Clearwater update 2019

Les229 2019-03-10 02:27:11 UTC #121

He never will be an upgrade over Hernandez if he doesn't get a chance to play the position. What would it have hurt to use this spring to find something out. Right now, I don't see either Franco, or Kingery as the answer to third base.

xogfog 2019-03-10 02:45:56 UTC #122

Franco is fine at third base as long as he is not counted on to be a middle of the order hitter. He's a decent fielder, hits 20+ homers, Might blossom this year hitting down in the lineup. He's not Schmidt or Rolen, but he doesn't have to be with the team as it is currently constructed.

Les229 2019-03-10 02:47:49 UTC #123

In a way, I agree with you, but he always seems to have issues

julio 2019-03-10 02:47:55 UTC #124

I had the game on, on mlb.tv. Press the * button on the Roku, and switch to an alternate audio stream - and I'm watching the NBCSP video, but listening to Scott Franzke and Larry Anderson cover the game. Can't beat that - even when the TV director cuts to the idiocy of Gregg Murphy jabbering with somebody in the stands, or interviewing somebody (Dawkins, Zach Eflin, etc.), Scotty is describing the PBP.

The problems with NBCSP's coverage go beyond just Tom McCarthy. The director's choices - the cutting away from game action to provide "human interest" tripe, extended interviews that somebody considers "more important" than actual game action, etc. - are really poor, IMHO. Apparently, NBCSP is trying to entertain really casual fans with all that stuff - at the expense of those of us who just want to follow the game. Thankfully, there's still radio coverage, where the focus is (has to be) on actual game action, as opposed to the three-ring circus.

Les229 2019-03-10 02:52:51 UTC #125

Thanks, I used to cut the sound on the TV and listen to the radio a lot, particularly when the networks did the broadcast. I have a question. How can I view the number of hits the thread gets?

julio 2019-03-10 03:22:42 UTC #126

Two ways, Les.

Scroll up to the first post in the thread (hit the "home" key on your keyboard, if you're using a full-sized keyboard). Now scroll down to the bottom of that first post. Currently: 125 replies, 3.1k views, plus other stuff. [Note that this data display doesn't appear when a thread is first created; it appears ~~after the thread reaches a threshold length - I'm afraid I don't remember what that threshold is.~~ after the thread receives its first reply - I checked!]
If you routinely start a session on the site's home page (this is where I start), instead of diving into the recent threads (listed on the right), you can enter the "Renegade Phan Phorum" category, by clicking on its title (on the left side of the screen). In the list of threads in the category, you can see some of the same data as in #1, above (not all, but if all you want is # of views/# of replies, that data is there).

zambonir 2019-03-10 03:59:21 UTC #127

I haven't been able to do that on some of my devices, gotta try on Roku. tbh I still find it a little jarring to watch the TV with the radio feed but it is great to have the option.

And, for sure, Comcast/NBC is not making back its $2.5 million catering (or selling ads to reach) hardcore fans.

Les229 2019-03-10 04:05:54 UTC #128

Thanks that works

Les229 2019-03-12 01:17:42 UTC #129

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019

Today was another great day. The temperature got up to 84 with almost no wind. The crowd turned out to be smaller than the last home game. The attendance came to 9,848. While it is not a record, it is still larger than most teams draw in spring training. The game was interesting in that this is the first time that all 4 (Segura, Realmuto, Harper and McCutchen) of the new starters started the game together. Kingery started in centerfield while some guy named Ngoepe started at second base.

It didn’t take Vinnie Velasquez long to learn that the ball was really carrying. He gave up 5 hits, 5 earned runs and two walks in 2 innings. Eickhoff pitched 2 innings and gave up 2 home runs and three runs over all. So far, this new idea of Kappler’s of keeping the starters in the complex and working in simulated games isn’t showing much. Only Nola has pitched well in the actual games. I did think there was some promise in the way Eickhoff was pitching. So far, the starters have looked shakey. Drew Anderson started one game and looked good. I don’t know if they consider him a starter prospect, or not.

The bullpen looked good. Rios, Beato, Neshek, Robertson, Nicasio and Morgan all threw scoreless innings. This was Robertson’s first outing of the spring. Rios and Morgan have yet to give up a run this spring.

