Discussion

Austinfan 2018-05-30 05:42:31 UTC #562

At some point velocity will level off, the biggest jump was due to the reduction of innings (and pitches) by starters and the expansion of bullpens with RP kept to one inning - that's pretty much has been played out. Some velocity is due to training and film analysis of mechanics, but that also is probably played out. So don't expect much increase in average ML velocity.

One impact of velocity is to self-select for quicker bats, whether eyesight, reaction time or swing mechanics. That trend has also probably played itself out.

We've seen this the last few years as the minimum average FB has creeped up from 90 to 91+ the last few years. But I doubt it'll move up much more. Once velocity levels out the focus will switch back to command and secondary pitches as the new velocity norm becomes the baseline.

nycphils 2018-05-30 09:47:52 UTC #563

Nick Williams should be given a shot at the full time job - I think the pinch hitting experience may have improved his biggest weakness of plate discipline. He’s walked 5 times in his last 51 ABs, and has 10 walks in his 105 ABs this year. As a result he’s hit .275 in those 51 ABs. If he can sustain a close to 10% BB/AB rate, I think he’ll be very good, and he’s still only 24 years old. Has to continue to work on his defense though.

DurhamBull 2018-05-30 14:15:48 UTC #564

Florimon to the DL with a broken foot after last night’s foul ball.

David_Criss 2018-05-30 14:23:25 UTC #565

So who replaces Florimon on the roster? To bad Quinn is hurt AGAIN. This would be a perfect couple weeks for him to be with the team. Valentin slides into the Florimon role, I am assuming. He hasn't been used much. They need to add a bat. Crawford wasn't exactly tearing the cover off the ball when he went down and has only played one game at High A, rushing him back I think would be a mistake. With so much pitching on the 40-man, Quinn (DL) and Cozens (74 strike outs in 165 ABs), what do they do?
Walding, Meneses and Anna are the ones I am guessing are being discussed. Walding is strictly a 3B, but that allows Valentin to spell SS and 2B for the time being. Meneses is a 1B/3B. Anna is a career AAAA utility player.

Anna is the one they signed for filler and really has no future with the team, I wouldn't be surprised if we see Hutchison designated - hasn't pitched in two-weeks and Leiter, Milner and Curtis are throwing pretty well if a replacement arm would be needed. Or Neshek could be moved to the 60-day and Anna added and when Neshek is ready Anna is given a thank you and designated.

Have Yunel Escobar or JJ Hardy been playing somewhere and available?
Do they trade for Brad Miller in Tampa?
Is Darwin Barney available?

No need to panic we are talking about replacing Valentin/Florimon for the 25th spot and one of the two sticking around only briefly while Crawford sees if he can hit again, but with only two non pitchers on the 40-man and neither one really looking like an option, it is fun to speculate.

bkeich 2018-05-30 14:33:31 UTC #566

I would assume it would be Cozens actually, he is striking out at a wild clip, but also has been hitting well lately.(until the last 3 games). He had a 5 game hitting streak (not that impressive, only 6 hits) but at least it was a somewhat good sign. I can't see them trading for a player or DFA'ing anyone just for 1 week of play before Crawford is hopefully ready. They probably should move Neshak to the 60 day as he would only be unavailable for a few days at this point and there is not much sign that he is returning in the near future.

If they were to sign a veteran at this point someone like Escobar or Hardy wouldnt be a bad flyer to take and stash him in AAA, but it would probably take a couple weeks for him to get to game shape anyway so no help in this instance.

Quinn misses yet another opportunity due to injury. Sad for the guy

teabag259 2018-05-30 14:43:24 UTC #567

Might they call up Walding?

andyb 2018-05-30 14:48:13 UTC #568

He actually makes the most sense among position players though would require a 40-man move. Not sure they have the medical info yet to know if Florimon needs to go on the 60-day DL.

Lawman 2018-05-30 14:49:01 UTC #569

Cozens is OF only, so I don't see it being him.

I think Neshek or Eickhoff to the 60 day DL and bring up an IF guy. My guess is Anna or Meneses. Or, perhaps, Rollins for one day only.

