Well, one can't accuse Ruben Amaro of not doing anything. The Phillies are essentially down to just one decision. Here's the news:
- The Phillies have cut Yuniesky Betancourt. No shock there. There just wasn't 40 man room to add him. Besides, Galvis played well enough this spring that using an option on him would be stupid.
- Virtual lock to make Reading's rotation, and one of the most impressive pitchers (numbers wise) in the organization up until the middle of last year, Julio Rodriguez was traded. This is a surprise to me. The Phillies picked up outfielder Ronnie Welty from Baltimore's system in the deal, who hit 13 homers over 213 at-bats in AA or lower.
- Doc didn't pitch good yesterday, and Amaro was quiet about it afterwards. I'm concerned about him.
In a spring that has been better than not, about the only two things that haven't been "on schedule" were Ruf and Halladay. Otherwise, you have to be happy overall.
The last decision remaining is on Aaron Cook really. I prefer they keep him, however they need to do it. I expect they won't.
So here's my roster projection:
- Rotation: Hamels, Halladay, Lee, Kendrick, Lannan.
- Line-Up: Rollins-SS, Revere-CF, Utley-2B, Howard-1B, Young-3B, Brown-RF, Mayberry-LF, Kratz-C.
- Bullpen: Papelbon, Adams, Durbin, Bastardo, Aumont, Horst, Valdes. In the running: Cook, Stutes.
- Bench: Frandsen, Galvis, Nix, Inciarte, Quintero.
- DL: D. Young.
- Restricted: Ruiz.
- 40 Man, Inactive: Hernandez, Valle, Collier, Gillies, Ruf, Pettibone, Martin, Cloyd, Stutes, De Fratus, Diekman, Rosenberg, Robles, Savery.
I think things are pretty well set. Cook and Stutes are still in camp, and therefore in competition, but the jobs are settled for the most part. With Betancourt gone, I think Inciarte's a safe bet to start the year on the team, barring a move still to come in the next week.
So with that, the Iron Pigs and Reading could be effected by the Rodriguez trade, not only because his spot in Reading's rotation is open, but also because Willey is likely to be assigned to AA. My guess is that he doesn't change the Iron Pigs:
- Rotation: Cloyd, Pettibone, Martin, Cochran, Bass. In the running: Cook, Morgan.
- Line-Up: Gillies-CF, J. Mitchell-RF, Ruf-LF, Joseph-C, Fields-3B, Overbeck-1B, Blanco-SS, Orr-2B, Mitchell-DH.
- Bullpen: Stutes, De Fratus, Diekman, Rosenberg, Robles, Savery, Jimenez.
- Bench: Lerud, Martinez, Susdorf, Tolbert.
- DL: Hernandez.
So a couple things here. I really, really wouldn't mind seeing the Phillies start Morgan out here, but I doubt it, especially after the trade. He'll start in AA I think, then make the move up. I'm going to swap in Tolbert due to Hernandez injury.
AA:
- Rotation: Morgan, Hyatt, Biddle, Buchanan, Wright. In the running: Colvin, Hollands, Garner.
- Line-Up: Collier-CF, Castro-LF, Asche-3B, Murphy-1B, Willey-RF, Valle-C, Hewitt-DH, Murphy-2B, Hanzawa-SS.
- Bullpen: Friend, Simon, Ramirez, Hollands, Lafferty, Shreve, Ellis.
- Bench: Suomi, Abreu, Alvarez, Gallagher.
- DL: James.
Alonso comes up at least while James is out. I put Wright in for now, edging out the other options for the fifth spot in the rotation. The first three in the bullpen could be interchangeable with Jimenez in AAA.
A:
- Rotation: Colvin, Garner, Garcia, Stewart, Kleven.
- Line-Up: Altherr-RF, Hudson-CF, Franco-3B, Martinez-1B, Rupp-C, Alonso-DH, Lavin-LF, Cartwright-2B, Duran-SS.
- Bullpen: Sosa, Rosin, O'Sullivan, Whatcott, Nerris, Johnson, Murray.
- Bench: Hill, Serritella, Perkins, Stassi.
- DL: Dugan, Pointer.
Honestly, this is a real guess at some spots. It's hard to predict this team without knowing the first two.
