Boston Red Sox add former Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph

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Back from Korea, Tommy Joseph signs with Bosox

The Boston Red Sox have announced the signing of Tommy Joseph, the Phillies former first baseman. Joseph had played in Korea earlier this season with little success before receiving his release.

Joseph, who turned 28-years-old just three weeks ago, was a second round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants back in 2009 out of high school in his native Arizona.

At the July 2012 trade deadline, Joseph was sent to the Phillies along with pitching prospect Seth Rosin and outfielder Nate Schierholtz in exchange for outfielder Hunter Pence.

From a Phillies perspective, Joseph was the centerpiece of that deal. A catcher at the time of the trade, he never developed in the way they hoped.

Joseph finally reached Philadelphia in May 2016 as a first baseman. For most of that season as well as the 2017 campaign, he was the Phillies starter at the position. He appeared in 227 games at first base and another pair as a Designated Hitter.

After slashing just .247/.297/.460 with 43 home runs, 86 extra-base hits, and 116 RBIs, Joseph lost his playing time in September 2017 to Rhys Hoskins. When the Phillies signed Carlos Santana as a free agent that December, the writing was on the wall. Joseph was released during spring training of 2018.

The Texas Rangers picked him up off waivers, and Joseph spent last season split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels in the Texas farm system.

Cesar Hernandez is holding off critics with a hot start to the 2019 season

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Cesar Hernandez has been hitting well for over a month

This piece has to begin with a disclaimer. Few writers who cover the Philadelphia Phillies on a regular basis have been more critical of second baseman Cesar Hernandez over the last couple of years than yours truly.

If I’ve called for the Phillies to jettison Hernandez and install Scott Kingery as the starting second baseman once, I’ve done it a hundred times since the winter prior to the 2018 campaign.

Hernandez registered career highs of 15 homers, 60 RBIs, and 91 runs scored. He led the Phillies with 19 stolen bases, tying his career high mark.

However, Hernandez slashed just .220/.321/.332 over the 2018 season’s final two full months. The Phillies were in first place and 11 games over the .500 mark when his poor hitting began in earnest on July 29. By the time it all officially came to an end on September 29, the club had finished in third place. They were 10 games out, and produced a sixth consecutive losing season.

Hernandez wasn’t the only reason for that 2018 collapse. Not by a long shot. But he was consistently unproductive. Many of the other players who made up the bulk of the losing during the previous few seasons were gone already. Freddy Galvis, Dom Brown, Cody Asche, John Mayberry Jr, Cameron Rupp, Tommy Joseph. All either released or traded away.

The 24-year-old Kingery had struggled in his first taste of the big-leagues last season, but also had been forced out of position to shortstop for most of the year, a position he had never previously played. Kingery had been a star in the minor leagues during the 2017 season, after which he was signed to a club-friendly long-term contract.

The Phillies looked to make wholesale changes to their lineup entering the 2019 campaign. Trades brought in a new shortstop in Jean Segura and a new catcher in J.T. Realmuto. Both Andrew McCutchen and Bryce Harper were signed to take over the corner outfield spots. Rhys Hoskins was moved back to his more natural first base position.

The idea that the Phillies could upgrade the second base position as well was a natural for those of us in the anti-Cesar camp. Find a taker for a player who would turn 29-years-old this year. Turn the Keystone over to Kingery at his own natural position, where he had won a 2017 minor league Gold Glove.

The calls got even louder as the first few weeks of 2019 unfolded. Kingery came out blazing hot, slashing .406/.457/.719 over his first 14 games. Meanwhile, Hernandez was slashing just .246/.329/.391 with just five extra-base hits over his own first 18 games.

Future at first, outfield should be competitive for Phillies

Cozens (L) and Hoskins (R) pushing for a shot with Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies moved yesterday to DFA both reliever Jeanmar Gomez and outfielder Michael Saunders. This should prove to be the beginning of a changeover in the roster and lineup.

The baseball industry has recognized for more than a year now that the Phillies minor league system has greatly improved. Talent is going to begin flowing to the big league team soon, likely at some point this summer.

Once that talent really starts pushing to Philadelphia, there are going to be some interesting decisions for the club to make. That is going to be especially true in the outfield and at first base. Three of those four spots appear taken, at least in the short term.

Center field is currently manned by 25-year old Odubel Herrera. A 2016 NL All-Star, ‘El Torito’ was signed to a contract his past winter that is guaranteed through the 2021 season.

