Leftovers from a dramatic day
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Leftovers from a dramatic day
Matt Gelb
WASHINGTON — The loudest noise coming from the visiting clubhouse Tuesday afternoon was a TV blasting MLB Network's coverage of the trade deadline. There wasn't much chatter among the players, who entered a room missing two of their most popular teammates.
"There was a lot of talk," Charlie Manuel said, "but until you do things it seems like every day there is a story, every day is kind of like the world is coming to an end or something."
It's easy to say Tuesday marked the end of an era, but it's far more complicated than that. Only six players from the 2008 World Series remain, and it will be whittled to five by opening day 2013.
But fate was determined long before Tuesday.
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It was a day with repercussions across all levels of the organization. The most notable was the ascension of Domonic Brown from triple-A to everyday player in the majors.
Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked if he is operating under the assumption he must fill three outfield spots for 2013.
"Not really," Amaro said. "One right now is going to be occupied by Brownie. Obviously we’re hopeful he can go ahead and do that. I think he’s ready. We all think he’s ready to get that opportunity. We’ll see how it goes."
Brown will play every day. He could see time at all three outfield positions. Is it a make-or-break chance at a career with the Phillies?
"I don't look at it that way," Manuel said. "It gives us a chance to see him. It gives us a chance to really see him and keep him in the lineup on a regular basis."
***
Amaro believes the Phillies shed enough salary to dip under the $178 million threshold for luxury tax purposes. That has a direct effect on 2013 spending.
Had the Phillies eclipsed the barrier in 2012, they would have been subject to a 17.5 percent tax and loss of revenue sharing money. If they became repeat offenders in 2013, the penalties are harsher; 30 percent tax and even fewer revenue sharing rebates.
"I think it was a part of it," Amaro said. "It wasn’t the end-all, really. But it certainly played a little part of it because the tax is what it is. This puts us a little underneath it right now. It was an element in the decisions that we made, but not the ultimate decision."
The Phillies have committed $132 million (using luxury tax calculations) to nine players in 2013. Add about $14 million for additional expenses counted for luxury tax and that puts the Phillies some $32 million shy of the threshold needing to fill 16 roster spots.
As we've explained before, the timing is right to pay luxury tax in 2013. The threshold stays at $178 million in 2013 and increases to $189 million in 2014. That way, if the Phillies go over in 2013, it is easier to avoid repeating the offense in 2014.
Michael Bourn, anyone?
***
The Reading Phillies were in Richmond, Va., Tuesday night which made life easier for Tommy Joseph. He simply changed dugouts.
Joseph instantly becomes the top position player prospect in the Phillies' system. That's less about Joseph and more about the dearth of talent.
There was potential for a log jam at catcher because Sebastian Valle, the top position player prospect before Joseph arrived, was also at Reading. The Phillies decided to promote him to triple-A Lehigh Valley. They also sent second baseman Cesar Hernandez to triple A.
An aside: Hernandez, to me, is one of the most interesting names to watch right now. The 22-year-old projects as a better hitter than Freddy Galvis and only a notch below as a fielder. He simply dominated the Eastern League. It was an impressive 103 games at Reading in which Hernandez hit .304 with a .781 OPS. Sure, he could use a more patient approach at the plate, but talent is there. Consider:
Hernandez at AA: .304/.345/.436 in 450 PA
Galvis at AA: .248/.294/.345 in 1072 PA
The two Venezuelans are good friends. Could they form the double-play combo of the future with Jimmy Rollins at third base? Oh wow, we just got way ahead of ourselves.
***
The bullpen underwent a shakeup late Tuesday night. Lefties Jake Diekman and Joe Savery were optioned to triple A. Josh Lindblom will join the Phillies on Wednesday and likely become the top righthanded setup option.
The moves mean Jeremy Horst has leapfrogged some of the other arms. He has struck out 12 in 10 innings, although most of them have been in lower-leverage situations. It'll be interesting to see if they test him more in the final two months.
Diekman, meanwhile, showed there is a lot of improving required. He walked 6.3 batters per nine innings, which should come as no surprise given he walked 6.1 per nine at double-A Reading in 2011. He had limited the walks in a dynamite spring training and then posted a 22-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 innings at triple A. The stuff is there, but it needs work.
