Phillies Nation

Quintero remains the non-roster invitee with the best chance to make the Phillies out of Spring Training. Photo AP

We’re a little bit over halfway through Major League Spring Training, and not including the depth guys that were added to the roster late for depth, the Phillies have eight non-roster invitees still in camp. Let’s reassess their chances.

Still the Clubhouse Favorite

Humberto Quintero

What I originally wrote:

Quintero is primarily the front runner for the early season back-up catching role due to the amount of experience he has in the big leagues. Quintero has almost no bat (career .234/.267/.323) and despite the fact that he was on the 2004 Padres with Jake Peavy in his prime and the 2005 Astros with Roy Oswalt in his prime and Roger Clemens putting up a league-leading 1.87 ERA, Quintero didn’t catch those guys. He often served as Wandy Rodriguez‘s personal catcher much in the same way Brian Schneider was accidentally-on-purpose Vance Worley‘s personal catcher throughout 2011.

This is not to say Quintero does not have positives: Quintero is a fine defensive catcher via the eye test and UZR says he has saved 26.2 runs over the course of his career. As much as it would be fun if this were a race for a roster spot, this is Quintero’s spot to lose. Valle would benefit from playing every day more in Lehigh Valley than playing once every five days in Philadelphia.

Chances of Making Phils out of Spring Training: A. Quintero will very likely be Kratz’s back-up until Chooch returns. In terms of back-up catchers, you could do worse.

Chances of Seeing Time with Phils in 2013: A+. In fact, look for Quintero to start the home opener on April 5, which is the first Phillies’ day game after a night game.

Where he stands now:

Quintero’s odds of making the team have not changed since that writing. Quintero has hit .231/.313/.231 in 16 Spring PA and has not faced particularly stiff competition from anyone by Joseph and Joseph is already in the minors.

New Chances of Making Phils out of Spring Training: A+ (Stock: Up)

Chances of Seeing Time with Phils in 2013: A+ (Stock: Unchanged)

Continue reading 2013 Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Update

Some of the tough roster decisions were started this morning as LHPs Jake Diekman and Cesar Jimenez, RHP Justin De Fratus, and INF Josh Fields were reassigned to Minor League camp this morning per Chris Branch. Diekman was the strongest Spring performer out of the four, posting a 5.00 ERA and 14 Ks in 9 IP and according to Ryan Lawrence, Diekman drew “(rave) reviews from teammates” while being told to focus on off-speed pitches. De Fratus ended his Spring campaign with five straight scoreless outings but will start the year with the IronPigs after posting a 6.43 ERA and 1.429 WHIP. Fields (.208/.269/.333 in 26 PA) and Jimenez (5 Ks, 5 H in 2.2 IP) seemingly never factored into the Phillies’ plans this Spring.

For those keeping score at home Diekman and De Fratus were optioned to Lehigh Valley while Fields and Jiminez were reassigned there as non-roster invitees.

The Phillies now have 35 players left in Big League camp.

Tampa Bay Rays  vs Philadelphia Phillies

Time: 1:05 pm

Charlotte Sports Park – Port Charlotte, FL

Weather: 64, Clear

TV: No TV today, folks. Just MLB Radio.

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John Lannan will take the hill today followed by Antonio Bastardo, Jeremy Horst, and Justin De Fratus. The Phils hitters will take on Matt Moore.

Some housekeeping items: the Phillies have released RHP Garrett Claypool, an 11th round pick from 2010, as first reported exclusively by our Jay Floyd. According to the Phillies, 2B Cesar Hernandez has been reassigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, joining pitchers Tyler Cloyd, Ethan Martin, Jonathan Pettibone, B.J. Rosenberg, Mauricio Robles, and Joe Savery, catcher Sebastian Valle, and outfielder Tyson Gillies. Finally, the Phillies have finalized the assignment of Zach Collier, who will start the year with the Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils.

Line-Up

1. Revere – CF

2. Frandsen – 2B

3. Young – 3B

4. Brown – RF

5. Ruf – LF

6. Ruiz – C

7. Mayberry – 1B

8. Fields – DH

9. Galvis – SS

Go Phillies!