Ben Davis said something in today’s game about the number of strikeouts in yesterday’s game. It brought me back to a question that has been running around in the back of my mind for most of the spring. I have remarked a couple of times about the size of the Phillies pitchers. Down in Sarasota, between the Orioles’ and the Phillies’ staffs, they struck out 33 of the 54 recorded outs. Today, the two staffs combined for 24 of the 54 outs. I almost never hear of pitchers throwing a trick pitch any more. When have you heard of a screwball, or a knuckleball being used lately? Can anyone think of a starter today that doesn’t feature a fast ball, curve and slider? A few toy with a change up, but very few feature it. I keep wondering if the front offices have become so enamored with speed, that there no longer is room in the farm system for a pitcher who can’t throw it through a brick wall. I will say this, the way the game is developing, the hitters are all becoming back legers. There are now fewer hits, more strikeouts, less stealing and a lot of dead time in the game. If I were the owners, I would stop worrying about how long the game takes to play and figure out a way to fill the dead time.

Tidbit: We had an actual bald eagle fly around the stadium today. Boy that’s a majestic bird. It’s a geat symbol for our country…Free and vicious.

Tomorrow is an off day.

tom81 2019-03-12 02:11:37 UTC #130

Les two of the starters other than Nola have pitched very well in games so far. Eflin has a 1.59 era in 5.2 innings with a 1.06 whip and Pivetta has a 2.84 Era in 6.1 innings with a 1.11 whip. If both of them can continue this throughout the season you can start printing the post season tickets now.

Les229 2019-03-12 04:25:11 UTC #131

I stand corrected. I was thinking of Velasquez, Arrietta and Eickhoff. I have high Hopes for Eflin.

Les229 2019-03-16 00:45:55 UTC #132

FRIDAY, MARCH 15,2019

A great day for baseball. It was sunny and it got up to 84. The crowd was big, 10,289. The Phils started what was nearly their opening day lineup. It turned out to be one of those spring training games that you are glad you won, but it doesn’t matter. The Phillies scrubs won the game 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th

There were some bright spots. Nick Williams was DHing and did go 2 for 4 and scored one run and drove in another. He has his batting average up to .324 now. Most of the bright spots were in the pitching. Nick Pavetta started and threw 5 strong innings. His outing was only marred by a home run by Freddy Galvis. Freddy had a big smile on his face as he rounded the bases. Neshek, Alvarez and Neris all pitched scoreless innings. Neris looked really sharp and had his sinker working very well. David Robertson got touched up for another homer in his inning. The staff has been very impressed with Pavetta this spring.

It was good to see Harper and Hoskins hitting back to back in the lineup. At least until Harper got hit in the ankle with a 95 mph fastball. There were two guys hit. Pivetta hit Morales before Harper. Pay back?? I don’t think the ankle is a big enough target if a pitcher is deliberately trying to hit a batter. They said the initial x-rays showed no problem, but they took him to a site where they had more advanced equipment for a second opinion. Stay tuned…

An interesting thought about the leadoff spot in the lineup is that a good friend of mine who is a knowledgable Yankees fan says that McCutcheon was a different and much better hitter when leading off. I notice that Kappler has been experimenting with him in the leadoff spot. Maybe a little competition will light a fire under Hernandez. Hernandez has the benefit of being a good bit faster than McCutchen at his point in his career, but his steals weren’t much last year..

There are still some questions looming about the opening day lineup. Neither Quinn, nor Herrera seem to be near ready to come back and if they came back right now they still wouldn’t be ready for opening day. Has anyone heard when they are expecting them to be back? If the season started now, I think they would probably have to platoon Williams and Altherr. Neither one of them are really good there. I think third base has to go to Franco. I know he is streaky, erratic and was hurt coming down the stretch last year, but if he had finished the season, he would have led the team in hitting. Before they try to hand the position over to Kingery, they had better get some indication that he can hit big league pitching. He started at second base today and again went hitless. He currently is hitting .205. Match that up with his .226 last year and that is not the kind of hitting a team looks for from their third baseman, or centerfielder, or second baseman. Just saying…

Houston tomorrow.

