Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Gordon serves batting practice in opening day loss

One down, one loss directly attributable to the Phillies’ bullpen. With the scored knotted in the ninth, Tom Gordon was torched with a series of hard-hit doubles, allowing five runs in an 11-6 loss to the Nationals.

In a game that unfolded in a painstakingly similar way as last opening day, the game saw a mini-meltdown by starter Brett Myers in the fifth, followed by a two-out, two-run homer given up by Ryan Madson in the sixth. Down 6-2, the Phils battled back thanks to a solo shot by Chase Utley, a shutout top half of the seventh by Chad Durbin, followed by a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning, capped by a Jimmy Rollins two-run blast. After J.C. Romero blazed through eighth, it was Gordon’s turn to prove skeptics right. As if hanging from a string over the fattest part of the plate, the Nationals pummeled his fastball, allowing four hits and a walk, including three doubles. Clay Condrey came in to clean up the mess and could not, but at that point, it was over.

Beerleaguer: In a game that featured everything hardened skeptics could ask for (the mental side of Myers, the “why can’t you just get it done already” side of Madson, offensive black hole redux Pedro Feliz and the crispy toasted arm of Gordon), the Phillies did nothing to sooth lingering doubts about their pitching. Confidence in the bullpen appears to be at a premium. Very ugly game. It didn’t take long for one to get that sour feeling of walking a tight rope. About the time Romero came in you realize they’re up against a wall: they either luck out with Gordon in the ninth or fall to their death. Splish.

I said it once and I’ll say it again: Don’t get too comfortable with Myers in the rotation if the bullpen breaks in the wrong direction. It’s all riding on injured, former Astro closer Brad Lidge. No manager is going to put up with what happened today, especially with an effective closer already on the roster.

Game chat: Phillies open defense of NL East crown

Live Boxscore

Beerleaguer: Readers pessimistic about playoff return

The results of our community poll are in and the always popular “88 wins” is indeed where the average reader sees the Phillies finishing the season. Unfortunately, most readers believed they would not have enough to return to the post-season. Roughly 60 readers were polled, with 102 and 80 being the highest and lowest win totals issued. (Radio: Phillies trivia and discussion this morning on WEEU. Call 1-800-323-8800 to participate.)

Radio: Answer Phillies trivia and win fabulous prizes!

Just a reminder that Beerleaguer will be co-hosting Phillies trivia Monday morning at 9 a.m. on 830-AM WEEU radio. Winners will receive a copy of MLB '08: The Show, courtesy of PlayStation3.

To participate in our discussion, call 1-800-323-8800 sometime after 9 a.m. I've prepared a dozen questions, ranging in difficulty from medium to hard, all pertaining to the current team. No old-time questions. All new stuff. Several questions have a real Beerleaguer flavor, focusing on issues we dwell on frequently. It should be a lot of fun, even just to talk baseball, so call up tomorrow and help us celebrate the start of a new season. Each game retails for $60. Three copies are available, so don't miss out. Live audio stream

Hungry for baseball? Feast on these probable pitchers

Nothing chases away the hunger better than a platter full of probables.

In my mind, the season officially starts tonight in our nation’s capitol as the Washington Nationals christen brand new Nationals Park when they host the Atlanta Braves. Tim Hudson takes on Odalis Perez, one of two opening day or second-day starters who are “not like the others,” the other being Mark Hendrickson in Florida. Tomorrow's opponent, Matt Chico, is debatable, but I hesitate to say anything because he's pitched the Phillies tough. It's always interesting to see what teams come up with after an entire off-season of rebuilding, and an entire spring to prepare. Some fans get Johan Santana. Others get Mark Hendrickson. Shades of Calvin Maduro.

I love opening-day probables. The start of spring training and the buzz-killing on-deck series has nothing on this holy list.

Game chat: Phils visit Lehigh Valley for final warm-up

Coca-Cola Park in Allentown will be the home to the Phillies new Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The parent club helps break in the new facility this afternoon at 2 p.m.

This is a great day for sports fans in the Lehigh Valley, who’ve been starved for affiliated baseball for far too long. Opening day (April 11) is sold out, a sign of things to come for the state’s third-largest metropolitan region. Pulling in fans from Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Philipsburg, N.J., along with their affluent suburbs, it won’t take long for this franchise to be seen as one of the class operations in Minor League baseball. For the Phillies, who also have a financial stake in the new franchise, it brings their highest levels of the minors into a nice, neat, expressway-linked base of operations. Coca-Cola Park will be well worth a visit.

As for the Phillies, they have one-last shot to work out the kinks before tomorrow’s game against the Nationals, who open their new stadium tonight against Atlanta. This afternoon’s game will air locally on channels 57 and 15. For a link of IronPigs regular-season broadcast information, click here.

Beerleaguer: It's Chase Utley's turn for NL MVP

Beerleaguer: Shallow pitching depth will doom Phils

The key to the Phillies' season isn'€™t the pitching staff as it sets up today. It's the last line of defense once those critical pieces fall off the board.

The Phillies spent spring training sorting out their pitching, auditioning about two-dozen candidates to fill two holes in the 'pen and rotation. Until Friday, the team decided only 10 nominees warranted jobs in the Major Leagues. The manager remains mostly noncommittal on his fifth starter, while the club bolstered the bullpen by acquiring a Double-A player off waivers.

Under normal circumstances, it isn'€™t a big deal. Many teams face questions and take chances around the edges. But the Phillies aren'€™t a normal team. The Phils were forced to use 28 pitchers last season, setting a franchise record. When it comes to pitching, they can't seem to find the answers.

All of the same problems threaten them again in 2008. They face doubt in the back of the bullpen, where Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson ended the season hurt, while Tom Gordon, age 40, will be asked to pitch through a torn labrum. In the rotation, there’s general concern 3-through-5 (though I'€™m not worried about Jamie Moyer) while the club’s best pitcher, Cole Hamels, has never been healthy for an entire season.

Smooth sailing is highly unlikely, even assuming these pitchers pitch like the Phillies want them to pitch. Lidge, who will return April 5 at the earliest, lost the closer job the last two seasons in Houston, and it wasn't due to injury. Kyle Kendrick, not blessed with great stuff, is now a familiar foe to opposing hitters. J.D. Durbin and John Ennis were better options than Adam Eaton at the end of the season.

But we know all that. Yet somehow, they captured the division. It took out-of-their-mind, over-their-head hitting to do so. Career years abounded, and that will be the difference between the 2007 version and the one that will finish 85-77, out of the playoffs and second to the Mets in a watered-down, aging NL East. It will resemble '06 more closely than '07. One can only ask so much from these gutsy, resilient players, but it never gets old asking for the little extras from ownership to fortify this excellent nucleus with championship-caliber support.

Community predictions: Readers are encouraged to continue sharing their thoughts on the 2008 season. Results will be posted later today.

Saturday: Community call for 2008 season predictions

So let's have it: Where do you see the Phillies finishing the season? Give us your regular-season record, NL East standing and playoff status. Tomorrow, Beerleaguer will tally the community results, plus, issue an official prediction. The last two seasons, the Berks County Carnac has either been right on the mark or one off the final number. Find out tomorrow whether that bodes well for the 2008 Phillies.

Report: Phillies acquire RHP Lahey, INF Woodward

Right-hander Tim Lahey, a converted catcher who has never pitched in the Majors, was claimed off waivers from the Cubs. Utility veteran Chris Woodward, who had been in Yankees camp, signed a minor league deal. In other news, J.D. Durbin, infielder Ray Olmedo and outfielder Chris Snelling were outrighted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

(From a Phillies news release) Lahey, 26, went to Spring Training with Chicago after being selected in December's Rule 5 Draft from Minnesota and appeared in 11 spring games. He was originally drafted by Minnesota in 2004 as a catcher and was converted to a pitcher after the season. Last year between Double-A New Britain and Triple-A Rochester, Lahey went 8-4 with 14 saves and a 3.65 ERA in 52 games.

