Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

Minors: Duckworth hoping to stay afloat at AAA camp

Former standout Brandon Duckworth, who was signed to a minor league deal this winter, is one of five pitchers fighting for the last three spots in the IronPigs' bullpen, according to Morning Call beat writer Jeff Schuler.

Schuler, reporting from Clearwater, has been painting a picture of the Phillies' Triple and Double-A squads. According to Schuler, the Pigs' rotation is basically set with Nate Bump, Andrew Carpenter, Brian Mazone, Joe Savery and Ryan Vogelsong. He also believes Scott Mathieson, Mike Zagurski and veteran Jason Anderson are the only locks for the 'pen. Meanwhile, Oscar Villarreal, a higher-profile minor league signing, will likely start the season on the disabled list. The prospect-thin Pigs are facing another dearth in talent offensively. The roster will be filled with many of the players fans saw in spring, including guys like Cody Ransom, Wilson Valdez, Paul Hoover and Andy Tracy. Schuler sees Tagg Bozied, Melvin Dorta and Luis Maza battling for the final roster spot. [Complete Schuler Triple-A sneak peek]

As expected, Double-A will be the main attraction, with Domonic Brown and Tyson Gillies expected to patrol the FirstEnergy Park outfield. The Phillies have their work cut out for them trying to decide how to best to arrange a crowded pitching staff, a list that includes Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Brummett, Chance Chapman, Michael Cisco, Sergio Escalona, Yohan Flande, Edgar Garcia, Matt German, Santos Hernandez, Jason Macintosh, Drew Naylor, J.C. Ramirez, B.J. Rosenberg, Michael Schwimmer, Jason Stephens, Michael Stutes and Vance Worley. [Complete Schuler Double-A sneak peek]

Transactions: More minor leaguers received pink slips, a list headed by former Rays first-round pick Jason Standridge. The list of released players you haven't read about already includes RHP Mark Doll, RHP Miguel Matos, RHP Angelo Sanchez, LHP Walter Tejeda, 1B Gaby Martinez, SS Evan Porter, SS Jesus Villegas Andino, OF Javis Diaz, OF Carl Uhl (via Baseball America).

Great success! Beerleaguer took down Todd Zolecki 1,495-1,297 to advance to the final round of The Phield where he will face The Fightins. Voting begins 8 p.m. Thursday.

Phillies ink Josh Fogg, Ty Taubenheim to minor deals

Fogg, 33, appeared in 24 games, all but 1 in relief, with the Rockies last season, going 0-2 with a 3.74 ERA (123 ERA+) and 27/20 K/BB ratio in 45 2-3 innings. The right-hander was released from Mets camp last week after suffering an injury to a muscle in his side. Taubenheim, a 27 righty, pitched for Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates) in ’09.

Beerleaguer: Somehow, between 2002 and 2008, there was always a team willing to give Fogg 30 games to showcase his suckitude in all its splendor. He doesn't get strikeouts and he doesn't necessarily have pinpoint command. So he's not a great option for the bullpen, either. And before you get excited by that 3.74 bullpen ERA, note the .197 BABIP. At best, he's an insurance policy capable of a 5.50 ERA. Wouldn't you rather try to catch lightening in a bottle with a youngster if it came to it?

Beerleaguer holds a slight edge over Todd Zolecki in The Phield. Time to pour it on. If you haven't voted, now is the time. [Vote]

Reaction to cortisone shot heard ‘round the world

Phillies closer Brad Lidge received a cortisone shot to combat soreness in his pitching elbow, team physician Michael Ciccotti told members of the press. Ciccotti called the soreness ‘routine’ and unrelated to surgery. Readers called BS.

“You have a guy who has made five rehab appearances now and posted generally poor results against some generally inferior competition. What is more worrisome though is that you have a pitcher who relies upon throwing his fastball hard not gaining any real additional velocity & building arm strength the last 2 weeks. That's a red flag. Now he has a cortisone shot to try to jump start the arm strength building process and Ciccotti is literally seeing how Lidge will respond to the cortisone shot over the next 48 hours.” - MG

To me, the Phillies should treat Brad Lidge the way they treated Kris Benson a few years ago. That is, they should carefully monitor all his minor league apperances and hope that he can improve to the point that he can help them. But they should certainly not count on that to happen, because it probably won't. And if it doesn't happen, they should certainly not force-feed him back onto the roster based on nothing more than a blind hope that he's suddenly going to turn it around. My No. 1 concern heading into the season is that they're going to do precisely this. – bay_area_phan

Notes: Twitter reports have clocked Lidge’s fastball in the 85-87 range, down from his 2009 93.6 mph fastball average during the season, based on Fangraphs.com data.

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New responsibilities, stiffer competition, await bullpen

Season preview: Of the seven relievers slated to head north, only one – Chad Durbin -- will feel totally at home in their role. The rest will be learning on the job and adapting to new scenery.

Let’s cut right to the chase. There are a couple of prickly similarities between the bullpen as it sets up today and the one that tried to make the grade in a contentious 2006. Recall the Phillies had a closer on the mend that we were unsure about anyway (Tom Gordon). Recall that Ryan Madson was asked to head up what was basically a slapped-together committee. Counting appearances, the Phillies’ top closers were Gordon, Madson, Geoff Geary and lefty veterans Aaron Fultz, Arthur Rhodes and Rheal Cormier. The Phils also handed plenty of innings to converted starter Ryan Franklin, a project that would end in a salary dump trade with Cincinnati (Franklin later became an all-star closer with St. Louis). Later on, the Phillies would lean on Rick White heavily to finish out their 85-77 campaign. Good times.

Bear in mind Pat Gillick and the top brass felt at ease with this group before the season, perhaps a similar level of comfort to what Ruben Amaro and his men share today.

Folks, I’m not gonna lie to you. There’s a chance the ever-swinging bullpen pendulum could sway toward another '06. However, the Phillies embrace several lucky charms they didn’t have back then: the confidence and track record of championship success; an even better offense; a rotation set to provide a steady diet of quality starts; and the possibility that Lidge and J.C. Romero return to form.

Nevertheless, with Opening Day looming, there’s an uneasy tone setting in, and perhaps the realization that the Phils may have bitten off more than they can chew with too many projects in the 'pen. Jose Contreras, for example, worked as a reliever only five times in 2009 and nine way back in 2003. Yesterday, pitching coach Rich Dubee told members of the media that he was concerned with the 38-year-old’s command. Indeed, Contreras is having a miserable spring.

Antonio Bastardo, who defaults as the top left-hander, hasn’t impressed, either. He’s not only new to the majors, but new to competition, period, appearing in just 61 minor league games in four seasons, and just 15 in relief, making David Herndon’s 132-game career seems like an eternity. Herndon, the biggest surprise of spring, has never appeared above Double-A.

Even though he profiles as a starter, I like Kyle Kendrick’s chances in long relief. Deep starts will be his worst enemy and could result in a ticket to Allentown. Initially, Chad Durbin may be asked to work more eighth innings than the Phillies would prefer. Danys Baez goes from a low-pressure environment in Baltimore to the high expectations in Philadelphia and the knock on Baez is that he melts under pressure. Which brings us to Madson, who blew seven saves in 17 chances while posting a 7.81 ERA in the closer role in 2009.

If the Phillies tank, the bullpen will be why.

Voting update: At last report, the race between Beerleaguer and Phillies.com scribe Todd Zolecki is too close to call. Take a second to support grassroots content. Cast your ballot here.

Breaking: Manuel makes Moyer official as Phillies' 5th

After Kyle Kendrick made just 40 pitches this afternoon in Kissimmee, suggesting his bid to become the Phillies' fifth starter had ended, Charlie Manuel made Jamie Moyer's return to the starting rotation official, the outcome most had predicted. Moyer, who was bumped from the rotation last season, has pitched well this spring and has appeared to suffer no ill effects from groin and knee surgery. Meanwhile, the Phillies fell to the Astros 5-2. Jose Contreras, who has not had a good go of it, allowed three runs in 2-3 of an inning. His ERA stands at 9.00. David Herndon allowed his first run of spring, but was otherwise solid through 2 1-3 innings, striking out four. The Phillies fell to a listless 12-11-1 with Opening Day nearing.

