Breaking news: Gload activated; Dobbs returns

The next wave of Phillies roster additions has been announced.

As expected, third baseman Greg Dobbs returns to the bench following his second demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he was beginning to heat up, hitting .289/.386/.579 with two homers in his last 10 games. Dobbs was taken off the 40-man roster when he was outrighted to Triple-A, so his contract was purchased and he has been added to the 40-man. Meanwhile, Ross Gload, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled groin, rejoins the club after a pair of rehab games with Single-A Clearwater. Gload benefited from regular playing time in the absence of Ryan Howard, pulling his season slash line up to .279/.333/.486. Dobbs and Gload join Mike Sweeney, Ben Francisco, Brian Schneider, Paul Hoover, Domonic Brown and Wilson Valdez on a pretty good-looking September bench.

Comments

[Bridoc10]

In light of this news, I have a roster question:

Gload is eligible for the postseason, but Dobbs isn't. Correct?

[Terry Harmon]

Good looking -maybe Sweeney and Dobbs; but have you seen Valdez??

[Malcolm]

How bout a pitcher?

Could use a pitcher.

[king myno]

Not an Eric Bruntlett or a So Taguchi to be found. Hooray!

[Bonehead]

Also, its nice to have a pinch-runner-type on the bench. I guess with Gload and Dobbs returning, Dom can fill that role.

[Heather]

What is the fascination with Dobbs? Isn't 2 years enough to see that he can't really hit or play defense? I'm baffled, really. If he was honestly their best option to call up, then they should have done something in the waiver period. If Dobbs is the answer, the Phils need to be asking a different question.

[Willard Preacher]

I'll go so far as to say that if we see Dobbs inserted into a game, it's because we're in a very bad situation (i.e. someone got hurt, we already burned 3 or 4 PH's, game is a blowout, etc.). Not a good thing if he's doing anything other than chucking with Paul Hoover in the dugout.

In fact, I think that we should task someone with stealing his glove and throwing it into a wood chipper, just in case Cholly is feeling a little frisky or inebriated in the next month.

[brad]

Would it kill them to call up a long man from the Iron Pigs? A warm body in case of an extra innings marathon or a KK shelling in the 2nd? Is there a reason why they would not want every possible advantage in the stretch run, other than being cheap? Also, Vance Worley might make a fine left fielder.

[seattlephan]

i'm guessing that carpenter will pitch the 2nd monday game, as worley is slated to pitch tonight for lehigh valley

carpenter's AAA numbers look pedestrian... hopefully he can give us 5-6innings of 3-run ball

who else is on the 40-man on the pitching side of things that we can bring up?

[bay_area_phan]

Heather: Dobbs isn't the answer, because there was never any question posed. We called him up because we can. Are you really bothered that the Phillies didn't make an August trade so they could upgrade the 8th option off their bench once September roster expansions kick in? And where would we have put this upgrade while we waited for September to roll around?

[Bonehead]

Then, who gives Polly a day off? I'm no Dobbs fan, but I'd rather pick a tough opposing righty starter and throw Dobbs out there, than to start Valdez.

[awh]

bap, stop trying to reason with Heather.

You'll never get past the anger.

[seattlephan]

looking at the 40-man roster, here's the list of pitchers we can call up.

Carpenter
Escalona
Flande
Mathieson
Naylor
Ramirez
Jesus Sanchez
Worley
Zagurski

[DH Phils]

I guess when there's nothing else to get angry about (after a 6-1 West Coast trip), and you have to complain about something, you complain about recalling Greg Dobbs, a move with no discernible downside as it doesn't cost any money (they were paying his guaranteed ML contract anyway) and doesn't cost a roster spot.

[Jack]

It will be weird if Dobbs comes up and gets a start, and Dom Brown can't find a start for his life the last few weeks.

[Little Ollie]

One would hope DB gets the start in one of the two on Monday.

[Sophist]

Jack, it would be annoying, but it's not like they're competing for a spot unless Dobbs starts in RF. If Dobbs got a start in RF, that would be weird.

[GM-Carson]

Phillies players have committed 8 Howards this season and the Phils won every game it which they occurred.

