While I didn't think he would be 2nd overall in OPS, I did think he'd be better this year. His improvements came shortly after coming to the Phills last year. Kevin Long changed his swing after he came over, simplifying everything, see article here: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...hillies-brandon-marsh-is-making-more-contact/
Both Nola and Hoskins have shortcomings, but I would rather put the money into Nola. It's harder to find good starters than good first basemen with power.
Agreed about Nola over Hoskins.
Yes, the surgery was on his throwing arm. That's why the Phillies used him only as the DH for much of last year. My guess is that he will be a first baseman if he ever returns to the field; that will make Hoskins expendable. The only problem is that Castellanos is not a good right fielder, although he has considerably improved since last year. He said the problem was that his poor hitting led him not to concentrate in the field. Maybe that's fixable.
As others have answered, yes, which is why he won't be playing OF this year and may not see the field at 1B until very late in the season.
Regarding the lineup realistically it doesn't matter too much. Zolecki has an article up on MLB.com today, explaining why, but for the most part switching lineups around doesn't matter.
It's nice to see the bench guys contributing too, and the bullpen was strong tonight for five innings even without Alvarado, Dominguez or Kimbrel being available.
My impression is that Harper is months away from being able to play 1st -- his right elbow isn't ready. He was able to come back because he is a lefty hitter and so the weakness in his right elbow doesn't affect his hitting very much. The Phils are stuck with Schwarber in left unless they can build a lead in a game and then take him out for defense. Think of him as the Greg Luzinski of our time.
Yup. Some stupid City Connect designs.
More of a product of the NL just not playing well right now as a whole, rather than it being a case of too many playoff spots available. There's only 5 teams in the NL above .500 right now, compared to 9 in the AL.
But the problem is that things may stay that way in the NL, which would mean that a .500 team would qualify. But let's hope not. The Phillies have been surging. But the Pirates are falling apart, and it's not clear that the Mets or Marlins or the bottom three teams in the Central or West are going to get hot or even better than lukewarm.
Todd Zolecki of mlb.com reports that Harper is working out at first. He can do everything fine -- except throw. He is playing catch from 90 feet. Once he can throw 120 feet, he will be considered ready. Rob Thomson thinks he is at least a month away from that. When he can play first, Bohm will go back to third, Schwarber will probably DH, and Cristian Pache, once healthy, will play in the outfield.
Mets and Nats are surely winnable series. Braves are looking great again as usual
