Ricky Bo- Lots of Positives from Opening Day, Despite the Loss

Opening day is always a special day for a ballplayer.  For some, it’s getting rid of 1^st game jitters. For others, it’s a time to shine. Lastly for a rookie, it’s everything you could ever want!

On Thursday, the Phillies walked into opening day 2023 with all the confidence in the world for a return to greatness and the World Series.  Everything seemed like it was going according to plan until the bottom of the 4^th inning.  Aaron Nola looked as if he was going to cruise to an easy win in Texas.  Nola struggled mightily in that fourth inning, giving up 5 of the 9 runs given up in that inning, the capping blow was a Robbie Grossman, three-run home run….Gregory Soto and Connor Brogdon didn’t help the situation giving up 4 runs between them in that horrendous 4^th!

It is not the end of the world…Nola will rebound, Nola will shrug this off.  If you are looking to take something out of opening day, look no further than the offense.  Think of it this way, if the Phillies score seven runs in a game, expect those games to equal out to a ton of wins, and call Thursday’s game a blip on the radar.

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Offensively, some guys that have a lot to prove this season, show up with a vengeance…Nick Castellanos picked up a pair of hits and Alec Bohm had three hits including a two-run homer off of Jacob deGrom in the 2^nd inning…Impressive!  Castellanos also had a nice defensive play in the game with a throw from right field to get Garcia in that 9run 4^th inning.  The Phillies offense, as a whole had 12 hits, seven of those hits were extra base hits.  The Phillies had an almost unheard of three triples in the game.

So, what did we learn from Opening Day?  The Phillies have a powerful offense from top to bottom.  They scored 7 runs with Kyle Schwarber going 0-5 in the game…That means there may be more in the tank.  We didn’t see the monsters in the back end of the bullpen, so no worries there.  And, as for Nola, it’s one game in a long season….

Advice…forget about it and move on to Saturday…

Meet The 2023 Phillies (Probable) Opening Day Roster

• Catchers:

• JT Realmuto

  Realmuto will once again be the starting catcher. BCIB.

• Garrett Stubbs

  Stubbs played a solid backup to Realmuto last season, and is expected to again this year.

• Infielders:

• Darick Hall

  Hall will most likely be the main starting 1^st baseman with Rhys Hoskins’ ACL injury.

• Bryson Stott

  Stott shifts to 2^nd for the 2023 season with a new addition at shortstop, he’ll start in the middle for the Phils.

• Trea Turner

  The Phillies’ biggest offseason addition, and arguably the best shortstop in baseball, Turner starts his tenure as a mainstay in the middle of the Phils’ infield.

• Alec Bohm

  Bohm had an awesome spring, and the Phillies will be looking for their young starting 3^rd baseman to make a big jump this season.

• Edmundo Sosa

  Sosa is a utility player extraordinaire, who could probably start on some MLB teams. For the Phillies, he’ll be the first infielder off the bench and may even see some outfield time.

   

• Josh Harrison

  The wily vet of the infield, Harrison is a defensive specialist who will see a share of innings as either a spot starter or a defensive replacement late in games.

• Outfielders:

• Kyle Schwarber

  Schwarber will be starting for the Phils again, whether it’s LF or DH. The NL home run champ from last year is looking for another big year.

• Brandon Marsh

  With a strong offseason behind him, Marsh looks for an improved year as the Phillies’ everyday starter in center.

• Nick Castellanos

  With Bryce Harper injured, Nick Castellanos will start in RF for the Phils, and he is looking for a bounce back year from a forgetful 2022.

• Jake Cave

  Cave had an outstanding spring training, and earned a spot as an outfield depth piece on this roster. He may also DH with Darick Hall starting at 1B.

• Dalton Guthrie

  Guthrie may not have made this roster without the Rhys Hoskins injury, but the team still has confidence in the young outfielder to be a serviceable defensive backup.

• Starting Pitchers:

• Aaron Nola

  Your opening day starter for the 6^th straight year.

• Zack Wheeler

  Wheeler is back for hopefully another dominant season.

• Taijuan Walker

  Walker comes to Philly from the NY Mets via free agency, and is one of the more underrated offseason acquisitions in all of baseball.

• Bailey Falter

  With Ranger Suarez’s injury setback, Falter is set to slot into the 4^th spot in the rotation to start the season.

• Matt Strahm

  Strahm, who was signed this offseason as a bullpen piece, will be forced into the 5^th starter role due to the Suarez injury. The last time he was a bona fide starter was with the San Diego Padres back in 2019.

• The Bullpen:

• Seranthony Dominguez

  Armed with a contract extension, Dominguez has a chance to be the team’s set closer this season.

• Gregory Soto

  Soto is probably the other guy in contention for the closer role this season after the Phillies traded for him from the Detroit Tigers.

• Jose Alvarado

  Also extended this offseason, Alvarado looks to build on an outstanding 2022 campaign.

• Craig Kimbrel

  The long time closer may not close for the Phillies, but he’s still a more than serviceable bullpen arm.

• Connor Brogdon

  Brogdon is back, and this year he has a mustache. Can’t have a bad year with a mustache.

• Andrew Bellatti

  Bellatti was the breakout bullpen arm of 2022, and has now solidified his roster spot for 2023.

• Yunior Marte

  Marte was acquired this offseason from the San Francisco Giants, and he will be pushed into a bullpen role, at least until the starting rotation turns to strength.

• Andrew Vasquez

  Vasquez is unproven, but had a solid spring and showed off some good stuff. He’s the least proven of this year’s staff.