Rosters were posted this morning in CLearwater and this is where we are currently at:
Lehigh Valley: Catchers: Erik Kratz and Dane Sardinha
Infield: Tagg Bozied, Josh Barfield, Jeff Larish, Kevin Frandsen, Robby Hudson
Outfield: Matt Miller, Rich Thompson, Brandon Moss, Delwyn Young, Cory Sullivan
Starters: Nate Bump, Drew Naylor, Vance Worley, Ryan Feirabend, Brian Bass, Eddie Bonine
Relievers: Matt Anderson, Drew Carpenter, Jason Grilli, Scott Mathieson, Michael Schwimer, Mike STutes, Dan Meyer, Mike Zagurski, Juan Perez.
Lehigh Valley will need to cut three players from this list by opening day, next Thursday April 7th.
Reading:
Catcher: Tuffy Gosewisch, Tim Kennelly, John Suomi
Infield: Matt Rizzotti, Freddy Galvis, Harold Garcia, Fidel Hernandez, Cody Overbeck, Carlos Rivero
Outfield: Chris Frey, Derrick Mitchell, Steve SUsdorf, Mike Spidale
Starters: Austin Hyatt, Josh Zeid, JC Ramirez, Ryan Edell, Mike Cisco
Relievers: Tyson Brummett, Chance Chapman, BJ Rosenberg, Phillipe Aumont, Justin DeFratus, Jacob Diekman, Chris Kissock.
Surprised to see Frey on Reading. A bit surprised DeFratus not in Allentown. I guess both Stutes and DeFratus will close.
“Surprised to see Frey on Reading”
Who?
Matt Rizzotti on the Reading roster didn’t jump out at you? Is he supposed to post a .400 BA and a 1.500 OPS before he gets promoted to AAA?
Rizzotti could post an .850 OPS in MLB right now.
Reading will have the modern day Rivera/Wetteland combo with Aumont/DeFratus in the 8th/9th.
Not too many surprises here after what we already heard the last day or so. Who is Robby Hudson?? Belliard will get added to the LHV group and they’ll have to cut 3 pitchers. Gillies will likely go to Reading once he’s healthy enough and after he has played a bit in Florida as he’s way behind. Spidale lives on!
I’m surprised that jiwan James didn’t get the jump to reading
The picked up Hudson this week after he was cut by the WhiteSOx??. I would think he goes when Belliard comes aboard.
No, he’s the only SS till Bocock comes back, Frandsen is more a 2b
Not surprised at all about James. He needs to drastically improve his contact rate.
james is the most overated player on this site
Most over rated: 1. Mathieson 2. Rizzotti 3. Nobody else close
Our two top clubs are really old.
They just got older. Belliard just walked in front of us at the Complex.
What I thought was interesting was that of the 12 Reading pitchers – it was 1 minor league free agent (Edell), 2 guys we traded for (Ramirez, Aumont) and 9 Phillies prospect lifers (draft picks or latin signings)
I’m surprised that D’Arby Myers did not go to Reading. He had a very good Spring Training.
Clearwater outfield going to be a touch crowded – Singleton, Castro, James, Myers at least. Guess Hanzawa is repeating Clearwater
I’m not
” Belly”ard is a waste. Barfield is better than him and so is castillo and phils dumped him already. I don’t understand the signing. It’s a no upside signing.
It’s also a no downside signing. He’s on a minor league deal. It’s nothing to get upset about. They’re just stockpiling inventory, which is wise.
The downside would be if barfield opts out of his contract which he could. Barfield, young and Garcia are all better than bellyard. I’d rather see other players get the ab’s or pt than bellyard. This move has no upside, and a downside. Makes no sense.
a “waist” even
well with the state of the current bullpen…I think we will see some promotions with DeFratus to AAA and possibly to Philly and Stutes to Philly….that is once of course the big club realizes Romero, Baez and Herndon are ineffective
Herndon. check. Romero. check.
Interesting guys who are missing. Would be curious if they were pushed down to Clearwater
2B Albert Cartwright
RHP Tyler Cloyd
OF Sebastian Boucher
C Joel Naughton
I thought Cloyd pitched well too. Naughton just got caught up in the numbers game of having so many catchers and the Phils valuing defense over offense at that position. I’m waiting to see the other two teams because some guys are going to have to be left off that startle us. I wonder if the Phils are trying to trade any of the LHV arms (Matheson? 6th starter?) with pitching so thin everywhere.
I thought over winter that it would be Gosewich to Allentown and Naughton to Reading. Both Naughton and Gosewich need to start at least 60% of games. I’d still prefer Gosewich and a vet backup at Allentown and Naughton and a vet backup at Reading. Kennelly was in Reading two seasons ago, as was Susdorf and Galvis.
I guess Naughton has either been released or he’s only going to be backing up Valle at Clearwater. I guess he could be hurt too.
Say what you want about Rizzotti, but I dont understand why hes in Reading.
I have a hard time believing they got a good enough sense about him in 50 abs last year with the Pigs, so why would they start him back with the RPhils?
