Phillies 2026 News and Discussion

[zambonir]

However, one key difference is that those Braves teams were rebuilding while this Phillies team is contending.

But that is immaterial if baseline Taijuan Walker or an undeveloped Painter are roughly equal, so then what is best for Painter (or the Phillies' control of him) is also a factor. Right now, though, based on results (and, SSS), Painter is better.

First things first, get Wheeler back, then it's a 5th starter debate instead of both of them being in the rotation like now.

[andyb]

Realmuto's x-ray was negative. Just a bone bruise. Marchan will play today and Thursday is an off day so they hope JT will be ready by Friday.

[VoteForKalas]

Great news!

[andyb]

The Phillies are 15-7 overall in challenges. Catchers are 8-0 (5 for Realmuto, 3 for Marchan). Pitchers are 1-2 and hitters are 6-5 (with Schwarber 4-1). Crawford is 0--2 and I believe his challenges were not close.

It really feels like only catchers or Schwarber should challenge before the 7th inning.

[zambonir]

How many times have they run out of challenges?

Funny thing is Schwarber's one miss got the most attention in a game story.

That's good that Marchan is doing just as well as JT.

[andyb]

JT did lose his one challenge as a hitter. It does feel like the hitter has the worst view of the 3 vantage points and the pitcher probably needs to keep their ego in check when making challenges.

No Harper challenges yet from somebody that knows the zone pretty well.

[David_Criss]

Well Bowlan to the IL and Seth Johnson recalled. Bowlan had actually been somewhat decent.

[andyb]

Johnson's been pretty good too. Velocity up this year so he is usually sitting 98-99. Plus his option means he can go up and down all year. Hope Bowlan is not hurt severely.

[RolenRules]

I think you jinxed him

[andyb]

Clearly there are some basic command issues against major league hitters.

[dcsman]

I saw where about fired Boras and sued his parents for 1/2 million. Anyone have the details or a free link?

[zambonir]

Alec Bohm seeks return of $528,618 from parents, fires agent Scott Boras amid...

[andyb]

I guess if one looks at Bohm's whole career (including the I hate this place comment) his early season slump is to be expected.

[phillychuck]

Fans need to give Bohm the Trea Turner ovation soon.

[zambonir]

Yeah, this can't be good for a player who has always been known to get easily frustrated, but then again it sounds like it's been an issue nearly all of his career. You could almost argue he's played better than you might expect with that kind of personal turmoil/distraction. But also, he's just the same player he's always been. Worked hard to improve in the field, makes nice contact that also leads to some nice RISP peaks, but that's it. He'll come out of the slump but he still won't be the 4 or 5 hitter they need and want.

[mdougherty12]

Looking at Bohm's Statcast page, he's swinging a lot less frequently in 2026, both in and out of the strike zone. His walk rate is up slightly but he's not barreling anything, and he is getting killed with fastballs.

Alec Bohm Stats: Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics

[EastFallowfield]

Somehow at work MLB Network is on, it is funny to hear so much positivity about the 2026 Phils since they're not talking to Phillies fans on the internet, people talking about how they're possibly the second best team in the NL or MLB, running down all the good things about the team.

(No offense to anyone here, think I read too much negativity elsewhere each time the Phils are playing, nice to get a tad less doom for a while).

[phillychuck]

Schwarber has a positive, high national profile, as do Harper and Turner and Realmuto, even still. And Wheeler, Nola, and Sanchez are also highly regarded. Duran is seen as a top-flight closer. Nationally, teams are evaluated by the high profile players, and we have a boatload of them. National fans don’t look at Bohm, Marsh, Stott, etc, or the middle relief and back-end starters. Those that do have probably heard of Painter and Crawford (mostly positively). It’s understandable that the team’s national reputation is quite high.

[zambonir]

But also, they actually are still one of the elite rosters in MLB, and were the second-best team in the NL last year even if the playoff format didn't get them to the NLCS. Some slow individual starts and being 8-8 - and without Wheeler too - doesn't change that.

And of course the Internet is always negative. In other places it's "the Phillies suck." Here (with some exceptions) it's more like: "it is very frustrating this team doesn't live up to our championship expectations."

[zambonir]

Johnson down (probably due to pitch count more than performance though they were obviously related), Shugart up.