Phillies Nation

February is here, and you know what that means – Spring Training!  Fortunately for fans, that journey always begins in sunny Clearwater, Florida. The Phillies have been coming to the area just off the Gulf of Mexico since 1915 and it has provided fans a warm haven from the final weeks of winter.

Phillies Nation has gone to Spring Training the past 7 years and after all the games, player sightings, sunburns, and parties, we’ve put together our Phillies Fans’ Guide to Clearwater.

To those fans who have not yet been on a Spring Training trip, I have one word for you – GO! It’s the most fun you’ll ever have…or the most relaxing time you’ve ever had….or both! In the meantime, read below for a taste of what you’ve been missing. The Guide is definitely a work in progress, so I’ve you’ve been to Spring Training, please offer your suggestions in the comments area.

Continue reading The Phillies Nation Guide to Clearwater, Florida

In recent seasons, plenty of well-regarded prospects have been traded by the Phillies to acquire established MLB talent and other key contributors. Many of those minor leaguers have been spending time with their respective clubs’ big league teams this spring training. Here’s a glance at how many of those former Phils’ farm hands have done through games played on Wednesday in this  exhibition season.

Jonathan Singleton, 1B, traded to Houston in 2011 as part of the Hunter Pence deal- 9 games, 4-for-10 (.400 avg.), 1 doubles, 3 runs scored.

Jonathan Villar, SS, traded to Houston in 2010 as part of the Roy Oswalt deal- 4 games, 0-for-2, with 2 walks.

Anthony Gose, OF, traded to Houston in 2010 as part of the Roy Oswalt deal (subsequently flipped to Toronto)- 11 games, 4-for-15 (.267 avg), 1 double, 1 RBI.

Travis d’Arnaud, traded to Toronto in 2009 as part of the Roy Halladay deal- 7 games, 3-for-15 (.200 avg), 2 doubles, 1 HR, 4 RBI.

Kyle Drabek, traded to Toronto in the 2009 Roy Halladay deal- 2 games, 1-0 record, 3 ER, 3 IP (9.00 ERA).

Michael Taylor, traded to Toronto in the 2009 Roy Halladay deal (subsequently flipped to Oakland)- 9 games, 4-for-18 (.222 avg), no extra base hits, 2 runs, 1 RBI. Continue reading Ex-Phils Prospect MLB Stats Review

As exhilarating as finding out you’re starting the first game of the preseason schedule might sound, there was nothing overly dramatic about the way Austin Hyatt learned he’d be the guy who gets the 2012 campaign rolling for the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater, FL. The right-hander found out he would be pitching in Philadelphia’s exhibition opener against the Florida State Seminoles via a list posted on the clubhouse wall. It was just another day of work for the 25-year-old Hyatt.

Hyatt, an Eastern League All-Star last year, is excited to get a brand new season of Phillies baseball rolling. Expected to throw 2 innings, followed by a lengthy list of other pitchers that includes lefties Jake Diekman, Jeremy Horst, and Joe Savery along with right-handers J.C. Ramirez, Phillippe Aumont and B.J. Rosenberg, Hyatt expressed his high level of enthusiasm for the outing, despite the dull manner in which he discovered he’d be making the start.

“It’s an honor to start that game and launch a new year,” Hyatt said in a phone interview this week. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s exciting. I haven’t pitched on the Brighthouse Field, there, since I was in the Florida State League a couple years back, so it’ll be fun to get back on that mound.” Continue reading Hyatt Set to Kick Off 2012 For Phils

February is here, and you know what that means – Spring Training!  Fortunately for fans, that journey always begins in sunny Clearwater, Florida. The Phillies have been coming to the area just off the Gulf of Mexico since 1915 and it has provided fans a warm haven from the final weeks of winter.

Phillies Nation has gone to Spring Training the past 6 years and after all the games, player sightings, sunburns, and parties, we’ve put together our Phillies Fans’ Guide to Clearwater.

To those fans who have not yet been on a Spring Training trip, I have one word for you – GO! It’s the most fun you’ll ever have…or the most relaxing time you’ve ever had….or both! In the meantime, read below for a taste of what you’ve been missing. The Guide is definitely a work in progress, so I’ve you’ve been to Spring Training, please offer your suggestions in the comments area.

Continue reading Your Guide to Spring Training in Clearwater, FL

Jesse Biddle, is beginning the 2011 season with the organization’s Class A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws after spending last season with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. Combined in 12 starts, the left-handed Biddle posted a 4-1 record with a 3.92 ERA and 50 strike outs in 43 2/3 innings last season.

Biddle, the Phillies’ top draft pick in the 2010 amateur draft, grew up as a Phillies fan and graduated from Germantown Friends School in last June. The 19-year-old, will start the season as the BlueClaws’ number 3 starter.

