Phillies News and Discussion 2025 (Part 2)

[andyb]

This story is just not that big a deal. Nick has been a bit worse and now there is a more credible replacement. Remember Rojas just could not hit enough to get playing time. And Kepler is hitting much better now than earlier in the year.

It is ironic that they got Bader to play for Rojas and it is hurting Nick for playing time. I always liked the Kepler signing as a bigger need than a right-handed bat because there were more chances for it to work and Wilson was adequate for the short side of a platoon. It has just worked out differently. Marsh was not seen as an everyday solution but getting Bader there really hurt Nick for playing time more than anyone else.

Thomson has played this situation well. He played Nick when there were not better alternatives. He downgraded Nick's playing time when he had options (and the clubhouse seems pretty good even if these articles try to stir things up a bit).

[zambonir]

It's only a big deal because Nick decided to lash out on camera. I don't think the press created it. He had apparently talked about this stuff on the Betts podcast first. And even Frantzke decided to make the postgame interview about "does it feel good to have done this given you aren't playing?" instead of just the first part.

Which is still his job. The fact that they have apparently never clicked is interesting, at least, if not a big deal. Obviously it's not hard to pick which party is in the right/gets the benefit of the doubt. It'll blow over. Good thing they are out of town and it's a football weekend, who is even going to want to talk about this Monday?

[andyb]

Johan Rojas tweaked a quad last night at Triple A. Phillies aren’t sure how serious it is yet; Rojas would be in consideration for a playoff roster spot if club carries only 12 pitchers.

— Matt Gelb ( @mattgelb.bsky.social ) September 20, 2025 at 6:13 PM

[zambonir]

Damn, poor guy. Has a two full weeks though.

I wonder if Crawford will go to Clearwater.

[andyb]

I wonder if Crawford will go to Clearwater.

With the concussion and ensuing inactivity (he was at least looking good accepting the player of the year award yesterday at LHV) I just assume the Phillies are going to shut him down and get him healthy. I doubt he plays winter ball because he did get lots of playing time this year anyway. Keep him on a strength program and get him down to one of the Clearwater performance camps in December or January.

[zambonir]

Oh yeah I forgot about the concussion. It would have been a lot to ask him to step into a playoff PH or PR role, and even riskier to put him in the field I'd think. A long shot regardless, presumably they'd just go with Kemp if Rojas can't be ready.

[Philsmania]

FWIW, the Phillies win the tiebreakers against all AL Postseason contenders who have any chance of catching them recordwise (Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners--respective magic numbers for clinching WS HFA against each respectively are 4. 2 and 1). They've clinched a superior record over all other AL contenders.

And, by the way, the Marlins whom the Phillies play next are not yet eliminated from the last WC spot (elimination number 3) and have also won 6 straight and 9 out of 10 so this is not a series to rest on.

[zambonir]

Funny we don't have it over Houston and they might not even make it at all. Also funny/annoying the only other AL teams we lost a series too were Anaheim and the Chisox.

[Jazzhead]

Turns out there was no Rapture yesterday, just a bullpen implosion.

[BostonRoss]

Turns out there was no Rapture yesterday, just a bullpen implosion.

Toe to toe
Dancing very close
Barely breathing
Almost comatose
Wall to wall
People hypnotized
And they're stepping lightly
Hang each night in Rapture

[andyb]

Sosa back for Walton. Hope he is 100%.

Phillies Designate Donovan Walton For Assignment

Sosa back at SS tonight though Bryce and JT are out so still a pretty makeshift lineup.

[Callison]

Some mighty disappointing games lately - the Phils look unprepared to play teams fighting for survival. #1 seed flying slowly away. The Serpientes just seem to have the Phils number somehow. After heroically beating the dominant Braves in '23 only to lose to the Serpientes... special disappointment that only the Phils can provide.

Duran needs to be coached t throw more pitches out of the zone. More and more members of the pen gravitating to the ? club, as in no idea how they're gonna play. Robertson at his worst let the Marlins back in the game - one more Phils' reliever that needs a 5 run cushion.

Hoping to see Harper back today and Turner REAL soon. The whole Phils are a lot better than "Most of the Phils".

[zambonir]

Disappointing as last night was the fact that Bryce took a day off because he wasn't feeling well kind of confirmed they aren't chasing Milwaukee (even as the Brewers kept losing too), and tonight cinches it. Truth is we probably are fine playing the Dodgers and also have pretty good reason to think it won't actually be Milwaukee in NLCS (even if it could also not be us).

[andyb]

I am just worried that the flu might go through the clubhouse in the next week if that is what Bryce has.

[zambonir]

or COVID. But they seemed to manage when Marsh had something. and Game 1 is still 10 days away.

[EastFallowfield]

Someone elsewhere talked about the Phils backing into the 2 seed, so I had to look up their record of late.

August 18-11 .621
September 13-7 .650

Hopefully they "back into" winning each playoff series in that same fashion.

[bkox]

Sosa back for Walton. Hope he is 100%.

Seems to be 100%

[phillychuck]

Sosa back for Walton. Hope he is 100%.

Seems to be 100%

Seems to be about 300%, honestly...

[phillychuck]

No real shot at the #1 seed--given the tiebreaker, they are dormy.

Clinched the home field advantage over all the AL teams, too, I think.

[zambonir]

We have to go 4-0 and Brewers have to go 0-3 I think?

The West, and therefore the 3rd and likely 5th seeds, also still in play.

We had home field in the 2023 NLCS as the 4th seed of course. And lost. I'm not sure it matters that much just like it's not clear who the most desirable NLDS opponent would be.