Phillies Off-Season 2024-2025 (Part 2 including Spring Training)

[Austinfan]

I meant gamble for us. Didn't work out, but didn't cost anything and worth the roster spot to find out if he could bounce back.

That's seems to be a strategy for them, find veteran pitchers on waivers, minor league deals with options, etc., stash them in Lehigh and see if your pitching coaches can salvage them. Guys coming off TJ, etc. or other injury that explains an offseason.

Hit big time with Hoffman, value with Ruiz, etc.
Most will be cannon fodder in AAA, but only have to hit on one or two a year.

[andyb]

It is not as if this is a unique strategy though. Every team looks for pitchers on the rebound. The rule 5 clock on college pitchers lasts 4 full seasons and if they have TJ surgery at some point they have to be cast aside by their first organization if they are only an average talent.

It is hard to assess whether the Phillies are good at this or not. They have had some success in recent years, but I suspect most organizations have developed a pitcher or two every year from the scrap pile.. It is just not unique when everybody does it.

[Austinfan]

Didn't say it was unique for them.

They are more aggressive about it than in the past, where their AAA team seemed to be filled with more minor league veterans with limited upside.

Though with pitchers there is a balance, you need some "soft throwers" who may not have ML potential but who can eat innings so you don't overwork the rest of your AAA staff.

[andyb]

They are more aggressive about it than in the past, where their AAA team seemed to be filled with more minor league veterans with limited upside.

Have you looked at the age of the AAA minor league staff? They may be smarter than in the past (not really proven), but they are not doing anything different than most other minor league teams.. They really are not more aggressive than they have been in the past. Big difference is having 5+ decent starters at the major league level.

[Austinfan]

Most of the "older" guys are hard throwers.
Basically if you're looking for a ML RP, you want 95+ and one good secondary pitch.

Back of the pen guys can get by with 92-94 and two pitches b/c they'll be throwing multiple inning in mostly meaningless innings (ahead, behind by 5 runs, etc.)

One reason I doubt they see Walker as a viable bullpen option is he shows no tendency to add velocity in short stints.

[dcsman]

Today is Opening Day! One of the best days of the year. Go Phils!

[zambonir]

Time for a new thread. (And a game thread!)

[andyb]

Tough lefty starter today. Do we stick with both Kepler and Marsh in the lineup? Rojas not playing much CF yet probably means we will. We will have a whole bunch of left-handed hitters (5) in the lineup in that case: Kepler, Marsh, Stott, Harper, Schwarber.

[zambonir]

Whatever happened to Edmundo Sosa, OF?

But yeah, in addition to not having many other options, they need to back up their supposed commitment to letting both those LHB OFs face lefties.

[phillychuck]

The heck with backing up a commitment that was made b/c their other options were weak. It's OK today because Gore has reverse splits (maybe because the average LHB he faces is better than the average RHB, but, still...). But lets get a righty or two in the games vs LHP in the future...

[zambonir]

But it's not a commitment they made to the players, it's a commitment they made as a front office find out if the players can actually do it. And the only way to do that is to let them face the LHPs. That has been the story with Marsh, in any case. Kepler they have already explicitly stated will play every day and there's no reason to think they don't mean it, considering Hays got the same treatment. But it's not that they're stuck playing the two LHBs because they picked Clemens over Kennedy, I think it's more that they picked Clemens over Kennedy because they want to play the two LHBs.

Rojas will get his days, and Wilson may ultimately give them "or two" but they don't have that now (and Stott is no less subject not playing against lefties, especially since they actually have an alternative there).

[andyb]

Just assuming they made the commitment to try them every day and Rojas is still not 100%. My guess beyond opening day is that Rojas will start against LHP and Kepler and Marsh will get their off days on a rotating basis. No Weston Wilson around to sit both of them anyway. We could pinch hit Sosa for them against a lefty reliever late and then slide him in the OF defensively.

[phillychuck]

Against a lefty with normal splits I'd like to see Sosa and Rojas get ABs for sure. You have to use your roster, and Thompson has actually been good at doing this. Marsh/Stott will probably only get 2 ABs (max) vs Gore anyway since starters are not going deep in March...

Would be nice to trade Clemens for a RHB that mashes lefties...

[donaldorc]

For what it’s worth, I just got my free MLB TV package from T Mobile. Unfortunately in the area where I live, games in DC will be blacked out!

[phillychuck]

Can't you use a vpn to get around that?

[zambonir]

I've found the system actually recognizes and blocks some VPNs. But not always. but not everybody has or is savvy about VPNs. And the VPN on my phone doesn't let you pick location.

[andyb]

Can't you use a vpn to get around that?

I guess on the computer. I am just too lazy and watch on the TV most of the time anyway.

I would pay extra to get the Nationals on my MLB package but they just don't let me. The Orioles and the Nationals are 2 of the 4 teams without a local DTC option this season. At least next year the Nationals are likely to be added to Monumental (which has the Caps and Wizards). For today I think I am scheduling a meeting at 4 PM this afternoon with some friends.

[Deadgmwalking]

How do you stream it on the TV? If you use a Roku you can start it on the laptop, hit the Windows key + K and cast your screen.

For a VPN, I like Tunnelbear. Works on Android and iOS as well.

[andyb]

I am just using the MLB app (Fire TV or Roku). Have not tried casting (because usually the Phillies don't require VPN for me).

[julio]