Phillies: Roster-roulette players
With the remaining spots on the active 25 for the Phillies up for grabs, decisions will occur after general manager Matt Klentak considers the recommendations from his skipper and coaches, but the GM will make the final determinations.
Ifs and whys:
Because each pro will make his case for Opening Day on the Philadelphia Phillies, management will address organizational concerns based on March’s results. Pitchers and hitters at the highest plateau understand the expectations, the business requirements, and spring-training auditions.
IN OTHER WORDS: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas A. Edison
Aside from the rotation, Klentak will review the pluses and minuses of eight players for the 25th slot. Will it be a hurler who works multiple innings, a switch-hitter, a rookie or a versatile fielder who can handle shortstop and center field?
A five-man bench usually includes a backup catcher and four reserves to pinch hit, enter the contest during a double switch or as a defensive replacement. However, the Phils have four outfielders and a second receiver so that they could add three utility players.
Carrying 12 moundsmen offers enough flexibility typically but can leave one part of the game vulnerable. For the red pinstripes, a long man is a missing piece, but three are in camp. Yes, the signing of Jake Arrieta could change that equation.
If Klentak goes with an eighth reliever, Mark Leiter, the favorite, had success in 2017 as a long man and spot starter. Additionally, the right-hander has six pitches: a 90-mph fastball, a slider, a curveball, a cutter, a changeup and a splitter: Three must be accurate per contest for success.
Jake Thompson, another bullpen piece, has recently thrown back-to-back outings for multiple frames, but he’ll need more than just those notable appearances to overtake Leiter. So, Thompson could handle long relief with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Even though righty Drew Hutchison has been capable as a long man, he is strictly a backup plan. And Klentak will probably let him pursue other major league opportunities instead of a return to Triple-A.
Lefty Fernando Abad was effective in the pen for the Boston Red Sox last season. However, he hasn’t pitched since March 3 for the big club. Minor league innings? In other words, he can’t be a left-handed plan B if he doesn’t earn it.
Five-man bench:
On Phillies sites, fans posted positive messages. One wondered if the hometown nine are a .500 team, while another wanted a second free-agent starter. Yes, Alex Cobb. Those posters got a healthy dose of Philly love.
After months of bashing the Phils, the faithful bragged about the great deal pulled off by Klentak. And they compared their euphoria to some signings and performances of the four aces. Translation: winning expectations.
WORDS OF WISDOM: “There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.” – Orison Swett Marden
Although the acquisition of Arrieta might reduce the need for an eighth reliever, it could also increase the odds for Andrew Knapp and Pedro Florimon to join Cameron Rupp, Nick Williams, and Aaron Altherr. But keep in mind, Scott Kingery could be a replacement by May’s end.
After another campaign-ending injury, outfielder Roman Quinn will probably continue increasing his value by starting at short for some games with Lehigh Valley. Moreover, his unrelated disabled-list stints don’t indicate any specific concern.
Even though Quinn needs a healthy, productive first half, he’s not out of the picture. He is a replacement waiting to happen because of an injury, poor performance, a trade or an unexpected need.
Offensive reserves:
Until the inking of Arrieta, Knapp looked like the odd man out because Rupp had re-signed for $2.05 million. Now, Knapp can start against tough right-handed pitchers and be another left-side bat in the dugout for the late frames.
For Tommy Joseph, however, his designated-for-assignment status means another franchise can claim him. Otherwise, he will pass through waivers and the locals will send him to the Allentown affiliate.
Because of his steady glove at third base, shortstop and center field, Florimon will probably make the 25-man roster. And if he can provide the offense he did last summer, he won’t make it easy for an IronPig to supplant him: .348 for 49 plate appearances over 15 contests.
By June 1, the locals will be anticipating Kingery’s arrival, and the left side of the infield will face competition for playing time. Yes, the highly touted prospect will replace one reserve if no one is on the DL. A huge if!
WORTH REPEATING: “I think it’s really important to look at the big picture instead of just one competition.” – Shannon Miller
On the other hand, cutting Joseph indicates Klentak’s strategy regarding the 25-man roster for Opening Day. The eight regulars, a fourth outfielder (Williams or Altherr), Rupp, Florimon, and Knapp have 12 spots. Yes, a long reliever is a strong possibility. Or Kingery?
