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ANAHEIM -- The Phillies are considering something unusual to keep Spencer Turnbull’s arm in the rotation.

Turnbull is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in six starts this season, which is the ninth-lowest ERA out of 82 qualified pitchers. But now that Taijuan Walker is back from the injured list, the Phillies have six starters for five spots. There has been a tremendous amount of focus on Turnbull’s future because Philadelphia has said it does not want to employ a six-man rotation because of the potential long-term strain on the bullpen. The club also has said it wants to monitor Turnbull’s workload because he has not pitched more than 56 2/3 innings in a season since 2019.

Could piggybacking be the answer?

“Absolutely,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday morning at Angel Stadium. “It’s TBA, but I think it makes some sense.”

Hypothetically, Turnbull could pitch on the same day as another starter.

Say that starter is left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Who starts? It depends. Maybe Turnbull starts every five days. Maybe Sánchez does.

Or maybe Turnbull and Sánchez alternate starts based on the opposition.

“Depending on the lineups,” Thomson said.

To make it work, both pitchers would have to pitch that day. It would mean that game’s starter pitches four or five innings, even if he is pitching well.

“If you’re at five [innings] and 50 pitches, you’re coming out,” Thomson said. “Because that other guy has to pitch. You could do it that way.”

Could something like that affect a pitcher’s effectiveness?

“I don’t know,” Thomson said. “If they continue to pitch well, I think it will work out extremely well. If that’s the way we go. Because it gives the bullpen a day.”

If Turnbull and the other starter pitch well, it effectively would create a built-in day of rest for the Phillies’ seven relievers.

Thomson said he hasn’t been around a big league team that has tried something like this on a regular basis, although it happens often in the Minor Leagues.

“But the games don’t mean what they mean here,” Thomson said. “That feel and what happens to those guys, mentally and emotionally, that’s important.”

It sounds like something the Phillies might try. Perhaps the plan is finally announced on Friday.

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Todd Zolecki has covered the Phillies since 2003, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow him on Facebook .

Travis Konecny wanted to be a part of the Flyers' future when Danny Briere took over as interim general manager in March 2023 and expressed an openness to the idea of rebuilding.

"Been through a lot of good times and also down times," Konecny said then. "So when you go through that stuff as a team and some of the guys that have been here, it would mean that much more when you can get to the end goal and winning. It means a lot to be a part of a process like that."

That sentiment hasn't changed for the two-time All-Star, who is coming up on a contract year after posting career highs in goals (33) and points (68). Now 27 years old and with eight seasons under his belt, the go-go winger has developed into the heartbeat of a younger Flyers team that pushed for the playoffs through Game 82.

Come July 1, Konecny will have entered the final year of his six-year, $33 million deal. He's in line for a pretty good raise from his $5.5 million average annual value and sounded open to signing a contract extension before the 2024-25 campaign rolls around.

"I love Philly," Konecny said over two weeks ago at his end-of-the-season press conference.

"I'm sure down the road here, I'll deal with that. I've been focusing so much on trying to get [into the playoffs], but we'll see moving forward."

The Flyers should be interested in hammering down a deal ahead of next season. If the team's rebuild didn't see progress this season and if Konecny didn't play like an All-Star, maybe there would be doubt about his long-term fit. But say the Flyers are two or three years away from contending, Konecny still projects well in their timeline. He'd be 29 or 30 years old and very possibly in his prime.

The counterargument is the Flyers let Konecny head into the 2024-25 season without an extension and see if he becomes one of the most sought-after targets at the NHL trade deadline. But they'd also run the risk of their best player inflating his value even more, potentially being bothered by not having a new contract and thinking of hitting the free-agent market in the offseason.

"I think his inner confidence has grown that he can be a great player; not a good player, that he can be a great player," head coach John Tortorella said in December. "And that he can put some people on his shoulders and carry."

Over the last two seasons, Konecny has put up 129 points (64 goals, 65 assists) in 136 games. He has played just under 20 minutes per game and his nine shorthanded goals lead the NHL.

