With just 16 days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, the Phillies continue to fill their holes on the minor league rosters with players who are minor league veterans and most who have had a cup of coffee at the major league level. Lehigh Valley should be welcoming back 33 year old Left handed starter Brian Mazone for his third season in Allentown. Mazone was probably the IronPigs steadiest starter in 2008, going 9-12 with a 4.10 ERA in his 164.2 IP. After a brief stint in the Dodgers organization at the beginning of last season he rejoined the IronPigs mid season and was 2-6 with a 3.50 ERA in his 11 starts late in the year. Mazone brings experience and a consistent left handed arm to join lefty Joe Savery in the Lehigh Valley rotation.
29 year old Luis Maza joins the Phillies organization after spending the last several years in the Dodgers farm system (he had 79 AB’s with the Dodgers in 2008). Primarily a second baseman, Maza can play several positions having played 15 games at 3B and 29 games in the OF to go along with his 41 games at 2B last season for AAA Albuquerque. Maza hit .300 in 355 AB’s last season, while hitting 5 HR’s and knocking in 44. I would expect Maza to fill in the currently vacant 2B spot in Lehigh Valley.
Brian Gordon, a 31 year old right handed reliever was signed after spending the last two seasons in the Rangers organization. He was the 7th Round pick of Arizona in the 1997 draft and has bounced around quite a bit over the last few seasons during his minor league free agent years. He pitched well last season for AAA Oklahoma City going 7-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 43 appearances, striking out 51 and walking 20 in his 77.1 innings of work(1.19 WHIP). Gordon looks to be plugged in to the Lehigh Valley bullpen taking the workload of the departed Gary Majewski.
Finally, the addition of 29 year old speedster OF Freddy Guzman is probably the most interesting news that came out of the signings yesterday. Guzman had an whirlwind year last season, spending time in four different organization (Mariners, Orioles, Red Sox and Yanks). Guzman was a September recall for the Yankees and was used as their late inning stolen base specialist, stealing four bags in five attempts. Guzman hit just .223 in the minors last season with 2 HR and 17 RBI in 350 AB’s. He did steal 45 bases and is a career .266 hitter at the AAA level in almost 2000 AAA at bats. He joins a crowded outfield at the top of the organization that includes Rich THompson, John Mayberry, Quintin Berry and DeWayne Wise as players likely to see time in Lehigh Valley. The likelihood of Domonic Brown beginning the year in Reading seems to be extremely high.
Phuture Phillies 
We should see some pretty good OF defense in Lehigh. Lots of speed and defense and very light bats other than maybe Mayberry.
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Brian Gordon is quite an interesting player. He was a corner outfielder for a long time, and did log a .785 OPS in several seasons in the PCL. But he never cracked the big leagues. He converts to pitching prior to the 2007 season and although he’s never been lights out, his K/BB ratios are very good.
Luis Maza will fight Melvin Dorta for the second base job in Lehigh Valley. Maza is the better player. The Caribbean World Series is currently airing on MLB Network, and Maza is part of the Venezuelan team.
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That Gordon note is interesting. If he has only been pitching full-time for the past few years then he might have a bit of ceiling left despite being pretty old for a minor leaguer.
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Another OF signed is Chris Duffy and he’ll likely play. The Guzman signing is odd to me because he’s not needed now. That suggests to me that someone will be traded and the only ones with any value are Mayberry and Berry. I won’t be surprised to see one of them get traded for a similarly rated (4A) middle infielder or 3B just to add to the minor league depth. Gilles and/or Gose will pass Berry quickly (and Guzman plays CF) so he’s my guess to go.
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Let’s figure out how the minor league infields shake out at the upper levels.
LVH: 1B Bozied, 2B Maza, SS Valdez, 3B Ransom (DH Tracy)
REA: 1B Stavisky, 2B Dorta, SS Bocock, 3B Campbell
I think Sellers may take the regular 3B job in Lehigh Valley while Ransom becomes the DH. Ozzie Chavez looks like a backup infielder in Reading. Lehigh Valley is frankly overcrowded with outfield candidates, and I think as Murray says someone will leave the organization. The problem is that there are not a lot of position slots open.
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Yawn. Can it be spring now?
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alan, you would think that they would make sure galvis started since he will be at reading, and isnt h. garcia a possibility to be up there for 2B?
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This is just speculation on my part. I think Galvis will return to Clearwater to begin the season. Harold Garcia is a possibility but based on the current depth chart, there are simply better players above him. It is possible though that Dorta becomes the utility infielder in LHV and Garcia moves up.
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I agree with dcwildcat – Garcia has some potential to be a real player and based on his age should be pushed to AA. Dorta is looking like filler at this point in his career. However, as Alan stated I wouldn’t be surprised to see Freddy start the year in Clearwater. He didn’t light the world on fire at AA. However, as someone else mentioned in another thread RAJ noted on 97.5 that Galvis as one of the few upper level prospects the organization has. They might try and push him as well.
