Philadelphia Phillies: Post-Spring Training Report Card for Top 8 Prospects

While spring training is a way for teams and roster players to prepare for the upcoming season, it also gives prospects a chance to get experience at the big league camp and, in some instances, audition for a job with the major league club.

For the Philadelphia Phillies, they invited a handful of their top prospects to camp, some of which were there with a shot to earn jobs, while others were just there so that the team could take a look at its best and upcoming talent.

Of those invited, eight in particular stood out and emerged as top prospects. They include pitching stars Adam Morgan, Jonathan Pettibone and Ethan Martin, future infield types in Cesar Hernandez and Cody Asche and the organization’s two best catching hopefuls in Tommy Joseph and Sebastian Valle.

Also in camp was Darin Ruf, who solidified himself as a top prospect with a record-breaking season at Double-A Reading. He was invited to camp with a legitimate shot to become the Phillies’ starting left fielder but fell short, as he finds himself still learning the position he spent just weeks having the chance to prepare for.

While Ruf is still a work in progress, his is a special case. Meanwhile, the other seven guys in camp came forward—some in leaps and bounds—to showcase their ability to the organization’s top executives.

So considering spring performance and minor league track records, here are the post-spring training report cards for each of the Phillies’ top eight prospects.

 

The grades given to each player are based on five factors. Both hitters and pitchers are judged on the basis of their ETA to the major leagues, skill in most need of work and developmental progress in terms of minor league progression and their spring training sample.

For hitters, they are also graded on their power rate and contact/strikeout rate. For pitchers, they are graded on swing-and-miss stuff and the ability to get hitters out.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Toughest Decisions Remaining for the Team

With April 1st and the start of the 2013 baseball season just a few short days away, the Philadelphia Phillies have checked off quite a few items on their offseason to-do list and are closer to figuring out what their roster will look like for the regular season.

The team took care of a few housekeeping items by naming Cole Hamels the Opening Day starter, and by demoting Darin Ruf, it got a few steps closer to figuring out the outfield situation.

But for all of the things the Phillies did this offseason, there still remains open positions left to be filled and tough, unanswered questions that include:

– Which guys in camp will make the bullpen?
– Who will bat leadoff this season?

And, what are they to do with Ender Inciarte?

So with the start of the season just a few days away, here are the four toughest questions that are still facing the Phillies. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Most Disappointing Players in Spring Training so Far

As two weeks of spring training have shown the Philadelphia Phillies, not every player invited to major league camp can be deemed as impressive and ready for the start of the 2013 season.

Obviously, no team expects that every guy is going to put on a spring training performance for the ages. Some of the guys invited to camp are there just to get a tryout as it were. Others are there as minor league guys the team wants to take a better look at. And of course, there are the veterans who just are not 100 percent ready at the end of February.

Every team must face that for every Domonic Brown, (2013 spring numbers: .395 BA, 17 H, 15 R, 3 HR), there is going to be a Darin Ruf (2013 spring numbers: .200 BA, 8 SO).

So in taking into consideration factors such as the expectation (measured on a scale of one to 10 with 10 being the highest), 2012 stats and overall spring performance, here are the guys who have disappointed in baseball’s preseason.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Players Who Will Disappoint the Team’s Fans in 2013

As a new baseball season begins, no player on the Philadelphia Phillies roster is in spring training, thinking or expecting, to disappoint the fans when the 2013 Opening Day rolls around.

Unfortunately however, the fact of the matter is not every guy on the 25-man roster is going to have an All-Star worthy season. Some guys will inevitably have disappointing years, whether they like it or not.

For the Phillies, 2013 has the potential to be a make-or-break season, both for the team and for individuals when it comes to on-the-field performance.

According to contract status information listed on Phillies.scout.com, the team will have decisions to make regarding Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz and Kyle Kendrick as the three are set to become free agents following this season. Roy Halladay could also be a free agent if he fails to meet the 225 IP vesting option in his contract.

The same website lists that John Mayberry will be eligible for first-year arbitration following the 2013 season as well. In addition, Ryan Howard will be playing to show he is recovered from his Achilles injury, Cliff Lee for redemption of last year’s 6-9 record and Cole Hamels, in validation of his 6-year, $144 million contract received last year.

Despite all of the players out to prove something, realistic expectations have to be made and in doing so, it is fair to say that some players just won’t measure up to the high standards held by rousing Philly fans.

That said, in a list that includes a fan-favorite veteran, a guy with seemingly nine lives, and a former first-round pick, here are the top seven candidates that are sure to disappoint fans in 2013.