I’m guessing punishment for out-of-shape ST arrival. If they planned to repeat Rizzotti in Reading, I think all-time Allentown popularity champ Andy Tracy would have been brought back.
I hope Rizzotti goes to reading a destroys the ball with a 1.2+ ops…. come on rizz, show them being fat is ok! LOL
He was kinda fat – given what’s at stake for him, that’s pretty inexcusable and just plain stupid. I still like him, however.
Yeah, if you just came off a flukish looking great season at Age 24 and you are invited to MLB camp, the last thing you should do is show up out of shape. That’s pretty unforgivable considering. He should have been down in Clearwater from Mid-Dec on working out to get ready.
No sympathy at all.
I’m with A-town, Catch, and Nepp. I like Rizz and still have hopes for him, but no excuse for showing up like a walrus. Phils were obviously trying to develop him as a reliable 1B, maybe an option if Howard had a serious injury. That meant Rizz had to get better as a fielder every year, which includes top conditioning (you don’t field good fat and immobile). He disappointed them big time. When I was there last week, his belly was hanging over his gut. Right decision by Phils. You don’t reward unprofessionalism.
I’d feel more comfortable saying “His defense got worse, so he got sent down,” if that’s the case. The whole “his belly is hanging over his belt” thing doesn’t. If they honestly sent him down because he gained 15 pounds irrespective of his performance, that is absolutely stupid. It’s the performance that should count, not the weight.
What you said is not true. ST evaluation is not simply about how you hit pitchers who are not locked in yet. It’s about the whole game of the player, including fielding. If scouts see him overweight, not caring about conditioning, they can easily project a year of defensive backsliding. In his position, it’s inexcusable and should not be rewarded. The guys who are talented and seriously going after it are the guys they get behind. Not the ones who take the off-season off and waste opportunities.
This isn’t a fashion contest, it’s baseball. So you’re telling me the dude could have shown up to camp looking and performing like Prince Fielder and the Phils would’ve sent him down? That’s ridiculous.
If he was a #7 pick Overall, part of a baseball pedigree and one of the highest regarded hitters in baseball, he could probably get away with showing up out of shape. As he’s a 24 year old fighting for a role, he needed to be ready.
The Phillies should have cut Luzinski and the Krucker too.
I admit that was only what three AB I saw Rizzotti have, but he looks like he could put up an .850 OPS in MLB right now. Very short swing. Why the Phils would do everything possible to destroy any potential trade value he might have is something that needs serious investigation. Did he get a granddaughter of one of the owners pregnant?
The Phillies faced Sabathia, Price and Liriano in a row in March. That was a perfect opportunity to start Rizzotti in all three games. No one would expect him to do anything against them, so if he took an 0-9 no foul. If he ended up getting some solid hits his value would shoot up, especially among teams in the DH league.
I really doubt professional scouts are going to change their opinion of Rizzotti based on nine at bats. Those guys scour the lower levels. They know what Rizzotti can do.
One, he didn’t have any trade value before or after the drop to AA. Two, he destroyed whatever “value” he had on his own at the buffet all winter long.
When you’re fighting for a roster spot, you show up in shape and ready to play.
Where is Joe Savery?
Savery will start at Clearwater (1B)
Again, don’t agree with that placement… I would have put him in AA… he’s done nothing but hit, and hit well and he’s getting old.
He’s never been a hitter professionally. If he rakes, he’ll move up fast.
Agree, Nepp. I said Clearwater for him last October when his switch was announced. He needs to rake at a lower level. They’ll move him up fast if he does, by June or July. Good conservative move. Everyome is overly impressed by limited pitcher ABs and high BA while he is off the radar of AA/AAA pitchers. Playing every day is completely different and he has to go through a condensed development process and climb up. Great move.
Anyone know where Justin Friend is going to end up?
Clearwater and Lakewood rosters by way of Hog Blog-
Clearwater (25-man roster limit)
C — Kyle LaFrenz, Sebastian Valle, Joel Naughton
IF — Troy Hanzawa, Cesar Hernandez, Travis Mattair, Darin Ruf, Joe Savery, Alan Schoenberger
OF — Leandro Castro, Brian Gump, Jiwan James, D’Arby Myers, Jonathan Singleton
P — Tyler Cloyd, Brody Colvin, Jarred Cosart, Jordan Ellis, Joe Esposito, Justin Friend, Derrick Loop, Ebelin Lugo, Trevor May, Jonathan Pettibone, Julio Rodriguez, Jordan Whatcott.
Lakewood (25-man roster limit)
C — Torre Langley, Cameron Rupp
IF — Jeremy Barnes, Stephen Batts, Edgar Duran, Geancarlo Mendez, James Murphy, Carlos Perdomo
OF — Aaron Altherr, Miguel Alvarez, Zach Collier, Anthony Hewitt, Domingo Santana.