2010 Howards by Phillies:
Ryan Howard- April 7, Phils over Gnats 8-4
Ryan Howard- April 28, Phils over Giants 7-6.
Jayson Werth- May 6, Phils over Braves 7-2.
Chase Utley- May 14, Phils over Brew Crew 9-5.
Jimmy Rollins- June 23, Phils over Indians 7-6.
Ryan Howard- July 9, Phils over Reds 9-7.
Ryan Howard- July 27, Phils over DBacks 9-5.
Ryan Howard- September 2, Phils over Rox 12-11.

[goody]

Heather: It's a sept. call-up, not a wall of fame induction. Just one more guy for KYJ to fight off at the post-game buffet.

[Malcolm]

MIke Zagruski could've been an easy call-up. He's already been on the 25-man this year.

[Scotch Man]

The Phillies did have to unload 7 pitchers last night didn't they? I would have brought a pitcher up.

[NEPP]

Well, those tolls on the NE extension are no joke. Gotta save money where you can in this type of economic climate.

[clout]

seattlephan: The pitcher most likely to start that game isn't on your list: Nate Robertson. The 40-man has some flexibility.

[clout]

Scotch:: No, Madson was off last night so can easily pitch the next 6 games straight.

[st]

dobbs isn't going to see the field. something terrible would have to happen. i would easily take valdez over him. he's done

[clout]

st: Did Dobbs replace Valdez on the team? Am I missing something?

[st]

no someone above said they would play dobbs over valdez if something happened to polanco

[seattlephan]

ahh -- forgot about him clout. let's hope he can give us some quality innings on monday

[bay_area_phan]

Of the guys on SeattlePhan's list, the only ones who could plausibly be added are Carpenter, Worley, Zagurski, Mathieson, and maybe Escalona (but I doubt it). Robertson is very likely to be added too, especially if Worley's AAA start goes forward as planned tonight. That would mean someone on the 40-man roster would have to be removed. Drew Naylor strikes me as the most likely candidate. He's essentially minor league roster filler with little upside.

[bay_area_phan]

Nate Robertson's last 5 starts:

5 IP, 7 ER
6 IP, 5 ER
6 IP, 3 ER
6 IP, 4 ER
2.1 IP, 5 ER

[bay_area_phan]

Of course, when he faced the Phillies this year, Nate Robertson pitched 6.1 innings and allowed 4 hits & 0 runs.

[Scott]

Good to see Howard is leading the team in Howards.

[Chris in VT]

Bridoc- anyone on the 40 man as of 9/1 is eligible for the postseason roster. This includes both Dobbs and Gload.

[st]

it's one start against one of his old teams. i guess you give him a shot or maybe carpenter. with all the off days and such, it really is the only start either one of them will go

[goody]

st: Dobbs and Valdez should both be starting one game of the DH to give some guys a rest.

[Bubba]

Anybody see anything on Sweeney's hand after that hit by pitch last night.
Looked very painful.

[st]

yeah in that circumstance, it would probably happen. it's a detriment but oh well

[Fatalotti]

Does anyone think they brought up Dobbs to start the second game of the doubleheader? And I'm not talking in the field...I've heard he's got great command of his secondary stuff.

[Lefty]

anybody heard an update on Sweeney's hand after last night's HBP?

[Lefty]

oops. Bubba beat me to it.

[Hugh Mulcahy]

I didn't see anything on Sweeney's hand but, it sure looked like it hurt. Alot. I would be surprised if he doesn't have a broken bone.

[AFish]

This has been posted periodically, but effectively anyone in the *organization* on 8/31 is eligible for the postseason roster, whether or not they are on the 25-man or 40-man roster. This is because any player in the organization can be used to replace a player on the dl on 8/31 (e.g., Moyer). Dobbs can be on the postseason roster to replace Moyer or any other player that was on the dl as of 8/31.