So the current depth chart looks as such:
CL: Jonathan Papelbon
RHSU: Josh Lindblom
LHSU: Antonio Bastardo
RHMI: Michael Schwimer
LHMI: Jeremy Horst
RHMI: Kyle Kendrick
For 2013, throw in names like Mike Stutes, Justin De Fratus, Jake Diekman, Phillippe Aumont, B.J. Rosenberg, Joe Savery, David Herndon. Again, there is a lot of promise and depth there. It didn't work in 2012, but perhaps learning on the fly in a lost season will ultimately reap benefits.
***
A parting question of curiosity: Why will you watch the final 59 games?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
No mention of Bonilla or Krigge among bullpen prospects for 2013 yet Aumont is mentioned. Aumont does have an exciting arm but command issues have not improved. Bullpen does look more promising with the 2 previously mentioned plus Schwimmer who has pitched well and Diekman who has talent. Lindblom also has had some success. The front of the pen plus injuries biggest reason for collapse in 2012.— Don w- I'll listen to hear LA and Franzke's BS...to check out Brown...to drown out the noise— sal_acid
- I will watch to see how Brown does, to get a look at Lindblom, and because that's what I do. Go Phils.— gho_matt
- I'll watch. I'll always watch. I watched and attended games during those laughable seasons in the mid-90's. I won't let a few bad, injury-riddled months keep me down, nor will the team.— bpo_intheknow
- Why is Jiwan James never mentioned or considered for an audition in CF?— Lpaul
- though he is a good outfielder, his numbers at the plate are just not where they need to be to be a AAA outfielder, let alone in the majors — Anything_Philly_is4me
- I will sometimes watch to see how well Frandsen plays at third, to study Lindblom and Schierholtz, to find out if Dom Brown learned anything, to appreciate Chooch, Cole,and Chase, to see if Worley can ever make it past the sixth inning, to get a read on Doc and Cliff going forward, to catch a glimpse of it if Mayberry ever gets a meaningful hit off a rightie, to marvel at Chuck working the gum, and of course to try to decipher the inane ramblings of the Sarge. I'll watch because I enjoy seeing the other teams and seeing baseball in general. The masochist in me will watch to see Jimmy pop up and jog to first on weak grounders, and to see Howard cluelessly flailing away at breaking stuff outside the zone. I'll watch for those reasons, but mainly I'll take the radio into the back yard, listen to Scott and LA make the game fun, and perhaps just snooze away listening to the crickets of August.— dasher
- I will probably not watch all 59 games but I will make a conscious effort to. I fell in love with this team when they were in the dumps, no sense giving up on them now.— Anything_Philly_is4me
- of course we'll watch the games. that's what fans do...— slanted and enchanted
- Nice to read sane, well thought out comments so far. I, too, will watch. I am a Phillies fan and it's what I do. I will hope for the best and trust that the moves Amaro made will work out. His bullpen was horrible this year and his starters let him down as well. Too many other issues to list here but I always have hope and I'll always watch. Can't wait to see Lindblom tonight and watch Brown play, hopefully, better than last year. I've seen Schierholtz before but didn't look as closely as I will now. I think he's got to be in the mix for 2013 starter consideration. The non-waiver trade deadline isn't the first step and won't be the last in assembling the 2013 Phillies. Just enjoy the game of baseball.— vafan
- Thank you, vafan. I too very much appreciate thoughtful comments from intelligent fans! — andyballentine
- Thank you, vafan. I too very much appreciate thoughtful comments from intelligent fans! — andyballentine
- "A parting question of curiosity: Why will you watch the final 59 games?" Because I'm a Phillies fan. That doesn't mean I'll watch all 59 games but I will at least keep track of them. Besides, they give me something to complain about on twitter! :)— palmyra21
- I'll watch to get material for my comedy bits. ugghhhh. But what do I know, I'm just a tv clown— Krusty
- I will watch Brown, Frandsen, Howard, Utley and always Ruiz... Also want to see Halladay improve to restore my confidence for 2013. I expect Mayberry to go on a tear causing Amaro and Manuel to not know what to do with him for 2013.— Clt Philly Fan