* All stats provided by Espn.go.com *

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Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Standout Stars from First Week of Spring Training

For the Philadelphia Phillies, the first week of spring training provided a taste of what fans will see this season, a benchmark for which to judge rookies, realistic expectations for returning players and of course, a chance to see the team take the field for the first time in months.

While many consider spring games to be meaningless, they do enable teams the opportunity to evaluate their current personnel alongside the minor league talent that might soon join them. For the Phillies, this has definitely been a big part of the spring equation as guys like Tommy Joseph, Cody Asche and Ender Inciarte have all gotten their chance to impress this spring.

In addition, position battles are often decided based on spring performances. This off season, the Phillies have two, notably the corner outfield spots and the remaining roles in the bullpen. With a strong start, Domonic Brown has charged ahead in the race for starting right fielder while guys like Rodrigo Lopez have started strong en route to earning a possible bullpen spot.

Then there are the lingering injury questions that only a nine inning baseball game, not baseball activities, can provide. So far so good for Ryan Howard as he has charged ahead as the team’s best spring performer. The jury is still out on Chase Utley, who has received minimal playing time as he handles his knee problems.

Overall, it has been a fun first week, with a handful of noted performances that could speak for a positive start to the 2013 season.

Here are the top ten early spring performers as well as one honorable mention after the team’s first week of games.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Top 7 Storylines to Watch for at Start of Spring Training

As the weather warms in Philadelphia signaling the ever impending start of spring, the city’s baseball team has already taken to the field hurriedly preparing for the season’s first spring training game. There is excitement and anxious anticipation of course, but also a fair bit of nervousness and uncertainty.

Entering the spring of 2013, the Phillies have a lot of questions that need to be answered and a fair amount of positions that need to be filled. Injuries, which loomed large last season, are once again going to be under the microscope and young rookies will get a chance to make a impression and perhaps even earn a role on the Opening Day roster that in the past may not have existed.

It will be a spring training of storylines.

Who will make up the starting outfield?

How will Utley’s knees survive a full season?

Who will back up Kratz during Ruiz’s suspension?

How does the rotation fill out?

Among others, these are some of the questions that the Phillies hope they will be able to answer based on spring performances. They also provide some of the most intriguing spring storylines to follow.

Unlike in the past, this year’s spring training will really decide quite a bit about the outlook for 2013. It will also give fans an idea of who will be taking the field and what they will be bringing. Ultimately, the goal is still to win another World Series and it is fair to say that what happens this spring might give an idea of if this goal is realistic.

Here are the top seven storylines you are sure to want to keep your eye on this spring. 

 

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Making the Case For, Against Each of Phillies’ Big 3 Starting on Opening Day

After a long, arduous and for the Philadelphia Phillies, somewhat confusing and disappointing offseason, the days until the first pitch of 2013 is thrown are finally winding down. Simply put, the baseball season is almost upon us.

As we speak, pitchers and catchers have already reported to duty and their position player teammates are sure not to be far behind. Already the weather in Philadelphia is improving and every one in the city is awaiting the return of their beloved Phils.

For fans this brings hope, joy, excitement, anticipation and of course, questions.

How will Chase Utley’s knees hold up? Will Ryan Howard’s power return? How in the world will the new outfield platoon work out? Where will the runs come from? What will come of the new bullpen?

And perhaps the most important and most immediate question, one that its answer will no doubt set the tone for the season: Which of the Big Three will get the nod to start Opening Day? 

Each of the three aces has an impressive enough resume to get the start but unlike in the past few years, it is not a clear cut choice. Roy Halladay is no longer the clear cut #1 on this team, Cliff Lee has been inconsistent and Cole Hamels is primed to be the ace of the future.

Still, there is no easy answer as all three aces will enter the 2013 season with a clean slate and on even ground. Any of the three can be given the start and when it comes down to it, there really is no bad choice. What there is however is a best choice.

Here are the pros and cons to each of the big three getting to throw the first pitch of the 2013 Phillies’ season. 

 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Comparing the Current Lineup to the 1983 ‘Wheeze Kids’

Let’s go back a couple of years to remember a certain Philadelphia Phillies team that will always live in the minds and hearts of the fans.

Ah yes, the year was 2008 and the team was coming off of a glorious and spirited World Championship run, one that won’t quickly be forgotten. The year following, the expectations didn’t at all waiver, yet, ultimately, the team came up short.

As the core that brought the city of Philadelphia a championship got older, the Phillies failed time and time again, coming up short in a run at another championship. The players got older and the expectations lessened.

