Phillies 2017 Spring Training Discussion

Philsmania 2017-02-14 15:40:26 UTC #1

Happy Baseball New Year! Let's keep talking Phillies Baseball!

julio 2017-02-14 15:46:12 UTC #2

Here's a nice start to the spring training discussion:

Zach Eflin is pain-free - for the first time in his baseball career. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do...

Austinfan 2017-02-14 16:59:04 UTC #3

I could actually seem him struggle for awhile, you suspect he didn't really use his legs the way you'd want due to the knees, so if he adjusts his motion to get more power out of his legs it may hurt his command for a while, but it could also add a couple MPH to his FB, which would put him in elite territory. Maybe the most interesting player to watch this spring.

julio 2017-02-14 17:00:28 UTC #4

He (Zach Eflin) is certainly one of the most interesting!

julio 2017-02-14 17:11:22 UTC #5

No stragglers this year, apparently.

Nor among the prospects!

Philsmania 2017-02-14 17:19:49 UTC #6

As is the case in the NFL where voluntary minicamp isn't exactly voluntary, I don't think early reporting for ST in MLB is exactly voluntary either. I think the unwritten rule is that everyone is expected to have been there by now. The absence of certain players is more noteworthy than who's there. My only question is that with all the stuff that the early reporting position players do (batting practice, fielding practice, etc.), does that get in the way of the work pitchers and catchers have to do before the rest of the squad starts working out?

andyb 2017-02-14 17:31:18 UTC #7

Galvis was just in the Caribbean World Series last week so no hurry for him getting in camp. Cesar also just settled his arbitration favorably so likely no problem there though also maybe he thinks the Phillies should have talked to him about something longer term (not what Herrera got, but I wonder if a 2 or 3 year deal would have been good for both sides).

andyb 2017-02-15 15:11:10 UTC #8

Philly.com updates:
Knapp seems to have first shot at the backup catcher role and they also are going to play him some at 1B this Spring. Apparently they did that a bit last year but are more serious about it this year.

Also, Galvis has a groin injury from the Caribbean Series and will skip the WBC. Either way Crawford will still get lots of starts and Galvis should have plenty of time to recover for the season, especially since he really does not need much Spring Training.

DurhamBull 2017-02-15 17:10:23 UTC #9

The article also mentions that Knapp played some 1B in college so the position is not entirely new to him.

andyb 2017-02-15 17:14:02 UTC #10

Realistically I don't think Knapp against RHP with the platoon advantage will be better than Joseph without the platoon advantage. I think this would be more important in being able to keep Knapp in a game on a double switch after he pinch hits. They might only do that 5-10 times a year, but if it lets them pinch hit Knapp more, especially in an extra inning game it is worth doing.

At the moment I assume Kendrick or Coghlan are more likely to get 1B starts when Joseph is rested. And if he is injured they would be more likely to promote Hoskins if Hoskins is playing well at AAA.

andyb 2017-02-15 20:40:37 UTC #11

So apparently we chose Tyson Gillies over Saunders...

Philsmania 2017-02-20 15:24:36 UTC #12

I guess it's been a quiet spring.

Austinfan 2017-02-20 18:17:49 UTC #13

It's hard to get excited about the typical "fluff" stories.
Once the games start we'll see if the fluff is turning into reality, like if Williams actually doesn't swing at pitches outside the strike zone.

Patchmk88 2017-02-20 18:21:40 UTC #14

What does everyone think about Eflin's knee swelling? Is this typical months after surgery?

donaldorc 2017-02-20 19:00:36 UTC #15

I'm a little nervous about it. Seems that there are stories every year like this. "Nothing to worry about" and after a few disastrous starts, the pitcher is shut down. I hope it is nothing to worry about because I am a big Eflin fan, but I am skeptical.

andyb 2017-02-20 20:22:15 UTC #16

At least Eflin was not slated to be in the rotation anyway. If they hold him back on the DL for a few weeks at the start of the season it might even help get others needed innings in LHV.

nycphils 2017-02-21 00:52:45 UTC #17

I think the bench will be Blanco, Altherr, Knapp, Stasi and Coghlin. Not much power, but plenty of versatility.

Austinfan 2017-02-21 00:54:33 UTC #18

They all have enough pop for a bench role, I mean 40 HR hitters don't ride the bench unless they really struggle to make contact, in which case they have limited value as pinch hitters in most situations.

nycphils 2017-02-21 01:11:10 UTC #19

Would like to see a pen of Neris, Ramos, Benoit, Appel, Gomez, Asher and Rodriguez. Lots of hard throwers and K potential in that group - basically all except Jenmar and Asher.

I realize that would leave Neshek as the odd man out - maybe they can swing a deal. I'd rather see what Appel can do out of the pen.

donaldorc 2017-02-21 10:14:45 UTC #20