News and Notes 29 March 2011

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The Phils opened up a spot on their 40 man roster today by outrighting 1B Matt Rizzotti to the minors.  He first had to clear waivers, which he successfully did.

A number of cuts were made yesterday throughout the minor league system as the Phillies try to finalize minor league rosters as the season approaches next week.  Among those cut were pitchers: Brad Blanks, Justin Beal, Mike Bolsenbroeck, Heitor Correa, Matt Hutchison and Eric Massingham, catcher Marco Davillo, infielders Matt McConnell and Adam Buschini, along with outfielder Drew Rundle.

The most notable of the cuts were Buschini, a high 2009 draft pick, Correa (who had a good deal of success in 2009 in Lakewood), and Massingham (who had a fairly prominent role as a relief pitcher on the 2010 Lakewood championship team).

128 thoughts on “News and Notes 29 March 2011”

    1. The Phils also protected him last year which makes you think what they thought of him after an extended look in Spring Training. Still rooting for Rizz, but he’ll need to put up big numbers at AAA this year.

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    1. He was hurt when he was in AAA, but yes, he needs to show power at Allentown. He also needs to work on his D some more.

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  3. Today was one of the most interesting days of the minor league camp so far because of the AAA vs. AA and A+ vs. A- intersquad games allowed for a quick overview of the farm system at this point with less than a week left in camp. One of the most dominating performances of spring training was given by Phillippe Aumont who appears to be the Lehigh Valley closer at this point. Mathieson set up pitching the two strong innings before Aumont came on and struck out the side in turn. He got Mattair on a called third strike, struck out Ruf swinging and struck out Slayden on a check swinging strike three to end the AAA vs. AA game. All three strike outs were on his curve ball. He set them up with fastballs at the knees and on the corners. Would not be surprised to see Aumont at the next level at some point before this season is out.

    In the A+ vs. A- game after a home run by Murphy for the Clearwater team and a homer by Santana and a triple by Collier for the Lakewood team defense stood out. Kyle LaFrenz continued to show off his strong arm this spring by throwing out Altherr at second trying to steal and Altherr laid out in left center as he slid to the warning track to catch a long drive by Singleton.

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    1. Its hard for to see them putting Aumont at LHV with Matheson, Stutes, Schwimer and Grilli all there already. Reading will only have DeFratus and Rosenberg and could use Aumont there. If he does go straight to LHV, that will be quite a statement. I’m still waiting to see how the starter spots shake out at the various levels.

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    2. I love your reports from Spring Training and thank you for them. However; I respectfully disagree that Aumont sees any time at CBP this year. Nice to see the kid bounce back and I am sure the Phillies brass is quietly optimistic. That is why he will be in Reading, and with a solid effort there, he will move to LHV when Stutes or Mathieson move up.

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  4. Wow, the Aumont renaissance continues. Very exciting news. I just pray his innings don’t come at the expense of Scott Mathieson. Life is just too unkind. (Kidding!)

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  5. Is that a typo about Aumont being the closer for Lehigh Valley?! I thought he would start in Clearwater after the debacle he had in Reading last year. Good, good news. He beats out Mathieson.

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  6. Great to hear abou Aumonte. Don’t rush him. If he becomes the big clubs closer that’s a huge savings. I know Charlie like veteran relievers, but the Phils should have a young, effective and budget friendly BP in a couple years.

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  7. Maybe Aumont not returning to the place where he had embarrassing little success is the better way to go. I vote to start at AAA but tell him it is temporary and see what happens.

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  8. Are you guys serious? Aumont strikes out Mattair, Ruf, and Slayden and all of a sudden he is the phillies next closer? Two of those three guys have already been retired within the last two years and the other is not even considered a prospect. The guy had a horrific season last year and to say he will be the AAA closer right off the bat this year is ridiculous. Best case scenario, he starts out in Reading and if he pitches good he’ll get called up. I am rooting for him and hoping that he can put it all together but he is still extremely far away from being a big league closer. After he faces some real competition (not Mattair, Slayden, or Ruf), then we will actually be able to see if he can become a future major league contributor.

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    1. It’s how he’s been doing it this Spring. Great location, excellent fastball and a very good curve. Not sure of the Velo, but way up from last year. So far he’s been a different pitcher. We shall see, but sounds like he’s been dominant so far this year.

