Philadelphia Philies are attempting to solve a few problems by…
CLEARWATER, Florida: Handshakes and introductions are usually the order of the day at spring training. New faces in new places are what the winter transaction carousel signifies, having picked up players like seeds in the wind and sent them to new pastures. names to become familiar with. Chemistry to determine. to establish trust.
The 2024 Philadelphia Phillies, on the other hand, don’t look anything like the 2023 Phillies.
This picture from a rainy Sunday morning in the Phillies’ spring training clubhouse might have been lifted straight out of any regular-season game from the previous year. A group of seasoned position players, which included J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos, conversed in the distant corner. Bryce Harper, who preferred to use a mason jar for his breakfast, was a few feet away, scooping it out. Nick’s eleven-year-old son Liam Castellanos was bouncing around in an oversized hoodie while Jose Alvarado and Gregory Soto played a furious game of ping-pong across the room.
“It’s undoubtedly strange not having to acquaint yourself with so many new guys,” Aaron Nola, who re-signed in November, stated to Yahoo Sports.
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There is a striking degree of continuity and familiar faces throughout the lineup.
This offseason offered a fresh flavor to an organization whose recent winters have been characterized by flashy, high-profile arrivals. The front office’s top priority was to keep Nola in red pinstripes for another seven seasons. This mission was completed before Thanksgiving, securing Nola’s tenure.
The most prominent position player to leave this winter was Rhys Hoskins, a fan favorite who suffered an ACL tear that prevented him from playing in 2023. After his awful October performance, the most renowned pitcher to leave the stadium, Craig Kimbrel, hadn’t exactly earned a statue outside the stadium.
It’s not like you can truly continue every year, is it? To get things done, you kind of have to rely on the men in your clubhouse, Harper remarked.
Other than Nola, journeyman pitcher Kolby Allard, veteran utility player Whit Merrifield, and depth starter Spencer Turnbull were the only players awarded MLB contracts this winter by President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski. Merrifield made his debut on Monday, so his addition will probably feel like a drastic roster change.
“The level of competition is low in camp,” manager Rob Thomson informed reporters the previous week. “And having that problem is a good thing.”
Pitchers for the Phillies pitched 1,438 innings in the previous season (this number excludes the 4â…“ innings pitched by Josh Harrison and fellow position player Kody Clemens). Not only do 147 of the 162 starts made, but a staggering 1,233â…” of those innings, or 85.3%, are still with the organization. The only teams who return a higher proportion of games started are the Marlins, Blue Jays, Nationals, and Astros.
There is much more consistency in the lineup. The only three position players still in the organization are journeyman infielder Drew Ellis (29 PA), depth outfielder Dalton Guthrie (28 PA), and seasoned utility man Harrison (114 plate appearances). Whether the team believes that rookie center-field glove-smith Johan Rojas needs a few more months to develop his bat in Triple-A is the greatest roster story in camp this spring.
The starting lineup for the Phillies on Opening Day most likely won’t differ from that of NLCS Game 7. It should come as no surprise that the players see the low turnover as a huge plus and a sign of confidence from management.
It’s absurd. Reliever Jeff Hoffman remarked, “I’ve never seen anything like this.” “It clearly demonstrates faith in the men in this room.”
Because of this continuity, common historical experiences—such as the team’s recent postseason exits—also have a lot more weight.
