At the start of Spring Training, there were a number of battles that seemed to be front and center in Clearwater. There is always the battle for the bench.  The bullpen had only 2 or 3 spots available and about 6 player vying for the spot.  But, the outfield is the battle that took front-and-center in Clearwater.

When Spring Training started, the only outfielder to have a guaranteed spot was Ben Revere, everyone else was fighting for the right to play.

Domonic Brown – Wikipedia.org

Domonic Brown

The season starts in just 12 days and Domonic Brown has simply domonated the Grapefruit League.  Other than a little better defense, there is nothing that Brown could do to put himself in right field on Opening Day.  And I, for one, am really excited about this.  Brown is batting .396, with 12 RBI’s, 6 walks and 6 of these:

It looks like Brown is developing into the player everyone expected him to be 2 years ago.  This will, hopefully, the fair shot that he deserves.

Opening Day Destination:  Majors

John Mayberry Jr.

John Mayberry Jr is, well, John Mayberry Jr.  He’s a decent player that will strike out a ton and get some big hits. His main marketable skill, the one that keeps him on the Phillies roster every year is that he has 1) No options left and 2) can play Center Field and First Base, as well as the corner outfield positions.

Opening Day Destination: Majors

Delmon Young

I have high hopes that Delmon Young will never, ever, ever put on a Phillies uniform.  Like many Phillies fans, I just don’t like him.  He’s a talented player that never seems to put in maximum effort.   The fact that he will start the season on the DL, help my hopes a lot.

If/When he does put on a Phillies uniform, he will be in right field.   At that time, Brown will move to left field (assuming he has played so well to take out of the line-up.)

Opening Day Destination: DL/ Never puts on Phillies uniform.

Darin Ruf

As impressive as Brown has been this season, Darin Ruf has been basically the opposite.

Ruf is batting .216 with 1 HR and 8 RBI’s.  He looks uncomfortable at the plate and down right bad in left field.  There has been a number of routine fly balls that he has misplayed and has no idea what to do on the non-routine ones.  It has not been a pretty site.  He is a 1st baseman first and foremost.  If only there was a way to let him play first base in the majors.

Opening Day Destination: AAA

Ender Inciarte

I’m actually rooting for this guy to make the team.  He plays a stellar outfield and has speed.  The problem is, he’s never played about Single-A and to make the jump from Single-A to the Majors is huge.

The sad part is, if he doesn’t make the roster, he will have to be offered back to the Diamondbacks, since he was a Rule 5 Draft.   Honestly, he will probably be wanted back.

Opening Day Destination: Darkhorse for roster.  Sent back to the Diamondbacks.

Jermaine Mitchell

Jermaine Mitchell was signed as a Minor League Free Agent.  This spring he has opened some eyes.  In 23 PA, he has a .333 with 2 doubles and 3 triples.  His defense has not been spectacular, but he has managed to catch all the routine plays and has shown knowledge about what to do with the non-routine ones.

He might be given a shot since Delmon Young starts the season on the DL.  I would be surprised if he makes the roster, but he would be good for the Phillies to have stored in AAA in case of injury.

Opening Day Destination: Darkhorse- Most likely AAA.

The Hot Stove Season is moving quickly along, with the Phillies signing no one but minor leaguer Josh Fields. The obvious holes the Phillies need to address are the outfield, third base and a set up man in the bullpen. While some big names are still left, the market is shrinking so they made need to make a move soon. The Phillies do have some money to go after each position, although a trade would free up some more money.

» Continue reading “What do the Phillies Do Now?”

Ruben Amaro was quoted a couple days ago as saying the Phillies need to and will go outside of the organization to look for outfield help. The specific concern is center field. The Phillies once had a strong commodity in the outfield with players such as Aaron Rowand, Pat Burrell, Rual Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence.

Now that is an area that they are lacking in.

Photo Credit: Bj Wilson

The Opening Day outfield for the Phillies in 2012 consisted of John Mayberry Jr, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence. By the end of the season, it looked completely different with all 3 spots being split as platoon roles.

With Howard and Utley out for the majority of the year, pressure was placed on the rest of the offense; especially Pence.  He was expected to provide the missing power to the lineup. As we all know, Hunter has terrible plate discipline. With the added pressure to swing for the fences, his discipline was worse.

