Monthly Archives: March 2011

First round of cuts

Spring Training 2011

The Phillies have made their first round of cuts, according to David Hale’s Philled In blog.

The optioned/re-assigned are:

Drew Carpenter, RHP
Michael Schwimer, RHP
Justin De Fratus, RHP
Joel Naughton, C
Drew Naylor, RHP
JC Ramirez, RHP
Harold Garcia, 2B
Cesar Hernandez, 2B
Matt Rizzotti, 1B
Carlos Rivero, INF

Mike Stutes remains in big league camp, which is an indication that he at least has an outside shot of making the team. Hale comments that Charlie Manuel was especially impressed with Schwimer and De Fratus and sees them contributing at some point in the near future.

2011 New International Players in Spring Training

1. VSL/DSL, International Signings

With the posting of the minor league workout groups I wanted to throw up another post with brief info on some of the new faces in camp that have not previously played at GCL or in another stateside league.  There are at my count 20 new players listed on the minor league workout groups that did not play in the U.S.  This is a huge number, though I imagine the Phillies will pare down that number a little by releasing a handful of the older players and demoting a few to the DSL or VSL leagues to get playing time. Continue reading 2011 New International Players in Spring Training →

Minor League workout groups, Volume 1

Spring Training 2011

Courtesy of veteran commenter Ricky Branch
.

Click this link for a large, readable version.

Most interesting tidbit? Jeremy Slayden is back in camp.

Open Discussion, 07 March 2011

Spring Training 2011

Here is your new discussion post for the next few days. Discuss prospect performances in spring games, and anything else prospect related. Go!

Jake Borup Interview

Other Stuff

Jake Borup, the Phils 23rd round pick in the 2010 was kind enough to give us some time as he enters his first Spring Training with the Phillies organization.  Borup, 23, had a very good year with Arizona State, going 11-1 with a 4.08 ERA in 15 starts, walking 26 and striking out 63 in his 81 innings of work.  After his assignment to Williamsport, Borup was one of the Crosscutters most dependable pitchers going 2-1 in 16 appearances (4 starts), earning 2 saves in his 47 innings of work.  Borup walked 13 and struck out 34, with an impressive 1.06 WHIP for Williamsport.

Borup entered Arizona State in 2006, and after taking two years off to complete a Mormon Mission, he came back strong earning Honorable Mention All Pac 10 honors last year as a sophomore. Borup throws his fastball in the high 80’s/low 90’s and has a good slider that he commands well.  After participating in the FLorida Instructional League, I would imagine that should things go smoothly in Spring Training, Borup could earn a spot in the Clearwater bullpen. Read below for the Q and A: Continue reading Jake Borup Interview →

5 more profiles added

Site Info

A massive thank you to Dave (and Ryan with an assist) for helping churn out all of the player profiles ahead of the 2011 season. Here are 5 more for your perusal. Zach Collier, Gauntlett Eldemire, Brian Pointer, Matt Rizzotti, and John Mayberry Jr. I ask that if you have feedback on a specific profile, you post it in the comments section of the appropriate profile, not here. If there is anyone missing, let me know. You can of course access all of the profiles at the top of the site by hovering your mouse over the profiles tab, and then finding the guy you are looking for.

Our goal is to only cover the legit prospects, as its more time consuming to make the profile pages for the fringiest of fringe guys, but if someone legit is missing, we’ll add it. Cesar Hernandez, Galvis, Santana, and Miguel Alvarez are on the to do list. It is my goal for the profiles to become a central part of this site, updating and maintaining them going forward. As the season starts, I will use some of my free time to search for news articles, pictures, and more videos for each prospect and add it to their page. You can help do that as well by posting any links/articles/videos you find in the comments section of each profile. I’ll have more on this as we move forward.

Domonic Brown breaks his hand, out 2 months

Spring Training 2011

The news is everywhere. It sucks.

His injury (the hook of the hamate bone in his hand) isn’t all that uncommon. The team is leaning toward surgery, which is smart, because if you don’t have it repaired surgically, there is a chance for tendon and ligament damage down the road if it heals improperly. I think. Anyway, this puts an end to his spring training, and more consequently, it will impact his entire 2011 season. With his hand immobilized, it will take him time to re-gain 100% of his power, and then of course he’ll need to get his timing and rhythm back.

The one bright spot is, he will now be able to go back to AAA and rehab the injury and get himself back into a groove and he can stop pressing and worrying about making the team out of spring training. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

Edit –> I should have noted (but typed this quickly to get something up) that recovery time can range anywhere from 3 weeks to months. Some guys come back right away and they are fine. Some guys have more residual soreness that takes longer to shake off. Hand injuries are typically a blow to a player’s power, for obvious reasons. His recovery time frame has a wide range of outcomes. Softened up my original post. Lets hope for the best.

Open Discussion: 04 March 2011

Spring Training 2011

I’ll give you a new topic.

Mike Stutes is staking his claim early on. Its unlikely he’d make the team out of camp unless they carry 12 pitchers and Baez isn’t one of them, but he’s been impressive.

And again, its important to not get too wrapped up in spring training numbers early on, either good or bad. Guys are making adjustments, guys are shaking off months of rust, and teams are using huge squads of players, which means inconsistent playing time and also less than awesome levels of competition. This part of spring is just for guys to get loose. Start paying attention in a few weeks when starters are playing more, and teams start making cuts.

Go!

2010 VSL/DSL Prospect Summary

1. VSL/DSL

This post is a much-delayed recap of the top prospects who played in the Latin American complex leagues in 2010.  I apologize for the delay as I got too wrapped up in work at the end of last year to put together a summary.  As minor league spring training starts this week and we start to see some of these faces for the first time, this post can serve as a place to discuss the Latin American prospects, both in the complex leagues and the stateside leagues.

Continue reading 2010 VSL/DSL Prospect Summary →

Open Discussion Post, 02 March 2011

Spring Training 2011

Here is where you panic about Domonic Brown’s slow spring start, whether or not we now regret trading Michael Taylor, and anything else you want to talk about, prospect related of course. I just gave you a bunch of topics. Go!