2022 Phillies Spring Training

zambonir 2022-03-12 06:00:52 UTC #1

Still officially one day away but I guess news like this is neither off-season or hot stove. Just noting additional details. Seems to me he'll end up being as much as a month behind.

Suárez’s situation is further complicated because the U.S. suspended consular services in his native Venezuela. Since 2019, Venezuelans who are seeking work visas must go to the U.S. embassy in neighboring Colombia, where Suárez has been staying in an airport hotel since last weekend.

According to Szew, Suárez thought he would be in Colombia for about 10 days, until roughly March 16. But Suárez told him this week that he now believes it will take closer to 15 days. Once he has completed the visa process, Suárez intends to travel directly from Bogotá to Clearwater.

“One of the difficult parts is he can’t really train,” Szew said. “It’s not like he has facilities at his disposal. I don’t know how much extra time he’ll need. This whole thing is rushed anyway.”

HopeSpringsEternal 2022-03-12 14:20:22 UTC #2

Did we miss "truck day"?

andyb 2022-03-12 16:23:44 UTC #3

Well today should be Richie Ashburn countdown day with Al Oliver tomorrow. Kind of miss the countdown.

Ryles 2022-03-12 18:01:12 UTC #4

Any word on Tickets? I had the 3/19 game vs Pitts. Now it's Tor. It's no longer in my Ballpark app. Hope I didn't lose the tix & have to start over.

zambonir 2022-03-12 18:40:35 UTC #5

I'm sure they have a process for that. Will either automatically reload the new game or you'll have to click on something to accept them. (In theory they have to offer refunds for a different opponent, even if you're a Phillies fan you may have picked a game based on the opponent. Of which there are only four now, I gather.)

bkox 2022-03-13 15:30:34 UTC #6

Didi Gregorius and Bryson Stott will compete for job at SS, but Joe Girardi mentioned Gregorius’ track record. Also said he is up to the challenge, mentioning he is the guy who replaced Derek Jeter in New York.
— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) March 13, 2022

bkox 2022-03-13 15:33:11 UTC #7

Dombrowski: Phillies are encouraged by Zach Eflin’s progress. Still some hurdles to clear, but could be ready for Opening Day. Zack Wheeler is behind; Phillies say no injury, just workload related. They hope Ranger Suárez is here this week but he’ll be behind.
— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) March 13, 2022

Dave Dombrowski said they could work a platoon in LF or CF. Immediately mentioned Matt Vierling, who they think can play CF. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see them find a LFer, then platoon in CF.
— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) March 13, 2022

bkeich 2022-03-13 16:07:11 UTC #8

I am not a huge fan of the idea of Kris Bryant, but counting on Vierling is very optimistic. A hot streak is not a reason to count on him.

andyb 2022-03-13 16:25:36 UTC #9

Getting a left fielder that is a full time hitter and then having a platoon in CF (Vierling plus a defense first lefthanded bat) is not the worst option. I do wonder what we will see from Kingery and Haseley in camp. Assume both of them are there. Haseley in particular, even though his defense is not ideal, is one I am cautiously hopeful that mental issues are behind and he can focus on being the type of 4th OF this team actually needs (rather than have the expectations of a full time starter).

And to answer my question on Haseley, he is definitely there:

Stott, Muzziotti, Moniak, and Haseley batting under the watchful eye of Charlie Manuel pic.twitter.com/t3uFEu0aEM
— jim peyton ( @jimpeyton19 ) March 13, 2022

julio 2022-03-13 16:40:09 UTC #10

Didi Gregorius and Bryson Stott will compete for job at SS, but Joe Girardi mentioned Gregorius’ track record. Also said he is up to the challenge, mentioning he is the guy who replaced Derek Jeter in New York.
— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) March 13, 2022

Yeah well, Rick Schu is the guy who replaced Mike Schmidt in Philadelphia, but I don’t want to see him at third base!

zambonir 2022-03-13 17:13:25 UTC #11

Already remembering how much I dislike our manager!

Also worth wondering how serious the Phillies are about letting Stott start his service clock, as the new CBA really doesn't change much (and keeping him down also lowers his chances of a ROTY finish).

bkox 2022-03-13 18:45:06 UTC #12

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler experienced shoulder soreness in December when he started his throwing program.

He is feeling better but it doesn't sound like he'll be ready to start opening day, writes @JSalisburyNBCS . https://t.co/PnD6YFMphF
— NBC Sports Philadelphia ( @NBCSPhilly ) March 13, 2022

andyb 2022-03-13 18:51:05 UTC #13

The CBA kind of has incentives and disincentives. Stott could actually be in that loophole of being good enough to get a bonus draft pick for a top 2/3 ROY finish if he starts the year on the roster. And there is also the step back of saying that Stott is never going to be a $20+ million a year player anyway, so whatever happens the Phillies are not really going to be hurt if they have to pay him more sooner (and he is not good enough where they could not replace him with a Gregorius type free agent anyway after 6 or 7 years).

I'd let Stott try to win a job. I would not put him in that Kingery utility role, but if they think he can start at SS then make Didi be your utility player.

zambonir 2022-03-13 18:56:05 UTC #14

I agree they should let him try to win the job, though you could also easily argue he's not ready, the body of work is still limited and the AFL doesn't count for much. And it hasn't worked out well for the last three guys they brought up (Kingery, Haseley and ultimately Bohm) so it's easy to say it's not just about service time.

My skepticism is more whether Didi is really going to have to win the job, due to the combination of being the manager's favorite (and the manager being generally not into young players) and his salary.

andyb 2022-03-13 19:02:00 UTC #15

The year at the alternate site does make Stott a bit more experienced than his minor league playing time would indicate. He certainly would have had more AAA time last year if 2020 was spent at Clearwater with a finish at Reading. I think he is more ready than Kingery was after Kingery's AAA stint.

zambonir 2022-03-13 19:18:33 UTC #16

Yeah but only a little bit. Between the duration of the season and the nature of the "games" I'd say it's worth maybe 150 ABs, albeit perhaps AAA ABs.

I hope he's ready and plays so great that they can't even consider playing Didi. But even then they won't know for sure. He and Didi could also have just so-so spring trainings and still have decent season (as Herrera did).

andyb 2022-03-13 19:51:14 UTC #17

It is the extra year of physical maturity (i.e. adding strength) and defensive instruction too. The year matters and Stott starts with one characteristic that plays well in the majors in an understanding of the strike zone. Bringing up Stott would not be rushing him though one only does that if he starts at SS.

andyb 2022-03-14 18:16:18 UTC #18

Didi says pseudogout was a misdiagnosis. Surgery after the season cleared things up.

Two points. Of course we are not surprised if the Phillies misdiagnosed Didi. But second, do we really think Didi will rebound given age and trend (including defense). I guess there is more hope for small regression to the mean.

julio 2022-03-14 18:21:02 UTC #19

Yeah well, he was previously blaming his performance on being vaccinated against COVID. I think Didi is looking for an explanation - any explanation - other than his performance declining with age. Denial is a common thing with athletes (or with any of us, if we really don't want to confront an unpleasant reality!).

zambonir 2022-03-14 18:21:05 UTC #20

I don't think you can say "The Phillies" misdiagnosed him. You don't just see the team doctor for stuff like that (and you certainly get a second opinion).

So now he's saying it was the medicine that hurt his play, rather than the COVID vaccine.

I don't think we want the guy anywhere near SS. DH and a platoon maybe. But he can't platoon with Stott. Which brings us to 3B.

generously put!