Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

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Skyjack
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by Skyjack »

Christopher wrote: Wed May 10, 2023 10:28 pm And there is no promising hitting in the organization higher than Single-A.

Those bad drafts will sting for a long time. But, hey, at least Kingery is set for life with all those millions he got after a couple hot months.
Muzziotti says “hi”.
Christopher
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by Christopher »

I would love to be wrong, but I don't think Muzziotti is anything other than a good fourth outfielder, as his ceiling.

It does raise some interesting points about what the 2024 outfield might look like.

Castellanos has handled right field very well. Do they officially try to switch Harper to first base full time for 2024? Then you'd be looking at:

DH: Schwarber
1B: Harper
LF: Muzziotti??
RF: Castellanos

If Harper returns to RF, then Castellanos pretty much has to be DH, because he's not played left before. Which then sticks you with Schwarber in LF again.

And all of this is assuming Hoskins is gone. I think there's a chance that a one-year pillow contract makes sense for both him and team, but then you have to hold your breath with him at 1B

Ultimately, I think it's time for Harper to move to 1B, if he can handle it. His bat is 98% of his value; don't need him messing himself up in RF.
phtown
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by phtown »

Interesting subject but I have to disagree on one point. If Castellanos can play an average RF then he can slide over to left. It's not asking much from him to play better defense than Schwarbs and much less than asking Harper to go from RF to 1B. I don't see Harper at 1B being realistic. Kyle needs to be the DH (and hitting down in the order) until his contract is over.
Last edited by phtown on Sat May 13, 2023 12:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
phtown
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by phtown »

Castellanos came up at 3B, right? He should go to 1B before Harper once Harper's throwing restrictions are lifted.
Christopher
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by Christopher »

It will be interesting to see what they do. I agree that Castellanos theoretically should be able to handle LF. I don't want Harper in the outfield, though, until he's 110% with all the throwing, diving, extending, etc. That's probably not until Opening Day 2024.

If you have LF Castellanos, DH Schwarber and Bohm back to 3B, the big question in the offseason will be what to do with 1B. The free agent market is absolutely dreck, as is (surprise) the farm system. If someone like Muzziotti is ready for maybe 300 ABs in the bigs, might need to get creative.

(Yes, I know the most popular answer to this is "dump Schwarber this offseason," but that simply creates another hole when you haven't even figured out 1B.)
Christopher
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Re: Phillies' 2023 GDT #37: 05/10/23 Blue Jays(21-15) @ Phillies(17-19) - 4:05pm

Post by Christopher »

Also, they don't need to be creating NEW holes in the offense when they're going to have to spend -- one way or another -- on pitching this winter.

It's easy to say "don't resign Nola" but then what? Throw all the Nola money at Julio Urias?? Do you finally go "all in" on a Japanese pitcher like Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

The rotation is going to be the absolute #1 focus this offseason, if they want to keep the Harper/Realmuto/Turner/Castellanos window open.

Wheeler, Saurez, Painter, Walker, Abel isn't nearly enough to count on for 2024
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