2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[zambonir]

We'll see if they really put Turner on IL.

I didn't realize Marchan had done so well last year; just hasn't been able to stay healthy or get that full single season of AAA ABs. Would be nice to see him get off the IL and be available in the second half at least.

[andyb]

Kingery would be the callup if you want somebody other than Stott to play SS. If they are OK with Stott moving over then you just play Merrifield at 2B and call up the best hitter on the 40 (Clemens or even Hall who has gotten hot of late).

[zambonir]

I would think they'd be okay with Sosa playing SS half the time. It's probably still his best defensive position and there's no longer any reason to play him at 3B, while Merrifield is ahead of him at 2B. Time was Ronald Torreyes or late-career Freddy Galvis sufficed in that spot.

[andyb]

Time was Ronald Torreyes or late-career Freddy Galvis sufficed in that spot.

That time was an era of pretty mediocre teams.

[zambonir]

It was, but even back in the previous good era it was Bruntlett or Juan Castro or Wilson Valdez. When you have a SS like Trea Turner or J-Roll it's pretty hard to fill that hole with anyone equal. If Merrifield was still the player the Phillies somehow convinced themselves they were signing he'd certainly be the best-case (with Stott sliding over to SS) but I don't reckon any of Sosa, Merrifield or Kingery would really produce offensively (and Stott's not hitting either).Sosa has gaudy offensive stats right now but that presumably would not sustain (as ever).

[bkox]

Per Phillies: Trea Turner placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Kody Clemens recalled.

— Alex Coffey ( @byalexcoffey ) May 4, 2024

[Callison]

IMHO, Stott to SS is the best defensive decision to make. At 2B, Merrifield seems to be starting to hit, but maybe Sosa is the better glove. Hopefully Trea heals fast cause he's almost as hot as Bohm.

[bkox]

more than who plays where... I wonder who gets moved to the 2 spot in the batting order. None of Stott, Merrifield or Sosa are good fits.. at least not right now.

Edit: I guess for tonight its Realmuto

[zambonir]

It will be interesting to see how they move the pieces around. I'd give Clemens as much run against RHP as they can. Let Sosa and Merrifield be SS/2B against LHP.

None of them are guys you want to see for 10 days in a row; with Merrifield the question is, would more playing time make him better or do you just stick with what has begun to work? Two starts a week and he's been hitting in the past two weeks. I believe three of those four starts were lefty starting pitchers too.

[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.