July 9, 2025Jul 9 8 minutes ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:Definitely scoring like 1 run on FridayDepends on who’s pitching for the Padres. Anything under a 3 era most likely 1-2 runs
July 10, 2025Jul 10 FWIW, games like this do absolutely nothing to make me feel better about this team’s chances.
July 10, 2025Jul 10 10 minutes ago, eagle45 said:FWIW, games like this do absolutely nothing to make me feel better about this team’s chances.Yep this is who this team is - they go in a prolonged slump, lose in some embarrassing way, come back and blow a team out for a game or two and everyone expects us to believe they’ve figured something out. Fool me once, etc
July 10, 2025Jul 10 Harper with 4 extra base hits today. He’ll get healthy, start raking, then get hurt and be out for awhile. And repeat.
July 10, 2025Jul 10 3 hours ago, eagle45 said:FWIW, games like this do absolutely nothing to make me feel better about this team’s chances.They have one game like this and then 6 straight games where they score 1 or 0, and THOSE will be the games the bullpen doesn't suck
July 10, 2025Jul 10 1 hour ago, vsptroops said:Over/under 5 1/2 runs for the Padres series?Tbh might win the series if we get 5 runs with Suarez, wheeler and Sanchez pitching. They realistically should win this series with those 3 going so naturally we lose 2 of 3
July 10, 2025Jul 10 3 minutes ago, iladelphxx said:I'm surp we haven't lost a game this wayDon’t worry we still got 69 games to attempt too
July 10, 2025Jul 10 SAN FRANCISCO — The Phillies have acquired five major-league players over the past two trade deadlines, and three of them were rentals. They were the biggest July targets for Dave Dombrowski. The president of baseball operations added Michael Lorenzen, Carlos Estévez and Austin Hays as temporary boosts. The Phillies explored deals for meaningful players with more club control but weren’t willing to meet the price — or offer a compelling enough package to pry them loose.This July, they find themselves in a familiar spot. They need bullpen help. Again. They could use another right-handed bat. Again. They have used mid-tier prospects to patch holes in previous deadlines.But they have taken a different tone this time, according to officials from rival clubs who have spoken to the Phillies as the trade landscape crystallizes.The Phillies, for now, sound more willing to trade bigger prospect chips for controllable big leaguers, especially a shutdown, late-inning reliever. The Phillies have a top-heavy farm system; major-league sources said initial indications are the Phillies want to shop this July in a more expensive aisle than the rental one. They have the prospects to do it.Whether that comes to fruition through a larger acquisition remains to be seen. The Phillies talked last winter about being creative and engaged various clubs in trade discussions. But they were unwilling to sacrifice top prospects. They settled for three one-year free-agent contracts with Max Kepler, Jordan Romano and Joe Ross, but also swung a meaningful trade for Jesús Luzardo.Now, Dombrowski is attempting to undo his offseason mistakes. That means sacrificing good prospects for "win-now” moves.The Phillies have a specific interest in the American League Central; they began scouting the Minnesota Twins more heavily this week in anticipation of them being sellers, league sources said. Griffin Jax and Jhoan Durán will be prized targets if Minnesota makes them available. They’re expected to listen. There is a potential match with the Cleveland Guardians, who boast a deep bullpen headlined by Emmanuel Clase. Teams expect Cleveland to take offers on Clase, who is signed through 2026 with $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028.Any of those relievers would cost the Phillies multiple top prospects. If the Phillies landed one, it would fill an immediate hole and also provide future bullpen stability. It could, in essence, prevent the Phillies from being in the same spot next July.Within the front office, a fascinating debate will ensue. The Phillies know their current roster is aging; it’s imperative they backfill with younger players beginning in 2026 if they are to build a sustainable winner. But flags fly forever, and it’s impossible to assume they will have as robust a starting rotation in future seasons as they do in 2025. The "Wheeler Window” lasts through 2027— and with the collective bargaining agreement expiring the prior December, there is no guarantee there will even be Major League Baseball in 2027.It might be time to take a bigger swing.When the Phillies progressed in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet last summer, they were steadfast in deeming Andrew Painter untouchable. They have held firm on that stance this July. But everyone else in the organization, according to league sources, might be available to varying degrees.That would