Phillies News and Discussion 2025 (Part 2)

[Jazzhead]

Is Miller's promotion to the Pigs concidental to Turner's injury?

Probably, but I wonder. If Trea is out for, say, two weeks or more, installing Miller at short would be an intriguing development to be sure. Especially to see if he could possibly be part of the playoff picture. But Sosa does provide an adequate stop-gap, with Stott filling the leadoff spot. The real question is whether the current outstanding outfield play will continue.

[zambonir]

I think it's entirely coincidental. They just want him to see AAA competition for a few weeks as they ponder what to do with him next year (3B?). It's certainly a tempting thing to consider if Trea is out for six weeks, but not worth the roster move for anything less.

I reckon Schwarber's going back to lead-off not Stott. Question is will Stott even play against the LHPs this week? And also, who hits second?

Schwarb can probably use the shake-up and familiar old spot too.

[phillychuck]

There is no way Miller is moving to 3B...he is in the final discussion for the AA Eastern League gold glove at SS--cited by opposing manager as the league’s best. Phils are not moving him off the position unless they have to.

I’m betting Bohm hits second against lefties, maybe righties, too.

[zambonir]

Yeah but there is no way Trea Turner is not the Phillies shortstop next season, and probably the season after that as well. The season he had defensively this year ends that conversation about moving him for now.

If you're content to keep Miller in AAA all of next year (and not trade him) you can cross that bridge in December, but if he's ready to play in MLB at some point next year it won't be at SS, unless it's as an injury replacement. And he should probably get some reps at 3B in AAA next year. And we know the Phillies will be open to moving on from Bohm.

Gelb suggested Bohm is better 4th, and perhap JT 2nd. I like Bohm well enough #2 though unless Schwarber has already driven himself in it's a formula for double-plays as well.

[zambonir]

Well it appears the Phillies do indeed want another LH middle IF. Hopefully there's no other injuries and Stubbs is odd man out.

Phillies don’t have a lineup yet. They’re making some moves; Otto Kemp and Donovan Walton have lockers at Citizens Bank Park.

— Matt Gelb ( @mattgelb.bsky.social ) September 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Had to look up Donovan Walton to figure out who he was - a second baseman acquired from the Mets earlier this year.

Talk about shaking things up - the initial lineup posted for tonight's game has Harper leading off, Kemp at 3B, and Bohm on the bench.

[phillychuck]

I’m betting Bohm hits second against lefties, maybe righties, too.

Not going to hit second from the IL...

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Not going to hit second from the IL...

Just saw that - Bohm to IL with "shoulder soreness".

[EastFallowfield]

And word is Marsh is sick so he's not in the lineup either.

[zambonir]

Seems like the news could be worse though. Turner just Grade 1, could be back before playoffs even. Bohm only 10 days.

That's too bad about Marsh with the RHP on the mound. Good news for Nick I guess?

COVID's going around but nobody talks about that anymore (especially not where the Phillies just spent the weekend, but I know people who've had it here too).

Harper has often said he didn't want to lead-off but obviously he also does what he's asked when things get thin. The best choice really.

[zambonir]

> “It’s always imperative to me,” Thomson said of the bye. “And especially now, I think we need to give these guys some time off. So we got to go for it.”

Phillies put Trea Turner and Alec Bohm on IL; Turner’s injury not season-ending

[Jazzhead]

Man down, man up. Nola emerges just as crunch time begins.

[Docs]

ESPN article with odds on NL Cy Young has four Phillies in top ten.
2. Sanchez
3. Wheeler
6. Suarez (presumably before last night's start!) (tie with Pivetta)
10. Luzardo

[zambonir]

> Since the trade deadline, Phillies outfielders rank eighth in the majors with a .343 weighted on-base average, up from .298 before the trade deadline.

Rob Thomson’s outfield wizardry makes him NL Manager of the Year favorite |...

Some will argue that he was being too soft on his players. I would argue that he was building the political capital to do exactly as he’s done: force his players to accept new matchup-based roles for the good of the team without explicitly demoting any of them.

This is exactly what good managers do. Thomson’s handling of his outfield situation has been predicated on the same no-panic, next-man-up demeanor that has enabled the Phillies to continue to cruise through the loss of Wheeler, the suspension of José Alvarado, and the various injuries that have hit the lineup. He has been nothing short of excellent this season. It’s time to give him his due.

[Philsmania]

I've often opined that Topper reminds me a lot of Danny Ozark--a player's manager, possesses a seemingly-boring taciturn personality, regarded by the phanbase as a mediocre strategist (those last two foster the unfair perception among many phans that he is dumb), allegedly fosters a clubhouse culture which some think may be too comfortable.

[zambonir]

That was pretty much Charlie too. But isn't it also every manager? Like, we've had some hardasses (and one of them did win the WS in Ozark's wake) but I don't think any of them were seen as strategic geniuses. And the managers who are known for that aren't really necessarily better, or second-guessed less frequently. And 100% of managers are seen as idiots 50% of the time when it comes to their bullpen management/pitching changes.

There's so little strategy left in the game anyway, especially when you factor in the role of the front office and analytics, plus the NL DH and three-batter rule.

[BostonRoss]

I don’t really agree that the modern game involves much less strategy. The DH certainly reduces strategy, but other changes have resulted in strategy revisions, not necessarily reductions. The three batter rule makes some pitching change decisions harder. It was often a no brainer to bring in a LOOGY to face a LHB when the pitcher could be removed whether he succeeded or not. Now a manager has to weigh whether it’s worth the risk of failure if a RHB is on deck.

That said, I think the most important quality of a manager is people management, not strategic skill, especially with so many expert coaches to consult during a game. I don’t see much correlation between managerial success and strategic brilliance. Some of the most successful managers weren’t great strategists (e.g. Torre, Leyland).

[zambonir]

The three-batter rule and the ghost runner inning definitely added strategy. Changing the rules to encourage the running game again too. But I don't think any of those things outweigh the end of PHs and double-switches, or the way analytics put an end (mostly) to bunts and productive outs (as well as stealing bases for a long time). I agree with you, and also think that most fans who think they are criticizing a manager's strategic weakness are actually wrong, they just think it should be done differently or remember it being done differently in the past. Or they don't realize the 29 other managers aren't better.

Most managerial decisions have a process that behind them that isn't always matched by the outcome. And probably just as many managerial decisions are made with bad process, but still get a good outcome. Those are the "gut" or "against the book" moves.

[David_Criss]

Is Walker Buhler for sure starting for the Phillies tomorrow???? His only start at LeHigh Valley didn't exactly go great and there is a reason the Bo Sox let him go owing him a lot of money. Do they really need a spot starter? Crismatt or even Rangel have been better starters. Do they lose Mayza or Trivino for him or do they just send Lazar back?

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Crismatt or even Rangel have been better starters.

Crismatt has been starting games for the D-backs since mid-August