Josh Harrison now playing for my old team (original season ticketholder back when it was Astros and AA)
Falter with his second consecutive good game for the Bucs--finished the last 6 innings of an "opener" game, 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 8Ks. Got the win.
Falter did well last season in the final months. I was somewhat surprised to see him traded in the deal that brought back a suprisingly unexciting utility player. I guess the Phillies figured that Falter would not help them this year and that he would not survive the roster construction this off season and would be lost then regardless.
I wonder if Falter had some mechanical issue. I saw him pitch in Worcester in June, and he looked dreadful, even warming up in the pen before the game. I never saw a catcher have to move around so much during warmups (and I saw Philippe Aumont warm up once...).
Noah Song update. Stretching him out as a starter in High A. Mixed results as expected. Arizona or other winter ball is still TBD.
Giants designate Johan Camargo in time for tonights game against the Phillies in favor of Paul Dejong
David Robertson blows his 3rd save since joining the Marlins. Saying it has not gone well for him in Miami is an understatement.
— Craig Mish ( @CraigMish ) August 26, 20231
I wonder what the data is like on deadline deals for late-inning relievers. You get them when they are on high, they've probably got some wear on them, and then they disappoint. I'm sure there plenty who don't, but thinking of Robertson the last two years, Kimbrel when he went to the White Sox (which was blamed on him not closing), even Ian Kennedy for us (though I don't think there was any illusions that he was a great closer).
Robertson still helped a lot last year and maybe he still will in Miami too though if they miss the playoffs it won't matter.
Also, Kimbrel has a blown save and 2 losses in the same time frame.
That would take a deep dive, research-wise. But, just looking at relievers in general the Phillies have had very mixed results in terms of trading for bullpen help at the deadline.
2001: Cook & Wendell both flopped badly
2003: Mike Williams flopped (though he wasn't having a good season to begin with).
2004: Todd Jones flopped but Francisco Rodriguez did well though his career declined sharply thereafter.
2005: No bullpen deadline acquistions execept maybe Urbina who was acquired in June and was mediorce.
2006: Phillies were sellers before getting hot in August.
2007: No bullpen deadline acquisitions
2008: Scott Eyre--that one worked out real well.
2009: No bullpen deadline acquisitions
2010: No bullpen deadline acquisitions
2011: No bullpen deadline acquisitions
2012-17: Phillies not in contention or were sellers
2018: Loup was mediocre but Avilan was pretty good.
2019: Jared Hughes was ok, Blake Parker was pretty much a flop.
2020: Hale, Workman, Hembree and Phelps all flopped.
2021: Kennedy pretty much flopped
2022: Robertson was pretty good but he began to look gassed in September and the price we paid to get him (Brown) just keeps rising.
Perhaps he needs to reinvent himself as a reliever? Came back from TJS but just wasn't the same thereafter.
I don't think relief will get him up to the high 90s again. All the time off and I imagine his body just got stiffer so he no longer had the flexibility to get his velocity back. Maybe some time off and a little personal training in the offseason could help for a new role, but really I think he has to figure out how to win throwing 94 as a starter and he never really had the great movement for that to be a great option. He had really good control, but good hitters can hit any pitch in the strike zone if it does not have great velocity or movement.
Red Sox prospect Noah Song today for High-A Greenville: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
— Christopher Smith ( @SmittyOnMLB ) August 30, 2023
sorry to see that. didn't the Phillies scout proclaim that Howard had the best fastball in that draft?
gm
When he peaked with the no-hitter in the playoffs he might have been the most promising pitching prospect in the minors. I would sign him again and see if the Phils' staff can get him back to doing what he was doing then.
Would love to see if Phils could do something to get Spencer on track. Gessner is still with Texas (Hickory) and Gowdy is now with Dodgers (Tulsa). Interestingly I am seeing Hickory @ Greensboro this week. Now I want to see Gessner pitch and Langford (# 4 overall pick) hit.
July 30, 2021: Texas Rangers traded RHP Hans Crouse, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Kyle Gibson and cash to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Spencer Howard, RHP Josh Gessner and RHP Kevin Gowdy.
This front office probably has no investment in Spencer Howard (and didn't when they traded him either). We gave it a go with Mark Appel and a few other teams did the same with Jesse Biddle but there's no reason pursue him as a minor leaguer next year any more or less than any other guy (and unlikely there is a place for him in Allentown or as one of the 180 currently).
The usual story from what I recall - mostly injuries, maybe he was rushed a little in spite of those injuries.
The (sad) irony is he was what allowed the Phillies to trade Sixto to some extent and neither of them worked out so far.
I don’t value him more than other AAAA types we seem to have at LV. Could be worth a shot, but don’t expect much. Felt the same for Hoffman / Ortiz and they have mostly been worth it.
Howard probably should have been converted to the bullpen a long time ago. His body and arm just could not handle throwing 98 with a starter's workload.
I know the new team has no ties to him, but he is also exactly the type of big arm reclamation project we take on all the time for bullpen roles. Minor league free agent contract. I'd think about it.