Predicting the postseason roster
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Predicting the postseason roster
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Sixteen games remain in this season and besides breaking just about every team record for excellence in the Live Ball Era, little drama lingers for these Phillies. That includes the composition of the postseason roster, which should be devoid of any surprises.
Yes, it's that time of the year again. Our second annual Predict the Playoff Roster post is here. Last season, we guessed 24 of 25 correctly. The only miss was including Danys Baez over Domonic Brown.
Here are some issues and questions for the 2011 roster. (And these apply only for the first round, a five-game series.
1. Is everyone accounted for?
The Phillies have 28 players on their current roster, and it figures that the 25 for the division series will come from that pool. Charlie Manuel said as much a couple days ago when I asked him if it were possible for a current minor-leaguer to squeeze in. He effectively said no.
So all of those Domonic Brown and Brandon Moss fans out there are probably out of luck. Even though both players were not on the 25-man roster as of Aug. 31, they remain eligible for the postseason. Baseball rules say anyone in the entire organization on Aug. 31 can replace a player on the disabled list. Jose Contreras is out for the year and he offers that "wild card" spot for the Phillies, if needed.
Right now, it doesn't appear that will be used. That could change, barring only an injury in the final two weeks of the season.
2. John Bowker? Really?
The Aug. 31 deadline to bolster the bench is still in search of his first hit as a Phillie, but I have him on the postseason roster. Why? Right now, he's the best option in a group of unappealing candidates.
Yes, Moss is having quite a nice season for triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's enjoying a fantastic end to his season in the International League playoffs. But he hasn't had a major-league at-bat all season. And the Phillies have had a lengthy chance to look at Moss and decided they could do better. Numbers, especially those in triple A, tell us only so much.
If the Phillies thought Moss could help, he would have been promoted Aug. 31. His bat speed is said to be slower than Bowker's. Bowker is already on the 40-man roster; Moss is not.
And in all honesty, this spot probably has little effect on the postseason. There are three pinch-hitters ahead of Bowker -- Ross Gload, John Mayberry Jr. and Ben Francisco. If the Phillies need four pinch-hitters in a postseason game, they're in trouble (or playing a long game).
A few words on Brown: It's still unclear if he'll even be promoted when the triple-A playoffs end. Manuel said his understanding is that Brown will return. Brown has not been playing the field for the IronPigs in the postseason; he's been their designated hitter. The front office is very non-committal and has suggested that sending Brown home would help his mental state. I'd argue it wouldn't hurt to keep Brown around and let him travel with the team during the playoffs even if he's not on the roster. It at least shows good faith.
3. Aren't both Wilson Valdez and Michael Martinez superfluous?
In a way, probably. But the Phillies carried both utility men for the entire season and have won 95 games to date. And they've needed both players to play starting roles at times. With the shaky health of the current infield, both will make it. They each offer a pinch-runner option off the bench, too.
4. Who is the 10th pitcher?
The Phillies carried only 10 pitchers in the first round last season and that was without Four Aces. They'll do the same thing in 2011, but picking 10 worthy pitchers is difficult.
The five starters are on. So are Ryan Madson, Antonio Bastardo, Mike Stutes and Brad Lidge. Even Lidge's spot could be debated because of his erratic control, but he has the experience and flashes of effectiveness to merit a job.
The 10th spot comes down to Kyle Kendrick and David Herndon. Again, this debate is probably moot because if either one is pitching, it means the Phillies are winning or losing big, or in a long game. My guess is the final two weeks of the season decide this spot. Whoever is pitching the best in the final days makes it.
Kendrick has not pitched in three weeks, but he starts the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. He'll also start in Tuesday's doubleheader. The chances for regular work will be plentiful in the final 16 games.
Herndon has either been really, really good or really, really bad. He carried a scoreless streak for weeks. Then he imploded in Florida. When his sinker plays big, it can induce a grounder when needed. When his location is off by just a hair, it devolves into home run derby.
The guess here is Kendrick, mainly because he offers versatility in an emergency situation.
