2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[Callison]

Some might have hoped the Phils might sign Snell somehow, though his outrageous asking price discouraged any negotiations. Dodged a bullet there - I believe: 0- 3, 11.something ERA AND on the DL. All for $27M/year for 3 years!!! The whole story of the contract remains to be told, but right now it looks like one of the worst deals in the history of MLB

[xogfog]

Braves are hearing footsteps.

The Braves also have three games in hand.

[zambonir]

Listen, I will take the Phillies clearly being the third-best team in the NL on May 1 over waiting another month for them to start showing it.

[Philsmania]

How have the Phillies played three more games than the Braves? We're the first team in MLB to 20 wins but we are in second place.

[zambonir]

They had two rain-outs already.

[andyb]

We'll have extra off days sandwiched around the London trip too which probably took a day off in April away somewhere.

[zambonir]

I had fantasies of London but probably not happening. Now it just kind of annoys me that it is two fewer Mets games in the US.

[Philsmania]

I had fantasies of London but probably not happening. Now it just kind of annoys me that it is two fewer Mets games in the US.

Each team loses a home date. The ones who are probably really angry are all the Mets fans who live in NJ south and west of I-287. For them, CBP is the go-to place for them to see the Mets play since Citi Field is very difficult to reach from those parts.

[andyb]

We get the defensively challenged lineup in today's game. Schwarber in LF with Turner sliding to DH. Sosa at SS, Merrifield at 2B and Pache in for Rojas. Not that Pache is bad, but I might have rewarded Rojas for last night and given Pache a different game.

[gmwannabe]

I was going to mention last night if Turner could DH. I saw a reply of his double play grounder. 95% or more of us on this site could have made that play.
gm

[andyb]

95% or more of us on this site could have made that play.

Well 95% of us think we have more outfield range than Schwarber too.

[zambonir]

Hey if I can get there by train so can they

[gmwannabe]

we might.

[Philsmania]

Hey if I can get there by train so can they

Here's the thing, they don't. For a Phillies phan, taking a train to Penn Station then the subway to Flushing Meadows is all a part of the experience of seeing the team play on the road. New Yorkers---real New Yorkers, not those outside of I-287--probably say the same thing about taking the train to Center City and then the Broad Street line to the Sports Complex. It's all a part of the road game experience. Something about having to take a train to see the "home" team play just isn't the same.

[zambonir]

Hey, I didn't say it was easy! Adding that extra ride to Flushing is a lot and some phans would probably rather go to the Bronx too if they're just going for a fun road game, not the rivalry. But if you live on a NJT line it's hardly a big deal (and if you live at the south end of one you shouldn't be a Mets fan )

Also, remember the boat service?

[allentown]

I'm in the 5%.

[Jazzhead]

Interesting that Wheeler didn't deny a reporter's speculation that his lack of sharpness was the product of an extra day of rest. It looks like the Phils may be effectively forced to choose between Turnbull and one of the other starters and get Wheeler back on a schedule he's mentally prepared to embrace. I've never seen a dedicated "piggyback" situation work, but the supposed value is to spread two starters over nine innings, thereby sparing the bullpen.

[andyb]

Wheeler may be the rare pitcher who is better with 4 days rest than 5 (note he was better on 4-day rest in 2023 but the opposite in 2022). The rest of the rotation though including Nola seems to do better with 5 days though.

Sharpness should be a solvable problem, perhaps varying the throwing a bit between starts. Wheeler would also probably be the first to say he is fine with whatever helps the team the most so I assume this is a non-controversy.

[zambonir]

If they were actually going to do a six-man it could be an issue, or they could keep him on a different schedule. But they aren't. The piggyback can work so long as they both pitch well and with the scripted length. If you start using your bullpen in that game and also keep Turnbull on a starter schedule the shorter pen could catch up to them. Though that's hardly been an issue with this rotation. Even with a few struggling guys.

[phillychuck]

You can put Wheeler on a 5-day rotation and work the rest of the staff, which seems to do better with an extra day or two of rest, around that, and keep a 6-man staff. That's what I would do, but you really can't do it unless all the starters buy in.