On Thursday, Darin Ruf strained an oblique taking batting practice and will likely be off the Phillies' Opening Day roster because of it. On Friday, another bench candidate, Freddy Galvis, was hospitalized with a staph infection in his right leg.
This re-shapes the Phillies' bench, at least for April. Ruf wasn't a lock to make the team by any stretch because of the presence of John Mayberry, Jr. and Bobby Abreu, but now it's likely Ruf opens the season on the DL. Oblique injuries take several weeks to recover from, and players generally need time off before even attempting to swing, which could re-injure the area because of twisting.
Galvis was the frontrunner for the Phils' utility infield job. No timetable was given for his return, and as Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reported, Galvis could also open the season on the DL.
If that's the case, the Phils could turn to Reid Brignac or Ronny Cedeno, two veteran infielders signed to minor-league deals over the winter. Brignac is 6-for-15 this spring with three doubles, two walks and two RBIs and Cedeno is 4-for-15 with two doubles, two walks and three RBIs. Neither is known for offense, but the role will be about defense anyway.
If the Phils go with a five-man bench to start the season, you could be looking at Mayberry, Abreu, backup catcher Wil Nieves, Kevin Frandsen, and either Brignac or Cedeno. Very little power on that bench.
Don't sleep on Tony Gwynn, Jr., either. Ryne Sandberg has raved about him this spring because of his defensive ability in center field and his penchant for getting on base. Gwynn is 9-for-26 (.346) this spring with six walks and two steals. He's a better defender in center than Mayberry, who was looking more and more redundant before the Ruf injury.
Gwynn is 31 and hasn't played in the majors since 2012. He's a career .244/.312/.318 hitter in nearly 1,700 major-league plate appearances with the Brewers, Dodgers and Padres. He's stolen 77 bases in 103 tries, a 74.5 percent success rate.
I'll get back to this in 3 days. Not like this won't still be the main thread by then.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 12:45 PM
Staph infection? What the hell is going on with the professional sports clubhouses in the Tampa -St. Pete area? The Phillies better get to the bottom of this if it's stemming from their organization.
Posted by: bigmyc | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 12:54 PM
Listen, let's not sh8t on the moderators when they actually post something.
Posted by: Steve | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:19 PM
Clout, re last thread about not having a clue about the team without dropping some trade names for Rollins and Utley, whom I advocated trading for three years running (although recognize their limited value today). I recall you were dismissive of my suggestion back then--you were of course not alone. I would of course have also traded Howard if it could be done.
The reality is that Utley and Howard had more value to an AL team. I don't have to come up with a retrofit name. It would be bogus in any event. The point is that you as many others of the Beerleaguer intelligentsia kept insisting that this team can still win, even as their record deteriorated year to year. RAJ too still believes that adding a few oldsters now will do the trick.
Now having depleted the farm to try to help this bunch win the Phils are left with having to rebuild from the ground up. The team as constituted is not nearly as bad as the management; they kept believing they could tweak this team forever and they still do.
Anyway it was a nice decade its time for Philly to sink back to its traditional mediocrity.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:31 PM
RK is the insane, delusional gift that keeps on giving.
Posted by: Iceman | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:34 PM
Cyclic- thank you for excerpting the article on Utley in the last thread. It was nice to read the non-fictional account of the fictional tale being told by MG for the last 12 months.
Posted by: Iceman | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:36 PM
Not me:
Or the reality is Amaro was presented an option and said "Sell me on it." They did and he let him go.
Why does it have to be demanding and ultimatums with you MG? Not everything is confrontational.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 12:32 PM
Apologies, MG. Looks like the gutless loser "Truth (Crap?) Injection" continues not to have to guts to post under his own handle.
To the extent you feel you're accomplishing something Injection, man up and use your own name. Or get psychiatric help.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:39 PM
Let me see Iceman I the insane one advocated selling the team for three years while you guys were piling it on and claiming this team can win.
Got it you are right.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:46 PM
"Rollins and Utley, whom I advocated trading for three years running"
I'm not following - you wanted to trade Rollins and Utley in March 2011? Because of serial seasons of declining win totals?
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 01:54 PM
You wanted them traded in the middle of a 102 win season?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:00 PM
You can be sure of 2 things by the trade deadline. Lee is gone and Howard and Rollins will be on the bench.