I spoke with Jesse this week, prior to Lakewood’s exhibition outing against Monmouth University, about his spring training, his impressions of his new team and more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview.

To read my previous player feature on Biddle, click here.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  To check about more from Jay, visit his site, PhoulBallz.com.

With minor league opening day coming up next week, rosters for the Phillies’ developmental levels were posted in Clearwater on Saturday, mere hours before players would depart for their new temporary home towns. Full roster information lies ahead.

Single A Lakewood BlueClaws-
Starting pitchers…Jesse Biddle, Colby Shreve, Mario Hollands, Ervis Manzanillo, David Buchanan.
Relief pitchers…friend of the site Jake Borup, Eric Pettis, Juan Sosa, Garett Claypool, Tyler Knigge, Bryan Morgado, Chase Johnson.
Infielder…Jim Murphy, Stephen Batts, Jeremy Barnes, Geancarlo Mendez, Carlos Perdomo, Edgar Duran.
Outfielders…Zach Collier, Domingo Santana, Aaron Altherr, Miguel Alvarez, Anthony Hewitt.
Catcher…Torre Langley, Cameron Rupp.
Disabled list…Nick Hernandez, Mike McGuire.  McGuire is recovering on schedule from blood clot surgery in February and will report ro extended spring training to rehab with Phillies trainers this week.

High A Level Clearwater Threshers-
Starting pitchers…Jarred Cosart, Trevor May, Brody Colvin, Jonathan Pettibone, Julio Rodriguez.
Relief pitchers…Joe Esposito, Tyler Cloyd, Jordan Ellis, Justin Friend, Jordan Whatcott, Ebelin Lugo, Derrick Loop.
Infielders… friend of the site Moose Mattair, Cesar Hernandez, Joe Savery, Troy Hanzawa, Alan Schoenberger, Darin Ruf.
Outfielders…Jiwan James, Jon Singleton, Brian Gump, D’Arby Myers, Leandro Castro.
Catchers…Sebastian Valle, Kyle Lafrenz, Joel Naughton.
Disabled list…Matt Way.

Double A Reading Phillies-
Starting pitchers- Austin Hyatt, JC Ramirez, Ryan Edell, Josh Zeid and Mike Cisco.
Relief Pitchers…Phillippe Aumont, BJ Rosenberg, Justin De Fratus, Chris Kissock, Tyson Brummett, Chance Chapman, Jacob Diekman.
Infield- Matt Rizzotti, Cody Overbeck, Harold Garcia, Freddy Galvis, Carlos Rivero and Fidel Hernandez.
Outfielders…Mike Spidale, Stephen Susdorf, Chris Frey and Derrick Mitchell.
Catchers…Tuffy Gosewisch and Tim Kennelly.
Disable list…Jeremy Slayden, Tyson Gillies, John Suomi and Brian Gordon. Suomi’s addition to the DL leaves a spot open on the roster.

Triple A Lehigh Valley-
Starting pitchers…Vance Worley, Nate Bump, Ryan Feierabend, Drew Carpenter, Eddie Bonine.
Relief pitchers…Brian Bass, Jason Grilli, Michael Schwimer, Mike Stutes, Mike Zagurski, Scott Mathieson.
Infielders…Josh Barfield, Ronnie Belliard, Jeff Larish, Rob Hudson, Kevin Frandsen.
Outfielders…Matt Miller, Brandon Moss, Delwyn Young, Cory Sullivan, Rich Thompson.
Catchers…Erik Kratz, Dane Sardinha.
Disabled list…Juan Perez, Drew Naylor, Tagg Bozied.
Dan Meyer’s release opens a spot on the Lehigh roster.

Kelly Dugan, who was taken 75th overall by the Phillies in the 2009 amateur draft will begin the season in extended spring training.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league contributor. To read more from Jay, check out his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Phillies minor league third baseman Moose Mattair spoke with PhoulBallz.com’s & PhilliesNation’s Jay Floyd once again, to provide an inside glance at spring training in Clearwater.

Mattair was the Phillies’ second round draft pick in 2007 out of Southridge High School in Washington state. He later helped the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws win the South Atlantic League championship in 2009. After a rough spring training in 2010, Mattair, who was an all-state basketball player during his high school days, retired from baseball to chase his dream of playing Division I college hoops.

After a year off from baseball and spending last summer with the Boise State University men’s basketball, Mattair is back in Clearwater ready to start another season in the Phils’ organization. He played in the Phillies’ Major League spring training game this past Saturday against the Blue Jays and has described the event here for you readers.

