Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training: Top 10 Things To Do in Clearwater Area

February and March are ideal months to visit Clearwater, Florida.  It is not too hot, not too cold and, even better, the Phillies are there for spring training.

The list to follow is an excellent guide to both Phillies spring training and the Clearwater area in general.  Whether or not you have ever been to Clearwater before, you should find this information very useful or, at the very least, entertaining.

However, be forewarned: spring training in Clearwater can be addictive and may turn into a lifelong habit. 

There is currently no support group for spring training addicts, so managing this addiction will be up to you.  Just remember to bring friends to share the fun.

 

Photo: Clearwater, Florida by Jenn Zambri

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2011 MLB Preview: Power Ranking All Of The Positional Players

This is something that I’ve been experimenting with for a few years now with the NFL, MLB and NBA. Not only will I be ranking all of the starting players, you’ll see a number between 7-10 beside the player.

These numbers break the players up into essential categories; here’s a rough layout. 

10- Best player/pitcher in baseball

9+- Superstar, MVP/Cy Young Candidates

8+- Consistent All-Star

7.5- Periodical All-Star

7.25- Solid Starter

7- Average Player

The numbers do more than rank the players, you can also figure out which positions have the most/least depth. I just think it’s a fun way of looking at it.

I also want to reiterate that these are projected starters. For example, I believe Ben Francisco starts the season off as the right fielder, but eventually I believe Dominic Brown takes over. 

Another example you’ll see is Alex Avila, my projected starting catcher in Detroit. I believe Victor Martinez will DH.

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Philadelphia Phillies Round-Up: Blockbuster Speculation, Carpenter Nailed & More

Finally, Spring Training is here and the Philadelphia Phillies have had quite a busy week. With all pitchers and catchers in Clearwater, Fla. and accounted for, the Phillies have begun their season-long quest for postseason greatness once again.

In fact, with the arrival of Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino to camp yesterday afternoon, all of the Phillies’ big names are already in Clearwater, despite the mandatory reporting date for position players still a few days away.

In an interview with reporters this morning, Chase Utley said it best, “We’re pretty hungry.”

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the news and notes coming out of Phillies’ camp this week.

After several chances with the big league club and numerous failures, the Phillies have finally seen enough of right-handed starting pitcher, Drew Carpenter. The Phillies made a small roster move yesterday when they claimed right-handed reliever and former Phillies’ prospect Brian Schlitter off waivers from the New York Yankees. To make room for the new reliever, the Phillies’ designated Carpenter for assignment, effectively removing him from the 40-man roster.

Carpenter, 25, has been somewhat of a disappointment for the Phillies. Once upon a time, they thought very highly of his “stuff,” and saw him as a future staple in the rotation. Obviously, that never came to fruition.

He’s appeared in nine games with the big league Phillies and posted a record of 1-1 with an ERA of 9.31. His minor league career isn’t much better. After going 17-6 with the Phillies’ A+ club in 2007, Carpenter has been on a steady decline and last season with the Phillies’ AAA club posted an ERA of 4.05.

Schlitter, 25, is joining the Phillies for his second stint with the club. After drafting him in the 16th round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft, the Phillies traded him to the Chicago Cubs during the 2008 season for an integral part of that World Series roster—left-handed specialist, Scott Eyre. Now, after being claimed on waivers by the Yankees earlier in the offseason, Schlitter re-joins the Phillies, taking Carpenter’s spot on the 40-man roster.

Though his major league debut in 2010 wasn’t very impressive—an 0-1 record to go along with a 12.38 ERA in eight innings with the Cubs—Schlitter has had some impressive minor league seasons. Most recently, with the Cubs’ AAA affiliate, he logged 45.2 innings and compiled an ERA of 3.15.

Plain and simple, the Phillies grew tired of waiting for Carpenter to develop. At this point in his career, he’s nothing more for insurance of the “injury apocalypse.” I’d say the Phillies are comfortable with Kyle Kendrick, Vance Worley and David Herndon all on the depth chart in front of him. While he can still pass through waivers and rejoin the Phillies, more than likely, he’s seen the last of Philadelphia.

