Phillies 2018 Season News/Notes/Discussion

[Philsmania]

Interesting to note, the Mets' starter for tonight, Drew Gagnon, is also making his ML debut.

Phillies vs. Mets | 07/10/18

[EastFallowfield]

Mets fans have already told me that they don't hit pitchers in their ML debuts. So both fanbases feel the same about that.

[Patchmk88]

This guy hasn't even been good in AAA. I'm still sure we'll struggle against him.

[Lawman]

Matt Breen (matt_breen)

[andyb]

The downside of needing the last roster spot for De Los Santos. Need to clear a spot now. Assume this would be short term for Cozens since he is really not good at a pinch hitting role (and still needs AAA at bats).

[zambonir]

Not exactly the solution to what ails this bench, but it might only be for two or three weeks and Cozens (I assume he goes down before Valentin) should be playing every day in AAA.

(Ha jinx. I reckon they either dump a reliever or expose Walding, though you could probably put Eickhoff on the 60 too.)

[andyb]

Eickhoff makes sense if he is not on the 60. And then if Florimon gets healthy he could get his spot back from Plouffe if he does not add much (and I am not expecting much).

[zambonir]

Oh, right, Eickhoff was already moved to the 60. They could put Crawford on there I guess, but that would take him to August 20th or so. So probably Walding or reliever. My guess is Plouffe will be long out of the picture by the time either Florimon or Crawford come back.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Can minor league players be placed on a 60 day list? Can Quinn be placed on it until he is healthy enough to play? I can not think of a current situation in which a minor league player who was on the DL was transferred to a 60 dl list, so it may only be allowable for those earning service time and a big league salary. If this is the case than the Phillies wouldn't want to consider moving him to it.

[Patchmk88]

It’s Holby Milner

[andyb]

At least he made more than $6,000 being on the roster for a double-header. Pretty sure he will clear waivers.

[zambonir]

Ah, so Plouffe is already in Queens (or will be before the 9 innings are over).

[zambonir]

This Murphy column highlights the fact that when you're busy getting frustrated by your own team, you're oblivious to what other teams are like.

He's all for getting Machado but suggests a pitcher might be needed more. And his argument below suggests that getting someone who is merely solid for 3B or RF might not be necessary (though I think a bench upgrade would still be fine).

The Phillies need another starter. Could he be pitching tonight? | David Murphy

the Phillies lineup is fine. There are worse lineups that have made the playoffs, or won a division, or even advanced to the World Series. And before you consider that damning, I’d suggest that the praise itself is too faint. After yesterday’s doubleheader split against the Mets, six of the eight regulars in the Phillies lineup boasted an OPS+ of at least 107. As a refresher, OPS+ is a metric that takes a player’s on-base percentage and slugging percentage and weighs them against league-wide performance so that 100 is the average. For instance, Rhys Hoskins has an OPS+ of 126, which means he has been 26 percent better at reaching base and hitting for extra bases than the average hitter.

So six of the eight regulars in the Phillies lineup have been at least 7 percent better than league average this year. That’s good. Very good, actually. The only team in Phillies history that has finished a season with at least six players who had at least 400 plate appearances and an OPS+ of at least 107 was that famed 1892 bunch. The 2007-10 Phillies each had five such players.

Now, in 2018, they have six. In the National League, only the Dodgers and the Cubs also field a lineup with six such regulars.

[BostonRoss]

But they are only average in runs per game. Their pitching is above average, but not dominant. Since the Phillies are contenders, they should try to make a move or two to improve, and it seems there is more room for improvement on the offensive side.

[David_Criss]

It’s Holby Milner

I know he didn't have the best MLB numbers, and is pretty limited to facing LH batters, but with Walding on the 40-man, I was/am somewhat surprised they didn't just recall Walding or DFA him over Milner for Pouliffe if they believe the man hitting .240 at AAA this year after hitting below the mendoza line last year is the bench answer.

I hope he is. He has power and the experience. We shall see.

[tom81]

We have one black hole offensively on this team, SS. Kingery OPS+ 65 and Valentin OPS+ 62. There might be some help internally with Crawford OPS+ 76 and Florimon OPS+ 117 if they come off the DL and btw Florimon is a OPS+ 63 for his career.

The position to improve is obvious and the guy who has the highest OPS+ that plays SS, 164, is probably available to the highest bidder. Oh well.

[Austinfan]

I don't want to pay the cost of Machado as a rental, and I don't believe any player who says they might sign, just look at Tavares and the Islanders, told them he didn't want to be traded last year, might resign and now they're left with nothing.

Philadelphia is not a prime destination for high profile free agents in any sport, and money doesn't really make these decisions because there are always 3 or 4 teams that can pay top dollar (unless you want to make a stupid overpay).

It's much easier for Philadelphia teams to grow their own, then resign them after they develop a taste for playing here. And I think it develops more cohesive teams, more loyalty and continuity.

Some patience is required with the current team, Kingery, Crawford have upside, Franco may be coming around, at some point Alfaro may learn how to use his elite tools, and Knapp is learning to hit. Williams seems to have turned the corner. One good reason to stick with these kids is the current coaches seem to have a good feel for teaching them how to work a count and get pitches to hit.

Given the young pitchers in the pipeline, De Los Santos, Anderson, Kilome, Medina, Sanchez, Romero, etc. pitching should continue to improve the next few years. So they just need a good, but not great, offensive team.

[phillychuck]

Apparently Machado has told friends that the Yanks are by far his preferred destination, so the heck with him.

[Lawman]

Apparently Machado has told friends that the Yanks are by far his preferred destination, so the heck with him.

That could help us. NYY are in the market for starting pitching. If they trade for Machado, presumably to play SS, that would make Didi Gregorius expendable.

He's hit 15 HR with a slash line of .261/.324/.462/.786 and an OPS+ of 111. That's an upgrade over what we have now at that position - maybe there's a deal to be made there.

[zambonir]

The Machado market will take care of itself. The Phillies are clearly doing the same thing they did with the FA market, letting it come to them. If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen. I don't think they should outbid the Yankees/Dodgers as things currently stands but who knows what those teams will really offer?

I don't think Cashman would let go of Gregorius this year. Probably wouldn't even let Baltimore have him. Same reason we shouldn't trade Crawford until Machado's actually on the team long-term.

If Machado's really dreaming of long-term life in the Bronx it's Klentak's job to know that. I'd still trade for him as a rental - at a rental price.