include Aidan Miller, who has improved at shortstop and become a better base-stealing threat with Double-A Reading in 2025. But he has not hit for average or power. He is still young; Miller just turned 21. If the Phillies are trying to build a competitive prospect package to acquire Clase or one of the Twins relievers, they might have to begin with Miller.They might be more willing to part with infielder Aroon Escobar, who was promoted to High-A Jersey Shore this week. Rival evaluators are high on Escobar, who hits the ball hard, but are uncertain about his positional future.Same with 18-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait, who will head to Atlanta this weekend for the Futures Game showcase. Tait is raw behind the plate. He is still at Low-A Clearwater and doesn’t turn 19 until August. He may earn a promotion to High A following the All-Star break.The Phillies are reluctant to move any of their better prospects for rentals; that includes Mick Abel.It’s the time of year when just about everything is on the table; that, according to major-league sources, includes the Phillies dealing from their current outfield. The idea would be to open a spot for Justin Crawford, one of the club’s top prospects, who has hit .339 at Triple A while wielding his game-changing speed.Whether Crawford is ready to be an everyday player on a contending team remains to be seen. There are indications the Phillies want to see at some point this summer.That would mean moving either Brandon Marsh or Kepler. Both have underperformed in 2025. They might not have much value on the trade market. Teams have poked around, though, because the state of offense across the sport is dismal.Marsh, in particular, could interest someone. He has two years of club control after 2025. He’s probably a better fit in left field. He has chipped away after a nightmarish start to his season. Marsh is hitting .315/.379/.441 since May 1. The Phillies could use him to secure a better fit for their roster — either a right-handed bat, a swing-and-miss setup man, or a prospect to help backfill whatever the Phillies ship out this month.But the Phillies would be selling low on Marsh. Kepler, on the other hand, is owed less than $5 million over the remainder of the season. It would be easier to cut ties with him.Whatever path the Phillies take, their quest is rather simple: They’d love to have one outfielder who can both hit and field his position.As the Phillies make bids this month, the secondary pieces in a prospect package matter. Rival evaluators see a massive drop from the Phillies’ best four or five prospects to the next tier. That could make it tougher for them to make a competitive offer.A few of those middle-tier prospects have fetched more attention from rival evaluators. One of them, Hendry Mendez, is a 21-year-old outfielder at Double-A Reading who has hit for a high average with excellent plate discipline. Some clubs view Mendez as a good candidate for a swing change to help him lift the ball more.Alex McFarlane, a 24-year-old righty at High-A Jersey Shore, is in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He’s had ups and downs but throws hard with a feel for spin. He profiles as a future reliever and must be added to a 40-man roster this offseason or he will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft.Jean Cabrera, who is on the 40-man roster, has displayed improved command over the last six weeks. Cabrera, 23, fits the mold of pitching prospects the Phillies have flipped at previous trade deadlines.The club’s focus, according to sources, is firmly on bullpen additions. There is a greater supply of high-end relievers as opposed to difference-making bats. This could change in the coming weeks, but the bullpen need is overwhelming.Consider this: Phillies relievers have thrown a higher percentage of pitches in the strike zone than any other bullpen. But they have the 19th highest whiff rate on those in-zone pitches.Since May 18, the first day of José Alvarado’s suspension, Phillies relievers have the lowest whiff rate in MLB on two-strike pitches.They need more swing-and-miss stuff. Badly.
July 10, 2025Jul 10 Passan mentions clase and Kwan. Frankly I’d rather get Duran but I’d take clase if it’s like Tait and Abel. Then I’d go to the angels to try for Adell I’d use Crawford and Aroon Escobar. Adell is 26 and just entering his prime with 2.5 years left of control.
July 11, 2025Jul 11 Watching Griff McGarry pitch in the AA broadcast. Poor bro has no value. He needs to be moved to the bullpen to see if he can be unexpectedly salvaged there.
July 11, 2025Jul 11 Just watched Aiden Miller strike out looking against a pitcher that was in worse shape than David Wells. David Wells now.
July 11, 2025Jul 11 Hot take of the day: the jump in skill from AA to AAA is greater than the jump from AAA to MLB.
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