Discussion

LoneStarPhan 2018-04-11 02:28:12 UTC #62

Since coming home, he seems to be balancing the analytics with a feel for how the game is unfolding. Leaving Nola go 8 innings and not using the closer after the get the grand slam in the bottom of the 8th seemed like the right thing to do tonight. It's always great when it works as well as it did tonight in the 6-1 win over the Reds.

zambonir 2018-04-11 03:18:02 UTC #63

Yeah I wonder if he was reacting directly to the backlash, or to the realization that he didn't have the depth he thought he did, or if it's just different situations. Probably a little of both. Also they don't have nine arms and abundant off-days anymore.

Austinfan 2018-04-11 12:28:05 UTC #64

The first couple weeks Kapler may have wanted to make sure everyone in the pen got an inning or two, instead of sitting around for a week without pitching.

tom81 2018-04-11 13:24:29 UTC #65

So far Hernandez, Santana, and Hoskins have started every game. I bet tonight is the first game one or more get their first day not starting. They face a young starter with a 9 era so far this year and we have an off day tomorrow. It seems like a good game to rest some of them.

zambonir 2018-04-11 17:12:28 UTC #66

With the off day and three DH games coming up, not really necessary though. 10 straight games also coming up, even Florimon might get a start.

EDmuch 2018-04-11 17:17:27 UTC #67

Santana could use a day off it seems to me.

tom81 2018-04-11 18:20:20 UTC #68

Hoskins too, o-4 with 3 K’s yesterday.

donaldorc 2018-04-11 19:17:41 UTC #69

Don't sit Hoskins!!!!

zambonir 2018-04-11 19:33:54 UTC #70

Hoskins is in fact sitting today, for Kingery.

teabag259 2018-04-11 23:16:42 UTC #71

Is the game not on tv tonight?

zambonir 2018-04-11 23:29:58 UTC #72

Flyers and Sixers both on so maybe another streaming-only? Do they black out the MLB.TV free game?

phillychuck 2018-04-11 23:37:52 UTC #73

Game is WPHL in Philly and steaming free on MLB.tv.

EDmuch 2018-04-12 07:47:36 UTC #74

How is Sixto doing so far? Have not heard much about him.

Jeff05 2018-04-12 09:13:43 UTC #75

Matt Winkelman responded to such a query, yesterday, over at phuturephillies. I quote:

"Gelb reported on opening day that Sanchez was 10 days to 2 weeks behind opening day. We are at 7 days since opening day. Sanchez is throwing in the complex. They expect him to pitch 130-140 innings this season."

Hope this helps.

EDmuch 2018-04-12 14:41:54 UTC #76

Thanx.

mdougherty12 2018-04-12 23:32:49 UTC #77

Jeff Sullivan from Fangraphs on Nick Pivetta's improving curve ball:

zambonir 2018-04-13 05:32:48 UTC #78

By way of previewing the upcoming series - Tampa is now down to a three-man rotation. They are not old-school, but rather, even more new-school than Kapler. I assume we'll be facing all relievers on Sunday.

zambonir 2018-04-15 22:59:27 UTC #79

If the season ended right now the Phillies (and Braves) would be in the playoffs.

LoneStarPhan 2018-04-15 23:50:07 UTC #80

Indication of the strong NL East??

Probably not going to last, but better off to a good start than to a poor one. Still, I really do think the Phillies will have a good season and surprise many folks.

zambonir 2018-04-16 01:04:04 UTC #81

I mean, things are skewed not just because of the three teams we played, but because those teams, and several others, aren't even trying to win. So it was already pretty certain that the Phillies, especially post-Arrieta, were among MLB's 11th to 20th-best teams on Opening Day. Last year only 12 teams were even over .500, and all of the non-playoff teams in the AL were under .500.

If this rotation can perform like this in May and June they are serious wild card contenders for sure. If better competition catches up them, or some guys don't pan out (be it performance or injury), that 78-83 win target is still reasonable.