The Phillies continued what’s been a pretty ugly start to spring training yesterday, making three more errors and allowing 12 runs as the Twins beat them 12-5. Justin De Fratus and BJ Rosenberg, each hoping to start the year in the bullpen for the Phils, combined to throw two innings in which they allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks.
Ben Revere had a nice day for the Phillies, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, stealing a base and scoring two runs. Domonic Brown is now 4-for-9 on the spring with a double, two home runs and two walks after going 1-for-2 with a double, two walks and three runs scored. Ruiz went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. Mayberry had his first spring hit, a double, as he went 1-for-3 on the day. He’s 1-for-10 so far.
Frandsen was 2-for-4. He’s 5-for-13 with a double, a home run and a 1.077 OPS in the early going. Howard 1-for-2 with a walk. He’s still looking for his first home run, but is now 6-for-12 with two doubles and two walks.
Not as good a day for Galvis, who was 0-for-5, made an error and struck out twice. He also made a misplay late that was originally called an error and then called a hit. Ruf went 0-for-1 in a pinch-hitting opportunity and is still looking for his first official spring hit. He’s 0-for-9.
Ruf has been dealing with a sore throwing arm that has kept him out of the lineup.
Lannan started the game for the Phils, allowing a run on four singles and a walk over two innings. Adam Morgan followed Lannan and allowed a run on three singles in the third. He came back for the fourth and faced five hitters, getting two outs and allowing a double and a single while the other reached on a Galvis error. Morgan left with two down and men on the corners. Kyle Simon came in to pitch to Ryan Doumit and Doumit hit a three-run homer to right.
Bastardo and Mauricio Robles threw scoreless innings later in the game.
The sixth and seventh didn’t go well for the Phils. De Fratus started the sixth and had his second bad outing in two tries, allowing three runs on four hits, including a double, and a walk. He’s now allowed five runs on six hits over three innings in his two appearances.
Rosenberg also got hit hard, allowing three runs in the seventh. The first four men he faced reached base on a pair of walks, a double and an infield single. He allowed a two-run single with one out before getting a double-play to end the inning.
Like De Fratus, Rosenberg has two spring outings, both of which have been bad. He’s allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks over three innings. That’s a 3.67 ratio, which is not what you’re looking for.
You also want to avoid walking two of the first four men you face if it’s at all possible. In 2012 with the Phillies, Rosenberg walked 14 men in 25 innings while pitching to a 6.12 ERA.
The Phillies face the Braves this afternoon with Cole Hamels expected to pitch. Jake Diekman is also expected to throw in relief as he makes his case for a spot in the pen. He’s made one official appearance so far and allowed a run on a hit and a walk over one inning.


February 28th, 2013 on 12:42 pm
Trying to remember a good outing last year or this for Rosenberg. As hard as he throws its kind of surprising to me how easily he is hit. And of course there are the walks.
De Fratus is someone I kind of thought they were depending upon for this year.
Really nice to see Bastardo maybe getting guys out. He really has to.
So tell me, is this start due to their trying out the marginal guys just to give them a look, or is it time to worry a bit?
February 28th, 2013 on 12:56 pm
Last good outing for Rosenberg with the Phillies was September 26 (http://www.philliesflow.com/2012/09/27/kendrick-confirms-he-is-not-cy-young-putting-at-ease-the-minds-of-millions-who-found-it-suspicious-they-had-never-seen-him-and-young-in-the-same-place-at-the-same-time/). He walked one and didn’t allow a hit in three scoreless innings.
Phils lost anyway, cause Kendrick started the game and allowed home runs to three of the first eight batters he faced.
I don’t think the spring training games mean anything. So I wouldn’t worry about that too much. If you want to worry about something, I’d go with the Phillies not having exceptionally good players these days, which is going to make it harder for them to beat teams that do. I think a lot of things are going to have to go right this year for the Phils to find the playoffs.
February 28th, 2013 on 10:03 pm
Hamels and Howard may be getting close to ready.
Ruf not so much.
Can’t wait it see Doc tomorrow.
March 1st, 2013 on 9:42 am
Oh. Yeah. Adams. Please be healthy, man. Would he be a HUGE help!
March 1st, 2013 on 11:06 am
I think Adams is going to be great this year. I think it’s only a question of whether or not he’s healthy. I think, and hope, he is.
March 1st, 2013 on 8:59 am
Howard is just on fire. That’s the kind of thing that could help a team. Not sure if he could carry the offense single-handedly, but he could come pretty close.
March 1st, 2013 on 9:35 am
Howard has been popping lefties too. If he can keep that up he just might be able to put this team on his back. It’s been a while since the “Just get me to the plate, boys” comment. But he is one of the few men in baseball from whom such a comment can drive a team.