With the Saunders trade, 26-year old Aaron Altherr should begin to see even more regular playing time. He has been perhaps the Phillies best all around player this season. Altherr is hitting for a .278/.352/.531 slash line. He leads the team with a dozen homers and 37 RBI, and his 32 runs scored is second on the club.

At first base, Tommy Joseph is second on the club with 10 home runs. After a slow first month, Joseph has gotten his hitting game together. Since May 1, the 25-year old is hitting .290/.348/.519 with 19 exta-base hits and 25 RBI.

The Phillies are giving time right now to veterans Howie Kendrick and Daniel Nava. They also have a pair of players recently up from the minor leagues. Those two, first baseman Brock Stassi and outfielder Cameron Perkins, are seen more as reserve/role player types.

Philadelphia Phillies 2017 Preview and Prediction

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Maikel Franco debuted in 2015 and hopes to push the Phillies forward


The Phillies will pack up their gear following their final Grapefruit League game on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. It will then be time to say goodbye to Clearwater until next February.

Equipment and personnel will then begin heading north for next Tuesday’s 2017 season opener at Cincinnati against the host Reds.

The lineup taking the field next week at Great American Ballpark should look very different from the one that will come to Florida next winter.

The Phillies rebuilding program is largely winding to a close. In the 2015 season, a Rule 5 draft pick named Odubel Herrera became a spring sensation. He would become the first piece of the longterm lineup rebuild.

In 2016, Maikel Franco took part in his first full season in the big leagues. Tommy Joseph was promoted in May, and platooned at first base with the now departed Ryan Howard. He will get his own first full-time shot this year.

Those three are the only players likely to be in the 2017 Opening Day lineup who have any shot at being a part of the next winning Phillies team. Instead, for a fifth consecutive season, fans of the Fightin’ Phils will be watching a ‘placeholder’ lineup. At least to begin the season.

Brock Stassi Making a Spring Bid for Phillies Roster Spot

The Philadelphia Phillies have been giving young prospects an opportunity to play over the last couple of seasons as their rebuilding program got underway.

Those opportunities have continued this spring as some of the club’s top prospects begin to make a real push for regular big league roles. This includes highly rated shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielders Nick Williams and Roman Quinn, and catcher Jorge Alfaro.

But it has been a far less heralded prospect who has emerged to steal the spotlight during the 2017 Grapefruit League season down in Florida.

Brock Stassi is a 27-year old first baseman. He was the club’s 33rd round selection in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Nevada-Reno.

Stassi has spent the ensuing six seasons battling his way incrementally up through the Phillies farm system.

In those six minor league seasons, Stassi has hit for a cumulative .263/.347/.390 slash line. He has produced just 42 home runs in more than 2,200 minor league plate appearances.

The left-handed hitter is limited to first base, so his only path to a regular big league role is with his bat. To this point, he simply has not hit enough to be considered a true prospect. As a result, MLB does not rank him among the Phillies current Top 30 Prospects.

Phillies 2017: Who Leads in the Clubhouse?

It’s a question that, for a few years now, has had no legitimate answer: who is the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse leader? Or which players comprise the leadership group?

Past generations would have answered that question with names such as Pete Rose, Larry Bowa, Darren Daulton, and Jimmy Rollins. Players who excelled on the field. Players who were willing to stand up in the locker room to help motivate their peers when difficult challenges loomed.

For me, a truly legitimate clubhouse leader needs to embody two major characteristics.

First, they need to be someone who is performing at a standout level in Major League Baseball terms.

Second, they need to be someone who is foundational. They need to be someone who is going to be around for at least the next few years.

There is a third characteristic that becomes vital, assuming the player can meet those first two basics. That would be that the individual needs to have the respect of, and preferably the affection and admiration of, his fellow players.

Phillies Looking to Add a Lefty Bat

The rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies escaped the cellar of the National League East Division in the 2016 season. Despite improving by seven games in the standings, the club continued to show significant shortcomings.

The greatest area of short-term concern for the Fightin’ Phils remains with offensive production from the lineup. The 2016 Phillies were the worst offensive team in baseball.

This past season, the Phillies finished last in runs scored (610) by a wide margin. The 29th place team, the division rival Atlanta Braves, scored 649 times. The top two scoring teams in the NL, the Colorado Rockies and World Series champion Chicago Cubs, scored 845 and 808 runs, respectively.

