GDT: Opening Day 2.0, 7/24/2020, Marlins at Phillies

[Lucky_Beagle]

I thought the time of games might be faster this season. I guess not based upon this game the preseason game I saw.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Still can’t beat the Marlins.

[LoneStarPhan]

It's only one loss. Of course, this season, I guess it is 2.6 losses.

A pretty miserable start to this strange season. Marlins out hit and out pitch the Phillies. It wasn't close.

It the Phillies can win the next two to take the opening series with Miami, they are off to an OK start. Otherwise, they are already in the hole and there is not enough time this year to overcome a slow start.

We will see.

[Philsmania]

Pathetic effort.

[schillingfan]

Thoughts on no crowd? I didn’t really notice. I was reading a transcript during the game, so I wasn’t paying attention every minute. It really felt like every othe Phillies game I’ve watched. Having a flat offense may have made a difference, nothing to really cheer about.

[LoneStarPhan]

I wonder if Rosso was the right pitcher to bring in to relieve Nola. It always seems to me that you need to bring in a solid reliever in such a key situation. Of course, allowing two more runs didn't lose the game tonight; it was already lost at that point. In reality, the bullpen pitched scoreless innings after that. It seems like managers like to keep the veteran relievers in their roles and if they need someone early, even if it may be the most important point of the game, they save the closer and the two or three best set up guys for later.

As for no crowd in the stands, it really did not bother me in the least. I watched the game and except for shots of empty seats, didn't even think of the lack of fans in the stands.

[zambonir]

I think they have high hopes for Rosso, but he's still pretty green. Even with Kapler gone this is a very analytics-driven team so I'm sure they had their reasons (and there's still that old-school thing of lesser relievers pitching without a lead, even though trailing by just a few runs isn't low-leverage per se). Wouldn't have gone any better if it had been Kelley, though I wonder if Hunter is not truly ready? We shall see a lot more relievers in the next 48 hours I'm sure.

[zambonir]

So when's the last time there was a Phillies game without a single pinch-hitter? Even in road interleague games there's usually a reason to switch someone out.

[DurhamBull]

Jamie Moyer, we need you!

[zambonir]

Sounds like every other manager

Rosso entered in the sixth inning, but he was called on to face the middle of Miami’s lineup with one out and a runner on second. Perhaps it wasn’t the best spot for an inexperienced reliever to make his big-league debut. Nick Pivetta or Tommy Hunter would have been better options. But Girardi said he wanted to stay away from Pivetta until Saturday as the righthander pitched on Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park. Instead, Girardi went with Rosso and the Marlins jumped him.

“We thought it was a pretty good matchup with the hitters that they had coming up,” Girardi said. “That didn’t work quite the way that we wanted it to. He got the big strikeout and thought that he might get out of it, but he gave up the double to Cooper and that expanded the lead to 5-1.”

“We’ve all been there,” Girardi said. “That first game. Sometimes it goes really well and then sometimes it doesn’t. But I still really believe in that young man. He’ll get through it.”

[Lucky_Beagle]

It wouldn't have mattered if the relief pitching struck out every batter they faced tonight. When you earn 1 run you aren't going to win very many games.

[andyb]

I am not in love with Hoskins batting 2nd. I know it might be the realization that he is always going to be a high OBP guy and might not ever be the consistent power threat we want, but it also takes away some of his aggressiveness potentially with men on base. He is better suited to the number 4 spot. I think I would try Quinn or Kingery batting second with Hoskins sliding to 4th. 5-7 really depend on who is hitting well and L/R matchups.

The two runs is the correct take from this game. As a team our offense is probably stronger than our pitching. Even at the top of the rotation Nola and Wheeler are number 2 and 3 starters rather than 1 and 2 starters. The bullpen also seems below average with quantity not being the same as quality. We need to score runs.

Looking at Saturday we are facing a LHP so I think we might see Garlick or Neil Walker instead of Bruce. Probably Garlick since Walker (a switch hitter) is better against RHP. Haseley probably gets a start Sunday against a RHP. If Walker does not start today then imagine he slots in for somebody tomorrow. I might also consider JT getting a rest Sunday so he could potentially play all 4 games against the Yankees.

[Austinfan]

Nola was kept in too long, you could see him tiring as his command started to slip, that usually precedes a decline in velocity.

Rosso had good stuff, just was overthrowing, gee, a kid in his first ML game overhyped? Never happens!

Davis has good velocity but a Pivetta like "hit me" FB and a good but not great slider. I don't see a lot of upside unless he either finds movement on the FB or a third pitch - a high velocity FB that doesn't move works best as a "show me" pitch to keep hitters off balance, not an "out" pitch.

Kelley looks like a one trick sidearmer without the great sinking movement.

[zambonir]

Certainly the relievers didn't lose the game but it could have been 3-1 at that point if someone else gets through the 6th. A more winnable game, or maybe one a different reliever would have blown later (or maybe Pivetta would have just blown it in the 6th).

Certainly if this team can't win without scoring 5-6 runs it will be the same as the last two years. Hopeful for a big performance from Wheeler today.