PHILADELPHIA -- As today's media luncheon wound down, I spoke with Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle for a few minutes about 34-year-old reliever Antonio Alfonseca, who will sign an incentive-laden, one-year contract after passing a physical exam.Alfonseca is a classic low-risk, high-reward move. He was shut down early last season because of an elbow injury. But Phillies special assistant Charley Kerfeld saw him pitch twice in the Dominican Winter League and filed positive reports. In 11 appearances for Azucareros, Alfonseca is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and four strikeouts in 9-1/3 innings. The Phillies are hoping Alfonseca can be the setup man they're looking for. If he is, his salary can reach a modest $1.1 million. But the base salary is much less, likely in the $400,00-500,000 range.
"He's been [clocked at] 92 [mph] with real good sink," Arbuckle said. "He's got a plus slider and real good command. If he can do that for us, he sounds like a guy that would have a chance to compete for a job, and he could end up being that eighth-inning guy."
Of the rumors that the 250-pound Alfonseca had lost about 30 pounds, Arbuckle said, "If that's true, then he's probably found it. He's always going to be a bad-body guy, but he's in good enough shape to pitch a few innings at a time."
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A few other notes that didn't make their way into the newspaper:
* GM Pat Gillick on Pat Burrell: "He really didn't have a bad year last year. If you look at his home runs and RBIs he had a pretty good year." Somehow, the assembled reporters managed to keep a straight face.
* Manager Charlie Manuel is considering several lineup possibilities. Against right- handed pitchers, lefty-swinging Ryan Howard could hit third, with righty Chase Utley in the cleanup spot. Against lefties, Howard could hit fourth, with Utley in the No. 3 hole.
* Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. broke his right ankle after chasing his daughter in their home. Amaro and his crutches still made it to the luncheon.
1 comment:
I'm not against this signing as my inner-phils fan tell me to be, but I can't help think of guys like Rhodes, Roberto Hernandez, Mike Jackson, Wendell, yada yada when I look at Alfonseca. Another aging journeyman arm whom may take over adequately for a few games when Gordon tires, or blow three saves in a row when Gordon tires.
But he's a very minor upgrade in what is still a glaring need.
I think the most important piece included today on Madson was that he's working on a new pitch, because as someone has stated earlier, everyone has seen the changeup, and it won't be catching managers like Bobby Cox or Randolph by surprise. If he can manage to keep a low era, i think the set-up role will fall to either he or Alfonseca.
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