Roster 3.0: Is there anybody out there?
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Roster 3.0: Is there anybody out there?
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Seven days from now, the Phillies will travel to Orlando for their 32d and final Grapefruit League game. They'll hop on a charter flight from MCO to PHL in the early evening and then officially head north.
And we're still very much at a loss for what the roster should look like come then.
Such questions remain: Who will fill out the bench and where will they come from? Do they take 11 or 12 pitchers? Is Jose Contreras ready? Are the Phillies being truthful when they say Freddy Galvis is the guy at second?
The spring has progressed in an unpredicted fashion. Read Version 2.0 of the roster predictions and Version 1.0 before tackling the third and final projection.
CATCHERS (2)
Carlos Ruiz
Brian Schneider
Ruiz, as expected, will receive around 40 at-bats this spring in a lighter workload. He's been excellent at the plate (15 for 31 with five XBH for a .484/.515/.774 slash line). If anything, the Phillies confirmed what they already knew: Erik Kratz is a viable third catching option. He's hit .421 (8 for 19) this spring, but Brian Schneider still offers better defense.
INFIELDERS (6)
Ty Wigginton
Freddy Galvis
Placido Polanco
Jimmy Rollins
Jim Thome
UITBNL
Ah yes, the Utility Infielder To Be Named Later. The Phillies will acquire a utility infielder either via trade or free agency before opening day. There is simply no one internally to fill the role. Sure, Pete Orr could sneak in if there is no better option, but I suspect the Phillies will find one. Plenty of names have been mentioned, but the player could be someone who is a late cut from another camp because of a roster crunch.
OUTFIELDERS (6)
John Mayberry Jr.
Shane Victorino
Hunter Pence
Laynce Nix
Juan Pierre
RHBTBNL
We're adding another position player to the mix because of all the uncertainty with the offense. This will be a righthanded bat the Phillies acquire much like the utility infielder. (Keep an eye on Indians camp, where Ryan Spilborghs and Jose Lopez are on the roster bubble.) Pierre still earns the nod over Scott Podsednik because the Phillies will value his 711 plate appearances over 60 Grapefruit League ones. And Podsednik can go to the minors while Pierre cannot.
STARTERS (5)
Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Cole Hamels
Vance Worley
Joe Blanton
Technically, this is only four to begin the season as Joe Blanton will almost certainly be skipped the first time through the rotation because of extra off days. Blanton will work from the bullpen to start.
RELIEVERS (6)
Jonathan Papelbon
Antonio Bastardo
Chad Qualls
Kyle Kendrick
Mike Stutes
Jose Contreras
This really could go either way, but with the use of a four-man rotation to begin the season, the Phillies can afford to take 11 pitchers north. Contreras has been decent in camp and he'll be subject to a conservative workload early in the season. This unit could undergo a great deal of change during the season given all the useful parts at triple-A Lehigh Valley.
DISABLED LIST (3)
Ryan Howard
Chase Utley
Michael Martinez
Someone out there will run a Howard/Utley return date contest. Good luck with that.
FIRST FOUR OUT
David Herndon
Scott Podsednik
Brian Sanches
Jake Diekman
Now tell me where I'm wrong.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
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Diekman or Savery over Qualls. They need another lefty in the pen.— jfdatl- Luna over Galvis, who cannot hit a lick. Posednick over Pierre, who is slightly worse offensively & cannot field at all.— princeton22
- Don't have a dime in it, we get what we get when we get it! Just sayin'...— DJ
- Trade to get Jason Donald back from the Indians. He gives you a right-handed bat, a utility infielder, and a potential second baseman. The Indians have also been looking at his ability to play centerfield.— JayW
- Don't bet the rent against Montanez making the team or, at the least, being among the last (not first) 4 out.— Claudio Vernight
- If they take the best 25 north, it has to be Diekman over either Qualls or Contreras. Plus, they need at least two leftys in the bullpen. Second, you got to go with Podsednik over Pierre. Podsednik can drive the ball, and he has had a much better spring.— PortCity
- I'm thinking with the versatility of Wigginton, Mayberry Jr., and Pierre the Phils may only take either 6 OF & 5 IF or vise versa thus allowing them to carry 7 in the pen, allowing Diekman to break with the club. I'm also not 100% certain Michael Martinez returns to Philly when he recovers from injury but rather we may see the likes of Hector Luna fill into one of those available slots you have as he's had the best spring of anybody mentioned. I'm also not sure about Nix, I'd rather Montenez over Nix but a left handed bat is needed beyond Thome. JMO— johnnyveigns
- Does it matter?? of course you take guys like Pierre and Qualls. Sending the guys with options down to LHV to play every day?? Diekman, Savery, Orr will all get their chance at some point. The season is half a year long. Relax ppl— FABER
- Tough to argue with you. If the question is what roster should they bring north, that we can argue (Podsednik over Pierre for one). But of course it's pretty disconcerting that a week before the season starts there are two roster spots that we think will be filled by two unknown players.