Woodward, 31, hit .393 (11-28) in 15 games this spring for the Yankees. He spent last season with Atlanta and has also played for the Mets (2005-06) and Blue Jays (1999-2004), who originally drafted him in 1994. In 607 career games, Woodward has a .243 average with 33 home runs and 186 RBI. He has played every position on the diamond except pitcher and catcher.

Beerleaguer: Spring training experimentation will spill into the regular season, as our scouting department strikes again with yet another Rule 5 shot in the dark. Lahey, a big ox at 6-5, 250, has been added to the 25-man roster and will serve as the last man in the bullpen, at least temporarily. Today's transactions also mean Wes Helms will be on the team, barring a last-minute trade.

As usual, the Phils fill a need with the bare-minimum, and someone completely out of the blue. According to Cubs' officials after December’s draft, Lahey has "tremendous life on his fastball, a great sinking fastball and the makings of a good slider." He sounds a lot like fellow Rule-5er Lincoln Holdzkom, whom the Phillies let go earlier in camp. Only Holdzkom had more experience.

Moves like these are why we spend so much time pissing and moaning on this site. Performance, experience, success is absolutely, positively secondary to scouting reports. This move absolutely reeks of Phillies. They see something they like and assume everyone else got it wrong. It isn’t possible to be more disappointed in how the Phillies handled this.

The Woodward signing is interesting. He was an awful hitter last season (39 OPS+). There’s only a marginal difference between Woodward and Eric Bruntlett overall. They’re both right-handed and play multiple positions. Bruntlett is the better middle infielder. I don’t think Bruntlett has trade value, and I like Bruntlett better, but I definitely look at Woodward as a precursor for something – perhaps a move involving Wes Helms. Woodward, who signed a minor league deal, gives them another reservist who can man the corners.

Update: Olmedo refused his minor league assignment, according to the Inquirer. That's probably the main reason why Woodward is here.

Phils break camp with light pitching, heavy headaches

Adam Eaton is in mid-season form, reminding us, once again, that results don’t matter. He’s an ace in his own mind, inside his own champagne-room fantasy.

Eaton allowed 11 hits and six earned runs over 4 2-3 innings yesterday, assuring reporters “The way I feel and the way my stuff is, I’m very happy. I’d take what I had today out there, and I think I’d fare pretty well.” In the meantime, the rest of us look forward to the day when the universe he dwells in realigns with our own dimension.

Today, Adam Strange and the Phillies pack up their prairie schooners and migrate home for a mock game with the Blue Jays. Our headcount says they’re shy. Ain’t that a daisy. They’re carrying 10 pitchers. At this late stage, the best they can hope for is to round up a two-bit drifter with a ten-cent fastball, roasting weiners in the burn barrels of Value Village.

Transaction news: According to a couple reports, outfielder Chris Snelling has been exposed to waivers, with the Phillies waiting to see if another club puts in a claim.

Giants decline Blackley; lefty accepts AAA assignment

A day after cleaning out his locker, Rule 5 draft pick Travis Blackley has chosen to return to the Phillies organization after the Giants refuse to pick up his contract. He has been assigned outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Report: Durbin placed on waivers, 10 pitchers remain

J.D. Durbin’s departure could pave the way for the Phillies to acquire help from outside the organization. [Link]

The right-hander was arguably the team’s worst pitcher this spring, pitching to a 12.33 ERA in 15 1-3 innings. Teams can put in a claim, although it’s very possible no one will and the Real Deal will end up back with the club taking a minor league assignment. The move leaves 10 pitchers in camp, including five arms in the bullpen. Charlie Manuel said he’s concerned about the middle of the bullpen, which could be fortified through the waiver wire or trade in the next few days. The club continues to shop Wes Helms, with most reports saying it’s more likely than not he won't be with the team opening day. Time is running out.

Phillies finish Grapefruit League schedule today: With a chance to push their record to 13-15, Adam Eaton and the Phillies travel to Lakeland to play the Tigers in their Florida finale. Record-wise, the Phillies are sitting just below the middle of the pack at 12-15. The Rays (17-6), Marlins (18-9) and Mets (18-10) represent the teams with the best showings in Grapefruit League play.

Lackluster spring setting up last-minute scramble

Holes remain as the Phillies fail to find internal answers to fill the 25-man roster. Outside help may be on the way.

Almost a month and a half after pitchers and catchers reported and manager Charlie Manuel is still looking for someone to step up. Yesterday, the last of the darkhorse candidates fell by the wayside as Travis Blackley, Vic Darensbourg and Gary Knotts were given pink slips, leaving J.D. Durbin and his 12-plus ERA as the 11th man on the pitching staff – which everyone assumes is just temporary.

Blackley, given many looks all spring, was told his services aren’t needed, implying the Phillies would rather have absolutely nothing than keep the Rule 5 left-hander, who was placed on waivers until the Giants decide if they want him back. For a finesse lefty like Blackley to succeed -- especially in relief -- he must hit his spots, which he could not do; he issued 8 walks in 8 1-3 innings. Darensbourgh and Knotts, in camp as non-roster invitees, were never serious candidates.

With Brad Lidge on the DL, the Phillies will open the season with only five relievers with some semblance of Major League success, plus J.D., arguably this spring’s worst overall player. Meanwhile, Kyle Kendrick, shelled again yesterday, is giving Durbin a run for his money as the player inspiring the least amount of confidence.

The club is having a hard time moving Wes Helms. With Lidge on the DL, and fringe pitchers like Blackley out of the picture, Helms could stay after all. He’s fighting for the final spot with outfielder Chris Snelling, who’s out of options, but young, left-handed and versatile.

The Phils are surely considering pitching help from a growing list of current or possible roster casualties, including Mike Stanton, Steve Kline, Tim Byrdak, Aaron Fultz and Rudy Seanez. These next few days will be interesting.

Tuesday: National stat analyst looks into Phils' future

Michael Salfino, whose team and player performance analysis has appeared in nationwide publications, lends his expertise to Comcast SportsNet. [Link]

One of the many projects sitting on the Beerleaguer back burner is to pay a visit to Baseball Think Factory’s 2008 ZiPS projections, computer-based data used to calculate and predict future performance. To meet our stathead quota, we did this last year. There are two reasons why it hasn't been revisited: not enough time, and not enough understanding of how these systems work. Amazingly, I’m constantly asked to contribute to out-of-comfort-zone projects like the Hardball Times Annual. It’s assumed that because I’m young, on the Web, and host a popular blog that I’m juiced in to the latest statistical breakthroughs. The truth is, I’m from the old school and prefer naked eye observation. I reach for advanced data when I need to. That’s how I prefer to write Beerleaguer most of the time. As useful as they are, and as much as I believe in their principles, college-level stats, quite simply, aren’t my style.

Ironically, rebelling against these disciplines makes you pretty uncool in cyberspace, where guys like Michael Salfino get all the chicks. Salfino lent his data-driven eye to Comcast for an excellent summary of how three major projection systems – PECOTA, Bill James, ZiPS – forecast the starting lineup. Each capsule contains stuff that hasn't been covered here. It’s worth a read, just to find out how in the world someone from the new school has nothing but love for Pedro Feliz.

Game chat: Kyle Kendrick takes the hill when the Phillies take on the Reds today at 1:05 p.m. in Sarasota.

