Giles Released, Mayberry and Carrasco sent down
And the roster continues to settle. The Phillies have released INFMarcus Giles, who was attempting a comeback after missing the entire 2008 season. P Carlos Carrasco and JOF ohn Mayberry Jr. have been optioned to Triple-A, and P Mike Koplove and INF Pablo Ozuna have been told that they will not make the opening day roster, but will travel to Philadelphia for the exhibition series against Tampa Bay.
Giles Released, Mayberry and Carrasco sent down
Andy Martino
And the roster continues to settle. The Phillies have released INF Marcus Giles, who was attempting a comeback after missing the entire 2008 season. P Carlos Carrasco and OF John Mayberry Jr. have been optioned to Triple-A, and P Mike Koplove. OF Jason Ellison and INF Pablo Ozuna have been told that they will not make the opening day roster, but will travel to
These moves simply confirm what had become obvious. Giles batted .167 and lacked the defensive versatility of Miguel Cairo, who looks like he'll be the righty bat off the bench--unless the team makes a trade, which they'd like to do. The fast recoveries of Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz essentially ended Giles' audition.
Koplove has pitched well (1.23 ERA), but as a righty in a righty-heavy bullpen, faced long odds. The Taschner trade was not good news for him. Mayberry's and Carrasco's need for further development was clear. Ellison and Ozuna were always headed for Triple-A, barring injuries to someone else.
Comments (72)
Jeff try counting all who are currently under contract and then add Cairo, Park, and Taschner and what do you get?— Wally 24- Looks like the final team will stongly resemble last year's team. That said, let's remember, the Phillies did not crush the competition and it took other to fail to get in (much like the Eagles). It took a near perfect Lidge and some heroic and scrambling bats to get into the post season. I like that they have a better bat for avg than Burrell and the starters and bullpen look decent. Third base is still a mystery in why there was not a significant upgrade and our catchers BA must improve. It is great that Utley is back so soon but is it too soon...it is a long season. All said and done, I would have liked to see 1)improvment at third; 2)another 1,2 or 3 rated starter. Park and or Happ should provide enough in the pen to assist. I think it could take 100 wins this year to win the east and I just don't see that with this team just yet.— psuwelsh
- Zorro I agree with you. If Park turns in a decent performance than he is a lock. You have to also appreciate the experience of Park who may not be in his youth anymore like Happ but will give a better results over all because he's been there done that and according to his record very well.— Wally 24
- Wally, It doesn't amtter who is under contract. they can only carry 25 guys as of opening day. Assuming 12 pitchers, and 8 fielders, that leaves 5 on the bench. Simple math. Dobbs, Coste and Brunlett are sure things. jenkins makes the team, unless traded as we wo't eat his salary. that leaves one spot which Cairo gets over mayberry (sent down) and Stairs (not needed as much as Cairo this year). As for Park or Happ, I lean towards Happ since Park has been a reliever before and has not had luck as starter. The problem is the total number of innings he has to work, as well as the number per game.— jeff gross
- OK Jeff I'll do it your way. Stairs and Jenkins are under contract at $1.625 mil and $5 mil as of last year. It sounds like you are saying the Phils are going to eat one or both of those contracts for the sake of keeping Happ in the majors. I don't see it. Second if you have a 25 man squad and Romero comes back in June, someone has to go. As I have already said. No one has reported so far that Stairs or Jenkins are to be released or even traded. So what are you left to deal with? The facts not our wants.— Wally 24
- It's nice to be talking about depth players and back of the rotation guys. In years past here in Philly, Park would have been a top of the rotation guy and Giles would be starting at 2nd. I am so appreciative of things now.— davekrieg
- Wally, Let's start simply. 12 pitchers. 5 starters, 7 in releif. When Romero comes back one of the relief pitchers goes. Happ is the 5th starter, park one of the 7 guys in the pen. That leaves us 5 plyers on teh bench. Both Todd, Murphy and Andy, have strongly hinted that the Phils don't go north with Stairs and Jenkins. They'd love to trade one of them (idealy Jenkins) but this probably won't happen. In this case, they will eat Starirs salary to make way for Cairo who then need more. BTW the pitcher most likely to be dumped when Romero returns is the guy they just got from the Giants. he's a second LHP in the Pen (in other words, he's Romero's replacement) Glad to see you are suck a good fan— jeff gross
- Sooo...my Brazilian coleague just saw me read the article and noticed "Carrasco" in the headline. Apparently, carrasco means "executioner" among other things. How super-awesome would it be if he became even half as good as we hope he will be and that was his nickname? J'st sayin'— sidindi
- Rollins, Utley, Howard, Feliz, Ruiz, Victorino, Ibanez, Werth, … Dobbs, Bruntlett, Jenkins, Coste, Stairs, Cairo, … Myers, Moyer, Blanton, Hamels, Park, … Lidge, Condrey, Madson, Durbin, Eyre, Taschner, 25 men + “Romero” in June. Notice no Happ in there.— Wally 24
- I see that you only have 11 pitchers. Charlie has already said he will carry 12 pitchers at least after the first 2 weeks (3 off days). Your numbers aren't realistic. You have to add a pitcher and dump a bench player. Therefore Stairs is gone and either Happ or someone else is on teh team— jeff gross
- Look at what is in front of you Jeff and realize that before the season starts there is no room for Happ no matter what. I am not making up my 25 man squad but what is right there in front of all us. If I was to make up a team I'd definately dump Stairs and Jenkins but it is what it is at this point.— Wally 24
- Tomatoes......tomato's......lots of arguing over meaningless lint.....nothing is carved in stone and there will be plenty of injuries, suspensions, benchings and slumps to go around.....it'll be like Little League all over again....everybody gets to play!— Mark1npt
- wally, I'll bet you that Happ is on opening day roster and Stairs isn't by end of April, unless Jenkins is traded— jeff gross
- Jeff --- I don't care!! Its not an issue for me. You confuse your being P.O.d that I make such a statement with some kind of need on my part to be right above all else. Not true. I'm just simply trying to state the facts as I see them which is my right last time I checked.— Wally 24
- How about this news found on BaseballAmerica.com: Phillies Land Dominican OF Santana Posted Mar. 29, 2009 5:23 pm by Ben Badler Filed under: International The Phillies handed out one of the biggest bonuses since the end of the 2008 international signing period, signing Dominican outfielder Domingo Santana for $330,000. Santana is a 6-foot-5 righthanded hitter with a plus arm in right field. He’s an average runner with a long, projectable frame and is still learning to adjust to breaking balls. Santana has been eligible to sign since August, when he turned 16. The signing marks Philadelphia’s largest international signing bonus expenditure within the last year.— PSU DEJA BLUE
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