Posted by: dons | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:17 PM
Nope I wanted to trade them before the season started.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:29 PM
what would you prefer a season of 102 wins and then knocked out immediately or 10 fewer wins or even less but a WS ring.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:31 PM
Oh, okay. For a second there I thought you were being crazy...
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:33 PM
I would prefer all-time franchise best 102 win season and a great shot at a world series with a stud rotation to pie-in-the-sky, trading a couple guys a year too soon will mean world series victories in 2014-15. But, maybe I'm just goofy.
I think I'm on the wrong bus. I don't want to go to Crazytown.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:34 PM
Sorry that wasn't me at 1:39. Some creep keeps stealing my name and typing stupid defenses instead of actually posting things about baseball.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:38 PM
Matt Gelb (@magelb)
Afterward, the Phillies clubhouse will be disinfected for possible MRSA bacteria.
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:38 PM
Nevermind the quality of the moderator's articles. What the hell happened to the quality of the comments?
RK: You wanted to trade the #3 and #4 bats in the order after a playoff season, but before the start of a playoff season in which they set the franchise records for wins.
...and you're citing this wish that you had three springs ago to support what point?
Listen, I'm not trying to jump on your case too much here. It's just not often that I find myself agreeing with Clout. Trading Howard and Utley in 2011 would have freed up some money, but aside from that, you can't make a legitimate argument that the team would've been better off in 2014 for doing so.
Ask Toronto and Cleveland how well it worked out for them when they traded Halladay and Lee. For that matter, ask Amaro how well it worked out when he traded Lee to Seattle.
Andersen/Bagwell trades are few and far between. In all probability, unloading Howard and Utley would have yielded a few more Gillies/Ramirez/Aumont-type "prospects" in our system.
Posted by: Will Schweitzer | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:47 PM
If the choice is Cedeno or Brignac, you have to go Brignac, whose glove is above average. Cedeno is nothing more than average (at 2B) and below (at SS) defensively at this point in his career.
Posted by: clout | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:48 PM
RK: So you admit you have no clue whether the Phillies would be better or worse today if they'd traded Utley & Rollins 3 years ago.
Posted by: clout | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:50 PM
"what would you prefer a season of 102 wins and then knocked out immediately or 10 fewer wins or even less but a WS ring."
Wait a minute. NOW you're saying that trading Utley and Howard in the Spring of 2011 would have somehow magically yielded a championship season?
Please, invent a scenario for me...ANY SCENARIO, no matter how bizarre, by which the Phillies win a World Championship in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 as a result of having traded Howard and Utley in the Spring of 2011.
Please.
I'm literally begging you.
Posted by: Will Schweitzer | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:50 PM
Not me:
Sorry that wasn't me at 1:39. Some creep keeps stealing my name and typing stupid defenses instead of actually posting things about baseball.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:38 PM
I can play this game forever, Crap Injection. However, it's my guess your fourth-grade mentality will discover something else (sickening). And try a different way to torment this site.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:52 PM
Good, so Galvis has MRSA. I wouldn't count on him being on the bench anytime soon. What is it with the Tampa area and MRSA?
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Source-Galvis-has-MRSA-infection.html
Posted by: Steve | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 02:59 PM
> Please, invent a scenario for me...ANY SCENARIO, no matter how bizarre,
> by which the Phillies win a World Championship
Trading Howard to the Angels for Trout and trading Utley to the Marlins for Stanton. (Bizarre indeed)
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:03 PM
"Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets that Worley was placed on waivers on Wednesday, meaning that his waiver period expires today."
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/03/twins-place-vance-worley-on-waivers.html
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:25 PM
Not me:
Figure out who I really am loser or post something legitimate about baseball and maybe I'll stop.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:27 PM
Clearly, someone with no life.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:51 PM
This is deja vous all over again. After winning the WS 2008, the Phils proceeded to lose the WS, they followed that with losing the NLCS, and followed by losing the LDS. Tell me what more you needed to see that the team had peaked and it was time to start planning for the next wave instead of watching this team fall apart—which indeed it has.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:52 PM
It is deja vous all over again and the point is still invalid.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:54 PM
It's barely possible that the Phillies could be worse today if they had traded Utley and Rollins. They're going to be one of the worst 5 teams in baseball this season.
Posted by: Jack | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:55 PM
Clout, random question, do you think a bench of Galvis, Hernandez, Rupp, Ruf, Abreu would be markedly worse than a bench of Galvis, Nieves, Mayberry, Frandsen, Gwynn Jr.?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:57 PM
Well we can let the data speak for itself or we can go on believing we were right as in the two following seasons finishing 3rd and 4th and I bet you still think this team is in contention I think the current trend analysis would suggest they finish last.