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    2. Mat If Aumont was to be a starter I might agree with you. But as a closer he has to deal with pressure. There is a lot to be gain as far as his confidence by starting at AAA. Reading will prove little or nothing unless he dominates and if he does he will be at Lehigh anyway.

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      1. If they do it, it really says something about how the organization sees a number of its younger pitchers. They know that Aumont is blocked as a starter on this team, plenty of top talent coming up. They dont mind turning a project starter, into a big time closer.

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    3. Couldn’t agree more Mat. Spring training is practice. Practice. We’re talking about practice man.

      Aumont starting the season anywhere above Reading would be a critical mistake in my opinion. His numbers were less than solid at Clearwater last year, why would he open at LHV? C’mon man, we’re talking about practice

      🙂

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    4. I think Aumont will start at Reading also. However, I watched him pitch in ST a week or so ago and he was very impressive. He threw major heat and followed it with some knee buckling curves that were unhittable. The manager, Parent, made some funny arm motions to the other team’s manager indicating wow, that was some pitch. Aumont is probably down to just those two pitches as a reliever which is helping him but his motion just looks so much more fluid than last year, it looks like a different guy. He’s lost some weight and looks in better shape also. Let’s just all keep our fingers crossed because right now he looks like he could be a future closer, but its still a long way to the majors and he needs to be consistent and to get positive results. He and DeFratus together in the Reading bullpen could be a sign of things to come.

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  9. Ruf’s a good hitter, and more of a prospect than we probably have given him credit for on this site, but your point is well-taken. I’d personally like to see Aumont go to Reading and put last year behind him by dominating there.

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  10. Does the Stutes legend start? Just saw on the Gamecast he struck out the side (Diaz, Tabata, McCutcheon) and walked one in an inning? I know it isn’t the 27 Yankees but they are all ML Regulars.

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  12. I think they should resist the urge to send Aumont to Clearwater. Let him dominate in high A ball for a month and a half and then promote him.

    By the way, 3 ks for Stutes tonight. FB was between 91-93 – usually 92 or 93. He got outs with his slider. He must be very deceptive. I would now be very surprised if he did not make the team.

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    1. Understood your point and agree. Ride the confidence train. Once you’ve done something it becomes a data point you can spring board from or strive to attain again. Hopefully spring board from, lol.

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      1. Alright, Aumont becoming the phils closer is a little ambitious, and I am certainly am not anointing him that now. But catch, you dont even wanna see if he can continue to blow dudes away at triple A. I mean, if he continues, then you kick baez to the curb.

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  14. I have no problem with these guys getting cut:
    Brad Blanks- 26 in A-
    Marco Davillo- ????
    Matt McConnell- lousy numbers
    Drew Rundle- signed with team as a filler during last season

    These guys had decent numbers and I think they didn’t deserve to get cut:
    Justin Beal- decent numbers but most likely wouldn’t have made the majors
    Mike Bolsenbroeck- big guy with decent numbers
    Eric Massingham- had the best numbers out of everyone released

    I don’t think the Phils should’ve given up on these guys so early:
    Correa- still young for his level
    Buschini- high draft pick and battled injuries last year
    Hutchison- was drafted in 2010 and barely played

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    1. Massingham surprised me. He has a big arm. My son saw him at Lakewood last year and said his FB was consistently in the mid to high 90s.

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  15. Someone suggested that Barnes is being left back in Lakewood. Sucks for him, if that is the case. Buschini being cut, is more than deserved. Brian Gump hasn’t been cut yet? Hard to see where Jim Murphy fits in. Bozied, Rizzotti, Overbeck, Savery, Ruf. Not many 1B and DH spots left in the upper levels.

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    1. There’s no chance that Barnes will replay Lakewood, the kid can hit and has a definite chance to be a major league Ute. As for Gump, I’d be stunned if he got cut. He plays the game right and does everything well. There’s a numbers crunch in the OF but he’ll survive. As for Murphy, I don’t know if he’ll be as fortunate. There are lots of 1B competing for spots including three drafted last year (Murray, Duffy, and Cusick).