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Go inside the belly of the Beerleaguer beast

Thanks to your unrelenting support, Beerleaguer has advanced to the final four of the Phield to face ... official team beat writer Todd Zolecki. Voting begins tonight at 8 p.m. Beerleaguer will need all hands on deck to take down Zolecki, so before you settle in for your favorite prime time program, remember to cast your ballot. At some point today, the committee will publish my official call to arms, including never-before-seen footage of Beerleaguer headquarters. See it here.

Season preview: LF timeshare could have value

The Phillies and Raul Ibanez will rely on Ben Francisco heavily to reverse the effects of aging.

Love them or hate them, algorithmic forecasters like PECOTA were custom-built for projecting 37-year-old plodders like Raul Ibanez. To me, Ibanez, who turns 38 in June, shares some of the same qualities as Geoff Jenkins, whose first season with the Phils, at age 33, turned out to be his last. Jenkins proved sabermetric-minded scribes correct when his second-half decline in '07 marked the downward spiral that they had feared. Ibanez, whose own second-half decline has been interpreted the same way, enters 2010 slowed by sports hernia surgery and all the other creaks and moans that come with being an older player. To his credit, he's another Phillie who takes conditioning very seriously and performed better than ever during the first few months of the season.

Nevertheless, there's no escape from the wall that thousands before him have tried to clear. And the wall is fast approaching. Actually, Baseball Prospectus thinks he'll slam against it in 2010:

Ibanez in 2009: 565 PA, 34 HR, .272/.347/.552
Ibanez in 2010: 520 PA, 17 HR, .267/.336/.436 (PECOTA)

There are two sides to this coin. Here's the other side:

Francisco in 2010: 476 PA, 16 HR, .266/.343/.442 (PECOTA)

I respect these projections. Would I make sweet love to these projections? No, I wouldn't. But I respect them. Obviously, a lot would need to go wrong for Francisco to see that many plate appearances, but I like the idea that a hungry 28-year-old will elevate his game over a full season in his new surroundings. From what I've seen, Francisco wants to get a fastball down-and-in that he can pull. As a matter of fact, on fastballs down-and-in, Francisco hit .358 on balls described as "well hit" by stats inc., good for ninth in baseball. On baseball's bottom third, he starts.

Charlie Manuel couldn't wait to have a reservist like Francisco; he doesn't subtract much from the starting lineup and will cover more ground than the fourth and fifth options they've had in the past. Unfortunately, I see it the way BP does for Raul. Days off will help. Expect Cholly to play left field by ear instead of a straight-up platoon. Their splits are essentially even.

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Rally behind Beerleaguer; the Final Four awaits

 

Your support helped Beerleaguer advance to the Elite Eight. Now it's time to cast your ballot for the right to move on to the Final Four in The Phield, an NCAA-inspired tournament pitting 65 obsessed Phillies blogs against one another. Voting takes seconds. Show your support for Beerleaguer and the unrivaled conversation that happens here daily. Vote now!

Phillies release 12: Veteran outfielder Brad Wilkerson, 32, and one-time relief prospect Joe Bisenius, 27, were among the Phillies' noteworthy cuts today, according to reports. Wilkerson came out of 2009 retirement for one last shot, while Bisenius, who was a fixture on the Phillies' 40-man roster for several seasons, has been in a downward spiral for two years. As you recall, Bisenius was said to wield a "hammer curve." Beerleaguer is working to retrieve the other 10 names.

Update: Here are the other 10 cuts, relayed via Todd Zolecki: LHP Spencer Arroyo, RHP Freddy Ballestas, RHP Ryan Bergh, LHP Sean Grieve, RHP Rick Guttormson, INF Jeremy Hamilton, RHP Jordan Meaker, OF Gus Milner, OF Arlon Quiroz and RHP Todd Van Steensel.

Guttormson is a great example of the widening talent gap between the Major Leagues and international ball. (Has anyone else noticed how the well seems to have run dry internationally?) The right-hander helped lead the KIA Tigers to the Korean League title in 2009 as part of a dominant 1-2 punch shared by another former Phillie, Aquilino Lopez. Grieve is worth mentioning since he's a local guy. Gus Milner, a veteran, was a solid cog for the R-Phils last season.

Phillies pare down roster, Mayberry among cuts

With the Phillies' Opening Day roster already believed to be established, the team optioned John Mayberry Jr. to Triple-A and reassigned non-roster invitees Ozzie Chavez and Dane Sardinha, according to multiple reports.

Beerleaguer: This was thought to be an important spring for Mayberry, even though he was crowded out of any real shot at making the team. As usual, he hit the ball hard a handful of times, but he was given only 38 plate appearances to make an impression this spring compared to 68 a year ago. He made progress in cutting down his strikeouts, fanning seven times compared to 21 last spring. The impetus stemmed from a 94 strikeout season at Triple-A coming over 358 plate appearances. He has pop, but not enough to tolerate the brutally high strikeouts and the fallout against right-handed pitchers. He's prone to breaking and off-speed pitches, something the Phillies wanted him to work on this spring. But at 26, these flaws are basically ingrained. The Phillies are set with Ben Francisco as their fourth outfielder, and the fifth spot will be shared by Ross Gload and Greg Dobbs. Mayberry's skills and late-bloomer potential could excite lesser clubs, so he could be the one player Ruben Amaro will attempt to move. The Phillies may be getting anxious about their loogy situation, since Antonio Bastardo hasn't exactly distinguished himself, while J.C. Romero seems to be taking baby steps.

As for Sardinha and Chavez, obviously neither one was in the running. By my count, Wilson Valdez, Cody Ransom and Paul Hoover are the only holdovers heading down the home stretch. With Mayberry out, and Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero set to stay in Florida, the active roster is set.

Correction: DeWayne Wise. Knew I was forgetting someone.

Game chat: Joe Blanton and the Phillies take on the Pirates today at 1:05. It airs on CSN.

Cast your ballot for Beerleaguer in the Sweet 16

Third-round voting is underway in the Phileld for entry into the Elite 8. Beerleaguer set the overall vote total mark last round in a 680-80 victory, but needs your help as the competition heats up. Yesterday's winners tallied impressive vote totals of 1,076, 1,058, 805 and 707. So take a second to support Beerleaguer here.

Moyer makes a statement: Last night, Jamie Moyer, in his "quote ... unquote" "bid" for the starting rotation, held the Yankees to one hit over 6 2-3 innings, walking none and striking out six. It was the deepest outing by a starter this spring. The Phillies prevailed 3-0. Placido Polanco had a pair of hits and has quietly gone 18-for-45 (.400) this spring, despite the hiccup with the knee injury. ... In other news, the Phillies offered some startling revelations in this month's Philadelphia Magazine. Jimmy Rollins admitted that he sets his DVR for "The Young and the Restless," while Roy Halladay sets his for "The Bachelor." Then again, don't we all? Or is it just me and Roy? Also, middling prospect Yohan Flande will now be known on Beerleaguer as Yohan "The player Ryan Howard never wishes to see naked" Flande. Poor guy.

Game chat: The Phillies trot out the 'B' team in Fort Myers today behind Cole Hamels in their game against the Twins. They'll line up with Wise, Castro, Francisco, Dobbs, Gload, Mayberry, Schneider, Ransom, Valdez. With Valdez ninth, it's almost like having two lead-off hitters!

Lidge gives up runs again: Brad Lidge's line this morning in a Single A Minor League game: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO (20 pitches). - courtesy of Todd Zolecki via Twitter.

NL East: Heyward makes Braves as starting RF

Ballyhooed rookie Jason Heyward will break camp as Bobby Cox’s starting right fielder, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.

Beerleaguer: Arguably the most hyped player this entire spring, Heyward, 20, is hitting .366/.500/.537. “Heyward has destroyed car windows during batting practice and displayed an advanced plate discipline that led Tigers manager Jim Leyland to draw a comparison between Heyward and a young Albert Pujols,” writes Mark Bowman for MLB.com. Cox has also compared the sound of the ball off his bat to that of Mickey Mantle. So, yeah. Just a little bit of hype.

That said, here’s how the Braves’ lineup could look: CF Nate McLouth; 2B Martin Prado; 3B Chipper Jones; C Brian McCann; 1B Troy Glaus; RF Heyward; SS Yunel Escobar; LF Melky Cabrera. Their rotation will go like this: RHP Tim Hudson, RHP Jair Jurrjens, RHP Derek Lowe, RHP Tommy Hanson, RHP Kenshin Kawakami. Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito are your top relievers. That's tough.

