Well, it's time for a quick Phillies Spring Training update as the games start to be played.
The championship tour continues for Eagles C Jason Kelce - he visited the Phillies and gave a speech even more profane-laden than at the parade. He also spent Sunday in Manyunk with Avalon String Band. Let's see if the championship momentum benefits the Phillies as well on their quest to accelerate the rebuild.
So far, the Phillies haven't found a veteran starting pitcher but have announced that Nola would be the Opening Day starter. They are talking to Arietta's agent, the infamous Scott Boras. Price needs to come down to a 3-year deal or they'll have to get creative. And the players' union does not like rebuilds nor teams waiting for next year's stellar free agent class. Also, the players get one last chance to improve pace of play or the commissioner will take over but there is one change: a limit to total team meetings on the mound except for injuries and long extra-inning games.
On the offensive side, the non-rostered OF Will Middlebrooks broke his leg the other day but is upbeat. His slim chances before the injury have gotten even leaner. Jorge Alfaro is ready to go as shown by his grand slam the other day. His homer and Williams denting Kapler's rental car are great signs.
Ultimately, it takes (1) 11 starters, 8 of which need to be <4.0 ERA at an avg of 125+ IP per starter (3.75 ERA overall) plus (2) a bullpen holding leads (~4 ERA) and the offense scoring more runs than the pitching gives up (likely). A fourth factor is defense but all you ask of them is to limit the blunders, make the catchable plays and get some assists, which the Phillies should be able to do.
Then comes Kapler taking a very unconventional approach: he is, as he should, aiming for the NL East. Instead of the traditional team meeting he took them to dinner. They get up later and work out less, emphasizing quality of work over quantity. He even has minor league umps calling balls and strikes during bullpen sessions. Let's see if his approach works.
And the Phillies held a moment of silence for Roy Halladay during the opening remarks of Grapefruit Game 1. So sad.
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