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    2. Sounds like they could be clearing playing time in Clearwater for Cesar Hernandez. I hope he is ready for that, as his development is important in a middle-infield thin system.

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  16. something to think about

    Braves outright Mather to Triple-A…….
    …………
    The 28-year-old showed promise at the plate with St. Louis in 2008, but he had surgery late that season on the hamate bone and hasn’t hit as well since….

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  17. does anyone know if dubee kid has a chance to make pittsburg team, wonder if he had a good spring>

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    1. I don’t think Dubee will make the team. Pitt gave him exactly 2 2/3 innings this spring. He gave up 2 hits, 0 ER and had 4 Ks. Unless he was hurt, he wasn’t given a chance to show anything. It looked like he pitched well yesterday against the Phils but he might have been filling a bullpen spot for one game.

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  19. Good to hear on Aumont. I’d send him to Reading again as he doesn’t need to waste time in Clearwater. Lets see if he’s for real and go from there.

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    1. The odd thing about Aumont is that he’s such a tantalizing talent that it’s easy to think of him returning to starting. You really can see why he has bounced back and forth between starting and the bullpen.

      If I’m the Phillies, I start him in Clearwater as a reliever to build his confidence. Then I promote him to Reading and use him in 2-3 inning planned stints so that he’s still relieving (and thus, is focusing on just a few pitches and you’re not messing with his head), but you still get a sense of whether he could transition back to the rotation at some point in the future.

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  20. Does anyone know if Rizzotti burned an option this year? He was optioned on March 11 and outrighted on the 29th so he was “optioned” for more than 20 days. I assume that means it does count as an option year. In terms of options, does it matter that the season has not started yet?

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    1. Answered my own question. I found this regarding options:

      If a player is on the 40-man roster in spring training but optioned to the minors before the season begins, an option is used.

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    2. Rizzotti getting outrighted seems to be a consequence of him coming in out of shape this year coupled with the reality of him really not being a defensive fit for the NL. We should have dealt him last year when his stock was rising. I hope he recovers this year and puts up some good AAA offensive numbers, though I still feel he should be traded.

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      1. He wasn’t worth anything in a trade last year either.

        Other teams don’t just go by numbers like some people on this board. They scout our players…

        They saw last year (just like this year) that “The Rizz” has a bad body, cant play a position, can’t run, was old for his league, and put up big power numbers (for the first time in his career) in a hitter’s ballpark.

        Fans reading stats on the internet can be fooled by a “prospect” (term used loosely in regards to the “The Rizz”) but scouts are not!!!

        All that being said, to be fair, I think he could possibly (at the top end of his abilities) be a bat off the bench for a ML team. More likely a AAAA guy, will NEVER be a ML regular on any team.

        I guess I have to qualify this so I dont get attacked as a hater of “The Rizz” by all these Rizz-lovers that are blinded by their unexplainable Rizz-love, by saying that there is nothing wrong with being a AAAA type player. He is to be commended for being talented enough to make it that far and can make a nice living (better than most of us) doing it…

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      2. Feel he needs to be traded?
        Who would trade an asset for Rizzotti, if they didn’t take him for free, on waivers. If he has no trade value now, in spring training, then he didn’t have any trade value last year. His numbers haven’t changed over the winter.

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        1. His trade value has probably increased slightly because it would not take a 40 man roster spot to acquire him.

          This strikes me as a bad time to get value from a guy like Rizzotti though. Watch the waiver wire. Guys are getting cut, traded for scraps. Teams are cutting back their rosters and there’s a ton of freely available talent right now.

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          1. Agreed, at this point the Phils need to hope he performs in AAA like he did last year in AA.

            The he may have some value-add as part of a package deal.

            However, until he repeats numbers at the next level the Value Add is not that great.

            At this point, Holding is the best the Phils can do is “hold” and hope Rizz who was not on anyones radar prior to 2010 can repeat and gain real value.

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          2. Allan, you are right. The fact that he does not require a 40 man spot adds value. From my perspective, that value is not very significant.
            All a team had to do was drop the “least valuable” player on their 40 man roster and replace him with Rizzotti. That shows what his ceiling value is.
            Even if a team values him more because they don’t have to waste a roster spot on him, they still have to protect him at the end of the season. If he wasn’t worth cutting their worst player now, why would they trade something of real value later?

