Although they will be finalized in April, one can picture how the farm clubs will look come opening day.
One of the great, untapped resources is the spring training guide on readingphillies.com, which features exhibition summaries of the four highest minor league teams. Here, you can read about how Fabio Castro worked three shutout innings in yesterday’s AA game. And on Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Durham Bulls played to a 0-0 tie, thanks in part to four shutout frames by J.A. Happ.
From the looks of things, the IronPigs will have a solid team for their inaugural season. Pitchers Happ, Joe Bisenius, Brian Mazone, Shane Youman and John Ennis all figure to be there. Zach Segovia, who won 16 games between Clearwater and Reading in 2006, appears to be pitching from LV’s bullpen, as is Kutztown University product Ron Chiavacci. Once healthy, Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson could begin their journey back to the Majors here as well. Position talent Jason Jaramillo, Val Pascucci, Brandon Watson, Javon Moran, Brennan King, Andy Tracy, Gookie Dawkins, T.J. Bohn and Mike Cervenak have all seen time in the Triple-A games and figure to round out the veteran core. They’ll also absorb some of the players who miss the final cut, guys like Gary Knotts, Vic Darensbourg, Ray Olmedo, Casey Smith, and possibly pitchers such as J.D. Durbin, assuming he clears waivers, and possibly Travis Blackley, if the Giants don't want him back.
The IronPigs will be competitive, but Reading will be the team to watch. Castro will start here, and from the looks of things, Carlos Carrasco, Josh Outman and Drew Carpenter will be there, too, representing the most promising arms in the system. They're promising up the middle, too: Jason Donald, Brad Harman, Lou Marson and Greg Golson will likely be here.
At the Class-A level, first-round pick Joe Savery, Adrian Cardenas, Dominic Brown, D’Arby Myers, Quintin Berry, Edgar Garcia, Freddy Galvis, Heitor Correa and Drew Naylor are worth monitoring on the Clearwater and Lakewood teams.
Game chat: Comcast SportsNet carries the action as Chad Durbin and the Phillies take on the Tigers at Bright House Field. Game time is 1:05 p.m. Enjoy your Saturday.
The Reading rotation to start the season should be a real treat to watch with Carrasco, Outman, and Carpenter. Just hope that Castro is groomed as a starter and not a reliever. He was a starter the last several years in winter ball and pitched effectively as a starter there. Also Clearwater should have a very interesting starting staff with Joe Savery and Edgar Garcia ML prospects and Darren Byrd and Carlos Monasterios possibly ready for breakout seasons.
Posted by: Dull | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:15 PM
From last thread lekh asks, "any interest in Medders of Nippert of the dbacks?"
Medders, 28, is a pretty steady middle reliever who would be an upgrade over any of the bozos now competing for the 11th and 12th spots on the Phils staff. But he has little upside beyond what he is now.
Nippert, 26, is a wildly inconsistent swingman with a low-90s fastball, good curve and OK changeup. His command comes and goes (sound familiar?). If he masters command he could be a very solid #3 starter someday.
Both are righties who are out of options. The D'backs will deal one for a prospect. My guess is that Nippert would be the more expensive of the two.
Posted by: clout | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:20 PM
C. Durbin pitching very well so far. Nice to see the pitching start to come around.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:30 PM
That was a nice jam shot to end the inning.
Miguel Cabrera lost his beer gut over the winter. Funny what a change of venue will do...
Posted by: Mike H. | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
durbin wants that 5th spot
Posted by: redbeard | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM
What the heck, go with Durbin. I'll take the devil I don't this time.
Posted by: krub | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 01:58 PM
At least this Durbin seems a little more consistent (read: always slightly average or below) than our soon-to-be ex-Durbin.
Posted by: king myno | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Blackley looks like he's battling the weather a little.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Zolecki says Rosario, Mathieson, and Zagurski were sent to the 15 day DL, retroactive to March 21. Rosario has a strained shoulder. Honestly, I'm surprised it's taken this long for someone to land there...
Posted by: Mike H. | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Hey guys —
I'm in Clearwater, and just got back from the game:
Chad Durbin looked sharp. He got Ordonez on a beauty of a curve. He won't get the fifth spot, as his three innings showed. He will, however, get the long-man spot. I like Durbin.
