Rise and Phight: 9/10/2021

Ranger Suárez continues to be really good. It’s awesome, but I really don’t understand it. Is he benefitting from opposing teams not yet having a good enough scouting report on him? I know he’s looked better this season than ever before, but he still doesn’t look this good. And yet he continues to get results. I love it.

Ian Kennedy is not very good. It is weird that they just decided he would be the closer. The Phillies bullpen is not good, but the front office and the manager are doing nothing to make the best of it either.

Hector Neris is great and I will not forgive Dave Dombrowski if he doesn’t re-sign him. I’m serious. Hector could blow his arm out next season and the Phillies could go on to win the World Series and I would still never forgive him for letting my favourite player leave.

I said this on Twitter last night and I stand by it.

Okay, that’s enough of my thoughts. You can read more about last night’s game in Lauren’s recap. Time to hit the links.

John Heider/hometownlife.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

This day in Phillies (recent) history

• It’s another edition of this day in The Good Phight/Phillies history. Let’s go back to the glory years.
• On this day 12 years ago, the Phillies lost 8-7 to the Nationals. They may have lost, but I still enjoyed the rush of nostalgia I got from reading the names Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard in a game recap.
• Here’s an Onion article called “Chase Utley Takes Seventh-Inning Stretch Too Seriously.” Sometimes it’s nice to have a Phillies related laugh instead of a Phillies related cry.
• How about this piece in the Inquirer by Matt Gelb, entitled “Scout stuck by Domonic Brown, and it paid off for Phils.” LMFAO. Back to Phillies related crying I guess.
• Technically this article is from 13 years ago as of tomorrow, but we don’t do links on the weekend and I needed to share this one, entitled “Are the Phillies done?” from September 2008. #OldTakesExposed

Phillies news:

• A good overview of the Phillies’ upcoming stretch run from Sports Illustrated.
• The Phillies need more production from hitters not named Bryce Harper, or else opposing pitchers are just going to pitch around the NL MVP candidate. We like to complain about Joe Girardi’s lineups a lot, but he’ll have to get creative to maximize production from the top of the order.
• Matt Winkleman wrote about the Phillies roster mismanagement for Phillies Minor Thoughts.
• How will the Phillies deal with replacing Zach Eflin to start the 2022 season? He could be ready by mid-April, or he might not be available until late May.
• An article about Hector Neris from The Morning Call. The writer isn’t wrong that Neris has been inconsistent over his career and that he’ll need to pitch well down the stretch if the Phillies want to make the playoffs, but it feels like strange timing for an article like this. Hector Neris has been very consistent recently, and what the Phillies really need is for a couple other relievers to step up and get the job done.
• Hans Crouse, the prospect acquired in the Kyle Gibson trade, has been promoted to Triple-A.

MLB news:

• The Red Sox are dealing with a major COVID outbreak, and former Phillie Nick Pivetta was one of the many players to test positive. Luckily, he is fully vaccinated and might return soon.
• The bigger story is that Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe claims that MLB told the Red Sox to stop testing players at the height of the outbreak. MLB is denying the allegations.
• MLB Trade Rumors has all the latest news about the Mets attempt to revamp their front office and hopefully rid the place of drunk drivers and sexual harassers. Unfortunately the annoying billionaire owner is there to stay.
• Mike Petriello of MLB.com looks at Corbin Burnes’ Cy Young candidacy. It’s a good overview of how dominant Burnes has been this season, and a good overview of the state of the Cy Young race as it stands right now.
• Still no word on when Maikel Franco will actually join the roster and suit up for his first game as an Atlanta Brave. I would very much like to see him play when the Phillies head to Atlanta later this month, even though I know he’ll probably end up hitting a devastating home run.