Minor League Games - Wednesday, August 7, 2019

[bkeich]

Given Harper, the question will be whether both Haseley and Moniak are productive enough at the plate to justify not putting some big masher in LF. If they are, then being "over-qualified" defensively shouldn't be seen as a negative! If they're not - if one or both of them appear to have enough offense to justify starting in CF (given defensive needs), but not enough to justify not playing somebody like Jay Bruce in LF, then one of 'em should be traded for something of need.

That is basically what I am saying, that both Moniak and Haseley are more "defensive" than you want in LF, and less "offensive". They may not have the bat to maintain LF, but there are times you have to go with what you have.

[andyb]

I kind of like it now when we roll out an OF of Haseley, Quinn, and Harper. We are covering the gaps really well with that lineup.

[bkeich]

So for those of you that took exception with me saying it was a surprise that Haseley was succeeding... (BE, Andy)

You honestly expected a guy with 78 plate appearances in AAA to have a near league average .767 OPS? If so, what we were waiting on? This is surprising performance in my opinion, clearly. Could he have done it in another year or two, likely yes, but to have this success this year is a surprise. Not immensely, but I honestly expected a near .600 OPS and good defense.

Keep in mind Haseley started the year in AA, and we were not really even hoping to see him this year, just hoping he would succeed and maybe get to AAA. Maybe, maybe, a September call up and looksy, but not that he would be our starting CF in the middle of a playoff race.

He didnt seem like he was ready, but clearly (so far) he was.

[andyb]

I think he has consistently hit when you normalize for small sample sizes. And everyone is supposed to show a little more power in AAA and the majors because of the new baseballs.

I have actually been criticized for saying his ceiling was still TBD between a 4th OF and an average regular with defense in CF being the really big factor. If his CF defense is only a little below average, he helps the Phillies even if he is a bit below the average regular level because he is here and does not cost the extra prospects and money a veteran would cost.

As to experience, low floor guys tend to move fast. The Reading slow start was more the aberration and tailing off in his first season at Lakewood was probably fatigue. Andrew Benintendi skipped AAA and while he was a better prospect than Haseley, the level of readiness from playing at a top college program was similar.

I also fully expect some dropoff the second time around the league. It happens to most players and Haseley still needs to learn the strike zone more (as most rookies do). When the expectations are not greatness, but simply competence, Haseley is the exact type of player who can quickly fit in under those circumstances.

One small thing on the surprise factor - I did not think it was 100% likely that he could do this well. I'd have put it a little better than 50% though. Williams should be a 750-800 OPS bat too so it does not always work out.

[bigegypt0417]

So for those of you that took exception with me saying it was a surprise that Haseley was succeeding... (BE, Andy)

I didn't take exception...I just said I wasn't really that surprised based on what we drafted...Haseley in my mind was drafted with a higher floor and a lower ceiling. He's hitting ok for a 23 year old college player who had a hit tool when drafted. There is still work t be done but he's done about what I'd expect at this point.