ATLANTA -- The Phillies on Wednesday night play the second game of a three-game series against the Braves at Truist Park.
Beforehand, I answered Phillies questions on Reddit.
Here are a few (Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity):
What does the future look like for Ranger Suárez, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto in the offseason? My gut is telling me weĄŻll re-sign Schwarber and Realmuto.
Great question. It's hard not to think about a contract extension for Schwarber after watching him hit during the first 10 games of the season. Is it going to happen during the season? Perhaps. When I watch Schwarber as the Phillies' DH, I can't help but think about David Ortiz. Why can't Schwarber be the PhilliesĄŻ version of Big Papi, crushing homers into his late 30s? Schwarber certainly has the bat speed.
I had a similar thought about Realmuto after watching him throw out Shohei Ohtani in the eighth inning and Chris Taylor in the ninth inning on Friday night. He's such a weapon behind the plate. I think it's more likely they wait until the end of the season on Realmuto.
I would be surprised if Su¨˘rez resigns after the season. The Phillies already have Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher S¨˘nchez locked up. Jes¨˛s Luzardo is under team control through 2026, and No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter could join the rotation by the summer. I just don't see how Su¨˘rez fits. Plus, he's going to want a big deal.
How long of a leash do you think Alec Bohm has as an everyday starter/hitting in the front of the lineup? If he keeps playing like this, do you think manager Rob Thomson starts using a platoon at third base/moves him down in the order? I know it's early in the season, but Bohm's issues aren't new.
Let's not forget that Bohm had 97 RBIs in 2023 and 2024. He was an All-Star last year. I think he's a really good hitter. It's been 10 games. You've really got to give him time to find his footing. Remember last year: Nick Castellanos was terrible the first several weeks of the season. He was batting .183 with a .489 OPS on May 5! But then he got turned around, and he was one of the team's best hitters the rest of the way. Back then, everybody was saying how Castellanos should be benched, etc. Good thing Thomson stuck with him.
When it comes to setting lineups, bullpen usage, etc., how much of a voice does the front office and analytics department have compared to Topper? I assume it is a collaborative effort, as we hear that most teams have everyone work together to form an idea of who should be in the lineup, the order, which bullpen arm should be used when, etc., and then Topper uses that knowledge to make the final call. Is this true? So, when we complain about Topper doing X, it really is just the organizational philosophy?
I think it's collaborative, but president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski stresses repeatedly that he does not tell Thomson how to set his lineup. He said the only time he tells the manager to play somebody is in the spring if they are trying to trade somebody and a team is sending a scout(s) to watch him play. I believe that's the case. I also believe that while the lineup is fun to debate, it doesn't make that much of a difference over the course of a 162-game season ... unless you're doing something bananas like hitting Bryce Harper, Schwarber and Kyle Turner 7-8-9.
Who would be your top Phillies lineup and starting rotation using players from the entire franchise history?
Oh, boy .... this is literally off the top of my head ...
Jimmy Rollins, SS
Chase Utley, 2B
Mike Schmidt, 3B
Bryce Harper, 1B
Dick Allen, LF
Kyle Schwarber, DH
J.T. Realmuto, C
Bobby Abreu, RF
Richie Ashburn, CF
Steve Carlton
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Roy Halladay
Zack Wheeler
Cole Hamels
No thanks to Ed Delahanty, Billy Hamilton or even Chuck Klein (he benefited from the ridiculous right-field wall at Baker Bowl).
Can you ask someone to fix the score bug? I just donĄŻt like the visuals. I am not fixated by the Phillies-Pirates game like a few too many around here, but admittedly, it did make me giggle a little. Thanks, and love the pod.
I wish I had the power to do something like this. I've been wanting to change the song that plays immediately after Harry Kalas sings "High Hopes" following wins at Citizens Bank Park for a couple years. It's this Frank Sinatra-like song that has never resonated with Phillies fans. At all. I thought it'd be cool to bring back the 1950s song "Fightin' Phils," if for no other reason than there is real history there. It was blared throughout the city when the Whiz Kids won the 1950 pennant. Let's start the movement.