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Phillies 2025 thread

Don't know much about Max Kepler who came over from the Twins.

He had a HR today, and John Kruk thinks he'll like Citizens Bank Park for power hitting. Is he decent as a fielder? That's been a shaky area for the Phils, finding OF's who can hit and defend.
 
Yesterday was a glorious day to be a Phillie fan! Weather was Summerlike during the pre-game....breezy but almost too hot.

We only "tailgated" for 20 minutes or so while waiting for my son to get down to the Stadium Complex via Amtrak and Septa. Got into The Bank and our seats in the front row of 235 about 30 minutes before first pitch.

PA announcer introduced both teams' full rosters, coaches and other specialists. The guys behind me booed the Rockies Travelling Secretary....I kid you not.

Harry Kalas' son did a great version of the anthemn- could he be the next Lauren Hart? Big flag, followed by flyover on a sun soaked day.

B. Graham and Saquon brought the Lombardi Trophy during an inning changeover to great applause.

The game was fast and crisp- which everyone was pleased with since most of us had rain ponchos/jackets due to varying forcast.

Crowd booed loudly when Colorado player homered. Then Phils manufactured some runs and the big bats showed up.

Afterwards we walked over to The Wells Fargo Center, changed our jerseys and went to the Flyers vs Preds game. I wore a PSU hockey jersey w Flyers ski cap- got many "We Are's" and some good discussions about the team.

Flyers won in a fun and action packed game. We left into a colossal thunderstorm but got home ok.

The doubleheader was in celebration of my son's 28th birthday- which is tomorrow.

Excellent start to the Phillies home season and fun day to be alive!
 
Don't know much about Max Kepler who came over from the Twins.

He had a HR today, and John Kruk thinks he'll like Citizens Bank Park for power hitting. Is he decent as a fielder? That's been a shaky area for the Phils, finding OF's who can hit and defend.
Kepler was an outstanding RF, excellent defense, power hitter but injured for the past 5 years. Playing LF for Phillies??? Another "leftie" in the lineup, fear the old school manager will start platooning soon with Marsh, Bryson and Kepler. Based on history back to 2019 Kepler does have 30+ homer potential. With the bloated payroll Kepler is a good signing if he stays healthy. If Kepler stays healthy and has a good year will cost a bundle to resign, he is on a one year contract. Won't cost as much as Tucker, currently with Cubs, I think Tucker and Kepler can be similar players. Luzardo, great signing if healthy, don't know much about the relief pitcher whom they signed from the Jays, also injured. Braves already lost big signing, Profar, 80 day suspension plus no playoffs. Lopez, starting pitcher now on IL, shoulder. Acuna and Strider still not ready to play.
 
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Don't know much about Max Kepler who came over from the Twins.

He had a HR today, and John Kruk thinks he'll like Citizens Bank Park for power hitting. Is he decent as a fielder? That's been a shaky area for the Phils, finding OF's who can hit and defend.
Solid player. He was a problem for the Guardians so I am glad he's out of our division. he hit .260 with 20 HRs in 2023 and was hurt a lot of last season. MN can be a tough place to play in the spring so he'll probably do better than that in Philly which is a bit warmer.

I also saw that one of the Braves free agent signings in the off season just got nailed for a banned substance and is being suspended for 60 games. That may have messed them up a bit this week.

 
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Charlie had baseball sense. It also helps when you have what at the time looked like four potential Hall of Famers on the team.
 
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Charlie had baseball sense. It also helps when you have what at the time looked like four potential Hall of Famers on the team.
Again, the old school manager with his platooning AND playing mix and match with closers. Alvarado has been an effective 8th inning guy yet may lack the mentality to be a closer. Yes, they won today but barely. You might blame Dombrowski for not acquiring a true closer, they went cheap and got Romano, doesn't look the part. Nevertheless, would not matter because old school manager would still MIX and MATCH.
 
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Again, the old school manager with his platooning AND playing mix and match with closers. Alvarado has been an effective 8th inning guy yet may lack the mentality to be a closer. Yes, they won today but barely. You might blame Dombrowski for not acquiring a true closer, they went cheap and got Romano, doesn't look the part. Nevertheless, would not matter because old school manager would still MIX and MATCH.
Not all impressed with "Dumb"rowski during his tenure with the Phillies. Has he made any great moves? Bad trade deadlines....signing Turner to a ridiculous deal...
 
A series against the 8-0 undefeated Dodgers coming up next. We’ll see how the Phils offense and bullpen stack up against the champs.
 
Not all impressed with "Dumb"rowski during his tenure with the Phillies. Has he made any great moves? Bad trade deadlines....signing Turner to a ridiculous deal...
I'm a fan, so don't care if they spend money, ala, Turner. They should have signed a true closer, the lefty who signed with the Dodgers or trade for the closer from the Cards. Cards were trying to dump salary, would have cost a couple of mid-level prospects. Believe Phils are at 110% penalty level, any new acquisitions that add salary would cost that salary PLUS 110% of that salary in penalty.
 
A series against the 8-0 undefeated Dodgers coming up next. We’ll see how the Phils offense and bullpen stack up against the champs.
Alvarado had a one inning 35 pitch save as the Phils sweep the Rockies.

 
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