2017 Season Phillies News/Notes/General Discussion

[julio]

Meghan Montemurro (M_Montemurro)

[Squire]

Very odd choice IMO.

[julio]

Very odd choice IMO.

Who did you want instead - considering that they wanted a relief pitcher?

[allentown]

Beato is the hot hand, with 11 scoreless IP in July.

[zambonir]

And some guys probably need haircuts.

[tom81]

Feeling like we aren't going to finish with the worst record in baseball. We've got an actual outfield now.

We also have a much easier schedule the rest of the way than the Giants. We play only 17 more games against teams with a winning record, SF plays 34.

[Austinfan]

Unless there's a clear cut #1, we may be better off at #2 or #3 depending on overslot demands.

[zambonir]

It's never better to have a lower pick, given how the money works. But it's not the end of the world in the new system.

[andyb]

If there is a Bryce Harper I draft him #1 and then go all senior $5,000 bonus if I have to. It would not get that extreme but there is just no substitute for the best player. Going underslot with Moniak looks less wise in hindsight.

[allentown]

Unless there's a clear cut #1, we may be better off at #2 or #3 depending on overslot demands

No! Even if there is not a clear #1 it's a plus to know that our scouts have the opportunity to take the guy they like best. It also gives the largest pool for signing draftees and the tactical advantage of having the first picks on all three days and with that the ability to lock a guy down before we make our pick. If overslot demands mean the 'best' guy wants to much, the team with the 1.1 can always choose to save $ for later rounds by taking the second or third 'best', or at least costliest, guy as arguably we did with Moniak. That leaves the guys picking 1.2 and 1.3 with the quandary of either taking the expensive guy, hamstringing their budget for the rest of the draft, or possibly taking the 4th 'best' prospect. All of the flexibility and bargaining power, as well as the biggest budget, reside with the owner of the 1.1. That team gets to set the draft. The teams at 1.2 and 1.3 must react, as best they can.

[zambonir]

This shouldn't be a debate. No serious person should argue it's better to draft second. But I don't think anyone is arguing the Phillies should actively try to lose games to preserve the top pick either. Que sera, sera.

Bottom line, in June, Aaron Altherr and the #1 pick looked like the only good things about this season. Two months later, there are four or five good things (add Williams, Nola's return, Herrera coming around) and maybe more to come and they will pick where they pick.

And some of it may have been strength of schedule all along.

[Austinfan]

The top guy is rarely the best guy in a draft. There's only a few years with an uber talent that's an obvious choice.
Ask Houston!
So sometimes you're better off not having to be so smart.

The real point is if there isn't an uber talent, in baseball, it's not a big deal, if you scout well, you'll get a good player.
It's not the NFL where it's QB or bust (but JJ Watt went #11), or the NBA.
it's more like hockey where a McDavid matters, but Flyers are probably just as happy with Patrick as they would be with Nico.

[zambonir]

But you are ignoring the pool. And the fact that it's not just the top pick, it's every round.

Obviously if there was a magical way to draft the best guy 3rd (or 22nd) and consistently sign the best guys for less money than the teams with more money, that'd be good.

I mean, if we're at the grocery store and I have $5 and you have $10 I might,thriftily and judiciously, buy better food than you. But if I'm that good at grocery-shopping I could probably spend the $10 better too.

[nycphils]

Who did you want instead - considering that they wanted a relief pitcher?

I'd rather see Rios. Beato is older and not a guy worth auditioning.

[Austinfan]

It's not about auditioning right now, it's about winning games.
You have a young team that's tasting some success, you'd like that to continue.
And Rios just got promoted to Lehigh, they may not feel he's ready and don't want to rush him (see Ramos).
In fact, if Ramos or Pinto show progress, they're the most likely to get promoted if Beato is a fail.
I think they want to let Leiter start before deciding his future is in the pen.

[Austinfan]

Something to watch, Thompson pitched 5 shutout innings, but his FB velocity averaged only 90, down from around 92 in his previous starts.
Is he taking something off it to command it better, or is he pitching hurt?

[julio]

Who did you want instead - considering that they wanted a relief pitcher?

I'd rather see Rios. Beato is older and not a guy worth auditioning.

I can understand that, but Yacksel Rios has pitched all of 8.2 innings in AAA. He's been good, and he was very good in AA as well - but I suspect they want him to have more time in AAA before they promote him.

In that sense, Beato isn't "auditioning." He's filling out the roster, while they keep Rios at the level they thing he belongs at, for the time being at least.

If Rios keeps pitching the way he has this season, he will be added to the 40-man roster this winter.

[julio]

In fact, if Ramos or Pinto show progress, they're the most likely to get promoted if Beato is a fail.

Ramos or Pinto might well have been the choice today, if either of them were available, but they're not; Ramos is on the 7-day DL, and Pinto is ineligible to be recalled until August 4th (10-day rule).

[bigegypt0417]

Unless there's a clear cut #1, we may be better off at #2 or #3 depending on overslot demands.

what?

I have no clue what world you live in where picking first is not better.

[bkox]

The difference between #1 and #2 meant almost 500K more money this year. Between #1 and #3 was close to $2M.... You seem to be forgetting that