OF John Mayberry, Jr, was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley, while Catcher Dane Sardinha and SS Ozzie Chavez were re-assigned to Minor League Camp today by the Phils. Mayberry was a good Spring, hitting .289 with a homer a 6 RBI’s in his 38 AB’s. Sardinha hit .154 this Spring. Chavez hit .200 in his 25 at bats and will fill a middle infield spot in Reading or Lehigh Valley depending upon needs.
Notes: Harold Garcia, who played almost exclusively at 2B last year in Lakewood, played SS in the High A game yesterday.
—Yohan Flande was hit hard in the AA game, giving up 7 runs over 4.2 innings.
—Scott Mathieson threw 2 scoreless innings, without allowing a hit in the AAA game.
Phuture Phillies 
I know it’s not an important trade, but looks like we got the better end of the Golson deal.
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I certainly haven’t given up on Mayberry. It’s not at all unusual with somebody with Mayberry’s tall lanky build to be a late bloomer. The tools are there.
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” It’s not at all unusual with somebody with Mayberry’s tall lanky build to be a late bloomer.”
Just out of curiosity, what are you basing this on? Can you cite an example? Looking at B-Ref’s Play Index, there have been seven position players who stood 6’6″ or above and logged 1,000 games. All seven pretty well established themselves by the time they were 25 years old. Mayberry turned 26 over the offseason, and last year he was slightly above average for the International League. Given the choice, I’d rather have Golson.
Golson actually looks to play in Scranton this year, so that’ll be an interesting little IL rivalry.
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I wouldn’t rather have Golson, though I think Mayberry’s career in this org will be limited to 4th/5th outfielder. I think he could be a decent (league average) starter on a 2nd division team, but he’s not the type of guy someone is going to give up talent to get. If something were to happen to one of the starters on the big league club this year, Francisco will get regular playing time, and that means Mayberry replaces him as a reserve outfielder. In that role, I think he’s a nice guy to have, and he’s certainly more equipped to hit big league pitching than Golson right now. We already have a pinch runner/defensive replacement in the org with Quintin Berry.
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I agree that Mayberry is better to have than Golson. Golson is mainly speed with a good glove and arm. Mayberry has the better bat with some speed and a good glove and arm. He could possibly be a bench player who could pinch hit with some pop. Golson seems to be destined to be only a fringe player since he will likely have a bad OB% which doesnt bode well for someone with speed. Too many K’s means he doesnt get on base enough to utilize his speed. Mayberry can steal a few bases but he wont be a baseburner.
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I like that the team is giving Harold Garcia some time at SS. It gives him a better shot at making the bigs as a Utility infielder. Garcia is the only infileder above low A, that can actually hit a little, but he would have to really rake to make it exclusively as a 2B.
BTW, I have been checking the notes on the minor league affiliates and it seems like Tyson Gillies gets a triple every other day. Also seems as if Dugan, Hewitt and JiJames have been getting their share of hits.
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Yeah Gillies and Galvis having good Springs. It looks like Murphy might jump High A and go to Reading. He seems to be a better option then Durant. Looks like Susdorf will also play some first as well. Aumont and Ramirez seem to be pitching well. Flande is getting torched this Spring. He had a bad outing yesterday.
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Mayberry has shown enough and has a broad enough skill set that he could be a major league 4th/5th OF today. Had the Phils not added some vet OF over winter, I think he would be the 5th OF and do a creditable job. For many other teams, he would be the 4th or even 3rd OF. Golson not going to be more than a PR, defensive replacement for just about any team.
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I was by Allentown stadium yesterday, sigh. We need to get started. I am so ready
If Mayberry can only learn to make a little more contact, he would be fine. Call Keith Moreland he had the greatest approach with limited tools. Last I heard he was coaching in college. Anyone know?
Agreed on Garcia even if Glavis turns into a hitting machine lol.
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Chances we hang onto Mayberry and platoon him with Brown in RF in 2011?
