Phillies news and links — Four more trimmed from roster

This morning’s news should make you contemplate the following questions: Are veteran catchers ever really in camp if they had no hope at obtaining a job? How far can Tommy Joseph hit a baseball? Is a grain bowl really ballpark food?

Let’s get to it.

Phillies say goodbye to two veteran catchers

Just a day after Andrew Knapp’s bat woke up, the Phillies released Bryan Holaday and Ryan Hanigan, the two backup catchers that were still in camp. Honestly, it felt kind of redundant having them around. The Phillies had proclaimed Knapp their backup catcher early on, and Jorge Alfaro is waiting in the wings. Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal wrote about what the Phillies were thinking with this decision. Best of luck to Hanigan and Holaday them in their Phillies-less future.

Two more sent to the minors

Sadly, we all had to say goodbye to Roman “Candle” Quinn today (that one’s for you, Wet Luzinski). He was optioned to the minors. Reliever Michael “Hair” Mariot was reassigned to the minors, but no one will miss him.

Tommy Joseph and Vince Velasquez had pretty excellent games on Monday

We’re getting down to it with these spring training games, so it’s nice to see players looking good as rosters continue to shed minor leaguers. Vince Velasquez had his last ST start yesterday, and it was strong. He went five innings and struck out seven. Tommy Joseph went 4-for-5 with a two run homer, and hoo boy am I ever excited about a full season of that boy.

There will be new food at Citizens Bank Park this season

CSN Philly showcased some of CBP’s new food, and the thing Aramark’s executive chef is most proud of? Their healthy grain bowl! Listen, if I’m at a ballpark, I don’t want a bowl full of grains and roughage. Give me something that’ll stop my heart. Other items include a house made and smoked pastrami sausage, house made falafel, and a roast pork sharable stak, which Aramrk is obsessed with. They’re doing the “sharable stak” all over baseball, and it’s just a pile of fries with stuff on it. Honestly, compared to the new food offerings at other ballparks, the stuff at Citizens Bank Park isn’t that innovative or impressive. But it’s new, so let’s pretend it’s awesome!

Around the Phight

• We had a new episode of the Dirty Inning podcast with Trev and Justin last week, and be sure not to miss it. Byrd is the word, after all.
• Kyle Kendrick felt the need to to talk about that legendary 2008 prank, so I had to write about it.
• John Stolnis previewed Joaquin Benoit, and be sure to look for more of those player previews as we come to the end of spring training.
• Episode 101 of the Felske Files podcast is out!

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