Spring Training Chatter, Week of 12 March

Spring Training 2012

Here is your outpost for this week’s random spring training happenings. Get after it.

126 thoughts on “Spring Training Chatter, Week of 12 March”

  1. I feel like people have been sleeping on Galvis for to long. At a premier position and I think his bat is turning a corner. Nothing crazy, just nothing near the. 220 miilb carear average.
    Not out of the gate of course. But does anyone think mid season he could get enough plate appereances as a super utility. With Utley needing days off it wouldn’t hurt to give Jimmy some days off too.

    Like

    1. I think the super-utility role is a step back developmentally. He needs to have a defined role that gets him ABs everyday and it is likely to be playing SS at LHV. I think Galvis and Brown are in the same position, there is not a great permanent opening on the major league roster right now, they are better than the bench player, but it is in their best interest to get constant ABs. They should both have a bag packed in case anyone gets injured on the major league club because they will both be the replacement if anyone is out for a couple of weeks.

      That all being said, if Galvis can through up a .265/.320/.325 line in the future with superb defense he has a career, and I think that is doable for him within the next few years

      Like

      1. What you’ve said is true for Galvis, but there’s been an opening for Brown for 2 years now (Werth’s departure, Ibanez’s futility, and then Ibanez’s departure). I don’t know who’s responsible, but whoever has been making the calls on him just doesn’t seem to trust him. Which is stupid because he can mash, and it’s not like we’ve had a competent fielder in LF for the past decade, anyways. Even with his faults on defense he’d probably be the best fielding LF regular we’ve had in a long, long time.

        Like

      2. If he gets 400+ PA sinning for Rollins, Utley, and maybe even Polanco, how could going back to the minors be better for him? At this point his defense needs no work, at least none that could be better had in the minors. He looks great at SS as well as 2b, and from what I read 3b is mainly a reaction position, and the boy has outstanding reflexes; he’d probably do just fine there, too.

        The development concerns mainly surround his bat. However, if he can back up 2b, 3b, and SS, he’s not going to ride the pine very much this year. Why is it preferred that he get those at-bats in AAA?

        Like

    2. A good way to get an unbiased viewpoint on our own prospects is to listen to the opposing team’s announcers on Gameday Audio. The Tigers’ announcers raved about Galvis. Called him a “smart hitter” and said he “good instincts and great hands.”

      Like

    3. Barring an injury to JRoll, Galvis will start at SS at AAA, everyne should stop looking for other plans. As for MiniMart, its not like there aren’t other utility options throughout baseball that the Phillies could get cheaply if they think they’re better than MiniMart. However, Charlie likes him so I suspect he’ll be on the team.

      Like

      1. As it should be. There’s no reason for Galvis to sit on the bench at all this year unless Martinez bombs (which he probably will).

        I think the extra seasoning could go a long way towards making him into an effective super-sub (or third baseman?) in 2013 and potentially the starting 2nd baseman if the team decides to cut ties with Chase.

        Like

        1. Galvis needs another 500+ minor league at bats. His bat does not really profile as a supersub anyway. Last year was the first year he was close to age appropriate and his bat started to catch up. No reason to short circuit that development, at least certainly early in the year.

          Like

          1. Agree. There is just as much chance of him feeling overmatched in the bigs than holding his own, based on his whole body of work so far. How would hitting .160 in his first 50 ABs or so affect him? If people don’t know that answer, they don’t know much. He appears to have a lot of talent in the field and, yes, at the plate too. He has gotten stronger and looks to have the potential to be a line drive hitter eventually, maybe a throwback to old Phils outstanding 2B Tony Taylor as a hitter. Let him extend his hitting improvement in the minors, get some starts at 3B and 2B, reduce the hitting risk, increase the value. That’s a no brainer to me. The discussion of him making the team is waaaay premature, IMO.

            Like

  2. I looked at the Phillies boxscore in ESPN and saw Cesar Hernandez pitched 1 inning. I said, WHAT???? I went to MLB and saw it was Herndon who pitched. How do you mix up Cesar with Herndon, considering one is a position player. Don’t they all pick up the same media feed?