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Francisco has the inside track on platooning with Brown, if that’s the way the Phils want to break Brown in.
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The move to SS by H. Garcia is very interesting.
Obviously, he appears to be our only pharm middle infielder who shows some ability to hit.
Is there anybody who can cite what kind of range, arm, and glove he has…??? Galvis might be hearing some footsteps at his rear…??!!
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Wouldn’t it make more sense to platoon Francisco with Brown and use Mayberry (if he progresses) as a 5th OF next year?
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Though, the problem (sorry to add on here) with platooning Francisco is that he doesn’t display a platoon split for his career.
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How is hitting .211 with 23 Ks and 2 BBs in 57 Abs showing enough? I don’t get why people seem to think Mayberry has proven he’ll be a major leaguer. He was awful as a hitter last year and he probably won’t improve much based on his age. Golson may not end up doing anything either, but Mayberry hasn’t earned a thing. Francisco is a much better player and I’m not so sure Mayberry can even make it as a 5th outfielder.
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I saw Garcia play last year for the Blue Claws and he can field and run/has range. Not to sure about the arm but he was accurate but that was from 2B
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It seems to be apparent that Harold Garcia will start in Clearwater and Galvis in Reading. Garcia was injured most of ST and has just been back a couple of days. He played SS for a game, but I would think Troy Hanzawa will play SS at Clearwater on a regular basis. Garcia played mostly 3B in Venezuela , but also played 2B and SS, so I believe he already could fill in there. I say if Garcia moves up to Clearwater he woud stay at 2B and bump the guy I figure to play 2B at Reading, Fidel Hernandez to a reserve roll. Galvis has his very well through Spring Training and should maintain at Reading for the season.
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Did anyone notice that Michael Taylor was sent to the minors by Oakland.
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Not that surprising. He struggled in ST and could still use some AAA at-bats. Also, Oakland doesn’t have any glaring holes in the OF right now so they don’t need to push him onto the roster.
I expect he will see ML time at some point during the season..
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Off topic, but a bit of a draft preview in the paper today:
“Wolever said one of the missions for the near future is restocking some positions that were hit hardest by the trades and the team’s inability to sign some of its recent draft picks.
‘We need to find some players at some positions where I think we’re thin,’ Wolever said. ‘We’re a little thin at third base, and we’re a little thin’ at catcher.”
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20100329_Smart_drafting_put_Phils_on_top.html?page=2&c=y
All you amateur baseball nuts, keep your eyes out for toolsy 3Bs and Cs. Plus with Mattair retiring we are even thinner there. Best of luck to you, Travis.
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RT@ToddZolecki Phillies released 12 minor leaguers incl. OF Brad Wilkerson, RHP Joe Bisenius and LHP Sean Grieve, a 2008 pick from Germantown Academy
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Why did Wilkerson even bother to show up? The primary bench bat (Gload) has a two year deal so that spot wasn’t open. He couldn’t possibly hope to make the team unless someone got hurt.
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Courtesy of the press notes. The full cut list is Wilkerson, Grieve, Bisenius, Freddy Ballestas, Spencer Arroyo, Ryan Bergh, Rick Guttormson, Todd Van Steensel, Jordan Meaker, Jeremy Hamilton, Gus Milner and Arlon Quiroz.
Ballestas is the biggest surprise of the group.
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“Why did Wilkerson even bother to show up? The primary bench bat (Gload) has a two year deal so that spot wasn’t open. He couldn’t possibly hope to make the team unless someone got hurt.”
In reality, you can probably say that for at least 75% of minor leaguers…it’s a dream for them, who are we to tell them not to show up?
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Well usually it leads to a AAA spot, waiting for something to open up or just playing the season there. I mean, does Wilkerson intend to keep playing or was he just taking a long shot at an MLB shot after taking a season off?