Again I would be thrilled if they finished 1st and you all pile up on me but I think we all know that is really not happening this year--5th is much more likely then 1st.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 03:58 PM
As for Clout: "RK: So you admit you have no clue whether the Phillies would be better or worse today if they'd traded Utley & Rollins 3 years ago."
Well by definition you are right we do not have an alternative universe at our disposal to see how that would have worked out but as Jack pointed out: "It's barely possible that the Phillies could be worse today if they had traded Utley and Rollins."
Basically you are saying that the Phils could not have gotten value for Rollins and Utley by trading them several years ago. Really?
Now the only way you could be right about this is because RAJ would be doing the trades and here we have a guy who is absolutely clueless as a GM as shown by the multiple Lee trades.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:09 PM
To the phantom "cut_fastball" poster - I am not here to play games. I will not guess any further. Simply put, I refuse to be associated with random conversations (and insults) not of my making.
If you stop using "cut_fastball" to harass others, I. will. leave. Regardless, as I've stated previously, I've registered "cut_fastball" on Typepad, and the nonsense posted by the phantom goes unrecorded.
It's a war of attrition unless you stop, and I'm damn sure everyone who still comes here is sick and tired of this juvenile crap. Go away. Please.
Deal?
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:21 PM
Will Schweitzer. I think you can look at Boston changes from 2012 to 2013 to see how to rejuvenate an older team. Also you are right that there is no way or at least very unlikely that trading our "stars" would have resulted in an immediate WS. That would not be the immediate goal. We are not the Yankees who will simply by what it takes to win now every year. But we would have restocked our farm with enough quality so that some of the farm hands would graduate to become stars. And the team on the field during that time would have done no worse than the current bunch if not better with the realistic hope of something good happening just about now.
Posted by: RK | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:23 PM
Deal moron. Take you stupid thoughts and leave.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:28 PM
Cyclic: "do you think a bench of Galvis, Hernandez, Rupp, Ruf, Abreu would be markedly worse than a bench of Galvis, Nieves, Mayberry, Frandsen, Gwynn Jr.?"
It would be markedly better, although I have doubts about Rupp.
Posted by: clout | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:57 PM
RK: Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the 2013 Red Sox one of the oldest teams in baseball?
Posted by: clout | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:59 PM
Not me:
Deal moron. Take you stupid thoughts and leave.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 04:28 PM
I really hate to go back on my word, but is this you, clout? If the hijacker continues the adolescent mayhem, I'll assume it's not. If the "cut_fastball" hijacks stop, well, interesting.
Come to think of it - forget I even brought it up. clout doesn't care about ongoing schoolyard taunting, and would never allow the typo "you" for "your".
Hopefully, anyway. We'll see.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:01 PM
Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN)
Galvis diagnosed with MRSA, out indefinitely.
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:12 PM
Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki)
Amaro said Darin Ruf has Grade 1/2 left oblique strain. 4-6 weeks.
Posted by: Dickie Thong | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:16 PM
Joecatz with a great post: http://www.thegoodphight.com/2014/3/21/5534068/catz-corner-step-off-the-ledge-for-a-month-or-so-at-least
"The Boston Red Sox were projected to win 77 games in 2013, had the worst pitching staff last spring, the 20th worst offense (the Phillies were better) and ended up 3 wins shy of 100 and are all wearing shiny gold rings in a few weeks.
The Los Angeles Angels meanwhile were everyone's clear favorite in the NL West, had the best pitching last spring, the second best offense, and won 78 games and missed the post season.
Spring training is useless."
"I'm not saying this team doesn't have problems, nor do I expect them to win 100 games, but how bout we hold off on the doom and gloom for a couple weeks until things actually count.
Sound good?
Good."
I agree 100%.
Go Phillies!
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:17 PM
Best part about the Galvis injury? Mini Mart is no longer with the Phillies
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:18 PM
So we can add "liar" to "dope."
You are a fascinating bonehead.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:19 PM
Problem is that Boston had a much better and younger core last year and a farm system & younger talent that is far ahead of where the Phils is at right now.
It is going to be a while again before the Phils are competitive if you look at the talent at AA/AAA/MLB club right now, overall farm system, and the current contracts on the books.