Les229 2019-03-17 01:23:02 UTC #133

SATURDAY MARCH 16, 2019

Another great day. It turned out to be 77 degrees and overcast. Another large crowd that turned out to be 10,488. Nola got the start today. It’s getting close to the bell. If I am counting right, Nola only has one more start before opening day. Neither Harper, nor Hoskins was in the game today. Harper they say is day to day and I guess Hoskins sat because they haven’t found a suitable backup for him. They started with Sean Rodriguez and followed him with a minor leaguer named Derrick Hall who got as far as AA last year. Neither one of them look like the answer. I don’t know if he can play first, or not, but Phil Gooselin from Bryn Mawr is having the best spring among the guys fighting for a utility position.

Only Realmuto was at their sharpest today. He is the highlight. He went 3 for 3 with a big homer and threw out a runner. Even Nola had a rocky outing although he might have done better with a little help from his friends. Kapler started Dylan Cozens in centerfield today. He is the only Phillies manager I have seen play him there. He doesn’t look like he has the speed for it, but so far, he hasn’t embarrassed himself out there.

The 5th inning was a nightmare. As I have commented on before, Victor Arano is having a horrible spring. He started the 5th and allowed 6 consecutive runners to reach base without an out. 5 hits and a walk to start the inning. He left without registering an out. James Pazos followed him and gave up four more hits and a walk for 3 more runs in just two-thirds of an inning. By the end of the inning the Astros had scored 9 runs and the score was 11-2. It wasn’t just bad pitching, the fielders compounded the mayhem. Hernandez double clutched on a throw, Williams misjudged an easy fly ball and the beat went on. By the end of the top half of the 5th , half the crowd had left. The only pitchers to get out of the game unscathed were Leftwich and Edward Paredes. Paredes struck out 4 of the 5 hitters he faced.

A word about tomorrow. If you are down here and have tickets to the game, I suggest you get an early start. I understand the game is sold out. I don’t know what that number is, but usually somewhere north of 11, 000. That’s a lot of people for a little stadium. The crowd gets there early. Last year I got there with the early crowd, did a lap around the concourse and had to fight my way thru the scrum at Frenchy’s Tiki Bar. All of the seats at the bar was already occupied by 10:45. I’m not sure these people really come to see the game. This game has turned into the biggest St. Paddy’s day party in town. If you come, wearing green is definitely required. If you don’t have anything green, that’s ok…they sell everything Phillies in green in the store, for an inflated price. If you can’t get in the game, let me recommend O”Keefe’s.

EREN GO BRAGH

el-pietro 2019-03-17 15:27:52 UTC #134

Theres a place called O'Keefes in Clearwater? I'll forgive them for spelling O'Keeffe wrong, thats my last name and its pretty cool to hear about it.

Les229 2019-03-17 23:58:51 UTC #135

SUNDAY MARCH 17, 2019

St. Paddy’s day. They always do it up green at the Phillies ballpark. The crowd turned out to be 11,304. That may be the biggest crowd ever in that park. Many spring training clubs struggle to top 6,000. As usual Frenchy’s Tiki Bar was jammed. Since Spectrum stadium only seats 7,500, That meant that 3,804 were standing. The day was near perfect. The temperature got up to 72 and it was cloudy so that sunburn was not a problem. It did spritz a couple of times, but no one seems to have noticed it. The day started with paratroopers from nearby McDill Air Force base jumping on second base from an airplane we couldn’t even see. The Phillies came out in their traditional green uniforms and hats. It seems weird to see them in those unis.

The Yankees was in a split squad situation(two games in two different parks, at the same time). We didn’t get to see any of their big boppers in the outfield, but they seemed to have the starting infielders here. If I am remembering right, those outfielders haven’t been to Clearwater this year.

Another lackadaisical day for the Phils offense. Paxton started for the Yankees and for 4.1 innings gave up one hit and two walks and completely shut them down. In all, the Phils managed only 4 hits the whole game. They hit several loud fouls out of the park. They wound up losing 7-3. This has got to be starting to be some concern to the team management. They haven’t hit for a while and the fact that at this time of the spring, they are facing fewer and fewer minor leaguers and more and more major league pitchers.