I think both Garcia and Galvis will start at AA, deservedly so or not.
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I would also expect Galvis to start off in Clearwater. He was only moved up as a last resort and he clearly needs work at the plate.
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Does anyone know if they’re planning on playing that AAA – AA game again this year in Reading? It’s a fun game to go to, I think it was for charity last year.
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the Freddy Guzman thing is ridiculaous. He cannot hit, is an average outfielder with a weak arm. He only has speed, and has a terrible attitude. I guess Mahar does not figure into anything, acording to Alan, He is a better hitter and fielder than Stavisky, better fielder than tracey, was the third hitter for average int he Phillies system last year, and he was a centerfielder in the majors that also plays all outfield positions, but he must not be one of Alla’s boys.
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Re: Mahar. Stavisky played the majority of the R-Phils games at first base, I would assume he does the same this season. Mahar is more likely to play the outfield, and I would absolutely assume he gets playing time.
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Seems like every year the Phillies hire a bunch of blah junk for AAA. Lehigh never seems to perform well.
I at least like the Ransom / Sellers 3B grouping. I’d like to see them give Sellers a shot. Tracy could fill as a pinch hitter for two weeks in the majors.
Mayberry and Berry are the only two prospects. I still like Berry, thinking he could be nice 5th OF with some ability to hit and speed. Mayberry needs to be kept around through next season as a possible call up for RF (in place of Werth). Unfortunately he is never going to get consistent at-bats for the Phillies and will remain a strikeout machine.
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It’s pretty ridiculous what they’re putting on the field on a day to day basis at AAA. If these guys were prospects, it would be one thing, but jeez Phillies, it’s not that hard to field a competitive veteran AAA team.
I know we talk on here all the time about how it’s not about wins and losses in the minors, but quite frankly, when you fill a 10K stadium nightly in the minors, the fans deserve better.
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Who is to say this team will not be competitive at the AAA level? I think this team will perform better than last year’s club.
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If they aren’t prospects why would you care if Lehigh Valley is competive with vets?
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RULZ –
Because sometimes it’s nice to go to a game and leave with the home team winning. It’s still baseball, it’s fun to have a winning team, no matter what the level. Yes, I understand that the #1 priority of the minor leagues is to develop prospects, but let’s win some games in the process.
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alan. stavisky and Mahar split first base time. just to update you. like I said, Tracey might not even be around this year with teh two major arm and shoulder problelms he incurred while playing winter ball. Also, jsut found out that Wise willnot be happy with the Guzman signing, look for him to take his opt out before spring training over. Guzman is a real bad signing, it is just a matter of time before he creates problems in clubhouse. Just ask the Rangers and their AAA clubhouse.
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I’m well aware of the fielding splits. Stavisky played 99 games at first base, Mahar 52 games and Sellers 11.
Tracy going down would make the Tagg Bozied signing pretty clear. If Tracy is out then the excess outfielders no doubt take up the DH spot.
If Dewayne Wise is going to opt out because of a single player signing, what kind of teammate would he be? That sounds like a load of crap. I watched Guzman play here in Scranton up close and I never heard a bad word about him as a teammate. I’m reading scouting reports on him directly after the 2006 and 2007 seasons and finding not a peep about attitude problems. Disparage a player all you want for insufficient ability, but if you’re going to throw clubhouse cancer around have something to back it up.
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Go to a MLB game if you want to see them win. Or go to a Reading game. Have absolutely no interest in watching a bunch of 29 year olds that will never do a thing play, whether they are winning or not.
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well, then that’s a shame RULZ. It’s baseball in Allentown….it is what it is.
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RULZ –
Anytime you are paying to see a product, you deserve to see quality. If this is truely all about a “learning experience” for the players, then let everyone in for free.
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Alot of these minor league veterans many are guaranteeing a spot for will be released following Spring Training- at least a few.
I will give some AAA and AA infield projections also:
AAA- Cody Ransom 3B, Wilson Valdez SS, Luiz Maza 2B, Andy Tracy 1B, Melvin Dorta INF, Ozzie Chavez INF
AA- Tim Kennelly 3B, Freddy Galvis SS, Harold Garcia 2B, Matthew Rizzotti 1B, Fidel Hernandez INF, Yonderman Rodriguez INF, Michael Durant 1B-DH
In the BA scouting report on Hanzawa, which has largely taken input from minor league officials with teams, it stated that Hanzawa was scheduled to be assigned to Clearwater next season, as he should be . The Lakewood position will be filled by Jonathon Villar. That pushes Galvis up to Reading, and I say he remains there for the entire season and does all right.
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Tracy’s injury according to a source in the organization was not very significant at all and he should be 100% by the time the season starts.