Breaking news: Lidge placed on DL, will miss opener

The Phillies' biggest off-season acquisition won't be ready for the season. Brad Lidge, recovering from knee surgery, has been placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 21, making him eligible to return April 5. [Link]

Beerleaguer: The Phillies hinted at this for months, even before his follow-up surgery. It's probably the correct move; Lidge will play a critical role this season. Rather than risk another setback with an early return, the Phils are thinking long-term. In the meantime, Tom Gordon returns to the closer role, where the Phils will find out the hard way whether there's any bite left in his curveball. Also, this is probably good news for someone like Travis Blackley, whose chances of sticking around just increased, and Clay Condrey will definitely make it now. If they don't get outside help, it might make sense to go with a six-man bench rather than cart around an extra pitcher everyone knows will stink. Wes Helms and Chris Snelling are possibilities.

Beer nuts: IronPigs announce preliminary roster

Lehigh Valley will feature an array of veterans, but little high-ceiling talent. [Link]

(From the Morning Call): Pitchers: RHP Jason Anderson, RHP Kevin Beirne, RHP Joe Bisenius, RHP Ron Chiavacci, RHP Matt Childers, RHP John Ennis, RHP Steve Green, LHP J.A. Happ, LHP Jason Kershner, LHP Brian Mazone, RHP Kris Wilson, LHP Shane Youman. Catchers: Jason Jaramillo, Pete Laforest. Infielder: Mike Cervenak, Gookie Dawkins, Mike Garciaparra, Joey Hammond, Brennan King, Casey Smith, Andy Tracy. Outfielders: T.J. Bohn, Val Pascucci, Mike Spidale, Brandon Watson.

Beerleaguer: Basically, it’s the same list from Sunday with a few notable exceptions, like outfielder Javon Moran and right-hander Zach Segovia, who are not on the list. There are a couple new faces I’ve never heard of. Right-hander Kevin Beirne spent 2005-2006 in Japan and pitched parts of three seasons with the White Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Minor league veteran Jason Kershner has a similar pedigree, spending parts of three seasons, long ago, with Toronto and San Diego. Some fans will recognize the name. From 1995-2001, he was in the Phillies’ organization. Right-hander Steve Green spent last season with Triple-A Norfolk (Baltimore) and earned one start with the Angels back in 2001.

Update: Phuture Phillies provides the latest transactions. [Link]

Fultz released by Indians: Former Phillie Aaron Fultz has pitched himself off Cleveland’s roster, despite having his 2008 $1.5 M option exercised by the club. From MLB.com – “Fultz, 34, had a rough spring, putting up an 11.88 ERA in seven Grapefruit League outings. He gave up 14 runs, 11 earned, on 16 hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings... An official transaction involving Fultz had not yet been made as of Monday morning, but it's expected he'll be designated and the Indians will try to find a trading partner for him. ‘He was a guy who, prior to the injury, pitched effectively for us,’ GM Mark Shapiro said. ‘He never really got back to that form after [the injury].’”

Beerleaguer: Fultz appears to be a fit for the Phillies, who’re seeking a final arm for the pen, preferably a left-hander. Fultz held the job for two seasons with the club and held the same role with Cleveland last season, where he went 4-3 with a 2.92 ERA with a 28/18 K/BB ratio in 37 innings, holding left-handers to a .198 average. He missed all of July with a strained ribcage. GM Pat Gillick, who signed Antonio Alfonseca, Jose Mesa and J.C. Romero last season, has said more than once that he prefers a veteran bullpen.

Game chat: Jamie Moyer deals when the Phillies travel to Legends Field to take on Phil Hughes and the Yankees tonight at 7:05 p.m. Discuss it here.

On the beat: Lauber's reports stand out from crowd

One day, Beerleaguer will have the power to headhunt writers away from their beat. When that day comes, Scott Lauber of The News-Journal will get a phone call. [Lauber Blog]

Admittedly, blogs like this one receive nourishment from second-hand sources, and that’s especially true during spring training. Aside from a few broadcasts, ST unfolds in relative darkness. It’s the job of luggage-toting pros, like Lauber and others, to report news, adopt issues and foster story lines as the team builds toward their goal.

As a general rule, the writers keep their distance from their subject matter, but on Beerleaguer, scribes like Lauber, Todd Zolecki, Ken Mandel and David Murphy will become prominent characters in the season-long drama. Rarely, as was the case with Sam Carchidi last season, they actually become the story. Radio jock Howard Eskin made news for his closed-door blowup with Charlie Manuel, but Eskin dwells in a more sensationalized medium.

In the meantime, the guys putting in the day-to-day work rarely receive the accolades, even though they are the first to file. It can be thankless task, grinding out copy, on the road, when the game goes to extras and you're up against a deadline. It’s easy to take for granted, especially in the Internet age, when headlines are washed through a million different feeds and appear on Web sites like this one moments after they're posted.

Phillies fans are blessed with a vast pool of writing talent. Even in the three years of maintaining Beerleaguer, our resources have grown leaps and bounds. It's becoming harder and harder to distinguish yourself. So how do you do it? In Lauber’s case, you keep your finger on the pulse and pay attention to forums like this one. You snuff out news and answer the questions fans will be asking the next day. You go off the beaten path and tap scouts from other clubs. Old pros like Jim Salisbury and Paul Hagen do this, too, but Lauber has done a nice job weaving alternative sources into daily reports, most recently, a feature on Pedro Feliz. He's written on prospects like Jason Donald months before they've made headlines. When Ryan Howard prepared for arbitration, he interviewed Tom Gordon, the only Phillie to ever go through the process. These angles do not go unnoticed, and his blog deserves the kind of participation this site receives. Lauber’s baseball acumen also shines. He's put The News-Journal on the map as a trusted source for Phillies news, proving it's not the size that counts.

So today, while we wait for tonight’s game, we give props to Lauber, and by extension, his colleagues on the beat. We spend countless hours disecting spring training performance, as it relates to players, while our unassuming writers are the real stars of spring. 

Sunday thread: Phillies place three pitchers on DL

A little over a week ago, Francisco Rosario was talked about as a possibility for the starting rotation. Now, the right hander, along with Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson, are on the disabled list.

Rosario has been placed on the 15-day DL with a right shoulder strain. Zagurski (hamstring) and Mathieson (Tommy John surgery) continue their rehabilitation.

How does this impact the bullpen? A likely setup could include Brad Lidge, Tom Gordon, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and either Vic Darensbourg or Travis Blackley securing the final spot if they elect to carry 12 pitchers. Blackley is a Rule 5 player and needs to make the club or be offered back to the Giants. The Australian southpaw has struggled lately, while Darensbourg, a minor league journeyman and non-roster invitee, has pitched effectively.

Game chat: Cole Hamels and the Phils take on the Blue Jays in Dunedin today at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday: Minor league rosters start to take shape

Although they will be finalized in April, one can picture how the farm clubs will look come opening day.

One of the great, untapped resources is the spring training guide on readingphillies.com, which features exhibition summaries of the four highest minor league teams. Here, you can read about how Fabio Castro worked three shutout innings in yesterday’s AA game. And on Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Durham Bulls played to a 0-0 tie, thanks in part to four shutout frames by J.A. Happ.

From the looks of things, the IronPigs will have a solid team for their inaugural season. Pitchers Happ, Joe Bisenius, Brian Mazone, Shane Youman and John Ennis all figure to be there. Zach Segovia, who won 16 games between Clearwater and Reading in 2006, appears to be pitching from LV’s bullpen, as is Kutztown University product Ron Chiavacci. Once healthy, Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson could begin their journey back to the Majors here as well. Position talent Jason Jaramillo, Val Pascucci, Brandon Watson, Javon Moran, Brennan King, Andy Tracy, Gookie Dawkins, T.J. Bohn and Mike Cervenak have all seen time in the Triple-A games and figure to round out the veteran core. They’ll also absorb some of the players who miss the final cut, guys like Gary Knotts, Vic Darensbourg, Ray Olmedo, Casey Smith, and possibly pitchers such as J.D. Durbin, assuming he clears waivers, and possibly Travis Blackley, if the Giants don't want him back.

