2022 Phillies Spring Training

[donaldorc]

How quickly the tide turns. Coonrod set the table for the Jays.

[fish]

The recent additions also mean that the moment they realize Bohm can’t play third he’ll have to be traded- there is a backlog of first and dh candidates the next 4 years.

I’m a believer in Bohm as a hitter, but he’s still beating the ball into the ground. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dealt for a 3b or center fielder in the next month. Unless of course his perceived trade value is so low now he has to go hit at AAA.

[phillychuck]

We have four places to play less-than-stellar fielding players: LF, RF, 1B, and DH.

We are now filling those positions with four big bats: Schwarber/Harper/Hoskins/Castellanos.

Two of those bats are average-ish fielders for their positions, Harper and whoever plays LF, with LF being a little below average in terms of runs allowed, even though the fielders are near the bottom when ranked ordinally against the league.

Hoskins is well below average, but at a position that is not a big detriment or advantage defensively...most plays are routine.

We are above average at catcher, poor at SS, OK at 2B, and who knows in CF. Ideally, improvement at those last two positions will help a lot.

We have an in-house option at 3B who is analytically (small sample size warning) above average at 3B by quite a bit: Johan Camargo, who is predicted to hit fairly well, too.

Trading Bohm for a capable CF would be a big step up defensively, and not too big a step back offensively if you can get a 650-700 OPS guy who can play the position. If not, let's see how it plays out.

[VoteForKalas]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s dealt for a 3b or center fielder in the next month. Unless of course his perceived trade value is so low now he has to go hit at AAA.

That would be another stinging indictment of the Phillies failures in talent evaluation & development. We have not been able to develop a good 3B through our system since Rolen. Franco had one decent year, but that is it. Embarrassing.

[zambonir]

I dunno, which is worse, that the Phillies firmly believed Bohm would stick at 3B (and be developed as such) when lots of people said he never would, or that they didn't and took him anyway (in which case they believed he'd still develop a big enough bat)?

It remains to be seen, however. Would much rather have a kid who needs 1000 ABs to become a player than one who looks like a player for 300 and then isn't.

And as terrible as the organization's track record is, not sure we can really ascribe Bohm to that. 2020 was a weird year, but he looked ready. He took a step back last year and both of the people who were in charge of him (at the major league level) were replaced, but the minor league guys hadn't failed him. Would he be better if he'd had a real 2020, or had spent in in AAA (had it existed)? No point in wondering really.

What is striking to me about the new signings/press conferences, is the focus on their personalities, more than their bats. Not that this is really news, and it's always tricky (in fact, impossible) to quantify, but it feels like an admission that the clubhouse culture was lacking. Cutch and Didi and Wheeler did not bring anything to the table as elder statesmen and Harper, JT and Hoskins all seem to fit into the "quiet leader" mode behind the scenes.

[donaldorc]

Nola has been a homerun machine so far this spring.

[BaseballCat]

Unfortunately Nola's game today is going much like the first - has some good movement, but has given up two homeruns. I am liking these free MLBTV games - I can watch while making a test. Also my birthday - so happy birthday to me

[donaldorc]

so happy birthday to me

Happy birthday!

[donaldorc]

I am liking these free MLBTV games - I can watch while making a test.

I thank the good Lord I no longer have to make up or grade tests--35+ years is enough! I'm retired.

[BaseballCat]

I thank the good Lord I no longer have to make up or grade tests--35+ years is enough! I'm retired.

One day in the next ten years I hope - but until that time, a necessary evil...

[phillychuck]

I have been teaching for 43 years now, and will not leave until they throw me out the door and lock it behind me. The tests and grading are tedious, but the students make it all worthwhile.

[donaldorc]

I have been teaching for 43 years now, and will not leave until they throw me out the door and lock it behind me. The tests and grading are tedious, but the students make it all worthwhile.

You are to be admired! And I do miss the students.

[donaldorc]

Old friend Charlie Hayes in the Pirates' booth.

[LoneStarPhan]

Looks like the game with Pittsburgh has gone final at 3-3 after 5 innings. They have been in a rain delay and now appears to have been called.

Nola touched for two home runs; Hoskins with a 2 run home and Moniak with a solo homer for the Phillies. Pirates had 8 hits, the Phillies only 2.

[fish]

2-2 and 0-1 cookie fastballs for home runs. I don’t get it. I assume he’s trying to be too fine with elevated fastballs. Surely he came into spring with a plan to do something different when he has 2 strikes.

[zambonir]

I mean, it's still his second start in a shortened spring training. The results don't matter and even a plan might not really be in place yet (versus if the coaches had gotten work with everyone for two weeks, instead of this actually being those two weeks).

[schillingfan]

2-2 and 0-1 cookie fastballs for home runs. I don’t get it. I assume he’s trying to be too fine with elevated fastballs. Surely he came into spring with a plan to do something different when he has 2 strikes.

His off- speed pitches should be his out pitch. Last year he got killed by the high fastball, too. It’s not fooling hitters.

[flyers19rw]

When the kids looked at me with the same look that they had when I was discussing the Vietnam War as they did when I covered the War of 1812, I knew that it was time to go. There comes a time when the next generation needs to be given their chance to perform.

[zambonir]

MLB Network today. Annnouncers just mentioned Fangraphs has Phillies projected at 88 wins, still third place.

Frantzke calling on TV (Tom working NCAA tournament)

[BaseballCat]

Did Gibson get hurt? Out after 0.2 innings