2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion Part 2

[Austinfan]

I think Rojas is here to stay, elite defense means he doesn't have to hit much, and so far, he looks like he isn't overmatched at the plate.

Though it gets interesting with Pache returning, I think they have to everything they can to keep Schwarber as the DH, he's that bad in the field. Schwarber's fielding is so bad he's below replacement level even with a RC+ of 100.

[bkox]

Pache is +2 in 88 innings

fielding bible has Pache at 5 in 146 innings

https://fieldingbible.com/DRSLeaderboard

[zambonir]

I was looking at CF only. He's +2 in CF +3 in LF.

The issue at this point is Harper. Once they can play him every day at 1B only Marsh or Pache should ever play LF and only Pache or Rojas should play CF unless they want to give Cave a day with Marsh in CF against a tough righty. And if Pache can keep hitting like he had been in limited action he will do anything Wilson (let alone Castro) can do against LHP.

But if Harper still needs to DH Schwarber is not going to sit more than one day off a week (if that), his walks and power are still a key part of the offense

[zambonir]

Jinxed him

[Callison]

I played on a softball team called "HTMFB" - a shortened mantra for baseball/softball players, and I'm sending it to the Phils, who have a strong tendency to lose concentration,

Time for a string of 9 - 4 Ws.

[bkox]

Phillies place Ranger Suarez on injured list

[Callison]

Sanchez is getting steady out there! Great opportunity to use Belatti and Ortiz. Cave is up, up, up all the way up to .251 with the gimme homer! Castro got a hit! Almost heals the disappointment from the previous game.

"Phils games are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." Forrest Grump

Watched the end of the Giants - Braves - the Braves got a 2-run home in the bottom of the 8th to win it. Whatta team,

[bkox]

Brandon Marsh will be active tonight. Phillies and Nats get a 27th man — Marsh is that for the night. They’ll have to demote someone to minors on Monday.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) August 20, 2023

[Austinfan]

Sanchez is interesting, really has taken a step up, at this point looks like more than a fluke.

Think he has 1-2 MPH in velo in him the next couple years as he physically matures, that's common in young starting pitchers, 92-93, t95 is all he needs to be effective with his slider and changeup. #3 starter is probably his upside.

[Lucky_Beagle]

maybe they should bat all eligible hitters in
the lineup like at the LLWS

[zambonir]

Is 26 young?

[Sabin]

Depends on the person you’re askin, I’d say.

[Austinfan]

Pitchers in their middle-20s tend to add a little velocity, some from adding strength (which peaks in the late 20s for most athletes), some from refining mechanics. The operative word is "little", like 1-2 MPH. ranger added about 1 MPH in his mid-20s

Sanchez has actually gone from 93.9 (SSS) to 93.2 to 92.0, probably b/c they want him to focus on command rather than throwing as hard as he can - so as he gets more comfortable, an uptick the next couple years is a real possibility. His improvement this season is in his slider, had a plus changeup but the slider is now another plus offspeed pitch.

[LoneStarPhan]

Yes, 26 is young in my eyes.

[Austinfan]

A mere kid in my eyes.

[zambonir]

Yeah but it's not in baseball terms. It's almost when your decline begins!

But regardless, AF is talking about this 26 year-old, 6'5" guy who is in his 10th professional season and third year in AAA/the majors like he's one of those teenagers who is about to get three square meals at the complex for the first time.

Ironically, Sanchez did/does have some nutrition and strength issues, because he got sick in the off-season. He lost 15 pounds and came to camp at 180 when he was supposed to get over 200 lbs (he's now 205). So there might be something to it but that's not because he is going to "physically mature," at 27 or 28. He's just going to be in a better shape.

'A growing moment for him': Cristopher Sánchez's improved strength again pays...

[bkox]

Fellow center fielder Cristian Pache is on a rehab assignment for his elbow but has missed Lehigh Valley's last two games with hip tightness. The Phillies are gathering information about the injury before deciding whether to pause his rehab assignment.

Phillies get one CF back while another is banged up again

[zambonir]

I was just thinking that they were probably going to keep him down until roster expansion anyway. They still have to send Wilson or Castro down for Marsh tomorrow, so they may as we be careful.

[allentown]

Isn't peak year supposed to be age 27?

[zambonir]

Do you know what "almost" means?

I do reckon that's more for hitters than pitchers too but don't really know. And of course physical peak and performance peak aren't necessarily the same (so a 29 year-old pitcher could ads velocity just because he's better at pitching/has better mechanics, not because his body is better than it was at 26).

Either way it would definitely be nice to have more players on the right side of 27 who are already stars (and have been for a while), like the team we're looking up at in the East.