New GM next year (assuming this team stinks this year and Amaro gets fired for a sub 75-win team) will need at least 2 years to begin cleaning up this mess and starting to restock the system.
Posted by: MG | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:22 PM
My battery mate Troy Hanzawa can start in place of Galvis. No need for the ancient Cedeno or the no hitting Brignac.
Posted by: Steve Susdorf | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:29 PM
Does Buchanan have any chance of getting the 5th rotation spot?
Or is it basically Manship's to lose at this point?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:54 PM
"Does Buchanan have any chance of getting the 5th rotation spot?
Or is it basically Manship's to lose at this point?"
Three months ago, I'd have hanged myself if you told me this comment wasn't made in jest.
Posted by: Iceman | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:17 PM
"I know there are these new numbers out there, cyber-something, but I can tell you about a player by watching." - Wheels earlier this afternoon being interviewed on WIP.
Actually, it was kinda nice to hear from him.
Posted by: Bonehead | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:17 PM
Not me:
So we can add "liar" to "dope."
You are a fascinating bonehead.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 05:19 PM
Thanks, clout. This could be written by no one else.
Trolldom does not become you. Leave the handle alone, OK? It's old. It's tired.
My legacy is on Typepad. If you or whoever you are can't figure that out, God bless you.
Of all people.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:27 PM
Bobby Drake-- I know, sad right? But hey, Hamels hasn't had a setback in like at least a week, so... hope is on the horizon!
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:28 PM
Manship seems like he will have on or two decent games then completely and utterly suck thereafter. Hope im wrong but...
Posted by: PLM | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:30 PM
I don't think it's clout. Clout himself registered a Typepad to get rid of a troll (possibly the same one).
This person might be "Captain Hindsight". Or was that "Reality"?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:32 PM
Argument: The Phillies should have traded Utley and Howard before/during the 2011 season.
Best reply: Kill yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDW_Hj2K0wo
Posted by: bittel | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:33 PM
PLM-- Perhaps those 2 good games will be his only 2 starts in Hamels stead.
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:35 PM
We're not that lucky.
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:37 PM
Cyclic that would be ideal but...
Posted by: PLM | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:49 PM
"Problem is that Boston had a much better and younger core last year..."
Who? Big Papi? (37)
Gomes? (32)
Vic? (32)
Ross? (36)
Napoli? (31)
Lackey? (34)
Dempster? (36)
The only "core" player you can argue who was under the age of 30 is Pedroia.
Posted by: awh™ | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:50 PM
Couldnt Ethan considerably sneak a start in. Last i heard he was shut down for 3 weeks. That was on 3/1 so that would be about now. I know he will need a few BP sessions but its possible.
Posted by: PLM | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:55 PM
PLM-- Has he passed his Arm Twirl yet?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 06:57 PM
Cyclic - I like how you are always johnny-on-the-spot with the Arm Twirl crack.
Posted by: Bonehead | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:34 PM
I love the Arm Twirl references. That and vodka are the only things that make me laugh these days.
Oh and RAJ sucks.
Posted by: Vladimir Putin | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:39 PM
I see Cyclic...Who supervises these arm twirls sessions..Ciccoti ?
Posted by: PLM | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:45 PM
awh: Ross, Gomes, Lackey & Dempster were the RedSox core last year? How about Ellsbury (29), Lester (29), Salty (28), and Buccholz (28)? Not to mention that guys like Vic, Drew and Napoli were in their early 30s last year, whereas Rollins, Howard, Utley, Chooch, Byrd, and Lee are all in their middle to late 30s.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:54 PM
Annexing other countries makes me laugh as well!
Posted by: Vladimir Putin | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:59 PM
bap's back!
Hey, phan, what are your thoughts on the Phils 5th starter to start the year?
Also, who would you like to see on the bench, whether they go with 5 or 6 to start out?
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 07:59 PM
Cyclic: When we're choosing between Ronny Cedeno and Reid Brignac, or Jeff Manship and David Buchanan, I can't bring myself to even have an opinion.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 08:04 PM
I know right? Some teams have all the luck
Posted by: Cyclic | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 08:29 PM
I am striking out here.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 08:38 PM
If you didn't have any prior knowledge about the condition of the team, and saw that the two biggest things to watch were:
Battle for 5th Starter
Battle for Utility Infielder
Wouldn't you think that the team was in pretty good shape? The lack of capable minor-leaguers coming up in the system is incredible.
