If so, I got somethin’ for yous…
Ah, spring training. The place where prospects go to show off their newest stuff – new pitches, new control, now everything! The veterans are simply getting their work in prior to the grind of the regular season, so the prospects can use the spring innings or at bats to shine and show off their stuff.
Then there is Mick Abel.
He made his spring debut today and was hit rather hard in the second inning after a rather easy first. It’s not particularly encouraging that he wasn’t that good, although we shouldn’t be surprised that the team chose today to have him debut, a day without a broadcast or Statcast feed. Hopefully just a game to get some kinks worked out.
Other notes, based mostly on a stat line:
- The Phillies drew 16 walks today against a Red Sox pitching group that looks like they struggled with…..everything. And that’s without the regulars pitching in. Maybe they won’t be chasing so much after all?
- Looks like Jose Alvarado is continuing a great spring pitching performance. He walked two and struck out three in his inning of work today. If Alvarado can find it again over the entire season, the bullpen suddenly looks quite formidable again.
- The bullpen, outside of whatever it was that Devin Sweet was doing, looked like the performed well again. Jordan Romano continues a solid spring, cooling the worries about his health for a bit. Time will tell with that elbow, though.
- Buddy Kennedy, third home run of the spring. Just sayin’…..
- Who knew that the key to unlocking Johan Rojas’ power was to let him focus on hitting only?