    I saw Gelb picked Aumont for the last roster spot. He was non-commital for the most part. I hear what he’s saying; Aumont has the most upside and… why not him. I think Aumont is the least likely guy to get that last pitching spot. He needs to pitch… a lot. Being last reliever on the big league squad isn’t going to do that for him. He’ll be in LHV. Galvis might deserve a spot on the big league roster but he’s going to play everyday. Right now, that’s in AAA. If injuries occur, I don’t think the Phils would hesistate to call him up… as long as he’s going to play.

    Like

    1. If they used the same scoring software I’ve seen, there’s a list of players on a roster. Probably just clicked the wrong one.

      Like

    2. I agree with you Bellman.
      Aumont still has serious control issues that will be best corrected by pitching regularly.
      He may have the most potential, but its still not realized until he gains that control.

      Like

      1. Aumont needs at least another few months in the minor leagues. I love him and his upside is huge, but he needs to work on several things, including command and his mechanics. He also needs the regular work, something he would not get as the 11th or 12th man on the staff.

        By the way, I think Domonic Brown is going to force the big league team’s hand very quickly. He looks ready to become a dominant hitter (no pun intended). His fielding issues are annoying, but they will work themselves out and he is so fast and athletic that, regardless of the optics (i.e., how it looks), he is unlikely to be anything worse than replacement level in his defense.

        Like

        1. Dom will start at AAA where he can play every day and he has to put up numbers. If he hits well, we’ll see later in the year.

          Like

        2. I think his defense is being way overblown… while annoying, it’s nothing we haven’t seen from Ryan Howard or Chase Utley (he still can’t throw the ball to first base smoothly).

          Like

  3. Considering the last reliever is often brought in when the starter faulters a little early, Aumont lack of control certain would not fit. This sounds like another management suicide mission with this prospect. Please he is what is and don’t remake him AGAIN

    Like

  4. Caught only a bit of yesterday’s intersquad game. (Wife wanted to go to the beach.) Saw Cloyd pitch 3 hitless innings with 1 K(Jim Thome) and 1 BB. He looks good, would really like to see him start in Lehigh this year. Also saw Overbeck hit a homer off May. That’s all I got. Feels great to see some live ball. Real games start today.

    Like

    1. Do the right thing….send wife to the beach…scout the games….unless you are afraid you will lose her.

      Like

  5. Sounds like Diekman is turning some heads what are his odds right now of making the squad? Ive heard it has a lot to do with how dontrelle willis does the remainder of spring but he hasnt looked all that good to me.

    Like

    1. I don’t think he is going to make the squad regardless of how well he pitches because they want him to go to AAA to work on a mastering a breaking pitch. But, unless he gets traded (always highly possible when you are a Phillies farm hand), he will be back, probably sometime in the middle to later portion of the year.

      Like

        1. Anthopolis was scouting blanton on saterday. The jays 1st choice is gavin floyd . The phils supposidly want travis snyder for blanton. Doesnt seem like much. I would almost guarantee a deal within 2weeks. Dmar got you a couple mentions re. Luna.

          Like

          1. Travis Snider + $6.5 million for Joe Blanton is a lot for a pitcher of Joe Blanton’s caliber.

            Like

            1. Is Snider still seen as a top prospect? He’s been pretty awful in the majors so far but is still just 24.

              Like

            2. I think they do that deal just to clear the Salary. Blanton is a luxury at this point they don’t need at that kind of a number. KK can step in and fill that role easily at the same production.

              Thanks ANON2

              Like

  6. I like where Brown is at right now. I think last year he was exposed for the first time to the pressure athletes sometimes face in Philly. The attitude of the fans to him was, and still is, something like: “Alright, if you’re such a hot prospect, hit thirty homeruns!” So his performance as a pinch-hitter in the small sample of 2010 was grossly exaggerated. In spring training last year, I think Brown struck out every at-bat until he got a single in his fifteenth at-bat or so. He clearly struggled with the scrutiny he was under as the player that was supposed to take over for Werth and who, in the minds of fans, has to live up to the hype surrounding him. Now, Brown has grown used to his reception by the fans. He’s tuning it out and relaxing. His power seems to be back, since he’s hit a couple of triples so far. I feel he’s in a good place. Does he get to the major leagues by opening day? His defense must improve. He almost reinjured his hand recently by taking an unnecessary dive for a ball after a poor route. But I figure we will be seeing a lot of Dom eventually.