So was the story of the post 2008 Phillies, a team that…

Wait… Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

I’m willing to bet most of you have because that is exactly what is going on with the Phillies now. The 2013 team is in the same situation as a team from not too long ago; 30 years to be exact.

The year was 1983 and the Phillies were just three seasons removed from winning the first ever championship in franchise history. That said, in both ’81, much like the ’09, ’10 and ’11 Phillies teams, there were playoffs but nothing further. In ’82, the team didn’t even sniff the postseason, much like the 2012 Phillies, who missed out on winning an NL wildcard.

Besides a lack of playoff success, yet another similarity between both teams is age. The ’83 team, whose average age topped out at over 32 (slightly older than the 2013 Phillies at 30 plus), was named the “Wheeze Kids.” It was a team that consisted of an aging Mike Schmidt and a Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez reunited, yet all in the twilight of their careers. Not much was expected, but much was received.

That ’83 Phillies team pulled off a minor miracle, doing something that the 2013 Phillies team hopes to repeat. They made it to the World Series, and although, they were easily ousted by the Baltimore Orioles, they really did prove that age is just a number.

So in the spirit of that team’s 30th anniversary and the similarities between the two squads, let’s take a look at how the players compare position by position.

The window may be basically closed shut, but if history means anything (and in baseball it often means everything), then the 2013 Phillies should not be counted out.

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Philadelphia Phillies: New Year’s Resolutions That Ruben Amaro Must Make in 2013

3…2…1… HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Okay, so maybe the calendar hasn’t technically turned the page from December to January, but it is never too early to think ahead. In fact, in sports, thinking ahead is how you get ahead.

Going one step further, if Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro had thought ahead and not traded so much of the future for the present, then maybe, just maybe, the 2012 offseason would have told a different story.

Not to indulge in thoughts of what could have been, because that is not what ringing in the new year is supposed to be all about. Instead, it is about looking back on the previous year, not in terms of what could have been or what should be, but rather about how to fix the mistakes, let’s face it, we all inevitably make.

For Amaro, 2013 is a chance to do exactly that.

Anyone around the team—fans, players, coaches, media—they would all tell the story of the same thing. 2012 was a disappointment. It was not the way things were supposed to go. The expectations, albeit always high, just fell short.

So, it is a new year, new beginning and new chance for this team to figure out a way to get back to the ultimate baseball glory. It all starts when the clock strikes midnight on 2012. It will be a chance for Amaro to ring in the new year with a few resolutions of his own.

While a fellow writer here at Bleacher Report, has already written an excellent piece about resolutions that the players need to make, I’m going to focus on resolutions that the GM would be advised to make. Considering how things have gone in the past few years, these resolutions could be a deciding factor when it comes to next season and beyond.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Fire Charlie Manuel And Promote Ryne Sandberg if Things Go Bad

By now, most Phillies fans are probably familiar with the fact that the organization has the successor to current manager Charlie Manuel waiting in the wings. Considering that the team formerly traded said successor when he was in their minors before watching him go on to become a Hall of Fame second baseman with the Chicago Cubs, my bet is this team doesn’t want to lose him again.

Sure, there is no guarantee that Ryne Sandberg will be a good major league manager, but that doesn’t mean the Phils are going to let him walk away so they can learn the hard way just how good he is.

Sandberg, who in just one season led the Phils Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs to their first ever playoff appearance, earned minor league manager of the year in 2011. Following the 2012 season he was promoted as the Phillies third base coach and infield instructor. Considering that Manuel has just one year left on his contract, it is without a doubt that Sandberg is being groomed to take over.

There is no guarantee he will still be around if the Phils wait too long. In the 2012 offseason he already interviewed for a few managerial jobs and if managers are fired during the course of the year, his name might pop up once again. For that reason, Amaro has to resolve to do what needs to be done and promote Sandberg if and when the time comes.

 

Avoid Another Fire Sale

There is nothing more disheartening to a team, especially a team just five years removed from winning the World Series, than watching an annual playoff contender become a “seller” at the trade deadline. At the time Amaro wrote it off, concluding that the team wasn’t necessarily selling but rather rebuilding. The only problem with that, however, is that if this team blunders again this year, there will be no denying why the team enters the selling market.

Amaro, as well as his predecessor Pat Gillick, did well to bring this team a core of talent. Unfortunately, this core has aged and this talent has become disposable. Last year, Amaro heard offers for some of the organization’s top players, including Cliff Lee, who it seems is a surprise member of the team considering the desire to trade the lefty.