After the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension by Wednesday afternoon’s deadline, trade speculation began to spread like wildfire, despite the fact that Pujols has echoed his sentiments that he will not allow a trade, thanks to his 10-and-5 rights and that he “want(s) to be a Cardinal forever.”

Well, remember those crazy Pujols for Ryan Howard rumors from last offseason? They’re back.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, in a piece he makes perfectly clear is pure speculation on his behalf, the senior analyst writes that the Phillies and Cardinals could agree to a blockbuster deal in the future. Of course, the main components of the deal would be Howard and Pujols.

In his proposed deal, which is actually a back-up plan in an attempt to swap Pujols with Mark Teixeira of the Yankees, Rosenthal makes a lot of interesting points. Howard, who’s five-year, $125 million contract extension kicks in following the 2011 season, isn’t all too shabby of a consolation prize. The prolific slugger is a native of St. Louis, and though he has a partial no-trade clause, he would surely go home to play with the Cardinals.

Pujols to the Phillies, on the other hand, makes more sense than anything in baseball. The Phillies, who feature a lineup that is predominantly left handed, would be adding the game’s greatest right handed hitter, and as Rosenthal notes, “Pujols in Citizens’ Bank Park would be even more frightening than Pujols in Yankee Stadium.”

I think “terrifying” is the term Mr. Rosenthal was looking for. He also notes the Cardinals taking on Howard’s contract would allow the Phillies, who’s actual payroll situation is unknown, to commit to Pujols over a long span of time.

At this point, it’s speculation, but we can dream.

The Phillies also expressed some interest in adding minor league depth this week, when Jim Salisbury of CSNphilly.com reported they were one of the few teams remaining on John Maine’s wish list. Maine, who would provide insurance in the event of an injury, is recovering from shoulder surgery and would have to battle the likes of Kendrick and Worley on the depth chart. At least Carpenter is out of the picture.

Maine, 29, last pitched for the New York Mets in 2010, where he posted a record of 1-3, with an ERA of 6.13. Over the course of his career, he hasn’t been much better. He is the owner of a lifetime record of 41-36, with an ERA of 4.35. The more we talk about him, the more he sounds like Kendrick. Unlike the current Phillies’ long man, however, Maine’s health and durability have been question marks over the last few seasons.

He does have a few options remaining. If he doesn’t want to battle it out in the Phillies’ camp, the Kansas City Royals have also expressed interest in the right hander, most likely as a one year stop-gap before their top prospects hit the major leagues.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies To Sign John Maine? What This Could Mean For Joe Blanton

Earlier in the offseason, rumors arose that the Philadelphia Phillies would sign free agent starting pitcher John Maine.

At age 29, Maine was non-tendered by the New York Mets after spending the last four seasons there; however, he pitched in only 24 games in the last two seasons due to shoulder surgeries and issues resulting from them.

Although Maine would only sign to a minor-league deal at this point, there is always a chance that he could rise up on the Phillies‘ depth chart and become a reliever or even a starter.

Yes, that’s right, a starter.

You’re probably wondering, “How could be become a starter if the rotation is full?”

Well, there’s a three-word answer to that question: Trade Joe Blanton.

And while Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated earlier this offseason as well that he was “not comfortable” with trading Blanton right now, who’s to say that Blanton won’t be traded later on in the season?

If Blanton does well in Spring Training and during the first half of the season, he could become one of the hottest trade deadline targets this season, which would allow Maine, potentially, to become the team’s fifth starter.

The Phillies have been busy reworking their minor league system this off-season since it was depleted from trades of which they received Cliff Lee in 2009 and Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt in 2010.

They’ve signed outfielders Delwyn Young and Cory Sullivan to minor-league contracts with invites to spring training and acquired Albert Cartwright from the Astros. Infielder Michael Martinez was acquired in the Rule 5 draft from Washington.

They’ve also signed free-agent reliever Jason Grilli and former first-overall draft pick, starting pitcher Matt Anderson, both to minor league deals. The Phillies also have pitchers Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez raring to go, though Ramirez is more ready for the majors than Aumont.

Regardless, the Phillies have been busy this offseason in signing minor-leaguers.

