Posts Tagged ‘Spring Training’

Moyer, mulling over changes to his AARP member benefits

Last update I cited comments from Rich Dubee saying Kyle Kendrick would have to take the 5th starters job from Moyer.  Moyer is not helping his case after getting lit up in a ‘B’ game. It’s impossible to find meaning in spring training statistics because there are too many bad players in camp or vets working on things. Moyer especially is known to work on things like throwing only cutters or changeups. That said, Moyer has yet to appear in Grapefruit League action while KK has compiled 9 scoreless frames on 4 hits, 0 bb’s, and 2 k’s.  Neither candidate is a very attractive choice for the rotation, but it’s very possible that Kendrick would be the more consistent option.  As long as he limits walks, he could have decent success in the Joel Pineiro/Most-Twins-Pitchers vein.  I still expect Moyer to start the season in the rotation regardless of how both he and KK do this March.  Just don’t be surprised if Moyer has a short leash.

Drew Carpenter’s micro-sample looks tantalizing with 8 IP, 5H, 1BB, 1R, and 9K.  Scouts complain about his across the body motion, suspect control, and mediocre secondary offerings, but I’m reminded a little of another dimmed prospect who our evaluators pretty much gave up on.  I’ve advocated him as a potential #5 pitcher all off season after he succeeded against AAA hitters last season. A team deeper in SP would convert him to the pen now, but I think he’s probably more useful to us if we keep him stretched out.

The Phillies cut a number of players from camp recently.  Most notable are potential 5th OF Quintin Berry, the Cliff Lee trio, and Scott Mathieson.  Berry was never a candidate for a bench spot this spring and the trio all still have plenty of work to do on the farm.  Mathieson is a little more surprising, but it makes perfect sense.  He’s lost a lot of developmental time to injury and has never had great secondary stuff.  He will head back to minor league camp and AAA to work on his control and repertoire.  The Phillies will look to add him to the ML roster when his stuff dictates it.

Finally, on the relief front, Brad Lidge is confident he will make opening day, but J.C. Romero is set to join the club 7-10 days after the start of the season.  That makes the current opening day bullpen Lidge, Ryan Madson, Antonio Bastardo, Danys Baez, Jose Contreras, and Chad Durbin.  The Phillies still have Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona, and Rule V pick David Herndon in camp.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Kendrick or Carpenter went north with the team as the temporary mop-up man while Romero recovers.  My guess is they will choose between Escalona and Zagurski so as to carry two lefties. They could also opt to break camp with another bench player, probably John Mayberry Jr. who’s having a fine camp or 34 year old Cody Ransom, who, despite a despicable glove, would actually probably be an improvement to Juan Castro.

As with a couple of my early articles here, this is adapted from a post on Pro Sports Daily. Since a lot of my followers at this young stage of the blog are probably PSD users, this is nothing new for you.  We will be following the position battles in camp (such that there are) and providing updates as we see fit.

The Phillies enter camp this year with an unusual amount of knowns.  All the starting position players are sorted out.  Even the bench is squared away.  Brian Schneider is our back up catcher.  Greg Dobbs and Ross Gload will accompany him as left handed PH threats.  Ben Francisco is the primary outfield reserve and RH PH and Juan Castro rounds out the bench as the utility infielder.  The pitching staff is similarly well settled.  Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, and Happ are set to be handed starting jobs.  Even the 5th starter, Jamie Moyer, has been named, although that position is undoubtedly less secure.  In the pen, Lidge and Romero look as though they will be getting late starts to spring training, potentially opening a week of time for some youngsters or retreads to wield their craft at the ML level. Accompanying those two in the pen will be Jose Contreras, Ryan Madson, Danys Baez, and Chad Durbin.  Count up all the names I just dropped and the number we get is 24.  There are 24 guys with high job security on the current roster.

This is not to say there are no position battles at camp this year.  Indeed there are many battles that will shape decision making as the season goes on, particularly with the pitching staff.  On the position side, 6th OF has yet to be determined.  Here are the looming position battles as I see them.

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