Archive: March, 2013
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Less than an hour before the Phillies' final Florida exhibition, Ruben Amaro Jr. found Delmon Young eating lunch in the clubhouse. He shook the outfielder's hand, wished him luck, and patted him on the back.
While everyone else packed, Young faced the likelihood of another month here to recover from ankle surgery. It does not bother him.
"They can have April," Young said. "I want October."
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — At last, it is getaway day in Florida. The Phillies will hop a charter flight after Thursday's Grapefruit League game vs. Toronto and play two more exhibitions in Philadelphia before the real games finally start.
The final day is not without drama. Roy Halladay starts Thursday against his former team as he attempts to alleviate concerns. Ninety pitches, no matter how effective, may not be enough to do that.
The Blue Jays are playing their best hitters against Halladay. They will start Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind, J.P. Arencibia, Colby Rasmus, Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Forbes Magazine released its annual team valuations list for 2013 Wednesday and the Phillies came in at fifth behind the New York Yankees and three other teams.
The Phillies, according to the magazine, are valued at $893 million, up 24 percent from last season. The average value of Major League Baseball franchise's is $744 million.
The Yankees, for the 16th straight season, are the most valuable franchise in baseball at $2.3 billion. The other teams ahead of the Phillies are the Los Angeles Dodgers ($1.615 billion), Boston Red Sox ($1.312 billion) and the Chicago Cubs ($1 billion).
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Unless the Phillies make a trade before Sunday's 3 p.m. deadline for finalizing their 25-man roster, it's relatively easy to figure out who will be in uniform for Monday's season opener against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
The one exception appears to be the backup catcher.
Because Carlos Ruiz will be suspended for the first 25 games, the Phillies need a backup for Erik Kratz through most of April. Coming into camp, minor-league free agent Humberto Quintero appeared to be the frontrunner for that job, but Steven Lerud, who played three games with the Phillies and 35 with double-A Reading last season, has made it a competition by performing well here in Florida.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
CLEARWATER, Fla. --The Phillies released Aaron Cook Tuesday after general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. discussed the veteran pitcher's situation with his agent Joe Bick.
“We had to decide whether to release him, whether to pay him (a) $100,000 retention bonus or promise that we would add him to the roster before opening day,” assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. “We decided to release him based upon a lot of conversation … between Ruben and Aaron and his agent. We decided that was the best thing to do.”
Cook, 34, is 76-79 with a 4.60 ERA in parts of 11 big-league seasons, including the first 10 with Colorado. He signed with the Phillies as a minor-league free agent in mid-January and made a solid showing in six Grapefruit League games, posting a 3.86 ERA in 18 2/3 innings.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Freddy Galvis said he cannot play a musical instrument.
Apparently that’s the only thing the 23-year-old Venezuelan cannot play.
After playing right field Saturday during the Phillies’ game against the Baltimore Orioles, Galvis will play left field Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Bright House Field.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
DUNEDIN, Fla. — There was little John Lannan could do. If it were a mechanical flaw that caused his pitches to float up in the strike zone, he could have fixed it. But, Lannan said, his arm was simply not as quick as he wanted it. This spring's length had taken its toll.
"I got my butt kicked and I have to move on," Lannan said.
The Phillies' fifth starter allowed 12 runs on 14 hits in four innings. Toronto scored eight in the second inning and sent 11 men to the plate. The wind blew hard, out to right-center field, but Lannan did not use it as an excuse.
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Kyle Kendrick's final extended outing of spring training looked better in person than it did on paper.
The results said that the Phillies righthander allowed five runs on six hits, including three home runs, in a minor-league game against triple-A players from the New York Yankees Monday afternoon at the Carpenter Complex.
Those who watched Kendrick pitch were more impressed with his stuff, including a slider that he spent much of the outing trying to refine.
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Mike Stutes has walked four batters in his previous two Grapefruit League innings. The 26-year-old righthander has failed to emerge in a competition with Phillippe Aumont for the final Phillies bullpen spot. Rich Dubee was plenty aware of this fact Sunday, but added his own.
"Aumont has had trouble finding the strike zone, too," Dubee said.
The Phillies have time to make a decision and Dubee, the pitching coach, does not plan on crowning a winner until the last possible moment.
