TRUSTS CHOOCH IN A PINCH
Here at The Phillies Zone, we're making the final preparations for a six-week trip to Clearwater. Most of this week's space has been dedicated to off-the-field business matters. Such is when the local baseball franchise morphs into a powerful commodity.
But fake baseball is nearing and that's better than no baseball. The Phillies will bring 57 players to camp this spring. Here's a brief thought on each position player on the roster (in alphabetical order). On Wednesday, we did the pitchers.
40-MAN ROSTER
CATCHERS
Erik Kratz — The Phillies kept this 31-year-old with 11 career games on the roster all winter. See Brian Schneider.
Carlos Ruiz — It was hard to expect a .400 on-base percentage again. Phillies are pleased so long as Ruiz can play at least 130 games.
Brian Schneider — He's back because of his familiarity with the pitching staff, but a .502 OPS won't cut it in 2012.
Sebastian Valle — As a 20-year-old, the heir apparent did all that could be asked while jumping to the pitcher-dominant Florida State League.
INFIELDERS
Freddy Galvis — The Phillies issued him No. 13 for this spring and typically arrange lockers numerically. You think that was by accident?
Harold Garcia — He missed most of 2011 with a torn ACL after a breakout 2010 that put him on the radar.
Cesar Hernandez — He's a baby (turns 22 in May) and could be ticketed for double-A Reading.
Ryan Howard — The Phillies publicly target May for a return, but that's optimistic. Don't be shocked if it's later.
Michael Martinez — Phillies officials raved about Martinez's defense long before they dealt Wilson Valdez.
Placido Polanco — This is a recurring theme around the horn: Expect the Phillies to limit his fragile body this spring.
Jimmy Rollins — It's not a contract year anymore, but the Phillies will gladly take a repeat of his 2011 production.
Jim Thome — Bet the under on starts at first base. As for the taters, don't doubt a man who has 604 of them.
Chase Utley — Maybe the injury questions should be focused in his direction; arthritis doesn't just go away.
Ty Wigginton — His on-base and slugging percentage nosedived after age 30. Now he's 34.
OUTFIELDERS
Domonic Brown — It's not his offense that concerns Phillies officials.
Tyson Gillies — The embattled prospect has one goal for 2012: Stay on the field.
John Mayberry Jr. — What happens if 296 plate appearances was too small of a sample size to render judgment?
Laynce Nix — He can mash righties, but his history indicates his nothing more than a platoon player at best.
Hunter Pence — He enters his prime years with his first eight-figure contract.
Shane Victorino — It's a contract year, no questions asked.
NONROSTER
CATCHERS
Tuffy Gosewisch — The pitchers love him. So does he stay at double A with the Baby Aces and mentor young Valle?
Steven Lerud — He's 27 with only nine career games at triple A.
INFIELDERS
Kevin Frandsen — A 50-game suspension for ritalin stained an otherwise solid 2011 season with the IronPigs.
Hector Luna — The definition of a AAAA player.
Pete Orr — If Martinez falters, Orr could ascend to the utility infielder job.
OUTFIELDERS
Lou Montanez — Once drafted 12 spots ahead of Chase Utley. True fact.
Juan Pierre — He's led the league in caught stealings seven times, including the last two years.
Scott Podsednik — He's Juan Pierre but better. Foot injuries could slow him.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.
This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.
Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
To submit a question for Matt Gelb's Phillies mailbag, click here.
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