Phillies boss acts like 5th starter has been decided

After another competent showing by Kyle Kendrick in yesterday’s 8-7 win over Houston, Jamie Moyer stakes his claim against the Yanks. Asked if it’s an important start for Moyer? ‘Not really,’ says the skipper. [Link]

As the Phils delve deeper into spring training, and with total certainty that there will be three initial openings in the bullpen, even his staunchest critics must admit that Moyer makes the most sense to head north as the fifth starter. Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero’s stay on the disabled list will allow the Phillies to monitor Moyer, although I wouldn’t expect the Phillies to pull the plug until June, even if his ERA soars over 7. It also makes sense since Kendrick has options, as does Antonio Bastardo. So when Lidge and Romero are ready to come off the DL, they’ll have a few weeks to decide how to make room. April will also be an audition period for Rule 5 righty David Herndon.

Kendrick also makes sense as a long man, and with Lidge out of action, the Phils could actually use another righty. Although he filled the role effectively last year, the Phillies feel that at 48, Moyer isn’t a viable option for the ‘pen.

It’s also important to remember that history says Moyer, who had a 3.48 ERA after the all-star break, is a better starter than Kendrick, and can pitch deeper into games. Moyer has averaged 5.92 innings in 91 starts over the last three years. Kendrick has averaged 5.52 in 52 starts over that span, which isn't necessarily a small sample size.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with grooming a young pitcher slowly through the ‘pen. Just ask J.A. Happ, who was a year older than Kendrick at this time last year. A bullpen assignment would keep Kendrick confident and hungry.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Bullpen takes a beating

Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge took their lumps in yesterday’s action. Is it a cause for concern?

Since Madson is set to become the bullpen’s focal point, Ryan Lawrance’s follow-up is what you should be reading this morning. (I couldn’t care less about the return of Brett Myers.) There’s only so much information that can be obtained from a box score, almost none when it’s spring training. That is why it’s important to know that Madson, who hasn’t touched his curveball in ages, is revisiting the pitch this spring. [Delco Times]

Lidge is under a more unforgiving microscope, one where every minor flaw is magnified. And rightfully so. Lidge experienced one of the worst single-season reversals in baseball history last season and followed it up with a pair of surgeries. Making his third rehab appearance yesterday in a Double-A game, he surrendered two runs, meaning he’s allowed runs in each of his minor league appearances. Writers have downplayed Lidge's struggles and reduced velocity this spring, but needless to say, my skepticism stands as to whether he can be a championship-caliber closer again.

Howard’s stance: Yesterday, I expressed consternation over the amount of attention Ryan Howard’s batting stance had received. As it turns out, the adjustment was first mentioned here by Beerleaguer correspondent Billy Mac after the Florida State game on March 3. “It was very noticeable,” Billy Mac reminded me via e-mail. “I mentioned he was holding his hands higher; I didn't notice he was standing closer to the plate, but if you examine games from last year, Howard is always tinkering with how close or far he stands from the plate.” Howard said he’s scooted closer to the plate this spring in order to handle breaking balls, which he saw 40 percent of the time last season, most in baseball.

The irony is that for years, Phillies fans barked about Howard’s need to make adjustments, even when he was hitting 58 home runs and winning the MVP. Now, after one of his steadiest seasons to date, he’s making adjustments at a time when fans are generally at peace with his game.

Minor notes: Phillipe Aumont allowed one hit over four shutout innings in relief of Lidge. (Aumont is definitely getting work this spring, so that degenerative hip issue doesn't appear to be a concern). Freddy Galvis and Domonic Brown each went 3-for-4 (courtesy of BlueClaws blog)

Beerleaguer goes off, puts different spin on ‘Phield’

The Phield exposes the proliferation and over-saturation of media covering the Phillies, and by extension, sports in general.

Beerleaguer is among 64 blogs vying for top billing in the bracket-style tournament you read about earlier. That’s a boatload, and bear in mind that for every active blog there are a dozen dead ones. In addition, the Phield doesn’t include news sites, message boards, facebook pages and Twitter feeds fighting for your attention. More is less to this observer. More makes it harder for good work to stand out (example of good work here). At this stage, it’s inexplicable that major hubs like ESPN, Comcast, FoxSports (which is an advertising affiliate of this space) and other entities are duking it out to absorb guys like us. The time for that was four years ago. Online success can be extremely fleeting, but above that, the technology changes so rapidly. Personally, if I’d put my chips on a blog today, it would be the hilarious thefightins.com, but if you asked me the same question a year from now, it would be some other site. There’s always someone ready to do it better and faster, and if I’m being honest, Beerleaguer is closer to the end than the beginning, at least in its current state. In addition, Twitter has become an industry equalizer. It’s monopolized the market for spontaneous conversation, which used to be the primary page driver for sites like this one. Twitter has also transformed the way we receive news. It's instant, which means it trumps Google for breaking news and real-time search. Truthfully, if it isn’t linked on Twitter, I won’t see it, since my lifestyle has forced me to rely on a smart phone. It also means that 140 character bursts will do, and often a headline or short burst is good enough to skip the hassle of clicking into the hub. No clicks mean no eyeballs. No eyeballs mean no revenue. In other words, I have no idea which way the wheel is spinning, and neither does anyone else.

But I digress. This rant started when I set out to write about Ryan Howard’s batting stance, then discovered that no fewer than 10 writers had done the same. I’ve posted a photo, and that will have to do. (He looks like a totally different player, doesn't he?)

Links: Speaking of hubs, I’ve been getting into MLB Fanhouse lately. It’s solid work for a fairly new startup and can be a good source of unique information, including the articles penned by ex-scout Frankie Piliere (Ed Price is also a worthy national guy). Earlier this winter, Piliere rated Kyle Drabek (14) ahead of Domonic Brown (19) among all prospects, and rated the Phillies’ organization a humbling 17th overall. Follow this link to read his recent piece about low-level right-hander Juan Sosa. On a related note, Jim Salisbury has made CSNPhilly worth a frequent visit since signing on in November. I suppose he was producing the same quality work at the Inky, but CSN has leveraged it better. Read Sully’s piece on electric-arm prospect Jarred Cosart here.

Game chat: J.A. Happ and the Phiilies are in Disney World to take on the Braves in a game that will air on ESPN. The Phillies lead all National League teams in ERA (3.38) and fewest hits allowed (150), according to new Inquirer beat scribe Matt Gelb. He also notes that Danys Baez, David Herndon and Chad Durbin have not allowed runs. Baez and Herndon are scheduled to pitch today.

Wednesday: Get out and vote for Beerleaguer

Cast your vote for Beerleaguer in its second-round match-up in The Phield, an NCAA-inspired tournament pitting 65 obsessed Phillies blogs against one another in a quest for geek supremacy. Beerleaguer, described by the tournament chair as "the gold standard in Phillies blogdom," is listed as a No. 1 seed. Your support is appreciated. Vote now.

Afternoon update: Phillies release lefty Bill White

White, 31, was out of baseball in 2009 and last pitched in 2008 as a member of the Texas Rangers, where he combined to go 4-1 with six saves and a 3.48 ERA in 51 relief appearances between Triple-A Oklahoma and Class-A Bakersfield. He appeared in eight games for Texas in '08. A non-roster invitee at the start of camp, he was among the first cuts. (the move was first reported by CSN’s Jim Salisbury via Twitter).

Phillies pass notorious spring training stat marker

Clout Day has come and gone on Beerleaguer, marking the unofficial date that it’s acceptable to measure spring training performance and draw educated conclusions.

On Saturday while many Beerleaguers were enjoying the nice weather, the calendar flipped to March 20, known as Clout Day in these parts. Clout Day started three years ago when Clout (artist rendering right) tried to curb reader enthusiasm over meaningless spring training stats. With 17 Grapefruit League games in the bag, the stats bear out some of the observations made in camp, particularly those concerning the pitching staff. The overall performance of Roy Halladay and the rest of the rotation represents the meatiest running theme in camp, while Rule 5 selection David Herndon, who has not allowed a run in eight innings, counts as the best surprise. Meanwhile, the offensive headliner, Domonic Brown, departed for minor league camp last week. Without him, nothing stands out besides Raul Ibanez’s 4-for-35 (.114). A list of complete spring training stats can be found on Phillies.com [Link]

Game chat: Joe Blanton and the Phillies host the Rays in Clearwater. Carlos Ruiz remains sidelined with the flu. The lineup: Rollins (SS), Polanco (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Werth (RF), Victorino (CF), Dobbs (LF), Schneider (C). The slumping Ibanez will play in a minor league game.