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Hamilton seems interestingly significant though Jim Murphy really outperformed him. Arroyo got 6 figures to sign in 2008. Another Australian gone in Van Steensel. Dropping Milner and Quiroz cleans up the OF situation a little though I think this likely means that Castro is going to have skip Lakewood and go to Clearwater.
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Was trying to watch my final three minor league games of the spring all taking place at the same time on Saturday morning at the Complex. I did not see Harold Garcia at SS in the A+ game on Roberts Field. The game I saw in part had Harold at second and Alan Schoenberger at SS. Garcia looped a double down the left field line is just getting his stoke back. He just appeared on the fields about a week ago.
In the A- game against the Jays on Schmidt Field the highlight I saw was a major league caliber DP in the first inning as SS Edgar Duran backhanded a ball hit up the middle, flipped the ball somehow in stride to Jeremy Barnes at second who turned and threw a perfect strike to Jeremy Hamilton at first for the twin killing. Duran then led off the next inning with a solid ground single to right. Duran has been impressive at SS through out camp.
The third interesting game of the morning was Group 5 made up of mostly thePhils young interantional players vs. the Gildea Raiders, a semi pro team out of Delaware, on Carlton field. The highlight of that game was the two innings each pitched by top Domincan propects Lisalverto Bonilla and Felix Cespedes. The lean and lanky Bonilla gave up a run on three hits but displayed a nice slider which he was able to locate on the outside corner of the plate to strike out a batter with a runner on third to end the inning. Cespedes more chunky in build picked up a couple of strike outs on a late breaking curve ball and a fast ball. He gave up one hit and no runs in two innings. Both did not walk a batter. Also First baseman Geancarlo Mendez lined a hard hit double down the left field line while I was watching.
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My description of Duran’s DP should have read he fielded the ball behind second base and flipped back handed to Barnes at second to start the DP. Coincidentally Zolecki is reporting the Phils have released Jeremy Hamilton who was on the receiving end of Barnes’ throw.
The Phillies released 12 minor leaguers today: LHP Spencer Arroyo, RHP Freddy Ballestas, RHP Ryan Bergh, RHP Joe Bisenius, LHP Sean Grieve, RHP Rick Guttormson, INF Jeremy Hamilton, RHP Jordan Meaker, OF Gus Milner, OF Arlon Quiroz, RHP Todd Van Steensel and OF Brad Wilkerson.
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No real surprises in the cut list to me. Hmailton had to be cut because they want to play Singleton and Huf at Lakewood and Rizzoti (Durant?) at Clearwater while Murphy looks poised to double jump to Reading. I was surprised a couple of weeks ago to see that Bisenius was still around. Milner was a guy I liked at one point but he just couldn’t hit enough. Did Mattair retire????
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Hamilton never really took the next step after being drafted. Oh well. I believe he was a defense first 1B anyway…not a huge market for that skillset.
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Are any of you at spring training? Just wondering , I have a coworkers son in group 4. He has been battling injuries. but seems to be ok. Hitting coaches seem to really like his swing. His name is M. Dabbs, He might get to see more live action today . I know hes a solid defensive player with a strong arm. He can play all three OF positions. I hope everything works out for him.
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The Ironpigs website has a fan poll asking if Reading or LHV will win the April 6 game they will be playing against each other. I think the AA guys will outlast the AAA guys.
http://www.ironpigsbaseball.com/home/
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I heard they liked Dabbs but he has serious competition for playing time and a 5th outfield spot is probably his best case scenario at this point. He’s actually a kid that would probably benefit from being released so he could be picked up by another organization not as deep in outfielders as the Phillies. However, I doubt they’ll release him yet because they probably think he has upside potential.
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more cuts have been made today
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Thanks murray for the update. I know his dad says its an uphill battle. Just hope he can last a couple of years to prove hiself I know he has hit well at every level except williamsport last year. But hes the type of player that will figure it out. Great work ethics
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What does everyone think? Maybe one more round of cuts, or do you think they’re done for the spring?