"Especially last year, I think his game took over. He has been our best player for a little bit here now," Scott Laughton said after Konecny's Gordie Howe hat trick in February. "Always brings it, he's a little pest and a little bit of a rat. It helps out when you make that many plays and you're on both special teams. He brings it every night, so guys follow him."

The Flyers haven't seen the postseason since the 2020 bubbled playoffs. Does Konecny feel they're getting closer to being a regular contender?

"I'd love to say right now that it's going to be next year, I don't know," he said. "You see the steps we took this year, everyone's a year older next year and we go through it again and see where we're at. I believe that this team could be great and be in the playoffs consistently every year. We have all the tools to do it.

"I think this year was good for us being in the spot we were at and learning the importance of ... not just the last couple of games there, but going into next year, maybe it makes you realize that nothing game on a Tuesday, random city, like that game matters. It's a good mindset for our team to have."

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Year-round school for Philadelphia students will soon have a trial run.

Speaking at a City Council budget hearing this week, Superintendent Tony Watlington said the district is working on a model to fulfill Mayor Cherelle Parker‘s goal to stop the “summer slide,” where students disengage from learning between academics years and material has to be retaught.

“We are meeting regularly with the mayor’s team to stand up 20 school pilots for the 2024-2025 school year,” Watlington said.

The 20 test schools will not be completely year-round in the pilot’s first year, but will have extended day classes.

“For year one, we are looking to expand before and after school and to layer on some enriching activities,” he said. Enriched reading, as well as math and science classes featuring robotics, will be included.

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For the school year starting in the fall of 2025, the calendar will be extended beyond the traditional dates for the 20 pilot schools.

“Where they actually start school before the other schools in the district, and we eliminate the long break in the summer, but they’ll get breaks during the year,” he said. “So they won’t go to school 365 days or 300 days a year. They’ll have holidays and they’ll have small breaks built in.”

Parker, who was formerly a teacher, campaigned on establishing the full-time school pilot. The hope is that without an extended break, students won’t have any regression in their learning.

Many details have yet to be worked out before the pilot can move forward. Keeping schools open all year will cost more money and will require air conditioning in a district where many schools do not have it. District leaders are currently working on a facilities plan to make those upgrades so that schools are more education-friendly throughout the year.

Any upgrades are expected to cost billions of dollars to complete.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley attended last night’s game between the 76ers and the Knicks in Philadelphia. When shown on the Jumbotron, he was booed by the New York fans in attendance at the game.

Barkley made an observation about the situation on social media.

“It’s been two months,” Barkley said, “lol no way ya can still be this mad! Mf can’t even go to a basketball game.”

Someone responded to Barkley, pointing out that he bailed on New York.

“Let me educate some of you fans here,” Barkley said. “I can’t bail or become a traitor if I never got an offer to come back.. so I went to the organization I felt that was the best and after already being here for a month man I’m excited to be a eagle! Go birds.”

Barkley undoubtedly is referring to 2024, because the Giants reportedly made offers to Barkley on a long-term deal in 2023.

The Giants quite possibly would have a different view of the matter. Regardless, the Giants had a full and fair chance to keep Barkley for the long haul. They could have tagged him again for 2024. They had exclusive negotiating rights until Monday, March 11.

Don’t blame the player for taking the best offer wherever he can get it. He’s trying to get compensated for his skills and abilities. The Giants had him for six years and didn’t offer enough to get him to stay. That’s on them.

Basically, if fans are mad that Barkley jumped to the Eagles, they should be mad at the Giants for letting him go. They had their chances, over and over again. From the conclusion of his third regular season (2020) through early March 2024, the Giants could have secured Barkley for the long haul. They didn’t.

They knew he could go to the Eagles, the Cowboys, the Commanders, anywhere. That’s how free agency works. Barkley, in six years of pro football, never had the ability to play wherever he wanted to play. He finally got that ability, in large part because the Giants didn’t make him an offer he would accept.