    Like

  7. We’ve dealt with horrible defensive left fielders in the past. How would Dom not be considered? As the season progresses, he could end up being an integral part of the offense.

    Like

    1. The way he is going right now, ig Dom started in left field he could make 100 errors in a season! Maybe they should try him at first base.

      Like

    1. In fairness he also misplayed a line drive into a ‘double’ and made an error on a throw. As good as he appears to be at the plate, I kind of think it would be best for the Phillies if he went to LV to try and improve his LF play.

      Like

      1. Sadly he plays the field like an underclassman….in high school. This has to be mental at this point.

        Like

  10. I really think for the sake of the offense, the best thing to do would be to play Domonic Brown in left field and John Mayberry Jr. at first.

    Domonic Brown’s going to get on base and hit for solid power. His defense is going to be poor but he can’t be much worse in left than Howard is at first or Ibanez/Burrell were for the last decade.

    John Mayberry deserves a shot as an every day player and Jim Thome can spell him against the Josh Johnson’s, the Tim Lincecum’s, the Matt Cain’s, the Stephen Strasburg’s, etc.

    Like

      1. Posednik was brilliant today in the outfield, bailing out Sanchez with two fine catches. Gillies also had a great catch on a sinking liner with runners in scoring position. Bad bullpen work from Valdez, Sanchez, and Horst. Dom Brown, besides the homer to give the Phils the lead in the tenth, had a hit-and-run single through the vacated shortstop position to get the go-ahead run to third with one out. He needs to play everyday in the outfield to get a better idea of balls coming off the bat. He has no idea at present. With the Phils’ offensive weakness in the early going, they will need every advantage they can get in left. Mayberry or Posednik could give them that.

        Like

        1. Podsednik’s got a career .721 OPS and he’s 35. That’s not going to help the offensive weakness any. He’s not a defensive liability, but he’s also not the fielder he used to be. Brown is going to misplay some balls but they can’t just leave him in AAA forever either. I think it’s time to bring him up and see what he can do with a full time job in the majors.

          Like

        2. Historically, Posednik isn’t a great outfielder.

          I’m fine with Posednik if he makes the roster as he offers what this team truly lacks: on base percentage… I just feel that Brown’s the better option personally and I think defense is being a little bit overrated.

          I mean, this line up would be solid:

          1. Rollins
          2. Polanco
          3. Utley
          4. Pence
          5. Victorino
          6. Mayberry
          7. Brown
          8. Ruiz
          9. Pitcher

          Like

          1. Not sure I agree that Pods offers an upgrade in OBP. 5 of the Phillies intended starters this year not only had a higher OBP last year than Pods career numbers but have higher career OBP as well. Thats not even including Jim Thome, Placido Polanco, or John Mayberry Jr.

            Like

      2. What are you watching! Pods can’t play defense! Seriously, Pods still has the speed….just arm is not what it use to be, and his glove is still solid..

        Like

          1. SInce you brought up Domo…..point….the guy doesn’t misplay balls hit right at him And in close to 1800 chances in the majors he has less then 30 errors….and he gets to plenty of balls because of his speed. Saying ‘.Scott Podsednik can’t play defense either’ is rather an absurd statement.

            Like

    2. It would be a big mistake to play Brown in LF for the Buig Club right now. He would put up a record number of errors and would become a target for fan booing because of it.

      Like

      1. The fans aren’t going to boo him if he’s producing at the plate. I don’t see defense as being a good reason to option someone with solid OBP skills and power on a team that’s sorely lacking it.

        Chase Utley and Ryan Howard make boneheaded plays too, they’re fine.

        Like

  11. A lot of guys seem to be doing whatever they can NOT to make the team. Galvis and Brown are not on that list.

    Like

    2. Brown will give a run defensiveively for every run he knocks in. He is not as good as ibanez, not even close, which should tell you bad he is defensively if ever i saw a dh it,s him..good value to an am. Lea. Team. We need infielders. I would go all out for encarcion, and chase d,arnaud.