The Numerical Bible:
This review is not a sabermetrics article, which means no heavy statistical analysis. But because some readers rely on stats, this is only a reference: no reason to articulate the importance of these numbers.
Phillies starter:
- Arrieta, 32: 30 Gms., 168 1/3 Inn., 14-10, a 3.53 ERA, a 4.16 FIP, a 4.11 xFIP, a 4.15 SIERA, 2.4 fWAR and a 1.22 WHIP.
Phillies relievers:
Leiter, 27:
- Phillies: 27 Gms., 11 Starts, 90 2/3 Inn., 3-6, a 4.96 ERA, a 5.14 FIP, a 4.19 xFIP, a 4.14 SIERA, a 0.2 fWAR and a 1.33 WHIP.
- AAA: 7 Gms., 5 Starts, 30 Inn., 2-1, a 4.20 ERA, a 3.67 FIP, a 2.49 xFIP and a 1.10 WHIP.
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Thompson, 24:
- Phillies: 11 Gms., 8 Starts, 46 1/3 Inn., 3-2, a 3.88 ERA, a 5.92 FIP, a 5.54 xFIP, a 5.23 SIERA, a -0.1 fWAR and a 1.55 WHIP.
- AAA: 22 Gms., 118 1/3 Inn., 5-14, a 5.25 ERA, a 4.40 FIP, a 4.59 xFIP and a 1.55 WHIP.
Non-roster invitees:
- Hutchison, 27.5: 26 AAA Gms., 24 Starts, 159 1/3 Inn., 9-9, a 3.56 ERA, a 4.13 FIP, a 4.79 xFIP and a 1.29 WHIP.
- Abad, 32: 48 MLB Gms., 43 2/3 Inn., 1 Save, 2 Holds, a 3.30 ERA, a 3.68 FIP, a 4.37 xFIP, a 4.09 SIERA, a 0.3 fWAR and a 1.24 WHIP.
Phillies reserves:
- Rupp, 29.5: 88 Gms., 331 PA, a .217 Avg., a .299 OBP, a .417 SLG, a .200 ISO, a .298 BABIP, 14 HR, 34 RBI, a .716 OPS and a 0.8 fWAR.
- Knapp, 26.5: 56 Gms., 204 PA, a .257 Avg., a .368 OBP, a .368 SLG, a .111 ISO, a .360 BABIP, 3 HR, 13 RBI, a .736 OPS and a 0.7 fWAR.
- Altherr, 27: 107 Gms., 412 PA, a .272 Avg., a .340 OBP, a .516 SLG, a .245 ISO, a .308 BABIP, 19 HR, 65 RBI, an .856 OPS and a 1.3 fWAR.
- Florimon, 31: 15 Gms., 49 PA, a .348 Avg., a .388 OBP, a .478 SLG, a .130 ISO, a .533 BABIP, 0 HR, 6 RBI, an .866 OPS and a 0.6 fWAR.
Williams, 24.5:
- Phillies: 83 Gms., 343 PA, a .288 Avg., a .338 OBP, a .473 SLG, a .185 ISO, a .375 BABIP, 12 HR, 55 RBI, an .811 OPS and a 0.8 fWAR.
- AAA: 78 Gms., 306 PA, a .280 Avg., a .308 OBP, a .511 SLG, a .230 ISO, a .358 BABIP, 15 HR, 44 RBI, an .839 OPS and a 2.0 WARP.
Next: Phillies: Extra-pen-arm ripples
Kingery, almost 24:
- AAA: 63 Gms., 286 PA, a .294 Avg., a .337 OBP, a .449 SLG, a .155 ISO, a .348 BABIP, 8 HR, 21 RBI, a .786 OPS, 1.1 WARP, 10 SB, 2 CS and a 6.8 Spd.
- AA: 69 Gms., 317 PA, a .313 Avg., a .379 OBP, a .608 SLG, a .295 ISO, a .324 BABIP, 18 HR, 44 RBI, a .987 OPS, 4.0 WARP, 19 SB, 3 CS and an 8.7 Spd.
Quinn, almost 25:
- AAA: 45 Gms., 197 PA, a .274 Avg., a .344 OBP, a .389 SLG, a .114 ISO, a .365 BABIP, 2 HR, 13 RBI, a .732 OPS, 0.9 WARP, 10 SB, 4 CS and a 7.2 Spd.