25 Colorado Rockies (Márquez) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Sánchez, C)

Callison 2025-04-01 18:06:14 UTC #101

Though the offense looks the same in many ways, the addition of a LF that can hit is a huge improvement. Early in the season, but Kepler looks like a shrewd signing for the moment. The Phils are due to get one right. Marchan will likely hit a level better than Stubbs, too. Those look like the two biggest problems with the O and the Phils went after them. Plenty of other Phils problems to be impatient about.

allentown 2025-04-01 19:01:05 UTC #102

I'm a fan of the Kepler signing, but I absolutely am not buying that. The Phillies have had a plus LF for the past 3 seasons. In a not small sample size of 1100 PA, Marsh has an average OPS+ of 118 during his time in Philly. In that time, he contributed 7.3 rWAR and never had an OPS+ lower than 109. LF was not our problem.

zambonir 2025-04-01 20:08:44 UTC #103

And neither was back-up catcher. Signing Kepler and moving Marsh to CF does make the offense better (at the expense of CF defense) but I doubt the added production from either is going to turn the fifth highest-scoring offense into fourth or third.

The bench is still looking like real a strength this year though. Clemens might not be a good fit, but having three bench guys who really could start for a lot of teams (I'm including Marchan certainly) is a luxury that pays off when the need arises.

And the biggest threat to Wilson's job might not be Clemens, but rather, if Kepler and Marsh actually succeed as everyday players, especially since you know Sosa will deliver a few big PHs here and there if he's not in the line-up for an injured guy.

andyb 2025-04-01 20:21:36 UTC #104

I'm still not buying Marsh and Kepler consistently against LHP. I think Wilson's offense will be important by the end of the year. Or someone in that role. It is just a lefty-dominant lineup and every team is going to structure their rotations to show us as many LHPs as they can.

zambonir 2025-04-01 20:43:05 UTC #105

Hey Kepler's got a 1.000 OPS against LHP so far. I know, SSS to say the least, but they are going to get a month to show out at least. I agree in the long run they need the RH bench bat but I don't know that we need to see a Wilson/Rojas/Casty OF against LH starters either. Just getting Rojas in there 2-3 times a week might be enough.

Callison 2025-04-01 21:57:37 UTC #106

I'm looking at Hayes and Merrifield in LF, players that were hardly noticeable at the plate and players that were signed in the hope they would take over LF. Looks like a problem to me.

Stubbs hit .207, OPS .558 - he's a fine defensive catcher, but he's a hole in the lineup, why he's gone. The Phils thought he was a problem.

zambonir 2025-04-01 22:19:58 UTC #107

Well, neither of them were meant to take over in LF. Marsh, as a LHB platoon player, was always going to get as much as 75% of the playing time in LF, and Merrifield actually made more appearances as an IF (27 between 2B and 3B) than as a LF (25).

And while they did decide to shoehorn Hays into additional playing time instead of merely letting him be the RHB platoon guy that they needed, that came at the expense of Rojas. And Wilson outperformed Hays in the role anyway.

Because Kepler is a LHB and not a bad fielder, he's a good pick-up, but he's not an upgrade over Marsh in LF per se. It's just that Marsh is an offensive upgrade over Rojas in CF, and they are willing to have a worse defense.

Stubbs is only gone because Marchan didn't have any options left. Would have been bad business to trade the much younger player or lose him for nothing. But he didn't beat out Stubbs in spring training.