Again, if you’re mad, blame them. They made the business decision not to offer him enough to get him to stay. Barkley made the business decision to go.

That’s still easier said than done. As Jerry Seinfeld once said, we’re all just rooting for laundry.

Boooo! Different shirt! Boo!

(By the way, Unfrosted debuts on Netflix today. It’s only fair to mention Seinfeld’s new film if we’re gonna use his old bit.)

A super fly, yet affordable, omakase is coming to Fishtown during the peak of the spring.

Next Friday, May 10th, Sushi by Boū will make its formal debut as the new omakase located inside the back of Izakaya Fishtown (1832 Frankford Avenue). The lively 4 to 12-seat sushi counter features some of the best sushi chefs in the country — an impressive feat for a dining experience that’s not as pricey as a typical omakase in the city. During the 60-minute experience, diners can choose to pay between $60 for 12 courses per person or $125 for a 17 course omakase (cleverly named the “Bou-gie” upgrade).

This space was previously the posh, 17-course omakase Sushi Suite, that was also part of a business partnership between successful restaurant groups SimpleVenue (Sushi Suite, Sushi by Boū, Omakaseed, Fins and Scales) and Glu Hospitality (Chika, Almost Home, Añejo Philly, Figo Italian). Now, they have joined forces once again to transform the venue into something they argue is “more casual, affordable and faster-paced” — and a part of their “sushi for the people” vision.

“Sushi by Boū is our more casual, affordable and faster-paced Omakase experience,” says SimpleVenue founder Michael Sinensky, who has previously launched Sushi by Boū locations in other cities such as New York, Chicago, and Fort Lauderdale. “While each one has the same 12-course menu for $60, the theme of each location in any city is different, so you can reserve a location based on your vibe.”

“Every major city needs affordable omakase with premium fish,” Sinensky adds. “Our 12 piece timed experience only will cost our customers $60. The same omakase in another restaurant will run someone $100-$150. Our motto and tagline is ‘sushi for the people’ as we want everyone to eat sushi the way it’s intended.”

With custom artwork by local graffiti artist Ivben Taqiy and interior design by Diana Romeo, Sushi by Boū in Fishtown is an aesthetic ode to the hip-hop era of the 90s, with graffiti covered walls, suspended vinyls overhead, and play lights that pay homage to the several Philly musical legends (such as Black Thought & Quest Love from the Roots, Boyz II Men, Will Smith, Jazzy Jeff, and Eve) and popular references invoking the Philadelphia Eagles, Meek Mill, and more.

For their omakase experience, diners can expect to try their Hamachi (yellowtail), Botan Ebi (spotted prawn), Ikura (salmon roe), Hotate (scallop), O-Toro (fatty tuna), Unagi (barbecue eel), and signature Wagyuni (‘surf and turf’). There’s also a selection of hand rolls and other popular sushi options available upon request, as well as additional a la carte items and seasonal mochi ice cream for dessert.

Sushi by Boū has a full-service bar with a variety of original cocktails and sake. Diners can try their yuzu honey bee (made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, honey syrup yuzu, simple syrup and pink peppercorn), old fashion pearl (made with Legent Bourbon, angostura bitters and roasted barley syrup), sakura martini (made with vodka, dry sake, and maraschino liquor). In terms of sake specials, their flight to heaven is a sake trio that includes Heavensake Junmai (described as having a fright and fresh finish), Heavensake Junmai Ginjo (crisp, light and refreshing flavors) and Heavensake Junmai Daiginjo (vibrant, rich and aromatic vibes), among other options.

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Sushi by Boū’s grand opening in Philly is Friday, May 10th, with regular hours of service Tuesdays to Thursdays at 5 pm to 10 pm (last seating is at 9 pm), Fridays and Saturdays at 5 pm to 11 pm (last seating is at 10 pm). They are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Reservations can now be made on OpenTable. For more information, their number is (215) 709-8043 and more details can be found on their official website.