Yeah like uncannymanny said, barring any further injury I don't see a spot for Phillips.Do we actually see him this year? He's now hitting .283/.339/.444 in 112 PA in the minors with 9bb/16k. It looks like he might have something left but with Ian Kinsler now on board, I'm not sure where Phillips fits in.
Yeah, the 40-man is the issue. Would they drop Renda? Can't see anyone else on there except maybe Chandler Shepherd, whose name I only offer because I don't know anything about him. And then there's the fact that they have to move someone off when Pedroia gets healthy.If they have a 40-man spot in September, maybe he's got a shot. But with guys like Ockimey and Chavis due to be added in the off-season anyway (Rule 5 eligible), they might see them as more advantageous adds in a "let them see the show" orientation kind of way.
FWIW, they just opened up a spot on the 40-man today by designating Dan Butler for assignment (to active Swihart). So for the moment they have some wiggle room.Yeah, the 40-man is the issue. Would they drop Renda? Can't see anyone else on there except maybe Chandler Shepherd, whose name I only offer because I don't know anything about him. And then there's the fact that they have to move someone off when Pedroia gets healthy.
If he's healthy enough (I know) and if they have room on the 40-man, I think they might try to get him in a couple of games if it's at all possible. He might want to, just for peace of mind. May not be feasible, of course.FWIW, they just opened up a spot on the 40-man today by designating Dan Butler for assignment (to active Swihart). So for the moment they have some wiggle room.
As far as Pedroia goes, I doubt he's going to be back this year. He'll get added back to the 40-man after the season when the free agents are removed.
I really hope that the last few games the Sox play this year aren't "meaningless." Also, do you mean get Pedroia a few games or Phillips? A few games at the end of the regular season if playoff positioning has been locked up? Because of Pedroia is "healthy" enough to play a bit at the end of the year, I'm pretty sure there is no force on earth that could keep him off the roster then for the playoffs.If he's healthy enough (I know) and if they have room on the 40-man, I think they might try to get him in a couple of games if it's at all possible. He might want to, just for peace of mind. May not be feasible, of course.
I remember sometime in the early 70s when the Mets were finishing a lost season. Seaver had been hurt and mediocre on and off all year. He said he finally got to the bottom of it and wanted to pitch in what was some meaningless game at the end It went well it was a big deal for him. I'm pretty sure this is it:
https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/20/archives/seaver-expected-to-miss-rest-of-season.html
We want meaningless games as in the Sox have sewn up the division and best-record secured so wins/losses no longer matter.I really hope that the last few games the Sox play this year aren't "meaningless." Also, do you mean get Pedroia a few games or Phillips? A few games at the end of the regular season if playoff positioning has been locked up? Because of Pedroia is "healthy" enough to play a bit at the end of the year, I'm pretty sure there is no force on earth that could keep him off the roster then for the playoffs.
In the Kinsler thread below, it was reported that Kinsler will be activitated on either Wednesday or Friday. Knock on wood..guess you heard wrong...Isn't the talk that Kinsler has had some kind of setback? If that's the case, it would seem now is exactly the right time to use Butler's 40-man spot to see what we've got.
From the telecast linked on ESPNI think he's got a little bit left in the tank.....
If by "scuffles" you mean "breaks a leg ", then yes.I don't know if it has a greater than 0% chance of happening, but if Phillips hits and Devers scuffles, is there a possibility they go with Phillips in the playoffs?
Well they could go with both instead of a third catcher. I think Nunez will start in October due to defense and he's been better with the bat lately. Who's a more useful bench piece between Phillips and Devers? Phillips is a great baserunner, can push a tough walk and a strong defender.I don't know if it has a greater than 0% chance of happening, but if Phillips hits and Devers scuffles, is there a possibility they go with Phillips in the playoffs?
I agree with all this but figured I'd ask the question anyway because I've seen differing opinions on Devers. Some posts even suggests demoting him back when that was an option.If by "scuffles" you mean "breaks a leg ", then yes.
More likely it would be Holt or Nunez replacement and that is unlikely
Thing is, that 3rd catcher can also play multiple positions, has been hitting somewhat recently, and has some pretty good wheels himself. Swihart also opens up the possibility of pinch hitting and pinch running for Leon and Vaz.Well they could go with both instead of a third catcher. I think Nunez will start in October due to defense and he's been better with the bat lately. Who's a more useful bench piece between Phillips and Devers? Phillips is a great baserunner, can push a tough walk and a strong defender.
Hard to see them dropping Nunez from postseason roster. Esp since he has hit better post-ASB. I think it will take an injury to Nunez or Holt for Phillips to make the roster.Phillips has hit lefties (.782 lifetime OPS against) much better than righties (.726 lifetime). This, of course makes sense as he is a RHH. Devers has struggled mightily against lefties this year to the tune of a .613 OPS. Nunez has never done much against lefties either ( .698 lifetime OPS/ .622 this season). So perhaps a Devers/Phillips platoon might make sense.
This is an odd thing to say about a guy with a career walk rate of 5.2% and a season high of 6.8% almost ten years ago.Well they could go with both instead of a third catcher. I think Nunez will start in October due to defense and he's been better with the bat lately. Who's a more useful bench piece between Phillips and Devers? Phillips is a great baserunner, can push a tough walk and a strong defender.
