Jul 7, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Michael Mercado (63) is removed from a game as shortstop Trea Turner (7) and second baseman Bryson Stott (5) and first baseman Kody Clemens (2) and catcher Garrett Stubbs (21) look on against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Brett Davis
Every Tuesday, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your questions from social media pertaining to the Phillies. Let's get to it.
@Spatricks9 on X: Trying hard to not let this Phillies run get to be like the Sixers for me (i.e. reg season doesn’t really matter). Why should I pay attention for 162 when all that really matters is if they can finally get over the hump and win it all?
Tim Kelly: I feel like this is a pretty common sentiment among Phillies fans. First of all, I feel you on the Sixers. I am apathetic, because I don't see a scenario where this core could produce a championship. I don't feel that way with the Phillies.
Yes, concerns remain about whether this lineup can manufacture enough runs that don't come via the home run to win a World Series. It remains to be seen how the bullpen will look without Jeff Hoffman and (likely) Carlos Estévez. The Phillies are not going to be the World Series favorites on Opening Day.
With that said, this is a core that's made two deep playoff runs together, including reaching the World Series in 2022. They are 20-14 in the postseason the last three years. Yes, 2024 ended on a disappointing note, as did 2023. But this is a team that's produced some really big moments in the postseason in recent years, unlike the Sixers who have yet to advance beyond the second round of the postseason in the Joel Embiid Era. (OK, enough picking on the Sixers.)
You can't guarantee what will happen in October. That's what makes baseball fun. And you shouldn't not enjoy a good team in June because they may lose in the NLCS in October.
Anthony SanFilippo: Quite simply, baseball is not a sport you tune out until the playoffs. It's like showing up at a whodunnit murder mystery five minutes before the reveal.
You miss all the drama and the highs and lows of a baseball season that gives you the opportunity to invest in the entire story on a daily basis.
I've always argued that what makes baseball special compared to the other sports is the daily nature of it. Football, you usually wait a week (or in the Eagles case for the Super Bowl, two weeks) between games. Hockey and basketball are more frequent, but sporadic, and only 82 nights over seven months — and in basketball, it's so bad now that the best players hardly play in a meaningless regular season.
But in baseball, it's 162 games in 180 days. The long distance race has much more room for a complete thrill ride. You wouldn't want to ride a roller coaster but skip all the drops and loops, right?
And Tim was much more pragmatic and polite in how he put it out there, but the Phillies are NOT the 76ers. Did they bring a title home? No. But man, they've been right in the mix to the end — except for last year, which was an understandable disappointment.
But if you get to the World Series one year and the NLCS the next — even if they should have beaten Arizona — it doesn't diminish the fact that the Phillies have the talent on the roster to get where everyone wants them to go.
And that's no different this season. Maybe you wanted more change than they gave you, and in the end, that could be a fair criticism of the team. But the reality is, you put the rosters of all 30 teams side by side right now, and the Phillies are easily one of the top five teams to consider for a World Series, and truly might be top two or three.
I wouldn't call them the favorite, but there can only be one favorite every year, and although the favorite won last year, it doesn't happen that often. Relax. Enjoy the season. It'll be a nice build-up for October, which we'll all get to experience again.
@PhillyIsaac on X: Who is 1 Phillie you are going to watch closely during Spring Training outside of the big names?
Tim Kelly: Great question.
I remain intrigued by Michael Mercado, who turned a lot of heads last spring with his stuff. Ultimately when he get his shot in the majors last year, he just didn't have enough control to be effective.
But he's still only 25, and had a mid-90s fastball to go with a cutter, curveball and changeup. He's got the stuff to be a really effective pitcher in the majors if he can just throw strikes.
I think he would benefit from being used strictly out of the bullpen moving forward, but we'll see if the Phillies decide to keep him stretched out.
First big league batter ✔️
First big league K ✔️ pic.twitter.com/BcntYGrUVG
Anthony SanFilippo: Mercado is a good pull by Tim, because there was a lot of positive conversation about him in Clearwater last year. I don't think they'll give up on him that quickly after a rough first shot at the major league level, and considering the bullpen could still use another arm, I think that's a good one to keep an eye on to see how he pans out.
That said, I don't have one specific player that I'm going to be keeping an eye on, but rather several of them. And that's because since Dave Dombrowski took over, at least one non-roster player with an invite to major league Spring Training has found a way to give the Phillies meaningful playing time.
