2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[bkox]

OUCH!!!

Trea Turner said he expects to miss at least six weeks with his hamstring injury and any return before that “would be a win.” Obviously, big blow for Phillies.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) May 4, 2024

[zambonir]

Bummer. Guess the way it felt this morning and what they found was not what they hoped last night. You always gotta be careful with those little muscle and core injuries.

Maybe Nick should hit second

[Dirk41]

Who do we demand they go out and get if Whit Merrifield is already on the team???

[Austinfan]

If only they could teach Sosa to be more selective, he's an above average fielder, and his career numbers aren't bad:
852 PA, RC+ 95, OPS .710, WAR 4.5.
We could do worse.

[zambonir]

If 6 weeks is just the low end it's at least worth looking into moving on from Pache if one of the hopeless teams has anyone to offer as an OF upgrade to improve the bench (and possibly more if Nick never gets going). But it's also nothing they can't ride out. It's just unfortunate it happens right as they arrived in first place; the other two years they rode it out while the division was largely out of reach already.

If the division and the #1 seed actually does stay in play that could also be a reason to go bigger at the deadline (for an OF or reliever). OTOH the division hasn't gotten any team anywhere in October the last two years.

[bkox]

Edmundo Sosa will have the first crack at most of the shortstop time, Rob Thomson said, but they will have Bryson Stott slide over at times with Whit Merrifield at second base. Bigger issue might be finding right fit for No. 2 in lineup. It’ll be Realmuto for now.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) May 4, 2024

[bkox]

Rotation situation remains convoluted:

- Turnbull is moving to the bullpen. Probably. Sanchez is available in relief tonight in case of emergency. If not used, he starts Tuesday. If used, Turnbull starts Tuesday.

- Wheeler starts Monday.

- All of this is subject to change.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) May 4, 2024

[zambonir]

Guess it all depends how you define emergency, and if the two lefties who pitched last night are available (they should be, but this is a long stretch of games too). In any case let's hope there isn't one (namely, any kind of short or poor start by Ranger)

[Dirk41]

Eloy Jimenez has been a horror thus far this season but if the Sox are willing to eat some money like the Marlins did. He would work as another piece and a two hole hitter. The splashless offseason may be a good thing with a push to play with now.

[andyb]

JT batting second tonight. The bullpen was always going to be tricky tonight having used 5 relievers. Guessing one or two could pitch back to back if they had to (Alvarado). Ruiz will get 2 innings if needed I imagine and the ideal plan is for Ranger to go deep again and Soto to close.

I was worried the hamstring injury was worse than alluded to. The way Trea acted after he scored really looked like he knew he tore something. Given that they seem willing to move Stott over I would guess that will be the solution much of the time if not most of the time. Sosa really has not been good defensively this year. Maybe regular playing time at his natural position will help, but I am expecting lots of Stott at SS and mixing Merrifield and Clemens occasionally at 2B.

[donaldorc]

Last night Apple TV had Harper miked in the third inning. First, that is an awful distraction for the player as well as us fans. Second, the wind ofter made it impossible for Harper to hear. Harper, the true Philly guy, said he enjoyed the ugly uniforms. He liked to play in different uniforms. Bring back the pin stripes and the cream ones for me.

The Apple TV announcers were very full of themselves, IMO.

[Aquapong]

More of a 2008 Phillies discussion, but apparently Jayson Werth is part owner of a horse about to run in the Kentucky Derby.

[bkox]

Only two teams in the Divisional Era (1969-) have had a better record through 33 games without reaching double-digit runs than the 2024 Phillies (22-11) --

> 1971 Giants (24-9)
> 1981 Dodgers (24-9)

— Bob Vetrone Jr. ( @BoopStats ) May 4, 2024

[Aquapong]

So the trade deadline is a long way away, but let’s say Turnbull is still pitching well. Do we try to flip him for younger players or prospects to inject some more youth? I suppose it could depend on injuries and other guys being effective, but in theory should it be considered?

[zambonir]

Can never have too much pitching. If he is pitching well that means you don't have to trade for a Lorenzen or Thor or Robertson (if all else is well too), which saves your own prospects.

[zambonir]

Phillies now the best team in baseball by winning percentage.

[Austinfan]

No trophies in early May.
Still got a lot of holes to address, RF, bullpen.
If they can SD back on track, that can help one problem.
But at some point they have to pull the plug on Castellanos, but what's the alternative.
Fortunately, Rojas seems to be coming around at the plate, and Merrifield at least has come alive.

[zambonir]

No teams are perfect. That last two teams had plenty of holes as well. If anything I think this team is capable of playing better, though losing Turner is a big bump. The pitching might regress but the offense can only be better (or be as good as last night). The pen is still really good despite the issues.

[gmwannabe]

zamby, I think it is a huge bump. Along with relegating Turnbull to the pen, this rocks the boat. it's a long season, but I don't see them holding first place in the division now while turner is out. Also, if this hip thing affects Bohm, they're going to need Casty to step up. We'll see.
gm

[Austinfan]

I think Sosa is better than people give him credit for, I was a bit surprised to see 4.5 WAR in little more than 800 PA, that's starter quality play off the bench. If Long could teach him to be a bit more patient, he could be a solid hitter, not Turner, but not a black hole either.

JT may benefit from hitting in the 2 spot b/c it could force him to be more patient at the plate, batting 4th or 5th I think he felt more pressure to hit and hit with power. Stott should come around and that'll balance the inevitable falloff from Bohm. Marsh still has to get better against LH pitchers, but he's been consistently around .800 OPS for a couple years.

So Castellanos becomes the big hole, b/c he's a liability on defense, he's below replacement if he's below .800 OPS, much less .600.