J.A. Happ – Wikipedia.org

Last night against the Tampa Bay Rays, former Phillie pitcher and current Toronto Blue Jay, J.A. Happ took a line drive to the head.  He was carted off the field and diagnosed with a concussion and laceration on his left ear.  He’s stable and in the hospital, but could be released later today.  Which is great news.

ESPN – J.A. Happ (Hit in head by line drive)

WPVI.com – J.A. Happ

I know he’s not the first pitcher to take a full on hit like that, but as a mother of a 13 year-old son who pitches, seeing this scares me.  Let me state, that watching him pitch, especially now that he plays at the Babe Ruth level (a 60/90 field) is quite rewarding.  He loves pitching and getting better all the time.  That said, he’s also the most vulnerable on the field when that ball pops off a hitter’s bat.

And the older he gets, the bigger and stronger the players get as well.  There have been close calls but usually he manages to snag the line drive that’s coming right at him.  However, sometimes there just isn’t enough time to react.  Last year, when he was still playing 46/60 he took a line drive off the side of his knee.  He was able to finish pitching the inning and ended up with just a huge bruise, no serious injury.  But thankfully, it was just his leg.

Rawlings Compression Shirt

We already make him wear a Rawlings heartguard (compression shirt) underneath his baseball uniform to help protect against a line drive hitting the chest area.

But apparently MLB has been mulling the idea of adding a Kevlar liner to pitchers’ hats, which would help lessen the blow of a line drive to the head. One would assume that if MLB players agree to something like that, it would eventually trickle down into Babe Ruth and possibly Little Leagues as well.  But who knows if it will ever come to fruition.

As a parent, protecting my child is my number one priority.  So I’m all for better ways of keeping him safe, especially on the baseball field.

I wish Happ well and hope he will be fine.

Heather Carnassale is a contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can follow her on twitter @heatherc531

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.

We all kind of saw this coming.  So when the trade deadline came and went and right-hander Joe Blanton was still on the Phillies, I was kind of surprised. But he’s gone now.

Joe Blanton – photo credit: Steve Trapani

According to WPVI-Action News, Blanton has been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a later named player or cash considerations.  Blanton was slated to start tonight when the Phillies open up a three-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Kyle Kendrick will now start.

The 31-year-old Blanton is 8-9 with a 4.59 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance. He is making $8.5 million and, like Victorino, can become a free agent after the season. – WPVI.com

Blanton joins fellow former Phillie Shane Victorino, who was also recently traded to the Dodgers.  Blanton was a key player in the Phillies 2008 World Series Championship and with him leaving, the number of current Phillies who were apart of that 2008 team is dwindling.

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.

This is today’s headline on the back of New Jersey’s Trentonian newspaper and I feel this pretty much sums up how most, if not all Phillies fans feel at the moment.

Trentonian.com

Click the link to read the Trentonian article:  Time To Go All In For Cole

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.

Carlos Ruiz – photo credit: Steve Trapani

Congrats to Carlos Ruiz for making the 2012 All-Star Game National League team, which is his first time being selected.  And though its as a reserve, its still awesome that he was recognized for being the one constant the Phillies fans can count on.  He consistently delivers both defensively and offensively and I can’t think of anyone more deserving.

It would have been a shock had Ruiz not made the roster. He entered Sunday leading baseball in batting average (.358). He also ranked third in on-base percentage (.423), eighth in slugging percentage (.585) and fourth in OPS (1.008). – Phillies.com

Lefty Cole Hamels and closer Jonathan Papelbon were also selected.

The 83rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on July 10th, 2012 on FOX.  To view the full rosters for both the National and American League teams, go to Aerys Sports: Around the Horn

In other Phillies news, this afternoon they were swept by the Miami Marlins and are now 11 games back in the National League East.

Also this afternoon, pitcher Chad Qualls, who was recently designated for assignment was acquired by the New York Yankees.

The Yankees will trade a player to be named later or cash to the Phillies in exchange for the 33-year-old veteran. – ESPN.com

Not sorry to see him go…not in the least!

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.