And even though Matt Anderson is one of few, if not the only free-agent starter the Phillies have signed to a minor-league deal this offseason, who’s to say that some of the minor-league relievers couldn’t become starters or the other pitchers on the 40-man roster aren’t starter material?

If a Blanton trade were to occur, Kyle Kendrick and Vance Worley would be the favorites to claim the vacant fifth spot in the rotation.

But what if John Maine signs with the Phillies, which is a likely outcome?

If Maine is signed, maybe Ruben Amaro, Jr. would be comfortable trading Blanton.

Put it this way: Maine is just a year younger than Blanton and his career ERA and winning percentage is eerily similar to Blanton’s. The difference between the two? Blanton is owed a majority of his $24 million contract over the next two seasons, but if Maine signed a minor-league deal with an invite, he could come dirt cheap compared to Blanton.

Let’s face the facts: Blanton is a guy that is great to have as a fifth starter in a rotation. There’s no better pitcher in the fifth spot in all of baseball. But Blanton is worthy of a second or third spot in a rotation on most other teams in the league; though Blanton will have the pressure off this upcoming season, he is more than capable of being at a higher rank.

If the Phillies want to shed some payroll—regardless if it’s Kendrick, Worley or even Maine—a minor-leaguer in their system could take the job and settle into it quickly.

Most, including myself, were surprised that Blanton was even a Phillie for the start of Spring Training.

Unfortunate as it may be, Joe Blanton’s days could be numbered in Philadelphia. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Reasons CC Sabathia Will Join Cliff Lee in 2012

Just when you thought the offseason couldn’t get any worse for the New York Yankees, there is now talk of CC Sabathia possibly opting out of his contract after the 2011 season.

Considering Andy Pettitte’s retirement last week, that would be very, very bad news for Yankees fans with AJ Burnett projected as the team’s ace in 2012 were CC to leave.

Sabathia originally signed a seven-year $161 million contract with New York prior to the 2009 MLB Season. The contract includes an opt-out clause after the third year (2011) which would allow the lefty to become a free agent again or pursue an even better extension with the Yankees.

In October during the team’s playoff run, CC Sabathia told reporters that he had no intentions of opting out of his contract. Now on Monday in Tampa, FLA with a new season looming, Sabathia is changing his tune.

When asked if he would opt out of his contract, Sabathia replied,”I have no idea. It’s still in my contract, anything can happen.”

It is possible that Sabathia truly doesn’t know what he will do following the 2011 MLB Season, it is also possible that his agent instructed him to say that in order to get the New York Yankees thinking about life without CC and what they would do not to lose him.

I think he knows exactly what he intends to do next season. Like LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh scheming to join the Miami Heat in 2010, it is my best guess that CC Sabathia intends to partner with friend and former Cleveland Indian teammate Cliff Lee and join the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012.

It might seem unlikely, but did you ever think Lee would be going to Philadelphia instead of New York or Texas? I didn’t think so.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Good Omens to Start Spring Training

Hope springs eternal for all 30 MLB teams this time of year. 

Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and new beginnings.  At the first crack of the bat, anything is possible.

For the Phillies, 2011 could be all that and more.  The potential of this team is unlimited.  But potential does not guarantee success, as execution and a little bit of luck will play a major role in the outcome.

However, the Phillies do have plenty of reasons to be hopeful.  Here are five good omens for the Phillies as they begin spring training.

 

Photo: Jenn Zambri

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Philadelphia Phillies: Have Faith, Charlie Manuel Will Be Paid

After four straight NL East Division crowns, three trips to the National League Championship Series, two trips to the World Series and one World Series ring, the Philadelphia Phillies have yet to extend manager Charlie Manuel‘s contract.

If a new contract is not signed by the time the Phillies host the Houston Astros to open the 2011 baseball season, Manuel says he will not talk about it until the end of the season.

“I think, once the season starts, I don’t want to talk about my contract,” he said.

Manuel’s self-imposed deadline for a contract has caused a bit of a stir in the Philadelphia media and by extension, parts of the fanbase, but is there really a reason to be up in arms with the fact that Manuel has not been signed to an extension?

