News of Phormer Phillies 2016

andyb 2016-04-13 16:01:25 UTC #161

Once he got through the Spring Training roster shuffles that was always going to be the case. Of course he won't pitch at all this year and the Braves will have to decide whether or not he gets exposed to the rule 5 draft and whether he can be carried on the 40-man roster next winter. With the Phillies' upcoming roster crunch there is probably no way that we could have done that and the Braves will have the same dilemma.

Philsmania 2016-04-13 16:44:05 UTC #162

If the Braves don't keep him on the 40 man, the question will then be either a) will some other team claim or sign him and keep him on the 40 man or b) will he be exposed by the Braves or another team and, if so, will he likely be plucked by someone despite not having pitched in a year? Considering that he's a lefty and a former first round pick, I would not be at all surprised if he is.

andyb 2016-04-13 17:01:35 UTC #163

Philsmania:

andyb:

Philsmania:

Braves transfer Jesse Biddle to the 60 day DL. Presumably, they'll be able to successfully stash him there for the season.

mlbtraderumors.com/2016/04/braves-jhoulys-chacin.html

Once he got through the Spring Training roster shuffles that was always going to be the case. Of course he won't pitch at all this year and the Braves will have to decide whether or not he gets exposed to the rule 5 draft and whether he can be carried on the 40-man roster next winter. With the Phillies' upcoming roster crunch there is probably no way that we could have done that and the Braves will have the same dilemma.

If the Braves don't keep him on the 40 man, the question will then be either a) will some other team claim or sign him and keep him on the 40 man or b) will he be exposed by the Braves or another team and, if so, will he likely be plucked by someone despite not having pitched in a year? Considering that he's a lefty and a former first round pick, I would not be at all surprised if he is.

I believe if he gets waived off the 40-man after the season and clears he would be eligible for minor league free agency. In that case he could sign a minor league deal with anyone that would at least let him pitch in 2017 without the pressure of staying on a 40-man roster. I have no idea whether he would be able to throw for teams before all these decisions would get made. He had the surgery last October so he probably will throw in Instructional Leagues next Fall. Might be pushing it to get into any real games in August.

BostonRoss 2016-04-18 00:31:59 UTC #164

As Utley led off for the Dodgers tonight, I noticed that the Dodgers have at least five people who played in the 2008 World Series (Utley, Blanton, Crawford, Kazmir, and Howell).

Philsmania 2016-04-22 14:23:40 UTC #165

I know this was discussed elsewhere (I can't remember which thread), but Curt Schilling was been fired by ESPN for more controversial social media comments, this time crude ones about transgender people.

After his last run-in, ESPN gave him enough rope to hang himself and, well, he hung himself.

harrisburghusker 2016-04-22 14:27:41 UTC #166

it's funny how Lenny Dykstra and Curt Schilling were both my favorite and now my least favorite Phillies

flyers19rw 2016-04-22 14:48:37 UTC #167

Rosenthal reporting that Michael Bourn has signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays

scorcher 2016-04-26 15:03:00 UTC #168

The Cubs have released Jonathan Pettibone.

andyb 2016-04-26 15:31:47 UTC #169

Both Utley and Rollins are doing better in 2016 so far compared to 2015. Rollins has a higher average (268) and an OPS of 733. 1-3 in SB which is nt great. Defense is still down a bit so I think he may get a little worse the rest of the year.

Utley is doing great however which makes me think last year's dip was health related and SSS BABIP bad luck. Chase is hitting .314 (probably not sustainable) with an 826 OPS. He has no home runs so far, so it is possible that his OPS can stay in the 800 range even if his average drops to .280.

Keeping Chase to 400-450 at bats might extend his career a couple of years and get him a DH gig somewhere next year (he'll hate it). Another good 1,000 AB that could add 4-5 WAR to his career total (62.8 now) and get him some more serious HOF consideration. He'll never have the counting stats, but I am rooting for him.

EastFallowfield 2016-04-26 16:00:42 UTC #170

Utley's career best month is April, then he drops off, but for some reason July is almost as good as April, then the stats drop again. But it's good to see he still has some baseball left.

mdougherty12 2016-04-26 17:15:07 UTC #171

Utley is also being strictly platooned, which is going to help his numbers.

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donaldorc 2016-04-26 20:28:51 UTC #172

Thanks for these updates. I was just wondering how Rollins was doing because of another thread and was about to look it up, now I don't have to. Gracias.

flyers19rw 2016-04-27 15:39:37 UTC #173

Travis D'Arnaud put on the DL with a strained right rotator cuff injury.
cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-bas ... der-injury
Unfortunately for him, its an injury every year.

Philsmania 2016-04-27 15:57:41 UTC #174

People are beginning to wonder if Travis D'Arnaud is just too brittle to catch. The problem with moving him to 1B is that I think the Mets may have to consider moving David Wright there. Just using the eye test, Wright looks like a statue at third at this point in his career. It seemed to me that a lot of balls were getting bye him in those two series where we played the Mets.

nypost.com/2016/04/26/mets-may-need-to-change-travis-darnauds-position-to-save-him/

EastFallowfield 2016-04-27 16:27:36 UTC #175

Erik Kratz pitched an inning for Houston last night, 2 runs, 1 earned.

Philsmania 2016-04-27 18:21:12 UTC #176

Yes, Rollins is off to a good start. But, one reason the White Sox got him is that the Pale Hose wanted him to help change the clubhouse atmosphere at least terms of creating a looser and more winning atmosphere. Of course, there's no way to measure this intangible stuff but the White Sox are winning.

I'm pulling for both Utley and Rollins to do well and find ways to extend their careers as long as possible. Truth is that they are not as far from Cooperstown as many believe. I would not be surprised if Rollins finds a way to be the primary shortstop for the entire season. However, it would probably serve him well to reinvent himself as a utility player at some point. Omar Vizquiel was able to tack four years on to his career by doing that after he was through as an everyday shortstop.

DurhamBull 2016-04-28 12:28:15 UTC #177

A phormer Phil double: Rauuuuuuuuul Ibañez to replace Schilling as ESPN commentator.

Philsmania 2016-05-02 17:15:08 UTC #178

Interesting update on Rollins, Hamels and Utley. All seem to be doing well in their new locales.

supertwosports.com/mlb/checking-in-on-phillies-past.html

tom81 2016-05-02 22:42:43 UTC #179

And it also highlights the unpredictability of baseball. Look how much of a steal the Giles trades looks now. Giles has a 9.0 ERA and a 2.0 WHIP. We all know what Vinny has done.

andyb 2016-05-05 17:57:36 UTC #180

baseballamerica.com/minors/a ... 1KSRX14.97

Willians Astudillo = late career Manny Mota