PHILLIES PHODDER

Comments on the Phillies' 1st win of the season...

- Nice bounce back from the Opening Day disaster. Phils are 1-1, hoping to take the series tonight in Atlanta. Vince Valasquez pitches.

- Love the way Scott Kingery plays. Kingery, who got two hits last night, plays with energy. I can see him at the top of the line-up soon with his speed ( Kingery batted sixth Friday night). He has got to play everyday, not as a "super-utility" guy.

- Manager Kapler still insists he did the right thing by pulling Aaron Nola on opening Day, and he would do it again. C'mon, Gabe! It was a stupid move, pulling your ace with a five-run lead when he has only tossed 68 pitches in the 6th inning. Admit your mistake, learn from it and move on. Don't repeat it all summer. That's what scares me about this guy. Stubborn, egotistical, won't admit he's wrong.

- Last night the game ran over 4 hours. Kapler used nine pitchers. Unbelievable! He will burn out the bullpen by memorial Day. So much for the games getting shorter. If  you really believe in you 'pen, use your pitchers for more than one batter. Tonight, Valasquez rarely goes past five or six innings. Who is fresh in that bullpen after the last two ballgames?

- What worries me about Kapler in the long-term is his inexperience, this "learning-on-the-job" training, and his heavy reliance on analytics. Don't tell me the decision  to pull Nola wasn't based on analytics alone. After all, Nola had been cruising through the Braves; line-up with little trouble. Most of the other starters on Opening Day went well over 68 pitches. It was a ridiculous move by Kapler, one which cost the Phillies a win. It could be forgiven if Kapler learns from his goof, but time will tell if he learns or sticks to his guns and tries it again. What will happen when Jake Arrieta is ready to pitch in a week?

- Rhys Hoskins is picking up where he left off, clubbing his 1st home run. Carlos Santana finally broke out of his funk by also slamming a homer and hitting a pair of sacrifice flies. I can see Santana hitting either third or fifth around Hoskins, with Herrera or Williams as well.  Kingery needs to ultimately hit in the lead-off or second spot in the line-up.

- Nick Pivetta had a shaky start. He needs to step it up. If Pivetta can't do it there are other options. Eflin went to Lehigh Valley but is only a phone call away. Jake Thompson and Drew Hutchinson are currently in the bullpen but can start. Pivetta has the stuff but needs to consistently use it to win.

- Interesting.. Alfaro hasn't caught a game yet. There's a rumor that ex-Phil Cameron Rupp will sign with Atlanta. Pat Neshek went on the disabled list with a lat strain in back of his shoulder. Hopefully it's not a long-term thing. Fellow reliever Tommy Hunter is also on the DL, as is Mark Leiter Jr. The bullpen can look very different in a few weeks.