Here’s some lefties that have pitched for the Phils this spring who, even if they don’t have much of a chance to pitch out of the pen for the Phils at the start of the season, sure won’t be in the starting rotation.
| Spring IP | Spring ERA | Spring ratio | Career IP | Career ERA | Career ratio | |
| JC Romero | 3 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 624 2/3 | 4.08 | 1.49 |
| Antonio Bastardo | 1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 42 1/3 | 5.53 | 1.49 |
| Mike Zagurski | 4 | 2.25 | 1.25 | 28 1/3 | 6.99 | 1.73 |
| Ryan Feierabend | 3 | 3.00 | 1.67 | 106 | 7.22 | 1.80 |
| Dan Meyer | 3 | 6.00 | 1.33 | 113 2/3 | 5.46 | 1.55 |
| Juan Perez | 3 | 3.00 | 1.33 | 15 2/3 | 5.17 | 1.79 |
Of those guys, Romero is a lock to make the team and Bastardo and Zagurski seem to have a huge advantage over the other candidates. Despite having three fewer appearances, I would guess it’s still advantage Bastardo at this point.
Also, the career numbers on those guys sure are ugly.
Yesterday the Phils topped the Tigers 5-3 to improve to 7-6 in spring action.
Blanton got the start for the Phils and went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a pair of walks. He’s thrown to a 3.09 ERA with a 1.11 ratio over 11 2/3 innings in three starts.
Madson, Romero and Herndon followed him with scoreless innings before Zagurski allowed a run on a double, a single and two walks in the ninth.
Romero hasn’t walked a batter in three innings so far. Madson’s allowed one hit in three shutout frames and Herndon has given up two hits and two walks over four scoreless innings.
Brian Schneider homered for the Phils, a three-run shot in the second. It was his second home run of the spring. Jeff Larish also connected for a solo shot, he’s 2-for-10 with a double and a home run.
Ibanez went 2-for-3 with a double, raising his average to .240. Martinez 0-for-2 and hitting .174. Rivero 0-for-1 and hitting .308. Dewlyn Young 1-for-3, raising his average to .321 after 28 at-bats. No Phillie has more plate appearances than Young this spring — he, Polanco and Rollins all have 30.
I think it’s a lot more likely that Delwyn Young is going to start the year with the Phillies than I did a few weeks ago. I do wish we were seeing more of Josh Barfield in official games — he’s 5-for-10 with a walk and a double. I think both those guys are better bets to help the Phils than Martinez or Rivero.
Halladay starts today against the Yankees.
I don’t know when you’re going to see Chase Utley playing baseball next, but I’m pretty sure it won’t be soon. In the linked article, Amaro says, “We don’t know exactly when he is going to be playing for us, but I expect him to be playing for us at some point — hopefully in the early part of the season, maybe even the beginning of the season.” That’s not good.
Amaro says that Utley would be replaced by Wilson Valdez if needed in this article. There’s some drop off there, given that Valdez has a career on-base percentage of .289 and never had 150 plate appearances in a season coming into last year.
The Phillies have come to a deal with Charlie Manuel that will keep him managing the team through 2013.
This says that the Phillies hadn’t contacted the Rangers about Michael Young as of yesterday morning. Moving Polanco to second and trying to get a third baseman makes a lot more sense to me than trying to get a second baseman.
March 10th, 2011 on 1:50 pm
Historical precedent suggests that the Phils have a major deal completed within hours of “not contacting” the other party.. wouldn’t put too much stock in that!
(Although I question what we have that the Rangers would actually want.)
March 10th, 2011 on 2:28 pm
It’s true — the Phils sure have pulled off some shocking deals over the last couple of years. I’m kinda ready for another one. But if they announce they’ve dealt Ryan Howard and Victorino for Chris Carpenter or something, I think it’s time to storm the Bastille. What about someone who can hit?
March 10th, 2011 on 2:59 pm
I would not be surprised at a trade either. But D. Young better be a whole lot better than anyone thinks he is, just in case
March 10th, 2011 on 3:29 pm
I don’t think he is, though. I think he’s about as good as everyone thinks he is. He has some power, but doesn’t get on base enough to play regularly. I also think the Phillies think that he’s not good enough defensively to play regularly at second. Even now in his nice run, he’s hitting for a high average but still only has one walk on the spring. Being able to play the infield would increase his value a lot, but I don’t think the Phillies think he can.
March 10th, 2011 on 5:15 pm
Hard to argue with that.
You read it here first. Ibanez bats third this year. Whoever would have thought that the most important Phillie in 2011 would be Raul Ibanez.
March 11th, 2011 on 9:41 am
I think that’s a problem, cause Ibanez isn’t good enough to hit third. At least he wasn’t last year. Hopefully we’ll see him closer to his 2009 levels in 2011, but I don’t feel real confident about that.