Game chat: Last game before mass WBC exodus

Summary: The Phillies' lineup will run ragged after today's game with Atlanta. Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Matt Stairs, J.C. Romero and the Aussies have either reported or will report to their teams tomorrow. Team USA will workout at Bright House Field tomorrow before hitting the road for exhibition play. Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park make their first appearances of spring this afternoon. Gary Majewski, Scott Nestor and Blaine Neal are also scheduled.

Beerleaguer: Factor in Chase Utley, Pedro Feliz and whatever is going on with Jayson Werth - who is out of the starting lineup again today according to Phillies.com - the Phillies will be functioning at less than optimal conditions for the next few weeks. On a positive note, it's a good opportunity to see what they have in Jason Donald, for example, who gets the nod at third today. In addition, Marcus Giles will man second, while John Mayberry, who has been impressive, will start in left.

Comments

[MG]

Good thing is that with these shipping out for the WBC, the Phils should have plenty of opportunities to see what guy sticks out of the Giles/Ozuna/Cairo mix and if they feel confident enough to have Donald start at 3B if Feliz begins at the season on the DL. In fact, no reason that Donald shouldn't be starting there at least half of the games (and maybe even a bit more).

[Andy]

Albert - Just a note: the name of the poster on this board goes below the post.

the Giles/Ozuna/Cairo mix

Are you allowed to post this concoction on the internet? Isn't that "mix" toxic?

[Albert]

Hopefully Mayberry keeps it up today.

[MG]

With my money on Feliz starting the season on the DL (and still a possibility for Utley too), the best spring training of the Giles/Cairo/Ozuna mix likely earns the lucky winner a nod on the Opening Day roster until Feliz returns.

[mikes77phillies]

Mayberry with another hit. He's play'n for a job.

[Burton]

Here's how Scott Eyre can earn some extra money while his assets are frozen.

[skeeter4]

Looks like it's going to be quite a race for the #5 job. Encouraging outings from all 4 guys so far.

[lekh tizdayen]

I'd handicap the 5th starter race like this:

Carrasco will not win even if he doesn't give up a hit all spring. He will likely join the rotation sometime around when Romero's suspension ends, ideally replacing the original 5th starter.

The only way Park has a shot is if Happ falters. Same goes for Kendrick. I see Happ winning the gig before eventually losing the job to Carrasco.

[MyersAtTheBat]

how did Myers pitch today? i didn't get to the broadcast till the 7th inning?

[Ryan]

lol Adam Eaton signs minor league contract with the orioles according to MLB trade rumors

[MG]

Not surprising that the O's would take a flyer on Eaton given how desperate they are pitching of any kind.

A team with one decent starter and a rotation that presently include a questionable Japanese import veteran at No. 2, a unknown quantity from the Cubs who is currently ailing (Hill at 3, a guy coming off TJ surgery who stank even before he had surgery (Baez) at 4, and one of my favorite garbage pitchers of the last ten years "Big Stiff" who has stayed in the league this long because he is a lefty and tall (Hendrickson) at 5.

O's just might have the worst rotation going into Opening Day and one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB.

One can only hope that Eaton is one of the scheduled starters when the O's visit CBP later this year. Boos would be deafening.

[bathtubhippo]

"One can only hope that Eaton is one of the scheduled starters when the O's visit CBP later this year. Boos would be deafening."

oh, would be too good to be true.

[AWH]

Myers gave up 2 runs today in 3 IP. That translates to a 6.00 ERA.

That's not a very auspicious start for a guy sompeting for the 5th starter spot.

[thephaithful]

On Baseball Tonight, Krukker picked the Phils to beat to RedSox, while others picked the Mets and Yanks.

It was a live shoot from Disney, and the crowd was probably around 80% Phillie fans decked out in WFC gear.

[thephaithful]

I posted a database from some Expected RBI research for the past six seasons if anyone is interested. The basic idea is to better show a player's ability to drive in runs than just the RBI stat.

I posted an intro and glossary to try and help explain. I'll be doing more seasons for the next fews days/weeks.

[gino]

Kendrick looked pretty confident on the hill but I'm not sure that will hold up into the regular season when teams load up all the lefties. I want to see more, especially against LH hitters, before I pencil him in as my fifth starter. Still viewing him in the LV 'Pigs rotation along with Carasco.

[Lions Pride]

I would like Happ to get the 5th start because i think he is the best overall option. Park is better suited out of the pen, Carrasco should get a few months of AAA ball and ease into the big leagues at firs sign of struggle from happ/injury/myers meltdown. Kendrick is 24...send the kid to the minors to develop a changeup iron out his mental issues and call him up when you need a spot start. It would be the best for the organization and for kendrick himself.

[curt]

Game notes:

Brett, Jimmy & Chipper (in particular) were having a good old time with each other. Seemed like an intramural game at times. Crowd was split about 50/50, and in keeping with the laid-back spirit, rarely cheered and never booed.

If Myers' name hadn't been on his shirt I wouldn't have believed it. The guy is a shadow of his former self. As for the 2 runs, Chipper doubled on a pitch at least a foot outside, leading to lots of banter. Anderson's 3B would have been caught had Vic not been playing behind SS for some reason.

Most impressive rookie AB. Donald worked a walk after being down 0-2, with runners on 2nd and 3rd. You know he was itching to drive in those runs.

On this day Mayberry looked ready and able to bat 3, 4 or 5 in this lineup. One of his fouls nearly decapitated our new 3B coach.

Bravos hit Park hard - McCann's HR to deep center was probably the 3rd hardest hit ball.