2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[andyb]

Good to see you coming around on Merrifield. He was a very bad signing.

I was never in his camp. Just understood that we should give him a chance and not worry about the money since the billionaire will do just fine with or without that $8 million. The contract had no long term implications.

At least Topper made the right choice tonight. JT and Harper are back. LH Pitcher for the Mets. So Sosa and Stott should play SS and 2B. Bohm is back at 3B. The one choice on the lineup was LF and he chose Pache tonight. Long run I still want to play Marsh more, but it is not as if Marsh has been killing the ball lately.

[BostonRoss]

I was never in his camp. Just understood that we should give him a chance and not worry about the money since the billionaire will do just fine with or without that $8 million. The contract had no long term implications.

This is where I was, and am.

Interesting to notice that three Phillies have essentially the same offensive line: Merrifield, Castellanos, and Rojas. And that Merrifield is the only one of the three not with negative dWAR. SSS, and Rojas, of course, will be much better though he's had a few gaffes in the field so far.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

and Rojas, of course, will be much better though he's had a few gaffes in the field so far.

Another dropped fly ball in the first inning tonight that led to an unearned run.

[el-pietro]

That game last night was the sloppiest I've seen in a while, from both teams. Don't think the Phillies win that game last year. Maybe its luck and they won't keep winning games they don't play well in, or so many close games, but its a lot of fun watching them when they do win.

[donaldorc]

I'm sure the weather had a lot to do with the sloppiness of play by both teams. It may even have been part of Suárez's issues with control.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

Speaking of Suarez, before the game last night, John Clark posted this to Facebook:

Ranger Suarez is on a 9 game winning streak going back to last season. If he wins tonight, he would join Hall of Famer Steve Carlton as the only Phillies lefties to ever win 10 starts in a row

I'm fairly certain this is not accurate. On March 31st, Suarez had a no-decision. Since then, he's won 8 straight games. He'd need to win his next two starts to tie Carlton.

[andyb]

He might have meant 10 decisions in a row. Back in 1972 Steve Carlton did win 15 decisions in a row but he did it over 18 starts. The team lost one of those starts in that stretch though no fault to Lefty who pitched 10 shutout innings in an eventual 1-0 loss. The streak ended in a 2-1 loss when Lefty went all 11. Different times.

Steve Carlton 1972 Pitching Game Logs | Baseball-Reference.com

[Callison]

Rojas growth curve is not smooth - he's even flat out missed a few lately in the field. He's likely wondering why just like the fans. OTOH, he's shown that he can bunt this year. That bunt single was a thing of beauty, and good on Sosa (?) for having the speed/jump to beat the force at 3rd. Last year Rojas may have set some kind of record popping up bunts. You wonder why a guy who can run like Rojas hasn't been taught better. At last he has been.

[julio]

Rojas growth curve is not smooth - he's even flat out missed a few lately in the field. He's likely wondering why just like the fans.

Actually, I think I probably know the reason.

He's human.

[Austinfan]

The fielding issues are concerning, seriously, I'd have him at an optometrist, getting his eyes checked.
It looks like he's having trouble tracking balls, which he didn't seem to struggle with last season.

[xogfog]

Braves have an off day today, which will leave them with five games in hand on the Phillies, rediculous...

[andyb]

Remember we play 2 games in 5 days when we go to London next month. Most of the discrepancy is because of that trip. And playing through rain like last night.

[phillychuck]

The fielding issues are concerning, seriously, I'd have him at an optometrist, getting his eyes checked.
It looks like he's having trouble tracking balls, which he didn't seem to struggle with last season.

An eye check wouldn't hurt--eyesight regression is not an impossible thing to have happen at his age. The other issue I see with Rojas is his glove. it doesn't really open fully like other outfielders gloves do, and it doesn't appear well broken in around the bottom of the palm. Maybe he likes it that way, but I think some of the balls that have clanked off the glove might have stuck in a more open glove or one that was more thoroughly broken in.

[zambonir]

You really think these guys don't get a full opthalmological exam from the team's eye doctor (which happens to be Willis) every year?

I think this is just a young/inexperienced player whose technique and ability to read balls coming off MLB hitters in MLB parks and a variety of light and weather conditions is still a work in progress.

The only reason anyone is concerned/surprised or viewing this as anything other than a small sample/early career struggle is because they were awarding him the Gold Glove for small sample/early career overachievement last September.

You could certainly still make the case for sending him to AAA, Pache is probably an equivalent player to Rojas at this time, and then they could address that roster spot for the next couple of months before bringing him back up and/or trading for a bench bat upgrade.

[xogfog]

The Phillies, in my opinion are in need of another dependable reliever, who that is, I have no idea if that will be a trade or if someone like McGarry puts it together in the next couple of months, but they need someone.

[andyb]

I am OK with our relief depth now but certainly open to a deal later if guys like Seranthony and Soto are not handing at least the medium leverage situations. Our 40-man depth is pretty good at the moment. Mercado looks like he'll be healthy. Dylan Covey is still lurking in Florida rehab too. None of these guys are built for higher leverage moments but the hope is that Kerkering grows into that more as the season progresses.

[xogfog]

I agree the depth is good now, but I think in order to win in the playoffs they are short one arm.

[andyb]

From that Gelb article today the reports on McGarry so far are mixed. Better control and results in relief but no uptick in velocity. He probably does not have the command to get major league hitters out regularly if he is sitting in the 94-95 range.

[zambonir]

If Turnbull continues to pitch well as a reliever I am not sure they are really short an arm, though I agree both Seranthony and Soto are potentially upgradeable/replaceable. The depth is pretty good and there's also going to be a 5th starter not starting (will it be Walker again? Sanchez?).

The thing is, with relievers you just never know what you are actually getting. Who would have thought Josh Sborz would outlast Paul Sewald (to say nothing of the Rangers' actual closer) last year? Maybe you go out and get Mason Miller and it works out but maybe someone is still another Jeff Hoffman, including the lower-end guys who are already here (including Ortiz and Marte and Ruiz) as well as Seranthony or Soto.

Of course if you can get Will Smith you have to do it.

[andyb]

Mason Miller is a severe injury waiting to happen with a violent motion and likely a high price tag. Not interested.