IS LOCKING DOWN THEIR FANTASY ROSTER
UPDATE: 1:45 p.m.
One more note from this morning -- general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Nomar Garciaparra is no longer an option for the Phillies.
It is the Phillies' belief that Garciaparra has narrowed his options to either the Oakland Athletics or retirement.
"I would not view him as someone who will be with us," Amaro said.
The Phillies aren't likely to sign any more free agents before the start of the regular season.
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First, some news from the morning.
Righthander Chad Durbin has a strained right hamstring and will not pitch today, although general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the injury is a minor one and that he could be back on the field within a couple of days.
Also, Shane Victorino will replace Grady Sizemore on the United States' entrant into the World Baseball Classic. Victorino wasn't on the final roster when it was announced earlier this week, but Sizemore has withdrawn, opening up a spot for the Phillies' center fielder. Victorino spoke by phone with USA manager Davey Johnson this morning. After Johnson assured him that he would get enough at-bats to be ready for the season, Victorino accepted the invitation.
"They are only keeping our outfielders, so you are going to get at-bats," Victorino said. "That was my biggest question to Davey: am I going to get enough at-bats?"
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The decision to release Adam Eaton this morning rather than hope for a team to bite on a trade later in spring training came partly as a result of a desire to get the pitchers in camp enough work. The Phillies figured that the odds of a team agreeing to a trade and assuming a portion of Eaton's salary were slim enough that it wasn't worth the chance that he might pitch well enough in spring to encourage a team to take a chance on him.
The Phillies also figured Eaton would have a better chance at getting picked up by another team if they released him earlier in the spring.
"That definitely had something to do with it," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I figured it is better for us to let him go now and give him a chance to hook up with someone else."
The Phillies are responsible for Eaton's $8.65 million salary this season as well as a $500,000 buy-out of a mutual option for next year. If he makes an Opening Day roster, his new club will be responsible only for the salary for which they sign him, likely the $400,000 minimum for veterans.
The Phillies have released righthander Adam Eaton, ending a disappointing two-year tenure with the Phillies.
The team had been attempting to move the righthander to a team willing to assume a small portion of his $8.5 million salary, but with the writing on the wall in Philadelphia, the Phillies found no takers. Instead, a team can now claim Eaton off of waivers for the veteran minimum of $400,000. The Phillies will be responsible for paying the rest of his salary, plus a $500,000 buyout of a mutual option for next season.
Eaton went 14-18 with a 6.10 ERA in 51 games, 49 of them starts, after signing a three-year, $24.5 million contract with the Phillies prior to the 2007 season.
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Another beautiful day in Sarasota. Jason Donald will get this third straight start, the second straight at third base. Donald is 0-for-4 with a walk in his first two starts. He made two plays at third base yesterday, including one on ball that took a short hop.
Among the early top performers at the plate: OF John Mayberry (2-for-5, RS, RBI), 3B Greg Dobbs (2-for-5, RBI), SS Jimmy Rollins (2-for-5, RS, RBI) and OF Jeremy Slayden (2-for-3, 2B, RS).
Righthander Andrew Carpenter, a prospect who pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the Phillies last August, will start today.
Here are the line-ups:
Phillies (Pitching: RHP Andrew Carpenter):
Reds (Pitching: RHP Bronson Arroyo):
UPDATE: 6:40 p.m.
Nothing to see here is what all parties say about Jayson Werth's absence from the Phillies line-up the past couple of days. Werth is the only position player from last year's postseason roster that has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game, aside from injured veterans Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz. But manager Charlie Manuel, who has been questioned all day about Werth, emphatically said this evening that his starting right fielder is completely healthy.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with him,” Manuel said. “There is absolutely zero wrong with him. He's been getting some hitting, he's just not ready to go yet. He'll play before the season starts.”
Werth also said he is healthy, as did general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.
So, Werth is healthy. Manuel said he'll likely be in the line-up Saturday against Tampa Bay.
“He's just not ready to go,” Manuel said. “He's just not ready to go yet. Swinging, running, everything. That happens a lot. It's no big deal. He's not a whole lot out of shape, just the way he's been going through it.”
There you have it.
Nothing to see.
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It is only the first time through the rotation, but the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation got off to a sparkling start today as both righthander Carlos Carrasco and lefthander J.A. Happ breezed through their two innings of work, allowing one hit between them while combining to pitch four scoreless innings.
