News of Phormer Phillies, 2021

[bkox]

Honestly if I were the Rangers I would have seen what had gone on in Philly and had him start in the minors to build confidence. Have more to say but cat just climbed on my chest​

Agreed. I was shocked to see they kept him in the majors. He needs time to build strngth and confidence. I would have sent him down and not brought him back until next season.

[zambonir]

The cat climbed on the chest of you, a cat?

Completely agree though. I mean, they are not playing for anything and I'm sure they wanted the major league staff to work with him but even if you don't think there's anything wrong with him mentally the arm's not there.

[bkox]

39 months … 0 arrests of Lenny Dykstra. #Winning

— Lenny Dykstra ( @LennyDykstra ) August 23, 2021

[bkox]

Maikel Franco has been DFA'd by the Orioles

[BaseballCat]

All my cats are social, but this one after we rescued him bonded intensely with me. Almost every night he would snuggle on my chest and sleep for thirty minutes. Does it less now, but often does it when I am on my iPad as I am going to bed or waking up so very hard to type when there is a cat on your chest with its head nestled under your chin. I love my cats and baseball - thus the name. With classes going back on campus, I have rebound neediness!!

Since there are no cats at work, I can type. I think Howard can be a pretty good pitcher once his shoulder totally heals and confidence and workload is built up. The Rangers wanted to show him off thinking the problem was only geography. If we had done this trade in reverse, fans would be onset with the outcome - which would put more pressure on Howard. Now if you send him down, it may affect him more. I still think he can be at least a 3rd starter if he can reset. I would have loved it if happened with the Phils, but I always root for exPhils unless they were an _ss to me as a fan in the minors. Usually this is not a problem.

[zambonir]

Jonah Heim, Dane Dunning, Spencer Howard all added to COVID IL. Curtis Terry sent down, Leody Taveras called up.

Ryan Dorow, Jake Latz and Hyeon-jong Yang will be the replacements on the roster.

— Levi Weaver ( @ThreeTwoEephus ) August 24, 2021

Spencer Howard keeping up the Phillies Way and the Texas Way simultaneously.

[gmwannabe]

i had the opportunity to attend a Lancaster Barnstormer game last evening. Blast from the past. i think someone mentioned it before but Kelly Dugan is playing on the team (CD's old buddy). he had at least 3 hits including a HR deep over the RC field wall. Can't believe his will be turning 31 this year.
gm

[Philsmania]

If Howard is counted among the unvaccinated, it may be fair to ask if he is one of those ten-cent head guys.

[Philsmania]

Speaking of cats...

I think that can be updated to 17-3 and 0-19.

[zambonir]

heehee, where's that from?

[Philsmania]

heehee, where's that from?

Saw it on the "Baseball Talk" Facebook group.

[bkox]

Asdrubal Cabrera was picked up on waivers by the Reds. D-Backs put him on, giving him a chance to play in the playoffs.

— Jon Heyman ( @JonHeyman ) August 27, 2021

[zambonir]

We probably should have claimed him!

[BostonRoss]

We probably should have claimed him!

That trick never works.

[bkox]

We probably should have claimed him!

DId you miss the part about giving him a chance to play in the playoffs?

[zambonir]

Hahaha. But neither he nor Arizona actually get any say in that!

Not that he's better than Miller (or Galvis) anyway.

[zambonir]

Under Farhan Zaidi, the Giants’ president of baseball operations, the team likes to take advantage of players’ strengths and matchups against an opponent, so Ruf has found playing time at first base, left field and right. He was hitting .275 with 14 home runs and a team-leading .939 on-base plus slugging percentage in 96 games through Saturday.

The Giants Have a Handshake for Every Homer

We should also be so lucky as to get this kind of late-career production from JT (if he stays at catcher), or a comeback from Didi next year.

[DurhamBull]

We should also be so lucky as to get this kind of late-career production from JT (if he stays at catcher), or a comeback from Didi next year.

Or Darin Ruf!

[zambonir]

Well yeah. It's less clear whether the Giants worked any miracles with Ruf, or if it was more the three years in Asia. Other than their judicious use of him, which the Phillies haven't really had the luxury of doing with their older players this season with all the injuries (and failed youngsters).

Is Ruf actually a better defender than Hoskins or is he just able to play RF and LF on a limited basis?

I'm always skeptical when people think a new hitting coach can fix a player (or a team); I think what that article shows is, this can actually happen, but it's about the organization, not any specific coach. Of course the Giants are also exhibit A for that with regards to the manager.

[bkox]

Wilson Ramos suffered a torn ACL and sprained MCL in yesterday’s game, ending his season.

— Mandy Bell ( @MandyBell02 ) August 30, 2021