Other possible trade pieces at this point include Domonic Brown, whose name is always popping up, Darin Ruf, whose breakout minor league season could make him attractive to some teams, and then of course, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Chase Utley and maybe even Ben Revere.

Although some of these guys are likely to be gone after next season anyway, the team has to avoid another deflating fire sale. Otherwise, the Phils could go back into mediocrity that might take years to climb out of.

 

Inquire About Giancarlo Stanton But Don’t Be Stupid or Hasty To Make A Trade

Amaro may have started this resolution early, but if he has not the least this GM could do is find out the hypothetical ballpark number needed to land Giancarlo Stanton. The outfielder is by far the best player on the trading block.

Plain and simple, if the Miami Marlins have an interest in anything the team has to offer, Amaro should at least listen. The return has to justify what the Phils would give up and that is where the second half of this resolution comes into play.

Stanton is an incredibly attractive talent. At just 23 and in parts of just three seasons, Stanton already has 93 home runs, including a career high 37 last year. Did I mention he is just 23? Most of the Phillies top prospects are already over 23 and haven’t shown even a fraction of that kind of production and potential.

So yes, Amaro should put together a package and make an offer. At the same time, Stanton is just one player. Sure he is a phenomenal one, but he can’t be a catcher, pitch or play the infield. Considering the fact that the players the Phillies currently have catching, pitching and playing the infield won’t be around forever, it would be wise to consider this before going all in on Stanton. 

 

Win Another World Series … Or At Least Make the Playoffs

 Okay so maybe this is a no-brainer.

Every coach and general manager should resolve to take their team to the playoffs and to go even further, win the championship. Ultimately, this is their job and as former Philadelphia coach Andy Reid learned this year, resolving to do a “better job” and not winning the title is not good enough. If the same trends continue with the Phillies, Amaro might find himself resigned to that same fate.

Winning the World Series, however, should save his job regardless of whether he is currently in danger of losing it or not. Making the playoffs, well it would certainly bring fans, and the city, back some hope after one of the most devastating sport seasons in recent memory.

Plus, you don’t resolve for mediocrity. You resolve for the pinnacle of greatness. For this reason, Amaro should be among the majority resolving to somehow, someway bring this team back to championship glory. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Predicting Roy Halladay’s Year-End Stats in 2013

A lot of things went wrong for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, not the least of which was the injury sustained by the ace of their staff, Roy Halladay.

Just two years removed from throwing a perfect game, no-hitter and winning the national league Cy Young, Halladay struggled to complete just 25 starts last year. He pitched a career-low 1.2 innings in his penultimate start and was consistently burned by giving up the long ball.

Unlike in the past two years, when Halladay got into trouble, he seemed unable to get out of it.

But that was last year.

Both Halladay and the Phillies no doubt expect 2013 to be different. The question, however, is just how different or how much better can both parties realistically expect Halladay to be? He is, after all, 35 years old and has logged an incredibly high 2,687.1 innings in his 14-year career. The man has always been a horse, but eventually, it has to be believed that this will catch up to him.

That said, Halladay has remained relatively healthy for the majority of his career and has definitely been one of the best pitchers in the game over the past 10 years.

He has won an average of 16.5 wins in the last 11 years and should be coming into this season, rehabbed and good to go. Much of what Halladay can and will do will be dependent on how he starts the season. Keeping that in mind, Phillies fans should be pretty optimistic about what I’m going to say next.

Last year was an abnormality, the exception and not the norm for Halladay.

He will rebound in 2013, he will start more than 25 games and he will be healthy for most if not all of the season. The wear and tear of 14 seasons and 2,000-plus innings may take its toll eventually, but I do not expect that to be next season.

Worst-case scenario, last year marked the beginning of Halladay’s decline and 2013 will be more of the same. Best-case scenario, Halladay wins 20-plus games and leads the Phillies back to the playoffs and on one last inspired championship run.

My best guess is that his stats will land somewhere in the middle.

 

Win-Loss Record (18-10) 

 It may seem like a bit of a bold prediction, but I am going off the thinking that Halladay will pitch in at least 32 games and will do so as healthy as he did in his first two seasons with the Phillies. If that is the case, then expecting the team’s ace to win 18 games really shouldn’t be that much of a stretch.

Last year, Halladay won just 11 and lost eight of his 25 starts. Since 2002, this win-loss record ranks second worst, besting just an 8-8 season in which Halladay pitched in just 21 games. Noted is that the following season, Halladay upped his win total to 12 and halved his loss total.

When healthy, Halladay is still one of the best pitchers in the game.

