Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

• Well, the waiting is over. Todd Zolecki reports that the Phillies are set to introduce their new GM at a press conference Monday morning.  Angels assistant GM, Matt Klentak, was among the early favorites to fill the position and among the three finalists.  He was selected over A’s assistant GM Dan Kantrovitz and Rays VP of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.  Klentak was hired by MacPhail as the Orioles Director of Baseball Operations in 2008.  From there he signed with the Angels on November 23, 2011.  His baseball duties included scouting, player development, and contract negotiations.  It’s unlikely that he was involved much in the December 8, 2011 FA signings of Albert Pujols (10 years/$240M; 2012-21) and C.J. Wilson (5 years/$77.5M; 2012-16). But, he was certainly involved in the FA signing of Josh Hamilton (5 years/$125M; 2013-17), the Mike Trout extension (6 years/$144.5M; 2015-20), and the Hamilton trade to Texas where the Angels are still responsible for all but about $6M of Hamilton’s salary.
• The Phillies added two new coaches to their staff this week.  Rick Kranitz will be the bullpen coach and John McLaren will be the catching coach.  The Phillies are still waiting for Larry Bowa and Juan Samuel to sort out their options.  And they are expected to add one other coach to complete their staff.
• The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo reported that the Red Sox were about to sign Ruben Amaro as their first base coach.  MLB Trade Rumors updated the report that a decision hasn’t been reached and that Amaro is among a few finalists.  The Phillies don’t play the Sox during the 2016 season, so you’ll have to come to Clearwater to see him face the Phillies in a Grapefruit League game if he does sign.
• The World Series starts Tuesday.  I didn’t see many innings during the playoffs.  I found the relentless droning of the national announcers along with the few MLB TV talking heads they add to the coverage tedious.  I did see the 2-1 strike called on Ben Revere in the ninth inning of game six in KC.  I don’t blame Ben for being mad.
• CBSSports.com reported that Carlos Tocci broke his left hand when he was struck by a pitched ball.  He was off th a good start hitting .333/.447/.400/.847 in 39 PA.  He had walked 4 times and struck out only 3 times.  He’ll be out about 6 weeks.
• Tocci is the Phillies top hitter in the VWL.  Cord Sandberg is their top guy in the ABL hitting .444/.545/.556/1.101 and Aaron Brown is their top guy in the AFL hitting .364/.364/.455/.818.  Malquin Canelo’s .250 leads the Phillies’ hitters in the DWL.

Well, the Mets have defeated the Cubs, and “Back to the Future” was 100% wrong about the 2015 World Series participants.  Instead of discussing individual top prospects, I would like to pose a question.  “Does the overall defensive play of catcher Kyle Schwarber in left field, give anyone pause when we talk about playing Jorge Alfaro in the outfield, or any defensive switch to accommodate getting bats into the line up?”

The above is just a suggestion for this week’s discussion.  This post is reserved for the discussion of the top prospects in the Phillies’ organization. You can tout the merits of your favorite prospects, instruct us on why your ranking is superior, talk about a prospect who intrigues/worries you, ask about prospects you haven’t seen and don’t know much about, or anything at all as long as it is about the top prospects.

The Phillies are conducting another strength and conditioning program Continue reading Top Prospect Discussion: October 22nd →

Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

• Another name has entered the discussion surrounding the the Phillies’ search to fill their vacant GM position.  It was reported this week that Cardinals’ Director of Player Personell, Matt Slater, has interviewed for the position.  Former Marlins GM Larry Beinfest has also been interviewed.  Indians executive Ross Atkins is also believed to have interviewed.   Others who have been mentioned as candidates are Matt Klentak of the Angels front office, Kim Ng of the Commissioner’s office, Thad Levine of the Rangers front office,  Ben Cherington formerly Boston’s GM, and Royals assistant GM J.J. Piccolo.
• The Phillies signed local LHP Jeff Singer to a contract this week.  Singer was not drafted undrafted this spring and subsequently signed with the Camden Riversharks.

Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

• Several names have been mentioned by the media as candidates for the Phillies’ GM position – Matt Klentak of the Angels front office, Kim Ng of the Commissioner’s office, Thad Levine of the Rangers front office,  Ben Cherington formerly Boston’s GM, and Royals assistant GM J.J. Piccolo.  Ng is rumored to be in line for an interview.  Indians executive Ross Atkins is said to have interviewed this week. Former Marlins GM Larry Beinfest is supposed to have interviewed a few weeks ago.
• The Phillies made another offseason decision this week when seven players cleared waivers and were outrighted off their 40-man roster.  No real surprises here – RHPs Justin De Fratus and Jonathan Pettibone, LHP Adam Loewen and Ken Roberts, C Erik Kratz, INF Chase d’Arnaud, and OF Jordan Danks.  De Fratus, d’Arnaud, and Kratz have already opted for free agency.
• The moves pare the 40-Man Roster down to 34 active players and six players on the 60-Day DL who will be activated within five days of the conclusion of the World Series.  Those six include Cliff Lee who will become a free agent when his option is declined and the Phillies buy out his contract for $12.5M,  Chad Billingsley whose contract will expire, Matt Harrison who remains under contract through 2017 plus an option for 2018, Cesar Hernandez, Mario Hollands, and Elvis Araujo.
• The roster moves also avoid arbitration with DeFratus, Kratz, and Loewen.  The Philies have four other arb eligible players – Andres Blanco, Jeanmar Gomez, Domonic Brown, and Freddy Galvis.
• Aaron Harang and Jerome Williams become free agents.  As does non-roster pitcher Sean O’Sullivan who has declared free agency.

Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

• Well, the drama ended Saturday night.  The Phillies will have the first selection in the 2016 Amateur Draft.  They will also select first in the Rule 5 Draft and receive the largest portion of International Signing dollars.  You can all take solace in the fact that you didn’t suffer through this season for nuthin’.
• The Phillies’ 63 wins  and .389 winning percentage were their lowest since they won 59 games in 1972 and posted a .378 percentage.  Four years after that nadir, the Phillies won 101 games in 1976.  So there’s that.
• The Phillies have made their first offseason decisions when they decided the fates of several members of the coaching staff.  Bench coach Larry Bowa, hitting coach Steve Henderson, pitching coach Bob McClure and first-base coach Juan Samuel have been invited back.  Bullpen coach Rod Nichols and third-base coach John Mizerock were not retained.  Coach Jorge Velandia’s status is not clear.  Congratulations to Bob Stumpo!
• Interim GM Scott Proefrock offered some insight into the Phillies’ offseason plans. Really nothing different from what Andy MacPhail stated a couple weeks ago.
• And, how about we accept the fact that Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz are going to be on the 2016 roster and not spend a lot of time speculating on trades involving either player.  Or releases. Or line ups.  Platoon means platoon.  Let’s just accept that for now.
• Damn!  Jesse Biddle can’t catch a break.  The tail end of the Proefrock article mentions that Biddle is having Tommy John surgery on October 14th.  There was a time when news like this would have been announced under it’s own headline. Good luck, Jesse!
• Since December 10, 2014 when the Phillies went into rebuild mode and started to dismantle the roster in earnest, the Phillies traded away a lot of players –
  • Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates, and
  • Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers in December,
  • Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals on July 28th,
  • Cole Hamels and
  • Jake Diekman to the Rangers on July 31st,
  • Ben Revere to the Blue Jays also on the 31st, and
  • Chase Utley to the Dodgers on August 19th.
• I’m sure a lot of Phillies fans are gratified that from the above list of players, all are in the playoffs except Papelbon.

This post is reserved for the discussion of the top prospects in the Phillies’ organization. You can tout the merits of your favorite prospects, instruct us on why your ranking is superior, talk about a prospect who intrigues/worries you, ask about prospects you haven’t seen and don’t know much about, or anything at all as long as it is about the top prospects. Continue reading Top Prospect Discussion: October 1st →