2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion Part 2

[andyb]

good news with a DH is the team should be a me to recall a pitcher to cover some innings, correct?

I had thought that but apparently that rule is not in effect in September.

We could always start Covey and then send him down which would put him on waivers I suppose. The only consequence to that would be injury depth though I think Covey might be behind other arms in AAA (Marte, Bellatti) if we actually needed an injury replacement in a later round.

[zambonir]

I just reckon they want Covey on the off-season roster. Seems implausible but it has seemed implausible he hung around all year.

Right now it seems implausible that they will actually be able to play three baseball games in Queens this weekend. And this time it won't be the grounds crew's fault.

[andyb]

Looks like the rain is supposed to stop around 1 or 2 tomorrow. They might have to start at 3 or 4 tomorrow but they can probably get 2 in. No rain Sunday also.

It does seem pointless (and it might even advantage the Marlins if they finish the suspended game Monday against a tired Mets staff.

[bkox]

Seeing the destruction videos from the flooding in NYC.. im wondering if they will be able to play even if the rain does stop. Major parts of the city are flooded and the several subway lines (including flushing) are suspended.

[zambonir]

It can be deceptive (or very different 24 hours from now) but yeah. If there's a state of emergency would they play without fans (and why?).

[Lucky_Beagle]

whoops, I forgot about the no additional pitchers for Sep Dh's

[bkox]

The other question is the state of the field. That field may have taken on 5 inches or more of water by tomorrow.. can they get it ready? How much injury risk for our fielders?

[David_Criss]

Covey is not needed on the post season roster. He may have value as a bullpen piece next year.
Don't know if it is possible, but can they find a way to get creative and call up Nelson and Ortiz and let the two of them and Covey eat up a ton of innings this weekend, giving the post season arms time to rest and set.

[Lucky_Beagle]

the team needs someone to go on paternity leave for a couple of days!

[Lucky_Beagle]

any player have a slight case of Covid!

[andyb]

Walker is good for 5 probably. Sanchez for 2-3. All other relievers should pitch one inning. Maybe Lorenzen for 2.

That's going to leave like 10 more innings for Covey and position players to handle.

[zambonir]

If the 15-day recall rule still applies there's really no way to be creative. Some relievers are going to have to pitch Saturday and Sunday, but they get Monday off, and several of them won't be needed in Game 1 (much bigger problem is they are!)

has Castro hit his safe option window yet? might want to swap him for Kody Clemens.

[bkox]

position players to handle

only if we are in a blowout

[zambonir]

Well, yeah, that's a good point.

In case people have forgotten:

Starting in the 2023 Major League Baseball season, position players are restricted to pitch only in situations where their team is leading by 10 or more runs in the 9th inning, their team is losing by 8 or more runs at any time, or the game is in extra innings.

[BostonRoss]

If we can bring back everyone for the playoffs, I’d option everyone with options. I bet Harper has options!

[bkox]

I bet Harper has options!

Options end after x amount of years of service time (I forget how many)

[zambonir]

Still have that pitcher's limit - and surprisingly few players with options.

Including Harper. Not because he ever ran out of them but because of his service time.

[BostonRoss]

I was joking about Harper. But Stott? Marsh? Rojas, of course. The more Clemenses, Halls, and Wilsons you play, the less you have to worry about a key player getting hurt.

[andyb]

Though if the 10-day recall rule did not apply at the end of the season they could use guys like Kerkering and Sanchez on Saturday and option them out for Nelson and somebody else on Sunday. The rules online are kind of cloudy on this because postseason eligibility has nothing to do with optional assignment. Player just needs to be on the 40 or an injury waiver like Kerkering who also needs to be in the organization.

I do wonder if the Phillies petition the league to allow this. FWIW players do get major league pay and service time when they are optioned out in September anyway, so this would cost a little extra money.

I did find this exception language too on the MLB site:

But in September, another exception emerges. If a player is optioned to a Minor League club whose season -- including any playoffs -- ends prior to the conclusion of that 10-day period, the player can be recalled at that point, with approval from the Commissioner's Office.

[zambonir]

I'm sure they will do it if they can then. I'm less worried about the position players.

Otherwise: pitchers, throw strikes. Batters, swing.

The whole thing is further complicated by the fact that the Mets may still have to play a meaningful inning on Monday. And that they have no reason to want to win games.