No closer: Lidge allows run in minor league game

Here's the latest on recovering stopper Brad Lidge.

Lidge appeared in a minor league game today and allowed a run on two hits and a walk. Twitter reports said he made between 23-25 pitches, and according to one report, was clocked between 86-89. Meanwhile at the Major League camp, Placido Polanco, Ben Francisco, Dane Sardinha and Wilson Valdez homered as the Phillies overcame a rocky start by Cole Hamels to beat the Yankees 9-7. Hamels surrendered seven runs, six earned, on nine hits in four innings of work. Barring a last-minute deal, Antonio Bastardo and David Herndon will head north. Each tossed a pair of shutout innings this afternoon; Bastardo struck out three while Herndon forced four grounders. Valdez won it with a walk-off, two-run homer, giving the win to visiting minor league right-hander Mike Stutes, who pitched a shutout ninth.

Transaction: Mike Zagurski, who has pitched sparingly and did not look sharp yesterday, was optioned to the minors before the game.

Beerleaguer: For those counting at home, Lidge has allowed runs in each of his two minor league appearances. If Ryan Madson is available in your fantasy pool, make haste.

Phillies figure out a way for fans to forget Cliff Lee

Their answer: Sit back and let the ace left-hander fall apart physically.

First it was foot surgery, then a five-game suspension. Now, Lee suffered his most significant setback yet: a strained abdomen that will force him to miss the start of the season. According to the Seattle Times, the injury may have occurred in the same game that drew the five-game suspension, when he collided with Diamondbacks’ catcher Chris Snyder. Lee is expected to miss a minimum of two weeks, possibly more. How are Mariners bloggers taking the news?

“I don’t mean to be Mr. Doom And Gloom here, but this is a pretty big deal,” writes Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner. “He’s going to miss basically all of spring training between this and the foot thing surgery earlier, and pitchers are unpredictable anyway. ... There a few things we do know about pitchers, and one of them is that they don’t do particularly well when they’re less than 100 percent. Even a minor injury to some non-arm part of their body can cause them to change their mechanics, lose velocity, screw up command. ... If he misses a couple of weeks, there’s still going to be an issue of potential lingering effects. I wouldn’t count on seeing the dominant Cliff Lee at any point in April. Our expectations for what he’s going to produce in the first month of the season have to be scaled back quite a bit, even if he only misses a start or two.”

Game chat: Cole Hamels has the ball when the Phillies host the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. in Clearwater. Danys Baez, Ryan Madson and David Herndon are also on the docket.

More playing time for INF Ransom raises eyebrows

Versatile non-roster invitee Cody Ransom has appeared in more Grapefruit League games than Greg Dobbs and Juan Castro, suggesting the bench situation may be unsettled.

If not for Castro’s Major League contract, which seemed like a reach given that he signed a Minor League deal the previous season, the bench picture may not be as clear cut as it's been written. Ransom, who made a nice barehanded play at short yesterday, leads the Phillies with three home runs, despite a .208 batting average. The 34-year-old infielder has spent parts of seven seasons in the Majors and started the '09 campaign as Alex Rodriguez’s replacement at third base. Otherwise, he’s been a Triple-A fixture for the last nine seasons, displaying good pop, but high strikeout totals, setting up all around the horn. Offensively, Ransom has the ability to produce more than Castro, possessing more power and better speed. Defensively, Castro, 37, holds the edge, but his glove doesn’t compensate for his bat; so far this spring, the veteran infielder is 4-for-19 (.190). Ransom has also seen more Grapefruit League play than Dobbs, whose name has been bandied about as someone the Phillies could consider trading. Dobbs got into the game at first base yesterday and hit a towering bomb over the right field wall.

Nevertheless, I fully expect Ransom to be sent to minor league camp now that I wrote this.

Moyer makes his case: Those who watched yesterday’s televised game saw Jamie Moyer make a statement in his Grapefruit League debut. Moyer allowed five hits and one run in five innings, striking out six against a lineup of mostly Orioles starters. I would be shocked if he's not in the Phillies' rotation.

Pitching situation comes into focus: Brad Lidge, who will pitch a minor league game today, and J.C. Romero, who will appear in a simulated game Tuesday, are expected to start the season on the disabled list, meaning the Phillies will break camp with three openings in the bullpen. It’s a good bet they’ll be filled by Kyle Kendrick, Antonio Bastardo and Rule 5 pick David Herndon. The battle for the lefty vacancy never really materialized and the job appears to be Bastardo’s to lose. Meanwhile, Herndon has done nothing to dissuade the Phillies from keeping him.

Unprotected prospect has shot at Dodgers' rotation

Carlos Monasterios, who was exposed by the Phillies, drafted by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft then sold to the Los Angeles Dodgers, is competing with Ramon Ortiz, Russ Ortiz and Eric Stults for the fifth starter spot.

Monasterios, who turns 24 today, was part of the 2006 Bobby Abreu trade and failed to make much of a mark, going 5-6 with a 3.73 ERA primarily as a reliever with Class-A Clearwater last season. Pat Gillick, who personally scouted the Venezuelan right-hander before the Abreu deal went through, liked his size, but his raw tools never developed over his three and a half years in the Phillies' system. The Dodgers are hoping he's flipped the switch and like what they've seen so far. Monasterios, who impressed Venezuelan League scouts this winter, has pitched eight shutout innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. According to the Dodgers' Web site, the only flaw in his game is a pair of errant throws to first base.

"He has a nice presence," Joe Torre told MLB.com. "He's very aggressive. I like what I see."

The competition seems to be down to Stults, who is out of options, and the two Ortizs, both notorious scrubs who've been hanging on for dear life for years. Rule 5 picks must remain in the majors with the selecting club for the entire first season to become the property of that team. Otherwise, the player must clear waivers and be offered back to his original club for a $25,000 fee before he can be sent to the minors by the selecting team. Of course, the Phillies are taking a serious look at their own Rule 5 selection, David Herndon, who struck out a pair in a scoreless frame yesterday. Herndon has allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings and is making a very strong case to head north. In fact, most of the writers are betting on it.

Game chat: Jamie Moyer makes his first official Grapefruit League start today at 1:05. The Phillies were blanked for a second-straight time yesterday, losing to the Tigers 3-0 in Lakeland.

Saturday thread: Halladay has the ball today vs. Tigers

After being blanked by the Orioles 2-0 in yesterday's tune-up, Roy Halladay and the 8-4-1 Phillies go back to work today against Detroit. The game will air at 1 p.m. on MyPhl 17, the first of five televised games in a row.

Summary: Yesterday, Kyle Kendrick made another case for the starting rotation, pitching four strong innings until hitting a speedbump in the fifth, finishing with a line of two runs on three hits and two walks in five innings. Today on MLB.com, Todd Zolecki provides a thorough analysis of where the pitching situation stands, including Mike Zagurski and Ehren Wassermann's chances, representing the two biggest pitching surprises to remain in camp. Read that piece here. ... Today will mark Halladay's fourth Grapefruit League start. So far, the new ace has been spectacular, allowing one run and striking out 14 in 10 innings.

Transaction update: Wassermann, along with first baseman Andy Tracy, were sent to minor league camp this morning. Both are worth tracking as veterans who could provide at-the-ready depth this season.

Escalona exits bullpen race; lefty optioned to minors

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.

Beerleaguer, Zolecki deliberate a big Phillies question

Todd Zolecki, author of the new book “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Heart-Pounding, Jaw-Dropping, and Gut-Wrenching Moments from Philadelphia Phillies History,” drops by to provide his take on the most important question heading into 2010.

Beerleaguer: Can you definitively say the Phillies are a better team today than the one that stepped off the field in Game 6?

Todd Zolecki: I think the Phillies are better than the '09 World Series team. I know people love Cliff Lee, but Roy Halladay is better than Lee. Is he much better? No, I would not say he is much better. But he is an upgrade, and that counts for something. If Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero and Raul Ibanez are healthy that also makes them better. I really like the addition of Polanco to the lineup, although I haven't seen enough of him at third base to know how much the Phillies will miss Pedro Feliz's defense. The Phillies have upgraded their bench. They think they have adequately replaced Chan Ho Park and Clay Condrey in the bullpen with Danys Baez and Jose Contreras. And I really like what I have seen from Cole Hamels this spring. I think he is going to bounce back in a big way. He really seems to be in a good frame of mind, determined to make everybody forget about his '09 postseason struggles.