Usually it's in the bullpen where guys like Andrew Bellatti, Jeff Hoffman and José Ruiz have made impacts. And while the Phillies bench is seemingly clear — either Rafael Marchán or Garrett Stubbs as backup catcher, and three of Edmundo Sosa, Weston Wilson, Johan Rojas or Kody Clemens on the bench — it wouldn't surprise if someone else emerged into that conversation.
Dombrowski brought up Otto Kemp at his end-of-season press conference without anyone asking about him. Then the Phillies sent him to the Arizona Fall League and he was one of the best hitters there. Might he worm his way into roster consideration?
As for the NRI pitchers, there are a bunch of relievers with Big League experience in camp — Nick Vespi, José Cuas, Nabil Crismatt, Cody Stashak, John McMillon, Joel Kuhnel and Nicholas Padilla. I've got to believe at least one of them takes down a chunk of innings for the Phillies this season.
Brandon Wallander on Facebook: If Max Scherzer signs, would he be used as a starter or a reliever?
Tim Kelly: Although Scherzer did come in and close out Game 5 of the 2021 NLDS while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, I have a difficult time imagining he is going to sign to do anything other than start.
Don't expect that signing will be with the Phillies, although Pat Ragazzo of Sports Illustrated did report that they had a scout on hand to watch his recent throwing session. So did a bunch of other teams with more obvious needs in the starting rotation.
Sources: free agent RHP Max Scherzer threw in front of teams at Cressey Sports Performance’s pro day earlier in the week
I’m told Scouts liked what they saw: Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Phillies, Braves, Cubs, Red Sox were among those present
Scherzer has been in…
Whether Scherzer — who will turn 41 in July and made just nine starts last season — will actually be able to do it or not, I suspect he believes he can make 25+ starts this year. The Phillies have arguably the best rotation in baseball, and barring injuries, don't really have the available starts for him to do that.
Anthony SanFilippo: Unless, Tim, they decide to move one of the guys we think of a starter to the bullpen.
Crazy thought, right? But can you see a world where either Ranger Suárez or Jesús Luzardo are used in that way? Both lefties have had problems in their career — usually related to injury — accumulating innings. Would either be better off being used in a different role to limit their usage and maximize their value? Suárez especially — since we know he can do it from being in that role in the past.
I'm not saying this is going to happen, but if the Phillies were seriously interested in Scherzer, that could be the alternative.
That said, I think Scherzer to the Phillies is a long shot at best.
@Shermaning on X: Losing out on a change-of-pace hitter/corner outfielder in Jurickson Profar seems like a misstep. With money coming off the books next season, why weren't the Phils willing to offer him a three-year deal (in your view)?
Tim Kelly: For as good as Profar was last season, two years ago he struggled so much with the Colorado Rockies that he was released in late August. It's not unreasonable to be a bit skeptical about his ability to replicate a career-year that didn't come until he was 31 years old.
The bigger picture view is that the Phillies have a ton of players in their 30s signed for years into the future, such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Adding another name onto that mix when you may want to re-sign Kyle Schwarber and/or J.T. Realmuto next offseason doesn't make a ton of sense.
It feels like some people are still waiting for another shoe to drop. I would tell you this — I would be shocked if the Opening Day starting outfield isn't Max Kepler in left field, Brandon Marsh in center field and Nick Castellanos in right field.
With Jesús Luzardo Trade, What Is the Projected Payroll of the Phillies in 2025?
From @TimKellySports ⬇️https://t.co/UvUek9AaYm
Anthony SanFilippo: Tim nailed this one. This is all about keeping the Phillies contenders beyond just this season or the next two seasons. It's why they were looking at guys with one-year contracts and not anything with term.
They feel, as constituted, they can still contend for a title. And when you look at the league, it's hard to argue that. They still have one of the best rosters in the game.
But, you are entering the final year of both Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto's contracts. You'll only have one year left of Nick Castellanos after this, so if you want to move on from him, it'll likely be easier to trade one year of his deal versus two.
They probably aren't bringing back Suárez after this season either, so suddenly, the 2025 offseason going into 2026 has a lot more flexibility. Its why they didn't go after a guy like Profar. It's why they didn't re-sign Jeff Hoffman.
They already have the second-highest payroll in baseball, and they have guys getting long in the tooth. To stay competitive beyond the current core needed a needle to be threaded. That's what Dombrowski is trying to accomplish by holding onto his top prospects and not giving out more big money contracts with term.
Will it work? We'll find out over the next nine months.
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