Projecting the squads; Clearwater

Depth Charts

We’re going to keep trucking along here and try to figure out who is likely to start in Clearwater when the season opens. So far we’ve covered Lehigh Valley and Reading, and if you see someone who was missed, please post it on their respective post. Again, we’re not worrying about organizational filler here, we’re just focusing on the legit prospects and the fringe guys. So, check below for more…

C – Joel Naughton
1B – Matt Rizzotti
2B
3B – Travis Mattair
SS – Freddy Galvis
LF – Steve Susdorf
CF
RF – Dominic Brown

BN – Michael Durant

SP – Vance Worley
SP – Mike Stutes
SP – Julian Sampson
SP – Mike Cisco
SP – Drew Naylor

RP – Michael Schwimer
RP – Eryk McConnell
RP – Moises Melendez
RP – Jared Simon
RP – Miguel Matos
RP – Brian Rosenberg

Yes? No? Fill in the blanks.

31 thoughts on “Projecting the squads; Clearwater”

  2. I think Mattair repeats Lakewood and Overbeck plays 3B for Clearwater, although I’m guessing a position change is in order for Overbeck, especially if he improves on his fairly decent production numbers from last year. I don’t think we’ll see his OBP improve, since by all accounts he is a free swingewr though.

    So if Galvis starts at Clearwater, does that mean Hanzawa is in Lakewood or should he be a utility guy for Clearwater?

    – Jeff

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  5. I’m not sure Overbeck can handle that jump to Hi-A. Mattair, on the other hand, Has the upside to handle it. I keep in mind that Mattair had a poor start and when he got his average to .250, kept it there. It translated to to .280-.290 excluding that poor start.

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  6. i think galvis will repeat at lakewood given his struggles at the plate only hitting about .220, I think he has to prove he can hit a little more before being promoted even though he plays great defense

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  7. Mitchell will definitely be at 2B. Mattair looked great when I saw him last week. Interestingly though Overbeck was playing 3B with the higher group of Taylor, Brown and Berry in the OF. If Overbeck hits, would they bump him all the way to Reading?? I doubt it but he’s definitely above Mattair right now so it could cause a ripple. Why would Naylor pitch here instead of Reading? I didn’t see Susdorf anywhere when I was there.

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  8. The Mattair/Overbeck problem could be an interesting one. Mattair is the prospect that I watch most closely, and a breakthrough (nothing spectacular, but an ops around .800 would do it) year could launch him to top 5-10 status.

    Overbeck has a lower ceiling, and probably won’t be a third basemen, but he might be able to slug enough to be a first basemen or corner outfielder. Given his inability to draw a walk (although he does seem to know how to get hit by a pitch), he’d have to hit 25-30 homers this year with a similar amount of doubles to really get noticed.

    Does the fact that Overbeck is working with a higher group play into the organization’s decision?

    – Jeff

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  10. Just a hunch, but I think it’s possible Drabek starts at Clearwater. Keep his new arm out of the cold and I think they are intent on challenging him.

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  14. I dunno if he is in camp or not – I haven’t seen him mentioned in the write ups on the R-Phils page, and they are pretty thorough with mentioning any offensive contributors.

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  15. Bit of a logjam here; I’m interested to see how it works out.

    Regarding Drabek: it does sound as if he’s going to start in Clearwater, so I wonder if the club will accommodate him by heading to a 6-man rotation, or by bumping one of Stutes/Worley to Reading.

    Call me crazy, but I haven’t written off Chance Chapman yet. He sounds like a candidate to move quickly if he responds well to his move to the bullpen, and he’s a good bet to start in Clearwater methinks.

    I’d bet Hanzawa starts here, with Galvis back in Lakewood. Not sure about Mattair, though he’s not as boxed in by Overbeck as Galvis is by Hanzawa — i.e. Overbeck could easily move to LF to accommodate Mattair if that’s what the club wanted.

    Finally, anyone with some connections or sources want to do a little detective work? I’m putting out an APB on Steve Susdorf.

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  16. I had D’Arnaud pencilled in at Catcher in Clearwater. Overbeck or Mattair… Mattair or Overbeck. I’d push Mattair but I’m pretty sure it will be Overbeck. I also had TJ Warren in CF. I’d like him to have some consistant ABs. D’Arby Myers will probably end up in Lakewood and he’ll be splitting time with TJ. D’Arnaud, Mattair and Warren would a bunch of 20 year olds moving fast. Throw in Freddy Galvis who I think is 19 this year and we have young guys with big impacts.

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  17. Agree both Mattair and Galvis should start at Low A. College guys Overbeck and Hanzawa should be jumped to High A. Both younger guys need patient development. I have no problem making either of them the priority if they are doing very well at Lakewood and promoting them mid-season to Clearwater. Mattair has the physical talent, so if he “gets it,” he could start moving fast. With Galvis, he may need some physical maturation plus the opportunity to figure out the best approach second time through at Low A. If he is on a solid weight and nutrition program, he can start moving up too, but you have to promote him based on his bat, IMO.

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  18. Since its Monday, there should be new workgroups posted at the complex today right? We signed so many minor league free agents this offseason that I am foreseeing at least 20+ guys released before opening day.

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  19. Friar, good point. Forgot that the Phils wanted to convert Chapman to a reliever. He should start in Clearwater and move to Reading this year if he does well.