Beerleaguer: I felt the same way until 97.5’s Mike Missanelli put the screws to me when he asked the same question in an interview last week. My endorsement unraveled when I brought up the bullpen. Right now, their closer and top lefty are recovering from surgery. They could be forced to lean on three green relievers to start the season. Contreras seems like a good sleeper signing, but he’s long of tooth and unproven in this role. If anyone from the group containing Contreras, Danys Baez, Ryan Madson or Chad Durbin gets hurt, they’re going to be in trouble. I’m not as excited about guys like Antonio Bastardo and David Herndon as the Phillies seem to be. We agree the bench is better. Ross Gload is the difference there, and I’m not as sour on Juan Castro as most Beerleaguers. I worry about Brian Schneider’s health because the minor league options are brutal. I’m not worried about the rotation and also expect improvement from Hamels. But I also expect some minor regression from J.A. Happ and possibly Joe Blanton. I’m not as excited about the addition of Polanco, but agree he’s a better fit for the lineup. Actually, I don’t believe we’ll see a noticeable improvement from the offense, not that there is much room for improvement. The Phillies are a powerhouse. I think they’re better, but I can’t say it with conviction. So my answer is 'no.'

Vote and share your thoughts in the comments thread and you’re automatically entered to win a free copy Zolecki's book.

Afternoon update: Lidge a longshot for April 5 opener

Phillies closer Brad Lidge hinted that an Opening Day return is unlikely following a 16-pitch Double-A tune-up. Lidge, who allowed three hits and a run on 16 pitches, according to the twitterati, could be shooting for an April 9 return against Houston. Charlie Manuel said Ryan Madson will be the closer in his stead.

Thursday: Phillies’ financial caution doesn’t add up

In light of the team’s announcement that they have sold over 3 million tickets, why were they so inflexible with payroll this offseason?

Here are the gaudy numbers: Season ticket sales have reached a franchise high of 28,500 and will be capped at 28,750. Individual tickets are going to be hard to come by for casual fans who haven't planned ahead. The days of swinging by the park for cheap seats to a weeknight game against the Padres have ended. The spontaneous type would be better off driving across the bridge to Campbell's Field to watch the RiverSharks in Camden. The overall number of tickets sold is expected to go over 3.1 million. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal (via John Finger), the average ticket price for a Phillies game was $28 two years ago. The Phils seat 43,000. Tally all the money made in concessions, luxury boxes, sponsorships, souvenirs and parking and the $9 million saved by dealing Cliff Lee to Seattle is just a drop in the bucket.

More and more, Phillies' games have morphed into ‘events,’ reserved for a different classification of fan than the group who would stoop at Citizens Bank Park for Dollar Dog Night two years ago. Yet the Phillies still adopt some small-time tendencies. The Phillies boast about their generosity in extending guys like Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz and Joe Blanton, but it’s really a matter of staying consistent by compensating their championship core evenly. They’ll crow about the rising cost of players like Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, and espouse caution in discussing Jayson Werth’s future. They’ll trade for Roy Halladay, but not without nickel-and-diming Toronto out of $6 million. They’ll prioritize economic options like Juan Castro and Jose Contreras.

If this is ownership’s mandate, so be it. Ruben Amaro and his team must play with the hand they're dealt. But at the very, very least, the Phillies have no excuse not to tender a nice, brassy offer to Werth while grooming Domonic Brown as Raul Ibanez’s eventual replacement in two years. This makes perfectly sound fiscal, and baseball, sense.

Game chat: Phillies tighten the screws against NY

Wearing their green St. Patrick’s Day unis, Joe Blanton and the Phillies play their 13th Grapefruit League game today when they host the Yankees in Clearwater.

Summary: Along with Blanton, Jose Contreras, Sergio Escalona, Chad Durbin and David Herndon are scheduled to throw, according to the team’s Web site. Todd Zolecki notes that it’s an important game for the lefty Escalona, who’s struggled. Meanwhile, Phillies fans may need to start getting acquainted with Rule 5 pick David Herndon, who’s been terrific. Offensively, Domonic Brown’s play has overshadowed a slow start to spring by the other outfield corners. Raul Ibanez, who underwent offseason sports hernia surgery, is 4-for-28 (.143), one of them a homer. Jayson Werth and his giant, bearded head is 5-for-25 (.200) with a homer. I despise the green jerseys.

Tribe takes a shine to young grinder Jason Donald

The Cleveland Plain Dealer assesses the set of prospects the Indians received in the Cliff Lee deal.

"Knapp: A 19-year-old right-hander, who underwent right shoulder surgery shortly after the deal was made. The Indians, reportedly, wouldn't have made the trade without him. Marson: Has a good chance to be the opening day catcher April 5 in Chicago. Carrasco: Like Knapp, he has a great pitcher's body. In a September call-up, he showed he throws hard and gets hit hard. He's expected to open the season at Class AAA Columbus. Donald: If there is a mystery player in the trade, Donald is probably it. After the July 29 trade, he played only 10 games for Columbus because he was recovering from surgery on his left knee and then injured his back.

On Donald, who made his second start at shortstop yesterday and is fighting for a spot as a utility infielder: "We think Jason can be a solid everyday major-league player," Indians director of player development Ross Atkins told the Plain Dealer. "He does everything well. He's a polished middle infielder who can play every infield position but first. He has very good instincts and plenty of arm to play any position on the infield." [Link]

Here’s a look at how several ex-Phillies are faring this spring:

Marson: .333 (4 for 12) 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2 SB
Donald: .143 (2 for 14), 0 HR, 1 RBI
Carrasco: 3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 0 BB (starts today against Colorado)
Drabek: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 3 BB
Taylor: .130 (3 for 23), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 7 SO
Cardenas: .400 (6 for 15), 3 RBI, 5 R

This season's spring fling: Domonic Brown

Here’s a sampling of David Murphy’s love poem to the 22-year-old outfielder, who went yard twice in yesterday's spring training swan song.

“Yesterday, the soft-spoken, slender package of fast-twitch muscle fiber bid adieu to his first big-league spring training with a dramatic performance that would make the Academy proud. He didn't just homer - he homered twice. He didn't just knock the ball out of the field of play - he knocked it clear out of the stadium. He didn't just cut loose on a fireball from one of the American League's top pitchers - he stopped to admire it, later realizing the sin he had committed in the heat of the moment. ... The final line on Domonic Brown's first major league spring training: 10 hits in 24 at-bats, two doubles, three outfield assists, and two home runs, both of which came yesterday in the Phillies' 6-1 win over the Tigers. General manager Ruben Amaro  Jr. was the man who clung so tightly to his top prospect throughout negotiations for Roy Halladay, both last summer and this offseason, but it was manager Charlie Manuel  who set the stage for Brown to show why.”

Great stuff, Murph. There's no sense in trying to top that. [Link]

Transactions: Reliever B.J. Roseberg will accompany Brown to minor league camp.

Phillies option Carpenter, send Vogelsong to minors

Right-handers Andrew Carpenter and Ryan Vogelsong we never really in contention for the fifth starter. Nevertheless, the Phillies are officially auditioning six starters for five spots. Carpenter will join Joe Savery with the Triple-A squad, and Vogelsong, the Kutztown University product, could go there as well. (Via Twitter reports)

Tuesday: Minor league games underway in Florida

Daily summaries can be found on a pair of blogs. [Reading] [Lakewood]

Through the magic of modern technology, minor league spring training no longer unfolds in total darkness. For those interested in this sort of minutiae, and chances are, you are, the Reading Phillies and Lakewood Blueclaws bloggers would appear to be set to post daily blurbs from camp. There are dual benefits. They not only report on individual highlights, but the squad assignments serve as a pretty good blueprint for where players will end up this season. For example, Scott Mathieson, who was dropped from big league camp over the weekend, tossed two shutout innings for the Triple-A squad yesterday. Outfielder Quintin Berry led off that game, suggesting he’s in the mix for a spot in a crowded IronPigs outfield. Other notables: J.C. Ramirez pitched with Double-A, Jesus Sanchez started the High-A game, and Anthony Gose was also with High-A. Colby Shreve and Sabastian Valle represented a couple of notables cutting their teeth at Low-A.

