2024 Phillies Season Discussion

[Lucky_Beagle]

I hope it wasn't a home game!

[andyb]

Turner in CF was all about deferring to a veteran on the Nats (Ian Desmond I believe) and just getting his bat in the lineup because he was ready. It was never about SS defense.

What Sosa is doing is great. It is just probably not sustainable unfortunately. He does look like he can be a 750 OPS hitter though with pretty good defense at SS. It will never happen with his back issues, but the proper baseball move if everyone is healthy might be Bryce to RF, Bohm to 1B, and Sosa/Turner manning SS and 3B in some fashion. That is a Spring Training move of course, not an in-season move and would be essentially replacing Casty with Sosa.

The more immediate thing for Sosa is just to find time for him everywhere. Maybe ditch Merrifield for the LH bat in Clemens with the goal of simply playing Sosa more (rather than Clemens).

[Austinfan]

If Turner is willing to play OF, you could give Sosa one game a week at SS, one game a week at 2B against LHP, and a few games at 3B with Bohm at 1B and give Harper a little rest. This would also help develop Sosa as a "super sub" and insurance against injuries.

[andyb]

No. No. No. You act as if Turner is a "sullen" vet unwilling to do things for the team. The best thing for the team is to not move one of their best players around on defense. Sosa is clearly the player to move around and also has much more recent experience doing so.

If Sosa keeps hitting like this he'll find a full time job somewhere. Now his job is to help the Phillies win in any way he can.

[BostonRoss]

My suggestion was based on the premise "if Sosa is still hot." I don't think he will stay this hot all season, but it makes sense to let him play a lot while he is. Resting each infielder except Harper 25% of the time to let Sosa continue to help the team seems reasonable. Stott already sits sometimes against LHP, and it wouldn't really reduce his playing time much, and Bohm is actually playing worse than Sosa now since he's cooled down. Turner could use some occasional off days as he gets healthy. I see it as a win-win(-win-win). When Sosa cools down, he can play more occasionally.

[zambonir]

The Phillies can bring 3 extra players as a taxi squad to the London games, and they can have 27 players for the games. but the extra player has to be a hitter, who do they bring?

I think the taxi squad guys don't even have to be on the 40 but it would be interesting to see who they bring.

Right now I'd say the 27th man depends on whether Turner is going to be activated for the series.

If so, it's obviously Clemens.

If not, would certainly be a good time to move someone to the 60-day and give Dahl or even Kingery a look because Hall and Wilson aren't hitting, Castro's injured and Jose Rodriguez is in AA.

And then they bring an emergency catcher of course (I believe that's required, even, for one of the three slots), and probably two pitchers if they even bother to use all three slots.

[Callison]

Wonder who the best SS is, Turner, Stott or Sosa? Somehow you want these players in the lineup.

IMHO, Sosa has shown such consistency that he just plays near his present level.

Great game yesterday in several ways, but mostly just getting the mojo back.

The Phils will surely be cautious with Turner. Might be a good idea to take extra time. How many teams can lose a player playing at MVP level and not notice?

[zambonir]

Turner may not be sullen but he's also made it pretty clear he expects to play SS for several more years, and Stott actually is a better 2B than he is a SS (though he still might be better than Turner). Sosa would likely cool off if he really had to start all year, which is not to say he might not be able to be another team's starting SS. It won't be hard to get him three starts a week once Turner is back and if they can find four, great.

[julio]

f not, would certainly be a good time to move someone to the 60-day and give Dahl or even Kingery a look because Hall and Wilson aren't hitting, Castro's injured and Jose Rodriguez is in AA.

You're talking either Dylan Covey or Michael Rucker to the 60-day IL. Turner is presumed to be activated, Ortiz and Marte is on rehab assignment. Ortiz could be moved to the 60-day short-term, since he'd be eligible to come off the 60-day again pretty much immediately (went on IL on 3/30), but that doesn't really accomplish much.

[zambonir]

Yes, when Gelb was speculating about whether the Phillies would try to clear a spot for Burr he mentioned Covey, Rucker and Ortiz.

It's not so much that they have to force someone onto the 60-day to clear the spot but that you aren't even allowed to use the 60-day unless the 40-man is full.

But the question still stands about the taxi squad, I feel like those rules have remained opaque/are not in the CBA/are still a COVID-era thing?

Certainly nothing wrong with just taking Hall or Wilson as the 27th man - they would likely not play and both are well-suited for a single PH opportunity if it comes up. A vacation/major league service time reward for either.

[zambonir]

Well, it's all happening (Covey to 60 for the transaction)

Phillies claim pitcher Freddy Tarnok; Edmundo Sosa could move to outfield once...

[Philsmania]

Did anyone else have "Tarnok and Tanagra" run through their mind.

[zambonir]

Haha I knew the fans (and presumably radio/TV yakkers) would start pining for this.