There has been a great deal of speculation in recent months that the Phillies might be interested in adding a new bat to their outfield mix. This addition would come either from signing an available free agent or via trade.

One new outfielder has already been brought on board. The Phillies traded for Howie Kendrick, installing him as the new left fielder. It is believed now that the club is looking to add a more proven right fielder, or a left-handed bat to platoon at first base with Tommy Joseph.

On Sunday morning, Phillies President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail was a guest on MLB Network Radio’s “Front Office” program. Per Jim Bowden, MacPhail stated that the Phillies are indeed looking to add a left-handed bat.

Can Phillies Improve by Eight Games Again in 2017?

The Philadelphia Phillies finished with a 71-91 record in 2016, good for fourth place in the NL East standings. 

That victory total was an eight-game improvement over their last place, worst in baseball finish of 63-99 during the 2015 season.

As the Phillies’ rebuilding program continues, no one in the game expects them to be contenders in the 2017 season. It’s simply too early in the process yet for that to happen.

The 2017 season will be about bringing up more of the highly rated young prospects from a greatly improved minor league system. It will be about giving those players, and youngsters already on board, a chance to show they belong in the big leagues.

The day-to-day cast of characters is not likely to be changed very much from what we saw this past season, but there is an important question to ask. Can the Phillies hope to again show at least an eight-game improvement?

Another eight games up in the win column would mean that the Fightin’ Phils finish with at least a 79-83 record in the 2017 season. Such a record would likely mean that the club was never very far off the .500 break-even mark for much of the year.

Unless a big bat is brought in via trade or free agency, something that does not appear likely at this point, the lineup is not going to change very much.

Philadelphia Phillies: Off-Season Recommendations

The Phillies and we fans are suffering through a fourth consecutive losing campaign in which the club won no more than 73 games in any season.

There is progress, however, down through the organization, and hope for the future. 

The minor league system is full of exciting prospects, a few of whom have made their big league debuts over the last two seasons.

The Phils are also moving into an era of tremendous financial strength. The club has just $24 million in contract obligations on the books for the 2017 season, $2 million for 2018, and nothing beyond that.

As more and more talented youngsters arrive over the next year or two, the Phillies will be able to supplement them with big free agent signings.

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They will also have the financial and organizational prospect strength to go after players such as Mike Trout in trade, if they so wish, surrendering a package of players and taking on a large, long-term contract.

My recommendations for 2017 are fairly simple and straightforward. I want to see more of the kids come and receive significant playing time next year.

I want to see J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, and Jorge Alfaro on the field. I want to see Jake Thompson and Ben Lively on the mound.

I want to see Tommy Joseph play first base on an everyday basis against all types of pitching in all situations. 

With Ryan Howard gone and based on his own production this year, Joseph deserves that opportunity.

There is talk of the Phillies adding a few free agents, including at least one veteran power hitting corner outfielder and a starting pitcher.

If that does happen, and considering the anticipated free agent class, I do not want to see the organization tie up long-term dollars for a player 30+ years of age.

I am frustrated by the last four years of losing, but I am not impatient, and I do not want the team to go off their plan out of frustration and make a bad investment that proves a setback.

Given health, my ideal Phillies 2017 lineup would include

Philadelphia Phillies 2016 Grades: Infielders

When the 2016 season opened there were many question marks across the infield, with 3rd baseman Maikel Franco the only player who seemed a reliable source of production.

But as the season unfolded, the infielders mostly answered those questions in a positive fashion. 

In fact, Franco may have been the most disappointing player among the regular performers.

Back in spring training there was hope that a platoon of veteran Ryan Howard and perennially underachieving Darin Ruf would provide combined solid production.

In the middle infield, no one knew what to expect out of 2nd baseman Cesar Hernandez besides perhaps a 20+ stolen base year, and Freddy Galvis was just keeping shortstop warm until the arrival of top prospect J.P. Crawford.

In the middle, both Hernandez and Galvis upped their offensive games, though Hernandez often was as maddening on base paths as he was dangerous to the opposition.As it turned out, there was a very productive 1st base platoon. 

But it was the pleasant surprise of Tommy Joseph, called up in May after a hot start with the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, who produced from the right side of that platoon with Howard.

Those five players received the overwhelming majority of the playing time in the infield. Only one backup player, Andres Blanco, received enough time to warrant a final grade here.

