Well, there's plenty to discuss today. Darin Ruf had an awful day yesterday, and I think his roster spot is in real jeopardy. This is probably the biggest worry I have right now about this team, as I'm genuinely worried about Mayberry and Nix even in a platoon. I'm also a little puzzled by Ruben Amaro saying Delmon Young will play right field, no matter what, still. He seemed to tip his hand on Horst and Aumont making the 'pen too, which is a good sign if you ask me. The Nationals are in town today too.
With all of that in mind, I have some new looks to today's roster. Here's what I have:
- Rotation: Hamels, Halladay, Lee, Kendrick, Lannan
- Line-Up: Rollins-SS, Revere-CF, Utley-2B, Howard-1B, M. Young-3B, D. Brown-LF, Mayberry/Nix-RF, Kratz-C
- Bullpen: Papelbon, Adams, Durbin, Bastardo, Aumont, Horst, Valdes
- Bench: Quintero, Frandsen, Mayberry/Nix, Inciarte, Galvis
- DL: D. Young
- Restricted: Ruiz
- Last 5 off: Ruf, De Fratus, Stutes, Betancourt, Cook
Lots of changes here. With Ruf not on, Inciarte makes the team, and Mayberry and Nix move into the line-up as a tandem. Brown's a LF'er now, because Delmon will end up in right. Ruben's positive comments on Valdes, as well as his multiple inning outings make me think he's making it too. Looking down the line, and again reading into Ruben's comments, he'll end up using Frandsen as the utility man and Mayberry/Nix as his back-up at first, and send Galvis down when Delmon Young is ready to play (not advocating for this, just reading the tea leaves). Quintero will be DFA'ed for Ruiz to return.
What does this mean for the AAA club in Lehigh Valley? I still maintain that I doubt that Cook takes his assignment due to his contract, though I hope he does. I think the rest of those guys do though. So here's the roster that I see (*- on the 40 man):
- Rotation: Cloyd*, Pettibone*, Martin*, Lopez, Cochran
- Line-Up: Gilles-CF*, Hernandez-2B*, J. Mitchell-RF, Ruf-LF*, Fields-1B, Betancourt-SS, Orr-3B, Joseph-C, Mather-DH
- Bullpen: De Fratus*, Stutes*, Diekman*, Savery*, Robles*, Jimenez, Ramirez
- Bench: Lerud, Overbeck, Martinez, D. Mitchell
- DL: Bass
Two obvious changes- I put Ruf in this line-up, and I named Mather the de facto DH. If Cook comes in, either Cochran or Bass will get cut, since they won't DL them both to start out, I don't think. The Phillies could always 40 man Cook and stick him here, but I doubt it. I'll wait a couple days to do Reading again, by the way, since we really know less there right now. Joseph clearly is ahead of Valle overall, but it is an open question on who ends up here.