Polanco day-to-day: Here’s the latest on Polanco in case you haven’t seen it: sprained (not strained) right knee, which he hyperextended tripping over the mound. He doesn’t think it’s serious, but he and the trainers think they’ll know more about the severity based on how he feels after today.

Random stats: Last week on Daily News Live, I was caught off guard when Mike Kern asked if there were any stats that jumped out at me from the Phillies 2010 Annual. Looking over the magazine, here are a few: With the count even, opponents slugged .635 against Cole Hamels, which put him 350th among peers by that measure. The MLB average was .451. Brad Lidge opponents SLG when behind in the count: 1.243, which ranked 380th. The average was .587. Here are some happier stats. Jayson Werth slugged .973 against left-handed curves/sliders, best in baseball. The MLB average was just .338. Meanwhile, Ryan Howard slugged a baseball-best .728 against right-handed curves/sliders. The average was .353.

Today's lineup against Detroit: Rollins (SS), Victorino (CF), Dobbs (3B), Howard (1B), Ibanez (LF), Brown (RF), Castro (2B), Schneider (C) and Hamels (P).

Transaction: Outfielder Chris Duffy, who saw most of his action participating in bullpen drills with Brad Lidge, was assigned to minor league camp.

Polanco helped off field after straining right knee

Placido Polanco reportedly needed the support of two trainers as he hobbled off the field and was taken to the clubhouse, where he was diagnosed with a strained right knee. The Phillies' third-baseman, who signed an $18 million contract this winter, appeared to suffer the injury around the pitchers mound fielding a pop-up, according to reports. Greg Dobbs, Juan Castro and non-roster invitee Cody Ransom could serve as alternatives if Polanco is lost for an extended period.

Matt Smith miscalculation echoing through Clearwater

Remember 2007 when the Phillies put all of their LOOGY eggs in Matt Smith’s basket? History could repeat itself with Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona, who’ve fallen flat this spring.

Beerleaguer hit its contentious zenith in the winter of 2006-07 when the Phillies, who fell gut-wrenchingly short of the postseason, tried selling us on Matt Smith as the top lefty out of the bullpen. Disaster became imminent in spring training when Smith was battered hard, the way Bastardo and Escalona have been battered this spring. Smith would eventually undergo Tommy John surgery and disappear off the face of the earth.

Letting youth prevail sounds like a fine idea in January and February, but look for the fearful Phillies to corral all their spare change to bring an experienced lefty to town. There are a few remaining options who could be had for a minor league flier, Aaron Fultzian loogys like Alan Embree and Ron Mahay. Meanwhile, you get the sense that Scott Eyre, who posted an injury-plagued 1.50 ERA in 2009, didn’t exactly close the book on his career when he announced his retirement. Eyre is still lurking around as an analyst-in-training. In addition, you can bet the Phils are looking outside the organization for players who might shake loose at the end of camp.

Meanwhile, J.C. Romero threw a 40-pitch bullpen session yesterday that included breaking balls, the first he’s thrown them since surgery. He remains a longshot for Opening Day.

Moyer shelled: Jamie Moyer’s B-game line against most of Toronto’s regulars today: 8 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts. Roy Halladay and the Phillies are taking on the Pirates as of this writing.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phils deny big trade rumor

The Phillies deny it, but you know they’ve pulled out the measuring rod to compare their Big Piece with King Albert. Everyone does.

In the craziest mainstream-media rumor since that time FoxSports’ Ken Rosenthal told readers the Phillies would deal Cliff Lee to free up the funds for Roy Halladay, ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Phillies have had internal discussions about approaching St. Louis about a swap that would send Ryan Howard back to his hometown in exchange for league MVP Albert Pujols. Both are scheduled to become free agents after the 2011 season. Howard, 30, is two months older than King Albert. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury that the story was "absolutely ridiculous and irresponsible."

Beerleaguer: Ridiculous and irresponsible might be the best words to describe the Cardinals if they shortened the Pujols era by even one microsecond. He’s the most complete run producer in the game, hitting .327/.443/.658 in 2009, with equally strong numbers against righties and lefties. Compare that with Howard, who might have the better homer and RBI totals, but posted a impotent 98 OPS+ against lefties and can’t field the way Pujols can.

Pujols is the measuring rod with whom all others compare.

Game chat: Kendrick looks to keep it going today

Fifth starter candidate Kyle Kendrick faces the Orioles today at 1:05 in Sarasota. Kendrick, along with starters J.A. Happ, Roy Halladay and Drew Carpenter, have yet to allow a run in Grapefruit League play.

Yesterday in Clearwater, Happ pitched four shutout innings, surrendering only one hit and striking out three. The second-year lefty has been sharp this spring, getting ahead of batters and working quickly against American League lineups. While Happ and Chan Ho Park battled for the fifth starter position last spring, this year finds the Phillies counting on Happ to vanquish new foes such as PECOTA, CHONE, and Keith Law. Thus far, Happ has been up to task. The Twins scored four runs on five hits against bullpen candidate Antonio Bastardo. who could have come out unscathed had the Phils been able to pull off a 3-6-1 double play. A slightly wide throw from Ryan Howard and a late cover from Bastardo extended the inning, and the longer it went, the harder Bastardo got hit. The core of the Phillies bullpen pitched in the game, as many pitchers needed work after Friday’s rainout. On the day that Charlie Manuel announced Ryan Madson would close until Brad Lidge was available, Madson was crisp, striking out two in his one inning of work. Danys Baez worked around a hit and a walk to get the save. Cody Ransom hit a three run homer off of Jose Mijares to give the Phillies the lead. Ransom has hit three home runs this spring (two in official games) and looks to be good minor league depth. The Phillies won the game 5-4 and improved to 5-3-1 in Grapefruit League play - Courtesy of Monsterdouble.com

Beerleaguer: Many thanks to Furnstein and Jonesman of Monsterdouble.com, and to longtime Beerleaguer Billy Mac, for their observations from Florida.

Today's lineup: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Utley DH, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Victorino CF, Castro 2B, Sardinha C.

Gillies makes impression before joining minors camp

Tyson Gillies and 13 others were reassigned to minor league camp today. Only one of them, reliever Scott Mathieson, were considered to have an outside chance of breaking camp with the big club.

Beerleaguer surveyed beat writers Ryan Lawrence, Scott Lauber and Todd Zolecki on which player of the departing group made the strongest impression and all three named Gillies. "He impressed everybody," Zolecki told Beerleaguer. "Hard worker. High energy. Lots of talent. He really stood out from the pack." Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez, also part of the Cliff Lee trade, were also reassigned along with pitchers Yohan Flande, Drew Naylor, Jesus Sanchez, Joe Savery and the veteran non-roster invitee Bill White. Mathieson would have been a longshot to make the club, but could still help the Phils in 2010. "Mathieson is going to contribute this year," Lawrence said. "It might help to go down there with something to prove."

Shortstop Freddy Galvis and Quintin Berry are also headed out; Galvis started a couple of games and went 2-for-11. Lauber noted that he likes Galvis' glove, but his bat still needs work. The Phillies also shed catchers Tuffy Gosewisch, Kevin Nelson and John Suomi. (Photo courtesy of Monsterdouble).

