Just a few observations and answers about the Instructional League Roster.  It’s a little easier to address the questions that arose in yesterday’s thread here than after each comment.

A lot of the players you guys noted were missing attended the Instructs last year and maybe the year before, guys like – Anderson, Keys, Rivero, Viza, Rios, Posso, Canelo, Green, Greene, Pujols, Tocci were all included in the 2013 Instructs. I think Mecias, Cuicas, Marte, Hiciano, Tromp were included in 2012.

Where is 2013 German, international signee Julsan Kamara? He graduated from school in June, joined the DSL Phillies in mid-season, and served as a DH for 21 games. While he started slow and only hit .215, he did finish 10-34, .294 in his final 10 games?  I expected to see him on this list.

This year’s high school draft class is undoubtedly small and may have opened the door for the handful of additional LA players on the roster. Last year, 6 of the high school players who were drafted and signed in June were on the FIL roster in September. This year’s only signed high school player, Sam McWilliams, is on the roster.

There are a few more Latin American players on this year’s roster who were signed and developed within the organization. But not a lot more unless you consider an increase from 19 to 24 as a lot. There were 19 LA players on the 2013 roster, 20 if you count Nefi Ogando who was acquired in the John McDonald trade with Boston Red Sox. There are 24 on the roster this year, 25 if you count Victor Arano who was acquired in the Roberto Hernandez trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This year, 22 drafted players are on the roster – 16 of the 28 signed from this year’s draft, 5 from the 2013 draft, and 1 (Andrew Pullin) from the 2012 draft. Last year there were 25 drafted players on the roster – 12 of the 29 signed from the 2013 draft, 7 from the 2012 draft, 5 from the 2011 draft, and 1 (Kevin Walter) from the 2010 draft.

I don’t know how much time this year’s 4 international signees will see on the field. Last year, Luis Encarnacion only managed a couple dozen at bats, and Bryan Martelo managed to get considerably fewer. Neither saw much time at a position.

The last two years, the Phillies seemed to employ a platoon system. One platoon played on day one, the second platoon played on day two. If they employ a similar system this year, I would be interested to see who gets paired with Crawford, assuming Crawford plays. That pairing might give a clue as to who is ahead of whom at second base. Is it too far-fetched to start grooming your future middle infield partners together since Rollins and Utley could both end their careers as starters around the same time?

During the 2012 Instructs, Roman Quinn first caught my eye. However, after about 6 games, I didn’t see him anymore. I assumed they let him go home. Maybe when the coaches are happy that a player “gets it”, they let him go home.  Some of the surprises, like Crawford and Nola, may fit into this category.

Until they report to the Scottsdale Scorpions, Quinn and Moore will get at bats to establish and keep their timing; and Murray, Ogando, Stewart, and O’Sullivan will pitch a few innings to stay sharp.  I read early on that the Phillies might be adding another player (possibly a pitcher) to the AFL roster.

I haven’t heard anything about Biddle since the Phillies announced that he would be at Instructs.  Until I hear otherwise, I’ll expect to see him down here, just not necessarily pitching in a game.

I haven’t heard anything official about Morgan.  Unofficially, I heard that he has been throwing and expects to throw a few innings during Instructs.

The last two years, there were large contingents of pitchers sitting in the stands.  Some of them never made an appearance on the mound.  I think that they are down here to work with the coaches/instructors and time on the field isn’t always required.  Same for position players, too.  I’m sure that Tocci was here last year, but I do not remember seeing him on the field.  Every time I saw him he was in the stands.

These aren’t real games, so there could be two designated hitters to get everybody some at bats. Players might only get a couple at bats every other day.  Tough to gauge a player on such a sample size.  Some games last year, the line up seemed like it was just a suggestion. Drove me crazy with my score card.