I would assume they bring up Dahl and then take Clemens to London, unless they activate Turner. Wilson's not hitting in AAA and is still not really a LF any more than Clemens or Merrifield.

Teams don't make June trades, they definitely don't make June trades if a guy isn't out for the full year. I assume we either see Clemens getting LF time with Wilson up or Dahl up and playing LF in the platoon.

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) June 3, 2024

[David_Criss]

Dahl is raking at AAA. But so did Jake Cave........How long is Marsh out? Luplaw and Kingery are hitting decently, too. All 3 are better at AAA than Wilson at this time. Nelson, Castro, Castillo and maybe Allord could all be DFAed to make room for a Dahl, Luplaw and Kingery to the 40-man.

If Clemens is the Marsh replacement than I suspect it is Wilson or Kingery.
If it is replacing Marsh in the outfield for a few weeks, I suspect it is Dahl.

[zambonir]

The 40-man is not an issue they have definitely one and maybe two guys who can go to the 60. You can only use the 60 when you have a full 40 (thus Covey, who has been out for 90 days, only went on it the other day when they added the Oakland reliever).

I doubt anyone other than Dahl is a candidate to be added but if they don't think he can stick (versus Clemens or a RHB) and would thus be subject to waivers they could go with Wilson who apparently has been improving of late.

But we don't know yet. If it's an IL move they will be adding a player one way or another. They could wait out the flight to England (and Turner's status) if it's not serious but hamstrings are always tricky.

[phillychuck]

The "Dahl is raking in AAA but so did Cave" argument is pretty narrow. Lots of guys raked in AAA, even as older prospects, and went on to become pretty good major league hitters, too. Some were useful players on good teams as well. We shouldn't burden Dahl with Cave's lack of MLB production.

[Callison]

Well, the can't-find-anything-wrong moment disappeared as quickly as it arrived.

The Merrifield Problem: He's a decent defender, but the only reason he's here is because he used to be able to hit. How much more do the Phils need to see before they admit they've made a mistake and start over? Phlogging .176! It's hard to accept an $8M loss, but he's dragging the team down. Cut him. And take a long look at the geniuses that recommended him. There is serious weakness in the Phils' talent evaluation system.

The Walker Problem: An $18M mistake is huge, and that's what Walker looks like today. There doesn't seem to be any alternative but to wait and hope he finds the game that brought him to Philly. Does not look promising. Only 2.5 years more of this. BUT, while we're waiting, Turnbull is promoted to #4, Walker is demoted to #5 and Sanchez goes to the pen. TADA! The team is instantly stronger. Do it now, Big Rob.

The Sanchez-to-the-pen move is nearly as good at the Turnbull to #4 move. The Phils' pen needs help. It won't get it from Covey and Marte. A few of us thought the Phils would try to add a reliever. The rumor the Phils float is, no, they are looking for an OF. Someone to do the job Merrifield was supposed to do. After Sanchez goes to the pen, it's more credible. Even if Sosa becomes an instanf OF.

[andyb]

We shouldn't burden Dahl with Cave's lack of MLB production.

My big question is still why he has been DH'ing most of the time. If he was going to be the injury insurance for Marsh or Castellanos then he has to play the field. I don't think he has any injury issues. I think it is more the Phillies did not see him as a real replacement. They probably wanted Muzziotti to improve a bit more to be a viable 2-way replacement but he really hasn't.

[Austinfan]

Sanchez to the bullpen? We have plenty of RPs, you're going to demote a guy who's pitching at a 2/3 level?

Right now they'll live with Walker on a short leash, but might try to move him and eat some money, b/c I don't think he's suited to the bullpen. But I think they also see this as a way to delay moving Turnbull back to the rotation to limit his total workload. But come August, he could survive another 10 starts and finish the year with 100 or so IP.

[zambonir]

But "older prospects" are 27 or 28 not 30 or 31. Of course the odd Chris Coste is always a delight but he wasn't even a prospect to begin with.

The Walker/Turnbull situation is still not at all a problem. If anything this week has already demonstrated that. They are both going to be needed, however it plays out in terms of health and innings pitched. Walker still might simply pitch himself out of the job as the schedule gets tougher and July gets closer but Turnbull still can't replace all his innings for the rest of the season (and if anyone gets hurt, even bigger problem). The six-man is probably still happening at some point.

And no, Sanchez is not leaving the rotation. He's out-pitching Nola in certain categories (FIP, ERA+). And so was Turnbull. The Phillies will probably end up getting a reliever if they need one but between Ruiz and Turnbull both overachieving as long men and Soto and Seranthony both still having the ability to turn things around they are fine. Covey is probably never going to pitch in MLB this year and they are in no rush to bring back Marte or Ortiz either (who would they replace besides Ruiz?).

If they ultimately decide Soto or Seranthony can't be trusted they'll trade for someone "proven." And he'll have some terrible innings too.

Moving Walker is a next-year issue. He won't come to spring training with a guaranteed rotation job if this year doesn't change course.