Friday: Split squad games washed out in Florida

The Phillies would have divided their roster for a pair of road games against Detroit and Tampa Bay in Lakeland and Port Charlotte today. Todd Zoleck informs followers via Twitter that the games have been called. Rainy day reading: Check out Ryan Lawrence’s piece on a trio of minor leaguers here. Programming note: Tune in to 97.5 The Fanatic at 3 p.m. today when I talk about the Phillies and the 2010 Maple Street Press Annual with Mike Missanelli.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Blanton gets back on track

CLEARWATER - Bright House Field had an eye-of-the-hurricane vibe yesterday as the Phillies beat the Tigers 4-0. Fans didn't have to endure the dark skies and heavy winds for too long however, as the Phillies' pitchers combined for a three-hitter, helping end the game in just over two hours. Joe Blanton started things off with four sharp innings, inducing 11 grounders and a couple double plays started by Placido Polanco, who is settling back in nicely at the hot corner. Phillies' starters are off to a terrific start this spring. Offensively, the Phils made solid contact against fireball ace Justin Verlander, with Raul Ibanez being the only strikeout victim (he k'd twice off of Verlander, but later homered off of Joel Zumaya). Shane Victorino looked great as leadoff man, and Ryan Howard hit a nice RBI single to the opposite field off of a lefty. After Blanton, David Herndon and Joe Savery pitched well in the middle innings, and Yohan Flande and Scott Mathieson closed it out. (Courtesy of Monsterdouble)

Phillies sign York Revolution’s longest-tenured player

Hawaiian infielder Keoni DeRenne holds the York Revolution record for career hits (357), runs (197), at-bats (1293), doubles (71), stolen bases (47), and walks (160), according to the York Daily Record. [Link]

In 10 minor league seasons, including time in the Braves,Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Red Sox organizations, he he’s a .268/.346/.358 hitter, reaching as high as Triple-A with Arizona in 2004 and 2005, and Boston in 2006. He’s spent the last three seasons in nearby York of the independent Atlantic League, hitting .289/.378/.358 with five homers and 18 stolen bases in 533 plate appearances, earning Revolution Player of the Year honors. Ninty-four of his games came at second and 40 at short. He’s not the world’s slickest fielder, registering 36 errors in ’08 and 20 in ’09, including 10 errors in 40 games at short.

Notes: I thought we'd see more Antonio Bastardo this spring, but so far, he's logged only one Grapefruit League inning, an inning less than both Sergio Escalona and Mike Zagurski. With J.C. Romero not expected back until mid-April, these are the pitchers the Phillies will be leaning on. Or perhaps not. Stay tuned. On the offensive side, it’s a good thing Chris Duffy was one of the guys who faced Brad Lidge’s live bullpen yesterday, just to shake off the cobwebs. Duffy, a non-roster invitee, has not appeared in a boxscore since the Florida State game. Beerleaguer favorite Tuffy Gosewisch is also MIA from the stat sheet.

Update: A reader informs us that Bastardo pitched two innings in Wednesday's B game. "In his first inning, he got the first two outs then gave up two hits before getting out of the inning with a strikeout. In the second inning, he got the first two outs then gave up three hits, the last one a double that scored a run, but thanks to a great relay, they nailed the second runner at the plate."

Another day at the office for Phillies' starting pitcher

Beerleaguer's spring correspondents observed that "it's worth the price of admission just to watch Tyson Gillies play center field." Here's what else they saw.

Cole Hamels and Kyle Drabek both looked sharp in their afternoon match-up. Hamels kept pace with the hot start of his rotation-mates; he was dominant through the first three innings, not allowing a base-runner, but surrendered a lead-off home run to Jose Bautista in the fourth. Drabek only went two innings, allowing a hit and a walk but no runs. Drabek was consistently popping the catcher's mitt with 93 mph heat on the corners, while also mixing in his big curve and another pitch that looked like a cutter. Prospect J.C. Ramirez rebounded from last week's poor debut and looked great in his three innings of work, striking out three scrubs en route to the save.

The offensive highlights came from Placido Polanco, who got on base in all four plate appearances, and John Mayberry, who continues to hit the ball hard just about every time up. Mayberry crushed two doubles into the wind and off the top of the left field fence.  In the field, Freddy Galvis made a couple slick plays at short, but the best moment came in the 9th, with Tyson Gillies sprinting all the way back to the track and making an unbelievable stab on a ball he had no business being anywhere near. It's worth the price of admission just to watch Gillies play center field. - courtesy of Monsterdouble.com

Notes: Cody Ransom belted a ninth-inning homer and also homered in the morning "B" game. The Phillies press office is wondering if a player has ever homered in two different cities, against the same team, in one day.

Game chat: Hamels meets Drabek today in Dunedin

Cole Hamels hopes to put another encouraging start under his belt today when the Phillies face Kyle Drabek and the Blue Jays today at 1 p.m. Earlier today, Jamie Moyer tossed three scoreless innings in the early bird special game. Aside from Joe Blanton, Phillies’ starters are off to a sizzling start this spring, including another dominant showing by Roy Halladay last night under the lights. The Phils dropped Atlanta 7-4. Ryan Madson was pasted for four runs. Meanwhile on the offensive side, John Mayberry has made his mark just as he did a year ago. He’s 5-for-15 with a homer and has been hitting the ball hard. And how about that Brian Bocock (4-for-9)? From what I've seen, he doesn't get cheated.

Programming note: Beerleaguer on Comcast DNL

Tune in to Comcast SportsNet today at 5 p.m. when I join Michael Barkann and the panel of Daily News Live to discuss the Phillies and the 2010 Maple Street Press Annual. The exact time of the segment is still undetermined, so set the DVR.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Burrell a fit for '11 outfield

If the Phillies can’t afford to keep Jayson Werth, they’ll be short on right-handed pop and could be seeking a stopgap corner outfielder to help facilitate Domonic Brown’s transition to the Major Leagues.

Yesterday, Beerleaguers named outfielder Michael Taylor as the prospect the Phillies will miss most from the group of seven players who were moved out of the system in the Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay deals. Taylor has impressed at every level of the minor leagues, but aside from that, readers were looking ahead to a post-2010 lineup that will likely be without a right-handed power threat. With existing contracts set to rise, the Phillies will face even more payroll restrictions, even with several players coming off the books. It’s just one reason why old pal Pat Burrell could be a fit for what the Phillies need. Even if Burrell bounces back from his career-worst .221/.315/.367, he will have limited free agent appeal and could be willing to settle for less in order to wrap up his career in Philadelphia. He recently waxed nostalgic over his time in Philly. [Link] Burrell’s defensive limitations aren’t exposed quite as much at Citizens Bank Park, plus, the Phillies have a good fourth outfielder in the fold in Ben Francisco to lend late-game defensive relief. An outfield of Shane Victorino, Raul Ibanez, Burrell, Brown and Francisco would balance versatility and pop on both sides of the plate.

A left/right platoon with Brown and Burrell is in keeping with how the Phillies have groomed many players at the Major League level, including Chase Utley and Werth.

Plus, Burrell becomes the interleague and World Series DH.

Poll: Which prospect will the Phillies miss most?

Fairly generic poll question to start your morning.

Kendrick crisp, but Contreras cuffed in 7-5 loss to NY

The metamorphosis of Kyle Kendrick continued today as the right-hander made another strong bid to become the Phillies' fifth starter.

Kendrick allowed one hit and struck out one in three scoreless frames. Unfortunately, Jose Contreras followed and opened the flood gates, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks in just 1 2-3 innings. Jimmy Rollins went deep on the first pitch of the game, his second round-tripper of spring. John Mayberry also launched a deep home run. Beerleaguer's Denny B saw it like this:

- "Kendrick was sharp as a tack and kept NY's lefties off balance and used both sides of the plate. He had good velocity and had a particularly good slider, that he used to get inside on lefties (Kendrick said it was a cutter that he threw to Cano, who inside-outed it for a 2B down the LF line). Very encouraging first couple of outings in ST.

- "Contreras looked like he usually does when he struggles. Was falling behind and nibbling with hitters and got hammered when he was in hitter's counts. Still has a good fastball and good stuff though.

- "Mathieson threw mostly fastballs, mostly at 93-94 MPH. Didn't seem to have that little extra life yet. Still early in ST for hard-throwers. Had pretty good command though.

- "Mayberry hit three rockets, in his first three at bats (all against RHP). All were on hanging curveballs. His swing looks good and he is a very good defensive outfielder. Has pretty good speed, too (which he showed on the stolen base, where he got a very average jump)."

Programming note: Tune in to Angelo Cataldi and WIP's Morning Team tomorrow at 7 a.m. when I preview the Phillies' season and discuss the 2010 Maple Street Press Phillies Annual.

Romero delay allows Phillies to stall on 5th starter

J.C. Romero has announced that he doesn’t expect to be ready until the Phillies' first home stand April 12-15, meaning there are two openings in the Opening Day bullpen.

The following question is the Phillies' equivalent to the 500-pound gorilla in the room: What happens if Jamie Moyer loses the fifth starter battle? Do they dare demote him to the bullpen again with all that he stands to make in starting incentives? His salary rises by $500,000 when he starts his 25th, 27th, 29th and 31st games and increases by the same amount when he reaches 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings. Would they attempt to trade him? It’s highly unlikely, considering his age, cost, recent injury history and the fact that he would have a say in where he goes. It’s one of the reasons why some people believe Kendrick is doomed to lose the battle, since he can be optioned and might put up less of a struggle if he started the year in the bullpen the way J.A. Happ did last year. The Phillies’ play a scattered schedule in the early going and will not necessarily need a fifth starter until the first home stand.

