3/24- A Look at the IronPigs

Rich Wilkins

March 24 2014

Photo by Richard Wilkins Jr.

As the Phillies roster becomes more clear, so too does the IronPigs roster for this season. The last few days have actually opened up more room on this roster though, as a lot of guys are on the MLB DL that would have either been down, or forced others down.

There are several major variables that we don't know here- whether or not Seth Rosin can survive on the Dodgers roster when they come back states' side, whether or not Miguel Gonzalez and/or Jon Pettibone will start out the season on the DL, and of course, whether or not Kevin Frandsen accepts his assignment. There's obviously more at play here, but those are the immediate issues.

On the offensive side, some things are kind of clear. It appears to me that Cameron Rupp and Koyie Hill will be here as the catchers, while Tommy Joseph and Sebastian Valle will be in Reading. I think the Brignac-Cedeno battle's loser for the back-up MLB job will at least have the option of being here, while Andres Blanco will be here. If Frandsen wants to come down, he will have a job. Maikel Franco, in my mind will be here this year, but for the first time I'm not predicting it for Opening Day. If I were a betting man, I'd say this roster carries:

Catchers- Rupp and Hill.
Infielders- Overbeck, Blanco, Cedeno, Cartwright, Frandsen, Tolbert
Outfielders- Gwynn Jr., Gillies, Castro, Sappelt, Susdorf

I think they DL Henson to keep him around, and carry the group above as their offensive options, assuming Cedeno and Frandsen are even here next week. Jim Murphy and Overbeck remain in battle for the job at first.

On the pitching side, the starting staff that seemed crowded, is now not. Buchanan or Manship probably is here, as is Greg Smith. I think that O'Sullivan and Bootcheck are now basically both locks, leaving one spot. Pettibone and Gonzalez probably both eventually are on here, but who starts the season is a crapshoot. The bullpen starts out with Garcia and Horst being here, and continues with Camp and Hollands being sent here. I think Stutes remains on the team too. I think Jimenez is going to be here too, leaving one spot. They could carry eight relievers out the gate too, or call Jimenez a starter. I don't think they will put Biddle here just to fill time. Here's what I have for the staff:

Starters- Buchanan, Smith, O'Sullivan, Bootcheck, Jimenez
Relievers- Horst, Garcia, Camp, Hollands, Stutes, Nesseth, Johnson

I think they DL Ogando, while sending Friend, Simon, and Shreve to Reading for more seasoning.

Given the level of competition on-going in the big league camp, this is pretty much a crapshoot. It's also a roster likely to be changed a lot as players come off the big league DL.