10 Non-Roster Players Invited To Spring Training
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, December 17, 2008 10:50 PM | Comments: 21
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From a Phillies press release:
Ten players have been invited to Phillies spring training as non-roster invitees, Chuck LaMar, Phillies assistant general manager, player development & scouting announced today.
Dave Borkowski, RHP … Borkowski, 31, split last season between the Houston Astros and triple-A Round Rock. In his 26 appearances with Houston , he was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA, while with Round Rock he posted a 2-2 record with two saves and a 2.43 ERA in 27 games (1 start). Borkowski has appeared in 181 major league games, going 13-20 with a 5.87 ERA between Detroit (1999-2001), Baltimore (2004) and Houston (2006-08).
Mike Cervenak, 3B/1B … Cervenak, 32, played for triple-A Lehigh Valley this past season where he finished fifth in the International League in batting average (.311) and tied for seventh in doubles (30). On the year, he hit 10 home runs, recorded 66 RBI and was named to the IL All-Star team. Cervenak also made his major league debut in 2008 with the Phillies, hitting .154 (2-13) in 10 games, mostly as a pinch-hitter.
Ozzie Chavez, SS … Chavez, 25, combined to hit .232 (63-271) with four home runs, 33 RBI and 23 runs scored in 94 games between triple-A Nashville and double-A Huntsville in the Milwaukee organization. For his career, Chavez is hitting .250 with 22 home runs and 297 RBI in 889 games. He is currently playing for Azucareros del Este in the Dominican Winter League.
J.J. Furmaniak, INF/OF … Furmaniak, 29, who was originally selected by San Diego in the 22nd round of the 2000 draft, did not play last season. He has appeared in 29 career major league games between Pittsburgh (2005) and Oakland (2007) and is hitting .186 (8-43) with two RBI. For his minor league career he is hitting .270 with 84 home runs and 408 RBI in 889 games.
Mike Koplove, RHP … Last season with triple-A Las Vegas, Koplove, a Philadelphia native, went 2-1 with nine saves and a 3.46 ERA in 41 games. Over his seven major league seasons, Koplove, 32, has posted a 15-7 record with a 3.82 ERA in 222 games for Arizona (2001-06) and Cleveland (2007).
Justin Lehr, RHP … Lehr, 31, spent last season with triple-A Louisville, where he went 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA in 16 games (8 starts). He is currently pitching for Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican Winter League. Lehr has pitched in 66 career major league games, posting a 4-3 record with a 5.31 ERA between Oakland (2004) and Milwaukee (2005-06).
Blaine Neal, RHP … Neal, 30, finished tied for 2nd for the IL lead in saves (26) while pitching for triple-A Toledo in 2008. Overall, he went 1-0 with a 1.21 ERA in 38 appearances and began the season converting his first 17 save opportunities. The native of Marlton, N.J., has appeared in 133 major league games, all in relief, going 5-4 with a 5.08 ERA between Florida (2001-03), San Diego (2004), Boston (2005) and Colorado (2005).
Terry Tiffee, 3B … Tiffee, 29, spent last season with triple-A Las Vegas, where he led the Pacific Coast League in batting average (.378), finished 3rd in doubles (39), 4th in on-base percentage (.416), 8th in hits (148) and 10th in slugging percentage (.561). Tiffee also appeared with the Dodgers in 2008 playing in six games, mostly as a pinch-hitter. He is currently playing for Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Winter League.
Andy Tracy, 1B … Last season, Tracy, 35, played for Lehigh Valley, where he hit .288 with 22 home runs and 85 RBI in 124 games. He led all IL first basemen in fielding percentage (.997), finished 2nd in the league in doubles (34) and tied for fifth in RBI (85). Tracy also made four pinch-hit appearances (0-2, RBI) for the Phillies in 2008.
Chris Walker, OF … Walker , 28, hit .257 with one home run and 27 RBI in 78 games for triple-A Salt Lake this past season. Originally selected by the Cubs in the sixth round of the 2002 draft, Walker is hitting .270 with 16 home runs and 217 RBI in 685 career minor league games. He is currently playing for Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League.
