GDT 7/4/19 Philadelphia Phillies (Eflin) @ Atlanta Braves (Soroka)

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Really disappointed that neither Pivetta nor Eflin could give us much of a chance to win a 2nd game and take the series from the Braves. Not sure what to hope for in July. Our chances for winning the NL east seem to be fading fast. Not sure I want to see the Phillies adding players for a chance at the wild card. Maybe Klentak’s statement about his confidence in “these 25 guys” means we are standing pat at the trading deadline.

[zambonir]

Well, at this point the only bright side is there are no teams in the other two divisions (besides the Dodgers) who are better than us.

I certainly do make improvements for the wild card, it just changes what aisle you shop in. But we're not worse than any team we'd play in the single-elimination game, and an NLDS would still be a crapshoot against the Dodgers -if there are upgrades.

If they are under .500 on July 15 it won't be that hard a decision though.

[EDmuch]

What seems ironic is that, as much as the franchise claims it prioritizes developing pitching, we have not really developed much solid pitching internally.

[gmwannabe]

i'd like to know who the Braves pitching coach is?

[EDmuch]

I see how Sonny Gray, whom the Reds picked up off the garbage heap, is now 5-5 with a ERA under 4.

[flyers19rw]

Wasn’t Eflin supposed to be a sinker pitcher when he was acquired? He’s been transformed into something other than that. This is a trend that is disturbing. Pitchers being asked to do things that are other than what their strengths are and hitters doing the same. It’s as though the organization has decided that they want a certain type of pitcher and demands that all of them fit that mold. The same goes with the hitters-launch angle or bust.
At this point the strategies developed by the organization have to be recognized as a failure. Time for a new approach and probably new people to bring that on. What we’re seeing now is what we saw from August on last year. It’s not a SSS. The three outcomes type of baseball might work for some clubs but not this one.

[andyb]

I don't think it is quite as simple as that. Eflin had a really low strikeout rate as a sinkerball pitcher and that approach really does not work well these days. Guys who K 6/9 just don't survive. He does have good velocity though (not really great movement) on his fastball, so the higher 4-seamers were an attempt to give batters a different look and simultaneously raise his strikeout rate. This has worked to some degree.

One still needs to make good pitches though. And maybe Eflin needs to be a hybrid of a sinkerballer and a high fastball pitcher to be the best he can be. The lack of missing bats is really why he is a back end 4th or 5th starter, but he is also legit in that role. And a back end starter that can eat innings with relatively low pitch counts has value. It is almost why Velazquez needs to be a 3rd starter or better, because he does not eat enough innings in a back end starter role.

I do think it is looking likely that we will add a starter. I am not sure who should be replaced, but a competition between Pivetta and Eflin and VV to stay is not the worst thing. The big question is whether they can acquire a major piece without giving up one of their top prospects. The way he is playing now, everyone will be asking about Bohm. Might be one of the reasons they just drafted another infielder in Stott. Not saying they have a plan to trade Bohm, but if you want a top pitcher that is probably the price. Medina will not be the top piece in such a deal.

[flyers19rw]

Working the entire strike zone is a must for all pitchers. However when the Phillies pitchers start to go high in it, their balls don't move and they end up going over the fence. What the Phillies need for their pitchers is someone who can teach them new pitches in order to keep the hitters off balance. All to often their breaking balls have little bite to them. Their four seamers are fast but lack movement. Analytics is nice and all but when was the last time that the Phillies had a PC who could teach the guys how to throw a pitch? Johnny Podres? The staff has given up over 150 HRs; analyze that.
Additionally, the pitchers don't throw inside enough to keep the hitters honest. I'm not suggesting that they become the Pirates and lead the league in HBP but half of the plate is their if the Phillies pitchers choose to claim it. In these last two games, the Braves hitters were all too comfortable hanging out over the plate looking for the pitch that they wanted. That''s been going on for a while and is one of the reasons for the appalling amount of home runs that the staff has surrendered.
As for possibly trading Bohm, that should be completely off of the table. He's the best bat that this system has added in a decade. The Cubs need pitching but I doubt if they'd trade Bryant to obtain it. Frankly I'd move Hoskins before Bohm and I would have a hard time justifying that. Better pitching is needed here but it could best be had by improved development of what is in the system rather than trading away the good bats that are there.

[allentown]

That's been a problem with the Phillies direction. Few of the biggest bonuses in LA or the first round draft picks have been spent on pitching. When your stated philosophy is to develop your own pitching, more resources should be aimed at drafting/internationally signing a guy who can be at least a solid #2/3 starter. The Phillies have done great finding inexpensive LA guys they can develop into solid MLB prospects and who will sign on relatively tiny bonuses, but have seldom even tried to play the high-profile pitching recruit game. They swung for the fences with Nola and hit a HR. We've used 2nd rounders on pitchers, Gowdy being the main swing-for-the-fences attempt. Drafting guys like Irvin, with later picks, should give us solid #5, perhaps even #4 candidates, but that doesn't fill the top 3 spots in a rotation.