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."
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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?
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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.
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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.
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A parting question of curiosity: Why will you watch the final 59 games?
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Okay , I get the money thing....but to think that the not too bright Brown and the not very talented Mayberry will make it work is ludicrous.....Let's trade Reuben....He screwed up the Lee deal originally and had to pay him more to get him back...(8 mill) ...then he overpaid Howard (6 mil) overpaid JRoll ( 5 mil), screwed up the Hamels sighning....could have been 120 instead of 144 million (24 mil) and he allowed Chase to lie to the organizaion about his health.....he did not trade the brain dead Brown 2 years ago.......and if he had half a brain, we would have saved (low sided estimates) 40 million dollars under the current payroll......so who is at fault here....Mr I am a nice guy and the media loves me Amaro......YET if the truth and the facts were reported he would be out of here...— nuggett- I'll watch, but not listen to Sarge, Wheels and the other Idiot talk about "how Sarge used to do it" while the game is in progress! Am I the only one that can't stand these knuckleheads?— cooperhawk
- The needs are: a very good leadoff hitter and a sure-fire slugger not named Haward. Bourne could be the leadoff and finding another outfielder for the slugger would fit the bill. As far as third base, find a steady 285-300 hitter with sneaky power (20 HRS easy) that is a decent fielder. Back of the mind...may have to replace Utley if his knees go...be ready.— psuwelsh
- I'm going to watch to see the new players and see how Brown does. I dropped my mlb.tv a couple of months ago but am going to sign back up to watch them down here in Houston. I'm definitely more excited to see the team play in person here next month than I was a few weeks ago. I'm going to miss the Phils next year once the L'Astros go to the AL and we're on the every four year plan of getting the Phils to Minute Maid Park. Knowing my luck, stupid Bud Selig will have the Phils go to Texas and to Houston in interleague play the same year's so I'll be stuck seeing the phils every four years when he could split it up and I could see them every other year. Either way, it is a huge drop from getting to see them every year.— sjuhawk416
- Hire Juan Pierre as hitting coach.— mmds
- Hire Juan Pierre as hitting coach.— mmds
- I will watch because I watched Ron Stone, Ollie Brown, Ken Reynolds, Barry Lersh, Randy Lerch, John Bateman, Steve Jeltz, Greg Jeffries; Adam Eaton, etc. I watch because I am a Phillies fan, dammit. As the saying goes: "When I die, I will surely go to heaven, because I have spent my time in hell." Go Phils!!— markfordham
- 2013 line-up: C - Kratz; 1B - Utley; 2B - call up from Lehigh Valley; SS - Martinez; 3B - Rollins; Left - Ruiz; Center - Mayberry; Left - Brown.— BobSG
- I sure hope Brown can come through. He hasn't hit for power since he broke his hand. That might be taking a while to heal, or it may be a mental thing. It would be great if he could get past that soon.— altoonaaslan
- Mitch Walding..."Having seen the young third baseman at a time when his batting average sat in the .350′s, his current line of .280/.353/.374 is perplexing. However, Walding’s recent struggles are not enough to sway me from believing he is one of the best pure hitters I’ve scouted this season". http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/philadelphia-phillies-third-base-prospect-mitch-walding-fangraphs-scouting-report-video/— emoney
- 3B Mitch Walding— emoney
- He will be ok cause in SF Bibley Bob Pence won't be peaking around them farmer markets out in them pine barrens.— Astro Jones
- Pecan they put Wheels and TMac on waivers now??!— Napa818
- I will watch the final 59 games because the Phillies are still running a lineup out there with Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ruiz (career year); because of Domonic Brown; and because Roy Hallady, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will pitch about 36 of those games.— hunsinator
- I'll watch because, truthfully, they were brutal to watch early on. It is exciting to see if RA's moves work through the rest of the year and help me get excited for 2013. And I am really rooting for Brown and now we get a good look at him. It would only get more exciting if Charlie gets bumped upstairs..— bmcw