The following players were signed as minor league free agents: right-handers Yorman Bazardo, Yoel Hernandez and Justin Pope, left-handers Jason Mackintosh and Joshua Shortslef, first baseman/outfielder Brian Stavisky and outfielders Casey Craig, Kevin Mahar, Wilkin Ruan, Mike Spidale and Rich Thompson.
Well then. Will these guys make the 25-man roster sometime this season? One or two may.
Posts: 0 Matt
Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2009 Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs! With that squad they’re throwing out there, they might actually be worse than last year.
Posted: 10:56 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
Looks like a bunch of crap players to me, none of which will have a shot to make the 25 man roster.
Posted: 10:57 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Wilson
Tiffee’s not bad…but getting up there in age to break through and he didn’t do much for LA.
Posted: 11:12 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Wilson
“The only challenge that I see over here is the weather,” Rodriguez said at his introductory news conference Wednesday.
That was KRod at his press conference today….I think I may enjoy hating him just as much as Wags
Posted: 11:14 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Borkowski and Neal are decent additions and the holdovers had decent years, would be nice to see a couple more names of guys trying to get back to the majors. Few names although maybe a little optimistic of them not getting a major league deal- Chris Burke, Angel Berroa, Chuck James, Jason Jennings and there are a few more relievers with experience like Ray King.
Posted: 11:22 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Kenny
I played against Blaine Neal in high school. Hes not too bad, I think he is an Iron Pig though
Posted: 11:41 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
Terry Tiffee was a huge free agent pick up for me in ASB 2000 when Ron Gant went on the DL during my season.
Posted: 11:50 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
Furmaniak’s furmaniacs!
Posted: 12:11 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyGirlinMichigan
Bizzarre Bazardo…didn’t think I’d see his name again.
He really showed a lot of promise for the Tigers in 2007. I thought he was a given for a roster spot in 2008, especially after they non-tendered Durbin. However, Yorman really tanked early in 2008 (along w/most of the Tiger’s pitching staff). I guess there’s always hope he learned how to pitch again.
Posted: 12:24 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Justin
Terry Tiffee may make the roster as the backup 3rd baseman should the phils move Coste, it could come between Tiffee and Cervanek as a backup 3b/1b right handed option. He obviously has power so he may be a decent power bat.
Posted: 12:40 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Nationals#1
don’t forget, Andy Tracy also made a relief appearance for the IronPigs last season
Posted: 05:41 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Rick
Are they trying to move the Iron Pigs to Miami or something?
Posted: 09:38 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Mark
1.) I didn’t know Cervenak was that old
and 2.) I thought that he had done better for us than a .154 BA
I still think this guy has a major upside and would love to see him on our bench with Dobbs.
Posted: 10:33 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Lorry
Furmaniak played in Japan last year.
Posted: 11:26 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 KM
cervanek blows – if he was a major league caliber player he would already have been on a roster.
Posted: 12:23 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
None of these players are expected to make the team.. you just bring them into camp because you don’t want your players being involved in every spring training game, and playing every innings.. so you need bodies..
and if anyone gets injured you need to know what options you have and have seen them play firsthand.
Posted: 12:28 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 Lock-Picker
I agree on Tiffee: He feels like a great candidate for “Guy who gets it together in the minors late in career, gets shot”- with the Phillies. THE NEXT DAVID BELL?? I daren’t speak it.
Posted: 04:41 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
Go figure a day after speculating names one is apparently on the Phillies radar in LHR Ray King
Posted: 09:59 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 bones
Neal would be very good for the bullpen
Posted: 02:23 AM on December 19, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Wasnt Yorman Bazardo once a well-touted prospect? maybe he can rediscover his stuff in AAA….
please no ray king, not even in AAA, just…no. the last time i saw him he gave up a HR to J-Roll on opening day.
Posted: 03:02 AM on December 19, 2008
Posts: 0 J-Man
Nothing but a bunch of career minor leaguers on that list.
Posted: 06:06 AM on December 19, 2008