Phillies Nation

From the Phillies:

All six of the Phillies’ major league coaches have agreed to contracts for the 2012 season, Manager Charlie Manuel announced today.

Mick Billmeyer (bullpen), Rich Dubee (pitching), Greg Gross (hitting), Pete Mackanin (bench), Sam Perlozzo (first base) and Juan Samuel (third base), along with bullpen catcher Jesus Tiamo, will resume their respective positions.

“I couldn’t be happier to have the whole staff back for another season,” said Manuel.  “Their dedication and work ethic speak for themselves and they were a huge part of our 102 wins.”

Billmeyer, 47, is the longest-tenured member of the coaching staff after joining it in 2004 as the major league catching instructor.  The 2012 season will be his ninth with the Phillies and the eighth for Dubee, fourth for Mackanin and Perlozzo, third for Gross and second for Samuel.

The 102-win Phillies will bring the whole crew back. The only question is, what happens with Ryne Sandberg?

Are you ready for some baseball? Yeah, I know the World Series just started, but as a Phillies fan it’s time to look to Spring. The Phillies have released their Spring Training schedule for 2012. Hope to see you in Clearwater this year!

From Phillies.com

PHOTO: Lehigh Valley Live

GALVIS OUT

According to Philly.com, Freddy Galvis was removed from the lineup of a Venezuelan League game on Tuesday with an injured wrist. The report comes from Gerardo Boscan of Mi Diario newspaper in Maracaibo, Venezuela, who tweeted that Galvis was removed from the lineup after feeling discomfort in his right wrist (throwing hand).

The 21-year-old Venezuelan-native began play last week for the the Aguilas de Zulia of the Venezuelan Winter League.

It’s going to be a very interesting winter for Galvis, depending on what happens with Jimmy Rollins and the contract negotiations between he and the Phillies. If Rollins stays, Galvis will get ample time to shore up his game in the minors and work his way into a top shortstop prospect for the future. If Rollins goes, Galvis may be looked at as a replacement in the nearer future.

No word on the extent of the injury in the reports, but a wrist injury can certainly be damning to a shortstop’s progress, both at the plate and in the field.  We’ll update once more information becomes available.

Continue reading Galvis Injures Wrist; Arizona Fall League Update

From MLBTradeRumors.com:

The Phillies outrighted Brandon Moss and Pete Orr to Triple-A Lehigh Valley yesterday, according to MLB.com’s transactions page. They now have 38 players on their 40-man roster.

Moss appeared in five games for the Phillies in 2011. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a strong .275/.368/.509 line with 23 homers. The 28-year-old was part of the 2008 trade that sent Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles and brought Jason Bay to Boston.

Orr, 32, appeared in 46 games for Philadelphia this year. He posted a .219/.279/.250 line in 104 plate appearances and appeared at second and third. The six-year veteran has suited up for three of the five NL East teams: the Phillies, Nationals and Braves.

Moss barely made a peep at the major league level this season, but Orr proved to be an OK fill in from time to time throughout the season. He also flashed some wheels, but never was he a viable candidate to stick around long-term. As you can see by their numbers, both guys are probably AAAA players that will continue to shift between the minors and majors.

Yeah, Wright. (PHOTO: NJ.com)

Last week in his State of the Phillies address following the season-ending loss to the Cardinals, Ruben Amaro talked about getting Placido Polanco back to full health. He would be a big part of the Phillies in 2012, said Amaro, who sees the slap-hitting Polanco as a boon to this lineup, when his body cooperates.

The next day, Charlie Manuel spoke and was asked if the Phillies needed to upgrade the position. After two years and 70 games missed by Polanco, Manuel said if there is a chance to get better, the organization has to at least try. The tread on Polly’s tires is wearing out, and it’s hard to say he’s still an everyday player. When he does play, and play at full health, the numbers are usually pretty decent. But that can no longer be counted on to happen. Not after four cortisone injections, several DL stints, and a double hernia surgery in the offseason.

That’s two differing viewpoints from the two men in charge. What will it come down to? If there is the opportunity to grab a player this offseason that is better than Polanco, look for the Phillies to attempt it. But, that’s not an easy task at such a slim position.

