2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion

[David_Criss]

Who gets sent down for Alvarado if Covey is safe for another shot?

[andyb]

I think the only other possible options are Marte and Hoffman beyond Covey. Hoffman has no options so it won't be him. It will be Marte if they want Covey to pitch in the bullpen game. It will be Covey if they just do a straight bullpen game. They'll need the 40 man spot shortly for Hall or Marchan anyway.

[David_Criss]

Marte has pitched pretty well recently unlike Covey. Sigh. Is Nelson still hurting?

[bkox]

Connor Brogdon sent down

Prior to tonight’s game against the Dodgers, LHP José Alvarado was recalled from his rehab assignment with Reading (AA) and reinstated from the 15-day IL (left elbow inflammation). To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Connor Brogdon was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA).

— Philadelphia Phillies ( @Phillies ) June 9, 2023

[andyb]

I guess Brogdon has not pitched super well and they have the option. I do worry it is small sample size but so be it. They'll still need Covey's spot for Hall though I think it is at least 50-50 they just option Hall to AAA and keep Clemens. Bohm will just replace Ellis but they'll need that 40-man spot for Marchan too.

[zambonir]

Yeah Hall is definitely going to AAA Thomson said they want him to get regular ABs there. But like you say they still need 40 spots

[Austinfan]

Given Clemons' play, I'd think they'd showcase Hall for a trade for a pitcher.
Especially if they think Harper is going to start playing 1B after the All-star break.

[zambonir]

Hall is a trade throw-in at best. If he dominates AAA for a month it doesn't really prove anything and if they find playing time for him in MLB it's 50-50 that he'd produce (against the better pitchers and/or LHP). What they could stand to trade him for is a RH Darick Hall but they've already passed on most of the vets who fit that description (with good reason).

Maybe they Mets would like him instead of Vogelbach.

[Austinfan]

He's hit ML pitching, has plus plus LH power, for a team that wants LH power and has a spot open at 1B or DH for a platoon, Hall will have some value. Not a lot of value, but a #6 SP or middle reliever value.

[andyb]

I would not dismiss Hall so quickly. Clemens is not really a great defensive 1B and Hall offers more offensive potential in a platoon role also. If playing 1B in a platoon role is all this is required then Hall is probably the better player once he has had enough at bats to get his timing back. While Clemens has more defensive versatility, he is not really using that on a team that has Sosa and Harrison on it as well.

Pache will likely be back too shortly though he'll just take Guthrie's spot. And he was not on the 60-day IL either.

[zambonir]

I'm not entirely dismissive of Hall but I don't think he really showed that much last year (only from one side and mostly against bad teams) and Clemens has shown enough to not lose the job especially if they still intend to play Bohm at 1B.

Certainly his value to the Phillies is higher than his trade value! But if he's looking at a month in AAA, it won't be long after that before we either looking at Harper at 1B or a trade deadline bat or both.

[andyb]

Dodgers switched to an opener (Gonzalez - LHP) and their bulk pitcher (Grove) will go second tonight.

I think we will see much more of this with the desire to put left-handers against Schwarber and Harper as often as possible. The opener guarantees a team can do it once. Castellanos is really important in that 2 hole because he will see lots of left-handed pitching.

[schillingfan]

Tre Turner sand JT. need to start hitting. Our right hand line-up isn’t chopped liver, just not big power threats. If Tre and J.T. can get on baddy, they can steal and play some small ball. Of course losing Rhys is what really hurt our lineup.

[Austinfan]

If Harper is at 1B, and Schwarber should be the LH DH, what role does Hall have?
At least Clemons can play 3B, making him more useful on the bench.

[xogfog]

I really don’t think Harper will be at 1B this year, I think that will be next year if they don’t bring back Hoskins, so Hall will likely get some time at 1B when he returns. Next year he might not have a spot, but this year he may still be useful.

[andyb]

Harper at 1B really depends on whether he can't make OF throws for a period of time but he can play 1B.

Harper at 1B is about getting Schwarber out of the OF. Cave or Muzziotti or whatever OF they play could easily be a better offensive and defensive player than Hall or Clemens.

[bkox]

Phillies maybe catching a break

Julio Urías won’t start Sunday as planned, Dave Roberts said. Didn’t feel 100 percent after his bullpen yesterday. They’ll taxi someone and effectively run a bullpen game on Sunday — Gavin Stone isn’t an option this turn through, Roberts said.

— Fabian Ardaya ( @FabianArdaya ) June 9, 2023

[gmwannabe]

I'm with Andy here. I would not sleep on Hall. I don't think he stays in AAA for too long. I can see him hammering this year yet.
gm

[phillychuck]

Hall 2/4 with a 3-run HR already tonight.

[zambonir]

Does that give him better numbers than Cave?