Matt Hitt

Troy Marks

According to Matt Eddy of Baseball America, the Phillies have signed RHP Troy Marks, C Matt Hitt, 2B Shawn Williams, SS Miguel Abreu, and SS Andres Blanco.

Marks, 23, is a 6’5 righty who attended the University of Nevada. As a member of the Wolfpack, he earned WAC All-Academic team distinction He went undrafted in 2012.

Hitt, 23, is a 6’0 catcher who hit .226 for Eastern Michigan Universtiy in 2012. Hitt made his pro debut last summer with the Arizona Centennials.

Williams, 29, is a 6’2 second baseman who went to Emery-Riddle Aeronautical University. He hit .272/.353/.373 with 6 HR and 18 steals for the Long Island Ducks last year and last played organized ball in the Tampa Bay Rays organization in 2010. Williams figures to fill the hole left by the departed Harold Garcia in Reading.

Abreu and Blanco were both shortstops in the Phillies organization last season and were released and then re-signed. Abreu, 27, hit .280/.298/.362 for Reading last season. Blanco, 28, hit .235/.301/.346 for Lehigh Valley last season and is battling shoulder trouble.

In addition, the Phillies have added the following players to Major League camp today: RHPs Jordan Whatcott and Colby Shreve and catcher John Suomi. Whatcott, 27, joined the Phillies organization in 2010 after graduating from the University of Utah and was an Eastern League All-Star for Reading in 2012. Shreve, 25, has found success in Clearwater but needs to make the jump to Reading permanent. Suomi, 32, hit .265/.311/.393 for the IronPigs last season and replaced Russell Martin on Team Canada in the WBC. Whatcott, Shreve, and Suomi are all likely to be depth pieces for late Spring and not much more.

Over at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida, the Phillies fell to the Rays, 3-2.

Kyle Kendrick’s final line was somewhat shaky, giving up three runs in four innings, while striking out three. All three runs came in the third inning. The bullpen behind him, consisting today of Mike Stutes, Mike Adams, and Aaron Cook, allowed just three hits over the final four frames.

Adams has been absolutely brilliant early in the spring. In three appearances, he’s given up just three hits and no walks. Stutes has struggled, but calmed himself down for a quick 1-2-3 frame, and Cook pitched well in two innings as he is vying for an outside shot at a bullpen job. It’s likely he sees an assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Kevin Frandsen and Michael Young each recorded two hits and both knocked in a run for the Phillies. Darin Ruf singled in three at-bats and Domonic Brown continued his tear with two hard hit singles in three trips to the plate. Most of the regulars (Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ruiz, Revere) were given a day of rest.

Howard has been hitting well and hasn’t seen much time off this early in Spring Training. Good thing or bad thing? And how excited are you to see Brown ripping the cover off the ball?

Venezuelan born infielder Cesar Hernandez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies at the age of 16. Since then, the slick defender that primarily plays second base, has displayed solid progress and improvements in many areas of his game.

Hernandez, a switch-hitter, made his professional debut with the Venezuelan Summer League in 2007 at the age of 17. In two seasons there, he tallied a .296 batting average with three home runs and 45 RBI in 114 games.  He followed that effort with a campaign in which he batted .267 with five doubles and a triple in 41 games for the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2009.

The following year, as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, Hernandez was voted as the Most Valuable Player of the club by his teammates and was an All-Star. He proved clutch with the ‘Cutters, posting a .400 average (16-for-40) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Overall that season, Hernandez sported an impressive .325/.390/.392 line with 13 doubles and two triples in 65 games and placed second in the New York-Penn League in stolen bases, with 32.

His remarkable season in Williamsport led to a complete skip of full season Class A Lakewood. Hernandez played the entire 2011 season with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, where his offensive production took a dip (.268/.303./.333). With just 15 extra-base hits and 98 singles that year, a power boost was something that the Phils’ brass and coaches were looking for when they assigned Hernandez a strengthening program for the following off-season. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #12 2B Cesar Hernandez

Phillies Nation is looking for a new female host for the 2013 season. Following in the footsteps of awesome stints by Natalie and Alex, we think you might be the next host to film alongside Pat and Corey.