So let’s take a look at the 2016 grades for Howard, Joseph, Hernandez, Galvis, Franco, and Blanco.

I am guessing that it will be the last Phillies grade that I ever bestow on “The Big Piece”, who is going to be leaving as a free agent. Because of his place in club history, I will grade him last.

READ ORIGINAL article at That Ball's Outta Here for full grading.

Phillies Enduring a See-Saw 2016 Season

At the beginning of the 2016 Major League Baseball regular season, more than four months ago now, I came out with my predictions for the upcoming Phillies season.

In that prediction piece, I picked the club to finish a dozen games better than their putrid bottom-of-baseball 2015 campaign, going 75-87 when the books were closed on 2016.

That would mean that my prediction would show the Phillies to have played at a .463 pace over the course of this season. So where are the Phils now?

On this day off in the schedule, the Phillies sit at 58-67 for a .464 winning percentage. To this point, nearly five months in, the club is pretty much exactly on the pace that I predicted at the beginning.

But if you think back, there was a point in the season where everyone following the team was getting a bit ahead of themselves.

The team last reached their 2016 high-water mark of seven games over the .500 mark at 24-17 on Wednesday, May 18th

Phillies Promote Tommy Joseph

Just hours before the July 31st trade deadline back in 2012, the struggling Phillies had come to the realization that they were not going to continue a glorious run of five consecutive NL East crowns.

With that having become obvious, the team dealt away outfielder Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants for a three-player package.

Pence would go on to become a key player for the Giants in winning a pair of World Series crowns that season and again in 2014. The package that the Phils received in return, on the other hand, was a major disappointment.

That package included veteran outfielder Nate Schierholtz, who would finish out the season in Philly and then leave for a free agent deal with the Chicago Cubs in the off-season. 

It also included right-handed pitcher Seth Rosin, who would be shelled for five runs on seven hits over just two innings in his only Phillies appearance last season.

The third player in that deal was seen as the real key from the Phillies perspective. That player was a 20-year old catcher by the name of Tommy Joseph. 

The Giants' 2nd round choice in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft out of high school in Arizona, Joseph banged 38 homers and drove in 163 runs over his first two minor league seasons.

But the Giants had 25-year old Buster Posey at catcher in the midst of what would be an NL MVP season. They saw Pence as a missing piece to their championship puzzle as they tried to hold off the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, who had just obtained Shane Victorino in a deal with the Phillies.

The deal was made, Pence helped the Giants to the title, and Joseph moved to AA Reading, where he hit for a .250/.327/.420 slash line with three homers and 10 RBI over his final 114 plate appearances of the 2012 minor league season.

Joseph would then begin to break down due to injuries, most especially a series of concussions that would ultimately cause the Phillies to remove him permanently from behind the plate. 

A catcher by trade and by heart, Joseph did not like the move to 1st base. But it was his only chance at reaching his goal of a big league career.

To his credit, Joseph bore down and responded. After the Phils had removed him from the 40-man roster this off-season, they invited him to spring training. Joseph came in and tore the cover off the ball, suddenly re-establishing himself as a prospect.

That hot hitting continued into the AAA season at Lehigh Valley, where he was hitting to a .347/.370/.611 slash line with six homers and 17 RBI over his first 100 plate appearances.

Meanwhile in Philadelphia, the Phillies were off to a surprising start that has left the team with a 20-15 record after almost six full weeks of the season. 

The club will now play 19 of their next 25 games at home, and thanks in part to his hot start, Joseph will be a part of that homestand. The Phillies have promoted him in time for tonight's weekend opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

Another key part to the Joseph promotion has been the continued disappointment from Darin Ruf. After another strikeout in a key spot last night, Ruf is hitting for just a .158/.206/.193 slash line with no homers and just three RBI. He has also struck out 19 times in 63 plate appearances.

Joseph will simply slot into the Ruf role, starting at 1st base against lefty pitchers, and pinch-hitting against lefty relievers when he doesn't get the start. 

That is likely to remain the case as long as Ryan Howard remains in Phillies pinstripes, which is likely no more than another two months.

It's good to see one of the young players that we've all been hearing about in the minor leagues receive his chance. 

Joseph is the first, but certainly not the last, and not nearly the most talented, of a parade of young bats and arms that Phillies fans can expect to see arrive in South Philly over the next few months.