Just some news and notes from the minor league games without even getting into wins and losses. I will be heading down to Clearwater this weekend and hope to post daily updates.  If there is anything or anyone specific who you would like to know about, feel free to ask in the comment section and I will see what I can do.

In the AAA game today, Matt Rizzotti went 2-4 with a run scored, Tim Kennelly played LF and went 2-3 with a homer and 2 RBI’s. On the hill, after Roy Halladay got his work in, Eddie Bonine gave up a run on 4 hits in his 3 innings on the hill.  He walked one and struck out 3.  Andrew Carpenter threw a 10 pitch 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn the save. Continue reading News and Notes →

For those yearning for some minor league information coming out of Clearwater, it should now be easier to come by with the start of the Minor League portion of the Spring Training schedule.  Reporting on the AAA group, they beat the Blue Jays 6-5 at the Carpenter Complex on Monday.  1B Tagg Bozied paced the offense, going 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBI, while 2010 Lehigh Valley OF Rich Thompson was 1-3 with 2 RBI and 2 SB. 

On the hill, Drew Naylor got the start and gave up 2 runs in his 3 innings of work, yielding 4 hits.  He walked 1 and struck out three. The most impressive pitching performance was turned in by Michael Schwimer who pitched the final two innings with a perfect line, adding 4 strikeouts in earning the save. Continue reading First Day of Minor League Games →

Time for a new place to discuss the latest happenings during spring training. And we’ll also put a bonus poll out there as well for your voting/discussion pleasure.

The full list of Phillies who have been re-assigned to Minor League camp has trickled out throughout today and it goes as follows: RHP Brian Bass, RHP Eddie Bonine, RHP ANdrew Carpenter, RHP Michael Schwimer, LHP Ryan Feirabend, C Joel Naughton, INF Tagg Bozied, INF Robb Quinlan, and OF Matt Miller. Quinlan asked for his release after being told he had been re-assigned.

Those Phils that were on the 40 man roster who were optioned today are: RHP Justin DeFratus, RHP Drew Naylor, RHP JC Ramirez, 2B Cesar Hernandez, SS Carlos Rivero, 2B Harold Garcia and 1B Matt Rizzotti. The Phils currently have 45 players remaining in big league camp, meaning 20 must be cut before opening day.

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.

Courtesy of veteran commenter Ricky Branch
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Click this link for a large, readable version.

Most interesting tidbit? Jeremy Slayden is back in camp.

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

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.

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!

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!