The Phils lost to Minnesota 11-7 yesterday in a game where Vance Worley was pounded and Mayberry went 0-for-4 with a walk and struck out twice, dropping his spring average under .200.
Worley started the game for the Phillies and allowed eleven runs over four innings. Only five of the runs were earned, but Worley allowed two homers — a two-run homer to Justin Morneau in the first and a three-run shot off the bat of Luke Hughes in the fourth. The Twins scored seven runs charged to Worley in the fourth, getting five singles and Hughes’s three-run homer. Worley’s ERA rose to 4.50 and his ratio is up to 1.45. In 20 innings, he’s walked just two batters but allowed 27 hits. Opponents are hitting .329 against him.
Again, the starters have excelled at preventing walks but not hits in Spring Training for the Phils. In 94 2/3 innings, Hallday, Lee, Hamels, Blanton and Worley have combined to walk just 11, but have allowed 111 hits.
Raul Valdes followed Worley and he fared a lot better, getting three ground outs in a 1-2-3 fifth and allowing a pair of singles in a scoreless sixth. His ERA is down to 1.69 after eight appearances and he has an 0.94 ratio — in 10 2/3 innings he’s allowed nine hits, one walk and struck out 11.
Herndon allowed a single in a scoreless seventh then struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth. 2.77 ERA and a 1.15 ratio for Herndon over 13 innings so far. He seems like a pretty good bet to start the year with the Phils.
Hector Luna was 3-for-5 with a solo homer in the game for the Phils. 286/348/548 in 42 at-bats. Montanez 2-for-3 with a double to up his line to 340/385/489. Ruiz 2-for-3 with a double to up his average to .472.
Mayberry’s miserable spring continued as he went 0-for-4 with a walk to drop his average under .200. 191/247/250, which is an ugly combination of not getting on base at all or hitting for any power. He’s 13-for-68 with four doubles.
Wigginton went 0-for-3 and left four men on base, dropping his average to .216.
Orr was a defensive replacement at third in the game and went 1-for-2 with a double, upping his line to 319/365/468. I think you have to wonder if Orr might have an advantage over Luna in the quest for a roster spot if the Phils had to pick one of them because the Phils would feel more comfortable putting him at short in an emergency.
Podsednik and Pierre were both 0-for-1. 354/415/521 for Podsednik and 283/353/304 for Pierre. That might be a tough choice for reasons that have little to do with how they produce offensively on the field, but there’s not much question about who has been better on the field this spring.
The Phils play the Rays this afternoon with Hamels expected to pitch.
March 29th, 2012 on 2:18 pm
THOME… sensational diving play to his left. HOW old is he?
March 29th, 2012 on 2:43 pm
42 in August. Doesn’t look a day over 40 to me.
Thome being able to play first base would be an enormous help to the Phillies. I’d advise against us holding our collective breath for it happening more than every once in a while.
March 29th, 2012 on 4:17 pm
Yeah. I know. But can’t we hold our breath just a little? lol
And Luna. Two game winning hits this spring. Does that get him up north?
March 29th, 2012 on 5:01 pm
Really don’t know on Luna, but my guess would be no. My guess is that if the Phils have to pick one of Orr and Luna they take Orr cause they think he’d be better at short in an emergency. But again, don’t know.
March 29th, 2012 on 6:25 pm
Pierre makes the 40 man roster.
March 30th, 2012 on 8:43 am
As long as Galvis is on the roster, they don’t need a reserve that can play Short.. they need one that can play Short, or Second (move Galvis to SS), or Third (move Galvis to SS, move Polanco to 2B) in the event of a Rollins hammy issue.
March 30th, 2012 on 9:01 am
I agree they don’t need one for the reason you describe. I feel close to sure, though, that they have a strong preference not to start games with nobody on the bench that can play short. I think their evaluation about whether or not a player can backup short will matter when the finalize their roster.