Some numerology
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Some numerology
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
It's a fun game to play before every spring training. Which players on the fringe were issued low numbers?
OK, so a low number doesn't guarantee a roster spot, but it can sometimes be an indication of what the team thinks of a player's chances.
Then again, it might not matter. Non-roster guys like Dewayne Wise, Chris Duffy and Ryan Vogelsong had low numbers last spring. They didn't play a game for the Phillies in 2010.
But guys like Wilson Valdez and Cody Ransom had low numbers. And they were afterthoughts in the spring only to contribute later.
So far, there aren't many low digits handed out for 2011.
Of the 12 non-roster invitees already named by the Phillies, just one was issued a low number: catcher Dane Sardinha. He'll wear the No. 4 he used during his brief time as the starting catcher in July. (Yeah, remember that time Dane Sardinha started six games in a row?)
The others:
83 -- Eddie Bonine RHP
79 -- Ryan Feierabend LHP
62 -- Dan Meyer LHP
84 -- Juan Perez LHP
85 -- Erik Kratz C
61 -- Josh Barfield INF
86 -- Tagg Bozied 1B
65 -- Jeff Larish INF
60 -- Pete Orr INF
87 -- Matt Miller OF
63 -- Brandon Moss OF
There are still a few more non-roster players to be added to the roster. Righthander Brian Bass is one the team has yet to officially announce.
A few number additions were made for the players on the 40-man roster too:
72 -- Justin De Fratus RHP
71 -- Freddy Galvis SS
75 -- Harold Garcia INF
74 -- Cesar Hernandez INF
19 -- Michael Martinez UTIL
73 -- Carlos Rivero INF
76 -- Matt Rizzotti 1B
Also, Brian Bocock changed to No. 25 and Ross Gload goes from No. 3 to 7. (Obviously an homage to Juan Castro.)
Martinez inherits Greg Dobbs' digits. He's the Rule 5 pick the Phillies grabbed from Washington at the end of the winter meetings. Martinez is actually having a solid winter ball in the Dominican, where he is hitting .301/.341/.376 for Estrellas in 173 at-bats. He'll come to camp with a chance to earn a roster spot on the bench as a utility player.
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Single-game tickets for spring training in Clearwater go on sale Friday morning at 9 a.m. on the team's official website. There are 17 home dates (all 1:05 p.m. starts for now) and I'm guessing there are, oh, a few people who may attend.
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Hoping to begin a weekly mailbag that we will carry through the season. So if you have questions you want to see answered in this space, e-mail me with your name (and hometown) along with the question.
who is gonna get #28— ChiBubba
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For the record- I'm a regular visitor to Clearwater in March- and the first time I saw Chase Utley was I think 2 yrs before he made it to the show. He stood out as a stud hitter that day proudly wearing numner 76. Low enough for ya? lol- I can't believe they traded away Cliff Lee. He should still be a Phillie. Oh, wait, he's back you say? Oh my...— AEPi71
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- Here are some low numbers for 2011. 3 and 0, 4 and 0, 4 and 0.— Joe at the shore
interesting............— dexter55
I also heard that they invited Delwyn Young, (I think that's how his name is spelled), as a non-roster guy. That's interesting. The guy has huge upside, but so far has severely underachieved due to personal issues....could this be the RH bat free agent pick-up?- High Hopes- I believe you are confusing Delwyn Young with Delmon Young. Delmon Yound is a former number one pick with personal issues that is finally starting to reach his potential with the Twins. Delwyn Young is a glorified fourth outfielder that the Pirates non-tendered.— Ed Gein
- dyskstra dumpster fire— tooltime
- So what number will the Phanatic wear when he plays right field...I heard he has a cannon for a snout...— stan the man too
- Talk about which of the non roster invitees might be placed on the 25 man roster at some point in the season. Better yet who will be the one who never even gets an invite at all to the major league camp but appears for the Phils during the regular season. A guy like Vance Worley was not even invited to the major league camp at all last season. The only place you would have seen him toiling last spring training was over in the minor league camp.— Dull
- Phillies also invited Delwyn Young. Pirates switch hitter.— JST1331
- Utley wore #80 (not 76) at his first spring training, Hamels wore #79 and Drabek #81. How does Bocock merit #25 a number worn by Jim Thome, Tony Gonzalez and Gregg Jefferies?— Philliesguy