[GTown_Dave]

The Phillies didn't bring up a single damn pitcher? And people wonder why I think the FO is full of drooling idiots. I suppose they're blessed w/ the power to be absolutely certain no extra-inning marathons will occur ... or that the Fightins will blow out any opponents, possibly allowing guys like Madson, Durbin & Lidge more than a day off per month. If Charlie is a dumbaholic, his bosses are enablers.

[HammRadio]

RE: Dobbs, don't discount the value of forcing the opposing to team to waste a left hander bullpen that might be saved for a Howard/Utley or Ibanez/Brown...

Of course that is mitigated by the ability of the team to bring in another LHP they called up.

[Alex]

I really don't understand why you wouldn't want another arm in the bullpen.

[Meyer]

Brown must be throwing secret sessions somewhere.

[denny b.]

Dobbs was brought up to continue his 2010 role, of pinch-hitting in the 6th or 7th inning and not getting the ball out of the infield.

Dobbs wasn't "heating up" at Lehigh. He literally had 2 good games in a row, which got his season average above .200 He was AWFUL (and looked as bad with the bat as he did in Philly) the rest of the time.

But I am sure he'll continue to get AB's, because he's over 30, "experienced" and a Cholly/Ruben "guy". He went for 3 for 40 this year, and still continued to get chances. Others get one or two chances, and we never see them again if things don't go quite right.

We have now brought up 3 players for September callups. Gload is 34. Dobbs is 32. Hoover is 34.

I guess the "under 30 group" can only come over on the bus from Lehigh together at one time.

Some theories on what they are waiting for...

-Mayberry needs 1 SB for 20 SB's on the season. Would be a nice milestone for him to hit.

-Worley is pitching tonight. Let him get one more AAA appearance under his belt.

-Mathieson is still working with Sutter and the more they work together, the better.

If they think Robertson is more then a "DFA after the game on Monday guy", he'll be the final guy (besides activating Baez) added to the roster for September, and be another guy to spit sunflower seeds in the bullpen.

[Meyer]

Brown is another number closer to thirty today.

[Billy Mac]

bap, You are missing Robertson's last start this past Tuesday night where Nate Robertson and Michael Stutes combined on a shutout over Scranton. Robertson allowed three hits over six innings.

I am guessing the Phils pitch Robertson on Monday.

[Jack]

Carson: Any way you can see who leads the league in Howards?

[Jack]

I understand Robertson has experience and all that, but why would you call up a lefty to start against the Marlins? Their three scariest hitters (Hanley, Uggla and Stanton) are all righties. Spot starts are just about the ONLY time you get the opportunity to play matchups with your starting pitcher. Sacrificing that just seems dumb.

[clout]

Jack: On the money. Robertson is worst possible choice.

[Little Ollie]

Why does everyone feel so certain that Robertson will get the nod on Monday?

[Scott]

As per Gelb:

Sweeney is fine. But he had to use his left fist for postgame high fives. "Changed it up on you!" he told Ryan Howard.

[DH Phils]

Jack: From Carson's site, Howard and Reynolds are tied for the league lead with 5 Howards each.

[GM-Carson]

I read the box scores every day to track The Howard. Mark Reynolds and Ryan Howard tied with 5 apiece. For the full list of culprits go to my site.

[denny b.]

Lil Ollie,

Because its the way the Phils normally do business. They don't take many chances. They like guys with "experience".

Sure, Robertson has shown very little indication in recent years, to be an effective pitcher at ANY level. He's 20 games under .500 in the bigs, and has been released twice this year. And he'll be facing a Marlins lineup almost excluseivly right-handed. But he's still going to be the choice.

Its why they slotted him in the rotation at LV, the way they did.

He may only pitch 4 or 5 innings tops (even if he's decent), but that's the way they will go. They'll have Oswalt in the other game, and they'll bank on him going long to not tax the pen.

BTW, Volstad got a 6 game suspension and Sanchez got 3 games for his clothes-line off the top rope. Not sure when those suspensions may start.

[CJ]

Yo, new thread.

[Dan]

I understand that anyone on the 40-man roster is eligible for the postseason (that is, they could replace a DLd player), but Dobbs wasn't on the 40 on 9/1. He was just now added, wasn't he? Thus making him ineligible for the PS in any event?