CLEARWATER, Fla. -- A few quick pre-game notes ...* Brad Lidge struck out four and didn't allow a hit in 1-2/3 scoreless innings in a minor-league game on the back fields at the Complex. That has to make the Phillies feel good.
* LHP Vic Darensbourg and RHP Gary Knotts have been re-assigned to minor-league camp. Also, Rule 5 LHP Travis Blackley's locker was cleared out. It seems the Phillies are waiting to see if the Giants will take him back.
... and some quick pre-game math ...
The Phillies have only 11 healthy pitchers left in camp (starters Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton; relievers Tom Gordon, J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and J.D. Durbin). So, for now, J.D. Durbin appears to have a spot on the team, even though he has allowed eight homers in 15-1/3 innings and has a 12.33 ERA this spring. And unless the Phillies acquire a pitcher via trade or through waivers, something GM Pat Gillick has said is a possibility, it appears they will carry only 11 pitchers until Lidge is activated, probably April 5.
That would mean they'll keep 14 position players. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pedro Feliz, Eric Bruntlett, Greg Dobbs, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, Geoff Jenkins, Jayson Werth, So Taguchi, Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste seem to have jobs locked up. So, the final spot would go to either Chris Snelling or Wes Helms. Snelling is out of minor-league options and would have to clear waivers to go to triple-A. If the Phillies can't trade Helms, and it's looking unlikely, he either has to stay on the roster or be released. The only other position player in camp is INF Ray Olmedo, and I'm betting he'll wind up at triple-A Lehigh Valley.
OK, there's the latest on the roster. Like this team? Fire away.
4 comments:
What happened to Blackley? He had some good outings, was it just is walks that killed his chances? Also, do you think Dobbs would be easier to trade than Wes Helms since Bruntlett can play third and Snelling is a left handed bat?
I LOVE the every day players and our bench. It is the BEST that I can ever remember (and I go back to the 1969 team).
The pitching, as always, will be the challenge. We had a HORRIBLE bullpen last season and we won 89 games and the NL East. I think our pitching staff is better ... so does that equate to 100 wins? Don't think so but 92 isn't out of the question!
I still expect the Phillies to add a pitcher in the next week. I guess they are mainly going to look at the waiver wire, but I think the Royals, of all teams, might have an extra reliever or two who could help.
Not sure what the Phillies could offer in return but I hope they've asked KC about the availability of Joel Peralta, who seems fairly far down the list of their bullpen righties but had a decent year in 2007.
Any chance the Phillies will try to work out something with the Giants so they can send Blackley to triple-A?
I hope they score a lot of runs, cuz they're really going to GIVE UP a lot of runs.
Not nearly as optimistic as I'd like to be...
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