2022 Phillies Spring Training

[zambonir]

It's natural to think that because it happened to Kingery it could happen to Stott just like it's natural to think that because Asche and Franco never panned out (to varying degrees) Stott won't either. But it doesn't make it true. And I'm still reluctant to blame Kingery's struggles on his role. He did a good job with it in 2019.

If Stott is our best SS right now he should play SS, but the reality is nobody is even really sure if his future is at SS. Really the only thing that would bother me about moving him around is you're catering to Didi, and at Bohm's expense too - making Stott the SS and platooning Didi and Bohm sounded like best play if Didi and Bohm aren't hitting. But if Didi hits more power to him, and if they want to trade him they have to play him.

Just seems like either one of Bohm or Stott goes to AAA to get everyday ABs for a couple of months. The playing time at DH (or 1B when Hoskins DHs) isn't there anymore.

[zambonir]

Isn't Alvarado still hurt too? Has he even appeared?

[andyb]

I guess not. Maybe I should add another LHP to the next up list. Ogle?

I think a goal should be to not have many 40-man moves because we need all these pitchers. Another factor against Stott making the team of course. I never thought Nick Nelson would be an important guy in the bullpen but it sure looks like he will be with his ability to go 2 innings.

[zambonir]

Athletic mentioned he's throwing on the side (and managed to not break Stubbs' finger).

Nelson Falter and Sanchez probably get you through the expanded roster period. Crouse an option there too.

If Stott doesn't make the team won't Torreyes though? Heck even if Stott does make the team Torreyes could still make it if they send down Bohm. 40-man space scarce indeed but would they go with Maton, or two OFs?

[julio]

Nelson Falter and Sanchez probably get you through the expanded roster period. Crouse an option there too.

Whoa. Took me a minute. I was going, "Nelson Falter? His name is Bailey." They it dawned on me that i missed the invisible comma! (Partially because I haven' really internalized the fact that Nick Nelson is a Phillie?)

[zambonir]

As long as I don't have to use the Oxford comma.

What I should have done was quoted since I wasn't direct-replying.

Locks: Knebel, Familia, Hand, Alvarado Dominguez (5)
Probable: Brogdon, Nelson, Falter, Sanchez, Sherriff (5)
Next up on 40: Jones, Crouse
Not on the 40: Dohy, Bedrosian, Maples, Ross
IL: Coonrod, Romero, Emanuel

[andyb]

It is "Dave Dombrowski looking good day" down in FL. Both Schwarber and Castellanos have homered to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

[EDmuch]

I think Didi is going to hit. He has always been a good hitter and last year seems to be pretty clearly tied into his elbow issues. If Did is back to his old self and they move Stott to third we may have one heckuva lineup as far as run production goes.

[zambonir]

He is certainly hitting so far. And yes, it appears to have been the elbow. But Didi is also an older and injury-prone player who hasn't had a productive and healthy full season since 2018. Maybe he would have kept it up/stayed healthy 2020, maybe not. Expecting him to do what he did in either of those seasons would be a big ask, and if he can't, he's probably a replacement-level player.

He's also never really been able to hit lefthanded pitching, which you could live with so long as he was an adequate shortstop.

Of course, so long as it's a choice between the equally uncertain Bohm and the unproven Stott, no harm in seeing what he's got. But Stott at SS and a Bohm/Didi 3B platoon might still be the better move, if the only goal is putting out the best possible roster (vs. contract and playing time considerations).

[andyb]

Worth watching:

This swing is a thing of beauty!

Nick Castellanos connects for a 2-run shot after a Bryce Harper single. pic.twitter.com/pDI7Msz5j5

— NBC Sports Philadelphia ( @NBCSPhilly ) March 28, 2022

[bkeich]

Any time that Didi is playing SS and Stott is playing 3B I would hope that the two players have the good sense to switch positions. Didi has no future, Stott may have a future at SS, maybe somewhere else, but this is the year to give him the chance if he is going to be in the majors.

I have nothing against a super sub that plays multiple positions, I just think it should be Didi. If he has 130 starts at 2B, SS and 3B that is just fine, but I can't think of a reason to have him at SS and Stott at 3B unless Stott proves that Didi is the better SS.

[LoneStarPhan]

Phillies use 4 home runs to power past the Orioles today, 7-1.

Solid pitching holds Baltimore to two hits. Walk only one while striking out 14. Good news is they used mostly pitchers likely to be on the active roster come opening day. Maples pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with 3 Ks.

Stott goes 3 for 3 and Moniak one (a double) for two after coming in late. Stubbs and Kroon add two run homers in the 8th inning. Castellanos had a double as well as his home run.

A feel good spring game.

[zambonir]

I can't think of a reason to have him at SS and Stott at 3B unless Stott proves that Didi is the better SS.

Of course in reality you can think of a reason, and there's more than one.

• Didi has said he wants to play every day and I believe he also prefers it to be single position, even if he changes positions.

• The manager is going to favor his longtime veteran. As this manager always does (and most do).

• He can't be traded or cut (without eating the contract).

