GDT 5/22/24 Texas Rangers (Dunning) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Walker, T)

[zambonir]

I mean, I get it. If you send him down soon, he could be back in just a few weeks or a month, just like Bohm and Stott once were. If you don't and he still struggles and you decide to go in a different direction at the trade deadline (meaning a more significant LF upgrade), he's done for the year.

But the Phillies themselves have always felt much better about all of it than the media or fans.

The team that is starting Johan Rojas in CF hasn't lost a series in the last 15 times, better fix that!

[bkox]

Bryce Harper homers (12) on a fly ball to right field.

This HR is Bryce Harper’s 134th as a Phillie.

Ties him with Darren Daulton for 17th-most in Phils history. pic.twitter.com/5I45PWRI5R

— John Foley ( @2008Philz ) May 23, 2024

[LoneStarPhan]

I would normally think that it’s a shame the starter didn’t get the win on a night like this but tonight, Walker earned NOT getting a win. Walking the first two after Sosa gets the big home run to extend the lead to four is just not acceptable!

Another good game from the offense and the bullpen. Well done.

[DurhamBull]

Castellanos with 3 runs scored despite zero hits.

[LoneStarPhan]

Schwarber with 3 walks tonight. I’d have to check last night’s box score, but that is at least 10 walks in last four games.

[BostonRoss]

The decision on whether to send Rojas down hinges only on what's best for his development. The jury is still out for me, but maybe not for the Phils.

[bkox]

Schwarber with 3 walks tonight. I’d have to check last night’s box score, but that is at least 10 walks in last four games.

10 in the last 4 games, Now leads the NL.

[LoneStarPhan]

Doing the job leading off. No walks in first game with Rangers,but he was 2 for 4 so still got on base.

[Austinfan]

Rangers were bad, a number of mental errors, looks like a post-WS hangover.
But Phillies have been hitting good pitchers even if they're beating bad teams. And taking advantage of mistakes.

Who the heck is Ruiz? He was throwing some heat for an AAA+ pitcher!

[Lucky_Beagle]

Trea who?

[zambonir]

The decision on whether to send Rojas down hinges only on what's best for his development. The jury is still out for me, but maybe not for the Phils.

He's overmatched but it still doesn't seem like he is having his confidence destroyed. Curiously, he's producing against RHP (.604 OPS) better than LHP (.447) which he also sees less of. I think the line of demarcation was closer to .650 than .600 and also assumed the defense would be elite; right now he's trending back towards .550 and the defense is statistically not even plus (which, I think we can still say it's above average/better than Marsh but maybe that's not enough).

But I think it's still just as likely he can soldier through this season while working with the major league hitting coaches as it is that a stint in AAA would do anything for him, short or long-term.

Meanwhile, Rojas has a higher OPS than ROTY Corbin Carroll (.561 to to .557) and he's mostly still hitting 1st or 2nd!

[Callison]

IMHO, the Phils are just committed to Rojas, that deep Phils' commitment that can hardly ever be broken, at least to the All Star break and maybe beyond. While he's with the Phils, Long can direct his progress. It's not happening fast. Some of you hitting stars tell us what you see in Rojas' ABs these days. It seems to me as if somebody told Rojas he can become a power hitter, and too many of his swings seem like overswings. I was taught you try to hit 85% power. His bunting is much improved. Great on the bases - when he gets on 1st, if the pitcher doesn't check him really good, he'll run on the first pitch - amazing that he got away with it even once.

Getting harder and harder to find something wrong around here these days.

The TV coverage of CBP is like watching a rave.

[andyb]

I did find myself laughing a little bit last night thinking there was no way they were going to lose that game. I almost expected Sosa to hit that 3-run HR. We should all celebrate Sosa who has been very good defensively at SS and has a 900+ OPS at the plate. The offense is probably not sustainable but the defense is.

[julio]

Getting harder and harder to find something wrong around here these days.

Yeah well, don't kill yourself. "Finding something wrong" isn't really why we're here!

[Austinfan]

Both Sosa and Rojas have quick bats and can handle most ML FBs.

Their problem, like many young hitters, is recognizing and adjusting to off-speed pitches and channeling their aggression so they don't chase outside the zone and dig a hole for themselves.

But Sosa, while he's not going to maintain a .900+ OPS, looks like a legitimate hitter with plus defense - great depth and if some young IFs develop behind him, good trade bait in a year or two.

[zambonir]

Sosa's a FA in 2026 so if he can legit hit he's just worth keeping/paying him as a bench player (and would be another reason to seriously rethink ever needing another Josh Harrison or Whit Merrifield on the bench versus a second pure OF/hitter).

It does seem a little unfair that after the last two nights the Rangers have to wake up early and see Wheeler. But, don't want to jinx it.

[xogfog]

Getting harder and harder to find something wrong around here these days.

So true, I mean, they have three everyday hitters hitting .219, .218 and .200 and they're 22 games over .500 in May.

[zambonir]

Pitching may or may not win championships but it definitely wins 100+ games.

[Austinfan]

A deep pitching staff wins 100 games, a top trio wins playoffs.
Phillies may have both.

[zambonir]

I kind of think the offense is what wins in the playoffs once you get out of the Division Series. Of course it's a bit chicken-egg. Right now we'd be looking at a very difference Ranger (and hopefully a very different Nola) as the rest of the three. And Ranger in particular would have an additional ripple effect on the bullpen. And then a 4th starter who's not actually a drop-off. That could win them a game (or two!) that the offense or bullpen couldn't/didn't last NLCS.