Have faith and be patient.

Unless the Phillies go through a prolonged losing streak to open the season and hit 30 losses before they win 15 games, it is inevitable that the Phillies will sign their manager to a contract extension.

General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. remains hopeful that a deal can be worked out between the two. “We want him to be our manager,” the GM said in a report by ESPN’s Jayson Stark. “And we’re hopeful we can make that happen.”

By not having Manuel signed to an extension, the Phillies are inviting an unwelcome distraction into the clubhouse, as the media will continue to ask about the status of the manager. But do not expect contract talk to be a distraction for Manuel.

“My extension and my contract—I definitely don’t want it to be a distraction for my team,” Manuel said. “I definitely put my team first.”

Amaro seems confident that there would be no distraction as well.

“I’m not worried about that,” he said. “I’ll let other people worry about distractions. … It wouldn’t be the first time in the world where a manager goes into the season without a contract extension. There’s a lot of those, actually.”

Let’s recap Manuel’s career with the Phillies in brief.

Only two managers in franchise history have won a World Series and Manuel is one of them. No manager in Phillies history has managed the team to four straight NL East crowns except for Manuel.

Manuel has won 594 games with the Phillies, good for fourth in franchise history and with 50 wins he will move into third on the list. Winning 92 games will tie Manuel for second with Hall of Fame manager Harry Wright. Winning 103 games would move him past Gene Mauch.

Manuel got off to a slow start as the team transitioned from pretender to contender, but few will argue that he doesn’t know how to push the right buttons at the right time with this roster. He has proven it season after season in Philadelphia and the front office knows that. So why keep him waiting?

Manuel will make $3 million this season. How much more should he make per year? Nobody is thinking he will earn Joe Torre-Yankees money ($7.5 million in 2007), but would it be too much to expect the Phillies to set aside $3.5 million to $4 million per year for Manuel? Nobody thinks Manuel is going to fight with the club for an inappropriate amount of money, so why let this drag on?

If Amaro has proven anything over the past couple of seasons since taking over the general manager’s role, it is that he knows what he is doing and every move is a calculated decision. Relax and have faith that he knows what he is doing here with Manuel.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Armed and Dangerous, but Will They Bring the Lumber?

The buzz around Philadelphia is palpable, and rightfully so. The Philadelphia Phillies are about to enter into one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory, bringing four aces to the table that are looking to make history. The Phillies brought back the one man whose departure brought as much anger and disappointment to the City of Brotherly Love since, the now loathed, J.D. Drew refused to sign with the Phillies after they made him the second overall pick in the 1997 draft. That one man is Clifton Phifer Lee, but you can call him Cliff.

Lee joins an already stout rotation consisting of Roy “Doc” Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels. The four of them have combined for three Cy Young Awards, three postseason awards, and an astounding 20-8 record in the postseason. Pitching Coach Rich Dubee goes right towards the top of the “Easiest Jobs in the World” list. We all know the statistics. We have all seen the numbers. If they all can stay healthy, they have the potential to be the greatest rotations in the history of baseball.

For the first time in a long time, pitching isn’t the biggest concern for the Phillies. With the quality of arms that they have in the rotation, let’s not forget that Joe Blanton is no slouch either, the three-time defending NL East Champs should not need to score a ton of runs to win their fourth division title in a row. 

This is a team that has been known as one of the best hitting teams in the league over the past few years, but their dominance at the plate has declined as of late. Granted, injuries played a major role in that, seeing as how the Phillies’ opening day lineup only played together a handful of times throughout the course of the 2010 season. However, that’s just an excuse, and excuses are one thing that this team does not make.

So, when looking at this lineup for the 2011 season, there are a few things that need to happen if the Phillies want to hoist the World Series trophy, as many are expecting them to do. First, and it is a daunting task, is replacing the production of Jayson Werth. With the Phillies doling out much of their allocated offseason budget to sign Lee, there was not enough left to replace Werth, as he left to sign a lucrative deal with the Washington Nationals. While Werth did hit a measly .186 with runners in scoring position last season, he also amassed 63 homers and 184 runs batted in during his two years as a full-time starter. Obviously, players who put up those types of numbers do not grow on trees.

