Phillies 2016 Season
- Thread starter NovaHoops2002
- Start date
Yep, the stars are lining up for Phils fans' to potentially celebrate a Memorial Day championship next weekend like the Mets teams of several years in the 2008-2012 period. It was clear the Phils had the division on lock but Mets fans were blinded by the light with IKKKKKe Davis in the fold. Get the bubbly on ice.
The talk by some of contending this year is silly. People pack foresight. This team is gonna shut down Nola, Eickhoff and VV at some point this year as their innings elevate. Let's just enjoy the year for what it is. It's so much more than we expected.
NickleDimer
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Herrera CF (L)
Crawford SS (L)
Franco 3B (R)
Joseph 1B (R)
Williams LF (L)
Rupp C (R)
Altherr RF (R)
Galvis 2B (S)
Nola P
NickleDimer
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Me too......Alfaro maybe middle of next year? I think Rupp can be a solid back-up for a few years if they hit on Alfaro. I see Knapp moving positions, maybe 1B with Joseph?
Anyway, I think next year they give all of their young'ins a real good look. I don't see any top tier FAs next year. Need to see what they truly have.
No line-up yet.
Just read this quote on Twitter:
"He tore it up at AAA. I like his swing and approach. I'm going to try and mix him in more."
NickleDimer
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They'll just throw it into the pile of 3 years worth of strongly worded letters that I've written.
Eberezz, no Joseph. Start writing. What's that 3 of 7? 42.9%....Strict platoon.
Howard hit a HR off the guy pitching tomorrow. I think Joseph starts the day game Sunday. Tomorrow could get washed out, too. The DH for three after that.
Howard hit a HR off the guy pitching tomorrow. I think Joseph starts the day game Sunday. Tomorrow could get washed out, too. The DH for three after that.
NickleDimer
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I get that they have to get to a certain point of the season before they can sit him for good, but don't tell me that's because you're trying to "get Howie going." Been trying to get him going for 3 years, love what the front office is doing with the other young players stop f'n around
NickleDimer
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Put him out of his misery already! .165 and falling. For F&cks sake. I'm going to have to stage a hunger strike.
Maybe, I way off, but I have a hunch that we could see a Howard release in the near future.
NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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Nola really didn't throw that poorly. Yea, gave up the two HRs, but in reality neither of those batters should have reached the plate in those innings. Franco's error in 7th led to 3 unearned runs. Earlier, Nola's lack of urgency in fielding/tossing a bunt and Howard's poor footwork led to guy reaching on a play that should have been an out.
Even I can't defend Howard here - he needs to sit and be relegated to pinch hitting at best. That defensive play with him stretching towards 2nd when the throw was coming from Nola was terrible. His ABs have been even more woeful that usual. Joseph needs to start like 5-6 games in a row now.
I will always appreciate and remember the good/great years that Howard gave the team. I supported him in recent years when I knew the team was tied to that contract and he wasn't going anywhere without some sort of unexpected resurgence. I'll still enjoy the occasional HR that helps them win a game. But despite all of that, it's time to officially cut the cord.
I don't think Howard is a bad guy or causing problems in the clubhouse or anything like that. I can somewhat get that Middleton/other older front office guys (I don't believe McPhail-Klentak care all that much) want to put him down in the most humane way possible.
What we are seeing now is the lowest of the low. Even in past struggles he still mostly kept the average above .225. Even when he does hit ball hard in the field of play it goes into that shift. He can't run. It's just so damn hard for him to get a hit without it going over an OF'ers head, which obviously doesn't happen at the frequency that it once did.
It's the final year of his contract. That money is gone. It's never coming back. There aren't future years to worry about. They'll pay the 10 mil buyout at year's end and be on their way. No need to prolong the inevitable.