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  21. I have to agree I don’t think it would be wise to move Aumont to fast. I’d bet a lot he doesn’t break at LHV but its possible he finishes there. Lidge’s days have to be numbered; Charlie has no confidence in Madson in the 9th if he says Contreras is the closer he is leaning towards.

    Point being Stutes, Aumont and possibly Math and DeFratus can seize an opportunity if they come out of the gate strong.

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    1. Can we officially stop with the Mathieson stuff yet?

      He is obviously not in the Phillies plans.

      He is what 27? 28? And he cant make the big league roster.

      Bastardo, Herndon, Kendrick, Zagurski, and Stutes are all ahead of him on the depth chart. Other than Zagurski, those guys are all a few years younger than Mathieson.

      Then he has Schwimer, DeFratus, Aumont, Rosenberg possibly coming up as relievers behind him.

      Plus, there are going to be veterans signed over the next year or two for the bullpen. Uncle Charlie likes his veterans in the pen.

      Enough with Mathieson though. Good story. Hard worker. Seems like a nice guy. But can’t make the Phillies roster and he is on the wrong side of 27.

      This website is called Phuture Phillies, not Phuture AAA Fodder or Phuture High School Pitching Coach in Canada

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  22. It’s 20 days in season, but think he’ll be down more than 20 days though. That whole option thing is useful toward a player acheiving “6 year” minor league free agency, and an option is used if outrighted also and applies to players that have never been on 40 man roster,also.

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  23. With some Cesar Hernandez discussion floating around, I think this may be enlightening. Here’s the triple slash lines, position by position in the National League in 2000 and 2010.

    2000
    C: 264/343/418
    1B: 283/372/505
    2B: 284/360/421
    SS: 256/325/381
    3B: 270/341/448
    LF: 284/365/498
    CF: 272/344/444
    RF: 286/362/490
    PH: 226/319/348
    P: 150/186/195

    2010
    C: 253/326/388
    1B: 269/354/459
    2B: 265/333/387
    SS: 266/325/388
    3B: 265/331/421
    LF: 267/337/434
    CF: 260/330/407
    RF: 264/335/443
    PH: 226/319/348
    P: 150/186/195

    The point here is to highlight some substantial differences over the last ten years. Fairly big power drop across the board (except for shortstop, though you’d see a bigger difference in the AL). Note that production at second base has essentially fallen to the same level as that of a shortstop. That’s key to evaluating Hernandez going forward. Only six the teams in the NL saw more than 15 home runs from their second basemen all season. The days of 2B being a power position have passed.

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    1. This is eye-opening. Nearly everything is down over that period. What did they raise the mound? Did they change the ball to a whiffle ball? Has the spitter come back (and I didn’t mean splitter)? Did the pitchers just get better? Are the best athletes playing other sports? Some would say that ‘roids are the major reason.

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    2. Offense was down across baseball in 2010; so, it’s not clear, by just showing 2000 and 2010, that there has been a downward trend over the decade.

      I would be interested in seeing the numbers for 2009 and at least one other year, e.g., 2005.

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      1. Rather than write them up, let me link them and let you review the data.

        2009:
        http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?lg=NL&year=2009&t=b#defp

        Substantial dropoffs at 1B and 2B. (Second base likely due to Utley slipping.) Outfield mostly stable, as well as 3B/SS.

        2005:
        http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?lg=NL&year=2005&t=b#defp

        A bit more similar to 2000, particularly at 3B. You already see the power numbers of the corner outfielders slipping.

        2010 was lower than 2009, which was lower than 2005, which was lower than 2000. Looking at overall league production, 2010 had the fewest runs/game since 1992. The NL has seen fewer runs scored every year since 2006. Here’s a table of that data.

        http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/bat.shtml

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  24. I, for one, will agree that Rizzotti is not the prospect I valued him to be. I took his Reading breakout as a possible upside that he could reach. Certainly I did not expect him to maintain those numbers as he moved up or over an entire season. However, power and walk rate are critical numbers for a hitter. I assumed he could improve at 1B defensively (since he was rarely given a chance), at least enough to play there for any team.

