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andyb
Jun '24

All this speaks to the need for a 42-man roster versus a 40-man roster just for these logistics. The 26th man plus the huge increase in pitching injuries makes for too much roster shuffling. I imagine the players union would be fine with a 42-man roster. 2 more players get a little more money and stability at the expense of an occasional player that does have a major league breakthrough. I do think the players with major league ability will get to the major leagues eventually, so it really is spending a few hundred thousand more per organization. Of course MLB with their domestic roster limits is just penny wise and pound foolish on these matters.

zambonir
Jun '24

It comes back to the haves and have nots I reckon. A team like the Phillies has happily shouldered a 42-45 man roster financially these past few years (with aggressive 60-man IL moves and high-end split contracts). But other teams are coming at it from the same impulse that has led to the cost-cutting in the minors. The union pushed for the 26th and would even like a 27th but I'm not sure they've ever pushed for a bigger 40.

Some would also argue the 26th man is unnecessary, especially now that we have universal DH. Most teams use it for an extra pitcher and people wish teams didn't use as many pitchers as they did. The Phillies basically carried a three-man bench all of August and September (using Castro lightly if at all). They've come pretty close to doing so at times this year with Pache. Odds are 2-3 players won't see an AB in London unless Thomson is deliberately trying to get everyone in.

And even the post-season doesn't lead to more bench usage. Sosa only got 1 AB last year. Cave got three as the only viable PH. Pache got 7 ABs in three starts and one defensive substitution.

andyb
Jun '24

Other teams platoon more than we do. Plus they have lesser rotations. I have no problem with the 26th man. More than that might be overkill. It is just the unnecessary roster movement caused by having only 14 options in the minors where you are limited by injury, options, and the handful of actual prospects that you are trying to develop. It just doesn't seem enough any more.

This has little to do with game strategy. It is about providing life stability for 60 more players like Wilson and Dahl and Kingery and others. The former Braves prospect we just picked up will likely never play for us (and might be part of 2 or 3 more organizations this year) when really he needs to start 20 times in a row at a single place to relearn what made him a prospect in the first place.

zambonir
Jun '24

Well, yeah, they don't give a crap about providing AAAA players with more stability or money. But it's tricky because the need to put guys on the 40 who aren't MLB-ready, as well as Rule 5, are supposed to benefit the players, but that is not always the case. Obviously for Tarnok it is still preferable for him that he's on a team's 40-man but like you say he may have to move again (though I reckon the Phillies might be willing to hang on to him if they can, at least they aren't forced to keep him in the majors like with Covey).

The fact that the Phillies will have expose Dahl to waivers if he doesn't stay up is also supposed to be for his benefit. Any other team that is willing to keep him on the 40 can take him and might have more opportunities for him in MLB. The MLBPA probably sees a 42-man roster as making it harder for two more guys to get onto the MLB roster rather than it creating two more guys who get the higher minor league pay and more stability.

andyb
Jun '24

But they are wrong. If you don't change the major league roster limit there are the exact same number of major league jobs. The days of stashing prospects on the 40 are pretty much over because there is just so much roster churn.

Aquapong
Jun '24

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
Jun '24

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
Jun '24
1

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
Jun '24
andyb

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
Jun '24

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

zambonir
Jun '24

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

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

zambonir
Jun '24

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
Jun '24

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
Jun '24

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. .

bkox
Jun '24

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

zambonir
Jun '24

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.