GDT Opening Day: March 29th Phillies (Nola) @ Braves (Teheran)

[el-pietro]

Jim Salisbury (JSalisburyNBCS)

1. Cesar Hernandez 2B
2. Carlos Santana 1B
3. Nick Williams RF
4. Rhys Hoskins LF
5. Aaron Altherr CF
6. J.P. Crawford SS
7. Maikel Franco 3B
8. Andrew Knapp C
9. Aaron Nola P

So no Herrera, no Kingery, no Alfaro... thats an interesting lineup. Baseball is back!

[andyb]

I was pretty sure they were going to sit Kingery for the first one to let the veterans have the opening day start but Herrera seems odd here. I am also not surprised about Knapp. Expect a 50-50 time share for the moment at catcher. Getting more left-handed bats in the lineup, especially without Herrera.

[Eisenreich]

This seems like a slap in the face to Herrera, one of our few veterans, to be left off of the opening day lineup. I don’t like it.

[el-pietro]

In other news the first pitch of the major league season goes into the stands. Ian Happ hits a first pitch homer off Urena in the Cubs/Marlins game.

[Patchmk88]

I agree. Not sure why he wouldn't be starting this game.

[phillychuck]

Herrera didn't perform well in ST, and, with a new staff, what they've seen in person is probably over-emphasized. I think he's going to have to earn his time more than some others.

I agree with others that starting Hernandez is probably wrong given his struggles with Teheran in his career.

[Jeff05]

He could be ill or carrying an injury, although I would've expected it to be reported.

[phillychuck]

The 6/7/8 batters in the lineup are also ordered in what I would regard as an unusual manner based on previous lineup positions.

[el-pietro]

Urena has hit two pitchers in the first innning. Bases loaded two outs in Miami for Heyward.

[Patchmk88]

I'm still a huge Franco supporter, but he didn't play well in ST either. Why not start Kingery at 3B, if that is their line of thinking?

[Patchmk88]

Walked in a run. Obviously having some control issues.

[el-pietro]

He walked in a run, and now hes hit a third batter! Caught Baez on the fingers.

[phillychuck]

Remember, we don't get to see all of their competitive ABs. Franco played in 2 AAA games and, I believe, hit 2HRs in those games. He also hit a lot of hard outs, and the staff usually credits those mentally in favor of the hitter. BTW, I don't agree with sitting Herrera, I'm just trying to figure out their rationale.

[el-pietro]

Yeah, walked Heyward on four pitches. If he doesn't get an out soon I think hes coming out of the game. Hes at 30+ pitches already. Also I realise this is off topic, sorry!

[andyb]

The 6/7/8 batters in the lineup are also ordered in what I would regard as an unusual manner based on previous lineup positions.

Especially after they all but telegraphed Crawford to hit 9th. Franco has been playing well also though I assume they did not want 3 right-handed bats in a row.

[el-pietro]

I don't think we should get too worked up on the lineup in individual games. I think we are going to see a lot of lineup changes on a day to day basis. Its strange that hes out on Opening Day but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Maybe they don't like his record against Teheran (though I think its Hernandez that has the poor record there). I bet by this time next week he has as many starts as just about anyone.

[andyb]

In an interesting coincidence, the two young guys we signed to long term deals (Herrera and Kingery) are the ones sitting.

[Lawman]

Todd Zolecki (ToddZolecki)

Matt Gelb (MattGelb)

[zambonir]

Yeah, we just don't have access to the data they are using to make that decision. Career ABs is the sort of thing we used to make fun of Charlie for. I'm sure there is other individual match-up data, but also much larger-sample data beyond that.

But, not entirely sure what the ground ball logic is? That they don't need their best OF defense out there so they could go with Williams?

I'm not impressed with Franco's ST but he was showing a lot of power, and psychologically it's probably the right move. For Cesar too. I bet Kingery still plays three innings.

It does go to show you that we really don't know who next year's starting CF is, depending on free agency and trade options. It could even be Kingery, who is no less experienced at the position than Herrera once was.

[andyb]

I have always thought the stats against any one pitcher are virtually meaningless and the Phillies kind of ignored that when they start Altherr, Williams, and Hernandez.

There might be something more to ground ball or fly ball tendencies but what this comes down to is that I think Kapler likes Williams' offense more than Herrera. Williams is also hitting 3rd which is a bit of a statement. So all the talk here about Williams having a bad spring may not really be that true in the eyes of the Phillies.