      Like

      1. Ibanez was rated as one of the, if not the worst defensive outfielder according to advanced metrics.
        … he’s not going to be that much worse… especially since at this point he offers more offensively.

        Like

      3. Bro, if you’d been at the game Steve Jeltz hit two HRs, you’d have been on here saying we have a future hall of famer. Don’t trust your eyes so much; in baseball, they will almost always lie to you.

        In a related story… Hector Luna, otherwise known as the “anon2’s 2012 Phillies Spring Training Legend”, has reverted back to Mexican League All Star, otherwise known as “the guy we all knew he was”.

        Like

  12. Brody Colvin pitched 3 innings today at the AA level game against the Blue Jays. The first hitter hit a solid line drive for a double and moved to 3rd on a ground out. Colvin then K’d the next batter with a man on 3rd with only one out then got another GO to end the inning. Next two innings each went GO, GO, and FO. He seemed to get ahead of most of the hitters but did not get any swing and misses, mostly called strikes and foul balls.

    Like

    1. This is great stuff. Who was playing behind him? I thought it was interesting that Tyler Greene was the shortstop with May on the mound yesterday, for instance.

      Like

    1. Don’t have a scanner so the most interesting names would be (grp 1= AAA) Tocci, L. Greene, and Eldimire Grp 4; Quinn and Walding Grp 3; and T. Greene and M. Franco Grp 2

      Like

  14. Haven’t posted on here in a long time. But, I’m in Clearwater and was able to get the work groups for the pitchers, …my main interest. Sorry I don’t have all the other players’ info, but hopefully this will be helpful nonetheless.

    Group 1 Pitchers
    Tyson Brummett
    Nate Bump
    Michael Cisco
    Tyler Cloyd
    Tom Cochran
    Jordan Ellis
    Ryan Feirabend
    Justin Friend
    Frank Gailey
    Kasey Kiker
    Chris Kissock
    John Mariotti
    Juan Morillo
    Drew Naylor
    Eric Pettis
    Adam Worthington

    Group 2 Pitchers
    Gabriel Arias
    James Birmingham
    Lisalberto Bonilla
    David Buchanan
    Garrett Claypool
    Brody Colvin
    Jay Johnson
    Eblin Lugo
    Trevor May
    Hector Neris
    Jonathan Pettibone
    Julio Rodriguez
    Colby Shreve
    Juan Sosa
    Matt Way
    Jordan Whatcott

    Group 3 Pitchers
    Casey Barnes
    Jesse Biddle
    Austin Brough
    Paul Cusick
    Rye Davis
    Ryan Duke
    Ian Durham
    Percival Garner
    Juary Gomez
    Nick Hernandez
    Mario Hollands
    Chase Johnson
    Tyler Knigge
    Bryan Morgado
    Adam Morgan
    Colton Murray
    Jack Van Leur
    Austin Wright

    Group 4 Pitchers
    Leonel Bastida
    Robert Cooper
    Kenny Giles
    Luis Gonzalez
    Steven Inch
    Ulises Joaquin
    Andre Kinder
    Colin Kleven
    Ervis Manzanillo
    Lino Martinez
    Jonathan Musser
    Michael Nesseth
    Miguel Nunez
    Delvin Perez
    Jesus Pirela
    Ryan Sasaki
    Yari Sosa
    Ethan Stewart
    Joshua Warner

    Group 5 Pitchers
    Erinzon Bautista
    Carlos Best
    Ranfi Casimiro
    Fabian Cota
    Manaure Martinez
    Marek Minarik
    Luis Morales
    Ramon Oviedo
    Luis Paulino
    Julio Reyes
    Yacksel Rios
    Keivy Rojas
    Felix Santos
    Jorge Serrano
    Braden Shull
    Jesen Therrien
    Franklin Vargas
    Kevin Walter

    Like

    2. Interesting that Cody Asche is left back in group 3, when there is no real 2nd base prospects in group 2. Manzanillo’s placement seems to indicate a repeat at his level.