Hopefully it will work itself out quickly, whether that's because someone is playing really well or playing really poorly.

Lost in all of this is how unfortunate this is for Bohm. Not in the way that I feel sorry for him, in the way that it still really hurts the Phillies if he loses the major league 3B job for two years in a row.

Stott did go back to SS today.

[Philsmania]

Phillies are having a good spring, so far. 6-3-2, tied for second with the Marlins in the Grapefruit standings, half a game behind the Braves. Hopefully reason for optimism. I guess the caveat is that the Marlins (+23), Mets (+12) and Braves (+8) have all been better in the run-differential (Phillies at +6).

[andyb]

Stott has actually played much more 2B and 3B than Didi has. Didi had 13 games at 2B and 3B when he was 24. All SS since then. Maybe we are developing Stott on that Didi path?

For the offensive lineup it is actually quite possible that platooning Bohm with a left-handed bat in the lineup is the right thing to do.

[zambonir]

For the offensive lineup it is actually quite possible that platooning Bohm with a left-handed bat in the lineup is the right thing to do.

I suspect Bohm is going to Lehigh Valley and you can justify that by saying the RH side of a platoon doesn't play very much, and he needs to play. And Camargo is a solid option to fill in at 3B (where he is also strongest at a RHB) but could also sit if Stott is doing well.

It just seems like leaving Didi at SS and not in a platoon is about his ego, and his salary. But I suppose also his trade value. If he plays well for a couple of months - hits and isn't a complete disaster in the field - he still has some. Moving him to 3B or super-sub pretty much ends that unless he thrives in the role and hits like crazy.

[Aquapong]

If Stott earns a job, give him a job. Bohm and Didi’s poor performance last year shouldn’t give them a leg up on anyone. I get that Didi was hurt last year, but he should have been DL’d since he was hurting the team. Didi’s money is sunk cost. Go with what will benefit the team, not making the most of the money you’re paying anyway.

[andyb]

I suspect Bohm is going to Lehigh Valley and you can justify that by saying the RH side of a platoon doesn't play very much, and he needs to play.

But if you do this to promote Stott and then keep Torreyes in the 26th spot you need 2 40-man roster spots. And if Stott makes the team he kind of fills the Maton role of left-handed utility infielder also which makes carrying both of them duplicative if Didi is still on the team.

Remember Bohm was awful early in the year (sub 600 OPS in April and May) but then better the rest of the year (744 OPS post June 1). 796 OPS for the season against LHP (576 against RHP). He is actually a good platoon bat and then the conventional wisdom is that he will rebound from a bad year anyway.

I might send Bohm down if he gets off to a slow start, but I really think fixing Bohm can be done at the major league level.

[David_Criss]

Stott and Bohm are the future of the Phillies. Didi is not. If Bohm starts in AAA then I want to see Camargo or Didi at 3B - not Stott. His future is at SS. We don't need another high prospect forced to learn a new position at the Major League level. If Bohm is not the everyday 3B, then put him in his future position now at AAA. Otherwise leave him and let the coaches do their magic.

[zambonir]

But if you do this to promote Stott and then keep Torreyes in the 26th spot you need 2 40-man roster spots. And if Stott makes the team he kind of fills the Maton role of left-handed utility infielder also which makes carrying both of them duplicative if Didi is still on the team.

Yeah it is crazy to think that they would use roster space on both Stott and Torreyes. But you also really shouldn't need to. if Didi gets hurt Stott plays SS and Camargo plays third. And then you call up Bohm.

The issue is Didi, and playing time. If Stott and Bohm are your 3B platoon Bohm doesn't get enough of ABs, and Stott misses out on some as well (unless you play him at SS against LHP because he can't be any worse than Didi). And the same is still true if you make Didi 3B.

Camargo is also looking a lot more like a signing that made sense in December but less so now. He can't play SS (really) and his bat is strongest from the same side as Bohm and and Segura (and Castellanos for that matter, who's may yet show up at 3B, though not often I'm sure). His existence does free them up to just stash one of these guys in AAA in the name of playing time though. It's just looking like it will be Bohm.

Stott and Bohm are the future of the Phillies. Didi is not. If Bohm starts in AAA then I want to see Camargo or Didi at 3B - not Stott. His future is at SS. We don't need another high prospect forced to learn a new position at the Major League level. If Bohm is not the everyday 3B, then put him in his future position now at AAA. Otherwise leave him and let the coaches do their magic.

Actions speak louder than words, and the Phillies' actions are saying they're not at all sure Stott's future is at SS, nor are they sure what Bohm's future is. If they really believe Stott is going to be the SS next year and for years to come (he could just as easily wind up at 2B rather than 3B) they should not be catering to Didi.

But leaving Didi at SS could also be with trade value in mind. Also not to hard to imagine Didi, more than Stott, struggling with position/role change. And then you've got an unhappy negative-WAR player with no position gumming up your roster.

We'll see. Maybe by the time camp breaks they'll do the right thing though if they're not even going to give Didi spring training reps at 3B the decision's kind of already made.