Carrasco was particularly impressive, striking out three of the six batters he faced. His only real hiccup came in the second inning, when Blue Jays right fielder Travis Snider smoked a line drive to deep right field that John Mayberry tracked down and made a leaping stab for the out.
Happ retired his first five batters before allowing a single to left field off the bat of Jose Bautista. He then retired Michael Barrett on a pop fly to center field to finish his inning allottment.
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A few other updates through four innings:
Jason Ellison, a non-roster invitee who began his career in the Giants organization before moving on to stints with the Mariners and Rangers, led off the third inning with a base hit and eventually scored on a single by Jimmy Rollins.
Jayson Werth has already retired to the clubhouse, meaning he won't play in either of the first three Grapefruit League games. Werth isn't scheduled to make the trip to face the Reds in Sarasota tomorrow. Werth, Ruben Amaro Jr. and Charlie Manuel all said this morning that the right fielder isn't hurt.
"He isn't quite ready to play," Manuel said.
It's the home opener, and from what I here, the Phillies are going all out for the pre-game ceremony.
Here's the line-up:
Mayberry had an RBI in yesterday's 8-2 loss to the Pirates. So did Raul Ibanez, who drove in Rollins with a base hit in the third inning.
There wasn't much to take out of this one, other than right fielder Geoff Jenkins predicted afterward that Jamie Moyer would pitch until he was 110.
The veteran lefthander started the Grapefruit League opener and threw two scoreless innings, though results are completely meaningless at this point. Moyer threw mostly fastballs, working on his command.
Another notable: Raul Ibanez had his first spring training RBI as a Phillie, driving in Jimmy Rollins in the third inning.
Joe Blanton gave up a run on two hits in his inning of work. Joe Bisenius gave up four earned runs and Scott Nestor followed by giving up three earned runs.
South Philly product Mike Koplove pitched a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts.
John Mayberry drove in the Phillies' other run.
More later.
Not sure how much Pitcher Fielding Practice I can take. Which is good, because the Phillies begin their Grapefruit League schedule tomorrow. Earlier today we posted the line-up for tomorrow's opener against the Pirates. Pittsburgh plans on using nine pitchers, each taking an inning, which means the game should last, I don't know, forever.
Some news tonight, before I get into the 10 things I'll be keeping my eye on over the next month. First, Shane Victorino didn't make the final roster for the World Baseball Classic. Instead, outfielders Brad Hawpe, Grady Sizemore, Curtis Granderson and Ryan Braun. Also, the Phils have locked up Carlos Ruiz to a contract that will pay him $475,000 in the majors and $255,000 in the minors.
Let's move on to some story lines for the upcoming Grapefruit League season:
1) Who's on third? And second? Barring any set-backs, Chase Utley will get into some games during the month of March. In the mean time, I'm looking forward to seeing how prospect Jason Donald handles himself at both positions, as well as the plate.
2) Ronny Paulino: Can he make a bid to unseat either Chris Coste or Carlos Ruiz? Or even make the team as a third catcher? He's had some success in the big leagues, hitting .310 during his rookie season with the Pirates.
3) Pitching: We'll get our first up-close look at Chan Ho Park. And it will be interesting to see how the offseason has treated J.A. Happ and Kyle Kendrick. And what about Carlos Carrasco?
4) Raul Ibanez: It's tough to judge veterans in the spring. Nevertheless, I've never seen the new left fielder take an at-bat in person.
5) The young pitchers: Sergio Escalona and Antonio Bastardo are two guys I'm looking forward to seeing in action. Neither are likely to make the team. But both have had flashes of brilliance in the minors.
6) Jimmy Rollins vs. the Phillies: Mark it down. March 5th. Rollins should get an at-bat against his teammates. Who will Rich Dubee throw against him?
7) Marcus Giles: The guy looks good in batting practice. Lots of power for such a small guy. Then again, it is only batting practice. He's been out of the game for a year. He hit over .300 for the Rockies last spring training. Can he make a bid for the roster?
8) Hamels and Lidge: Both are slightly behind the curve early in spring training. But that's to be expected after such a long, intense season. The Phillies need both at the top of their game by the end of spring.