Posted by: Jackamac | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:02 PM
The team IS in pretty good shape.
Of the 37 variables in play, if only 32 or more fall the right way, then HELLO WILDCARD.
Posted by: Bonehead | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:30 PM
BAP: It's not the age, it's the players.
Red Sox were among the 4 oldest teams in MLB last season. Their old players were way better than the Phils old players and they've had some pretty good young players graduate from their farm system, also unlike the Phils.
Posted by: clout | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:34 PM
clout: I can't disagree with any of that. I was just taking issue with awh's comment that Pedroia was the only guy in the RedSox' core under 30. Lester and Buccholz are definitely part of the core and, before they left, so were Ellsbury & Salty.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:38 PM
clout - You have previously resisted the "Rube sucks" theme. Do you see it differently now?
Posted by: Bonehead | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:41 PM
Not me:
I am striking out here.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 08:38 PM
Who doesn't understand that Typepad captures genuine posts from this handle? I won't be driven off this board, and I won't tolerate asinine posts from vexatious trolls.
b_a_p - has internet law evolved to address misrepresentation of an established poster? I wonder how long it might take for a certified letter to reach Jason Weitzel at Comcast?
Interesting.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 09:47 PM
I want to propose something to cut fastball and everyone else:
If another 'established poster' cares even a fraction of the amount that he does about his 'imposter,' speak up so he doesn't look like a pathetic, rambling fool.
However, if, as I highly suspect, no one gives a crap about this and is actually more annoyed by cut's insistence on engaging this guy, continue to say nothing- in exchange for cut dropping it completely. Like, not another word ever.
Deal?
Posted by: Iceman | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 11:45 PM
Iceman - Fair warning. I really don't know if the hijacker is (god-forbid!) clout; TTI (who did a really nice job at TGP for clout day) or God only knows, who else? Yes, I know I've posted some things that don't amount to a hill of beans in this world.
Regardless, what if the "Iceman" handle was used to post gibberish you never in a million years could envision posting? What would you do?
BTW, thanks for posting. Much appreciated.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 11:56 PM
Is it me but i havent noticed much promoting/advertising been doing by the Phils lately?
Posted by: PLM | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 07:52 AM
smart managing would have had mayberry back up with 2 on, 2 out, no score and lee possibly tiring facing aj. it was a very catchable ball if he's not playing so shallow.
Posted by: bullit | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 09:20 AM
At least I can blame another crappy season on injuries.
Posted by: Ruben Amaro Jr. | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 10:49 AM
"b_a_p - has internet law evolved to address misrepresentation of an established poster?"
Probably not. First of all, there are strong First Amendment interests at stake whenever you're trying to shut down internet speech. Second, it would be hard to show that you are being misrepresented since "cut_fastball" is, itself, a fake name (I assume). Third -- and this is the biggie -- not a single poster among your intended audience (namely, the usual Beerleaguer crowd) actually believes it's the real cut_fastball posting these fake posts.
I had a whole case about this around 10 years ago, when a big brokerage firm tried to sue a guy on the Yahoo! message boards who was writing bad things about the brokerage firm. The federal judge threw the case out. He basically said: it can't be defamation if it's written on an Internet message board, because no reader could reasonably construe such comments to be anything other than the poster's individual opinion.
In short, the fake posting is a Comcast issue, not a legal one.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Astros release J.D. Martinez. Worth a shot? He was a top-5 guy in the Astros organization back in 2011, & put up monster minor league numbers. He has been a total bust over 975 major league PAs, but he's still only 26. Seems like precisely the kind of guy the Phillies should be taking a shot on. But he's purely a corner OF, and not a particularly good one, so I doubt he'll capture the Phillies' fancy.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 12:21 PM
Not me either:
Not me:
I am striking out here.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Friday, March 21, 2014 at 08:38 PM
Who doesn't understand that Typepad captures genuine posts from this handle? I won't be driven off this board, and I won't tolerate asinine posts from vexatious trolls.
b_a_p - has internet law evolved to address misrepresentation of an established poster? I wonder how long it might take for a certified letter to reach Jason Weitzel at Comcast?
Interesting.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 12:29 PM
r00b doesn't have time to focus on J.D. Martinez. He's busy wiping down the clubhouse with hand sanitizer, and giving out Lysol and tubes of Neosporin.
Posted by: Scott | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Thank God - it appears someone took care of the issue.
