2023 Phils Spring Training News and Discussion

[bkeich]

To me it would be foolish not to move Castellanos or Schwarber to 1st. They are both horrendous OF, as I remember Castellanos was actually the worst fielder at any position a couple years ago (by some advanced stat). Moving either of them to the easiest defensive position can only help the defense, and both normally have the bat to make it acceptable (yes, Castellanos was not good offensively last year, but that is only 1 year).

Moving a lesser offense player there is missing the opportunity to improve the defense. With this many 1B/DH types on this team, putting someone like Sosa or Harrison there seems like missing the opportunity.

[andyb]

But if any solution has Hall taking the long side of platoon at bats against RHP, he is probably better defensively than any full time OF we would put there. I am not saying you don't give Schwarber or Castellanos any reps there (because it clearly could make sense after various pinch hitting and defensive moves in a game), but it really does not make sense to consider them as part of the immediate solution.

If Cave plays in the OF then Schwarber or Castellanos will just DH.

[fish]

Surprising to me how little first base Schwarber has played in his career- though his play in left doesn't bother me. Would be great to get Castellanos out of the field, but moving him to first seems like another distraction for a guy who just needs to get comfortable again. The Bohm/Sosa/Hall combo for first and third is a plenty good option I think. Now we just need to see if spring Cave is a fluke or not to pencil into right field.

[zambonir]

Yeah but Hall is an adequate 1B so as long as he continues to hit from the left side he'll get 2/3-3/4 of the starts. Only if he tanks will they need someone else more often. So that only leaves opportunites for Castellanos basically, as the RHB. And he'd be a defensive liability at 1B too (possibly more of one than he is in RF just given the higher # of chances). Given they don't expect Harper to return to RF immediately it probably makes sense to let Castellanos remain comfortable at RF with the occasional DH spot. Those DH ABs were still going to go to Bohm or JT or Harrison so if they play 1B occasionally instead, NBD.

I don't think you really play Sosa at 1B, I think you play Bohm there and let Sosa play 3B. That is net positive vs. Bohm at 3B and Castellanos or Schwarber at 1B simply because of Sosa's 3B defense.

[andyb]

Schwarber was universally considered awful defensively when he was forced to play there with Boston briefly. And he really did not like doing it:

Tim Anderson was asked about changing positions to play 2B for Team USA.

Kyle Schwarber chimed in: "It's definitely not easy, changing positions. I think everyone saw that when I was playing in Boston trying to play first base. That sucked. So it's pretty hard."

— Pete Abraham ( @PeteAbe ) March 21, 2023

[Philsmania]

Sadly, if this injury KO's Hoskins for the season, it may well be the end of his Phillies career and he'll have to sign a pillow contract with someone.

[bkeich]

Well, I understand that Schwarber may not like 1B, but he probably needs to accept that it is his future. He is horrible in the OF and while the number of chances increases by going to 1B, I believe it is still considered the easiest (least athleticism needed) defensive position.

Very few guys can play the OF but can't play 1B (really height is the only issue that can cause that to happen). Schwarber may need time to adjust, but it is his future I suspect.

Problem is we can say the exact same thing about Castellanos. Maybe even more so.

Bohm probably doesn't have the bat to really even be more than a backup 1B / alternate.

[zambonir]

Or he could sign a pillow contract with the Phillies.

We shall see.

Thomson said on the broadcast that he's not sure what Hoskins' injury is yet, but should have an update after the game. He also said that Hoskins was walking around in the clubhouse after getting checked out by trainers, which he thinks could be a good sign.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) March 23, 2023

By 2025 Schwarber and Castellanos will either both be DHs or they'll both be bench players or they will be gone. By then I'm not sure you can expect either of them to have the bat for 1B even if they were good at the position - and Harper might need to play there too.

I feel like LF is just as easy as 1B, even if Rhys Hoskins couldn't play it. But Schwarber isn't exactly failing to live up to the Phillies' standard for that spot. And wasn't RF where they hid the worst kid in Little League (I might have played it)?

[andyb]

You just don't do it without an offseason to learn it though. I agree Schwarber likely ends up there, but not this year as long as Hall is a left-handed option who is likely much, much better than Schwarber defensively. If Hall does not hit or gets hurt then all bets are off of course.

[Aquapong]

Weird injury…did he get a spike caught or something?

[andyb]

Maybe some hope?

Rob Thomson on the NBC Sports Philadelphia: "It's concerning. I'm not sure what it is yet. They're checking him out now. ... He's had some knee issues in the past. Maybe it was more fear than pain. They said he was walking around in the clubhouse afterwards."

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) March 23, 2023

[phillychuck]

Looked to me like a high ankle sprain live.

Rewatched it and it was clearly a knee.

[zambonir]

Someone in Coffey's thread noted that the fact that he is walking around doesn't really tell us much (and Thomson's not a doctor either). But here's hoping.

[bkox]

The Phillies have acquired INF Esteban Quiroz from the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations. He will be assigned to minor league camp.

— Philadelphia Phillies ( @Phillies ) March 23, 2023

[flyers19rw]

With Schwarber’s past as a catcher, one would think that he could handle 1B especially nabbing throws in the dirt. He’d need to work at it but should succeed at the position.

[andyb]

I never said he couldn't do it. All I said is the one time he tried he was bad at it. And we have a ready alternative in Hall who is almost certainly better at it than Schwarber now. This is the type of change one does at the beginning of the offseason or at least at the beginning of Spring Training.

[BaseballCat]

Hall and a cast if others can handle first. Schwarber is not a first baseman and I want Nick to focus on hitting. Many people could handle first base but having people with little experience there just makes the whole infield worse. In a pinch sure, but season long plan, no IMHO

[zambonir]

I want Nick to focus on hitting

Me too, but somehow he's still the right fielder

They already talked a lot about playing Bohm at 1B or DH and Sosa at 3B when the subject was merely replacing Harper and I'm sure that will remain the approach for replacing Hoskins.

[zambonir]

Mentions Luke Voit may become available this week.

How do the Phillies replace Rhys Hoskins at first base and in the lineup?

The super-pessimistic reaction if it's worst-case - this Phillies team has both a playoff hangover and begins to show its age more (Hoskins hurt, Castellanos doesn't bounce back, Schwarber and JT both less than they were last year, Harper doesn't come back as dramatically as we want) the under isn't such a bad bet after all.

[mdougherty12]

Hoskins diagnosed with torn ACL:

Hoskins carted off, diagnosed with left ACL tear