    I was hoping he could be the “3rd player” in a minor league deal, as he is close to the majors and can hit some. Guess I was wrong as no team was willing to give him a 40-man roster spot. I will have to say that I am surprised but that is why I am not a GM.

    I imagine he will be Andy Tracy in the minors. Which is nice, but he may only get a couple Sept at-bats in his career.

    That Bocock still has a roster spot is laughable to me.

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    1. No offense but Rizz has a ways to go to reach Tracy. His minor league stats were amazing. Rizz has had 1/2 of one great year so far. Lots of guys have 1 great season but for some odd reason can never find that same groove again. Hopefully, the Phils will have prospcts at every level this season plus a terrific major league product. Its time to play ball…

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  25. Bocock plays good D at an important defensive position. That carries much more valuable than an average corner OF or 1b, even if they are better offensive players than Bocock.

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      1. Agreed. I think Young will become our pinch hitting specialist and will see little in terms of starts throughout the year.

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    1. Young can hit. He hasn’t fully shown it yet in the big leagues, but his minor league numbers for a middle infielder are fantastic.

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      1. During BP one morning last week, we watched Young hit 16 over the fence during several rounds of BP. The little dude can really hit. He’ll be a switch hitting pinch hitter so they’ll have lefty/righty options with Mayberry, Gload and Young. Martinez will just be a pinch runner with the occasional start when one of the three starters gets a day off. I suspect that Gload will get a few starts in RF against some righties and that Mayberry will get the start at 1B when Howard rests, against a lefty.

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  29. Baseball can be an incredibly cruel game. Bocock had a shot at making the roster off his nice second half .

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    1. Bocock really had no chance of making the roster. Martinez made it because he’s a rule 5 guy that the scouts already liked plus he can play CF and the infield which is huge on their roster.

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      1. I don’t think that was his belief. At least he could of tried. I was stating how baseball seems to turn on players at critical moments.
        e.g. John Oates beat out Bob Boone as the Phillies catcher. I think it was the first game Dave Parks ran over Oates and the rest if History,

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  30. I see the 10 you listed who were cut and can add Drew Erwin and Marshall Schuler to the list. Supposedly 18 were released. Can someone please tell me the names of the other 6. Thanks!!!

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  31. OFF TOPIC, I know, and very self-centered. But a coworker’s cousin, Marcus Knecht, was drafted by Toronto as a 3/4 round compensation pick. We would like to follow his progress, and read what other people think about his skills. Does any blog track the Blue Jays’ minor leagues in the same way as the this site tracks the Phillies minor leagues? Reply here or, better yet, write the Admin so his list of “Non-Phillies Sites” can be updated

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  32. Does this seem right?

    1b Howard, Gloud
    2b Valdez, Martinez
    ss Rollins
    3b Polanco
    C Ruiz, Snyder
    OF Francisco, Victorino, Ibanez, Mayberry, Young(IF as well)
    SP Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels, Blanton
    RP Contreras, Madson, Baez, Kendrick, Bastardo, Herndon, Romero

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  33. Looks like the AA opening day roster is starting to take shape. Cody Overbeck will be seeing action at first base for Reading splitting the DH/1b job with Matt Rizzotti. Cody lined a three run homer in today’s game against the Tigers AA team. Rizzotti was the DH in the game and hit a long double to left center. Tim Kennelly started the game at third and finished up catching. He along with Fidel Hernandez who took over for him at third appear set to be the super subs. Carlos Rivero is expected to drop down from the AAA squad to take over third base. Galvis and Garcia will be the combination at SS and 2b.

    In the outfield Steve Susdorf appears to have won a job in left along with Derrick Mitchell in center. The final two outfield spots appears to be a battle between Michael Dabbs, Brian Gump and Jeremy Slayden. Tuffy Gosewisch will catch with Joel Naughton dropping down from the AAA squad as the second catcher. The talk today was that Chris Kissock will join Michael Cisco, Austin Hyatt, J. C. Ramirez and today’s starter Josh Zeid who tired in the fifth inning after pitching four shutout innings in the rotation. Tyler Cloyd and Jordan Ellis did nice jobs out of the pen today. Cloyd came in with the bases loaded in the 5th and induced a double play ball and a strike out to get out of further damage. Chance Chapman and lefty Jacob Diekman look to be in the bull pen. Other relievers will come from Joe Esposito, Justin Friend, Edgar Garcia, Derrick Loop and Jon Velasquez who struggled in less than an inning of work today.