Continue reading Phillies Third Base Options

The hot stove is getting warmer. We haven’t even begun the World Series and already there is speculation as to what will happen once free agency begins.

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that Jayson Werth is attempting to “sell” the Nationals to soon-to-be free agent closer Ryan Madson. It’s unknown whether or not the Phillies will be able to retain Madson, who will likely look for a closer-type contract, pushing $10 million or more. Madson is also a Scott Boras client, meaning he’ll try and push the price as high as he can.

(In that same article, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres have offered Heath Bell a two-year deal worth $15-16 million)

Madson to Washington is an intriguing thought. They are trying to become the Phillies in more than one way. The pitching isn’t quite there, but they are attempting to build a solid offense with good homegrown talent combined with some free agents. Werth didn’t work out in Year 1 of his megadeal, but it can’t get any worse for him.

Continue reading Werth “Selling” Nationals to Madson

In this episode, Pat and Corey discuss the Phillies plans for the 2012 season – current salaries, prospective free agents and Ryan Howard’s injury. There is also a new segment – Rant of the Week – where viewers can call in to our hotline – (267) 702-0097.

Cody Overbeck.

In the coming weeks and months we’ll be taking a look at several young talents within the organization that could make an impact on the Phillies’ big league roster in 2012. With this first edition, we’ll review a couple names that could seize an opportunity due to the Achilles tendon injury that Ryan Howard suffered in the final game of the National League Division Series.

It’s no secret that three-time All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard could possibly miss the start of next season after undergoing surgery on his ruptured left Achilles tendon this past week. While many fans, media members and baseball analysts expect the Phillies to fill the void, next April, with John Mayberry Jr., who played 18 games at first base in 2011, the team will have other in-house options courtesy of a pair of older prospects.

Perhaps the leading option from the minors that could fill in while “The Big Piece” is out of action is 25-year-old Cody Overbeck. The 9th round draft pick from 2008 has been strong on offense in each of the past two seasons, posting a .276 combined average with 48 total homeruns and 154 RBI.

Formerly a third baseman through his first three seasons in the Phillies developmental system, Overbeck dabbled in the outfield and was primarily a first baseman in 2011 with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, which clearly increased his versatility.

Continue reading Phillies on Deck, Vol. 1: Rizzotti, Overbeck

PHOTO AP

Back in March, Michael Young was on the Phillies radar. Here on Phillies Nation, I wrote this:

As first reported by Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Phillies put in a call to the Texas Rangers to discuss Michael Young, although talks were considered “brief.”

Young has announced his displeasure with the Rangers organization for dangling him in a trade after assuring him he was part of their future. That, in addition to signing or trading for multiple players that would take his place, including third baseman Adrian Beltre and catcher/DH Mike Napoli.

The call made by the Phillies to inquire about Young is nothing more than a team doing their “due diligence,” which has become the chic term from the mouth of Ruben Amaro.

So, maybe the Phillies weren’t close to getting Young, but there was some interest there. And then, I said this:

Young, 34, is owed $48 million over the next three seasons; a healthy number for someone that age. That’s an annual average of $16 million, or roughly $10 million more than starting third baseman Placido Polanco is owed. At this stage, Young’s defense is lacking and would not be considered an upgrade over Polly, who is also 34.

Continue reading Michael Young Continues to Plug Along – For Texas

PHOTO AP

Five-to-six months is being optimistic. That’s the timetable Ruben Amaro Jr. put on injured first baseman Ryan Howard earlier in the week – and to return to the Ryan Howard we’re used to seeing. No limitations, no issues. Five months from the day he went under the knife would be March 12; or right smack in the middle of Spring Training.

Modern science seems to have sped the healing process on certain injuries, and this very well could be one of them. Matt Gelb over at the Philadelphia Inquirer checked into the latest Achillies tears and found that the time obviously varies by each individual, but that no play in the last decade he found came back to the team in less than six months. Kevin Frandsen, formerly of the San Francisco Giants and the Phillies minor league system, returned to action in six months and four days in 2008.

This leads to a question: if Howard is to miss extended time in the regular season, who’s on first?

Continue reading Who Plays First if Howard Can’t?