GDT 8/8/20 Atlanta Braves (Wright) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Arrieta)

[BaseballCat]

Awesome game. First game I have been able to see in VA during the reboot. Arrieta looked good and the bullpen was sound. Wish I could see Howard pitch tomorrow, but will listen. Go Phils!!!

[gmwannabe]

Very very early, but glad that the phils (maybe they did and boras rejected) did not offer to sign a Kingery type contract with hoskins. i didn't agree with the kingery one either. Hoss just isn't the hitter that i/we thought he was going to be. happy they saved the money. remember, there is a big lefty slugger waiting in the wings. i'd like to see him get the chance.
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[zambonir]

remember, there is a big lefty slugger waiting in the wings. i'd like to see him get the chance.

There is?

[Austinfan]

Arrieta doesn't give me a lot of confidence, his velo is 92-93 and his command is still spotty.
If he's our 5th starter we're in great shape, if Eflin and Howard can't step up, we're so-so.
Altanta helped him out swinging at pitches out of the K-zone, other teams won't be as generous.

Nice to see the bullpen do a solid job, Hunter and Guerra look like middle relief to me, we still need a RH setup man.

[andyb]

Arrieta doesn't give me a lot of confidence, his velo is 92-93 and his command is still spotty.

Not sure who you were watching but his command was good. His pitches were moving as much as they ever were and he was working the outside corner really well. The only stuff over the middle of the plate was generally on the first pitch with the bases open and that is what he was supposed to do.

I have no illusions that Arrieta is back to even 85% of what he was. But he does look like the pitcher of 2 years ago and that can be a 3rd/4th starter in this league. He tired the 3rd time through the lineup, but that is typical of any pitcher without spring training. He gave us 6 good innings yesterday against a good lineup. Hopefully Howard and Velasquez are good today also because we need a 6-man rotation the rest of the way with the double headers (with skips to keep Nola and Wheeler on a 5-day rotation as much as they can.

The bullpen is still pretty bad. Hunter and Guerra were a bit better yesterday in low pressure situations, but there was also nothing about their stuff that would suggest that will last.

[gmwannabe]

oh yeah, Zamby. That would be that one....Darick Hall. or maybe Bohm might get a chance. Again, very early. but i think hoskins might be on a medium leash.
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[andyb]

I think they give Hoskins a long leash. He has had some bad BABIP so far and he does have a .371 OBP which I am sure Girardi likes. He is clearly missing pitches when he is more aggressive.

Bohm would probably help the club at some point but probably should be seen as a hedge against both Segura and Kingery struggling too. If there is no injury it is also hard to do a move since Gosselin is playing so well. It would be natural for Bohm to take that spot but they can't right now. I wonder if Kingery's struggles continue they will think of giving him 10 days at the complex to clear his head. An injury would probably shorten those 10 days anyway.

[el-pietro]

The great thing about Hoskins is even when hes struggling hes still getting on base and with Bryce and JT hitting so well behind him and that should lead to runs. Agree that he has not lived up to hopes after his bright start in the majors.
Aside from Kingery I'm a little concerned about Cutch, he is really struggling up there.

[Austinfan]

I didn't realize that Kingery was coming off of COVID, he may not be 100% until September, the virus can really sap strength and stamina.

[andyb]

Might be a reason to justify sending him down for 10 days. We'll see how he does today because obviously everybody will play today.

[zambonir]

It's too bad Hoskins isn't a speedy defensive outfielder. This year there's no such thing as a long or short leash, he'll be playing 55 games.

If this was a normal season and Hoskins repeated his struggles of last year I could certainly see moving on and putting Bohm at 1B, though I'm not sure I want Segura to be our starting 3B for the next two seasons either. As it is we won't learn enough this year. Kingery only adds to the uncertainty, between the COVID and only having 60 games to see if he can live up to last year.

Darick Hall, seriously? He's not even on the roster, and needs a full season at AAA (and even then he'd have to improve on his Reading numbers, which is not a thing that usually happens. Lefthandedness aside, if Rhys's .950+ OPS at AA and AAA doesn't translate why would a .798 guy?)

Of course all that applies to Bohm as well, albeit with better numbers pedigree. At least he's getting everyday fake AAA activity. But he may still need to be a 3B to truly excel.

I just hope Rhys comes around enough that he's clearly worth his arbitration bumps or still has trade value in 2022 or 2023, I don't think there was ever any chance the Phillies would lock him up (unless it was a steal) or keep him as a FA.

[gmwannabe]

i hope hoskins comes around as well. but, don't sleep on Hall. he is ready. real sweet swing and tons of power.
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