      Like

        1. I don’t disagree. He should be left back, but some here have been boosters and he was a high draft pick.

          Like

  16. Is Lou Montanez here as org filler, or is he a 4th of? Seems to be having some good abs.

    Also, I am glad someone posted their observations of Gillies. I know he hasn’t been hitting much this spring, but listening on the radio he sounds better than the numbers indicate. What flaws does he appear to need to work on?

    Like

    1. Yeah bro will iwent to my 1st game in 1958 with banks at short for the cubs who won 5 to 4., and your telling me about bb? And jeltz. Your a piece of work will. Do you remember Ron ” palm tree” Stone. If you dont you nothing about spring training hof,ers bro. Take a guess why luna the tuna is intriging bro. Because this is the most pathetic group ive seen in quite a while. So keep believing brown is anything more than a dh. And orr , posednik, pierre, willis fransen, nix are worth one cuddyer or kubel. As i said before you ,if you are, aware of it , trade blanton, brown for encarcuon and chase headly from s.d. bro.

      Like

    2. He was a 1st round pick that has leveled off as a 4A guy. He’ll start at AAA and be depth at this point.

      Like

  17. Just to finish this off. If you really believe in this mlnors then heres my plan to get younger and better. Of. Mayberry lf vic cf pence rf. Gilles and mitchell back ups. Inf. Blanton for encarcion 3 rd . Rollins ss trade brown for our old friend jason donald who only hit .318 last year. At 2nd. Wigginton at 1st until howard,s back ruiz and schnieder catchers. And yes i,ve knocked him but galvis and luna back ups. Bp diekman elarton stutes bastardo pap. Schwimmer. You all know the starters. Lets go for it. Dump the old guys . Im sick of the chronically injured. And for anyone who doults defense think of cruz in game 6 last year, or luzinski on black friday. Etc. Ive watched brown for 3 years and he,s gotten worse.

    Like

    2. Dump the old guys! C’mon John. Forty months ago the old guys won it for us. Maybe ease them out gradually over a few years..

      Like

    3. Encarcion is possibly the worst 3B in the league on defense. He is 1B barely and is really only a DH. Jason Donald is terrible except as a utility IF. This isn’t a plan to get younger it is a plan to just get worse. Like it or not we are going down with the old guys, who are not terrible they are just not the All-Stars they were before.

      Like

      1. It’s better just not to respond to him at this point. If he’s as old as he says he is, I guess I understand why he is so stubborn and only trusts his eyes and nothing anyone or anything else tells him.

        Like

    4. And just how long have you been smoking the weed anon2? I thought that was popular in the 60s and 70s, but I guess you got started in theh late 50s watching E. Banks and the Cubs. Watching the game for fifty years does not make you an expert. Perhaps you should OPEN YOUR EYES when you watch the games. Jason Donald for Chase Utley?? Are you still smoking the hooch? Donald at 100% could not touch Utley at 60%. What has Donald done in his career? Oh, that’s right, he hasn’t even had a career. Trade D. Brown? Keep B. Schneider? Let Brown settle down in LF, or RF if he’s more comfortable there and move Pence to LF, but don’t trade him. He will be a stud in this town for years if Charlie would ever give him a chance to play. I guess we should let Halladay go to since he is getting up there, we can find a younger guy to fill in for him right? Come on anon2, wake up, get the smoke out of your eyes! Think before you write.

      Like

  18. I was looking at the workout groups. I saw some pitchers on the Grp 1 I’ve never heard of. A couple of lefties Tom Cochran and Kasey Kiker. A couple of righties John Mariotti and Juan Morillo. I see only one of them has MLB experience (Juan). He’s also missed nearly 2 years. Mariotti was 11-1 in the Independent Leagues. Bring him in and see if he’s for real or not. Kiker looks like a small efty but he’s a former 1st rounder. Looks like he has a big arm but has no idea where it’s going. He averages as many BBs as Ks. He also had 11 WP and 7 HBP in 44 innings last year. The catcher should just yell, “LOOK OUT!!!!” on every pitch. Cochran is a 29 year old and couldn’t find much to distinguish him. He played in the Independent Leagues from 2004 – 2009. Any chance any of these guys catch on or are they keeping spots warm for the guys in Major League camp who will be coming back down?

