The Phillies received good news after righty Pat Neshek underwent an MRI, as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com tweets. There’s some inflammation, as might have been expected given that he had identified an issue, but nothing more concerning than that. The expectation at this point, though, is that Neshek will remain on ice for “a couple more weeks” to allow things to calm down. Philadelphia has yet to receive a contribution from Neshek or fellow recent signee Tommy Hunter, though as Zolecki recently tweeted, it seems Hunter is nearing his return and perhaps Neshek won’t be far behind.
Here’s more from the NL East:
- New Phillies skipper Gabe Kapler was again forced to defend his early-season decision-making, as Zolecki also writes. This time, the questions arose in relation to defensive positioning, yet another area in which the Philadelphia club is experimenting with unconventional methods. Interested readers will want to review the full post for the details. Generally, though, Kapler again emphasized that he believes the process will pay dividends in the long run, even if the short-term results have raised the ire of many Phillies fans.
- Former top Marlins pick Tyler Kolek has been scratched from his first scheduled start of the new season, as Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com tweets. He’ll instead go on the minor-league DL. Details aren’t known at this point, but it’s hardly an auspicious start for the 22-year-old, who has thrown just 3 2/3 innings over the past two seasons in large part due to Tommy John surgery. Kolek, now 22 years of age, was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2014 draft.
- Of course, things can change quickly — in either direction — for a pitcher, particularly when health issues are involved. The Mets and Matt Harvey know that as well as anyone. As James Wagner of the New York Times wrote after Harvey’s first start of the new season, the once-dominant, then dumped-on hurler has shown signs of reemerging as a new but potentially effective starter in his final season of team control. Wagner notes that the Mets fielded trade interest in Harvey this offseason but opted not to sell low on the right-hander — in part at the behest of newly hired manager Mickey Callaway and new pitching coach Dave Eiland. A free agent at season’s end, Harvey opened the year with five shutout innings, during which he yielded just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts.
harvey’s winning cy young
said know one ever
Man you are a regular chris rock
More like a regular pet rock.
Ive met people boulder, that’s for sure.
I wonder if you’re rock hard.
Know way!
Know, your wrong
*you’re
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Wait, what? You just did
Kolek can’t catch a break. Marlins should make him a reliever once he’s back
Because he had surgery? Wait till he recovers and see if he can find some command of his pitches. Doesn’t matter if it’s 1 inning or 7, if he can’t locate.
I applaud Kaplers progressive approach towards how he manages his 25 guys on a personal level, but as far as managing a game gos he’s gotta back off. Sabremetrics are very in and cool I get it. But you can’t ignore the human element and feel for the game.
Manager Moonbeam has to realize you don’t line up 120 feet behind second base unless you are playing the Bad News Bears. I don’t care what the piece of paper in his hand says…that is just stupid.
If he keeps it up, not a single FA will consider signing with the Phillies next year.
Depending on what we would get back, I am all in favor of trading Harvey.
If he pitches well in the first half, it’s not hard to imagine a bunch of teams being interested in trading for him at the deadline. The real question is whether or not the Mets will be in a position to buy or sell at that point
Gabe and his game mgmt is gee let’s see…. poor, and I like Gabe. But you can not manage a bull pen in that style… and he got away with murder in Atlanta the other night, shame on the ump that let him get away with it…. No way the Atlanta Mgr deserves to get tossed
Totally agree, and I hate the Braves. Bush league. Ump made a disastrous decision, then had a short fuse. You wanna bend (break) the rules because you’re worried the kid being screwed over by Kapler might hurt his arm? I get that. But then fold your arms & take it like a man when the Braves manager gives you an earful.
I think managing a bullpen is the most hit or miss of any manager. Even playing the best probabilities.
That said, yeah. His mistake in that Atlanta game was one of the worst he could have pulled. If he had done that late season it would have been a firing offense.
Bullpen arms might be hit or miss, but managing a bullpen is a big part of a managers jobs.
The thing about Kapler believing his plan will work out in the long run: he’s gotta still be around for that to happen.
I cherish seeing Kapler manage the Phillies. It’s not very often you get to see a rival have an absolute bafoon at the helm.
mets are lookin good right now.. all you people who cry ooo they didnt do anything this off season should eat your words and dry your eyes…
who said they didn’t do anything? They were fairly active compared to much of the league
Fairly? I think I saw they signed there most major league contracts. Or they did at some point. Hey did very well this offseason, I think if healthy they can easily win 90 games. Not healthy, just as easily 70 games.
The most (as in comparison to the rest of mlb)
It’s been 1 week. Give it time.
Kapler sucks. He has this city going nuts 6 games into the year
Trade Harvey NOW while his value is maxed out