Phillies 2018 Season News/Notes/Discussion

[EastFallowfield]

In case you haven't noticed, the Phils will be one of the teams on this week's "Only On Facebook" Debacle for the 3rd time in 6 opportunites, so we lead the majors in something.

[California_Dreamin]

I mentioned a couple of years ago that I thought Herrera would win a batting title before he was done playing and I still believe it. Truth be told, we may be witnessing the growth of a player who will someday be considered one of the better hitters in Phillies annuals. He is that talented, still young and learning about the advantages of patience.

Interesting that many viewed him as a complimentary piece to a future talent laden team featuring Hoskins, Kingery, Crawford and Alfaro. Might still be the case but if so this means that future Phillie teams are going to be quite talented because Herrera is headed for a very, very impressive career if he stays healthy. The guy is right before our very eyes becoming a 5 tool player.

[Philsmania]

In case you haven't noticed, the Phils will be one of the teams on this week's "Only On Facebook" Debacle for the 3rd time in 6 opportunites, so we lead the majors in something.

The problem is that the Phillies are in that worst kind of grey area with regard to these Facebook games. They have a big enough fan following to draw eyeballs to Facebook. But, at the same time, as a team that's not expected to be a contender, their game is not a marquee game that a traditional broadcaster would have to sacrifice.

[zambonir]

It is, I think, equally instructive to note that it has taken Herrera four years to become a star, if in fact that's the case. And it's also taken Hernandez three years to fully develop. It won't be practical for the Phillies to wait on all their young players to go through that curve, assuming they all need it (some of them will move faster and some might not succeed at all), which is why we could be watching a different SS (or 3B) or C or RF next year too.

The Facebook games are taken away from local broadcasters, not national broadcasters, they are always weekday day games.

[andyb]

Has Leiter appeared in any rehab games?

Leiter pitched 1 scoreless inning for Clearwater on Sunday. Assume they want to stretch him out a bit and get him to LHV, so probably 10-14 days away.

[xogfog]

This has been a nice run for the rotation, outside of Pivetta's start vs. the Nats, the other of the last 8 starts have all been very good.

[LoneStarPhan]

We know that all pitchers will hit rough spots during the season, but I am very encouraged by the starting pitching so far this season. The bullpen has also performed well in most games. Also encouraging is the fact that there are several more pitchers either at AAA or on the DL that may come on to fill in as needed as some wear down or get hurt as the long season progresses.

[gmwannabe]

i think hoskins needs a rest. give him a seat to watch some games. Looking A Kiku's game by game final statistics, for the past few weeks, his numbers are dropping like a sick chicken. even Larry Anderson said last night, after one of his K's, that it looks like hoskins has changed something from last year. he doesn't look the same. he mentioned change of launch angle in his swing. is this the phils that changed this in him? i remember kapler talking a lot about launch angle in the spring. he also seems to be taking a lot of pitches down the middle. Again, the phils new saber stuff? let him go back to his old approach.
gm

[Philsmania]

i think hoskins needs a rest. give him a seat to watch some games. Looking A Kiku's game by game final statistics, for the past few weeks, his numbers are dropping like a sick chicken. even Larry Anderson said last night, after one of his K's, that it looks like hoskins has changed something from last year. he doesn't look the same. he mentioned change of launch angle in his swing. is this the phils that changed this in him? i remember kapler talking a lot about launch angle in the spring. he also seems to be taking a lot of pitches down the middle. Again, the phils new saber stuff? let him go back to his old approach.
gm

There weren't very many complaints about Hoskins being tinkered with when he got off to a blazing start this season. Rather, I think he is just in the first real slump of his career. Let's see him get through it.

[Philsmania]

Neshek suffers a setback. Now his elbow hurts.

Morgan says he felt fine after playing catch.

Hoskins gets a game off.

Phillies' reliever Pat Neshek, already on disabled list, setback by elbow injury

[LoneStarPhan]

Neshek might turn out to be the mid-season boost to the bullpen. If he can get back to the form he showed last season with the Phillies, it would be a huge boost.

