2024 Phillies Late Season Discussion

[andyb]

Of course, but then you add in the first few months of the minors for Mercado and Lazar and even Gilbert and the picture is better.

Walker has not pitched well at all this season at any point. He'll get every veteran deference, but we already know the Phillies keeping him on the roster last season (when he was decent but just had no postseason role) was a mistake.

Using Walker in the last month in largely meaningless games was an attempt to salvage him when we had an investment and no better starting alternatives. The next month will be about winning in meaningful games. The Phillies will evaluate the stuff, role, and current form of each pitcher when making that decision. They all are lacking in some respect. The Phillies will choose whichever pitcher helps them the most in the role they envision. Just hard to see Walker helping in any role unless he comes out throwing 95 tonight and blowing hitters away. Clemens gets more swings and misses on his stuff than Walker at the moment.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Clemens gets more swings and misses on his stuff than Walker at the moment.

LOL

[zambonir]

I guess the way I see it last year wasn't a mistake because he wasn't ever actually needed, and Lorenzen probably would have pitched more innings - or even been elevated to emergency starter - before Walker.

But I concede - at this point it doesn't seem to be good for the mental health of the franchise or the fan base to keep this going.

Not sure it was the best idea for him to be the first man up once it wasn't a bases empty start the inning situation either.

[Callison]

Hays is another one of those Phils commitments, the ones the Phils make and can't let go. They're committed to letting him try to become the everyday LF. It might have been a good plan when he was acquired, but Hays' injuries have stopped it and, IMHO, there is not enough time left for Hays to get his batting eye to midseason form. It would be better to play Wilson, who has shown some ability. With any luck, Hays will bump his knee and go back on the DL. The team might be stronger without him.

JT needs rest and so Stubbs has to get some PT, but why put together a starting lineup with Stubbs, Rojas and Hays??? The Phils should offer refunds.

[Austinfan]

Hays was racking against LH hitting, but he has one more season, he might be a guy they want to showcase if they think Wilson can bridge to Crawford, Ricones and other young OFs.

[zambonir]

They should be playing a ton of bench players this week. The stakes of the 1 seed are not as high as the stakes of getting ready for the playoffs and a big part of that is seeing what the bench guys are capable of and deciding who gets what role. And anyone who went to the game last night expecting to get their money's worth after Monday night - never mind the probable pitchers - has poor financial judgment (or poor baseball judgment).

I'd be shocked if Hays gets any run against RHP in the actual playoffs. But he needs to play a lot this week to make up for the lost time.

[andyb]

Hays against a RHP tonight. I would not be shocked if Hays plays against RHP in the playoffs. I really think it is 50-50 between him and Rojas to get those starts at the moment. The Phillies clearly want it to happen and are trying things out now.

[zambonir]

I guess/hope they aren't doing it lightly. I mean, we can all see he hasn't found the bat against them and now it's an even shorter runway. And these are the same people who thought Taijuan Walker could pitch based on experience and past performance.

The part that I find more curious is they seemed so committed to Marsh as the best defensive LF, and to Rojas once he found his defensive groove. So I hope it's more than a feeling that they truly think the offense is needed more, ie. they have data which says so. Problem is you actually have to get the offense is offense is needed more.

But I also think Hays is just gonna play this week regardless.

[Aquapong]

I agree Mercado has stuff, but he needs to control his fastball to make it work in MLB. He likely won’t factor into the rest of this year, but maybe he could be a cheap reliever for us sometime next year if the staff can work with him to improve his control. I don’t see him as a starter though.

[Aquapong]

I saw a video on the Aramark employees strike and I’ve got to say they make some good points. They are paid much less than employees are other regional sports venues and the fact that hours worked at different stadiums count in separate buckets is bs. That keeps employees from getting eligible for health benefits and from getting overtime rates. I’m not even sure how that’s legal.

[zambonir]

I understand how it's legal l but it's also BS. Disappointing to hear the TV announcers shouting the company (and management) out tonight though of course the Phillies are not on the workers side (nor when it is their own players either).

At least they are smart enough - at least so far - to not change the bring your own food policy.

[Aquapong]

Yeah they have a separate contracts with each venue and I’m sure it was drawn up that way to reduce labor costs. But they’ve got to pay these folks more. Otherwise the employees should work elsewhere. Heck Target will start a high school kid here at $14/hr.

[dcsman]

It looks like Aramark has conceded the point regarding aggregate hours:

"In that offer, Aramark said, it conceded to counting hours worked across the stadiums and removed an eligibility cap, meaning employees who work at least 28 hours per week at all three stadiums would have access to health care benefits."

How that was ever able to get through in the first place is awful.

Union strong!

[gmwannabe]

nice win and bye. will this be the kiss of death, though. We all know what happened the past 2 years when the phils went right into the playoffs and the braves sat out. I think the braves complained, either last year or two years ago, about having to wait so long to play. get the rest but be ready to come out winning. I wonder what topper has planned to keep the phils somewhat sharp.
gm

[zambonir]

He has lots of things planned. There are going to be two squads for sim games (including minor leaguers). I'm sure the SPs will have their work designed carefully and with both their day and possible innings in mind (though they also need to know who is playing).

The Phillies thought that was sour grapes of the Braves last year (and they played sim games after not doing anything the year before. Didn't matter either way).

I don't really think the Phillies being "sharp" from playing two games against the Cardinals and the Marlins had anything to do with anything. I will definitely take rust and rest over the other team being able to set up their rotation against us. But anyone can win a Division Series. And now we won't even know which two teams are our potential opponents until Monday (though one will be the Brewers if we don't get the #1 seed).

With Harper hurt and the year JT had physicallly and Hays' infection and the fact that Bohm hasn't hit in August or September, a little break is probably more good than bad. Nick's the only guy you might worry about cooling off, perhaps along with Trea.

[Austinfan]

The key is Castellanos, Realmuto, Marsh, Stott and Rojas. All finished strong except Stott, and he showed flashes of his old self.
If the bottom of the lineup is hitting, takes a lot of pressure off the big boys in the post-season.

[flyers19rw]

During the clinching celebration on Tuesday night I noticed that Stott had some of that adhesive ace bandage tape going down from one of his shoulders towards the elbow. Just wondering if he's been injured and for how long? It could be the reason for his struggles at the plate.

[David_Criss]

Why does the Phillies website list Walker as being among the probable 12 pitchers on the post season roster? Lazar or Turnbull if healthy are far better options. Heck Phillips, Gilbert or even Allard would be better. Just two days ago he came in and walked the first two...Seriously zero reason to bring him to the post season.

[zambonir]

Is that a new article? All the writers have been predicting that for a while but most of those stories were written before hist last two outings. I still wouldn't rule it out though.

[Callison]

The Phils will do Walker no good by allowing him to continue post season. It is time for the tough love. He's gonna have to reinvent himself. In particular, he needs to get stronger. Post season, that should be the Phils' message.

The Phils' remaining pitching options don't look good, but hopefully they'll have little PT post season.