News of Phormer Phillies, 2023

[gmwannabe]

yes a shame for O'Hoppe. the kid has had a very nice start to his major league career. even if he were not injured, I am starting to come around on this trade. If marsh can keep up this success, this trade will be a great one for both teams.
gm

[Patchmk88]

Damn have him on my Dynasty team.

[arpax]

Vinnie V with a gem today. 3 straight wins for Velasquez

[DurhamBull]

I’m glad Velasquez is still pitching! It’s too bad that both leagues have the DH now. He was a great secret weapon as a good hitting pitcher for the Phillies.

[bkox]

Kyle Gibson 4-0 3.60 ERA in his first 5 starts

[bkeich]

... and a pretty good LF/RF

[Philsmania]

Ironically, Velasquez's FIP--which was always something of his (and Pivetta's) calling card with the Phillies--is markedly worse than his ERA (4.13 vs. 3.76). Speaking of which, we don't seem to hear as much about FIP anymore, do we? Was it a fad stat?

[Aquapong]

Logan O’Hoppe needs surgery on a torn labrum on his non throwing shoulder. Too bad for the kid, looks like a lost or mostly lost season.

[kmc1019]

It's sad that David Robertson has seemed to pitch well for every team he has played for EXCEPT for the Phillies. Ben Brown is off to a great start at AA for the Cubs and may make this trade look really one-sided eventually. So far:
15 IP
7 H
22 K
0.60 ERA
...which is more or less where he picked up last year. Could easily be in the bigs later this year.

[Philsmania]

I'm so sick of the "Robertson stole the Phillies money" narrative we hear with much of the fanbase. He got hurt at the beginning of his first tour of duty here and when rest did not heal his elbow, the inevitable surgery wiped out his second season. He did not pitch poorly in his second tour of duty here, he unquestionably helped them make the Postseason.

[zambonir]

I suspect the reason he cost them a pretty good prospect last year was his cut-rate bounce-back salary as much as his performance with the Cubs. And yeah - he wasn't great, but they needed him. He helped. Did he have a few bad innings in the post-season? Yeah but so did Alvarado.

Maybe he would have also pitched better in October if not for the celebration injury.

[David_Criss]

2 former Phillies in the news today.

Didi Gregorius Signs With Mexican League's Algodoneros de Unión Laguna

Didi signs with a team in Mexico
Jake Diekman designated by White Sox

White Sox Designate Jake Diekman, Franklin German; Select Alex Colomé, Sammy...

[andyb]

Lots of former Phillies minor leaguers still active:

5/9/23 : Former Phillies now playing in Independent Pro Leagues

Best part is the first name on the list, Daniel Brito with Charleston in the Atlantic league. He is actually playing a bit. 5 games, 2-12, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 SB. It is not much but nice to see. I guess it is not surprising he could not continue with the Phillies once his rehab was over, but great to see him out there.

[gmwannabe]

Thanks for showing Andy. great news on Brito. shame though on his career. I think the kid was on the brink of making it to the show. Also see Cornelius Randolph in the article. one of the best 1st round draft picks the Phils made in the last 25 years.
gm

[bkox]

Hard to believe how many names are on that list that just continue on year after year. And hard to believe Kelly Dugan is 33 years old now.

[zambonir]

Jered Eickhoff! The whole list, really. Definitely click if you haven't.

I think for most of these guys there is just no downside to doing it. A few might still be fooling themselves. Others probably have enough modest financial security to do it for fun. And the rest either have good career options or bad career options awaiting them, but why rush to do either? If they are good you have the luxury of putting it off; if they are bad, the pay and conditions of Indy baseball is no worse.

[andyb]

Ben Lively sighting. First time since before the pandemic.

Reds Designate Luis Cessa, Select Ben Lively

[Philsmania]

Pivetta back to being Pivetta.

Just imagine if any Yankees player acted like Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta

[BostonRoss]

I used to read articles from that Yankee site before I got better at moderating my news feed. The discussion on that site make us look like the Algonquin Round Table.

I wonder what it's like to be a fan of a "legendary and historic franchise." During hard times (and I guess missing 13 straight World Series might qualify for a Yankee fan even though I have been through that more than once in every sport), would I become obsessed with a rival team so much that I would try to make fun of them any chance I got?

Nah, I wouldn't. In the cellar with a winning record. LOL.

[BostonRoss]

Mickey Moniak is back up with the Angels.