2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion

[zambonir]

I was thinking just 2nd actually.

Mostly I think Thomson just has to stick with a line-up because that is what seemed to work for him - and the players - last year. You want your best hitters to get the most plate appearances but "best hitters" doesn't necessarily mean "hottest hitters." I think he could have kept Schwarber there all along - his OBP is already just about back to its 2022 level, which is also the same as Stott's OBP.

And Turner is still a guy with a .351 OBP (including that exact number for his 486 games as a lead-off hitter). Would giving that spot back to him challenge him to be more selective and be a vote of confidence, or keep the spiral going? Should he have lost it in the first place?

If you keep tinkering JT's always an option for either 1 or 2 as well. His bat still has to come around.

Bryce does seem to just prefer hitting third.

[BostonRoss]

I want Bryce batting with people on base. So far, unfortunately, batting third in this lineup means he usually isn’t.

[zambonir]

Lead-off would have worked great when Marsh, Stott and Sosa were all red-hot at the bottom of the order!

[andyb]

Some more Turner discussion here. Clearly he is pressing as his swing rates are higher outside the zone. Not having trouble with high velocity really. Bad thing is that the swing rate stuff started last year so he may have learned some bad habits and gotten away with it last year. But a winter of opposition video analysis might mean other teams are exploiting this.

Best thing might be for him to consciously try to use his speed more. He still should hit the ball in the air in favorable counts, but before that he should probably dial it back a bit. I definitely want to see him use his speed more on the basepaths.

Trea Turner’s Slide Has Not Been Smooth

[gmwannabe]

I guess the loss of Rhys is worse than people thought. Damn the defense. That lineup that finished last year with Turner replacing Segura would be more intimidating. Sosa is ok, but not full starting material. The Rhys injury will end up being the reason the Phils do not get back. Plus the inconsistent pitching. too many innings last year for the big 2.
gm

[flyers19rw]

I certainly don’t miss Hoskins in the field. In another few weeks, Harper will be at 1B. That will open up the DH position for Schwarber which will allow a competent glove in LF. The batting order will be improved. When Hoskins got hot at the plate it was great but his streakiness there was problematic way too often. He’s a great guy but not needed here any longer.

[zambonir]

Over 162 games streakiness isn't really problematic. And in the playoffs, it cuts both ways. I don't think I would have wanted him to be more consistent in the playoffs, considering his "streaky" nights singlehandedly won a couple of games. Regardless, give me a guy with 30 home runs and a .353 career OBP over a non-streaky guy with 20 and .330.

And his defense graded out a lot better than we would have thought. He was not one of the three worst defensive players on last year's team and wouldn't be this year either. No reason to think Harper will be a better 1B than Rhys was either (and Bohm already isn't).

I still think he might end up back here next year. It's hard to make both the positions and the numbers work, but can't rule it out. It really depends just how strong the open market is for him. If it's not they can either get him at a more reasonable price/length, or just give him a fat one-year deal (just a bit more than the QO, perhaps).

As you would expect some of this Hayes column is nonsense (he says this year's team would already have 5 more wins with Rhys, which would make him a Hall of Fame caliber player) but not all of it is.

The Phillies would be a winning team with Rhys Hoskins. Miss him yet?

[BostonRoss]

On the radio pregame show, they said Thomson says Harper won’t be playing 1B until after the All-Star break.

[zambonir]

Yeah I kind of thought he was still at least a month away. I also think it's possible it never actually happens. He may just go straight back to RF, and/or the Phillies will make some other moves. And in the meantime they will probably give Hall a shot. Clemens could actually play LF and 3B instead of losing his spot too.

Phillies notes: Harper at 1B, Sunday's starting pitcher, Darick Hall's role

[Austinfan]

If Clemons is still hitting, Hall is likely to be traded, maybe for a pitcher for organizational depth.
Clemons provides more roster flexibility as a LH power bat.

[zambonir]

Oh, btw (from that story above)

_The Phillies claimed outfielder Cal Stevenson off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to Triple A. _

Rule 5 pitcher Noah Song (low back strain) was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room on the 40-man roster for the 26-year-old Stevenson.

[LoneStarPhan]

Turner had an RBI hit tonight but prior to the hit, he twice fouled off what would have been ball four. He continues swinging at pitches out of the zone.

[Austinfan]

Though to be fair, Turner was more selective for the most part, as was the whole team.
Somebody read the riot act?

[Callison]

Sure feels great to beat the Evil Empire Atlanta Braves. Before yesterday, the nouncers said they were 11 - 3 against the NL East!!! And I can't wait for the game today. The Phils could get good at any moment.

Looks like that Shuster has just about found his groove in the bigs. Looked strong.

OTOH Walker looked strong, too - was worried after he got shelled . Stott had another nice day. Castellanos reminded us of why he's here. The lineup might finally be right somehow.

GO PHILS!!!

[Callison]

Forgot to mention Kimbrel... the new, improved Kimbrel! You know you can close when you close the Braves.

[flyers19rw]

Harrison needs to be DFAed. No bat or reliable glove anymore. He had a nice career. Say bye.

[bkox]

Jose Alvarado did not throw a bullpen session today as scheduled, although he played catch off flat ground. He came in a little stiff. Thomson said it wasn’t a setback. Mentioned that Alvarado was throwing 98 in the bullpen the other day, and was probably pushing it too hard.

— Todd Zolecki ( @ToddZolecki ) May 27, 2023

[BostonRoss]

I think Harrison is hanging on only because he hits righthanded (and Cave bats lefthanded).

[zambonir]

They just don't have anyone else to fill the spot. Sosa has clearly been banged up. Guthrie is already on the team, is probably not better (at the plate) and is also supposed to play CF. Everyone else on the 40 is a LHB besides Rojas.

When Pache comes back they could cut Harrison and keep Guthrie. Or when Hall comes back they could just roll with Clemens and go without a righty for while. Ditto if they brought up Cave. But I'm not sure any of those things result in better production from the spot.

And Harrison is also beloved by the front office and the manager so I bet he still makes it to the All-Star break.

In the end I really think they are still going to have to replace Hoskins in some way at the deadline, as per the note below. Harrison was meant to provide at least a little RH pop off the bench, and that's certainly not happening. Turner's been slumping. Bohm has reverse splits. Sosa's brief time with a big bat is already over. They probably need a LF or a 1B. They already have plenty of middle IF/3B guys.

Turner has struggled in general, but particularly against lefties this season. The right-handed hitter entered Friday’s game batting .182/.260/.318 against them with a .579 OPS. That isn’t much worse than how the Phillies have hit lefties as a whole. Their team OBP of .287 against left-handed pitching ranks 29th in baseball.

Phillies find success against a lefty, hold off Atlanta Braves on Craig...

[Austinfan]

I think Ortiz was injured to start the season, but has hit well since.

Only 97 PA so SSS, but he's raised his BB% from 8.5% at Reading to 14.4% and his K rate is down from 32.7% to 21.6%. So if they've taught him to be more selective, he has plus plus power and might be the RH bat they're looking for - but I think they'll want to give him another 100+ PA before bringing him up.