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High Cheese

What do the latest roster cuts mean for the Opening Day roster?

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.

27 comments

What do the latest roster cuts mean for the Opening Day roster?

POSTED: Tuesday, March 27, 2012, 8:46 AM

David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer

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

Starters (5)

RHP Roy Halladay
LHP Cliff Lee
LHP Cole Hamels
RHP Vance Worley
RHP Joe Blanton

Bench (3)

1B/LHB Jim Thome
C/LHB Brian Schneider
LF/1B/LHB Laynce Nix

Bullpen (6)

RHP Jonathan Papelbon
LHP Antonio Bastado
RHP Jose Contreras
RHP Chad Qualls
RHP Kyle Kendrick
RHP Mike Stutes

Bench Contenders (5)

OF/LHB Scott Podsednik
OF/LHB Juan Pierre
OF/RHB Lou Montanez
2B/3B/LHB Pete Orr
1B/3B/RHB Hector Luna

Bullpen Contenders (3)

LHP Joe Savery
LHP Raul Valdes
RHP David Herndon

Back-up Catchers (3)

C/LHB Erik Kratz
C/RHP Tuffy Gosewisch
C Tim Kennelly

Injured Players (4)

2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
UTIL Michael Martinez
RHP Justin De Fratus

As you can see, things are pretty much set. One question that we really haven't addressed concerns one of the last spots in the bullpen. I have been including Mike Stutes on the roster without much debate throughout the spring. But David Herndon is quietly having a solid spring, while Stutes has allowed some runs. It is tough to argue with Stutes' 10 strikeouts and two walks in nine innings, but I figured I'd mention the situation.

Among the questions left to answer: Who will be the team's utility man? Will the team add a right-handed bat that can play second base or outfield? Will the team keep six bench players or seven relievers? And who will fill out those spots?

Stay tuned.

27 comments

Previous Story: An expanded take on Chase Utley and the dissemination of information

Next Story: Scott Podsednik isn't making the Phillies' decision easy...

Comments (27)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:58 AM, 03/27/2012

You have Wigginton in there twice... Once at 1B and once on the bench...

— PhillyFan127

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:27 PM, 03/27/2012

You've discovered RAJ's plan for infield depth: They've cloned Ty Wigginton. Murphy was going to break the story later.

— s

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:21 AM, 03/27/2012

Lefty Valdes has to make the team as the "Baez" heritage replacement. Dubee wants to please the GM. How many games have they ever played with an 11 man pitching staff? You don't keep two players if any of them with the same skill set such as Pierre and Pods. Erik Kratz has been the best right handed pinch hitter in the spring going 3 for 4 with a home run.

— Dull

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:28 AM, 03/27/2012

Agree, Kratz should be kept. He can catch half the time, with Chooch at 3B & Polly at 2d, will be less wear & tear on Ruiz's body, we need his bat in there as often as possible to give a modicum of relief to the anemia of the offense. Galvis needs to be at AAA.

— princeton22

Comment removed.

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:05 PM, 03/27/2012

Any ability that Juan can provide, would be preferable, and an improvement over any coaching skill.

— Phiggles

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:21 AM, 03/27/2012

with Utley, Howard and Martinez on the DL, unless they make a trade, Pierre, Podsednik and Orr will probably be on the roster opening day.

— pbuscio

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:19 AM, 03/27/2012

KRATZ HAS POP. Schneider don't

— stoky

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:44 AM, 03/27/2012

Diekman should be on yhis roster

— WFChamps

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:20 PM, 03/27/2012

Pods should make it...much better hitter than stinkin Pierre...he's washed up.

— mbutley

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:33 PM, 03/27/2012

The problem with Pierre versus Pods is Pierre can walk if he's not on the roster by March 30th. Podsednik has until June 1 -- he can play in the minors until then. The Phillies may want to see Pierre in some real games rather than just letting him walk. Remember that a lot of decisions come down to contracts and minor league options since contracts are guaranteed.

— s

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:38 PM, 03/27/2012

I don't see them starting with a 6 man bullpen, I would say either Herndon or Savery make the team (or Herndon in place of Stutes. Let's face it Stutes had like 3 good months, he is not an established quantity). Plus Pierre, plus a Utility man TBD.

— Phils Phan 28

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:42 PM, 03/27/2012

Kratz is a no brainer. Schneider is worse than terrible and Kratz has absolutely earned the right to be the everyday backup for the Phils. His average is 400, Schnider is 200. How many players are batting 400???

Kratz should have that spot unless hitting, getting on base, throwing from behind the plate and being a solid defensive catcher do not matter...than just keep that waste Schneider.

— kelprod2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:01 PM, 03/27/2012

Do the Phillies really believe Blanton is a starter?

I watched him against the Sox yesterday, and he had nothing. If they're going to make Blanton the starter, they might as well concede every 5th game before they start.

Kendrick is a better pitcher than Blanton, and he's a loyal soldier. He would be my choice as the 5th starter.

— fmMD

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:23 PM, 03/27/2012

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

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:30 PM, 03/27/2012

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

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:12 PM, 03/27/2012

Bring back Sandberg , i hear Cubs fans say he was a pretty good 2nd baseman ...

— ingy9

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:19 PM, 03/27/2012

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

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:11 PM, 03/27/2012

Sorry, But I don't see this team winning anything...the window has closed.....2080 is a long ways off!

— Anthony1957

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:27 PM, 03/27/2012

You mean I have to wait 68 years for another championship?

— s

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:08 PM, 03/27/2012

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