To tell the truth, a while ago when my dad was making plans for his trip to come see me play in spring training, all I could think of was maybe his visit will coincide with a split squad day or maybe I could get called to play for the big league club for a day while he’s here. It would mean so much to me, if my dad was here to see it. And sure enough, this past Friday with my dad in town, I looked at the list for Saturday’s travel and game assignments, and the Phillies’ list had my name on it.

I went to my dad and told him and he was just so excited for me to get to go over there and I was just so excited to be going, but of course it meant more because my dad was going to see it. Of course, I didn’t know if I was going to get to play or not. But the Phillies got my dad a really good seat and everything fell into place.

During the game, the coach came to me and told me I was going in to play third if we went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning, and we did, so I got to go in on defense. It was a little more nerve racking to be out there in front of big league fans on that stage, especially for me, since I haven’t been in front of any crowd playing baseball in well over a year. Continue reading Moose Tracks: Big Leaguer For a Day

A source confirmed on Monday night that the Phillies released at least ten minor league players from their contracts earlier in the day.

According to a source within the Phillies organization, the following players were notified of their release on Monday in Clearwater: Justin Beal, Bradley Blanks, Matt McConnell, Adam Buschini, Drew Rundle, Heitor Correa, Matt Hutchison, Marco Davaillo, Mike Bolsenbroek and Eric Massingham.

Beal, 24, posted a 2-3 record with a 2.88 ERA in 20 games with Class A Lakewood and went 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 4 games with short-season Williamsport in 2010. The right-hander was a 28th round draft pick in 2009 out of Missouri Southern State.

Blanks, 26, was signed as a minor league free agent last July and posted a 4-1 record with a 2.73 ERA in 16 games as a reliever for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2010.

McConnell was a 36th round draft selection in 2009. In 46 combined games last year at Williamsport and Lakewood, the 24-year-old shortstop batted .248 with 5 doubles and 12 RBI.

Correa, a native of Brazil, was a member of the 2009 Lakewood team that won the South Atlantic League title. In 27 games for High A level Clearwater last season, the 21-year-old righty Correa went 8-14 with a 6.62 ERA and a .315 batting average against.

Bushini, a 4th round draft pick in 2009, was teammates with Massingham at Cal Poly. The 23-year-old infielder batted .219 with 2 homeruns in 83 games with Lakewood in 2010.

Rundle was signed as a minor league free agent last August. Originally a 14th round pick in 2006 by the Cubs, the lefty hitting outfielder played in 17 combined games with Clearwater and Williamsport last season.

Hutchison, 23, a right-handed reliever, appeared in 15 combined games last year for the Gulf Coast League Phillies and the Clearwater Thresher. The 22-year-old was a 25th round draft pick last year and went 4-0 with a 3.80 ERA at two levels.

Davaillo, a 20-year-old catcher and utility player had played two season for the Phillies’ Venezuelan Summer League team. In 89 games in 2009 and 2010, Davaillo batted .317 with 7 homeruns and an .838 OPS.

Bolsenbroek, who stands 6-feet-8-inches tall and is originally from the Netherlands, is a righty reliever originally drafted by the Phils in the 42nd round of the 2008 draft. In 18 games with the Lakewood BlueClaws last season, Bolsenbroek had a 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA.

The 24-year-old Massingham was a 25th round pick in the 2009 draft. The right-handed pitcher posted a 5-2 record with a 3.43 ERA in 34 games as a member of the 2010 Lakewood SAL title team.

**UPDATE 3/29** Also confirmed are two more players that were released on Monday…23-year-old hurler Marshall Schuler, who was a 37th round draft pick last year, and 22-year-old Drew Erwin who pitched in 6 games with the GCL Phillies in 2010.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

In Clearwater on Friday, the Phillies continued a hot spring and beat the Braves 3-1 to continue leading National League teams in the Grapefruit League in wins with 18.

Joe Blanton shined in the contest, throwing scoreless inning in which he allowed just 5 hits, no walks and struck out 4 batters. In addition to dominating on the mound, Blanton added a single at the plate for the defending NL East division champions.

The Phillies took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when, with Luis Castillo on base, Jimmy Rollins mashed a pitch from former Phils hurler Rodrigo Lopez deep to right and out of Brighthouse Field.

Ryan Howard added a run in the 3rd inning, when he drove a towering fly ball off the top of the left-center field wall for a triple, plating Rollins.

Placido Polanco played three innings for the Phils at third base and went 0-for-2. Polanco had missed time over the past week with left elbow soreness.

Additionally, the Phillies announced Friday that, for the third time in four seasons as a member of the team, Brad Lidge will begin the season on the disabled list. Lidge has been experiencing recurring pain in his right shoulder and is targeting a period of rest, in order to allow some extra time to heal.

Continue reading Blanton Sharp in Phils Win, Lidge News is Bad News