With many of the prospects re-assigned to minor league camps, there won’t be as much action to report on from big league games. Ken Mandel, the guy responsible for writing most of the pieces for Phillies.com, keeps a “mailbag” where he answers reader questions, though I have a hard time believing people ask some of the questions that get posted. Anyway, he touched on a few Phillies prospects in yesterday’s version

Will the Phillies take a hard look at Travis Blackley for the fifth spot in the rotation?
— Adam D., Philadelphia

They have incentive to keep him on the roster because he was a Rule 5 Draft pick. He has to be offered back to the Giants if he’s not going to make the Phillies. As a lefty, he’s a commodity and could stick in the bullpen as well. Blackley didn’t help his case after a rough outing Saturday against the Indians, but he has three weeks to redeem himself.

I have a hard time believing one bad outing would somehow color the Phillies impressions of Blackley. Heck, they didn’t let a mediocre career stop them from giving Adam Eaton a 3 year deal.

I haven’t heard much about Scott Mathieson this spring. What’s new on him? Will he be in the bullpen this season?
— Phil, Newark, Del.

There’s not much to report on Mathieson, who is working his way back from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery. The righty had a setback at the start of Minor League camp, delaying his recovery. The 23-year-old is one of the Phils’ top prospects, having averaged nearly a strike out per inning during his Minor League career. The team hopes he can pitch in mid-March, and could eventually be a hard-throwing guy at the back end of the bullpen. He’s so dedicated that he found someone to catch him on his February honeymoon in Hawaii.

If he’s throwing again in mid-March, I assume he’ll see some games in Allentown sometime in mid-April. No reason to rush him, and when he’s ready, both health and stuff wise, the Phillies will put him in the pen.

Is Francisco Rosario still under Rule 5 restrictions? I really don’t want to see him “working stuff out” on the big club again.
— Will R., Philadelphia, Pa.

Rosario isn’t a Rule 5 player, but he’s out of Minor League options, meaning he can’t be sent to Triple-A without being exposed to waivers, where he can be claimed by any team. The team likes Rosario as a starter, but he’s a long shot to win that spot in the big league rotation. He could again win a bullpen job, though. Blackley and Lincoln Holdzkom are this year’s Rule 5 Draft candidates, meaning they either have to remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their original teams, San Francisco and Boston, respectively.

Ok, so the team likes him as a starter. But they don’t trust him enough in the rotation? He’s got a big arm and good stuff, command and control are still a problem, but would seem like a bigger issue out of the pen than starting. I guess if someone really outperforms him, sure, then put him in the pen, but I think he deserves as much of a chance as anyone for a starting spot.

Who do you think will make up the bench for 2008? Does Greg Golson, who has been on fire this spring, have a shot?
— Rob N, Lansdale, Pa.

He was Philadelphia’s first Draft pick in 2004, but is still 22 and has a ways to go. The idea is for him to get experience this year, and that will likely come at Double-A Reading. The bench is set with Chris Coste, Jayson Werth, So Taguchi, Eric Bruntlett and Greg Dobbs. If the Phillies opt for 11 pitchers, Chris Snelling has a shot as a left-handed bench option.

Ahh, yes Ken, we agree on this one.

What is going on with Kyle Drabek? It seems he has fallen off the radar.
— Dave M., Bridgeton, N.J.

The young right-handed prospect had Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and the Phillies are expecting him to be back in August. Hopes are high because he’s only 20.

Seems reasonable. I think if he can get 3-4 starts at Lakewood or Clearwater before the season ends, then a full Instructional League showing, he’ll be right on track.