They Phillies are acting like they are not going to rely on phenom Domonic Brown to step right in and hit the ground running, and that is the right way to go. The expectations are undoubtedly through the roof for Brown, but he did have his struggles after being called up last season. However, it would be unwise to project Brown to be spark plug for a lineup that has lost a lot of pop, only because that is a lot of pressure to put on a kid who has barely gotten his feet wet at the highest level. Hitting coach Greg Gross has been working with Brown to fix some of the kinks in his swing, and it will be interesting to see how he responds. If Brown happens to make the roster out of spring training, he will likely platoon with Ben Francisco until he proves he is ready to carry the full load.

There are two other players that will need to carry some of the burden left by Werth’s departure. The first is shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Rollins had his worst season as a professional in 2010, and dealt with nagging injuries that limited him to just 88 games. Everyone knows what an effective and healthy Rollins does for the rest of the lineup, so it is vital that he have a bounce-back year. The other player is coming off a career year, and that is Phillies’ catcher Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz. Chooch set career highs in hits, runs batted in, total bases, and batting average in 2010, but the Phillies will need him to take it one step further this season. In a lineup that lacks pop from the right side, Chooch becomes an even more valuable asset to this team. While no one expects him to start bombing the ball out of Citizens Bank Park, he can still progress at the plate, and make valuable contributions in key situations.

There is no doubt that the Philadelphia Phillies are armed for another run at a championship, but they will need more consistency from their hitters if they want to reign supreme again. While their lineup is still extremely formidable, it would be a waste of exceptional talent (and a lot of money) in the rotation if this team peters out in 2011 when it matters the most.

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MLB Trade Talk: Why Philadelphia Phillies Should Ponder Jimmy Rollins Move

Many believe Jimmy Rollins just doesn’t have it anymore and has not constructed a good season in a couple years. Sometimes it seems as though Rollins isn’t interested in sticking around in Philadelphia.

But as Phillies fans, we worry about the situation. We think, “What is the best thing to do here?”

Rollins has been a fan favorite for quite some time and has developed a pedigree as one of the best shortstops in the league here.

So I ask you, Phillies fans, should the team trade Rollins?

I have decided to analyze the situation and look at both sides of the spectrum. We will look at the reasons why it is beneficial and reasons why it’s not. In the end, we’ll see if the pros outweigh the cons.

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MLB Predictions: The Phillies’ “Fab Five” Will Be Even Better Than Expected

Spring Training is upon us, and boy does it feel good. Even on Valentine’s Day, the predominant feeling in the city of Philadelphia revolves around the future and not the present.

“I can’t wait for Opening Day.”

Of course, that feeling is mutual across the United States, as baseball players of all shapes and sizes head to Florida and Arizona to prepare for a long-anticipated season.

In Philadelphia, the season could not be any harder to wait for, despite being just under two months away. The reason? A resurgent, healthy offense and a fierce competition developing in right field that will have fans on their toes all spring long.

I’m kidding, of course. The good people of Philadelphia and the baseball world alike were waiting in eager anticipation to see the Phillies’ starting rotation gathered around the same table.

After hearing that the Phillies had signed Cliff Lee in December, this day could not have been any harder to wait for. Though we knew they were going to be wearing the same uniforms come Opening Day, it was almost too good to be true until we saw the likes of Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton all sitting at a table surrounded by a Super Bowl-like crowd of media personnel.

With the Phillies insignia embroidered across their chests, I got to thinking, just how good can this rotation be?

Each of these guys, Blanton included, could be really good in 2011. They’re like a happy family. According to multiple reports from this morning, the Phillies’ “Fab Five,” as I’m so affectionately calling them, enjoyed one another’s company for breakfast.

Watching the press conference, it seems like these guys have been together forever. They joked and poked fun at the media. They laughed, they cried.

OK, maybe I’m getting a bit carried away here. As Lee said, the group hasn’t thrown a single pitch yet, and as Halladay quipped, “We’ve been together for what…two hours?”

Despite all that, I decided to crunch some numbers and offer up my own set of bold predictions for the Phillies’ rotation heading into 2011.

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