News: Brock Stassi thumping all over Florida
PHILLIES WIN: Again, Brock Stassi hit a grand slam Tuesday. It happened in an 11-6 win over Detroit in Lakeland.
Stassi went 2-for-4 with that grand slam and a walk. He started at first base and moved to left field. The Phils certainly want to see more of him.
Also catcher Bryan Holaday hit a home run, Howie Kendrick went 2-for-3, and Aaron Nola labored through two innings, giving up five hits, striking out two. To be fair, the balls weren’t very hard hit. On the good side, Ben Lively pitched two scoreless with three strikeouts.
TODAY’S GAME: The Phillies head to Disney World! Jeremy Hellickson pitches against the Braves, and the lineup:
Hernandez/Galvis/Nava/Franco/Joseph/Rupp/Stassi/Cozens/Quinn.
Yup, that’s Brock Stassi once again in the lineup. And this time in left field. Game is at 1:05 p.m.
HANIGAN TRADE?: Jim Salisbury wrote a relatively odd piece Tuesday about the possibility of the Phillies trading Ryan Hanigan to the Tigers.
Salisbury notes that the catcher started Sunday and Tuesday’s games against Detroit. “One has to wonder,” he writes.
Weird, right? But it’s Salisbury, the most fool-proof of the beat writers, so maybe he’s hinting at something to come. And if so – good. If you can get some value back for spring training catching depth, go for it.
LIDGE LIKES IT: Brad Lidge, in Clearwater as a special instructor this spring, really likes all the young arms in camp.
MACKANIN’S OPTION: Bob Brookover at Philly.com says the Phillies should reward Pete Mackanin by picking up his option for 2018.