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  20. Not sure if it means anything but Hanzawa and Overbeck have been playing in a more advanced workout group(#2) while Galvis and Mattair are in group 3, so it looks like they’re at least considering putting Hanzawa and Overbeck in Clearwater.I’ve seen them all play a few times and Hanzawa and Overbeck do look like they’re more advanced then the other two at this point. On Sat. Stutes pitched with group1(AAA) and went 3 inn, 4H, 2R 3K 4W.So he might be a AA candidate. Escalona pitched with group2 3 inn, 0H 0R 2K 2W. On Sunday, Naylor pitched with group3(A+) 4 inn 6H 3R 2K 1W 1HR, Chapman followed and didn’t do well at all 1 inn 5H 4R 0K 2W 1HR. Galvis(1/4 Double), Mattair(1/4 triple) and Collier(1/4 triple) all played with group 3 (A-)

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  21. With what Gkit said, after chapman I believe I saw Ellis pitch. he did well in the (A+) game the same day, guessing he is in group 3 as well…. thoughts

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  22. my predictions:
    C-Naughton and Alan Robbins
    1b-Rizzotti
    2b-Mitchell
    3b-Overbeck or Mattair
    SS-Galvis
    LF-Jay Miller or Karl Bolt (when he comes back)
    CF-Brown
    RF-Taylor or Kennelly
    DH-Durant
    SP-Naylor
    SP-Chapman (better as a starter) or Drabek
    SP-Worley
    SP-Stutes
    SP-Sampson
    RPs: Rocchio, Kissock, J. Simon, Darren Byrd, Dan Brauer

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  23. Noworyta has said that Galvis and Mattair will both be in Lakewood before spring training started.

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  24. I downloaded the entire Phillies Farm teams stats. I was looking at OPS and how many guys were greater than .800 with more than 25 games played at a specific level. Here’s what I got (okay I broke the rule with Brown but it’s close enough. Also D’Arnaud didn’t have enough games at Lakewood but he was solid at Williamsport so I left him on in both places.)

    Level Name Age Games OPS
    3: A- Taylor, Michael 22 67 0.995
    4: A+ Taylor, Michael 22 65 0.940
    1: GCL Murphy, James 22 28 0.927
    1: GCL Garcia, Harold 21 50 0.913
    5: AA Donald, Jason 23 92 0.888
    5: AA Slayden, Jeremy 25 131 0.857
    5: AA Marson, Lou 22 94 0.849
    2: WPT D’Arnaud, Travis 19 48 0.834
    2: WPT Susdorf, Steve 22 48 0.833
    3: A- D’Arnaud, Travis 19 16 0.826
    3: A- Rizzotti, Matthew 22 102 0.810
    3: A- Brown, Dominic 20 114 0.799

    Taylor takes the top 2 spots while at Lakewood and Clearwater. The ages are last year’s age but it’s nice to see only Slayden could be considered “aged”. Anyone want to put Harold Garcia at Clearwater?

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  25. I got this.
    C-*Naughton, L.R. Arzeno
    1B-*Rizzotti
    2B D. Mitchell
    SS #F. Galvis
    3B Mattair
    OF T.J. Warren, *D. Brown, T. Kennelly, # A. Cambero
    DH Michael Durant
    SP- Chapman, Drabek, J. Sampson, M. Stutes, V. Worley
    RP- M.Cisco, * W. Tejada, R. Cruz, E. McConnell, * M. Melendez, B.Rosenberg, C. Kissock, Z. Sterner, M. Schimer

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  26. saw durant play several games last week. he is a really big dude, but not at all athletic. didn’t hit much and had repeated problems with throws in the dirt. hope i’m wrong, but i think he will struggle at clearwater if promoted.

    mattair was impressive. looked really confident and hit well.

    also was impressed by ellis, although only one inning work.

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  27. All signs point to the left of the Clearwater infield to be Overbeck at third and Hanzawa at short. Yesterday morning Overbeck and Antoniato were taking infield at third and Hanzawa and Galvis at SS. Mattair and Galvis look like they will repeat Lakewood. Harold Garcia is having a good spring and because of his age 22 he could double jump to Clearwater. They will have to make a decision on protecting Harold since he will be starting his 5th year as a pro. Derrick Mitchell can hit but just might be too much of a defensive liabilty to start at High A at second. The first baseman will come from Durant, Rizzotti and Urick. Wouldn’t be surprised if they double jump Naughton to AA to alternate with Gosewisch behind the plate and go with D’Arnaud at Clearwater and Valle at Lakewood. It would be a shame to keep Valle in extended spring training until the short season starts in mid June in Williamsport.

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  29. Stacked rotation, but I see Naylor at Reading. Also, the way that Mattair was playing in spring training, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets bumped up to Clearwater.

    With Taylor’s monster end to last year’s season at Clearwater, any chance they’re considering him for Reading?

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  30. Urick needs to move up, as age is becoming a consideration. Mitchell has spurts of hitting genius, but has Knoblach’s disease. Last week he had both Durant and Rizotti doing gymnastics to keep the ball (throw from 2B) in play. Durant is huge but like one poster said, he is just not athletic. It will show at this next level. Heard cuts are coming soon. Have they started?

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