2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[gmwannabe]

the Phils might be the only team ever that has their Number 1and 2 starters not winning 10 games. Very happy to see how this pitching is going. I'd love to see DD pull the trigger on a Casty for Paul Skenes trade with the Pirates. then bring up Wes Wilson.
gm

[phillychuck]

gm, why would the Pirates want Casty, much less give up anything for him? Casty is a negative value contract.

[gmwannabe]

I think they need him to slow down their offense. They have been scoring too many runs and the Buc fans are getting too excited.

[andyb]

I think we'd have to throw Abel and Crawford and Caba in the deal along with Casty to get Skenes. And even that might not be enough.

[zambonir]

the Phils might be the only team ever that has their Number 1and 2 starters not winning 10 games.

This is why we need Walker back. Proven 10-game winner.

[gmwannabe]

Nah, that would be too much for Skenes. if anyone had to be added, I would include Ricketts and Robert Moore. And yes Zamby, that is true about Walker.
gm

[andyb]

Left-handed pitcher tonight. I would definitely get Pache a start after last night. I think we do have to see if he could provide some more offense when Rojas and others are struggling. More Pache and less Merrifield for now. I'd probably also sit Castellanos a game or two against a RHP the next time we face one. He really looks like he needs a day or two off to get back in stride.

[Aquapong]

I’m glad we signed Merrifield for $8 mil when Pham went for a minor league deal.

[zambonir]

That is really looking like an own-goal. I'm still agnostic about Rojas vs. Pache but they do have to swap one of them for a LHB, and may yet have to spend trade capital if not add salary (at the deadline it's often one or the other) to upgrade on Merrifield (or get a better LHB).

[Callison]

The Rojas experiment took a nice turn yesterday as Johan hit one off the wall and got to .200 BA. Didn't come easy. No doubt the Phils restrict his bunting because he has to learn to hit, but his bunting is looking better and better. Still runs like a deer, as he stole 2nd on the first pitch. That's on the pitcher, but Rojas was there ready to take advantage of it. Kruk couldn't believe the pitcher could ignore Rojas, "... you don't stop him..." as Rojas just slowly accelerated into 2B.

Merrifield might be hitting his career lows everywhere. Merrifield must fix it. Tore up ST.

Nice day for Sanchez! The Phils let him keep the W he earned.

[andyb]

Looks like Walker could be back next week. Article sounds like the Phillies will move Turnbull to the bullpen at least in the short term.

Taijuan Walker feels ready earlier than Phillies expected: What does it mean for...

[Austinfan]

Turner has been more selective, as has JT, and it seems to be paying off for both.

Castellanos however, doesn't need "protection," he needs to be able to recognize and hit breaking balls that are strikes, and not chase low and away sliders. Otherwise, they're going to have to hope some of the AAA reclamation projects are for real.

[andyb]

JT is kind of swinging more aggressively and not being more selective. Jury is still out as to whether this is working. OPS lower than last year at the moment. Turner definitely better than last year, but that is a low point comparison that was the beginning of an atypical year.

[BostonRoss]

It is amusing to notice that Ronald Acuna has the lowest OPS among the Braves’ starters, but he would be fourth on the Phillies. Still, the Phillies are only two games behind. Pitching is important.

[Aquapong]

Seeing so many pitchers go down across the league already, having soon to be 6 healthy starters is a good problem to have.

[phillychuck]

I suspect they will need more than 6. Most teams do. But it's hard to keep starter number six stretched out and on the roster. Who is #7 right now? Phillips? Buchanan?

[Austinfan]

Probably have to wait another month.
Phillips has the inside track in the short run (of course Strahm is first option after Turnbull for a few starts, that just might be your tandem 5th starter in case of injury).
I don't think Buchanan's stuff is good enough to work at the next level.
Abel of course, once he gets into gear.
Mercado is making a case for the first callup, He was a starter (and used once this year) in 2021, 2022.
McGarry has 2 BB, 13 K in 7 IP, certainly worth watching.

[andyb]

Who is #7 right now?

Kolby Allard or Max Castillo most realistically because they are on the 40. Covey potentially if he gets healthy by the time a 7th starter might be needed.

Buchanan and Phillips are not on the 40 and not really pitching well enough to make a case above those already on the 40. Frankly they brough Allard in for this role along with Turnbull though he needs to pitch much better to see it.

[phillychuck]

McGarry's early season effectiveness is encouraging, for sure, but he certainly won't be starting.

Mercado has a very low WHIP now, but it is a result of an unsustainably low BABIP.

Allard has been awful in pretty much every respect, WHIP over 2.

Castillo is at least striking batters out.

Strahm is indeed probably the short-term injury option, but that weakens the pen, which is, of course, an easier hole to plug, but maybe not with a lefty.

[Callison]

The games when the Phils hit a little are a lot more fun. Feel good days for Casty and Rojas, two former holes in the lineup. Had to watch opponents' broadcast lately and the announcers said the Phils are loaded and can be dominant when they start to hit.

I guess Pinto has already pitched the only strong ML innings he'll ever pitch. I think it was for 5 innings he had an all-world sinker. Since then, nearly nothing. If his performance yesterday were a boxing match, it would have been stopped because Pinto couldn't defend himself. Big Rob's stubbornness serves him well, but not yesterday. How can this guy be dominant one day and incompetent the next? Walking a batter in the 9th with a 9 - 0 lead? Things you thought you'd never see. Makes you miss Covey.

Sounds like the decision was made to make Turnbull a long reliever a long time ago. IMHO, it should be changed. Turnbull has been NEARLY DOMINANT in 3 of 4 games. Turnbull was being a team player as he said he understood the Phils' thinking, but that he felt fine. Must accept that the starter position was never there to be won, even though he won it. Here's hoping Walker pitches as well. Will be good to have a proven starter in the pen, cause injuries happen.