2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion

[zambonir]

haha right? I mean, he's still pretty good at his job but so is Dombrowski (I think, lol). The big question is did they really think Pache could help them win games now or are they just hoping to stash him. Of course he is hardly the problem!

[zambonir]

Is Clemens a Boras client?

Kody Clemens is being called up by Phillies. Clemens is expected to be activated tomorrow. Darick Hall is hurt.

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) April 5, 2023

[mdougherty12]

haha right? I mean, he's still pretty good at his job but so is Dombrowski (I think, lol). The big question is did they really think Pache could help them win games now or are they just hoping to stash him. Of course he is hardly the problem!

Beane seems to be in more of an advisory role with Oakland now:

Billy Beane moves into advisory role for Athletics, Forst stays GM

[David_Criss]

I'd rather see Kingery, even though I know 40-man spots are precious now, but this pretty much cements Bohm at first, right?

[zambonir]

Yeah that only just happened before this season though of course he had also moved into the Theo/Andrew Friedman executive role above a GM long ago, and has been doing the soccer stuff for ages. But I think the point - whether you agree with Flyers or agree with me - is still the same with Forst, who's been their GM for eight years, You can say that if the A's gave up on this kid he must be done or you can say that if the A's desperately wanted to acquire him just a year ago there's something still there. Or you can say, as I think Fish is implying, that the A's haven't actually been smarter than any team in baseball for a long time now.

[fish]

Or you can say, as I think Fish is implying, that the A's haven't actually been smarter than any team in baseball for a long time now.

They have made moves the last 2 years that would make you think Matt Klentak was running them.

[BaseballCat]

https://twitter.com/matt_winkelman/status/1644086979871625220?s=61&t=Bb7F6SQXpApe9qEndFfpTQ

Painter to 60 day IL

[gmwannabe]

that's a shame. get the knife out. was he trying too hard to impress in spring training?
gm

[andyb]

This is just a paper move. He has not begun to throw yet so the 60-day is just roster maneuvering around the 180-player organizational limit. Nothing to do with major league service time.

Now the question of rehab versus surgery is very valid and might cost them a year if unsuccessful. I just hate to set the precedent of doing surgery on almost a preventive basis. They are doing TJ surgery on HS kids now so they won't have to disrupt their college or minor league careers.

[BaseballCat]

Certainly a paper move right now, but I thought I should report something I found on Matt’s Twitter feed. They probably need his space for someone else and that probably is his approximate availability if all goes well.

[julio]

Phillies announce that they’ve recalled Kody Clemens from Lehigh Valley and placed Darick Hall on the 10-day IL (retro to 4/6) with a right thumb sprain.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) April 7, 2023

[zambonir]

Poor guy. Pretty much losing his entire window of extra playing time with Harper out, even if 1B remains open.

Darick Hall said he tore a ligament in his thumb. The tentative date for surgery is on Wednesday. Says it should be a simple procedure and added that it’ll be an “aggressive” rehab. He can still lift, take ground balls, do one-handed exercises with his left hand.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) April 7, 2023

He says he won’t be out for the season, but still doesn’t know what the timeline is.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) April 7, 2023

[andyb]

Yeah, I can't imagine he will be back in less than 2-3 months with the surgery. I guess the good news for him is there are two potential spots for him this year rather than one.

Clemens in the lineup today, but imagine we'll see much more of Sosa at 3B even against RHP. The extra defense almost certainly makes it worthwhile even if Clemens hits a bit (and hoping for 700 OPS in a mostly platoon role is that definition for me).

[zambonir]

Yeah seems to me they could just as easily put Bohm at first and platoon Sosa & Clemens at 3B. But also anything is possible now. Ruf? Castellanos? Bring up Kingery for Pache and let him play 1B or 3B once a week? Put Ortiz back on the 40 and just throw him into the fire? (Probably not that last one).

[andyb]

I think Pache only has a couple of weeks to prove he is better than Kingery. Though if they did have Kingery on the roster I think it enhances the chances of pushing Castellanos or Schwarber to 1B for selected starts.

They do have to see if Clemens is playable. Last year he really wasn't and the burden of playing 1B (or at least being the 1B addition to the lineup) is a higher bar to cross. I think I have more confidence in Kingery being able to hit major league pitching now than Clemens. Barely. But if I had to pick between the 2 it would be Kingery.

[allentown]

Pache has only about half a season's worth of ABs and is a year younger than Marsh but has never hit enough to have a positive rWAR. I still view him as a strange guy to trade for. Recently, and over the recent years, we've signed so many defense-first (only?) CFs that we should be very familiar with the type. Rather than trade even a minor relief prospect for him, I'd sooner they gave Muzziotti a taste of MLB -- he's only a month younger than Pache. I'd rather give one of our own guys a chance than trade for another team's unsuccessful player. Muzziotti has had a cup of coffee in the majors.

[julio]

I haven't seen the play where Hall injured his thumb. I understand it was sliding into second base? Did he go headfirst?

[zambonir]

Let the clickbait begin!

If Phillies need help at first base, these guys could be available

[zambonir]

I think I have more confidence in Kingery being able to hit major league pitching now than Clemens. Barely. But if I had to pick between the 2 it would be Kingery.

I agree but it's also a lefty/righty thing. And neither of them are 1B level bats obviously. For now they are replacing Hall with Clemens and are surely going to play Bohm at 1B. If they don't do that, they need a RHB at 1B. If they want to move one of the corner OFs I think they should probably pick one, and do it regularly.

I think acquiring Pache was in part to protect Muzziotti. He has had a lot of bumps and interruptions and another cup of coffee is now that he needs know. I think they will just go with Sosa or Kingery or Guthrie if and when they give up on Pache. I think they knew exactly what they were getting when they got Pache, including the fact that he would probably go back on waivers (but might sneak through later).

[allentown]

Just no. We should not be trading from a shallow, weak farm for stopgap guys who are inferior players. That's the loser's way.