This is our third year of the TV show. In year 1, we aired exclusively on YouTube. In year 2, we made our way to televisions in the Lehigh Valley on 2Sports. This year, we’re hitting the Philadelphia airwaves through a new partnership with Comcast. The show will be featured on The Comcast Network and CSNPhilly.com.

So if you think you have what it takes to interview ballplayers and local celebrities; to weather rain delays and wind-strapped South Philly, and be the next Phillies Nation Female Host, complete the application below.

Please use the application to let us know about your experience and interest in the Phillies, journalism or other related subjects.  We highly recommend filming a video of yourself discussing the Phillies, but feel free to upload any photos or videos you think will help tell your story.

Note: This is an unpaid position, but it’s perfect if you’re looking to break into the media industry and meet some great people along the way.

The Phillies had 13 players suit up and play a non-catching infield position last year, a stark contrast to nine in 2011, 12 in 2010, ten in 2009, and nine in 2009. With the average number of infielders needed by the Phillies at just over ten and a half and the Phillies currently with only seven infielders on their 40-man roster, there is a very good chance more than one of these players will see extended time at an infield spot for the Phillies, particularly considering the health concerns of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and the ages of Jimmy Rollins and Michael Young.

Three-in-a-Row for Sneaky Pete?

Pete Orr

Much to my surprise in 2011, Pete Orr began the year with the Phillies on their Opening Day roster. Last year? Orr didn’t catch me off guard. Orr filled in well in 57 PA last year, hitting .315/.327/.444, is still among the fastest players in the Phillies organization, and still plays, at worst, average defense at all infield positions. Depending on the Phillies’ development plans for Cesar Hernandez, Orr is likely the first option to come up from Lehigh Valley should there be an injury.

Like Steven Lerud yesterday, a lot of Orr’s value comes in the fact that he’s just valuable enough to have on a roster but not so valuable that another team would select him off waivers. With limited roster space, that is a plus for Orr. Another advantage for Orr? He will be able to showcase himself as the starting second baseman for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Chances of Making Phils out of Spring Training: D+. Kevin Frandsen and Freddy Galvis complicate Orr’s chances of starting the year with the team, but if Young, Rollins, or Utley aren’t ready, or even Frandsen or Galvis, Orr is probably the first infielder up.

Chances of Seeing Time with Phils in 2013: C. Not as likely as last year, but a reasonable 50/50 shot to be on the roster at some point in 2013 unless Hernandez or one of the others greatly outplays him.

Continue reading 2013 Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Infielders

Catching depth is needed in Spring Training to accommodate the proportionally large pitching depth that travels to Clearwater. The Phillies currently have three catchers on their 40-man roster, Erik Kratz, Carlos Ruiz, and Sebastian Valle, but with Chooch out, Valle will compete with the three non-rostered invitees for an early season cameo as the Phils back-up catcher. Of all of the non-roster invitees, this is the group that is all but guaranteed to produce a Phillie in 2013.

The Front Runner

Humberto Quintero

Quintero is primarily the front runner for the early season back-up catching role due to the amount of experience he has in the big leagues. Quintero has almost no bat (career .234/.267/.323) and despite the fact that he was on the 2004 Padres with Jake Peavy in his prime and the 2005 Astros with Roy Oswalt in his prime and Roger Clemens putting up a league-leading 1.87 ERA, Quintero didn’t catch those guys. He often served as Wandy Rodriguez‘s personal catcher much in the same way Brian Schneider was accidentally-on-purpose Vance Worley‘s personal catcher throughout 2011.

Continue reading 2013 Non-Roster Invitee Preview: Catchers

The Phillies announced last night that pitcher J.C. Ramirez has cleared waivers and will be assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Ramirez, 24, has yet to fulfill the potential that made him a key piece in the 2009 trade for Cliff Lee, posting a career 4.33 ERA in 177 Minor League games. Ramirez made the transition to the bullpen last year for Double-A Reading before earning a call-up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he posted a 4.28 ERA in 29 games out of the ‘pen. Ramriez was designated to make room for Chad Durbin.

Analysis: Ramirez turned just 24 in August and still has time to develop into a solid bullpen piece. Because he has cleared waivers, the Phillies can take a little more time with him to see what he has in Lehigh Valley. At this point Ramirez likely does not have trade value but could turn into an interesting asset if he finds his curve.