2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion Part 2

[bkox]

Up through the no-no: extremely successful starter; after: not at all.

this just isnt true. If you had said "up through the no-no, he had a good month" that would be true.. But he put up a 5.30 ERA in 6 starts in June. Hes a very up and down starter. Even with his good numbers this year with Detroit, he had 6 different starts where he gave up 5 or more ERs. His season ERA before the great July was 4.28. One point from where its at now.

[julio]

So something is surely wrong somewhere and the Phils and Lorenzen need to address it. Why not try some rest? And prayers?

I suspect those of them that believe in prayer have already tried that...and that it's worked about as well as one would expect, when resorting to prayer instead of available real-world approaches.

[Patchmk88]

https://x.com/MattGelb/status/1705277543194968201?s=20

Trying to see if he can help in the playoffs?

[Squire]

I do not think Kerkering is eligible for the playoffs since he was not on the 40 man roster before 9/1. He can pitch this last 10 games though

[Patchmk88]

Ahh forgot about that.

[andyb]

Just has to be in the organization I believe, not on the 40. They would not be doing this if he did not have a chance to be on the postseason roster.

Postseason Roster Rules & Eligibility | Glossary | MLB.com

Just needs to replace an "injured" player. We might learn who that is on the other side of the transaction.

[Squire]

Ah. Good to know. Thanks.

[andyb]

I don't even know why they go through these games. Ever since K-Rod I believe, there has been a wide loophole that has been used to put a player on the roster after a hot September.

There is no abuse to reverting back to "in the organization by August 31" as the rule. One definitely wants to prohibit shady waiver deals but there should be no problem in letting the Phillies pick their best 26 from within the organization as of 8/31.

[julio]

An interesting side question to a Kerkering promotion -- Who gets bounced off the 40-man roster to make room for him?

[andyb]

There are probably 4 or 5 guys who wouldn't be on it in the offseason anyway. Do we think guys like Uelmen would be on the roster (and he could be the injured guy since he was already rehabbing). Drew Ellis is probably many layers down the depth chart too.

[julio]

Certain rules seem to exist to be abused, but Uelmen is off the minor league IL - he was activated in AAA within the past couple of days.

It would make sense to DFA somebody who is not going to help this season, and who will be a minor league free agent this winter if not on the 40-man - somebody who likely would be removed from the 40-man roster in November anyway.

[Philsmania]

Kekering runs the organizational table in one season, from low-A Clearwater all the way up to The Show. He beats 1989 Pat Combs by a level--from then-high-A Clearwter to Reading to S/WB to Philadelphia where he absolutely scinitillated in September. Dang, at the time, I thought the Phillies had found their ace of the future.

[andyb]

Uelmen is off the minor league IL - he was activated in AAA within the past couple of days.

The major league side of the transaction could also have an IL stint. And frankly that rule above does not mention pitcher vs position player distinction except in the part about replacing a player injured DURING a playoff series. They might be able to use Hoskins' roster spot for Kerkering potentially if that is the case. Or maybe Yunior Marte tripped in the shower last night. Hope he is OK.

[zambonir]

He may have just beat out Lorenzen​

[Patchmk88]

Looks like we DFA'd Ellis and optioned Marte back to AAA

[Philsmania]

Just has to be in the organization I believe, not on the 40. They would not be doing this if he did not have a chance to be on the postseason roster.

Postseason Roster Rules & Eligibility | Glossary | MLB.com

Just needs to replace an "injured" player. We might learn who that is on the other side of the transaction.

That was how Raul Mondesi, Jr. made his ML debut in the World Series back in 2015.

[andyb]

Gelb article explicitly states that he can replace Hoskins:

Phillies call up RHP Orion Kerkering: Sources

It is actually a little odd that Hoskins is the only one hurt now. We have actually been pretty lucky this year outside of that.

[Callison]

It is still a fine trade,

After the no-hitter, he's been ineffective and the last outing was about the worst..

Good observations on the apparent fatigue issue... so if that's all Lorezen's got, he won't contribute. Looks like the Phils brain trust over-valued him. Ditto Castro.

[Sabin]

I suspect those of them that believe in prayer have already tried that...and that it's worked about as well as one would expect, when resorting to prayer instead of available real-world approaches.

I was waiting for that one.

[Philsmania]

It is still a fine trade,

After the no-hitter, he's been ineffective and the last outing was about the worst..

Good observations on the apparent fatigue issue... so if that's all Lorezen's got, he won't contribute. Looks like the Phils brain trust over-valued him. Ditto Castro.

I do have to agree that Dombrowski's trade deadline work this season was underwhelming. A very brief flash-in-the-pan with Lorenzen and Castro who played a lot when he got here (and not well). Both are now pretty much nonfactors and it would not be shocking if either or both are left off the Postseason roster.