GDT 7/5/22 Washington Nationals (Espino) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Sánchez, C)

[mdougherty12]

Schwarber 2nd in all of baseball in HRs and on pace for 50. Also on pace for 106 RBIs mostly out of the leadoff spot. AND 202 Ks.

Schwarber is a Three True Outcome god this season - tied for 2nd in MLB in HRs, tied for 2nd in MLB in BBs, and tied for 3rd in MLB for Ks. 51% of his PAs have resulted in a HR, BB, or K. He now has nearly as many HRs as singles (25 vs. 27).

[bkeich]

I think we (well, some of you specifically ) just need to chill about Moniak. Clearly he is no better or worse than any other options the Phillies have (on or off the major league roster).

The thing is we are not trying to develop players for a future, we are trying to make the playoffs, and despite his recent slump Herrera is MUCH better than Moniak (actually, almost everyone in the majors is). Moniak simply cannot hit ML pitching, it is incredibly obvious, maybe someday he will, but it isnt today and having him flail away at guys he cant even make contact with isnt going to help. He needs to be in AAA working on mastering those pitchers and learning how to hit better pitches, particularly breaking balls. I dont want him sent down to punish him, I want him down because he hurts the team and it destroys his development. There isnt much chance he will flourish, but the only chance he has is at AAA right now.

Keep in mind we dont have infinite time to send him to AAA. He is going to be out of options after next season and he still has quite a ways to go to be viable as a ML player.

He didnt hurt much tonight, but he hurts every single game he plays. He actually has not had a 2 hit game yet in 44 games in the majors, that is freaking amazing.

If he hadnt been a #1 overall pick they would have given up on him a long time ago, there just isnt much to think this will work, but it is hard to just give up on a once a generation pick.

[EDmuch]

Considering that a substantial part of the first half was played under Girardi, I think our second half play could get us to 90 wins.

[BostonRoss]

Sanchez needs to prove he can win without me there. I was at his only ML win so far, at Fenway Park last year. He beat Pivetta! Of course, he had mighty offensive support from Ronald Torreyas.

I guess Cristopher doesn’t need me…or Ronald Torreyes.

[julio]

The thing is we are not trying to develop players for a future, we are trying to make the playoffs

Good organizations do both of these things, all the time. Not to defend Moniak (I agree, he should be playing every day in AAA), but I see this as a false dichotomy. You can do both, you need to do both.

[allentown]

Yes, one of those cases where changing the manager seems to have a sustained effect after a big initial burst, which screamed "thank you for removing Girardi" from the players. The positive change continued with our best player side-lined.

[andyb]

The easier schedule has helped us. 5-1 against the Nats after not playing them under Girardi. Getting lucky this week too without Soto. Nats are really a AAA club without Soto.

[andyb]

But the big thing is we have 2 left-handed center fielders. One is a below average hitter. The other is a AAA hitter for now even though he has more promise. Giving Moniak the chance now really feels like they are favoring the top pick in place of the veteran with the up and down history.

Hopefully they send Moniak down at some point because I do think he has a shot to play more regularly and more productively next year. Maybe all this comes down to Bryce being able to play the field when he comes back. It will be an awkward roster, but keeping Hall as a pinch hitter and occasional DH probably will make more sense than keeping 2 CFs that do not hit enough for both to play at the same time. Hall is almost 27 and is the rare rookie that probably does not need to play all the time. The "old Thome" pinch hitter role may work for him in the short term and give the Phillies a chance to decide if they really want to keep Hoskins.

[zambonir]

Hall changed the formula a bit by forcing Castellanos back to RF full-time, but that also means they do have to carry an extra OF/defensive sub/PR. Moniak is the only player in the organization available, and since he's here, and since the difference between him and Herrera isn't actually that great (it may yet be a wash if Moniak is better defensively), it also makes sense to play him some. Herrera is still playing as much as Moniak is.

If anything I'd just as soon see Vierling get more chances in a non-platoon role but they're also using him in the infield now.

It's no different than the Stott situation really. Harper is Segura and Herrera is Munoz. But the Phillies don't have any Camargos or Matons to potentially allow the young player to go back to AAA (and obviously Stott is also better).

I think the market for AAAA or waiver players is also thin. They could have kept Mercado if they really wanted to send Moniak down. Having not done so they are probably content to wait for a deadline move instead of acquiring a placeholder.

More importantly, the team's W-L record with Moniak speaks for itself. Obviously no causation and maybe it would be even better without him, but he's not hurting the team.

[Austinfan]

I wouldn't want to rush him, but Moniak is so bad Rojas is probably better than him right now (with his speed he's probably better defensively and just bunting could hit for a higher BA). Real small sample, but Rojas not only is hitting .400 (20 AB) but has 4 BB, 0 K, something to watch in a player with elite speed.

Problem is there's no one at Lehigh who could replace Moniak, when Maton returns you can move Vierling to CF full-time or platoon with Herrera.

They might look for a team desperate for an upgrade at backup catcher and see if they can move Stubbs or Sands for a replacement level CF. But that's about it, unless you want to trade one of their few real prospects.

[zambonir]

I mean, by that logic you can bring up Muzziotti - which they already have once - but that would be even worse. The other option would be Kingery. Really they just can't spare the 40-man space when all they have to do at this point is wait three weeks.

I think they will acquire an OF at the trade deadline for sure. It probably won't be a starting-caliber CF, but someone who can play there, or a better bat who can play RF, as I think it's still a lot to expect Harper back in that role. Depending what they do they could even cut or trade Herrera (and still send Moniak back down. Or trade him).

The team is on pace to win 86 games, is currently in a playoff spot, and would look even better if not for the early struggles - all while missing the reigning MVP and a pretty darn good everyday 2B, as well as 40% of the rotation now. Unless they turn around and go something like 6-15 for the rest of July it's going to be an aggressive trade deadline. Real prospects will be moved (just not necessarily Top 5 prospects).

[andyb]

It is rare that Vierling plays the infield though. If Didi is hurt they should really get another infielder. If you have both Herrera and Vierling on the roster one is usually available as a defensive sub or pinch runner. Or Munoz if he is not playing.

There is just not a situation where you absolutely need Moniak on the major league roster. Kingery could hit .150 and be a defensive sub/pinch runner too.

[zambonir]

Yeah but he takes up an extra 40-man spot! I know they aren't truly scarce, there always seems to be a way, but they could have kept Mercado or dug up some other AAAA guy (including Bonifacio or heck, where did Roman Quinn end up?) if it wasn't a consideration.

Same problem if Didi goes back on the IL really. Who have they got/who could they get?

Occam's Razor to me is that while we think it is obvious Moniak is overmatched and shouldn't be playing, the Phillies feel otherwise. That he's either better defensively or that he's showing enough in BP that they think this is something to be worked through. Not forever, but for the current moment.

[andyb]

Roman is hitting home runs in Omaha! 5-22 with 2 HRs so far. He is a power bat in AAA apparently. 998 OPS for the year.

[bkeich]

With Quinn my first thought is did the ball leave the yard or did he just place it really well

[zambonir]

oh right, I remember now.

The Marlins, meanwhile, called up Billy Hamilton recently.

[bkox]

This tweet from the Nats last night is cool

Kyle. It's not even June anymore.

— Washington Nationals ( @Nationals ) July 5, 2022