Along with Pence, Victorino’s numbers dipped coming off his career high in 2011. The whole team suffered as a result of the lack of offense.  Both Pence and Victorino were set to receive more money either through arbitration or free agency. At the trade deadline, as the Phillies felt they were too far out of the standings, they traded Pence and VIctorino to the Giants and Dodgers respectively.

In return for Pence, they were sent left-handed outfielder Nate Schierholtz. With center and right field open, they called up Domonic Brown to start in right field and essentially split time between all three spots. Schierholtz ended up not producing much as he broke his toe, missing a lot of time and never really got a starting role back.

Laynce Nix was another piece that was suppose to help the outfield, but ended up being hurt quite a bit and never got

Photo Credit: BJ Wilson

into the “swing” of things. As a result, Charlie Manuel began to play speedy Juan Pierre a lot. Pierre got a lot of time after the trades because of his consistent bat as he finished hitting over .300.

As September rolled around the Phillies expanded their rosters and brought up minor league player of the year Darin Ruf. Ruf was a constant power threat in the minors hitting 38 HR in Reading.

Though Ruf is labeled as an infielder, he was mainly in left field during the limited time he received at the end of the year.  Ruf only played in 12 games but hit 3 long balls and knocked in 10 runs.

As the Phillies look toward the future, there is quite a concern in the outfield. Personally, Mayberry has never been anything to write home about and has a lot of room for improvement. With Pierre’s contract up, the Phillies could and should resign him for another year or two.  His age is a factor but, he is still a good role player. However, Darin Ruf looks like a viable option for the future.

After a long abysmal regular season, the outfield is a place of major concern for the Phillies. There are a couple ways the Phillies could go to fill the hole.  The main ones include B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, or Josh Hamilton (with subsequent moves).

As Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phils do need to and will go outside the organization to fill the hole. As we wait for the moves to be made, the question is, which is the right move to make?

It was a crazy night in Atlanta.  It was hot and muggy and the baseballs were flying out of the park

Erik Kratz was on Roy Halladay’s side tonight.  In the first, he caught Michael Bourn stealing third on a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out play.

Ryan Howard got the party started with a homerun in the top of the second.

Halladay ran into trouble again in the fourth when, well, Kratz did this. Yeah, amazing I know!

Unfortunately, Halladay did NOT look good in the fifth.  And after 2, 2-run homeruns, Halladay was chased from the game.

Fortunately, the offense woke up in the top of the sixth.

• A single by Jimmy Rollins.
• A single by Kevin Frandsen.
• A bunt single by Chase Utley (!!!) (Did you know that he even knew how to bunt?  I didn’t!  The last bunt single he had was back in 2006.  Weird right?)
• A 2-run single by Ryan Howard.
• An RBI sac-fly by Mayberry.
• And the game was all tied up.

» Continue reading “Kratz Has Himself A Night. Mayberry Wins It. Papelbon Saves #250.”

It was a gorgeous weekend in Philadelphia, one that concluded with the Phillies looking like the Phillies of old.

Photo Credit: BJ Wilson

All weekend, the team that had the best record in baseball last year decided to show up.  Just like they have done since the trade deadline.

Friday, Kyle Kendrick pitched beautifully.  (Yes, I said that.)  Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard came through with some big hits.  The bullpen pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball. (Ok, so Charlie Manuel completely went Tony LaRussa on the bullpen by using 6 pitchers, but it worked, so whatever.)

For the first time, in a long time, they looked like a relaxed team that would win.

Saturday, it was Roy Halladay’s turn to dazzle on the mound.  This game, Halladay looked like Halladay.  It was the third time in four games that Doc pitched magnificently and it was amazing to see.  When he is on, watching him pitch is a thing of beauty.

John Mayberry Jr came up with a big homerun in the 6th off of Gio Gonzalez.  Gonzalez knew it was gone as soon as Mayberry hit it and didn’t even look behind him, but quickly asked for a new ball.

Chase Utley had the most Utley game ever.  He singled in the first to plate the first run of the game.  In the 8th, Utley was hit by a pitch.  He then preceded to steal second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mayberry.  The only thing that would have made this perfect was if he hit a homerun somewhere during the game.

» Continue reading “How Sweep It Is! Cliff Lee Wins At CBP!”