The IronPigs will be competitive, but Reading will be the team to watch. Castro will start here, and from the looks of things, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Outman and Drew Carpenter will be there, too, representing the most promising arms in the system. They're promising up the middle, too: Jason Donald, Brad Harman, Lou Marson and Greg Golson will likely be here.

At the Class-A level, first-round pick Joe Savery, Adrian Cardenas, Dominic Brown, D’Arby Myers, Quintin Berry, Edgar Garcia, Freddy Galvis, Heitor Correa and Drew Naylor are worth monitoring on the Clearwater and Lakewood teams.

Game chat: Comcast SportsNet carries the action as Chad Durbin and the Phillies take on the Tigers at Bright House Field. Game time is 1:05 p.m. Enjoy your Saturday.

Programming note: Beerleaguer on 610-WIP tonight

Nightowls can tune in a little past 1 a.m. ET to Brian Startare's show, where we will highlight the latest Phillies news. Listen online at 610wip.com.

Game chat: Eaton makes fourth spring training start

The best man for the fifth starter job may be the one the Phillies hoped would have it all along. Adam Eaton, who remains mostly unchallenged for the final rotation spot, gets the call against the Twins.

The right-hander took some baby steps his last outing, a 3-inning, five-hit shutout against the Twins. At his best, Eaton was an ordinary, unexceptional pitcher last season, which the Phils would happily take. ... Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero are also scheduled today. For the Twinkies, Livan Hernandez takes the hill. [Live Boxscore]

Clout Day: The good, bad and ugly of spring stats

It's March 20*. Time for a round-up of Phillies spring performance.

The good: According to the latest totals, Brett Myers hasn’t walked a batter during Grapefruit League play. He hasn’t allowed a home run, either. Home runs are goofy because the wind can play tricks during spring in Florida, but the walks are a good sign the strike-thrower is in regular-season form. Myers is ready to go, and so is Jamie Moyer.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz, who was a .300 Triple-A hitter for two seasons, is hitting for high average here in March (.407/.485/.505). Chooch is already a nice little surprise who exceeded expectations and projections during his official rookie season, but if his totals can climb just a tad higher, it would be a coup for Charlie Manuel’s offense. Chooch has a chance to assert himself as one of the most complete catchers in the National League this season. From the reports, he's already asserting himself as a handler, which is what every team asks out of their catcher.

Nice spring by No. 6, too.

The bad: Generally, the entire bullpen and 2/5 of the starting rotation have been “bad,” but not quite “ugly," like the players in the next category. That includes Chad Durbin, Tom Gordon, Adam Eaton, Kyle Kendrick and Fabio Castro, who’s no longer in camp. Phillies’ pitching is making their defense work this spring, giving up a ton of hits. Defensively, they’re still working out the kinks.

The ugly: Pedro Feliz has zero walks and a .208 OBP in 48 ABs. It comes as no great surprise to many Beerleaguers, the majority of whom disliked the signing for this very reason. Charlie Manuel has been batting him between fourth and sixth. He needs to be hitting seventh or eighth. Good defense and the occasional homer could come as a high price. Teams get 27 outs to play with. Set aside a couple for "Senor Out."

It’s been an ugly spring for the right-field platoon. While Geoff Jenkins has heated up recently, Jayson Werth and his .179 SLG remains ice cold. In 39 at bats, he doubled once for his lone extra-base hit. He’s tied for the team lead with 13 strikeouts. Regression watch – Werth was one of the luckier Phillies hitters last season.

J.D. Durbin has given up 22 hits and 7 walks in only 12 1-3 innings. It would be a real miracle for the Real Deal to break camp with a spot on the 25-man.

*March 20 is "Clout Day" on Beerleaguer, which marks the official date Hall-of-Fame commentor, Clout, says it's acceptable to assess spring training performance and draw reasonable conclusions.

Opening Day Giveaway: Win PS3 MLB '08 The Show

Contest details: I will be a guest on Mike Faust's Feedback Show on 830-AM WEEU opening day, March 31. Bring something to the table as far as a Phillies point, then I'll ask you a trivia question. Questions will be of moderate difficulty, and will be related to the current team. Three copies of the PS3 game, which retails for $59.99, are available for the first three callers with correct answers. The radio show will be availabe via live streaming audio right here, opening day. Check back the morning of March 31 for more details.

Castro out of the running, optioned to Double-A

In 10 Grapefruit League innings, 23-year-old left-hander Fabio Castro failed to impress, allowing seven runs while fanning only three. [Link]

The move marks the first casualty of a player believed to have at least a remote chance of breaking camp. The live-armed lefty has been circling the Major League wagons since 2006, but his development took an unconventional turn as a Rule 5 player and he's missed considerable development time because of it. The assignment to Double-A Reading suggests he could be stretched out as a starter; the rotation at Triple-A Lehigh Valley appears to be set with a mix of veterans and older prospects. At this point, it’s tough to get a handle on where Castro is at, and how the Phils intend to use him.

Castro’s departure means two left-handers remain in the mix for spots in the bullpen: Rule 5 pick Travis Blackley, whose had a mixed spring, and non-roster invitee Vic Darensbourg, who has not been mentioned as a possibility in any report. One has to assume the Phils are seeking help from the outside as spare parts begin to shake loose from other clubs.

Game chat: Jamie Moyer matches up with Tampa Bay’s Edwin Jackson this afternoon at Progress Energy Park. 

Game chat: Young hurlers square off in Clearwater

The Phillies ride a spring-high two-game winning streak into today’s contest, which pits Cole Hamels and the Phils against Matt Garza and Rays. Game time is 1:05 p.m. [Live Boxscore]

After yesterday’s 6-4 win, there are signs the 7-12-1 Phils are flipping the switch, but one guy who hasn't turned it on is outfielder Geoff Jenkins, who's hitting just .136 (6-44) with only 1 RBI for his new team. ... This will be Hamels’ third Grapefruit League start, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to see some positive results as he’s running out of chances to work out the kinks before it counts for real. ... Also on the docket, Travis Blackley and Fabio Castro will see action this afternoon, trying to earn points toward making the roster. Blackley last pitched on Sunday, so they’re definitely giving him a hard look. Ryan Madson is also scheduled.

Beer nuts: Benson shut down with biceps tendinitis

A round-up of news, notes and retractions.

Benson out: Right-hander Kris Benson suffered what is being described as a small setback in his road to recovery, feeling discomfort in his pitching arm two days after throwing 57 pitches in a minor league game. [Lauber]

Lidge pitches tomorrow: Closer Brad Lidge, who is recovering from knee surgery, will pitch a minor league game Thursday. It is his first game action since last season. The right-hander re-injured his right knee pitching batting practice early in camp. Reports are if he pitches well, he could pitch a Grapefruit League game Sunday. [Link]

Upon further review: I sought the opinion of a trusted source on the yesterday’s topic of Shane Victorino, who says there’s no hard evidence to support the notion that he is hard for Charlie Manuel to handle.

Helms a good fit for San Francisco? Paul Hagen of the Daily News thinks so. He sees a match between the Phils and Giants in a deal that would send third baseman Wes Helms out west for Lancaster County-native Steve Kline. The 35-year-old left-hander pitched 46 innings for the Giants last season, going 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA, including a very marginal 17/18 K/BB ratio, the worst of his career. The Phillies would be hoping for numbers more in line with his career norm. [Notebook]

Phillies flip the switch on Cleveland 6-4: Catcher and newest member of Beerleaguer’s fantasy team Carlos Ruiz continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 in leading the Phillies to a 12-hit afternoon in a winning cause.