If I were to set the odds, this is how I would expect to Phillies’ pitching staff to look once they break camp: Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Happ, Moyer with a bullpen of Lidge, Madson, Baez, Durbin, Contreras, Bastardo and Kendrick. When Romero returns, either Bastardo or Kendrick goes to the minors.

In this regard, the Romero injury might be a minor blessing. Assuming a guy like Antonio Bastardo or Sergio Escalona would fill one of the openings, the extra slot could also allow them to carry Rule 5 pick David Herndon a little longer, in hopes that the Angels would be less likely to reacquire him while the season is already underway. Of course, there’s always the possibility that they carry a six-man bench, but a 12-man pitching staff has traditionally been their preference. The chances of that might increase if Brad Lidge starts the season on the DL.

Kendrick starts: The Phillies and Yankees play at 1:05 today in a game you can watch live online at www.phillies.com. Jose Contreras, Chad Durbin and Scott Mathieson will also pitch.

Shoulder keeps Vic on the sidelines until tomorrow

Center fielder Shane Victorino will not make the trip to Tampa today when a contingency of Phillies' starters take on the Yankees. He is expected to make his first start tomorrow.

Typically, it's tough to keep the Flyin Hawaiian off the field, even during Spring Training, but so far, Victorino, who will reportedly be in the lineup tomorrow against Atlanta, has yet to get in a game. Todd Zolecki writes that seven of the Phillies' eight starting position players will make the trip to George M. Steinbrenner Field today. Victorino's absence has allowed Domonic Brown a chance to shine. The young outfielder is off to a 7-for-13 start in the Grapefruit League and was instrumental in Wednesday's exhibition game with Florida State.

Yesterday, J.A. Happ and Tampa's James Shields matched one another with strong showings in the early innings. Phillipe Aumont had a nice bounce back from his first appearance, coaxing a bases-loaded double play from Pat Burrell in the third, and got the Phils through five unscathed.  Jimmy Rollins came up small in the second with the bases loaded, striking out on a high fastball with a full count, but atoned for it with a solo home run in his next at-bat to break the scoreless tie. Joe Savery struggled mightily in his one inning of work, giving up three runs. Brown continued to tear it up with another three hits, including a two-run double to send the game in to extra innings. The Phils fell in the 10th 5-3. (courtesy of www.monsterdouble.com)

Be mindful of the misdirection; Phils, Rays play today

The transition from March to April is rarely straightforward.

Not that there's a reason to reassure oneself about the uselessness of spring stats, but this morning, I looked up some of the all-time misleading springs in Beerleaguer history. Brett Myers had a few. Fresh off a very generous three-year, $25.75 million contract extension, a slimmed-down Myers arrived in Clearwater in 2007 ready to turn the page and become the staff ace after an ugly season that included an arrest in Boston. Three disastrous starts into the season and Myers was moved to the bullpen. Then in 2008, he grudgingly accepted a rotation reassignment, and statistically, appeared to be ready, going 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA in spring. He was demoted to the IronPigs in early July.

Myers is one of a dozen examples. Aaron Rowand hit something like .170 during '07 spring training and was reportedly on the trade block. Nine months later, he finalized a five-year, $60 million deal with San Francisco following a monster year. And of course, there was Eric Bruntlett.

Usually, warning signs are better identified through physical observation. Ryan Howard arrived fat and out of shape in '07 and was a complete mess for months. Cole Hamels arrived in '09 unprepared and paid for it all season.

But it's not just stats; rosters rarely shake out the way they're supposed to. This spring, the process seems pretty straight forward, but the Phillies, and injuries, of course, have a way of complicating things. Speaking of 2007, do you remember that Karim Garcia was expected to capture the fifth outfielder spot based on a strong showing and lack of internal depth, only to be released before Opening Day? Often, the Phillies seem to devote most of their focus toward acquiring last-minute help from the outside. In '07, they filled their final spot with reliever Francisco Rosario, then juggled rosters once again when Jon Lieber and Freddy Garcia came off the DL, sending a month's worth of roster speculation down the drain.

The Phillies say they're comfortable letting young guys like Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona duke it out for the final spot in the 'pen, but don't be surprised if the 25th man is currently in some other camp. Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero's status could also become a critical factor. Plus, the Phillies have a number of players without roles who would be attractive to other clubs.

Game chat: J.A. Happ makes first official Grapefruit Leauge start today at 1 p.m. against the Rays. Phillippe Aumont, Drew Naylor, Jesus Sanchez, David Herndon, Johan Flande and Joe Savery will also put in work. Lineups are posted. Rollins (SS), Polanco (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Ibanez (LF), Francisco (CF), Brown (RF), Gload (DH) and Schneider (C). Pat Burrell starts in right field against his old team.

Bullpen shines as Phillies, Pirates call it a draw

After Joe Blanton's rocky start, Phillies' pitching put the clamps on Pittsburgh, shutting out the host Buccos through nine innings. The game ended in a 3-3 10-inning tie.

BRADENTON, Fla. - The Phillies got out of the blocks fast with lead-off man Dewayne Wise tripling off the center field wall. Bucs starter Kevin Hart was in a boatload of trouble early as Wise scored on a wild pitch and Hart then walked the next three batters. Unfortunately, Raul Ibanez's double play prevented the Phils from breaking the game open. After that, the Phillies offense sputtered, scoring one run the rest of the way. Joe Blanton, making his first start of the Grapefruit season, was hit hard in the first inning as four of the first five batters connected sharply, including a two-run home run down the right field line by Bucs right-fielder Ryan Church. Blanton rebounded with a scoreless second and would retire five out of his last six. Danys Baez relieved Blanton and looked sharp.  He only threw eight pitches for a 1-2-3 third inning, and came back to throw a scoreless fourth. He had four ground ball outs and two strikeouts. Former Phil Jack Taschner threw a scoreless sixth, striking out Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez and John Mayberry. - Billy Mac

Brown, Gillies turning heads: The offense missed some opportunities early, but showed good patience against some wild Pirates pitchers, drawing six walks in the game. Domonic Brown and Tyson Gillies continued to bring excitement to the later innings. Brown seemed to get on base almost every time up, including a single off Taschner. Gillies drew a walk in one of his two plate appearances, and stole second easily despite getting a poor jump. Add in one diving catch each for the youngsters and the future of the Phils' outfield looked bright on this day. - Furnstein and Jonesman (www.monsterdouble.com)

Bullpen: Including Baez, B.J. Roseberg, Mike Zagurski, David Herndon and Jesus Sanchez combined for eight shutout innings in the 10-inning affair.

Game chat: Kentucky Joe takes his turn in Bradenton

Joe Blanton, the recipient of a three-year, $24 million contract extension, makes his first Grapefruit League appearance today when the Phillies visit the Pirates starting at 1:05 p.m.

Preview: The Phillies must be happy with what they've seen so far from their starting rotation, including Jamie Moyer, who pitched an effortless three-inning shutout in yesterday's "B" game against the Jays. Moyer's quick return from three offseason surgeries should set up a heated battle between the 47-year-old and Kyle Kendrick for the fifth starter spot this spring. Like many of his rotation compadres, Blanton arrived in better shape this spring as he prepares for a season as the Phillies' No. 3 starter. Danys Baez and Mike Zagurski are also slated to throw today, according to Ryan Lawrence of the Delco Times.

Taking the field behind him will be 19-year-old Freddy Galvis, starting at shortstop. Baseball America has compared the young gloveman to fellow Venezuelan Cesar Izturis. The Phillies believe that his offensive game will eventually thrive, citing a balanced swing and terrific hand-eye coordination. Galvis lost a couple of months of development last season recovering from a broken hand. There's little doubt about his glove and instincts. The Phillies used him at second base the other day.

The lineup has been posted: Wise (CF), Dobbs (3B), Utley (2B), Howard (1B), Ibanez (LF), Brown (RF), Mayberry (DH), Ruiz (C) and Galvis (SS). With Shane Victorino still nursing a sore shoulder, Charlie Manuel will get his first real look at Dewayne Wise, a defensive specialist who was signed earlier this offseason.