GDT 8/29/18 Washington Nationals (Gonzalez, G) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Arrieta)

[Patchmk88]

We no really need to win series. If we can win our remaining series we have a great shot.

[ButlerBulldog]

no really need to win series. If we can win our remaining series we have a great shot.

I think they should take things one game at a time from here on out. Tonight’s win was important, and now they’ve a big game on Friday evening against the Cubs.

[EDmuch]

If it is in the 6th inning, TB wins even if the game is ultimately called deu to rain.

[EDmuch]

Quinn continues to add excitement. Joey Bats on base 4 times. Kingery looking like he can actually play shortstop. Tommy Hunter looking strong. some things to like tonite. Just make sure that tomorrow's headline is not about a broken bone in Rhys' hand.

[ButlerBulldog]

Just make sure that tomorrow's headline is not about a broken bone in Rhys' hand.

He had a double in his last at-bat, which was a good sign.

[EDmuch]

I agree with that.

[LoneStarPhan]

Kudos to Hunter for stepping up when they needed the bullpen to get some scoreless innings.

Arano gets a blown save on an unearned run. Tonight, the hitters came back and won the game.

Bautista was 1 for 1 with a HBP and 2 walks and an RBI. An on base machine.
Cannot overlook the grand slam from Slamtana that overcame the Nationals 3 run lead and put the Phillies ahead at the time. Another outstanding game for Quinn in center field. Boy it would be nice if he could have an injury free 2019. Three hits, another triple, a SB, and a fine catch to end the game.

The off day will allow the bullpen to get rest and be ready for the series with the Cubs.

Phillies now 71-62.

Rain delay continuing in Atlanta but Rays are leading, 8-3, with the Braves due up in the sixth.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

I miss the good old days when we’d salvage the finales.

These are the good old days!

[EastFallowfield]

Had ‘em all the way, Harry!

[LoneStarPhan]

Braves score 2 in the bottom of the 8th but lose to Tampa Bay, 8-5, tonight.

Braves now 74-58, so Phillies 3.5 games behind.

[ButlerBulldog]

Braves score 2 in the bottom of the 8th but lose to Tampa Bay, 8-5, tonight.

Braves now 74-58, so Phillies 3.5 games behind.

The Braves have one more with TB tomorrow, so at worst, the Phillies will enter Friday’s game four games back.

[Omaha]

It’s actually a makeup game w/ the Cubs not TB. Braves have Red Sox & DBacks next week.

[baseballoldie]

Phillies could be back in 1st place in a week.

[zambonir]

A lot of ways to win a ball game huh?

[bkeich]

It really is fun to watch Roman Quinn run. He has 3 triples already, basically anything that gets to the fence is a triple. It wont be long before he hits his first inside the park HR, there are some places that he could easily leg one out on just a slight misplay.

I really hope this guy can somehow stay healthy, for all the rehabbing he has done he deserves a reward and clearly he is able to play at the ML level. A nice complication to have, and honestly I wonder if his play pushes the team further into looking for a trade partner for Santana this offseason.

[allentown]

He's been very well compensated and has been given the perfect opportunity to learn what he needs to learn. Now he can spend the winter and ST working on those things. He wasn't ready this season, Klentak forced the situation. A year of failures isn't a disaster, development wise. He likely has progressed as much as he would in Allentown. The majors now won't be a mystery to him when he comes north next season -- he knows what the pitchers throw, he knows how teams have decided to attack him at the plate, which identifies his weaknesses and bad tendencies. An impossible amount was asked of him this season: make yourself into an MLB SS.

[zambonir]

I really hope this guy can somehow stay healthy, for all the rehabbing he has done he deserves a reward and clearly he is able to play at the ML level. A nice complication to have, and honestly I wonder if his play pushes the team further into looking for a trade partner for Santana this offseason.

I don't think there's any connection between Quinn and Hoskins/Santana. Obviously that would open up more options, but it could just as easily be Williams or Herrera who lose their spot. But you can't really go in to ST with Quinn pencilled in as one of your starting three. He's your 4th OF and if he stays healthy he'll get his 400 ABs and if he pushes for more playing time, that will come too.

I hope Klentak would consider anything, but it is probably pure fantasy to think the Phillies will move on from Santana unless his trade value turns out to be good (obviously Phillies could eat some $).. For one thing, they really like him. He needs to do better but he's third on the team in WAR, second in RBIs and has 20 HRs. They can't possibly be happy with his SLG% but probably don't care about his BA, and see it (and his defensive drop-off) as a one-off not a decline. If they are wrong he'll be a bench player in Year 3 (and hopefully before) but they knew that when they signed him.

The fact that they have Bour - assuming they keep him - may make it more not less likely that they keep Santana. Because even though he's a LHB it's not like Bour would platoon with Hoskins (since Hoskins would play 155 games).

[tom81]

But you can't really go in to ST with Quinn pencilled in as one of your starting three.

Sure you can, you just need a good fourth OF who can step in as an injury replacement. You will also have Kimgery available as a swing man so there should be plenty of depth. You go with Quinn as one of your starting three if he is one of the best three and have contingency plans. He frankly has been our best OF since he cam up, granted in limited action. I would start him near everyday the rest of this season unless he got hurt or his production slipped dramatically.

[zambonir]

Well, I guess it is semantics. If your OF is Hoskins/Herrera/Quinn/Williams or Hoskins/Quinn/Harper/Wiliiams it doesn't matter which one is the "4th" OF on Opening Day. But it's risky to trade Herrera should Quinn break, and Williams would not be an adequate replacement CF. So just having a "good fourth OF" isn't enough.

And look, Quinn is very, very talented. But even putting his injury history aside, making such a definitive decision about him based on what he's showed for a month or two makes only slightly more sense to me than signing Kingery to that contract based on spring training. We don't know what his next two years will truly be like.

[Lawman]

Between Hoskins, Herrera, Willaims, and Quinn - absent any FA/trades to upgrade there, my preference would be to slide Odubel to LF, Quinn to CF, and Hoskins to 1B and hit the market for a backup 4th OF who can fill in for 1/3 season as a starter when Quinn goes down with injury.

I just don't see that many free agent OF who are clearly better then Herrera (less streaky, yes. But better statistically?)