Left Handed Reliever Sergio Escalona was optioned to the minors today after struggling this Spring.  With JC Romero almost a certainty to begin the season on the DL, the remaining competition for his roster spot as a late inning lefty out of the ‘pen is between Antonio Bastardo and Mike Zagurski.  Although Bastardo has more “upside” then Zagurski, Zagurski has been far more effective thus far in Spring Training. Last years minor leaguers remaining in Major League camp include: Pitchers: Kendrick, Herndon(Rule 5), Bastardo, Zagurski, and Wasserman. 

Infielders: Bocock, Chavez, Ransom, Valdez, Tracy.  Catcher: Sardinha  Outfield:  Mayberry and Wise.

Update 3:00 p.m. Since this post was published about two hours ago, both Andrew Carpenter and Ryan Vogelsong have been sent down to Minor League camp.

As the Minor League Exhibition season begins and with many of those in major league camp being sent down to compete in the Minor League phase of Spring training, here is a look at how those players that have seen time in Major League “A” games fared thus far in the Spring.  Included are only those who will start the season in the minors and those who are competing for final roster spots in Philly.

Pitchers:

Starters-Kyle Kendrick:  9IP 4H 0ER 0BB 2K; 0.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP; Andrew Carpenter 8 IP 5H 1ER 1BB 9K; 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP; Ryan Vogelsong 3IP 7H 4ER 3BB 1K; 12.00 ERA; Phillipe Aumont, 2.2 IP 2H 0ER 1BB, 0K; 0.00 ERA; Joe Savery 3IP 4H 3ER 2BB 1K; 9.00 ERA; Drew Naylor 2IP 1H 0ER 0BB 2K; 0.00 ERA; Yohan Flande: 3IP 6H 2ER 0BB 1K; 6.00 ERA, Jesus Sanchez, 1 IP 0H 0ER 0BB 2K; JC Ramirez: 4.1 IP 6H 4ER 3BB 3K; 8.31 ERA 2.08 WHIP. Continue reading A Quick Look Around →

The Phillies made their first round of cuts today, as Minor League camp opens and games begin shortly. Included in the cuts: P Phillipe Aumont and P JC Ramirez (both acquired in the CLiff Lee deal), P Jesus Sanchez, P Joe Savery, P Drew Naylor, P Yohan Flande, P Bill White, C Tuffy Gosewisch, C John Suomi, C Kevin Nelson, OF Quintin Berry and OF Tyson Gillies (also acquired in the Lee deal). The one somewhat surprising name to be sent down early was Scott Mathieson who made two appearances giving up a run in two innings of work.  With the question marks surrounding the health of  both Lidge and Romero in the back of the ‘pen to start the year, many expected (myself included) Mathieson to make a legitimate run at an opening day roster spot.  I would expect him to start the season potentially closing in Lehigh Valley.

A few tidbits first reported by Jim Salisbury of Comcast Sportsnet.  OF Zach Collier recently had wrist surgery to repair damage to the hamate bone.  The surgery will set Collier back a few weeks, however, he should be back at full speed by the end of spring training.  Collier was the 34th pick in the 2008 draft.

Additionally, the Phils signed two youngsters out of the DOminican Republic.  17 year old 6’6 pitcher Miguel Nunez received a $220,000 signing bonus, while 3B Maikol Franco (also 17) signed for $100,000. Both should see time with the Rookie League Gulf Coast Phils this Summer.

is….Oscar Villareal. The 29 year old right handed reliver is best known for the several years he spent in the Arizona organization, including years of moderate to good production in the mid to late innings for the Diamondbacks.  He is coming off of Tommy John surgery, but is a nice “depth” signing to add into the bullpen mix.  He last pitched in the majors in 2008 for the Astros, going 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA in 35 appearances, and spent last season recovering from his surgery.  Villareal has thrown over 75 innings in relief three separate seasons, with his ERA below 4.25 in each of those years.

