GDT 6/19/19 Philadelphia Phillies (Arrieta) @ Washington Nationals (Scherzer)

[HopeSpringsEternal]

This is a team-wide slump. No one is hitting except Kingery. When McCutchen went down, Bruce came in and was hot for about a week. Since Bruce cooled off and got injured, it’s been a rough ride for the entire lineup. I’m sure sitting around the clubhouse and hotel for the past two days hasn’t helped a lot. I thought Friday’s late inning loss to the Braves was the low point of the season. But this doubleheader loss to the Nats tops that (scoring only 2 runs in 18 innings). Not sure what the answer is. Somebody needs to get hot. We need Harper, Hoskins, or someone to get things going so that others follow suit. Tough challenge tomorrow with Strasburg on the mound. But a few players (Realmuto, Bruce, and even Franco) have a history of success against him.

[DurhamBull]

Yeah, all of the offensive spark plugs have either gone cold or on the IL, except for Kingery and perhaps Bruce. Harper is getting more walks again so maybe he'll start getting on base more even if he's not hitting a ton.

I hope Miller doesn't take a lot of playing time from Franco. The Phils are probably ready to move on from Franco, and I can understand why, but Miller isn't going to be the long term answer either. I'm fine with giving Franco some time off, but if I had to bet on Franco vs. Miller putting up a .800 OPS for a month, neither one is a great bet, but the odds are better for Franco.

[Philsmania]

This is a team-wide slump.

I realize people here don't like old cliches but losing sure seems contagious now.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Tough challenge tomorrow with Strasburg on the mound.

Update: Nats are now pitching Eric Fedde tomorrow and saving Strasburg for Friday vs the Braves. I guess what they’ve seen from our lineup so far, they feel they can win with their 5th starter, so they’ll save Strasburg for the next series.

[zambonir]

I was on the road all day yesterday, heard some of both games on radio but not sure I can stand to read the threads.

Seems like everything that can go wrong has at this point. The stars aren't playing like stars, the complementary players have faded with increase/changed roles, and even as good as Kingery is on the best version of this team he's still the 9th position player (and Bruce is the 10th). But yes, I would rather see it in June than August.

[Lawman]

But yes, I would rather see it in June than August.

Be that as it may, I fail to see where significant outside help is coming from close to the trade deadline.

[zambonir]

Why is that? I mean, it is a cost-benefit analysis, wrt to both money (cash and tax) and talent in trade. If they continue to fade between now and July 15 then you don't do it, and it's even possible the manager gets fired (I think it's ridiculous people want that now but if this season swerves to non-playoff, and closer to 80 wins than 90 a much easier call, even though the injuries are a legit excuse). But if they continue to play well at home and are in the division race and Herrera's not coming back there's no way they don't add, possibly in all three areas.

[Lawman]

I'm just skeptical that they have enough prospects to trade to both shore up the starting rotation and the offense. And, I don't think they have enough prospects to win a bidding war for any given player, if it came down to that.

[zambonir]

Can't argue with that but trade deadline deals are never as costly as people seem to fear/think. The hype cycle always starts with thinking you're going to trade Haseley or Medina and ends with trading Randolph and Irvin.

I kid, but there's a middle ground. And Williams and the AAA rotation still has some value in the right deal. Maybe even Franco does. Depends whether they go after FAs, salary dumps, or controllable too of course.

If we look at this team in terms of '07 or '08 you go get a Lohse or a Blanton, not a Lee or Oswalt. But you do need the offense (and you need Nola and Arrieta to deliver) for that.

[andyb]

Hard to say what they should do. I would give it time. If they really are thinking leadoff is the problem, the guy they have been interested in over the last year that would solve that problem is Whit Merrifield. He'd be expensive though with a pretty favorable contract and years of control.