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A number of these guys will be released during the minor league camp. That’s why it is so important for them to have a productive camp. Remember watching Urick and Stavisky fight for the AA lefthanded hitting first base job in camp last spring. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Durant and Rizzotti released this time if they decide to go with Stavisky again who is a better all around player than those two. Another position to watch will be AAA third base with Sellers needing a big spring both offensively and defensively to beat out Ransom. If not I suspect Sellers will be back at AA again.
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I’m not a pro scout. I’m not in training to be a pro scout. I don’t plan to ever be a pro scout. When I buy a ticket to a ballgame, I just want to see baseball. I’m not there to record radar readings or analyze an infielder’s footwork. I am not going to pay to see a bunch of kids who don’t yet know how to play baseball learn, RULZ. A team filled with minor league vets at Lehigh Valley is just fine with me. It’s not like the club is holding down any prospects.
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Confidence Man –
Agreed. That was part of the reason why going to Reading was so fun last year. They really had a good core of veteran guys (Spidale, Stavisky, K Nelson, Sellers, Mahar), mixed in with a bunch of young “prospect” types (Taylor, Berry, D Brown, Drabek, Schwimer, Bastardo), which made all the games really fun and competitive. While the prospects had their ups and downs, the veterans were always there to give a steady, workman like presence. I actually feel sorry for you guys who just go to ball games to scout 1 or 2 players. It sounds really boring to me.
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Baseball is just a better experience when the outcome matters. As much as we love our Phillies prospects, it’s unfortunate in a way that minor league baseball is entirely controlled by MLB and there is no longer serious competition.
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Alan – You’re right about that. It’s part of the reason why I wish there was an Independent league team in the Philadelphia metro region (and not in Camden either). I’m kind of surprised that there isn’t anything in the Del-Co/Chester-Co area. It seems like a ripe market for a small scale baseball team.
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I’m surprised Philadelphia doesn’t have a second team like Pittsburgh has with the Wild Things. I guess Wilmington and Trenton fill the void, but northern Philadelphia could certainly handle a small team.
The biggest problem with the indies is that they are so hap-hazard. The Atlantic League is growing and getting into nice ballparks. The Can-Am League though continually shifts franchises and loses teams. Record keeping in the leagues is terrible.
If you haven’t been out to the Lancaster park though, that’s a nice outing.
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Yeah, I have to tip my cap to the Atlantic League. They do a really nice job with everything, and most places draw 6-8K a game from what I’ve seen.
I live in the WC/Exton area, so nothing is really that close to me. Lancaster is about 45-50 minutes away. Reading is about 35-40 minutes away (all turnpike miles), Allentown is about an hour and a half, Wilmington is about 50 minutes. It takes a while to get to anything. I’m 29 and getting married this summer, with kids to follow in probably the next year or two. I’d love to have full season tickets once in my life and just experience the day to day season of a team, but I’m having trouble pulling the trigger on a daily drive to Reading. Wish there was something closer.
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I personally live in the Poconos. Scranton/WB is 35-40 minutes away, Lehigh Valley is 50 and everything else is over an hour. The benefit is that I get to a variety of parks over the course of a season, since a LOT of stadiums are under two hours away.
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Minor league baseball just isn’t that interesting because it lacks serious competition. That’s not to say that I’m not interested in the Phillies farm system. Obviously I am, because I am here. (By the way – keep up the great work, PP.) I mean, not interesting enough that I’ll pay money to attend a ballgame. I agree with what Matt said. Scouting players sounds like a boring time for a lay man like myself, just a fan.
That’s part of the reason I really like the IronPigs. It’s great that they are affiliated with the Phillies. It’s cool to see current and former major leaguers rehabbing or just trying to get back to the bigs. And, it’s fun to see some of my club’s top prospects in action. But, what I really enjoy is just seeing pro ballplayers play ball. It’s not quite the bigs but it’s a very high level of talent. With the way Triple-A rosters are filled out these days, there is less kids learning and more men playing to win. That’s the way it seems, anyway.
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One of the biggest drawbacks for me is that while most of the players are the same level (B type players playing B type players.. in the end, it’s a level playing field in general), the managers don’t manage to win the game.
Roadcap did a nice job in this last year in Reading. I remember listening to a pregame show one time and he said that he had an agreement with the Phillies that after the 7th inning the game was basically his and he could play to win. This is a great agreement and a fair compromise in my eyes. It allowed him to lift guys for defense, pinch run, play a little more lefty/righty in the late innings.
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Phillies recently signed another Australian, Joshua Warner from Queensland. 17yr old RHP.
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Freddy stole 2nd, 3rd and home yesterday!
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l162&t=g_box&gid=2010_02_04_venwin_domwin_1
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melvin dorta es un tremendo pelotero, darle oportunidad es lo que necesita para demostrarlo, espero que este sea su año.. siganle los pasos. a jugado todas las posiciones, menos picher…. mucha suerte
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