9) Geoff Jenkins: He has altered his approach at the plate, shortening his leg kick and stride. No doubt he had a disappointing year at the plate. But don't forget the power numbers he has put up for most of his career.
10) The veteran infielders: There are a ton of them in camp. We'll see if any establish themselves with a strong spring.
The line-up for tomorrow Grapefruit League opener in Bradenton against the Pirates has been announced.
Prospect Jason Donald will play second base and bat seventh, joining a host of veterans from last year's squad.
The Pirates will throw nine relievers tomorrow, each of whom will pitch an inning. The nine, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, are: Chris Bootcheck, Matt Capps, Donnie Veal, Romulo Sanchez, Ron Uviedo, Juan Mateo, Craig Hansen, Evan Meek and Jesse Chavez.
When the Pirates throw a righthander, the Phillies have the ability to go lefty-lefty-lefty-lefty-lefty-lefty against them.
Lefthander Jamie Moyer and righthander Joe Blanton will each throw roughly 40 pitches.
Jayson Werth, Pedro Feliz and Chase Utley are the only position players from the postseason roster that won't be making the trip.
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Former Phillies pitching coach Joe Kerrigan is now the pitching coach for the Pirates.
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Former Phils prospect Mike Costanzo will play for the Italian team in the World Baseball Classic. The final rosters will be announced at 6 p.m. Mike Schmidt has been campaigning for Shane Victorino to make the U.S. team. I expect him to be on the roster. Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco will not pitch for Venezuela in the WBC, he said yesterday. Carrasco is on the country's provisional roster, but will remain with the Phillies while competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.
The Phillies are still hopeful that Nomar Garciaparra will decide to play baseball, and that he will decide to play baseball for them. But they aren't as optimistic about the situation as they were earlier in the offseason, especially now that the Athletics have emerged as a potentially-serious suitor for Garciaparra. Oakland could likely guarantee more at-bats to Garciaparra and would appear to have more payroll flexibility than the Phillies, who right now are prepared to enter the season with their current roster unless a capable veteran like Garciaparra trades in some dollars for the chance to contribute to a serious World Series contender.
Aside from Garciaparra, there aren't many options out there on the free agent market. Former Kansas City infielder Mark Grudzielanek would be a nice fit, but he made $4.5 million last season and has been an every day player since his first full big league season 13 years ago. Ray Durham is a similar case.
Unless the names Damion Easley and Jay Payton excite you, there aren't many other available right-handers.
Then again, maybe Manny Ramirez would settle for a one-year deal at the veteran minimum.
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Here are the pitching rotations for the first set of Grapefruit League games:
Wednesday, Feb. 25 at Pittsburgh: Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Joe Bisenius Scott Nestor, Joe Borkowski, Mike Koplove, Jake Woods.
Thursday, Feb. 26 vs. Toronto: Carlos Carrasco, J.A. Happ, Justin Lehr, Gary Majewski, Blaine Neal, Yorman Bazardo
Friday, Feb. 27 at Cincinnati: Andrew Carpenter, Antonio Bastardo, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Sergio Escalona
Saturday, Feb. 28, vs. Tampa Bay: Kyle Kendrick, Drew Naylor, Adam Eaton, Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, Brad Lidge
Sunday, March 1, at Atlanta: Brett Myers, Chan Ho Park, Scott Nestor, Joe Borkowski
Monday, March 2, at Toronto (Morning game): Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton, Gary Majewskik, J.C. Romero, Sergio Escalona, Clay Condrey
Monday, March 2, at Toronto (Afternoon game): J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco, Mike Koplove, Pat Woods, Yorman Bazardo, Joe Bisenius.
Cole Hamels left practice early yesterday, thanks to a personal issue that he is attending to. While this may raise some eyebrows on the foreheads of conspiracy theorists -- he left camp on the same day pitching coach Rich Dubee said his ace was behind the other pitchers at this stage of the game -- Dubee told reporters yesterday there is no cause for concern about Hamels health.
It will be interesting to monitor Hamels this spring and early in the regular season after a regular season in which he threw a career-high 227 1/3 innings, followed by 35 innings in the postseason. Last year was the first season of his career in which he did not spend time on the disabled list.
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The Grapefruit League opener is Wednesday against the Pirates. Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton are scheduled to pitch in the game.