Posted by: Anonymous | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:19 PM
Anyone see Howard and Rollins HRs? Impressive?
Posted by: Cyclic | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:28 PM
Well I suppose not. The post at 12:29 PM is not me.
Who doesn't understand that Typepad captures genuine posts from this handle? I won't be driven off this board, and I won't tolerate asinine posts from vexatious trolls.
Please read and understand Iceman's post above. Better yet, get a life. It's better for everyone, really.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:29 PM
Rollins' wind-aided, apparently.
Howard's a blast ("laser shot" was the direct quote).
Posted by: bittel | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:32 PM
Thanks, bittel.
Rollins hitting the ball high into the air... hard to imagine.
Posted by: Cyclic | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:34 PM
Mini Mart is hitting .387 in spring training.
Also, he's still with the Pirates major league squad.
Posted by: Cyclic | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:49 PM
Correction: ball hit to Rollins. Was a hit-and-run.
Posted by: bittel | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:49 PM
http://zozone.mlblogs.com/2014/03/22/hamels-latest-step/
"Cole Hamels remains about a month behind schedule, but the Phillies hope he could rejoin the rotation before the end of April."
"Phillies pitching coach Bob McClure seemed encouraged with what he saw Saturday.
“Ball was coming out of his hand really well,” he said. “Crisp, real clean. Didn’t hold back on any pitches. Had velocity and life. I was really happy with it. He’s had no issues of late. I don’t expect any either. We’re pretty stoked about it.”
If Hamels can rejoin the rotation before the end of April it would be a big boost for the Phillies. They need plenty of things to be close to perfect to compete this season.
“If everything goes as scheduled, I would think towards the end of the month there,” McClure said of Hamels’ potential return. “Somewhere in the last week, I would think so.”"
Season = Saved
Posted by: Cyclic | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 01:53 PM
Based on spring training, it kind of looks like we acquired the crappy 2011/2012 version of A.J. Burnett, instead of the good version from 2013. That would be quite typical for the Phillies.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:16 PM
I'm thinking of annexing Mike Trout for our team. Who will stop me ha ha.
Posted by: Vladimir Putin | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:20 PM
Not me:
Well I suppose not. The post at 12:29 PM is not me.
Who doesn't understand that Typepad captures genuine posts from this handle? I won't be driven off this board, and I won't tolerate asinine posts from vexatious trolls.
Please read and understand Iceman's post above. Better yet, get a life. It's better for everyone, really.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:29 PM
Click on my username and you can see it takes you to typepad. Then you will know if it is me. This is not me:
Not me:
Well I suppose not. The post at 12:29 PM is not me.
Who doesn't understand that Typepad captures genuine posts from this handle? I won't be driven off this board, and I won't tolerate asinine posts from vexatious trolls.
Please read and understand Iceman's post above. Better yet, get a life. It's better for everyone, really.
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:29 PM
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:32 PM
Clout: "RK: Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the 2013 Red Sox one of the oldest teams in baseball?"
Yes they were and lightning never strikes twice.
They also made some savvy acquisitions of older players who were still able to contribute unlike the sad bunch that RAJ loads up on. And like the Yankees are not afraid to use money to correct problems.
Posted by: RK | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:38 PM
I'm thinking of annexing Mike Trout for our team. Who will stop me ha ha.
Posted by: Vladimir Putin | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:20 PM
I will get on my bicycle, put a hemlet on and gather our gay and female military troops to stop you.
Posted by: Barack Obama | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:40 PM
Actually Clout et. al. we can end the argument on a positive note and agree that the main problem in Philly is management. The insistence in ignoring what modern analytic methods tell us that many here on this site relish and cite but that the Philly FO just doesn't care about. The belief in the 16 year old cheap high school grad or even drop out drop out who is "toolsy" instead of a seasoned college grad who has already shown what he can do but will cost more. Most of all the holding on to managers and players who clearly are showing that they are not getting better and are in fact delivering less and less as the years go by. And we all know who I am referring to. Of course if you don't than well than that is why we arfe stil arguing over the obvious.
Posted by: RK | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:53 PM
"Click on my username and you can see it takes you to typepad. Then you will know if it is me."
Who cares?
Posted by: Jimmy Rollins | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:54 PM
This is not me:
"Click on my username and you can see it takes you to typepad. Then you will know if it is me."
Who cares?
Posted by: Jimmy Rollins | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:54 PM
Posted by: cut_fastball | Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 02:59 PM