Finally, despite the struggles and contract end nearing, which are more than enough reason to cut the cord. The most important reason to do it is to let a younger player get a fair chance. It's perfect year to throw a 24-year old out there and say go make the best of it. A kid who once had a pedigree as a good hitter before the injuries that nearly ended his career. A RH bat, which they sorely need, who might provide some pop. He's been here for 7 games now and had 11 official ABs. Not cutting it. They are wasting opportunities on a guy, who isn't going to be part of the future. It's just not very smart. And I get they are trying to give him as much rope as possible because of what he meant to the team in the past, but you're hurting the development of someone else in the process. At this point that development needs to come first.
I don't think Howard is a bad guy or causing problems in the clubhouse or anything like that. I can somewhat get that Middleton/other older front office guys (I don't believe McPhail-Klentak care all that much) want to put him down in the most humane way possible.
What we are seeing now is the lowest of the low. Even in past struggles he still mostly kept the average above .225. Even when he does hit ball hard in the field of play it goes into that shift. He can't run. It's just so damn hard for him to get a hit without it going over an OF'ers head, which obviously doesn't happen at the frequency that it once did.
It's the final year of his contract. That money is gone. It's never coming back. There aren't future years to worry about. They'll pay the 10 mil buyout at year's end and be on their way. No need to prolong the inevitable.
Finally, despite the struggles and contract end nearing, which are more than enough reason to cut the cord. The most important reason to do it is to let a younger player get a fair chance. It's perfect year to throw a 24-year old out there and say go make the best of it. A kid who once had a pedigree as a good hitter before the injuries that nearly ended his career. A RH bat, which they sorely need, who might provide some pop. He's been here for 7 games now and had 11 official ABs. Not cutting it. They are wasting opportunities on a guy, who isn't going to be part of the future. It's just not very smart. And I get they are trying to give him as much rope as possible because of what he meant to the team in the past, but you're hurting the development of someone else in the process. At this point that development needs to come first.
Its a damn shame what has happened with Howard. I think the organization as to think long and hard about releasing him or simply playing him twice a week at best. Joseph needs to play regularly to see exactly what we have there.
Nola may have had a shutout with just some normal defense.
Galvis will never hit consistently ever. He has pop in his bat at times which seems to get some excited but his average is where it usually is. His defense has always been good but he will never hit enough to be a regular every day player for the next several years IMO.
NickleDimer
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Is it possible for you to ever turn off dick mode? Really, it can't be that hard, right?
NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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No. My issues with you at times haven't been about Howard. I mostly agree with you over last 3 seasons. The problem was that contract wasn't getting moved and they were never going to cut their loses when still owing him 75 million. That just wasn't happening, so to me it was pointless to me to bash him day in and day out.
The other part of it was that he didn't suck for his entire career. He had great years and was very instrumental in arguably the franchise's greatest era. I understand decline comes and eventually players aren't good anymore, but if they were once really good, then I appreciate that and choose not to rip them. That's just me.
I didn't disagree with you for criticizing his performance, tho. The numbers were there for everyone to see.
A lot of what we have discussed on here is in this article.
http://www.phillyvoice.com/front-office-needs-fix-ryan-howard-situation-mackanin/
http://www.phillyvoice.com/front-office-needs-fix-ryan-howard-situation-mackanin/
NickleDimer
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"was that he didn't suck for his entire career."
We're all becoming Strawman building black belts after spending so much time dealing with ADP.
A "Matt Stairs"-like role is a graceful way to frame it. Pinch hitting and starting in weekday day games vs. righties. Who in the front office/ownership has an undying love for him? Did he save their children from drowning?
We're all becoming Strawman building black belts after spending so much time dealing with ADP.
A "Matt Stairs"-like role is a graceful way to frame it. Pinch hitting and starting in weekday day games vs. righties. Who in the front office/ownership has an undying love for him? Did he save their children from drowning?
I just don't think constantly calling him a fat pig and a POS is needed. There is no reason to come off that angry. Howard's been a good guy and the people running the team keep throwing him out there. Criticism in his past performance is obviously fair. Criticism this year is more than fair, as its reached even deeper depths of bad.
I think some noise might be coming from Middleton because I don't believe the president/GM are attached. He probably still has a soft spot.
Anyway, I agree with the article. Take the decision away from Mackanin.