With just 16 days until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater, the Phillies continue to fill their holes on the minor league rosters with players who are minor league veterans and most who have had a cup of coffee at the major league level. Lehigh Valley should be welcoming back 33 year old Left handed starter Brian Mazone for his third season in Allentown.  Mazone was probably the IronPigs steadiest starter in 2008, going 9-12 with a 4.10 ERA in his 164.2 IP.  After a brief stint in the Dodgers organization at the beginning of last season he rejoined the IronPigs mid season and was 2-6 with a 3.50 ERA in his 11 starts late in the year.  Mazone brings experience and a consistent left handed arm to join lefty Joe Savery in the Lehigh Valley rotation. Continue reading Signings, Next Round →

The Phils signed 24 year old SS Brian Bocock, out of the Giants organization to a minor league deal today.  Bocock spent last season primarily with Class A Advanced San Jose and hit .241/.303/.339 in 430 AB’s with 3 HR and 48 RBI.   He was originally a 9th round pick of the Giants in the 2006 draft and saw some time in the majors in 2008 with the injury depleted Giants.  He hit .143 in his 77major league at bats.  Bocock provides depth at best for the Phils affiliates as they have lost Miguel Cairo, Jason Donald, JJ Furmaniak and Brad Harmon, among others from the ranks of the middle infield.

The minor league signings keep coming with the Phils inking 3B Brandon Pinckney and P Jordan Meaker to minor league deals. Pinckney,28, can play all over the diamond, but played primarily 3B last season for Norfolk, the AAA affiliate of the Orioles.  He hit .291/.309/.358 with a homer and 21 RBI’s in 267 AAA at bats last season. Meaker, 24,  is a big (6’6, 220) righty, who played college ball at Dallas Baptist University. He was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 20th round of the 2008 draft. Last season in Low A Ball, Meaker was 4-1 with a 5.67 ERA in 29 games (3 starts). He walked 37 and struck out 40 in his 60 innings of work, with a WHIP of 1.76

The Phils have signed soon to be 34 year old Brandon Duckworth to a minor league deal, with Lehigh Valley sure to be his 2009 landing spot.  Duckworth, a righty, came up through the Phils organization going 15-18 in his three seasons with the big club (2001-03). Since that time, he spent two years with the Astros, followed by the last four in the Royals organization. Last year was the first year since 2001 that Duckworth did not appear in a major league game, pitching solely for Omaha, the Royals AAA affiliate, going 3-6 with a 5.31 ERA in 20 games, 19 of those starts. He walked 37 and struck out 67 in his 105 innings and will provide some depth for the big club in the event of injury.  He should land a job in the Lehigh Valley rotation which currently projects as:  1.  Kyle Kendrick or Andrew Carpenter (the other with the big club) 2. Joe Savery 3. Ryan Vogelsong 4. Brandon Duckworth and 5. Mike Stutes. The most compelling aspect of the Duckworth signing should be whether or not the Duck Pond moves from its 2001-03 Philadelphia location, up the turnpike to Allentown.

Time to take a look at the latest of the Winter Roster moves as the minor league rosters continue to take shape.  A number of players were released by the Phils organization, including: Robert Roth, Dan Brauer, Esmelvin Jiminez, Brandan Akashian, Phil Aviola, Francisco Murillo, Cory Wine, Vlad De Los Santos, David Hissey and TJ Warren. I am mildly surprised at Roth, otherwise no big surprises for me here. 

A number of minor leaguers were re-signed.  Next to their names is where I project them to be next year.  P John Ennis (Lehigh Valley), P Jake Woods (Lehigh Valley), P Jason Mackintosh (Reading), C  Kevin Nelson (Reading), OF Mike Spidale (Reading), OF/!B Brian Stavisky (Reading), OF Kevin Mahar (Reading/Lehigh Valley), OF Javis Diaz (Clearwater), 2B Fidel Hernandez (Reading) and P Santos Hernandez (Clearwater). Continue reading Roster Juggling →