I was glad to Eickhoff start the game. I have a feeling he may be one of the keys to this year’s success. He threw three shutout innings. He gave up two hits and a walk, but struck out 5. I was very encouraged to see that he was this far along. I will say this. None of the starters on this team are going to pitch a complete game by opening day. I thought Morgan was having a good spring until today. He got bombed for 3 hits, a walk, and 4 runs in 1.1 innings work. The only relievers who had any kind of a day was Neshek, who pitched a perfect 4th inning and some minor leaguer named Brogdon who pitched a scoreless 9th while striking out 2.

I wonder how long the Phils are going to mess around with Hector Neris. The last time out, he could beat the world. This time out he gave up three hits, a double and a home run, but he did strike out two. Although I love his stuff, I think it is time to cut bait on him. If they are counting on him to be the closer, they are going to lose a lot of games they should have won.

The Phils are away the next two games.

Les229 2019-03-18 03:16:44 UTC #136

O'Keefe's has been here a long time. I consider it the best Irish pub. I particularly like their Shepherd's Pie.

Les229 2019-03-21 01:08:30 UTC #137

WEDNESDAY MARCH 20, 2019

A decent day but a little overcast. The temperature only got up to 73 degrees. The crowd turned out to be 9,242. That’s a little lower than the previous couple of home games, but better than most teams do.

Another dismal day at the bat for the Phils. The lost it 3-1 on only 6 hits, all singles. Harper did get his first hit of the spring. Part of the problem with the hitting is that the guys who are supposed to be competing for a spot on the bench just aren’t joining the offense. The scarier part is that they are facing fewer and fewer minor leaguers now. One guy who has contributed regularly is Shane Robinson. Right now, I’d keep him over Altherr. They really are giving Sean Rodriguez ample opportunity to make this team. The problem is that he is just overmatched.

Pivetta started in what is probably his last spring training start. I thought that for the most part he looked pretty good, maybe will be that 3rd starter, but he seemed to run out of gas in the 6th inning. One of the guys who has interested me the past few years is Pedro Beato. He goes down to AAA and is a top of the line closer and then never makes it in the bigs. He has been doing it for years. He is now 32 and this may be his last chance. He had another scoreless inning today as did Neshik, Robertson, Neris and Morgan. If I had to pick a closer right now, it would be Robertson. He seems to be more dependable that the others.

I know that Kapler is trying to push the envelope on the bases and I agree with that, but they are getting thrown out both in stealing situations and stretching bases. Today, Segura was thrown out trying to reach third and Herrera was thrown out trying to steal second with no successes. It is hard to tell if runners getting thrown out stretching bases is the players’, coaches’ fault.

Misc. If anything can motivate these young players, it ought to be the Harper and Trout contracts. The Phillies need to hire some carpenters to fix the holes in the players’ bats instead of having their announcers spend much of the air time selling the enthusiasm of the off season deals. Once again they hit double digits in strikeouts with 11.

Home against Toronto tomorrow. Maybe Galvis will hit another homer.

tom81 2019-03-21 01:26:22 UTC #138

Spring training is the perfect time to work on base running, you can stretch your limits and see what you are capable of with no real consequences. It never bothers me to see outs in these situations as it may lead to better base running when the games count.

zambonir 2019-03-21 01:36:36 UTC #139

I think spring training is skewing your perspective a little. Yeah, he's hitting this month, but look at his MLB numbers (and age). Even Kingery can do (and has done) better when it counts. Rodriguez too, though given his age and recent history he'll probably never get back. I think Kapler is favoring him for sure, just to be nice to his friend.

The 40 is full, and very young. Most of these AAAA guys will remain AAA guys, barring injuries (and even there all the pitching is young depth).

LoneStarPhan 2019-03-21 06:13:46 UTC #140

While the Phillies only had 6 hits in the loss to the Tigers, the Tigers only had 4 hits and they made the only error of the game. Of course, it's runs that win games.

I can't deny that the play this week is discouraging. Even though we all know these games don't count, it still is nice to see wins.

Speaking of not counting, I heard that the ML season has already started. Evidently the Mariners and A's played an official game in Japan and will soon return to play more spring training games. Am I the only one who finds this ridiculous? Maybe MLB is trying to get the Mariners and A's moved to new cities. What other reason would there be to totally disrespect the fans of the two teams by playing a couple regular season games in Japan during spring training? Do they expect that school kids in Seattle or Oakland will follow a game during the night on a school night? Was the game even broadcast to the local markets? If so, I'm sure the rating went through the floor.