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Hopefully theyre done, Now just assign the players to there respective levels.
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I noticed AA has only 4 OF and Hi A has only 3 OF after the cut this morning. Any info on how they will adjust the players to AA and Hi A?
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I’d like to see Gosewhich (sp) back in AA this year. I think he’d be good for all the young guys that are scheduled to come into the rotation.
Prospect status aside, doesn’t it make sense to put your best overall defensive minor league catcher at the AA level?
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I noticed AA has only 4 OF and Hi A has only 3 OF after the cut this morning. Any info on how they will adjust the players to AA and Hi A? How many OF do they usually carry at each level?
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Tumpy – I think they generally carry 5 OF’s, with the 5th OF possibly being a super utility guy that can play all over the place.
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Ok Thanks Matt.
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Arroyo was the biggest surprise to me. Overpaid signing bonus, lefty, young as he was Junior/Community College player. Seems like it would take awhile to give up on that investment and potential.
I guess Mattair is not going to be my ‘breakout’ player this year, huh?
I hope Castro is ready for Clearwater. That’s where I’d like him to be but I think he is talented and the organization should be careful with him.
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No L. Castro to A(A). I say Gump, Gose , and D. Myers. The back-up might be up in the air. Or maybe the back-up can alternate with Gump. I say they move up a College veteran trying out for Lakewood currently: Batts or Dabbs. Maybe that’s where Dabbs fits for now. Maybe those guys moving a little quicker will cement them as non-prospects if they fall short, or maybe they do well and accelerate a bit.
They don’t usually keep 5 outfielders. It is a 24 man roster limit for full season. The 4 bench guys are usually OF, C, 2 IF’s with the 2nd IF doing some OF and C.
Lots more cuts to go. Just not at some positions and levels. Usually all at the time the minor league rosters are set.
Kennelly should catch at AA. They should put Gosewisch at AAA with Sardinha. Naughton the main at A(A). and Valle at A. That lines them up right.
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Marfis – Do you think they really see Kennelly as a full time catcher? I’m concerned having him behind the plate at this key level could really be detrimental for the pitchers.
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Marfis – You’re right about the 24 man roster limit. With the advent of the DH in a lot of these games, you wonder why they only let the teams carry 24 guys? Considering that minor leaguers play almost every day, it would be good if they could carry 25 or 26 players.
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Kennelly has played there in the Spring going by box scores and all. They will have somebody there to work in with him and he can move to other positions. After the season , I thought maybe Naughton moved up, but it don’t look like that will happen. It depends on AAA. I think they could have Sardinha there as the quick call up guy and work in Gosewisch as his back-up. If they keep the more veteran catchers at AAA; Hoover, Suomi, Nelson, then it is likely Gosewisch goes to AA, and Kennelly backs him up and moves around to 1B, 3B, LF.
I like the 24 man limit in minors , because with 25 they usually have a little used player , and all the players should get some time. If they are short on position players they can go to 11 pitchers for a time.
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Shame on Jeremy Hamilton. Loved that pick a couple of years ago as a polished college hitter with fantastic plate discipline — just for whatever reason, he couldn’t make the jump to facing pro pitchers with wood bats.
One potential upshot, though: it leaves Jonathan Singleton with a better chance to open the season at Lakewood, since it loosens the logjam of first basemen at the lower levels.
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I believe the limit is 25 players for the first month, then cutting back to 24.
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Great thanks to Ricky Branch and others who are reporting from Clearwater!!
Terrific info.
Thanks again!!
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Yeah I’m expecting that the Hamilton cut opens up Lakewood to Singleton.
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Jamie Moyer earned the fifth starter’s job, pushing Kendrick to the bullpen. Can’t blame the Phillies there as Moyer has been outstanding this spring.
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Yo James, congrats on getting to the Elite Eight in the Phillies blogs Phield. Phuture Phillies got knocked out by the 700level, still an impressive showing nonetheless.
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