News and Notes

Spring Training 2011

Just some news and notes from the minor league games without even getting into wins and losses. I will be heading down to Clearwater this weekend and hope to post daily updates.  If there is anything or anyone specific who you would like to know about, feel free to ask in the comment section and I will see what I can do.

In the AAA game today, Matt Rizzotti went 2-4 with a run scored, Tim Kennelly played LF and went 2-3 with a homer and 2 RBI’s. On the hill, after Roy Halladay got his work in, Eddie Bonine gave up a run on 4 hits in his 3 innings on the hill.  He walked one and struck out 3.  Andrew Carpenter threw a 10 pitch 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn the save.

In the AA game, 3B Cody Overbeck was the offensive standout in the 6-2 loss with two solo homers. JC Ramirez was hit around, giving up 6 runs on 7 hits in his 3 innings.  Justin DeFratus and Jacob Diekman each tossed two shutout innings.

Nothing incredibly notable in the High A game other than the debut of Brody Colvin who gave up a run in his two innings.  Julio Rodriguez threw two scoreless later in the game.

Kyrell Hudson and Aaron Altherr were the standouts in the Low A game with each collecting two hits, including a homer for Hudson. David Buchanan started for the Low A team and gave up a run in his three innings.

31 thoughts on “News and Notes”

  1. Hudson homer is good news. Go Kyrell. Would be nice if 1 or 2 of our failing tools guys became even a fringe prospect. Of Hewlitt, Hudson, Myers, and Collier: Hudson and Collier still have some of the unknown about them, so can’t write them off with any conviction till we see what they do this year.

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    2. Myers had 4 hits, 4 RBI’s and a sb in two games and he hit off a major league pitcher. today he PR, he stole a base. 2 hits, 2 rbi’s each game, a SB. He PR and stole a base. he is not a failing tool! He is hitting, getting RBI’s, running and stealing bases.

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  2. Todd Zolecki wrote an article today in which he stated Schneder, Gload and Mayberry are basically locks to make the big club (with Wilson Valdez as the starting second baseman, ugh). That leaves two open bench spots. I think Delwyn Young will probably take a spot and they may keep Michael Martinez to have a backup SS. I do think they could swing a trade as well, but that doesn’t typically happen until the last week of ST.

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    1. I honestly would rather have Barfield as our starting 2nd basemen then Martinez, Valdez, or Young. Barfield was actually a solid starter a few years ago and I think Wilson Valdez is a great guy to have on the bench.

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  3. I just read these 3/12 transactions on the Phillies web site:
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Carlos Rivero to Reading Phillies.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned J.C. Ramirez to Reading Phillies.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Matt Rizzotti to Reading Phillies.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Drew Naylor to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Cesar Hernandez to Clearwater Threshers.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Harold Garcia to Reading Phillies.
    Philadelphia Phillies optioned Justin De Fratus to Reading Phillies.
    Rizzotti to Reading surprised me as he was in big league camp and I expected him to have a shot a LV. Hernandez to Clearwater surprised me and will make me happy if he can stay there. How often does a player skip Lakewood as his first full season league?

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  4. Ken, the team they are optioned to now has absolutely no meaning. We wont know definitively what team each of the guys will be on until official rosters are announced.

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    1. The specific team assignment when sent down is not without meaning. Normally a parent club tries to option a player on the 40 man roster to the farm club where it expects him to play–or at least begin the season. Otherwise it simply adds a lot of unnecessary paperwork.

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  5. dwildcat: Can you explain your statement, as I’m a little bit confused on the process as well. Why do these locations mean nothing? (sorry for the newb questions)

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    1. I’m not DCwildcat but the reason the assignments don’t mean too much right now is because the players are assigned where they are needed. All the players are in one spot (Clearwater) right now. they are playing each other and every team in the area. It doesn’t matter who plays for which squad because eventually they will put them in the level where they want them just before they break camp. Major Leaguers are brought in to play so they can get some work in. Halladay pitched with the AAA team today and won’t break camp in AAA. They probably needed a 1st baseman/DH in the AA pool right now so Rizzotti got the assignment. Depending on who gets reassigned from the big club after all the cutdowns, Rizzotti will probably end up at AAA. If (and I don’t think this will happen) Mayberry was reassigned to minor league camp and they wanted him to play more 1st base, Rizzotti could start out in AA.

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  6. Does the following mean these guys spend some time in Big League camp?

    RHP Chris Kissock assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    RHP Josh Zeid assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    RHP Jordan Ellis assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    CF Sebastien Boucher assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    2B Alan Schoenberger assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    C Kyle Lafrenz assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    LF Michael Spidale assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    SS Troy Hanzawa assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.
    C Tim Kennelly assigned to Philadelphia Phillies.

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    1. Just guys sent down to an undetermined destination that do not have to be optioned because they are not on the 40-man roster.

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        1. Sebastian Boucher does not fit the mucker / grinder style that I like (Trent Klatt, Shawn Podien, etc..)

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          1. Oh Clarkie…I forgot about Trent Klatt! So what you are saying is Boucher is more along the lines of an Alexandre Daigle or Chris Gratton? Or Pat Falloon?

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    3. I believe its a formality to allow these guys to play in a major league game. When there are split squad days, many of tehse guys will be needed. Last Sunday and this coming Sunday are both SS days.

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  7. During your visit please report on Harold Garcia. The shortage of middle infielders in the Phils system (and baseball in general it seems) make him an important option in my opinion. He short start at Reading again with Barfield, Young, Orr, Cartwright, etc as the AAA 2B since they are more likely to fit a bench role for the big league club. However, Garcia seems to have the skills to be a useful utility player and it appears that is how the Phillies are developing him now. He can hit for average, steal some bases, display just enough power to concern a pitcher, but does not have much plate discipline and probably cannot play SS; so his bat is more important.

    On general topics, who looks like the “8th” starter? R2C2, Blanton, Kendrick, Worley, then ??? Not sure about any of the minor league vets, none of them seem interesting to me. Will Herndon start? Naylor likely at AAA but I expect little from him. Carpenter is a now a reliever. JC Ramirez is inconsistent. So my guess is that by midseason it will be Austin Hyatt. Unless Kendrick or Blanton is traded it is not likely going to matter but I am curious what the AAA and AA rotations will be.

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    1. Drew Naylor or David Herndon. By the time you hit your third AAA starter you’re looking at a player who is likely just making a spot start or two. You want a pitcher who will come in, throw strikes and let the defense keep you in the game. Also a pitcher who is not difficult both to bring up (already on the 40 man roster) and easy to send down (options remaining).

      Hyatt by midseason wouldn’t shock me though.

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    2. Will do….Ill be sure to look at Garcia, and pick the brain of a contact or two about the starting rotation depth. Last year it probably would have gone to Brandon Duckworth or Brian Mazone to make a spot start if the Phillies needs fell that deep. I suspect the answer you will get would be either Nate Bump or Brian Bass, both of whom have started at the major league level in the past. Naylor if he shows even a little bit has an advantage simply because he is on the 40 man roster, and the Phils would not have to add anyone.

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      1. Grilli is the top AAAA signee, and has thrown a lot of ML innings. I think he’d get the first shot if Worley’s not throwing well. Bump would get lit up in the majors (not enough of a FB to change speeds off of), and I think Bass is behind Grilli.

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        2. Well, if Bump has his sinker working, he could get a bunch of ground balls and skate by. Big ‘if’ though.

          Bonine has had a modicum of success at the ML level as well. Out of that group, probably whoever has the hot hand at the time, or in an emergency: who’s turn is it?

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