19 tickets to Clearwater

by dajafi on Dec 18, 2007 1:08 PM EST in News

As we continue to wait for the Phillies to do something--ANYTHING--news is out today that the team has issued 19 non-roster invites to training camp in Clearwater this February. As usual, the invitees include a mix of prospects on the rise, quad-A types and who-dats. Here's the list:

Catchers:: Tuffy Goosewich, Tim Gradoville, Paul Hoover, Lou Marson
Infielders:: Mike Cervenek, Jason Donald, Brennan King, Casey Smith, Andy Tracy
Outfielders: Greg Golson, Valentino Pascucci, Brandon Watson
Pitchers: Carlos Carrasco, Ron Chiavacci, Vic Darensbourg, Gary Knotts, Brian Mazone, Josh Outman, Joe Savery

Who might make the team? I don't see any of the catchers or infielders stealing a spot--either Chris Coste or Jason Jaramillo will be the backup backstop behind Carlos Ruiz, and barring trades the trio of Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms and Eric Bruntlett are your third basemen/backup infielders. Pascucci, an itinerant slugger who can play a little first base, and the speedy Watson could challenge for the last outfield spot, though it probably would take a Chris Snelling injury (not exactly a longshot) to create a vacancy. Darensbourg or, I guess, Mazone could emerge as a second lefty in the bullpen, though they'd need to out-pitch Shane Youman and the two Rule 5 guys for that to happen. Carrasco, Outman and Savery all might be mid- to late-season additions; they'll get a couple weeks in camp and maybe an exhibition appearance or two to leave a good impression in the minds of Charlie Manuel, Rich Dubee and Pat Gillick.

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Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

Paul Hoover seems to have, for whatever reason, disappeared from the list on phillies.com. I'd love to see what Pascucci could offer as a power bat off the bench (I know, very little thus far in his brief big-league exposure).........

by another Mike on Dec 18, 2007 1:46 PM EST reply actions

a trio of nice pitching prospects, but

we really need some position talent.

by gr on Dec 18, 2007 3:39 PM EST reply actions

tangentially related question

Where the heck did "T.J. Bohn" come from, and what is he doing on our 40-man roster?

by taco pal on Dec 18, 2007 5:04 PM EST reply actions

Re: tangentially related question

Well sir... you should know the answer to this... the Seattle organization of course...

He has a career OBP of .357 in the minors and a 74% stolen base %. Seems to have a decent amount of outfield assists as well.

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=1447

by Homer on Dec 18, 2007 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Re: tangentially related question

He was claimed off waivers from the Braves late last season. Beyond that, I really don't know. ;-)

by another Mike on Dec 18, 2007 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Re: tangentially related question

does anyone know for sure why Gillick became the MLB's version of Steve Spurrier in Washington and decided that all his old Mariners prospects that crapped the bed before were suddenly legitimate MLB players?

www.kingmyno.com The best in Philadelphia sports-talk

by king myno on Dec 18, 2007 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Re: tangentially related question

Yes, although in fairness, Dobbs worked out OK last year. And I think Snelling is a good pickup.

by taco pal on Dec 19, 2007 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

Tuffy?

Is it just me, or are about 75% of all Americans with bizarre nicknames baseball players?

by phatj on Dec 18, 2007 10:32 PM EST reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

Jason Donald is starting to look like a Bill Mueller or better to me. Good contact hitter, but takes walks, fair power (10-15 HRs?), lots of doubles, speedy enough to steal in double figures, leg out some triples, solid fielder at SS, so should translate to 3B pretty well.

Is it time to move him over to the hot corner at Reading in 2008? Would that be feasible with the group they are assembling there?

Time for a regime change.

by DiamondDerby on Dec 19, 2007 9:54 AM EST reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

Donald should be kept at SS as long as humanly possible. 3B is a less valuable position than SS. It's also an easier position: people have made that transition in the course of a single spring training. If it turns out that you have to move him to 3B down the road, you can do it at the last minute. Right now it sure looks like we're going to be covered at SS for years to come, but you never know. If J-Roll gets abducted by aliens next spring I want my best SS prospect not to be rusty.

by taco pal on Dec 19, 2007 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

DN reported today that the Phillies have offered Kyle Lohse a four-year deal. This news terrifies me.

by taco pal on Dec 19, 2007 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

Really? Hadn't heard that. Any more info?

by dajafi on Dec 19, 2007 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

No, they didn't get into a whole lot of detail. Here's the article. And here's the relevant passage:

Those things could include the possibility of bringing back free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse, who went 3-0 for the Phillies with a 4.72 ERA in 13 games after being traded from the Cincinnati Reds just before the trade deadline last season. Lohse reportedly has been offered 4-year deals from both the Phillies and Mets.
The Phillies did not confirm the offer had been made but did say it has been in discussions with Lohse and agent Scott Boras.
The Phillies, who watched righthander Kris Benson throw Monday in Phoenix, still are looking to improve their pitching before the start of spring training. With Adam Eaton's health in question, Lohse, who is said to be seeking close to $10 million annually, likely would fit in as the Phillies' fifth starter.

by taco pal on Dec 19, 2007 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

Oh, right. I did see that piece, but didn't get the impression an offer had been made. Re-reading, it seems pretty ambiguous.

Like you, Lohse makes me very nervous, perhaps because I actually didn't hate the Eaton signing last winter and now totally doubt my own ability to gauge the wisdom of such moves.

by dajafi on Dec 19, 2007 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

I like how the article says that Adam Eaton's issue is that his health is in question. As if there's not also an issue of whether he'll pitch like crap again even if he's healthy.

by David S. Cohen on Dec 20, 2007 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

Re: 19 tickets to Clearwater

As for Lohse, the Daily News now says the Phils are out of it. From Rotoworld:

Kyle Lohse-S- Phillies Dec. 20 - 9:24 am et
Assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Wednesday that Phillies have dropped out of the bidding for Kyle Lohse.
The Philadelphia Daily News reported earlier this week that the Phillies had already offered Lohse a four-year contract, but Amaro made it clear that an unwillingness to go beyond a three-year deal is what took Philadelphia out of the running. "From all indications it looked like it would take four years," Amaro said. "We let him know that we wouldn't go higher than three. He indicated he could get four, and we bowed out gracefully." The Mets are now believed to be the clear frontrunners to sign Lohse.

by David S. Cohen on Dec 20, 2007 11:46 AM EST reply actions