The Phillies have lost, just in the last month, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Spencer Turnbull and Taijuan Walker. Three of their best hitters, two very important starters. And yet they still have a lot of the momentum they had before. Somehow this doesn't seem to faze them as much as it would normally.
Like, already you've seen this team cover for itself in bigger moments. Edmundo Sosa filled in for Trea Turner on his injury, and he became one of the most successful players on the team. Turnbull took Walker's rotation spot and was incredible, revitalizing himself after years of injuries in Detroit. Brandon Marsh was briefly covered by David Dahl, who is surprisingly doing really well this year, hitting .250 with 8 RBIs and 3 homers in 16 games. So the depth is very capable of withstanding big losses, even if Harper and Schwarber are huge blows to the Phils' power numbers.
The good news is that Kody Clemens has become a pretty strong backup 1st baseman, as he's actually hitting this year, 10 RBIs in 20 games. Garrett Stubbs is a fairly decent catching option anyway, and though he's not as good of a hitter as Realmuto, he hasn't exactly felt overwhelmed by the rising opportunity. Rafael Marchan's also been okay as the backup, and his power bat can do some nice things. As for the fifth starter spot? Tomorrow the Phils plan to go with Michael Mercado, who is a rare RAYS prospect who was flipped for nothing to Philly. Usually it's the other way around. Mercado was strong in an earlier relief appearance, and therefore the club is handing him the ball against Chicago tomorrow. Just from his prior numbers, especially in Lehigh Valley, I think Mercado's a great choice. I don't know if he'll immediately leap to the quality of Suarez, Wheeler, Nola and Sanchez, but he'll at the very least be able to hold the Cubs down [hopefully].
As for the rest of the team, if Alec Bohm is staying hot and Marsh, Turner and Stott are heating up, I'm not worried. Bryson Stott has taken a step back from last year, but his infield play gives him the edge over the competition. Bohm is the opposite, he's a tremendous hitter who really shouldn't be playing third. Turner is playing like he's rehabbing an injury, which...he is, so I'm not faulting him for lower defensive numbers, but he is still hitting .300, so I'm happy there. This team thrives on people like Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa, who are just as good defensively as they are at the plate, and I'm glad they can still power this team.
Finally, a word about the All-Star voting. Y'see, there have been a lot of people complaining about the Phillies' fanbase "rigging" the vote for people who may not deserve it. And I just want to set the record straight. I think that Alec Bohm and Trea Turner do deserve to be All-Stars, just like I think Bryce Harper deserved to be the voting leader for the NL. Every year we have a fanbase showing up for their guys, regardless of how well they match up to others, and like the other years where Giants fans or Cardinals fans or Cubs fans have made it so they get like 5 starters, Philly should be allowed theirs as well. This is what happens when you allow fan voting: the fans...will vote. People are worried that Nick Castellanos is gonna be pushed into a starting role for the NL. And, like...enough voters will ensure that doesn't happen. Brandon Marsh is a possibility, but Castellanos is polling 6th. Like we all know he's not an All-Star, even the Phils fans are like 'well he's been good LATELY, but...eesh'. So please...calm down. You're not getting like the whole team, like the Rangers last year.
Hell, Bryson Stott didn't even make the second round anyhow. Though, in fairness, it's Ketel Marte's year, so I'm not gonna force it.
Coming Tomorrow- In the next couple years, all of Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman will be retiring. I can only see one person having a full career of closing games like any of those three.
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