Phillies 2026 Spring Training Discussion

[andyb]

At least Painter gave up a long home run to a good prospect this afternoon.

https://www.mlb.com/video/samuel-basallo-s-two-run-home-run-x1115

[phillychuck]

Struck him out the pitch before, but the ump missed it and Stubbs didn’t challenge.

[andyb]

Bohm with 2 HRs today after 1 yesterday. He is being very aggressive this spring hitting .375 (9-24) but only 1 BB and 3 K. It will be interesting to see what kind of year he has in his contract year. More power from him would be a good sign.

[fish]

Listening to an interview with Kemp late last year, he talked as if he'd gone back to the swing/approach that got him where he is.

I have trouble even recognizing Kemp when he’s at the plate this spring- he’s in great shape.

[fish]

At least Painter gave up a long home run to a good prospect this afternoon.

His fastball was good but despite missing up quite a few times with his slider he threw some really nasty junk today- filthy slider, wicked sweeper, one hammer curve and some good changeup. My only concern was that he looked tired before he reached 50 pitches.

[andyb]

It is still early so the durability does not bother me. Assume we are breaking him in as the 5th starter with 80-90 pitch outings for a while anyway.

Ideal world would have him get 10 starts in the minors before coming up. That still could happen if Walker is decent and Wheeler is back by late April/early May. Of course it would be great if he succeeds right away but not the worst thing if he takes 4 starts and comes back later in the year.

[Austinfan]

If he has plus secondary stuff, 95 MPH is more than good enough, he can build up to the high 90s.
Saw clips of that changeup, looking like the righty version of Sanchez.
A killer changeup is a game changer, his other secondaries need be no more than show me pitches.
Add a plus slider and he's ML ready.

[Philsmania]

Am I the only one who wishes there was more baseball talk here on philliesphsns com?

[zambonir]

I think it's a quirk of the WBC. We need Bryce Harper to be in Clearwater, not Bryse Wilson. Seems like it was a pretty good game though. And Wheeler also threw.

[phillychuck]

The Wheeler story is the only real important story of training camp as long as Crawford doesn’t stink like feet or look like a future MVP.

[zambonir]

Well, he has certainly not been great. If he was actually competing for a job he wouldn't be seizing it. But neither is Garcia. And Trea Turner's hitting .160. It's all pretty much meaningless, though aren't the hitters supposed to do better against pitchers who are "still working on things" and fungibles. And meanwhile Bryce is hitting .150 in the WBC.

Real game in just 12 days.

[HopeSpringsEternal]

We need Bryce Harper to be in Clearwater, not Bryse Wilson.

Hey, the other Bryce was pretty good today.

[fish]

The lineups have been pretty boring- so much filler without much look at younger guys.

[dcsman]

Am I the only one who wishes there was more baseball talk here on philliesphsns com?

I agree. To be honest, there was Eagles news the other day and I came here to read about it like I normally do when there’s breaking news and nobody was talking about it.

I think it’s more than just the WBC, sadly, I think it’s because there are a lot more mechanisms for communication now other than message boards. A shame.

[phillychuck]

Without Miller playing this spring there is a lack of excitement for sure. The Miller news is horrible for fans, but he’s probably playing AAA this year anyway, so as long as he recovers by May (completely) it doesn’t affect him long-term.

Once the WBC ends things will pick up. So many intelligent, informed posters here...

[phillychuck]

Walker (pitching today) looking very serviceable this spring. That will really cushion a Wheeler absence if true.

[Austinfan]

I think the issue is this team is generally a known quantity, and the questions won't be answered (Wheeler, Nola, Crawford, Garcia) until the real games begin. It's not like a rebuilding team where you look at a bunch of young players and let your imagination run away with you. "High hopes."

[xogfog]

This team reminds of the 76-78 Phillies, they just couldn’t get over the hump until they got Pete Rose and that didn’t even pay off until 1980. Who will be the Pete Rose of this team. I sure would like to see Crawford be an agitator and wreak havoc on the base paths.

[phillychuck]

Don’t need agitation, just havoc.

[zambonir]

Right if we're going with the Pete Rose-era analogy they are going to miss the playoffs this year, and fire Thomson. But they obviously didn't add a major free agent (or trade acquisition). And Rose was a -0.4 WAR and 96 OPS+ in '80 (he was far better in '79).