- Laynce Nix has looked horrible. I'd rather keep Pierre and Podsednik over him.— Matt
In a shocking move Ruben keeps Savery and Podsednik...I can't watch Qualls pitch...home run waiting to happen...Pierre had 711 AB because the White Sox had nothing better and Guillen was the coach.- This team would be wasting A LOT of money if some of these commenters had their way.— JeffHink
- Pray tell me why they signed Laynce Nix?????? Swallow their pride and cut him and put Podsednik on the roster. Nix will be dead weight.— Melman
- Wow, I just wish the Phillies would go out and win something so all of these fans could finally feel good about this team and not complain so much.— beagle29
I feel good because I miss that rascal Bowker and it appears Nix will fill his shoes nicely...— Sam Crow- What about trying to trade Domonic Brown for Gordon Beckham? Both have elite potential, both have struggles so far. But Beckham can play 2B and 3B and has more MLB experience. He would seemingly fill a hole? Chicago has other infield prospects, might prefer D-Brown?— edaptive
Comment removed.- Edaptive...do that trade in a heartbeat...too logical— Hammer859
- Diekman is a lock.
No Herndon (please)
Pierre gets in but Pods deserves it.
RH infielder claimed off waivers, Theriot?
No RH OF bat, cmon murph— WFChamps - Pods deserves it. Nix vs Pierre sb the question. Diekman will be up soon. What teams don't envy our "starting 6" pitchers & 4 yrs of most MLB wins or WS?! If Chase & RH return ok enjoy another fun year!— phillies6pack
- I keep Pierre and Podsenik and go with a defense and speed lineup of Rollins, Pierre / Podsenick platoon in left, Victorino, Pence, Mayberry 1B, Polanco, Galvis and Ruiz in that order. I play Wigginton at 3B and 2B on a rotating basis to keep Polanco and Galvis fresh, and I play Thome or Nix at 1B once or twice a week and move Mayberry to Left, Center or Right to replace anyone needing a day off. That lineup keeps the Phillies strong up the middle and includes good defense at 3B, 2B, and 1B to support the middle. It also gives them speed at the top of the order 1 to 5.— miket47
- I repeat....I like Pods but Pierre not only had 711 ABs because Guillen had nobody better to put out there, he also had 174 hits, 26 MORE than any of our beloved Phillie players had last year. More than Vic, more than Pence, more than JNoRoll.....I don't see how he got so bad over the winter that we can't use him either in the lineup or on the bench. If someone gets hurt (likely) or Pierre is
1 for 58 come May 1st (less likely), then you bring Pods up.— Mark1npt - Why does Gelb not consider Joe Savory over Qualls? He would give them a second lefty and could be a possible pinch hitter from time to time.— RSPASP
- Sam Crow, you're dead on! I thought of some other guys the Phils should kick the tires on: Dee Creppitt, Mory Bund, or Gerry Atrick. Or since Texas beat Rube to Yu Darvish, why not sign his elder cousin, Tu Oldish?— dasher
- BA..Kratz= 400, Schnieder= 200. And Kratz is a better defensive catcher & has a much stronger arm. I though this team needs some bat? What else does Kratz need to do???— kelprod2
- It ain't that you're wrong about the roster, except that as unlucky as Ruben was to prematurely move Valdez, he lucked out resigning Orr as a non roster guy. I think Orr will be the extra infielder this year and do pretty well at that.
Galvis at second will be the weak link among the starters, but considering that many worthy Philadelphians wanted to dump Rollins and give the shortstop job to Galvis full time, I say, the first three months of the season (before Chase comes back in late June) will be a good reality check for everyone. Who knows, maybe by this time next season Freddie will really be ready.— aintnorep
