17: Phillies (Pivetta) @ Dodgers (Ryu)

Lucky_Beagle 2017-04-30 21:05:55 UTC #1

The Phillies scored in the top of the first on a rbi hit by Galvis (is he the new #2 hitter?) (Let's hope not as today it can be justified by Herrera being on the bench and Nava hitting 3rd and Altherr 5th) Anyways the same probably as last night continues...leaving runners on base due to the lack of hitting with runner's in score position. After a Nava walked put runners on 1 And 2nd with no outs the next 3 hitters made out.

It didn't take Nick Pivetta long to give up a run in his major league debut. As a matter of a fact he gave up a run before he got an out. A leadoff double followed by 2 singles plated a run. He then got out of the inning with his first K (Gonzalez) and a DP.
The Dodgers took the lead on a lead off HR in the 2nd Taylor (no wonder Utley doesn't get a lot of playing time)

Patchmk88 2017-04-30 22:26:21 UTC #2

And this series reminds us that the Phillies just aren't that good.

Lucky_Beagle 2017-04-30 23:42:00 UTC #3

Pivetta gives up 2 runs in 5 innings. The call to the pen results in 3 runs in 2 innings off Gomez. Herrera hits a 2 run HR in the 9th before Jenson comes into finish off a 5-3 game and the sweep for the Dodgers.

zambonir 2017-04-30 23:47:01 UTC #4

The lefty/righty book was also not working for the bats quite as well today.

And no, they're not that good, but the line between a .450 team and a .550 team is thin. they'll flirt with both depending on the schedule, health and mid-season roster changes.

I bet on 'em to win the World Series yesterday anyway (happened to be in Vegas). 250 to 1.

Austinfan 2017-05-01 15:05:33 UTC #5

Given they were probably 5 games worse than last year's record by run differential, 75+ wins, a couple July trades for prospects and development of some of the young players would be a great season.
If the biggest problem is a bad bullpen, that's a lot easier to fix than a bad lineup or lack of starting pitching.
Give me a 75+ win team that could have 5 more wins with a bullpen upgrade and you're pretty close to being a legitimate contender.

Austinfan 2017-05-02 16:23:37 UTC #6

Finally got to watch Pivetta, boy does he ooze with upside!
94-95 t 98, slider, slurve and attempts at a changeup.
His fastball has some serious movement at times, and he's like Eflin, he seems almost effortless.
Breaking ball is inconsistent, needs more "bite" on the slider, more depth on the curve, and the change is a work in progress.
Needs a full year in AAA to refine his stuff, and finding that ML hitters are tough outs will help his mindset when he's sent back down.
But the raw stuff is there, needs to refine his secondary pitches and improve his command, like most young pitchers.