The Phillies have signed 1B/3B Jeff Larish to a minor league deal, with 3B at Lehigh Valley his likely landing spot. Larish, 28, was a 5th round selection of the Tigers in the 2005 draft. After spending 5 years in the Tigers organization, Larish was claimed off of waivers late last season by Oakland. He has 245 major league at bats, including 67 last year with a .224/.308/.380 line to go along with 8 HR and 32 RBI.
Last year in AAA, Larish hit .284/.377/.533 with 20 HR and 74 RBI. Larish should be an upgrade over Cody Ransom, both offensively and defensively in Lehigh Valley.
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Ive always liked Jeff Larish. We’re assembling quite the AAA team.
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YEAH
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Between Larish and Rizzotti, at least Lehigh should have some nice bats in the middle of the lineup.
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I feel a lot more comfortable about them having to call up Larish than a guy like Ransom. How is his glove at 3B? Is he a Dobbs-esque fielder or a bit better?
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so Lehigh Valley should have Rizzotti at 1b, Orr at 2b, Rivero at ss, Larish at 3b, Thompson cf, Bozied rf-DH
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That’s a decent offense for AAA at least.
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Larish is a solid AAA hitter. This move likely means the end of Andy Tracy in Lehigh Valley.
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With Sandberg there they have to bring in some talent.
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don’t forget that Dom Brown may be there at the beginning as well
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Kratz and Sardinha at catcher, Gillies and Garcia at least by mid season, potentially solid bullpen, some veteran arms for starters. Maybe the Phillies have grown tired of losing in AAA.
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are we really expecting a drastic improvement in AAA? or is this just enthusiasm? no sarcasm, just trying to get an idea.
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alan, i think i read somewhere that Tracy signed on to play in Japan next season.
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Yeah, Tracy signed in Japan, Chad Tracy (the LH hitting 1B-3B one). Larish, Left-Handed hitter according to BR, has played alot more at 1B (and DH) than 3B. Still LVIP spot could be 3rd. Rizzotti 1B, Savery 1B-DH, Garcia 2B, Rivero-Bocock SS, Larish 3B, Mayberry LF, Gillies CF, Slayden RF. How seen for now.
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Don’t see Savery in AAA as a hitter…not yet.. maybe CLW to start with Singelton now in left…Gillies and Garcia will start the season in Reading but both can be up to LHV by the end of the year…not sure if Mayberry is in their plans…maybe they deal him this winter
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Just a question of what their AAA rotation will look like. They’ve done a pretty good job of assembling the offense
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I’d still like to see some offense up the middle yet. Defense is all well and good but when you punt 3-4 spots in the lineup for defense, especially on an NL team, you’re not going to win many games.
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Where does Cody Overbeck play? Does he start at Reading?
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I think that Overbeck still has alot to prove at AA both offensively and defensively before a call up is considered…Mid year call up to AAA at best.
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Overbeck plays 3B and he’ll start at Reading with Garcia, Galvis and Savery in the infield. The Phillies won’t drop Savery below AA, they already said as much. Ruf will 1B at C-Water btw. Gillies will also start at AA. Having done nothing last year, he won’t be promoted. Mayberry and Brown could both be at LHV to start the year, depending on what the big club does, or in Philly. It wouldn’t surprise me if Bozied returned to Reading rather than go to LHV. The Phils probably view him as a solid minor league veteran bat. They’ll put him where it helps the prganization and not worry about effecting his completed development.
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Several more minor league free agents w/ ST invites:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies/Phillies_invite_12_to_spring_training.html
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Each year I hope the AAA guys will be an improvement but each year the team is still bad. Orr, Larish, Bozied all have some hitting ability and questionable fielding so that might work for PH/bench spot callup.
Kratz, Rizzotti, Orr, Larish, Mayberry/Brown are likely AAA guys. Galvis could start at AAA which might send Riveiro to AA. Thompson and Bozied are fillers at either spot.
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