    In today’s game manager Mark Parent let extras Kelly Dugan and Miguel Alvarez hit in the eight and Dugan, who can flat out hit, lined a double over the right fielders head and Alvarez drove him in with a bloop to center to provide the one run win. Then Alvarez who showed little foot speed was easily thrown out trying to steal second.

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    1. Ricky B,

      Since you are down there and seeing it 1st hand. You say Rizzotti at Reading. Is the team down on him? Who will play at 1b at Lehigh Valley? Do you think Rivero stays at AAA now that Orr made the team? Where is Savery going? Finally you said Kissock as a starter. What about Ryan Edell?

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      1. Larrish and Bozied have been at first for the Pigs. A fan asked Riz if he was OK and all he said was yes. Looks like Savery and Ruf will split the Clearwater first base and DH duties. Kissock’s been starting with AA staff. Rivero and Larrish have been at third for the Pigs. Hudson has been picked up to play at short with Hanzawa. Barfield at 2b. Does Frandsen play third dropping Rivero?.

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  34. De Fratus and Rosenberg are candidates to drop down to AA. They both pitched today in the AAA game against the Tigers.

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  35. In Phillies Insider today on phillies.com:

    “A fan wanted to know where he could follow the player cuts in the minor league camp. Best bet is phuturephillies.com.”

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    1. I was that fan and already inquired on here. I can add 1 more; according to a member of his family, undrafted free agent pitcher Andrew Snowden was released. So there are supposedly 5 more cuts whose names I still don’t know.

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    2. Mind-boggling.

      Bench players are primarily offensive in what they get a chance to contribute to the team.

      That makes Pete Orr a ridiculous choice over Young, who can actually hit and is younger. Orr has a career 622 major league OPS which is only rivaled by his career 687 minor league OPS. He hit way worse in the minor leagues than Reggie Taylor, for example, to resurrect a Phils minor league whipping boy. Young’s minor league OPS is 877, and his (thought to be disappointing) major league OPS is 709.

      Bad move. I actually didn’t want Orr on the Iron Pigs because his offense sucks so much.

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      1. Let face it the roster stinks except for SPs. I expect 99% of pinch hitters against will be right handed. That takes Bastardo and Romero out . What’s left if the starters don’t go seven full.

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        1. The roster stinks?? Get off the ledge. Some Philly fans are never pleased. This team won 97 games with less pitching and almost every starter spending time on the DL. Remember we had Paul Hoover and Dane Sardinha playing last year. We had to rely on Juan Castro alot. Cody Ransom was had to play some. Even Dobbs.

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      3. Pete Orr? Laughable. But if he does not perform he all be gone. Or maybe he will hang around for two years and suck the life blood out of the team like Eric Bruntlett did.

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        1. Seriously, for a team looking to squeeze a few more runs from it’s offense, why the hell would you add Pete Orr to a utility group that already includes Wilson Valdez and Michael Martinez? Delwyn Young would have been a much better choice.

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        2. Agreed in spades. And Cholly was so loyal even though the guy couldn’t play a lick. That is Cholly’s dark side.
          Another thing is am not sure of is this team’s speed and ability to play small ball which should be a tool this year.

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      4. Does not surprise me because every decision so far is defense first. At least Orr will be an easy cut when Chase gets healthy.

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        1. You got it Andy. Defense and speed first. Orr is also more flexible. He can play nearly everywhere on the diamond except pitch and catch. The only thing I could have hoped for was a guy who could catch in a pinch. I’d love to see Schneider freed up to pinch-hit more.

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  38. Everyone says Delwyn Young has bad defense but does anyone else besides me remember that bare handed diving catch he had when the ball deflected off of Garrett Jones’ foot?

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    1. I can’t see pointing to one defensive play though as proof of a player’s ability. Its like saying Sal Fasano was a great hitter because he hit an upper deck moonshot. Highlight plays don’t make a fielder. To me, the best way to measure a fielder’s ability is actually seeing how many plays he makes flatfooted. An outfielder camped under the ball all over the outfield is probably better than one who keeps diving for everything.