    Like

      1. Bellman of every 100 players approximately 5 will make the show . Maybe 2 will be very good or stars. The odds are unbelevable.but at least those 100 kids had a taste. 4 guys to watch ty green harold martinez cody asche roman quinn and larry green. Trust your gut and have a great time. It,s great your asking questions,as long as youve been on this site.
        .h.

        Like

          1. Regarding what i said above about going with the kids, they,re determined to 1 more year out of the vets but the scrubs they signed and injured vets dont have it.GO YOUNG. Btw dont believe the money bs. MM goodbye.

            Like

  19. You don’t add all those kids to a team trying to win now, its just not done. And you don’t put Dom in LF right now where he can make an error to cost you a game when you have these great pitchers. They’re a pitching and defense team first. Its looking more and more like Mayberry will play most of the time at 1B with Wig playing against lefties at 1B (with Mayberry in LF), some at 2B and some at 3B with Thome playing once a week at 1st. Nix will get the bulk of the starts in LF and while Podsednik is beating out Pierre I still think both could ultimately lose out if they can get another infield back up of higher caliber. With the tenderness of Utley and Polanco, they might want another body for the infield and it won’t be Galvis, who will start at SS at AAA, or any of the other back ups in camp now (Orr might get cut, he can’t field well enough at 2B or 3B). And no, they won’t be trading Galvis or Brown, they both will play at AAA and be ready in case of injury.

    Like

      1. Ha yeah, but it’s seriously detracting from the quality of the site. Not that the article themselves aren’t wonderful (they are) but the second biggest reason I enjoy this site has been the quality of the discussion. I’ve been reading this site for what feels like 8 years (not sure exactly when it started), and I can’t remember a time when a single posters drivel drove me to such inexplicible frusteration.

        Like

        1. Thank the guys who started engaging that delusional idiot. They just encourage him, now he won’t stop posting his illiterate rants.

          Like

      2. Actually, once I figured out who he was, I decided to stop engaging him – which would probably have been the right move from the start. An old guy set in his ways and convinced against all evidence of his own wisdom – what’s the fun in arguing against him? And honestly the illiteracy (or carelessness, hard to be sure which) and ignorance I find easy to ignore – it’s only the irrational hatred for certain players (Brown these days) that bugs me.

        And in a perverse and almost certainly unintended way, I kind of liked his recent “play the kids” comment. It takes a great degree of chutzpah to argue for the inclusion of several young guys on the 25 man, and STILL argue that Brown doesn’t belong.

        Like

        1. And who knows, nowheels turned into a decent commenter – more than decent, if you get his sense of humor – maybe John will too. He’s been tuning down the Brown hatred a bit, for one thing. And he just posted a literate comment below (supporting my long held belief that he isn’t illiterate, just careless).

          Like

  22. Anon 1 i dont mean guys like utley howard and polanco but martinez posednick orr franzen pierre. The money spent for these guys could been spent for cuddyer or kubel. Im tired of bandaids so i say go young. Im also thankful for you and catch and dmar and the 90% of posters who are not idiotic little fools who are more Interested in non bb babble. Its amazing that last week when i brought up the toronto talk the moronic cadre deemed itnot discussable. Oh well ais thanks for the mature 90%.

    Like

  23. I’m on the side of keeping Brown and bringing him north to start the season. Someone said it above this years team needs OBP skills. Brown Offensively has a chance to be special and thus far this spring its proven to be the case.

    I play him everyday with the exception of a really tough lefty and late in games I put in a defensive sub (preferably Scotty Pods) or (Montanez if you want more RH on the bench)

    As much as I hate to say it MM stays because A) you don’t care if he doesn’t play B) He’s the only guy that can play SS in pinch that you don’t care if he doesn’t play.

    Galvis as much as he’s made his case needs to play everyday so Lehigh it is. Obviously if Jimmy needs to go on the DL you call him up.

    Like

    1. I agree with your handling of Brown and Galvis, but MM… I’m not so sure. If you can promise me he gets no more then 75 at-bats, i might go along. 🙂

      Like

      1. Wow 75 could be a little low so I won’t promise that. Here is what I think is Obvious. If JROLL or Chase were to go on a significant DL stint Galvis will be the man.

