What do the latest roster cuts mean for the Opening Day roster?
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What do the latest roster cuts mean for the Opening Day roster?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
In case you have not heard, the Phillies have trimmed three more players from their spring training roster, assigning veteran righthanders Brian Sanches and Scott Elarton to the minors and optioning lefty Jake Diekman. All three pitchers are expected to open up the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The cuts bring the total number of players in major league camp down to 37. One of those players is righthander Justin De Fratus, who is certain to the start the season in the minor leagues, assuming he does not start it on the disabled list as he continues to work his way back from a bout with elbow soreness that sunk his spring.
None of the roster cuts come as a surprise. Sanches and Elarton will be depth guys at Lehigh Valley, while Diekman could end up being this year's Mike Stutes. He struck out nine and walked one while allowing just one unearned run in five innings, putting himself in position for a potential call-up should the Phillies suffer an injury in the back end of their bullpen, particularly if that injury afflicts Antonio Bastardo.
First, the players still in camp:
REGULARS (8):
- SS Jimmy Rollins
- 3B Placido Polanco
- CF Shane Victorino
- RF Hunter Pence
- LF John Mayberry Jr.
- 1B Ty Wigginton
- C Carlos Ruiz
- 2B Freddy Galvis
- RHP Roy Halladay
- LHP Cliff Lee
- LHP Cole Hamels
- RHP Vance Worley
- RHP Joe Blanton
- 1B/LHB Jim Thome
- C/LHB Brian Schneider
- LF/1B/LHB Laynce Nix
- RHP Jonathan Papelbon
- LHP Antonio Bastado
- RHP Jose Contreras
- RHP Chad Qualls
- RHP Kyle Kendrick
- RHP Mike Stutes
- OF/LHB Scott Podsednik
- OF/LHB Juan Pierre
- OF/RHB Lou Montanez
- 2B/3B/LHB Pete Orr
- 1B/3B/RHB Hector Luna
- LHP Joe Savery
- LHP Raul Valdes
- RHP David Herndon
- C/LHB Erik Kratz
- C/RHP Tuffy Gosewisch
- C Tim Kennelly
- 2B Chase Utley
- 1B Ryan Howard
- UTIL Michael Martinez
- RHP Justin De Fratus
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you think they are picking the backup catcher spot based on batting average, and especially spring trainign batting average? wow, that starting lineup as now could struggle to hit 100 homers combined..we used to get that just out of 3-4-5.— jim715- jim.....death, taxes and Schneider going "o-for". Kratz is a MAJOR step up in every aspect of the game and this year the Phils need all the step ups they can get. The days of cruise control to the playoffs are done.— kelprod2
- Bring back Sandberg , i hear Cubs fans say he was a pretty good 2nd baseman ...— ingy9
- 1B- Wigs/Thome; 2B - Galvis/Wigs/Orr; 3B- Polanco (for as long as he holds up); SS-J-Rol; OF - Pence,Mayberry, Voctorino; C-Chooch. How many games will that lineup win, even with the Phils' pitching? I say 80-85. (85 could get them the wild-wild card spot).— Konstanty
- Sorry, But I don't see this team winning anything...the window has closed.....2080 is a long ways off!— Anthony1957
- You mean I have to wait 68 years for another championship?— s
- Kratz and Pods. They deserve it. Let Scneider and his .170BA pack it in. He should retire out of embarassment Don't want to hear about team record when he is behind home plate. Presumes he is better than Chooch. You must be kidding.— LI PhilPhan
- Kratz= 429, Schnieder= 217 (which is Mickey Mantle-ish for Schnieder)— kelprod2
- Thome 3x a week at 1B, Bastardo and Stutes to AAA, Savery and Herndon stay.— poniesnpoker
- Kratz should be the backup catcher, not Schneider. They were crazy to give Schneider a new contract after the miserable year he had last year.— SteveS11
Comment removed.- Pete and Pod over Pie. Works for me— NewMick314