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    2. That said, I would’ve preferred Young over Orr. We’re not the Cardinals, we don’t need to corner the market on utility infielders.

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  39. I had thought it would be Young, maybe they are worried about Polanco and wanted another guy who could play defense, Orr is better able to play third then Young

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  40. Keeping Orr tells me that they are not confident in Polanco’s health. Everybody they kept can catch the ball and has played all of the infield positions. With Orr being LH and Valdez being RH, I can envision a variation of a platoon with those two players. I guess the thought process is to not lose anything on defense while Utley is out and Polanco is nursing an injury, while trying to make up the bat by platooning. With Young, you give up defense and they don’t think his bat is significantly better than Orr.

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  41. They made the right moves for the bench, and was hoping for that result. Board favorite , Luis Castillo, has not hit well against LHP lately , and a resulting platoon with Valdez would have likely ensued to start season. Why not give more time to Valdez who would take away alot of the defensive concerns, and there is no proof whatsoever that Orr could not provide as much production against RHP’s as Castillo or D. Young could have. And the bench is for offense? How about the bench provides defensive stability and continuity and if they do not always excel offensively their defense does not lose the game, and provides a chance for the regulars to come through.
    And it looks like Pete Orr really was a candidate for the MLB roster, as a seer said when he was first signed.
    And Delwyn Young? I was thinking they should have brought him in when he became available. Before Pittsburgh released, would have even traded something for him. Have seen him in IF from time to time in recent years. It does not appear he moves as well as he used to. Not moving well even for an OF. Looks like he never met an entree he didn’t like. Let him roung into shape in the minors for a month or so, and then revisit.
    2B situation will be Valdez to start, Orr working in against some RHP’s, Martinez will fill when this semi-platoon might both slack a little for a time, and will become the primary 2B by June 1.
    Utley- the whole imminent return of Utley thing – seems just whistling past the graveyard. It is not just tendinitis. Sounds far worse than the general public can understand. Key phrases seen in print- Infection in bone, (how many if told infection in bone would think it is minor), Chrondomalacia- infection behind Knee-Cap which may be eating away cartilege covering knee and may bring about bone-on-bone wear (which would translate into re-evaluation of entire thing) said that no guarantee operation would clear the problem, has been said that a knee replacement surgery has been recommended, and that would cause another re-evaluation. These are things I have seen in print, So the view of this a minor setback, may be misguided. And, as it has been said before, He had all winter to rest.

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    1. Yes, offense. The bench has many functions. One of which is stability and situational defense. The other of which is offense. This team has plenty of decent-fielding players – but a little hitting in the right spot can go a long way. Ross Gload is a nice bat off the bench, Mayberry much less so, after that it gets a little scary. Maybe Delwyn Young will work hard to get back – ultimately, he would seem to be a much better option as far as I’m concerned. You disagree. So be it.

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    2. Marfis: Once in while your posts are off the wall 🙂 but you are mostly spot on here in the roster analysis. Good thorough comments except Martinez taking over in June is not a likely outcome.

      On Utley’s knee, your language is incorrect. I don’t think there is infection in knee. Inflammation and infection are two different things. Inflammation is inflamed, swollen tissue. Infection is a bacterial attack on tissue, which he does not have. You are correct on chondromalacia. It is a generic term that means literally “bad knees.” I have it. It is essentially arthritis. Chronic inflammation, worn cartilage, bone on bone in some areas. It is a slow process of wearing of the protective cartilage in the knee joint and this is his first serious setback with it. There’s a chance he can get through the season once the inflammation calms down. But he may need every third or fourth day off, something like that.

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    1. Wonder if that is for today’s game. I know they will have players play at different levels like Altherr, Alvarez, and Dugan played at Reading recently. If he is starting the season at Lakewood I guess that means Hernandez does the double jump. Where did you read that? I guess final rosters will be decided on Sat or Sun.

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  43. It does appear that the bench has been chosen primarily on the basis of fielding, not hitting. A byproduct of this is that the bench is unbalanced. There are three left-handed hitters (Gload, Orr and Schneider) one right-handed hitter (Mayberry) and one switch hitter (Martinez). However since Schneider will be rarely used as a pinch hitter, perhaps it does not matter that much.