He has been adequate with a line of .268/.281/.437 post-ASB. The guy almost never walks (3 in 146 PA since ASB) and has very little power. Defensively he is...fine. Phillips would need to prove it on the field (and, for what it is worth I think Rafi is back with a vengeance). But I'd rather see him get some shots at 3B on Devers days off.Hard to see them dropping Nunez from postseason roster. Esp since he has hit better post-ASB. I think it will take an injury to Nunez or Holt for Phillips to make the roster.
I'd leave Vaz off before Swihart.Thing is, that 3rd catcher can also play multiple positions, has been hitting somewhat recently, and has some pretty good wheels himself. Swihart also opens up the possibility of pinch hitting and pinch running for Leon and Vaz.
Yep...prisoner of the moment. Had a good AB today where he laid off some tough pitches and took a walk. My bad for not looking deeper.This is an odd thing to say about a guy with a career walk rate of 5.2% and a season high of 6.8% almost ten years ago.
I dunno. I think the team is committed to Vaz as the starter in the short and long term and aren't very high on Swihart's catching ability. If I had to go with 2, I'd want Swihart to be one of them because the other 2 are basically the same but I don't think the Sox agree with me.I'd leave Vaz off before Swihart.
Thread title is misleading, as I'd probably give it less then 50/50 he sees a game here at the MLB level.
My money says Phillips doesn't make the MLB roster.
Probably not even then barring an injury.
The point of these quotes is not to bust chops. It's to admit that I was right there with you but too disinterested to even post the thought.Yeah like uncannymanny said, barring any further injury I don't see a spot for Phillips.
They werent all *that* wrong, in the sense that the Sox got Kinsler after they saw whatever they saw of Phillips in AAA.The point of these quotes is not to bust chops. It's to admit that I was right there with you but too disinterested to even post the thought.
Even if today is all he gives us, I'm glad to have been wrong.
Harold Reynolds from MLB tonight stated Phillips was going to be called up before the Kinsler trade, but was hit on the wrist, therefore making Boston find another solution, ie. Kinsler. Not sure how much truth to that is, but have not heard a bad word about BP while he was down in the “bushes”.They werent all *that* wrong, in the sense that they got Kinsler after they saw whatever they saw of Phillips in AAA.
That's interesting. I assume that if he was anything other than a model teammate, he'd be gone.Harold Reynolds from MLB tonight stated Phillips was going to be called up before the Kinsler trade, but was hit on the wrist, therefore making Boston find another solution, ie. Kinsler. Not sure how much truth to that is, but have not heard a bad word about BP while he was down in the “bushes”.
Someone mentioned it above, but Phillips has a career BB rate of 5.2%. The MLB average is 8.3%. Walking is not really part of his skill set and on top of that, his BB rate has been in decline for sometime now. He hasn't been over 5% since 2013, and his last 2 seasons his BB rates were 3.1% and 3.5%. I think he can offer value, but someone who can walk he is not.someone who can walk is just as good as anything else.
.
It probably would've been a cool baseball moment even if the Sox were out of contention.2+ months in AAA after not finding a team has to be very humbling for a 17 year vet. From all accounts handled it like a pro. Great moment for him and well deserved.
fair. still think you give him some run and see what he has, because Devers isn't showing much either and you want a fallback in case Nunez craters like he canSomeone mentioned it above, but Phillips has a career BB rate of 5.2%. The MLB average is 8.3%. Walking is not really part of his skill set and on top of that, his BB rate has been in decline for sometime now. He hasn't been over 5% since 2013, and his last 2 seasons his BB rates were 3.1% and 3.5%. I think he can offer value, but someone who can walk he is not.
My perspective was actually more basic than this.They werent all *that* wrong, in the sense that the Sox got Kinsler after they saw whatever they saw of Phillips in AAA.
He's not in the mix for the post-season roster yet. It was one game. As great as it was, let's not go overboard over one afternoon. If he keeps performing like that when given the opportunity, then sure, maybe the conversation should be had. But "at this point", he's just an extra body around to give guys rest.At this point I think it’s Phillips vs. a catcher for the post-season (assuming no injuries).
There is zero point zero chance that Mitch Moreland is left off the postseason roster.Edit: Sorry for the way too early roster talk...
I guess another question is, could you see a world where Mitchy 2 Bags keeps struggling (around .600 OPS post-AS) and they make the decision to go with a Pearce/Swihart platoon at 1st in the postseason and leave Mitch off because Phillips would be a more useful bench piece? Personally I don't, more due to the fact that Blake will not show enough to put all our eggs in that basket unless he goes on an out-of-nowhere hot streak a la JBJ, as well as Mitch's greater body of work as a minimum adequate 1st baseman.
Especially for the AL playoffs, flexibility of positioning is not at a premium. However if Moreland's struggles continue into the playoffs, a potential World Series requiring some double-switches in an NL park could be a different story.
They should see how he does out of the bullpen. He could help there, too!He's not in the mix for the post-season roster yet. It was one game. As great as it was, let's not go overboard over one afternoon. If he keeps performing like that when given the opportunity, then sure, maybe the conversation should be had. But "at this point", he's just an extra body around to give guys rest.
If he's healthy. He could be dead by then.There is zero point zero chance that Mitch Moreland is left off the postseason roster.
As am I! If he has even one playoff moment like that in a WS winning run, he'll be a Boston legend. He can ask Dave Roberts about that.The point of these quotes is not to bust chops. It's to admit that I was right there with you but too disinterested to even post the thought.
Even if today is all he gives us, I'm glad to have been wrong.