        If it were Polanco I’m guessing Wigginton takes that over full time and MM is a late in the game double switch. So I wouldn’t think MM gets nearly as many ABS as he did last year but it still might be more than 75. I’d call it half so 125-130 maybe.

        Like

      1. And even fewer with that sense of audacity. It takes a special kind of person to truly believe that they know more than everyone and everything else. We have quite the specimen on our hands.

        Like

        1. Anon 1 thanks buddy but i think we can all use a break from the nitwit fringe. Btw havent reached the vaunted 60,s yet. Dave now that was clever. I do get sloppy on my phone, but thats something i get a kick out of. And little dan when you get paid for your omniscient knowledge or even your pithy commentary let me know. Maybe someday you wont have to resort to familial pejoritives.

          Like

  25. DVR’d the Phils game today. Stutes was definately on his A game. Joe Savery looked good. Jake Diekman and even though he gave up a run (unearned on a Kratz PB) he was impressive. Especially because he pitched only to righties. He struck out three and used three pitches (fastball, change, and slider). Willis is supposed to pitch on Thu. We will see. He has 2 weeks to prove himself. Otherwise it could be down to Savery and Diekman.

    Like

  27. Savery has had little trouble with RH batters. A big plus for a middle innings guy.
    Savery and Stutes first responders??

    Like

  28. Saw some news about yesterday’s minor league games. Leandro Castro had 3 hits w/a homerun and Jiwan James had two hits and a homerun. Aaron Altherr had 2 hits (both doubles) and 2 rbis and Gauntlett Eldemire had 2 hits as well. If we can get good year from these guys that will help our system. Castro only played 50 games or so with 10 hrs in Clearwater. He can play all 3 OF spots w/good speed and power. A possible 20/20 guy, The Phils might have a tough time in signing Victorino, even though he said he will give them a discount, so James needs to push to improve his hitting, his eye at the plate, and stolen base %, Altherr was talked about being a “big prospect” last year. He has potential. He needs to show it . Eldemire has hit early on. He could move fast through the system because of his age, 23. I would like to see him start at Lakewood or even Clearwater (they will be hurting to start the season with Collier and his 50 game suspension)

    Like

  30. I saw Miguel Abreau got into the game for the Phils. I know he played in the Orioles system and even played this Spring with them. When did the Phils get him? Was there a minor league deal?

    Like

    1. K Law had an insider story that wasn’t quite as flattering. Said Biddle sat 86-90, but did show good progress with his change up

      Like

      1. Trying to remember when was the last time K Law was flattering when it came to any Phillie prospect….just curious?

        Like

        1. He was “over the top” flattering to both Singleton and Cosart before last season. They were Phillies at the time.
          Law doesn’t discriminate against certain teams prospects. He is very clear in what he likes: He favors the guys who have the highest ceilings, and doesn’t care about high floors. He also disregards anything a college player does, until he reaches Double A. I agree with his philosophy, for the most part.

          Like

          1. ‘he also disregards anything a college player does, until he reaches Double A’…he did stretch that rule a little for Rice’s Anthony Rendon, Nats pick last year.

            Like

          1. There have been many succesful pitchers who threw 86-90 (not sure about the accuracy of that…always hear discepencies on minor league pitchers). The Phils had one guy who had agood career in Jamie Moyer who only wished he could hit 90.

            Like

  35. Worley was great again. First K came on a breaking pitch that looked unfamiliar. So many easy outs don’t believe me ask Mayberry

    Like

  36. Anybody down at Spring training? Missed some of the first hand reports we got from Ricky Branch. Some of the other sites I check not giving any updates on the minor league games. Saw Thome was playing 1st base today on the field next to where the Phillies were playing.

    Like

  37. I quess it is for sure Galvis is the opening day second base man. Even if Utley obtained a ten gallon jug of water from Lourdes, it would quite silly to play him in cold weather. Whose job does that save ? Orr, MM ????

    Like

  38. So who else ever expected to see Brian Bocock and Freddy Galvis homer in back to back half innings? Baseball is a crazy game sometimes.

    Like

Comments are closed.