David_Criss 2018-05-30 14:59:32 UTC #570

Since Eickhoff has pitched in a rehab game, I don't think he is 60-day eligible. Florimon to the 60 or Neshek can be moved allowing Walding or Meneses to be added.

Squire 2018-05-30 15:10:52 UTC #571

Mitch Walding getting the call up. Just announced.

Lawman 2018-05-30 15:17:31 UTC #572

A lefty with a little pop. Ok.

gmwannabe 2018-05-30 15:20:17 UTC #573

he hit pretty well at reading last year and has a real nice swing. i saw him crush one out of the Harrisburg Senators stadium last year in right center. good choice, i think. if it was an outfielder injured, maybe hopkins with infection, then would have liked to have seen cozens. good luck to mitch, i'd love see him stay.
gm

andyb 2018-05-30 15:21:54 UTC #574

And he does have some defensive flexibility. 3B and 1B. Came up at SS even though that was years ago. And certainly has the athleticism to be decent in LF or RF if the need arose.

Good for him. Nice reward to a player who has earned it the last couple of years. He'll probably just pinch hit and start once at 3B until Crawford is ready, but maybe he is a better fit for the bench than Valentin because of the power potential.

zambonir 2018-05-30 18:48:14 UTC #575

What's the move to accomodate Walding? Pretty sure Neshek is closer to returning than not.

julio 2018-05-30 18:55:45 UTC #576

This is probably true, but "just announced" appears to be premature - unless you can cite a source, Squire.

At 11:08 am, Matt Gelb tweeted:

...but there's been nothing tweeted by the Phillies, nor by any of the other beat writers that I've seen. Given there's evidently been no official announcement, it doesn't surprise me that they haven't announced how they'll clear roster space.

zambonir 2018-05-30 19:01:12 UTC #577

Yes, presumably it is still not an official transaction because they haven't quite decided what the other move will be. Of course it could just be Florimon. Would be a drag for him but if he's looking at a legit 6-8 week recovery...OTOH then you still have to remove Walding from the 40 again, barring other stuff.

DFAing Hutchison seems pretty safe, and inconsequential. He's not really needed as an emergency starter, and for the clean-up long reliever role Leiter Jr. might be better and Thompson no worse. Good chance he just clears.

andyb 2018-05-30 19:08:19 UTC #578

Chances are there are additional injuries in 60 days if they put Florimon on the 60-day list. Realistically Eickhoff is the best choice (or Neshek though that would be shorter term). Eickhoff is already over or around the 60-day mark and does not look within a few weeks of pitching since they would need to start his rehab clock again even under the best of circumstances. And if they did put Eickhoff on the 60 and wanted to recall him in a month they would know much more about Florimon's status.

Bottom line is there is no reason to take Walding off the 40 in the near future and potentially for the whole season. And it would only be his first option if they sent him down. Things get trickier if they need someone else like De Los Santos or Irvin or Eshelman.

LoneStarPhan 2018-05-30 19:24:21 UTC #579

zambonir 2018-05-30 20:56:58 UTC #580

No new info in the TBOH blog post, it's just written off the other Gelb tweet from a few posts ago.

If Eickhoff can go on the 60 based on the date he first went on the 10-day that's an easy call but if he has to start fresh, maybe not. Of course if he's headed for thoracic outlet surgery (or even just a longer rehab) he may end up on the 60 regardless.

I believe merely calling Walding up is the option, even if he stays all season (which he won't). I agree he should be kept on the 40 once added, and sure, it's more likely than not they'll have other openings down the line. For a pitcher as well. There's also the deadline to consider.

andyb 2018-05-30 21:01:05 UTC #581

I am sure Julio can find the regulation, but options are triggered when one "options" a player to the minors, not on the call-up. So if he stayed with the major league team all year (pretty unlikely), he'd finish the year with all his options intact. If he had been added to the 40 over the winter the option would have been used to send him down to LHV.

60-day DL does not restart the clock. Should have started on 3/29 (opening day) so we just passed 60 days. The one difference is that the 10-day DL clock can start the week before opening day, but the 60-day cannot.

It should not matter but it looks like the Eickhoff move was done 3/29 (retroactive to 3/26) but the Neshek move was not done till 3/30 after the first game.