Transactions: Brennan King, Jason Jaramillo and Pete LaForest are among the latest players moved to minor league camp.

Game chat: Phillies go green today against Cleveland

The home team sports the colors of St. Patrick’s Day when they host to the Indians at 1:05 in Clearwater. Chad Durbin makes his first official Grapefruit League start.

Today's rant: Instead of green dye, Charlie Manuel is lacing his beer with Goodys Headache Powder. His club is looking a little rough around the edges. His core isn’t taking it seriously. The rest are transposable, interchangeable, pain in the ass parts. He’s trying to sledgehammer square pegs into round holes. He’s trying to make Travis Blackley, who went unprotected by the Giants, into a reliever, even though he’s never done it. The team is trying to figure out what the hell to do with Wes Helms, and also Chris Snelling. Snelling is young and may be useful, but he’s out of options and is blocked by someone who’s 12 years older. Manuel’s bosses are reportedly on the phone, working last minute deals, because late March is traditionally the best time for that. The latest rumor finds Colorado left-hander Brian Fuentes on their radar, but they are competing with clubs who may have more to offer. Fuentes would be a upgrade over last spring's bargain acquisitions, currently serving as placeholders until the Phillies select their latest leisure suit from baseball's clearance rack.

Today's topic: Trade center fielder Shane Victorino to a money-strapped club for better pitching.

Game chat: Phillies travel to Sarasota to battle Reds

Brett Myers will start, while Travis Blackley and Clay Condrey are set to follow. The first pitch is 1:05 p.m.

Yesterday in Clearwater, the Phillies fell to the the Twins11-2. The good news is Adam Eaton pitched well, allowing five hits in three scoreless innings. Ryan Howard hit his fourth homer. Unfortunately, Charlie Manuel is reportedly growing more concerned with his team’s play, holding a closed-door meeting with centerfielder Shane Victorino after yesterday’s loss, according to the Inquirer. The topic of the conversation was not revealed. In addition, Manuel told beat writer Todd Zolecki he’s looking for someone to fill Aaron Rowand’s shoes as an outspoken leader.

Transactions: The Phils continue to separate the wheat from the chaff, making several cuts. Sugar Shane Youman and John Ennis were reassigned to minor league camp, and on Friday, Carlos Carrasco, Greg Golson and Brandon Watson were also reassigned. Youman’s departure might be seen as a surprise to some, but it shouldn’t be. He's not a Major League pitcher. The others were never in the team’s plans, although Carrasco showed some promise and may be looked at down the line. The Phils are basically left with J.D. Durbin, Travis Blackely, Francisco Rosario, Clay Condrey and Fabio Castro to fill the available openings.

Saturday: Phils' skipper disappointed in complacency

The pitchers aren't pitching. The hitters aren't hitting. There are 16 games left for Charlie Manuel's Phillies to change that before it counts.

This morning, there were a couple write-ups on Manuel, basically laying it on the table. The Phils, who are 5-11-1 this spring, are dogging it. They're too cool, he believes. That includes team leaders. No one was mentioned specifically, but he didn't need to. We get the point. The question is, is it time for Manuel to look in the mirror? Are his players taking cues from the top? Does his hands-off approach, which keeps players loose during the dog days of summer, hurt him in the frosty early weeks, when success sometimes boils down to who wants it most?

The Phillies have a habit of playing catch-up until September. Last season, it miraculously worked. If you're hoping this season is any different, beware. Old habits die hard, especially when there's an enabler involved.

Game chat: Adam Eaton is scheduled. Discuss it here.

Game chat: Francisco Rosario takes a turn vs. Braves

Emerging as a candidate for the starting rotation, the right-hander enters today’s game with a 6.2-inning scoreless streak and ranks among Grapefruit League leaders in ERA (1.04) and strikeouts (8). Shane Youman, Clay Condrey and Carlos Carrasco are also scheduled to pitch.

Transactions: The Phillies made a couple roster moves today. Outfielder T.J. Bohn was optioned to minor league camp and left-hander Josh Outman was re-assigned to minor league camp.

Friday: Outfield defense shines as Phillies snap skid

Japanese veteran So Taguchi flashed his glove by making three outstanding plays in right, lined a single and stole second as the Phils took down the Reds 10–7.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Second baseman Casey Smith continued his hot hitting with a three-run homer and an RBI single in the fourth. In addition to Taguchi, more outstanding glove work was flashed by Shane Victorino and Greg Golson. Wes Helms and Golson each had a pair of hard hits. Golson is batting .500 in Grapefruit League play. On the pitching side, no one stood out, except Tom Gordon retired three minor leaguers. Least impressive player on the field: the Reds’ Corey Patterson.

– Report by Martin Smith

Beerleaguer: You don’t have to worry about protecting the gaps when you roll out Golson, Victorino and Taguchi. Jamie Moyer has never been so spoiled. And how about Golson this spring? He’s 6-for-12 with 10 total bases. It might be time to move the 2004 first-round pick into the “nice surprise” category. The 22-year-old worked out with Charlie Manuel this winter and it appears to be paying dividends. After striking out close to 500 times in four seasons on the farm, he’s seen nothing but criticism here. Statistically, there’s nothing to indicate a Major League future. However, word is he’s eager to improve, and there's still time to do it. Everyone raves about his athleticism and some scouts believe he will put it together. He’s ticketed for Double-A Reading.

Write this down: Golson’s 2008 will be the most important single season of any player in their system. The outcome could even impact the team’s decision to keep Pat Burrell.

Lohse, Cardinals reach agreement on 1-year, $4.25M deal: And that's that.

Thursday: Phillies still waiting for someone to step up

The home team fell to 4-10-1 in Grapefruit League play yesterday. They also have a losing record this spring in discovering emerging talent.

Yesterday, we talked about spring training, what it means and whether it should be seen as a reliable gauge for what we can expect next season. From Charlie Manuel’s point of view, spring training is about finding someone who can step forward, surprise him and stake his claim to one of the few available openings, specifically in the bullpen or in the fifth starter slot.

Michael Bourn, Greg Dobbs and Chris Coste are among those who opened eyes the previous two springs, but for the most part, it hasn’t happened here. Yesterday, the Phillies trimmed Rule 5 pick Lincoln Holdzkom from the active roster, and smart money says they’ll do the same with fellow Rule 5er Travis Blackley. Other candidates, like J.D. Durbin, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey and Fabio Castro, have been inconsistent.

According to the Inquirer, one of the few pitchers who’s impressed, Francisco Rosario, will be given a start Friday against the Braves. The report actually says he will start today’s game, but it appears Jamie Moyer will take his regular turn tonight against the Reds. It might have been a typo.

If the report is correct, I’m glad to see it, although it’s unclear what it actually means. Are they stretching him out against experienced hitters they way they did with Ryan Madson last night, or is he auditioning for fifth starter? Chances are, the beat writers will find out more in the next day or so.

Oddly, I’m finding myself pulling for Rosario more than any darkhorse in camp. There’s a scenario kicking around my head where the right-hander earns a handful of starts before Kris Benson is ready. He gives them a quality start or two, then folds back into the bullpen once Benson is added. If the Phils can milk anything close to that from the 27-year-old Dominican, add another to name to the list of value contributors made by Pat Gillick and company.

What have we learned so far? Absolutely nothing

The last few weeks haven’t revealed anything we didn’t already know about the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies.

