2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[Aquapong]

That sucks Marsh and Dahl didn’t get to go. I was wondering if they would have asked the starter who goes the first game back to stay in the states.

Suarez and Walker listed as the starters.

[andyb]

Marchan is officially the 27th man. I guess JT is pretty banged up still. He is supposed to play but would not be shocked if they get him out of there in the 7th inning if the game is not too close.

[zambonir]

Thomson's tone about giving JT more enforced rest has definitely changed lately (obviously he reads the board).

I would have hoped they'd leave the next starting pitcher behind too but you can't really deny Wheeler the trip or the $70K (even if he doesn't need it).

It's possible there's actually a cap on the travel party but I think it's mostly that Marsh and Clemens (not Dahl) are actually close enough to being activated that they need to stay behind for rehab and treatment. Clemens is actually eligible to come back as soon as Tuesday.

[el-pietro]

I wondered the same about the pitchers. But I csn confirm all 5(6) were at the stadium today.

[el-pietro]

Jt took batting practice today and he looked pretty good.
Trea was here too and he did a full warm up and batting practice. He looked rusty in BP.
He is also impossibly handsome in person.

[VoteForKalas]

Great interviews today on MLB Network with Harper, Casty, Schwarber and Thomson. Easy guys to root for and quality men

[zambonir]

Normally this would go in the ex-player thread but since he's back...

The Weirdest and Wildest MLB games, feats and minutia of the past month

Stripling’s May 7 start against the Rangers:

1 2/3 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 leadoff HR (to Marcus Semien), 60 pitches to get five outs

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? Yes, there’s an asterisk here for those six unearned runs, but … 11 runs and 10 hits? Stripling still became only the fourth pitcher (and second starter) in the modern era to pile up numbers that crooked without getting at least six outs. Here are the others:

• Reggie Grabowski (1 IP, 11 H, 11 R in relief) on Aug. 4, 1934
• Hal Kelleher (1 IP, 10 H, 12 R in relief) on May 5, 1938
• David Buchanan (1 2/3 IP, 11 H, 11 R) on Aug. 11, 2015

[andyb]

I guess Gelb did not make the trip. Author here is the West Ham beat reporter. They are playing in his stadium after all.

Phillies' Harper hopes to play at 2028 Olympics

[zambonir]

He doesn't go to the road games but bummer (for him and us) that this was not an exception. Though I suppose it's possible he just didn't arrive until last night? Game-related coverage probably not as important as the local color I suppose

Harper says baseball should do it like hockey does, but NHL didn't do it in 2018 and then wound up skipping 2022 as well. They're supposed be back for 2026. There's just no way MLB is going to be able to stop the season without dragging out the playoffs even longer (starting the season earlier would work better though you'd still have the challenge of March weather). And long absences/injuries like from the WBC would play a lot differently in the summer.

[zambonir]

Braves lost to Nats last night so they went 1-1 in their two London-related games in hand (other two were rain-outs). Phils still 8 up.

[Jazzhead]

The layoff is not ideal but really there is no great way to do it. Hopefully Topper can get as many people (especially relievers) an at bat or inning or two as the game situation dictates. I

He did great today, using Dominguez, Kerkering and Ruiz, leaving the premium relief available for Sunday's Walker start. May watching Taijuan for breakfast prove ample and wholesome. .

[zambonir]

And the Nats take another one today

[bkox]

Who would have thunk we would be 9 games up on the Braves on June 8th?

But the more shocking overall MLB thing is. Only 11 of 30 teams at this very second have a .500 record or better.

If the season ended today, 2 NL wildcards would be a sub .500 team

Someone laughed about the Fox announcers saying the Mets might still make moves to try for the wildcard.. BUT the 9 games under .500 Mets are only 4 games out of the wildcard

[JaxBill]

https://x.com/CSeidmanNBCS/status/1799551608168013851?t=pb5V0ZlCG_NtQeqUpDn6wg&s=19

[zambonir]

Someone laughed about the Fox announcers saying the Mets might still make moves to try for the wildcard.. BUT the 9 games under .500 Mets are only 4 games out of the wildcard

Fair point, but hard to see Cohen really going for it, or passing up the chance to trade some guys, to chase a sub-.500 6 seed in a nine-team race. Though I guess it's actually the five seed too.

Puts a lot of pressure on them to try and extend Alonso if they don't pack it in. QO comp would be minimal.

[Chris23]

The outfielder the Phillies got from the Rays, Ruben Cardenas, hit two HR's tonight in his Lehigh Valley debut.

[phillychuck]

LV must have given him a sense of rebirth!

[bkox]

interesting.. players wanted less days off

Consensus from both teams is it's been a fun trip, tho several said timing of off-days was not ideal

Bohm: "Anytime you waste 3 off days for 2 games, gonna be making up for that elsewhere"

Lindor: "Too much time off. Showing up & playing next day would've been more beneficial"

— Corey Seidman ( @CSeidmanNBCS ) June 9, 2024

[zambonir]

Bot's got jet lag eh? Merrifield (LF) and Wilson (2B) indeed get starts against another LHP. Dahl will presumably get a PH.

I'm watching on a slight delay (more than usual) so I can listen to Frantzke instead of Michael Kay.

I assume the off-days were not for the players to get rest/prepare but for the promotional stuff.

[Aquapong]

Missed opportunity in the first there. Walker looks good early.