Cuts can't be that awful far off, meaning the Minor League teams can't be that far from coming into focus. While much of the early spring attention has been on the big league squads, the Phillies will send four minor league squads forth from camp, and competition for these spots is fierce too.
In Lehigh Valley, the big question is always how many non-roster invitees end up accepting their assignment. Right now, virtually all of the line-up for Lehigh Valley is going to be playing for the Phillies which is just fine for now. Here's what I have right now (* means on 40 man):
- Rotation: Cloyd*, Pettibone*, Martin, Lopez, Cochran
- Line-Up: Gillies-CF*, Hernandez-2B*, Betancourt-SS, J. Mitchell-RF, Mather-LF, Fields-1B, Orr-3B, Joseph-C
- Bullpen: De Fratus*, Diekman*, Stutes*, Savery*, Robles*, Jimenez, Ramirez
- Bench: Lerud, D. Mitchell, Susdorf, Martinez, Overbeck
- DL: Bass
Ok, so here's what I see- I still see Cook not being added to the 40 man, and not sticking around, though if he does, he starts. I think they DL Bass with a stubbed toe to be the sixth starter. In the line-up, the biggest change is Joseph beating out Valle. Up until now, I thought the Phillies would go with the status quo and play Valle here, but he's really almost forgotten in big league camp, while Joseph is playing. It's possible they go status quo anyway, but we know the pecking order right now. I also move Fields over to first base instead of third, based on some of his spring playing time, and slot in Orr. That seems to make more baseball sense for the Phillies. While he was DFA'ed this winter, I expect J.C. Ramirez to grab a spot here. Same for Michael Martinez. It would be interesting to know what the plan for back-up catcher is, but I doubt Valle and Joseph are here, and I'm guessing that later on we'll see Quintero, so I'm guessing Lerud for now.
Now onto Reading, where there is plenty of talent, but more of it is far away. Here's what I have there:
- Rotation: Morgan, Rodriguez, Hyatt, Biddle, Rosenberg*
- Line-Up: James-RF, Collier-CF*, Asche-3B, Murphy-1B, Castro-LF, Valle-C*, Cartwright-2B, Hanzawa-SS
- Bullpen: Friend, Simon, Cisco, Miner, Shreve, Sosa, Buchanan
- Bench: Suomi, Alvarez, Tolbert, Henson, Abreu
Perhaps the biggest thing I did here was bump Brody Colvin back to Clearwater, but I mean really, how can't you? This team's strengths are their starting pitching, back end of their bullpen, and the upside of a couple of players in this line-up. This team will be a bit more green than usual, but I like where I have some of these prospects starting.
I'm not quite ready to project the rosters in Lakewood and Clearwater, though I'll give you a few predictions from the early going.
- Colvin to Clearwater in what's pretty much a make-or-break year.
- Roman Quinn and Larry Greene start the year in Lakewood, right on schedule.
- Though I'm projecting a log-jam by not bumping Asche to AAA, Maikel Franco is starting at third in Clearwater, Carlos Alonso and Harold Martinez are battling at first, and Mitch Walding is in Lakewood.
- Cameron Rupp starts back in Clearwater.
- Altherr, Dugan, and Hudson in Clearwater's outfield.
- Ethan Stewart will start out in Clearwater.
It's tough to pick these teams not knowing exactly what Ruben and his team are thinking. I think I have a decent beat on it though.