Daily affirmation: The Phillies’ record holds at 0-0. Their ERA is 0.00. How much does this putrid spring matter? It depends who you ask. Last year’s top concerns included Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard’s weight, Jon Lieber’s role and Aaron Rowand’s lousy play. Wes Helms was raking like a superstar. Zach Segovia pitched his way into the Phils' rotation (for one game). Those who support the notion that spring matters can point toward a lackluster spring one year ago, immediately followed by a dismal April mired in poor execution. They look at Howard's slump and nagging leg. Those who oppose the notion look at Rowand, Helms and Gavin Floyd's Magical March of 2006.

But frankly, the last few weeks haven’t taught us anything we didn’t already know. J.D. and Chad are a dime a Durbin. This isn't new information. They’re with the Phils because they were unwanted by their previous club, in J.D.’s case, many clubs. The bottom of the bullpen appears a little thin, and they're still looking for outside help. No kidding. They're auditioning players who couldn't cut it a year ago, and they didn't make significant improvements deeper in ranks. Brad Lidge’s knee would put him behind schedule. Ruben Amaro Jr. said this months ago. Adam Eaton is no good. We knew this last May.

The only new information – Kris Benson is further along than expected. The other notable surprise: The number of people who believe Kyle Kendrick will see his sophomore shadow (hat tip to Jake for the photo). If he flops, can we blame the writers for giving the kid an inferiority complex?

Bring on March 31. It’s totally worth remembering that the Phils open the season by sending Hamels and Brett Myers up against whatever second-tier duo the Nationals come up with. Ideally, and realistically, the buck stops there and you can forget about the Grapefruit League drama and its second-rate cast.

Holdzkom offered back, refused by Red Sox: Right-handed reliever Lincoln Holdzkom, a late pick in the Rule 5 draft, is now a free agent, according to Phillies.com. It's possible the Phillies will offer him a minor league deal, the same process that kept Shane Victorino with the Phils back in 2004. Holdzkom was considered a longshot to remain on the 25-man roster.

Game chat: Ryan Madson tackles the Reds. The team says it's just a way to give Madson innings against starting players. The game is in Clearwater tonight at 7:05 p.m.. Clay Condrey, Francisco Rosario and Carlos Carrasco are also scheduled.

Report: Phillies 'on lookout' for second lefty reliever

As we search the Web for useful updates, the mouse lands on a piece from Randy Miller of Phillyburbs.com, who spoke with GM Pat Gillick about the possibility of acquiring additional pitching help. [Link]

“The Phillies are on the lookout for more pitching, but for a second southpaw reliever to complement J.C. Romero,” Miller writes in his piece on the sub-par pitching performances so far this spring. “So far, none of the other lefty relievers in camp — Fabio Castro, Vic Darensbourg and Shane Youman — has been consistent, and Mike Zagurski is still recovering from hamstring surgery. In addition, Gillick ruled out free agent Kyle Lohse, saying the club made him an offer, but he “decided to do something else.”

Beerleaguer: It’s going to be difficult to pry away quality pitching before the start of the season. They might be able to swing something for a roster casualty, a left-hander who’s out of options or someone who lost a spring-training battle, but it's hard to imagine finding a significant improvement over what’s already in place. They have nothing to trade.

So basically, they’re in the same pickle they were last season. Guys are hurt. They’re understaffed. They're inexperienced. No one has magically emerged, so now they’ll wait and see what shakes loose. It's starting to look like the front office will leave Charlie Manuel's bullpen with a short deck for the third year in a row, but I'll approach the situation with guarded optimism that outside help is coming. After all, there are non-roster invitees in other camps who could probably pitch the seventh inning for us.

Monday thread: Phillies send 14 to minor league camp

Right-handers Joe Bisenius, Scott Mathieson and left-hander J.A. Happ are among those optioned.

In addition, infielder Brad Harman was optioned. They also reassigned right-hander Ron Chiavacci, right-hander Zack Segovia, left-hander Brian Mazone, left-hander Joe Savery, catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, catcher Lou Marson, infielder Jason Donald, infielder Mike Cervenak, infielder Andy Tracy and outfielder Valentino Pascucci. Beerleaguer: No major surprises, but I expected Bisenius and Happ to hang out maybe a little longer. They're giving the opportunities to players without options, guys like J.D. Durbin, who pitches today. Savery is back where he belongs after a couple trial runs. Mazone and Segovia both earned spring auditions last season; Segovia is recovering from arm issues.

Game chat: J.D. Durbin takes another turn today in Bradenton against the Pirates. Tom Gordon is also expected to pitch. Game time is 1:05. Discuss the game, Kyle Kendrick's latest shelling and the rest of the Phillies' news right here. I will be in Hershey today attending a conference. Big-time stuff.

Sunday thread: Kendrick, Phillies, battle Blue Jays

Right-hander Kyle Kendrick tries to rebound following a rough outing his last time out when the Phils take on Toronto today at 1:05 p.m. at Bright House Field. The game will be broadcast locally on 1210 AM.

Saturday thread: Benson, Blackley in action today

Kris Benson will make a simulated minor league appearance against Jamie Moyer, his first game action as a Phillie. Later on, left-hander Travis Blackley gets the ball against Fausto Carmona and the Cleveland Indians. Both Benson and Blackley are considered fifth-starter candidates. Lincoln Holdzkom, Clay Condrey and Joe Savery will also pitch against the Tribe. Beerleaguer: This will be an interesting day. Blackey can really improve his chances with a strong showing against Cleveland, while positive results from Benson could put him on the fast track.

Carrasco in relief, Rosario in rotation, intriguing ideas

Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to pitch in relief today, and although officials consider him a long shot, bullpen success could point toward a means to break him in, and add quality to the ’pen, at a later date.

The consensus from officials is that the 20-year-old right-hander needs another season in the minors, but as one reader points out, it's not unusual for teams to groom touted pitching prospects through the ’pen.

"Earl Weaver used to do this with his pitching prospects, both [Johan] Santana and [Francisco] Liriano developed this way in Minnesota and currently Joba Chamberlain is doing it (and the Red Sox were going to do it with Clay Bucholz last year, but he got hurt),” writes Jack of our comments thread. “I really think it's a good way to break your young starting prospects into the Majors while limiting their innings and being able to closely control their development ... it seems to me like a creative way to control both your pitcher’s development and add some talent into your bullpen.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Francisco Rosario could be looked at in opposite terms. With Toronto, the hard-throwing right-hander started 89 of 110 games in the minors and was converted to relief as a way to break in. Injury problems have hindered his career, including time on the 60-day DL last season, but he has rebounded and appears to be in great position to make the team in relief. Only lately, he’s been given extended innings, not only this spring, but in the Dominican Winter League, where he started four regular-season games, going 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA, in addition to pitching six shutout innings during the Caribbean Series. Among the team leaders in innings already this spring, Rosario has allowed one run while striking out 7 in 5 1-3 innings.

Game chat: Cole Hamels makes his second Grapefruit League start today at 1:05 p.m. against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg. Carrasco, Fabio Castro and Tom Gordon are also scheduled. Gordon will be looking to rebound from two poor appearances. [Live Boxscore]

Game chat: Eaton takes another crack this afternoon

Right-hander Adam Eaton makes his second appearance of spring when the Phillies host the Tampa Bay Rays at 1:05 p.m. at Bright House Field in Clearwater. James Shields counters for Tampa. [Box]

Benson pushing Eaton? Eaton struggled his first start, and although it’s still early, more of the same may not bode well for his fifth-starter hopes. In the meantime, Kris Benson’s timetable appears to be shrinking. Benson will pitch an intra-squad minor league game on Saturday and hasn’t experienced any setbacks. It’s too soon to say, but one scenario starting to gain traction among beat writers like Scott Lauber is the one where Benson begins the season on the disabled list, rehabs for a month, then replaces Eaton, or the spring winner, in late April/early May. For now, it appears the job is Eaton’s to lose, and Benson is being seen as a viable alternative. J.D. Durbin was hammered yesterday, Chad Durbin has yet to start a game and Kyle Lohse is not in their plans.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Strikeouts back in vogue

Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer says there’s little statistical evidence to sweat strikeouts, but one longtime reader wonders whether an inability to move runners has hurt the Phillies late in ballgames.

