Minor League Games - July 28th, 2023

[Squire]

AAA: Syracuse at Lehigh Valley (TBD) - 5:05PM (Continuation of 7/27 Game)
AAA: Syracuse at Lehigh Valley (TBD) - Game 2
AA: Binghamton at Reading (RHP Griff McGarry) - 7:00PM
High A: Aberdeen at Jersey Shore (LHP Matt Osterberg) - 7:05PM
Low A: Off
FCL: FCL Phillies (TBD) at FCL Blue Jays - 12 Noon
DSL: DSL Phillies Red (TBD) at DSL Mets Blue - 11:00AM
DSL: DSL Angels at DSL Phillies White (RHP Maxwel Hernandez) - 11:00AM

Rolling Scores Here - https://www.milb.com/scores/2023-07-28/all/all/phillies

Rolling Boxes Here - https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats/affiliates?teamId=143&date=07/28/2023

[phillychuck]

Looking forward to McGarry tonight. Will be very hot; a hitters' night. A solid start and we might be able to project him to Philly soon ( if we need him). Always remember Marty Bystrom!

[fish]

FCL Phil’s managed to start an entirely different (and not all that interesting) lineup today than yesterday.

[andyb]

Clearly yesterday was new draftee day. Maybe there was lots of family in town and they just wanted to showcase everyone at once.

There just is not a lot of room right after the draft and I don't think we've promoted too many from FCL yet. Though Miller could be up in Clearwater in a week or two if he keeps hitting like yesterday.

[phillychuck]

I have seen almost no releases since the draft (I might have missed them). How long do organizations have to get back under the 180-player domestic limit?

[Matt_Winkelman]

NDFAs have 2 weeks and draft guys have until assigned. That means they are currently at 173 of 180 right now

In the last bit to make room
Released: Francisco Morales, Jesus Cruz, Trey Cobb, Ryan Holgate, Jake Thompson
Added to 60 Day IL: Michael Plassmeyer, Jaydenn Estanista, Eduar Segovia, Alex Rao

[andyb]

They have been happening sporadically (Morales last week for instance). I think we also moved 3 guys to the 60-day IL last week including Estanista who we all had high hopes for this week. One of those was also Erich Uelhmen so we might have a 40-man spot for Song if we need it and we don't demote Covey.

If Matt's spreadsheet is right we are still at 173. 20 more on the IL and 3 suspended beyond that 173.

Phillies Org Roster

[bkox]

Matt with some interesting info for evaluating our Triple A players (and why Jake Cave may be a mirage)

So I hadn't dug into what is going on in the International League, but it is rough. Last year there were 12 teams with BB/9 under 4 and 18 with ERAs under 5.00. This year 6 have ERAs under 5.00 and 1 has a BB/9 under 4.
Just for you automated strike zone junkies out there.

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) July 28, 2023

Last year the highest team OPS was .793, this year 13 of 20 teams are over that mark.

— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) July 28, 2023

[LoneStarPhan]

The implication is that the automatic strike zone is causing a very great increase in offense. In other words, actually using the rule defined strike zone increases offense.

[Austinfan]

At least temporarily, I think it will create a self-selection process, disciplined hitters will benefit, junk ballers who nibble around the edges will be hurt unless they have great command.

[julio]

Also, if the automatic strike zone results in a pitching / offense imbalance, the definition of the strike zone can easily be tweaked a bit, to rebalance... and unlike adjusting the strike zone with live umps, the automatic zone will just respond to changed specifications - no learning curve, no habits to unlearn. Add an inch or two on each size of the zone... done.

[kmc1019]

Attended last night's game in Reading:
-McGarry's stats for the night were mixed but I was impressed. First 2 innings were pretty dominant, marred by an opposite field home run and credit to that hitter. But he was in command and blowing most hitters away with 97-98 fastball, 85-88 slider, and then a slower slurve-type at 81
-In the 3rd inning, walks (on pitches that were arguably strikes), HBP (on a low breaking ball that nicked the batter's toe) and poor fielding caused things to go south. But he held it together, got out of jam and finished stronger in 4th and 5th.
-Stuff was definitely sharper in 1st and 2nd. For a win-now Phillies team, I would consider him as 2 inning reliever down the stretch. Would bump him to AAA now to test him.
-Nothing notable on offense besides an Ethan Wilson home run.

[andyb]

Matt with some interesting info for evaluating our Triple A players (and why Jake Cave may be a mirage)

I was curious as to why Jhailyn Ortiz got worse when he went down to AA to play 1B. Some could have been his disappointment at doing nothing wrong and getting demoted a level - but maybe the strike zone is a factor.

Clearly AAA is a good test of what the majors should do. Making the strike zone an inch or two bigger might be necessary. Batters might be able to zone in on pitches because they know the high strike won't be called at all (where it is 50-50 with live umps).

An automated strike zone paired with good hitters might need to be bigger if we want the same balance in the game.

[Austinfan]

It's complex, umpires can be manipulated by catchers who know how to frame, and they tend to cut young pitchers less slack on close calls, while favoring hitters who are established stars.

So the automatic strike zone will eliminate some of these biases, and both pitchers and hitters will adjust - no more nibbling hoping for a K zone six inches wider on one side of the plate, etc. Guys who can paint the corners will benefit, no more bad calls on borderline strikes. Hitters who have a good eye will also benefit, as they won't get false strikes on balls just outside or low or high. It'll help young pitchers and hurt some veterans.

[julio]