It's Monday so that means once again we will take your questions for our Phillies mailbag. We post the Monday Mailbag each week and then discuss it Tuesday afternoon on 97.3 ESPN Atlantic City. This week's questions look at Phillies Rule 5 acquisition Tyler Goeddel, some more Cody Asche, and just how high a ceiling J.P. Crawford might have.
On Tyler Goeddel the rule 5 pick: does he crack the starting lineup?
~Ron
I think that Tyler Goeddel is going to have every opportunity this Spring to dictate just how much playing time he is going to have. Looking back to last Spring, the Phillies gave Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera all the playing time in the world. Once the Phillies cut Herrera loose, he made a statement that he deserved to play. In fact, Herrera did to the point where he took center field away from Ben Revere. Goeddel has the same opportunity.
The Phillies have Herrera and and Aaron Altherr as near locks for their starting outfield right now. It looks as if Altherr will get a chance to play this season to show what he can do in the big leagues. I am not really certain what Peter Bourjos will become; he has a slick center field glove but has not hit in years. The Phillies committed $2 million to Bourjos, but if the Phillies find that Goeddel needs to play, then he will. Bourjos and Altherr are both right-handed hitters, so the Phillies could field an outfield of Altherr, Bourjos, and Goeddel if they are facing a tough left-handed pitcher.
The fifth outfielder appears to be Cody Asche, and Goeddel and Asche could work themselves into a left field platoon. More on him later.
Is J.P. Crawford as good as advertised?
~Patrick
I think that Phillies fans should be careful with their expectations of Crawford. Baseball America does rate Crawford as the sixth best prospect in the game and Crawford has gotten a great deal of attention from Phillies fans. But, Phillies fans need to remember that prospects are no guarantee. I think back to 1998 when the Phillies had two top prospects that were supposed to be the number one and two hitters in the lineup for years in Jimmy Rollins and Reggie Taylor. Taylor was rated the second-best Phillies prospect and Rollins the fourth-best prospect in Baseball America's 1998 rankings. As we all know now: Rollins worked out great, and Reggie Taylor never saw the light of day, minus 18 at bats for the Phillies over 2000 and 2001.
Crawford's glove is generally considered strong enough, though I have even heard some suggest he could eventually move to second base. The bat will likely define what Crawford is, though. Fans should think about it this way: Crawford at his best may never been what Jimmy Rollins was for the Phillies at his peak. Sometimes "prospects" end up bench players on a big league team. Sometimes they end up as All-Stars, or middle of the road starting players. Not everyone will be a super star – though if Crawford's bat comes around, he very well could be an All Star-caliber player.
Does Cody Asche realistically have a chance to stick with the team through the year? Doesn't seem to have a true role.
~Brandon
There are continuing signs that Asche could end up as a utility player for the Phillies. Position players have not yet been required to report to Spring Training and Asche is already in camp working out…at first base. Two things do not really bode well for Asche: adding Peter Bourjos to the roster and the acquisition of Darnell Sweeney. Sweeney is a nice player in that he can play the infield and outfield. If Asche can do the same, it would help him fill out a roster. Asche will never play up the middle, but if Asche can play left field, right field, third base, and first base, he could be a valuable player on the roster.
Generally the roster has room for five outfielders and six infielders. Bourjos, Goeddel, Altherr, Herrera and Asche are the five outfielders who are ready to make the roster. Infielders include Ryan Howard, Darin Ruf, Cesar Hernandez, Andres Blanco, Freddy Galvis and Maikel Franco. That does not leave room for Sweeney to start the season. Blanco can fill in at second base and shortstop; Asche would be the only backup third baseman. Part of the problem is that the Phillies are going to end up carrying two first basemen in Howard and Ruf, though Ruf can play outfield if Asche gets called into infield duty and they need some help.
Of course – an injury to any player and Asche becomes a valuable backup player. Someone asked me on Twitter this week why the Phillies would put Asche's bat at first base. He would not be a starter, but if there is an injury to Ryan Howard, he would have a better bat than anyone else on the roster.
One thing to consider: if another team suffers an injury at third base this Spring the Phillies could field a phone call or two on Asche.
