News of Phormer Phillies, 2023

[bkox]

Talk about a manager hanging a pitcher out to dry. I feel bad for Lively, everyone has bad games (maybe most of his are), but once a pitcher gives up double digit hits it isn't his fault after that.

agree with this. And he was having a decent season. 3.76 ERA and 1.209 WHIP in 11 starts. Tonights game blows up his ERA to 5.20

[zambonir]

Is he really a good defensive catcher? My recollection is he had an arm but wasn't great overall, just good so long as he had the bat. Phillies talked a lot about improving his pitch-framing but then they bailed on him.

And hopefully Marchan gives Stubbs competition next year.

Again (referencing other thread where it was suggested Phils should sign Segura if he took a minor league deal), teams have roster limits now. Would you cut Garcia at this point in the AAA season? (Friscia appears to be on development list so you could cut him first but Garcia would still be out of a job).

Of course if JT goes on the IL that's a whole other discussion.

And the Alfaro of old could have played OF or 1B for this team.

[Varjak]

The Braves will be Brad Hand's ninth MLB team. He'll become the first player in MLB history to play for every NL East team pic.twitter.com/QEh2ZSBV4w— Talkin’ Baseball (

@TalkinBaseball_

) August 1, 2023

There was a time when I really thought that would be accomplished by Bruce Chen.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

It's being reported that Curtis Mead (Tampa Bay Rays) is being called up to the big league team.

[Philsmania]

The Braves will be Brad Hand's ninth MLB team. He'll become the first player in MLB history to play for every NL East team pic.twitter.com/QEh2ZSBV4w— Talkin’ Baseball (

@TalkinBaseball_

) August 1, 2023

There was a time when I really thought that would be accomplished by Bruce Chen.

He was a Marlins tenure short. It's amazing to me that Chen actually had a 17 year career despite never being all that special. The consummate fifth starter, I guess. Also remarkable that he had a 17 year career and never threw a pitch in the Postseason.

[andyb]

Cole finally calls it quits:

Former Phillies star Cole Hamels retires from baseball

[bkox]

And that officially puts a wrap on the 2008 Phillies. All are now retired

[julio]

Well, it was 15 years ago. Relatively few major-league careers last that long.

[BostonRoss]

Maybe Jamie Moyer will try a comeback

[andyb]

Looks like the Red Sox will start Song in High A. Probably where he belongs. It will be fascinating to see whether he gets rule 5 protected next offseason.

Red Sox reacquire pitcher Noah Song, selected by Phillies in Rule 5 draft

[zambonir]

Yeah the article says he probably will, but if 29 teams couldn't imagine keeping him on their 40 through the off-season and for another 30-some days, they might risk exposing him. Clearly what all of MLB saw this summer was a guy even a bad team couldn't hide (and that being in MLB would have hurt him). Really depends a bit on what he does in the coming months as well as Boston's own roster needs

The article also says

he must serve one weekend a month and two weeks a year for the next 12 years.

But when this all started others said those weekend commitments can likely be deferred/combined into the off-season.

[bkeich]

My guess is Song has to show something. He hasn't really pitched enough for a team to use a 40 man spot on him, much less a 26 man spot. He is a little older and in low A (for now), so at the moment he isn't even a prospect.

I think the Phillies were really hoping his military commitment would give them another year of looking at him before they made a decision, but he ended up getting the waiver and honestly I think that made it clear they were most likely going to have to return him. They pushed the rules as far as they reasonably could.

Hope the kid does well.

[bkox]

We have recalled LHP Bailey Falter from the Major League taxi squad/Triple-A Indianapolis.

INF Vinny Capra has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

— Pittsburgh Pirates ( @Pirates ) August 5, 2023

[zambonir]

There's still a taxi squad?

[bkox]

There's still a taxi squad?

Yeah I thought that was strange too..

[zambonir]

It's actually pretty amazing we never hear a word about COVID, I know quite a few people who have gotten it this summer. I'm assuming MLB just doesn't test at all anymore, rather than, they let you still play if you're positive (which I don't agree with but get).

But either way, what is the purpose of the taxi squad and under what circumstances to they actually travel/play?

[bkeich]

I still remember how furious everyone was that he was traded. His career hasn't gone well, but apparently he is crushing the ball in AAA this year. Maybe he can have a good late career and justify our sadness.

Former top prospect Singleton returns to Astros

[andyb]

I do feel a little sorry for him. It really was not an outrageous contract he signed (much less than the Kingery one). He just did not handle the pressure that well. Maybe the entry level contracts in other sports are better for young players (NFL, NHL, NBA) because they take all the contract negotiations away for 3-5 years.

Singleton was not a huge contract guy out of the draft (overslot but not massive for an 8th round pick). Most players in his situation would have taken the money. Hope he does well in his late career resurrection.

[bkox]

Shocked to see Schilling on this list even if they are honoring the 93 team

#Phillies announced the following attendees for Alumni Day on Sunday, when they will salute the 1983 and 1993 teams: pic.twitter.com/S1YMhySbBL

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) August 9, 2023

[zambonir]

Yeah it had been reported he was coming, unlike the other two troublemakers (Mitch and Lenny).

"Local alumnus," ouch.

Rolen Day is 9/22 I believe, I haven't ruled that one out.