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    1. Seems unfair that a guy who quit and never put up numbers at Lakewood, graduates to Clearwater, but a guy like Barnes gets left back.
      Not surprising that Cesar Hernandez is being double jumped. That move was pretty much telegraphed ever since they added to the 40 man. They weren’t going to waste all his option years in the low minors.
      Now the Galvis vs Hernandez debate can be judged a little more clearly, now that he is only one level below.

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  45. Who is this ananoymous person telling us where people are going and where is he getting the info from?

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    1. No games today thunder and lightning hitting in cages and meetings. Barnes hit with group 3 were he has been most of spring training. Everything I have been told is nobody knows exactly were they are going yet, possible tomorrow

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  47. According to Jeff Schuler’s Hog Blog, Joe Savery is going to open the season in Clearwater.

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  48. All players were told today where they are going ..won’t be released until tomorrow. Can’t reveal my sources but they are accurate. A lot of interesting moves and a lot of disappointed players. Some players even sent to extended spring training when they thought they were going to AA.

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    1. I believe you. Can I presume that today also a fair amount of players were told that there services were no longer required in the organization?

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  50. Believe what you like you will see when reports come out..players are leaving Sunday they all know where they are going..
    Why would I make stuff up? The proof will be seen soon..

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  51. Actually all players don’t know where they are going. I have an anonymous source that tells me.there are still some guys wondering and waiting to find out.

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  52. Will the rosters be updated on the team websites tomorrow since most of the players will know where they are going?

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  53. So Belliard signs and will start off at Lehigh Valley. So I guess that means:
    C – Kratz and Sardinha
    1b – Bozied and Larish (still shocked that Rizzotti starting at Reading)
    2b – Belliard
    ss – Frandzen
    3b- Barfield
    Of – Moss, Miller, Thompson, Sullivan, and Young

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    1. I’m still looking at Chris Frey in that outfield mix, as he’s played well. Somebody might have to start in Reading, or somebody might be out. I hope Young sticks around, at least until his June 1 opt out, if he doesn’t get called up before that.

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    1. Hewitt showed some improvement at the plate but will still be in Lakewood. “Moose” Mattair has looked great both offensively and defensively. he really has the hunger back to play baseball and it has showed. I haven’t seen Nick Hernandez throw in a game situation and I know he’s being kept down here for extended ST. Big Jon is driving the ball hard. It will be interesting to see how he does in High “A” ball. The pitching is a big step up from what he saw in the S.A.L.

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    2. Hewitt showed some improvement at the plate but will still starting the season in Lakewood. Which is okay for a kid that was probably teetering on being released had he not been productive this camp. “Moose” Mattair has looked great both offensively and defensively. He really has the hunger back to play baseball and it has showed. I haven’t seen Nick Hernandez throw in a game situation and I know he’s being kept down here for extended ST. Big Jon is driving the ball hard. It will be interesting to see how he does in High “A” ball. The pitching is a big step up from what he saw in the S.A.L.

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  55. Snow in Connecticut this morning. Not feeling like Opening Day. but it brings back memories. About 30 years ago, I flew into Chicago to visit a client. It was Cubs opening day. I took them out to Lunch, back then you could do that without much scrutiny. When we came out of the Hyatt after lunch, there was 6 inches of snow on the ground. By the time I left Chi-town there was 18 inches on the ground. Nice way to start the season, aye?

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  56. phillies.com has an interview with Biddle where we essentially confirms he will be at Lakewood. It also has a number of shots of him pitching, so those of you who know what to look for can check out his motion. Also pretty interesting in terms of offseason prep.

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    1. As does Jason Grilli’s: “April Fools no joking matter here today. Rosters are set for now. Good luck to those moving on.”

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  58. We’re all waiting to see what the rosters look like. I’m still surprised by Hernandez jumping over Barnes but I understand the move. One guy’s upside is as an every day starting 2B while the other guy only looks like a Ute at best. Combine that with the fact that he’s already on the 40 man and Utley’s future doesn’t look good and they decided to push the guy. I know defensively, he’ll be fine. In fact, a C Water infield of Hernandez, Hanzawa and Mattair would be outstanding behind the strong starting staff. Lots of guys however just got released and that always feels bad to everyone involved. Can’t wait to hear…

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