“I don't think anyone would disagree that the purpose of an offense is to score runs, and if the Phillies score a ton of runs, then the percentage of the time they strikeout is somewhat irrelevant,” one long-time Beerleaguer writes.  “But intuitively you know that hitting the ball will result in better outcomes than not hitting it, no matter how much improved defenses are in MLB. The issue has always been the same: guys who consistently make contact winning batting titles; guys who strikeout a lot winning HR titles. They both have their place.

“One thing I did want to check in relation to the impact of so many Ks on the Phillies is their ability to move the runner along. In each of the past three seasons, the Phillies had a losing record in one-run games, even though their overall W-L record was very good. Last season they were 14-23 in one-run games. I consider that significant, nine games below .500. Now you can blame the bullpen if you like, and it certainly has an impact, but losing 23 games by one run also shows an inability to get a run when you really need it. I believe that is directly related to the high number of strikeouts in the lineup.”

Wednesday: Phillies fab five stars of spring, so far

After a week of sample data, it’s time to honor our heroes of late February/early March.

Ryan Howard: The big man has connected for seven hits in 16 at bats (.438) and tallied 13 total bases – with just three strikeouts. Jamie Moyer: Near perfect so far in this his 243rd spring training. Carlos Carrasco: Even better than four scoreless frames are the accolades from the skipper. Francisco Rosario: A strong showing in the Caribbean Series has translated into spring training (5.1 IP, 7 SO, 2 BB, 1 ER). Out of options, the right-hander holds the early edge in the battle for the sixth inning. Eric Bruntlett: New utilityman working it out (7-15, 2 XBH) before a season on the bench.

Lohse thoughts: Sometimes it pays to step away from Beerleaguer and gain a fresh perspective, particularly when it comes to Kyle Lohse and the prevailing opinion that the Phils need to snag him at the current discount. Over on sites like MLB Trade Rumors, readers don’t see Lohse through the same set of rose-colored glasses, particularly fans of his former teams: the Reds and Twins. They don’t even think he’s worth $4M.

“as a Reds fan watching Loshe for the past couple of years, I can say he’s pretty horrifying. i would avoid watching to games on TV because it was always just a matter of time before the wheels fell off. The problem here seems to be Lohse’s expectation that, just because he’s got good raw stuff, he deserves millions of dollars. In reality, he’s had plenty of chances to put it all together and has failed miserably."

I’ve stayed mum on Lohse for most of the winter, but I’m willing to believe that a 1-year, $4-6M deal wouldn’t carry much risk and would represent a better play than Adam Eaton, Chad Durbin or Travis Blackley. Seems simple enough, so why hasn't it happened? When 20 other teams need to upgrade their staff, why is Lohse unemployeed? Perhaps the answer is just as simple: He's nothing special.

Split squad game chat: Brett Myers gets the Blue Jays and J.D. Durbin draws the Tigers today in Florida. Discuss it here.

Programming note: Beerleaguer on 610-WIP tonight

Tune in to Brian Startare's show tonight at 12:10 a.m. as we discuss Cole Hamels and the economics of baseball, a job made easier thanks to the excellent reader insights and angles written in yesterday's thread. Truly one of the best yet. And kudos to Jim Salisbury of the Inquirer for nailing this issue -- and the Wang comp -- the very first time, on deadline. Props go out to both tonight on WIP.

Game chat: Kendrick, Phillies get first look at Braves

Right-hander Kyle Kendrick toes the rubber today at 1:05 p.m. when the Phillies take on Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves at Disney World. Chat about it here, among other topics.

Preview: Nationals' hodgepodge hoping to surprise

Welcome to Washington, baseball's great American melting pot. We check in with blogger Chris Needham for our annual look at the mixed-bag Nats. [Depth chart]

Beerleaguer: There was a good article last week on the Nationals' Web site about Jim Bowden having success last season acquiring bargain reclamation projects, which is a topic that always interests me. This season appears to be no different, where Brett Boone is trying to make a comeback, Odalis Perez is a non-roster invitee, and Elijah Dukes will be given a second chance despite his sketchy past. What do you expect from this season's scrap pile?

Chris Needham: Of those three, Boone's the one who has the least chance to contribute. The Nats are pretty deep (even if lacking talent) on the infield, so he'd have a tough battle. I'd expect that Perez makes the club out of spring if he doesn't blow up in spring. The team needs some depth with the starting pitching, especially with Shawn Hill's and John Patterson's injury histories. He'll be this year's warm body to mop up some innings, so long as he can keep his ERA under 6! Dukes is definitely interesting. I can't stand the move as a fan, even if I understand it as a purely baseball decision. The guy's got a world of talent. If he can just harness it -- and he'll be given every chance to contribute this year, even if he's likely starting as the 4th outfielder -- the sky's the limit.

Beerleaguer: You said last season that front office officials were quietly bracing for 100 losses, which didn't happen. Why didn't it?

Chris Needham: First, I'm not sure those expectations were quite reasonable. As bad as the pitching looked, it wasn't much better the year before that, and there WAS a lot of talent on the team -- Zimmerman, Kearns, Cordero, Rauch, etc. The biggest reasons why they didn't go down the tank was because Manny Acta leveraged the strengths of the club. He nursed the terrible SP through the barest of contributions, turning the ball over to the mostly excellent bullpen at first chance. The bullpen pitched a ton of innings, quite effectively, keeping the team in a bunch of games where the SP didn't make it out of the 5th. Throw in a surprising season from Dmitri Young, and there was just enough to be bad, not terrible.

Beerleaguer: What was your take on the Lastings Milledge deal?

Chris Needham: Thinking about the trade, even weeks later, still makes me smile. I liked both Ryan Church and Brian Schneider, but neither is truly a championship-caliber player. Schneider took a lot of credit for holding the pitching together, but the amount of credit for that increased as the quality of his bat decreased, and I was always skeptical of that because of that. I'm looking forward to seeing Milledge -- whose biggest offense seems to be cheesing off crotchety old white sportswriters and redneck former Phillies closers -- play and live up to that potential. It's likely that he's going to do as well as Church did, for a fraction of the cost, and with a potential to go beyond that in the future.

Beerleaguer: When talking about the best right-handers in the National League, should Shawn Hill be included in the discussion?

Chris Needham: The Shawn Hill who's already being sent for his yearly forearm MRI? Nope, not yet. When he's healthy, perhaps, but that occurs about as often as an Adam Eaton quality start.

Beerleaguer: How does the rotation shape up?

Chris Needham: I'm not looking at it as a rotation, but a depth chart. They have too many guys with injury problems, or who have questions about their ability to pitch in the majors. The first wave is likely to include Hill, John Patterson, Jason Bergmann, Tim Redding and recently signed Odalis Perez. The second wave likely features Philly's favorite son John Lannan, Matt Chico, Tyler Clippard, Garret Mock and Ross Detwiler. (Rubbing your hands and drooling at the possibilities yet?)

Beerleaguer: Is the bullpen still the Nats’ greatest strength?

