed whenever Brogdon is ready again. And as one of only 3 bullpen pitchers we can currently trust, hopefully that will be soon.

They really should have called up Crouse on paper and put him on the 60-day list since he has been out that long. Damon Jones has to be in danger at some point. Though a glance at old friend Austin Davis' stats with the Red Sox does show one should never give up on a LHP that throws in the mid-90s.

Austin Davis Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

[zambonir]

My recollection is you have to be missing a minimum of three players to use someone who is not on the 40, and the player is still subject to waivers too. When Knebel went on COVID IL Singer went on the 40, and was then DFAed. But I guess you are saying Appel does in fact go on the 40, it's Brogdon who doesn't count.

Not that it's a big deal. Probably just DFA Kelly or he would have gotten the call here. Agreed Jones is pretty fungible as well. Maybe they actually will do the Crouse move.

[bkox]

Wonder if Appel is first out of the pen tonight if Efflin has to have a short outing

[andyb]

As someone mentioned a while ago, Appel had been pitching every 3 or 4 days. His first outing on only 1 day rest was actually his most recent outing on the 23rd. He pitched 1.1 innings on the 21st and 1 on the 23rd. They were likely trying to move him closer to a major league bullpen need of a pitcher that could go at least every other day.

Given that this would be the second consecutive 1-day rest appearance and that he had a long flight to San Diego in between I am guessing they would prefer to hold him off a day until Sunday unless absolutely needed.

[zambonir]

It's always crazy to me that anyone would just step into a game, except maybe to PH, after that kind of travel. But, his presence means they can burn Nelson or Bellatti if they do end up needing some bulk today.

Will be more interesting to see if he might slot where Brogdon would in a close game. Given Familia and Knebel are still shaky I think he might.

[bkox]

Rob Thomson said that Brogdon tested positive for COVID. He says the plan for Appel is to start by using him in lower leverage situations. Thomson hopes to use Appel as a multi inning guy at some point but they still have to stretch him out.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) June 26, 2022

[bkox]

Phillies say it's a left thumb fracture for Harper. He will undergo further evaluation over the coming days.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) June 26, 2022

[bkox]

Phillies will try to get Mickey Moniak here for tomorrow’s game. It is unclear whether Bryce Harper will require surgery. “I’m hopeful he’ll be back at some point,” Dave Dombrowski said.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) June 26, 2022

[Aquapong]

Well there went the season most likely. Just try to have him ready for next year at this point.

[bkeich]

Replacing Bryce Harper with Mickey Moniak might be the record for greatest drop off in baseball history due to an injury.

(And yes, I realize Moniak is just the guy we called up, not his direct replacement)

[Aquapong]

Maybe this sets up Harper to come back have a Gibson moment in the World Series.

Ok, I got that out of my system. Back to doom and gloom. Castellanos and JT in particular needs to step it up at the plate.

[andyb]

Castellanos and JT in particular needs to step it up at the plate.

That definitely is where possible additional offense is most likely. I do think Moniak can be respectable (i.e. 700 OPS starting only against RHP), but that is not a gamechanger. We need last year's Castellanos and JT to be at least a 270/340/430 type hitter.

I would start Stubbs more and play JT at DH most of those days. He needs more rest. And we actually have one guy on the bench hitting pretty well and that is Stubbs. Might as well get his bat in the lineup twice a week and get a more refreshed JT at the same time.

The other guy that needs to step up is Bohm. There is an 800 OPS bat buried somewhere inside there. We saw it a bit last night. We need to see it every day. That is what 3rd overall picks are supposed to do.