***
Without further ado, our official roster prediction:
Catchers (2)
Carlos Ruiz (R)
Brian Schneider (L)
Infielders (7)
Ryan Howard (L)
Chase Utley (L)
Placido Polanco (R)
Jimmy Rollins (S)
Ross Gload (L)
Wilson Valdez (R)
Michael Martinez (S)
Outfielders (6)
Raul Ibanez (L)
Shane Victorino (S)
Hunter Pence (R)
John Mayberry Jr. (R)
Ben Francisco (R)
John Bowker (L)
Pitchers (10)
Roy Halladay (RHP)
Cliff Lee (LHP)
Cole Hamels (LHP)
Roy Oswalt (RHP)
Vance Worley (RHP)
Ryan Madson (RHP)
Antonio Bastardo (LHP)
Mike Stutes (RHP)
Brad Lidge (RHP)
Kyle Kendrick (RHP)
What would you change?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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Bowker hasn't shown much if that doesn't change I'd leave him off the playoff roster. In his place they could a)add another pitcher b)keep Orr (Martinez can be the 6th OF) or c)bring up DBrown. I don't care which option they choose but there's no sense keeping a non hitting, slow, left handed 1B/OF since they already have Gload.— mtairy1
Bowker, hopefully, will not make the roster. Why, you ask. BECAUSE HE CAN'T HIT A BASEBALL.— ziggy26- I think Orr gets the nod over Bowker as he offers both another bat and a legit running option...Ill be very surprised if Bowker makes the squad...KK is the long man and will make the team over herndon if they keep 10— TheLon
- Now that the playoffs are on the way, time to put the 25 best men on the roster. Martinez has been a good soldier for the season, but for the playoffs, a .215 batting average is not "playoff worthy". Valdez has been and will be a valuable part of the team as a good infielder and a good situational hitter.— drhoffman
- Forget Bowker and bring Brown back into the fold. You do that and you've got your first choice for pinch-runner in him. Plus, what in the hell has Bowker proven he can do? Brown had an abysmal time up in the bigs, too, but we know he'll be on this team next year and Bowker won't. Since, as you yourself admitted, this roster spot is all but pointless anyways, why not use it to have Brown build postseason experience and jump in and run the bases if needed?— Kramerica
- Moss can really hit, Bowker (?)— NewMick314
- I would keep Orr and remove Bowker.— pjm0825
- I think Orr is a good bet to make it. I don't like Lidge making the roster. All he has is that slider and when they don't swing at it there's three balls and trouble. Good playoff teams ain't swinging. I'd use anyone over Lidge at this point.— greenflyer
- Hopefully Wheels will not be on the playoff roster— dave13
- Bowker is like Bow Wow. Drop him. Poor Cliff. He gives up a tying homer to a .230 hitter. Pray for a run for the Phils to allow Cliff to win this game. He is already at 116 pitches.— Koons
- I would keep Pete Orr as another lefty hitter instead of Bowker, in the playoffs you need someone who might get a hit and I don't have time to wait for Bowker to get his 1st hit. I'd also have to think long and hard about Herndon or Lidge, maybe even throw Schwimmer into the mix.— frisch16
- Orr or Brown over Bowker, need a pinch runner that can steal you a base and get into scoring position in a tight spot late in game. Both offer just as good a bat as Bowker (terribe). Speed is a critical element.— brokerguy
- You basically have 2 weeks to sort things out. Between now and the end of the season (making sure you clinch HFA):
Get Bowker 2-3 starts and see if he can hit at all. If not, I'd keep Orr, left handed bat who can play 2nd or 3rd.
Work Lidge, Herndon, Blanton & Schwimmer as much as you can and let them pitch themselves onto the roster. See if Lidge can get his FB over 90.
Do they have another LH releiver who can be on the post season roster? If so, get him some innings.
I can't see having Brown on the roster. He has speed but that does make him a good baserunner.— John Klink 
I can't see Gload and Bowker on the Roster. Gload needs a pinch-runner and Bowker is a zero. Valdez is a keeper, and Martinez is a space-cadet on any given day. Dom Brown is in the same Space Club. As far as those eligible for the play-offs, Cholie will work them the remaining games. It's too early to make the call with time to discuss this, but you asked... Valdez so far, the rest to showcase what they bring... Throw the dice, Nucky!