P — Jesse Biddle, Jacob Borup, David Buchanan, Garrett Claypool, Mario Hollands, Chase Johnson, Tyler Knigge, Ervis Manzanillo, Bryan Morgado, Eric Pettis, Colby Schreve, Juan Sosa.-
Nice to see Rodriguez rightfully placed in Clearwater’s rotation. Colby Shreve may be 30 years old before he gets to Reading, but he will still probably be a top 30 prospect. I guess Garner is in Extended Spring.
I was expecting Kelly Dugan to be in Lakewood
Hopefully he’s staying in Ext SpT to work on his 1b skills and then replace Murphy at Lakewood, who’s to old for that level and probably a non-prospect because of that.
Sucks for Justin Friend. He had a solid year in AA last year and now hes going down a level. Barnes, Myers, Batts, Cloyd, Naughton, and Shreve didn’t deserve to get left back either. I don’t really see a point of having Loop in A+ either since hes like 27 or Murphy in Lakewood.
About 2.5 million dollars in 2008 draft bonus money (Hewitt, Collier and Shreve) still sitting in Lakewood.
Cosart, May and Pettibone’s 1.5 million doing well in Clearwater though.
So Garner didnt make the low a team…
Nice reward for Mattair’s diligence. I had a long conversation with his father at the complex. Nice man. Travis realized he had made a mistake on the basketball thing, but felt he had to try it and was frustrated by his hitting struggles. Dad said he also was never super serious about conditioning and strength. Travis employed a personal trainer and got into the best shape of his life in the off-season. Then he reported 6 weeks early. He has been hitting the ball well. Correct placement. Hope he keeps mashing.
Any word on Jeremy Slayden’s comeback?
Slayden is in extended Spring Training..
Was Julian Sampson released?
So the 3B battle shaping up at Lakewood between Alonso and Franco was resolved–both lost. I guess Barnes plays there.
Surprising omissions:
Cartright (I think he’s hurt–he should show up on someone’s DL shortly)
Sampson (released or injured)
Bocock (injured)
Franco/Alonso (extended)
Dugan (extended)
Slayden?
Nick Hernandez?
Garner (extended)
Boucher (I’m guessing he was released)
Sebastian Boucher as released.
He could not get his slapshot on net.
Dabbs, Dugan, Hernandez in Extended
Garner was in shorts and t-shirt the whole time I was there last week. He did not smell game action. He may still be building his arm strength from overwork last year or something like that. If it’s arm problems, Phils are wise to baby him this year to recover from last. That could pay off in the long run.
yeah, where are nick hernandez and sampson?
Yea sampson was released
No one at AA that really makes me want to risk thunderstorms to go to the AAA exhibition this year. Was anxious to see Brown and Gillies last year.
Overall talent at LHV looks better this year.
Which Clearwater guy does everyone think will get to Reading first? I can’t wait to start reading minor league boxscores again.
Cosart. He will blow away A ball, and be moved to Reading by the time it gets warm.
Now, if we assume Belliard assigned to LVIP, don’t see 2B, 3B, or especially not SS, so think another 1B. Could keep 6 IF and maybe Belliard, Bozied, and Larish at 1B and if they need a sub for 2B, SS, 3B, they can slide any of the 3 to 3B or Belliard to 2B, so not ideal for MI depth. Of listed players Rich Thompson is bounced or maybe he drops a level and Spidale is bounced . Of the 2 pitchers maybe out I guess: they could be bold and open a couple of spots on 40 man roster and bounce D. Carpenter and M. Zagurski (marginal MLB maybe) but Maybe they go Matt Anderson and D. Meyer.
RDG- 2B, SS, 3B and IF back-up seemed to evolve lately. Not surprise at this time. 1B maybe surprise with Rizzotti dropping down and Overbeck sliding over.
Players under top 2 levels (demoted) may be spinning their wheels- D. Myers, OF, D.Ruf 1B (not as big a stall as others) J. Savery 1B, J. Murphy 1B, Langley C, Naughton C.
Cartwright? Cartwright? Assume Boucher released, Gillies- injured.
Pitchers I had but don’t see from top 2 levels-
Brian Gordon (LVIP)
Matt Way
Matt German
Edgar Garcia
Assume Boucher released , Gillies MIA.
According to the latest BA transactions log, Boucher was indeed released. They have a full list of released players. Rob Hudson acquired for future considerations. Hudson is just a warm body.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2011/04/minor-league-transactions-march-23-29/
Eddie Bonnie is terrible. (although I guess he’ll eat innings) I think the LV bullpen is awesome. (well, at least they all looked good in ST)
I think I saw someone on here post a few days ago that Cartwright got released. I am hoping he didn’t though.
Matt Anderson released per mlbtr
Now, to resurrect the whole , Rizzotti came in out of shape thing. I admit to skepticism at first, because I seen his one (I suppose) appearance on the CW channel, and didn’t seem that bad. But now I see on the Reading roster , they have him at 6’5 265, when, I recall , last season they had him at 6’5 235. So maybe that’s the case.
If Rizzotti is really 6’5 265 then his BMI is 31.42 so hes not just out of shape he’s obese.
Rizzo looked like an offensive lineman at Spring Training. Huge.