Blackley should be cut — "battling the weather" is a nice way to slide him by, but he's been struggling for two weeks. He absolutely nailed Granderson in the head. Darensbourg will grab the LOOGY spot, and he should.
Yesterday - to follow up on your post Jason - I caught the AAA and A teams scrimmaging against the Blue Jays at the complex (the Carpeneter Complex is wonderful), and saw Myers go six strong before succumbing to his own frustrations in the seventh. Otherwise, the AAA team looked good. Gookie Dawkins had a nice game, driving both a run-scoring triple and single.
Lehigh Valley should be fine this year; Reading will be great; Clearwater will likely stir around .500. They'll have Lou Marson and Dom Brown, but they're short on pitching. But, yeah, come to Clearwater at some point. It's worth it.
Posted by: Malcolm | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Tim Malcolm, I'm sure you mean Blackley will go back to the Giants because of Rule 5. Thanks for the Clearwater update!
Posted by: Mike H. | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Of course - I didn't elaborate on the Blackley situation, but yeah, he'll be offered back to the Giants. Of course, if the Giants don't want him, we can grab him back (which I'd like).
Posted by: Malcolm | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:15 PM
So, Malcolm, if I get this right, you think the Phillies will return from Florida with VD. (That just Burrell or all of'em?)
Posted by: Andy | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:26 PM
Andy: Haha. Truth is, VD has been effective. Gillick's admission that the final two spots are coming from outside seems far-reaching. I could see them grabbing one guy.
Basically, it looks as if Durbin has nabbed the long-man spot. The other two "traditional" spots left are middle relief, one lefty and one righty. With Rosario now on the DL, they should go outside for it (unless JD Durbin sneaks in). They COULD go with Condrey for the final spot, but he doesn't strike me as middle relief. VD is middle relief, and I wouldn't mind him in that spot.
If I'm the Phils, I'd give VD the lefty spot and look for a righty to take the other spot until Mathieson returns. I would like to think that's what they're thinking, but then again, who knows.
Posted by: Malcolm | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:29 PM
And Andy, I realize your comment was just a big VD joke. But I'm also very tipsy and feel like I need to defend my stance on Darensbourg. Becuase liquor makes you need to defend your stance on guys like Vic Darensbourg.
Posted by: Malcolm | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Remember, kids, don't post on your favorite 37-year-old LOOGY while under the influence.
Posted by: king myno | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:45 PM
This public service announcement brought to you by King Myno, paid for by Jason Weitzel and demonstrated by Tim Malcolm.
Posted by: Malcolm | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 05:59 PM
There is one uniquely beerleaguer reason to favor VD for a spot on the 25: we get to come up with nicknames. "Big Siff", comes to mind, or "Crabby." Oh, the possibilities are endless....
Posted by: Andy | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 08:39 PM
(I suppose that should be "Big Syph" (too much wine - you know what they say about posting about 37 yr old relievers under the influence).)
Posted by: Andy | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I've only had two Keystone Lights so far; I feel left out of the drunken Darensbourg conversation.
Posted by: king myno | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Keystone? Now you're bring back college memories. Do they still use that "specially lined can" that is supposed to provide "keg taste in a can?" What a load of crap that was.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 09:32 PM
BAP - what part of the Bay Area are at? Do you know any good bars in SF to watch Phils games? (I'm hoping that there WILL BE some big Phils games this year)
Posted by: Spitz | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 09:42 PM
Brad Harman and Jason Donald are two of the few phils top position prospects in this organization. Both will be blocked by Rollins and Utley. I would deal these guys and try to get some other minor league prospects in return at other positions in which the organization is light on prospects.
Posted by: assman | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 10:33 PM
can someone please tell me if my eyes were right when i read that our 4th round pick last year has decided to retire. Tyler Mach
Posted by: assman | Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Spitz: I'm in the East Bay, but I did live in San Francisco for 10 years. Unfortunately, I don't know too many sports bars in the City -- although I've heard that Greens in Russian Hill is good.
Posted by: bay_area_phan | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Spitz - if you find one, let me know, but good luck. I've lived in PacHeights, North Beach, the Marina and now in Bernal Heights and haven't found a good Philly bar in SF yet after 12 years ... I can recommend the cheesesteaks at Buster's, Jake's and the Cheesesteak Shop on Divis, tho ....