Chris Needham: It certainly was last year. Rauch and Saul Rivera have been ironmen. I do wonder, though, if that workload is going to catch up to them one of these days. Chad Cordero seems like he's worn down towards the end in a few of these seasons. But, like the rotation, they have a lot of depth. Unlike the rotation, there's some quality depth. I'd expect Acta to again go to the pen early and often, trying to nurse any lead he can get.

Beerleaguer: What's the situation between Ryan Zimmerman and Nationals regarding a long-term deal?

Chris Needham: The team doesn't like to talk contracts in the public, and the only thing they've said is that they'd consider something like the deal that Troy Tulowitzki just signed. Given that he has much less service time and it's covering an early range of years, that's pretty laughable if that's the offer. It seems like Zimmerman's content to just go year to year, especially with Ryan Howard lugging the market up a notch or two.

Beerleaguer: Can the Nationals count on repeat performances from players like Ronnie Belliard and Dimitri Young, and what should we expect from the rest of the regulars?

Chris Needham: In the case of Belliard and Young, the good thing is that even if they don't, Felipe Lopez and Nick Johnson are there to pick up the slack. I'd probably even give that twosome the early lead in the battles for first and second, respectively.

The team seems to really be eager to give Pena 500 ABs to prove himself. Can hit hit 40 homers? Will he strike out 250 times? Will his on-base be higher than Pedro Feliz's? If you've got a fantasy team, I'd buy low on Kearns. I think he's ready for a breakout. RFK just killed him, and he struggled early in the year with the mechanics of his swing. He was much better in the second half and on the road, and I really think that this is the year he could live up to that potential he's shown in prior years.

Chris Needham is the author of Capitol Punishment, a blog about the Washington Nationals.

Phils take two; Savery, Outman have strong showings

The Phillies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 behind good pitching from their top left handed pitching prospects, Joe Savery and Josh Outman. They also blanked the Buccos in the B-game 1-0.

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The duo fared much better than last week against these same Pirates, combining for five shutout innings against a lineup comprised mostly of starting players. Although they walked four, they were around the plate all day and were able to work out of jams. Zack Segovia and Joe Bisensius also worked scoreless frames. The lone Pirates run was scored in the eighth off J.C Romero. Infielder Eric Bruntlett led the offense, going 3-4 with two RBIs. Ryan Howard continues to swing a good bat and was 2-3 with a double.

The Phils also won an earlier seven-inning B-game against the Pirates 1-0. Jamie Moyer and Travis Blackley pitched the shutout against a unit with uniform numbers in the 60s and 70s. Minor league infielder Michael Cervenak hit a homerun for the Phils lone run. – Billy Mac

Beerleaguer: Thank you to Billy Mac for his reports and photos from spring training this week and we wish him a safe trip home.

Lopes diagnosed with cancer: Phillies first-base coach Davy Lopes has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the team has announced. He is scheduled for surgery later this month and his recovery is expected to last six weeks. Jerry Martin, a minor league outfield and base-running instructor, will temporarily take over Lopes' duties, according to a report. Our thoughts go out to Lopes, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Has Hollywood Hamels shown his true colors?

Cole Hamels called the Phillies’ $500,000 contract renewal a “low blow” and said he was expecting a couple hundred thousand more, continuing a trend of wants and needs expressed by the 24-year-old left-hander.

The Phillies renewal was right in line for a player of his service time and comparable to other pitchers with similar achievements, but it wasn’t enough for Hamels, who feels disrespected by the club and suggested he would remember the slight down the road, implying free agency. A confident competitor who believes he can become one of the all-time greats, Hamels expressed his displeasure with the club last season for choosing not to hire a chiropractor to deal with his chronic back problems. The team eventually caved and hired one.

Beerleaguer: The sports world is filled with selfish Narcissists, only most of them have the good sense not to pop off like Hamels did. He isn’t the first talented player to gripe about a low-figure contract renewal, and he won’t be the last, but his impatience and behavior, in this case, are particularly alarming. It irks me.

In one-and-a-half seasons, the talented left-hander isn’t shy about telling the world about the kind of player he hopes to become. When it comes to Hamels, Hamels has no filter. What’s bothersome is his perception of a team and what it means to be part of one. He has a funny way of asking what the Phillies can do for him and not the other way around. One wonders whether being part of the Phillies means anything to him, other than a means to achieve personal glory.

Phillies, Yankees play to 7-7 tie: Hamels didn't do much to help his case yesterday in Tampa, where he was victimized by the long ball, charged with four runs in just two innings in his 2008 spring debut. Hamels gave up a three-run homer to Jason Giambi in the first inning and a solo shot to Jason Lane in the second. The Yanks added two more runs off Fabio Castro in his two innings. The Phils battled back including a home run by Pat Burrell in the sixth to cut the lead to 6-5. Top prospect Carlos Carrasco was impressive again, going three scoreless innings, giving up three singles, no walks , and recording three strikeouts. The Phils took the lead in the eighth with RBI singles by non-roster invitee Brandon Watson and Greg Golson. Golson also made a spectacular diving catch in centerfield.  Lincoln Holzkom was charged with the blown save by surrendering the tying run in the eighth inning. – Billy Mac

Game chat: Phillies take on the Pirates today at 1:05 p.m. Discuss it here.

Sunday notes: Confident Hamels makes spring debut

Left-hander Cole Hamels, featured in today's Inquirer, will take the mound when the Phillies travel to Legends Field in Tampa to take on Andy Pettitte and the Yankees. The first pitch is 1:15 p.m.

Scheduled to throw: Fabio Castro, Carlos Carrasco and Lincoln Holdzkom are expected to follow Hamels, according to the Inquirer. Carrasco, considered the team's top prospect, impressed Charlie Manuel the last time he threw. Ryan Howard, Geoff Jenkins and Shane Victorino will not make the trip, according to the Courier-Times.

Phillies roughed up: Adam Eaton gave up three runs on five hits in two innings, Chad Durbin allowed two runs in two innings and Tom Gordon surrendered two runs in 2-3 innings in a 9-3 loss to the Yankees yesterday. Clay Condrey and Vic Darensbourg were touched up with solo home runs. Offensively, Greg Golson homed for a second-straight day; the first came in a B-game yesterday. Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz went 2-for-2; Ruiz is hitting .750 this spring.

Transaction: Right-hander John Ennis cleared waivers and was re-signed to a minor-league contract. He struck out the only batter he faced yesterday.

Injury updates: Brad Lidge could begin throwing off the mound next week, according to reports. He told the Daily News his knee feels even better than it did before re-injuring it, and says he holds out hope he will be ready by opening day. Left-hander Mike Zagurski, recovering from a hamstring injury suffered last season, will begin throwing off the mound.

Phillies make broadcast debut today against Yanks

Embattled right-hander Adam Eaton is scheduled for his first spring start against Chien-Ming Wang and the New York Yankees today at 1 p.m. on CW Philly and MLB.TV.

Pitching matchups: Eaton will be followed by Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, Clay Condrey, and Tom Gordon. For the Yankes, Wang will start to be followed by Darrell Rasner, Chris Britton, Jonathan Albaladejo, Heath Phillips, Dan Giese and Ross Ohlendorf. Robinson Cano, Jason Giambi, Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada are not scheduled to make the trip to Clearwater. – Billy Mac

What to watch: Eaton, who’s right at the top of those worth monitoring this spring. Still owed around $16 million on a three-year deal, astute readers spotted mediocrity his very first spring outing one year ago. It was a sign of things to come. The 30-year-old right-hander finished with a 6.29 ERA and was left off the post-season roster, believed to be suffering a bum arm. An off-season MRI revealed nothing, so his problems are still a point of debate. He will be given every chance to reclaim a spot in the starting rotation. It may be March 1, but for players like Eaton, it's meaningful baseball.