In fact, had he not gotten injured early in the season, I am not beyond saying that he gets in the neighborhood of 18-plus wins. If his April stats are to be extrapolated over the course of the season, Halladay would have been 18-12, and that includes a handful of quality starts in which the team just couldn’t score runs for him.

Not too shabby, if he had been healthy all season long.

But there is where the biggest question mark comes in. At 35, Halladay is no longer at his peak physical condition.

As I mentioned, he has logged over 2,000 innings and, in addition, has a tough and intense workout regimen he subjects himself to. All with the goal of pitching at his best, Halladay is the first to point out when he isn’t and, of course, the first to work toward improvement.

With the disappointment of 2012 behind him, I have no doubt Halladay is going to want to be better and is going to put that thought into reality.

If healthy, Halladay will be an asset to this team and will win 18 games. As far as the losses, I think 10 is also a reasonable number considering that he will be off at times, and of course, there will be times when the Phils just don’t score for him.

 

Walks, Strikeouts (38 BB, 200 SO)

Walks: Over the course of his career, if there is one thing that Halladay can be counted on for, it is a lack of handing out freebies to opposing batters.

Last year in just 156.1 innings, he walked a pretty high 36 batters. In fact, this was the highest number of walks given out in his three-year career with the Phils. Since 2002, Halladay has only walked over 40 batters twice, an incredible feat for someone who regularly pitches over 200 innings a season. 

Again, going off the thinking that Halladay will be healthy in 2013, do not expect his walk total to exceed 40 next year either. More than win-loss, however, the health of his arm and his back are really the biggest factors in determining how on target his control is.

As a result, I am going to chalk his walk total up to the injury. With that taken care of, he’ll be back to his old self when it comes to bases on balls.

Strikeouts: Halladay has never really been considered a power pitcher over the course of his career, which is surprising considering his success. Halladay pitches to contact and lets batters get themselves out. He does throw strikeouts when needed, however, and has a great out pitch in his curveball.

That said, Halladay, who is never satisfied with how he pitches, managed to improve his strikeouts in the past five years. With the exception of last season, Halladay topped the 200-strikeout plateau each season, marking the only seasons besides 2003 in which he managed this feat.

With little margin to spare, I predict Halladay’s strikeouts will fall somewhere between 185 and 215 next year, with a guess that the number lands exactly at the 200 mark. Again, however, this all depends on his health. With the expectation that Halladay’s injury was not the sign of a failing body, I think 200 strikeouts is not only possible but probable in 2013.

 

ERA/WHIP (2.68 ERA, 1.10 WHIP)

When Halladay is at his best, he is doing multiple things well. The first of which is pitching to contact and minimizing mistakes. The second of which is limiting the amount of runners on base from scoring.

With the exception of last season, Halladay, who has pitched at his best as of recently, has had an ERA of under three in each of the last four seasons. In his Cy Young-winning season, his ERA was a fantastic 2.44, bested only by the 2.35 he posted the following season.

If Halladay’s April stats from 2012 are to be taken for anything, it can realistically be expected that his ERA would have been right around the marks he has posted the past two seasons while in the National League. In fact, in 37 innings over the course of five starts, Halladay gave up just eight earned runs and, most importantly, zero home runs. 

Halladay has been pretty consistent since 2002 in terms of the amount of hits he gives up in a season. He has given up approximately less than 15 to 20 hits per inning pitched in most of his last 11 seasons. Only twice has he given up more hits than innings pitched.

Going along with his low walk total, Halladay has for the most part had a very solid WHIP. Expect that to say the same next year. He should give up about 215 hits, and I expect that he will pitch around 220 to 230 innings.

For this reason, his WHIP should sit at around 1.10.

 

2013 Predicted Stat Line: 18 W, 10 L, 38 BB, 200 SO, 2.68 ERA, 1.10 WHIP

So while Halladay may not be a Cy Young contender in 2013, and while he may not even be the best pitcher on the Phillies staff (bonus prediction: Cole Hamels will win 20 games in 2013), I have no reason to think that Halladay won’t be among one of the best pitchers in the National League.

Yes he is 35, and yes he has logged a considerable amount of innings, but at the same time, the injury is really the first he has had of that variety and in my opinion is a fluke. If Halladay had previous injury issues, then yes, one should be suspicious. That isn’t the case, however.

Even if he is slowing down and age and wear and tear will soon factor in, this is likely Halladay’s last season in a Phillies uniform. For this reason, expect him to perform at a high level and maybe, just maybe, put the Phils in a position to once again make the playoffs.

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