The first significant cut was made in Phillies camp today when the club decided to take Sergio Escalona out of the running for a spot in the bullpen.
The 25-year-old lefty, who appeared with the Phillies on and off last season, allowed five runs on eight hits over four innings this spring, also walking three. The move helps Antonio Bastardo's bid to break camp as either the first or second lefty out of the bullpen. Martin Frank of the News-Journal reports that Escalona will be sent to Double-A. The Phillies made one more cut today, optioning infielder Brian Bocock to the minors. Bocock, who was signed this offseason, holds a spot on the 40-man roster. Beerleaguer: To his credit, Escalona rose through the ranks through relative obscurity to put himself in a position to make an Opening Day roster. But the fact is his stuff is just so-so and his command is even worse. The Phillies prefer Bastardo.
Game chat: Kyle Kendrick and the Phillies return to action tonight to take on the Orioles under the lights. Placido Polanco will return to the field in a minor league game tomorrow.
Taking the Escalona Express right back to Double A.
Posted by: ZT | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 06:52 PM
Expected move, unless someone here actually thought he'd make the roster.
Posted by: awh | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 06:53 PM
KK trying to take a stranglehold on the 5 spot. 2 shutout innings so far with 2 Ks.
Posted by: Jonesman | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:26 PM
mildly surprised he'd go from a chance of making the 25-man to AA.
figured he and zags would be LHV's loogies (or is it 'loogys?')
Posted by: muchacho peligro | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:34 PM
Some guy will make it:
coveted spot on pine bench;
not Escalona.
Posted by: Andy | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:34 PM
The only way Moyer loses the 5th starter job is if his left arm falls off.
Posted by: Doohickey | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:36 PM
Cliff Lee has an abdominal strain. May start season on 15-day DL.
Posted by: Brett | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:44 PM
The Phillies should make Jaime Moyer the mop-up reliever. Send him out there with 6 run leads/deficits like Clay Condrey, to eat meaningless innings.
Posted by: mike77 | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:45 PM
nothing like paying approx 8 million smackjacks on a lefty long reliever who hates pitching out of the 'pen.
oh, silly Rube and your love of the 2 yr deal!
Posted by: muchacho peligro | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:51 PM
Moyer pitched pretty well out of the pen last year in a non-mop role. He could be a good guy to follow KK in games, since most teams will probably stack the lefties in those games. KK now up to 4 strikeouts this game.
Posted by: Jonesman | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 07:56 PM
Lee was damaged goods...HA!
No surprise whatsoever on Escalona
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:11 PM
Doohickey - Every watch "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"? Are you familiar with the scene featuring the Black Knight? Even if Jamie's left arm fell off, that wouldn't be the end of it...
Posted by: Scott | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:25 PM
Get back here! I'll bite your legs off! Coward!
Posted by: NEPP | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:27 PM
Earlier today I noticed that Durbin's Wiki page lists him as a switch hitter. Does anyone remember him batting from the left side in any of his 7 PAs last year?
Posted by: Doohickey | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:39 PM
"You have no arms"
Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound."
Posted by: mikes77phillies | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:58 PM
I sure miss Cliff Lee's bat tonight...
Posted by: Scott | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 08:59 PM
I miss Clay Condrey's bat! Remember him breaking up a no-no that Martinez was throwing against us a few years ago?
Posted by: Greg V. | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 09:08 PM
Philly, allentown,reading, it makes no differnce for EZ Pass Escalona. Is Zagurski still in camp? Or, did I miss teh earth shattering news of him getting cut?
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Zags is still in camp. I guess he's still in the discussion.
Posted by: RodeoJones | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Sincere thanks Rodeo.
In other news, "in hte discussion" is in the discussion for cliche of the year.
Sad to admit, as long as he's been around, I've never caught a glimpse of Zagurski.
Posted by: Hugh Mulcahy | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Hey Losers -- we all pumped up for the season?
Posted by: Phils Suck | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Here you go Hugh, I snapped this shot at ST:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizajones/4440441697/
Looks like a guy feelin' good about his chances. Or maybe just feelin' good.
Posted by: Jonesman | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:08 PM
3 weeks in and Murph has had it with the ignorant rednecks...
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies/Second_Acts_Why_tonight_is_so_big_for_Kyle_Kendrick.html
Posted by: kilbillrain | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:27 PM
I have a feeling Romero will be a nonfactor this year < 30IP with nagging injuries.
I also have a feeling the offense will underperform this year. They usually don't know how to react when they get good pitching.
Remember in '08, whenever Cole had a great game, they couldn't put up 2 runs. This team needs a challenge to produce. This year, I fear, the SPs aren't going to provide that challenge.
Posted by: kilbillrain | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Zags looks like he's taking up pocket pool in that photo. Yikes. Feeling good, indeed.
Posted by: aksmith | Friday, March 19, 2010 at 11:48 PM
killbill: Wanna bet the Phils end up in the top 3 in the NL in runs?
Posted by: Jack | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 12:04 AM
What do the Phils have to do (besides keep him on the 25 man roster) to keep Herndon?
Make some sort of trade with Anaheim? What are the exact rules, for the Rule 5 guys?
Its pretty obvious they like Herndon and he has certainly pitched well this spring. Not sure there is room for him though.
Posted by: denny b. | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Cliff Lee is apparently attributing the strain to the collision with Snyder at the plate. He's had a rather eventful spring, that's for sure.
Posted by: Unikruk | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 04:22 AM
Strained abdominal muscle from a collision? I saw that report. If he says that is what did it, maybe it is true. Doubt it though. He has had this kind of injury 2 other times and it kept him out months.
Wanted Lee and the Mariners to get off to a good start this year. If the Mariners are out of it at the trade deadline, the Yankees will get Lee for a song.
Posted by: mikes77phillies | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 07:18 AM
killbill - Nice article on KK.
Posted by: Andy | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 07:57 AM
Did Brian Schneider always have a weak arm ? Never really paid much attention before, but to my eyes he performed the worse in catching drills of anyone in camp. I also noticed that teams are running on him this spring.
Posted by: Billy Mac | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 11:21 AM
No, Schneider was always known for his CS rate/arm.
Posted by: NEPP | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Yo, newer thread
Posted by: EastFallowfield | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 12:12 PM