Posted by: ajc1 | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:42 AM
BAP - Keystone does profess to the 'keg taste in a can' still, although I just drink it to bring the Pennsylvania love up to Boston (where I'm just about finishing school). If you're looking for a good, cheap beer, PBR Light is my college vote o' the week.
Posted by: king myno | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 02:32 AM
Can we please be sensitive with the "Big Siff" comments?
Posted by: sifl | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 03:17 AM
Myno, you're at BU, correct?
Also, I just got back from an AWESOME night at Clearwater Beach. Also, I HAD SONIC. F*in' SONIC!
Go Darensbourg.
Posted by: Malcolm | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 03:19 AM
That's a fine piece of propaganda you wrote there Jason, you actually made me feel somewhat excited about the Phils minor league system contrary to reports of it being a dismal situation...thanks! And Happy Easter to ya!
Posted by: GM-Carson | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 08:15 AM
"Miguel Cabrera lost his beer gut over the winter. Funny what a change of venue will do..."
Especially when that change of venue sends a Latino who likes home cooking to the edge of the Great White North. Imagine what he'd look like after a season in Japan...
Posted by: Alby | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 09:03 AM
The possibilities for nicknames (not to mention other snarkiness) do indeed seem endless, so I'll simply say that if he makes the club, I think we should all clap for VD...
Posted by: Alby | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 09:09 AM
a.m.: I haven't seen any retirement announcement from Tyler Mach. I did read that he was going to be late coming to camp for personal reasons, whatever that means.
Mach, by the way, is the classic Phillies draft pick: A 4th rounder with low upside who was a cheap signing. Far more talented players were selected after him in the round (and for much higher bonuses of course). Mach tore up the NY-Penn league, where everyone was 2-4 years younger. Why they didn't start him off at Lakewood, I have no idea. Maybe the glove is worse than I read.
Scouts say he's a one skill guy, his bat. Presumably, the Phils were hoping they could bring his glove along and he could at least be a decent organization guy and, at best, a potential DH type and trade fodder to an AL team.
As for draft picks that actually have talent, has anyone seen anything on what's the latest with Brandon Workman?
Posted by: clout | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 09:25 AM
Keystone Light does nothing to bring love anywhere... not even PA. God that stuff is swill. Though, honestly, PBR isn't much better.
Last night I was drinking micros, though... my favorite being Weyerbacher's Double Simcoe IPA. Now that beer is love in a bottle.
Posted by: The Theory | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 09:40 AM
The D.L. action yesterday suggests the Phillies will open with a bullpen of Lidge-Gordon-Madson-Romero-Good Durbin-Condrey and either Darensbourg or Blackley. I think Bad Durbin starts in AAA. If they choose Vic over Blackley, Vic takes Blackley's spot on the 40-man roster.
Posted by: clout | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Malcolm: Yep, good ol' BU. Journalism major, although you couldn't tell from my posts on here.
Also, have we all just talked ourselves into the aforementioned bullpen that clout just listed, or is it an actual decent 'pen? There's very few sexy names on it, but I feel considerably better about it than I did about last years'.
Posted by: king myno | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 10:35 AM
myno, last year I tossed around the idea of Boston Phillies meetup (never materialized). Any interest in catching a few games this year?
Also my vote goes out for Yards Pale Ale... looking to bring some of that back up next month.
Posted by: joe l | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM
So many good hoppy ales around these days it's hard to sample them all. I usually come back to Victory's Hop Devil as the house pour. It helps that you can always find one, and sometimes two, concession stands at the Cit with VHD on tap.
Posted by: Alby | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:22 PM
the Hop Devil is pretty ace.
Posted by: The Theory | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 12:53 PM
What a team we'll have here in Allentown this year... it's great you're being optimistic.
Their infield prospects are a bit thin, aside from jaramillo. The pitching staff will look a lot better when you add a Durbin, Blackley, Matheison off DL, and maybe Benson for a few warmup appearances.
Either way I'm still excited to see a team back in my hometown, can't wait to see some games.
Posted by: Matt | Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 11:20 PM