Philadelphia Phillies: Unexpected possibilities
Below the surface of normality, next season will unfold in unpredictable ways even without the injuries and rehabs expected by general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Wrinkles ahead:
The best time to review the past is in the present when you’re searching for clues to the future.
After the Phils finished their final games with a 37-36 record, the front office continued to examine the rosters and situations of their 29 competitors. Yes, the phone calls, the powwows and the strategy are part of the methodical work of acquiring the missing pieces for Opening Day. Meanwhile, writers are speculating, while they seek bits of information on the franchise’s direction. However, the Winter Meetings will accelerate this process with clues from other organizations and agents. Rumor or real?
In 2017, Aaron Nola made an impact in his third summer: GMs anticipate two years of development before a major leaguer begins leaving his mark. And even though fans didn’t expect a two-month stretch of dominate pitching, baseball men knew it was a possibility.
Regarding Rhys Hoskins, seeing his at-bats made the difference in the level of surprise experienced by the faithful and scribes alike. But his first test in the majors was to prove he could hit a fastball: He did. That stated, starters will now throw off-speed stuff or unintentionally walk him to face Nick Williams instead. Yes, when this happens, it will stun many but it was visible for the final 17 days of ’17. He’ll need the patience to wait for mistakes.
If you really want a jaw-dropper, Odubel Herrera will not disappoint you. The Rule 5 draftee and converted second baseman had quickly switched from left field to center during spring training in 2015 and averaged .297 as a rookie. For 2016, he batted .294 with 47 free passes for the first half. And last season, he had a long cold spell and a lengthy hot streak. Basically, he’s full of surprises.
During the last 162, Williams demonstrated his hitting skills, power and RBI potential. But the left-handed outfielders will alternate in front of and behind Hoskins if hurlers pitch around him to face Williams. In other words, can Williams handle the pressure of that and a steady diet of breaking balls? Will he again be an eye-opener?
THE WAY IT WAS: “I saw a lot of good hitters but I never saw a better one than Paul Waner. I mean I once threw a side arm spitter right into his belly and he hit it into the upper deck.” – Burleigh Grimes
When it comes to big surprises for 2018, Vince Velasquez and Maikel Franco would shock the faithful more than anyone else on the 25-man roster. And keep in mind, making an impact in a third campaign doesn’t mean being an All-Star. Cesar Hernandez‘s 2017, for instance, is a solid example of the fan’s perception of development from reserve infielder to excellent leadoff man.
Regarding Velasquez, the right-hander has made 46 starts in the majors, and 60 outings is roughly two year’s experience. Bur even though the numbers don’t show it, the flamethrower has improved. Besides consistency, he just needs to find the right mix of pitches on a steady basis, which could happen in the second half. However, if Klentak adds two decent rotation arms, Velasquez could slot fifth, relax, and shine due to less pressure.
When ’17 came to a close, Franco had some competition in September with J.P. Crawford and will have more with Scott Kingery in the foreseeable future. But the decision-makers informed Franco that ’18 will be do-or-die. That said, he averaged .279 with six homers and 14 RBIs with Crawford as a teammate. But after Franco had commented about Hoskins being fourth in long balls after only one month, the third baseman then blasted four home runs–his only hits–in his final five games to be first with 24. Ergo, a consideration, not a worry.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: “A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes.” – Mark Twain
While righty Shohei Otani‘s goal is to play in the big leagues, many writers are focusing on the monetary factor or a designated-hitter role. Generally speaking, all 30 clubs can negotiate with him if they agree to the $20 million transfer fee for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, but 12 franchises due to exceeding the financial limit in previous summers can’t offer more than $300,000. The Phillies aren’t one of them. Additionally, the maximum for the International Bonus Allotment to accumulate and proffer is $10.1 million, and no organization even totals that.
Otani, 23:
- 2015: 22 Gms., 15-5 with a 2.24 ERA for 160 2/3 Inn.
- 2016: 21 Gms., 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA for 140 Inn.
- 2017: 5 Gms., 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA for 25 1/3 Inn.
Under consideration, many opportunities are available to Otani: American League clubs can offer the DH for regular at-bats, a rebuilding Senior Circuit organization might propose being a starter and an outfielder, or a contender can proffer pitching and pinch-hitting. Meanwhile, a west coast team has a geographical advantage. But the situation is up in the air because the posting agreement between the MLB and the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) recently expired. However, only the MLB Players Union is holding up going by the old pact.
Otani, 23:
- 2016: 104 Gms., 382 PA, .322, 22 HR and 67 RBI.
- 2017: 65 Gms., 231 PA, .322, 8 HR and 31 RBI.
As for the red pinstripes, Klentak’s statement in September indicated the days of regulars playing almost daily is ending. In other words, the Phillies will eventually have 13 position players with the versatility to handle multiple infield and/or outfield roles like Crawford, Williams and Hoskins. Yes, all 13 will receive at least 300-400 ABs each and stay fresh through the postseason: A semi-regular spot and rotation slot could appeal to a two-way standout like Otani. And if the negotiation impasse continues, most franchises will still build their rosters, while the hometown nine can replace a reserve outfielder with Otani at any point. Advantage: Phils!
On the Internet, some locals were very vocal regarding the new skipper. One fan said he won’t watch the Phillies until they fire Gabe Kapler. Is winning a cure? Additionally, many were skeptical of the analytical approach, and they referred to it as bull. El Torito?
According some of the faithful, the Phillies are cheap and this hire is bad and a disaster. Kapler is a narcissist, took the good player’s number of 22, and would kick sand on guys at the beach. Apparently, when he suffers his first defeat, the boobirds will start demanding a new manager, while they magnify every loss and ignore every victory.
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers wanted to hire Kapler, but veterans complained to the higher-ups to nix it. One reason may have been his proximity to the front office, which would be like having the execs in the dugout. However, Freddy Galvis, who will be 28 on Nov. 14, is the longtimer here with six seasons of service time. On the other hand, Kapler is in the “love him or hate him” group.
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