It is nice to have enough arms that they seem to have good replacements in house to cover the injuries.

[julio]

Evidently the Phillies have liked what they've seen of Zach Eflin:

Philadelphia Phillies (Phillies)

[Philsmania]

Neshek might turn out to be the mid-season boost to the bullpen. If he can get back to the form he showed last season with the Phillies, it would be a huge boost.

I'll be surprise if he'll ever be that good again but if he can just be good, I'll be happy.

[zambonir]

Yeah I'm more inclined to pessimism regarding a double-injured 37 year-old pitcher coming off a great, high-inning (his most since 2014) season. He could easily be done, a la Tom Gordon or Mike Adams. Or maybe he'll just have an okay, low-wear partial season and have a lot next year.

[LoneStarPhan]

The Athletic has a spot about the Phillies use of shifts. They conclude that Phillies' opponents have a net gain of 11 base hits thanks to the shifts Kapler has used. Only the Phillies and the Dodgers have a net loss from shifts. We did see an out today in the ninth due to a shift, but I do recall a number of hits that look to me to be a routine out until I realize that the fielder I expect to be making a routine play was not in the normal place for his position.

Future trend or total fluke? Analyzing this season's defense...

[andyb]

Phillies seem to be warming to Walding. Florimon deserves his spot on the team so far, but ideal roster construction probably does not have 2 middle infield reserves once Crawford is back. No need to consider flipping Walding for Valentin now because of 40-man spots, but I could easily see a future where Kingery is sent down for a bit and Walding is more of a power threat off the bench.

Phillies prospect Mitch Walding looks 'like a major-league player'

Minor league note in the article after some note on LHPs - Ortiz should be out 2 more weeks at Lakewood.

[David_Criss]

Along with Lively being activated and optioned yesterday, Curtis was sent to AAA and Jake Thompson has been recalled.

[Austinfan]

Walding will probably spend the season in Allentown, he needs to show this is a sea change and not a SSS fluke.
They seem to be working with him and Cozens to make them more selective, and live with the Ks in return for power and OBP. Walding's walk rate has jumped, which suggests he's learning to lay off the pitches he can't hit.

Makes sense, you can only do so much to fix a swing, then you have accept a player is what he is and teach them to maximize their talent. Altherr made his big jump when he became more selective and focused on pitches he could drive, still Ks a lot but walks and hits the ball hard.

What is strange in the low minors are a lot of hitters with low BB rates, even though plate discipline and working counts seems to be an organizational philosophy. Wonder if there's some developmental thing going on, focusing on mechanics first, discipline second - or are the scouts screwing up?

[andyb]

Walding will probably spend the season in Allentown, he needs to show this is a sea change and not a SSS fluke.

2016 - Walding had an .812 OPS at Clearwater
2017 - Walding had an 842 OPS at Reading
2018 - Walding has a 922 OPS at Lehigh Valley.

He has been a little old for each level so there is a question of whether that is making it easier for him, but I would argue we are long past SSS territory and into trying to decide whether he'd be a useful part of the current major league bench. And he plays good defense so there definitely is a role for him playing the 4 corners including 3B where he could be a defensive replacement/LH option for Franco.

And they are not trying to "make" him selective. He has had strong walk rates at most of his minor league stops even when he played poorly. He is certainly learning the strike zone better like any minor leaguer, but more importantly he is learning to use his power in game while keeping his K rate at a reasonable level. It is not because he is more selective. It IS because he is using his tools better and the fact that he has those tools is important.

[Austinfan]

Walding BB/K
2015: Clearwater 10.4/25.4
2016: Clearwater 12.5/26.7
2017: Reading 11.0/31.7
2018: Lehigh 16.7/26.2

His improvement from 2015 to 2016 was mostly BABIP, .315 to .371, with some improvement in ISO
His BABIP came back to earth in Reading, but the power increase was real .160 to .279.
However, there was some ballpark effect, ISO .349 at home, .212 on the road.
This year the BABIP is up to .379, if .300 is his norm his numbers would be .228/.353/.450/.803.

I think he needs the full season in AAA ball.