Philadelphia Phillies: Phillies Activate Delmon Young, Have Full Lineup Intact

For the first time all season, the Philadelphia Phillies will have their full lineup available when the team begins its series with the Cleveland Indians tonight.

No, the Phillies’ most recent roster additions are not the same as last season’s, when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard returned prior to the All-Star break.

However, the arrivals of two right-handed hitting lineup options this year can still boost an offense that is slowly heating up as the first month of the season concludes.

The first option, Carlos Ruiz, returned from a 25-game suspension last Sunday and picked up a double in the Phillies win.

Just two days later, the Phillies have now activated Delmon Young from the disabled list according to Paul Casella on the team’s official website.  

Young’s presence means that the Phillies’ lineup has picked up two right-handed hitting options in three days, and gives the team its full set of roster options for the first time this season.

Casella also notes that Ezequiel Carrera has been designated for assignment. 

While the Phillies know what they are getting with Ruiz, Young’s arrival is a bit more intriguing.

For one, following the brief series against the Indians, Young will have to play right field in order to remain in the lineup.  He has not played right field since 2007, and only played 31 games in the outfield last season while primarily serving as the designated hitter for the Detroit Tigers.

If Young’s defense in right field is not up to par or fails to remain consistent throughout the season, the Phillies could have an interesting decision to make going forward regarding his status.

Additionally, the Phillies have currently drawn the second fewest number of walks in the National League and have the fourth lowest team OBP.

Last season, Young had 112 strikeouts to 20 walks and finished with a .296 OBP.

In seven minor league appearances this season, Young struck out seven times and did not draw any walks.  However, he also batted .367 between High-A ball and Triple-A, picking up 11 hits in 30 at-bats.

Young’s arrival gives the Phillies another lineup option following Ryan Howard.  Ruiz batted fifth in his return, but Young also received 508 at-bats from the five spot last season.  With Domonic Brown also batting behind Howard, the Phillies’ lineup will have power potential, but question marks remain surrounding how often the team can get on base.

If the Phillies decide to keep Chase Utley and Michael Young batting second and third, respectively, Ben Revere’s next appearance in the lineup could come from the eighth spot.

A batting order that features two more right-handed batters with double-digit home run potential, followed by Revere, the pitcher’s spot and Jimmy Rollins, could make for a solid lineup. 

Combined with a starting rotation that is beginning to heat up, the Phillies are getting their full team together at a great time.

One player whose stock could take a hit if Young’s return is a success is Darin Ruf.  With Young, Brown, Revere, John Mayberry, Jr. and Laynce Nix currently set in the outfield, and Freddy Galvis also playing adequate outfield defense, Ruf has his work cut out for him to earn a call-up.

For now, however, the Phillies will have their full lineup together has they begin a stretch of six straight games against opponents with losing records.

Young’s arrival will not single-handedly push the Phillies into first place, but his presence combined with Ruiz’s, as well as continued success from Utley and Michael Young, gives the Phillies a potent lineup that should no longer be at a disadvantage against left-handed starters or relievers.

Furthermore, the Phillies have now exhausted their two remaining internal options for improving their offense, meaning that they could now look externally for other lineup options.

In the meantime, the Phillies’ activation of Young gives them another right-handed lineup option at a time when its pitching staff has the third lowest ERA in the NL in the last seven days.

 

*Young’s minor league statistics can be found on MiLB.com, while all other statistics can be found on ESPN.com.

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Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 10 Prospects for Week 4

The Philadelphia Phillies saw two of their top pitching prospects turn in solid starts this past week, with one coming at the major league level and the other at Double-A.

While Jonathan Pettibone made his major league debut and saw the Phillies win both of his two starts, Jesse Biddle racked up 16 strikeouts while picking up a win at Double-A.

The Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate also closed out the week strong, using 12 runs and 15 hits to pick up a win and help multiple players improve their offensive statistics heading into week five.

But what about the rest of the Phillies’ top 10 prospects?  Who will follow in Pettibone’s footsteps and earn the next major league call-up?  Who will earn the first minor league promotion?

The following list contains the Phillies’ top 10 prospects according to Baseball America.  Of these players, six are either currently at or began the season at the Triple-A level, meaning that the majority are one step away from the major leagues.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which players’ stocks are up and which are down following week four.

 

All statistics courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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What Will Philadelphia Phillies Lineup Look Like Once Carlos Ruiz Returns?

The Philadelphia Phillies lineup saw minimal changes through the first 15 games of the regular season, with both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in the batting order together in April for the first time since 2010.

Of course, all the Phillies had to show for these returns was a 6-9 record after April 17 and a 6.5 game deficit behind the Atlanta Braves in first place.

Following their 15th game of the season, the Phillies decided to move Jimmy Rollins back into the leadoff spot and Ben Revere to the seventh spot.  Since the move, Rollins’ average has gone from .232 to .258, while Revere’s average has increased from .194 to .207, including a .240 average from the seven hole.

These changes haven’t led to much to much more success as of yet, as the Phillies are now 3-5 since moving Rollins back into the leadoff spot.

However, on Sunday, the Phillies will have another lineup decision to make with hopes of improving the team’s .301 OBP, which ranks as the third lowest in the National League, and 80 total runs scored, which ranks as fifth lowest.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz is set to return from a 25-game suspension, which he served for testing positive for a banned stimulant, on Sunday in time for game No. 26 of the season.

Ruiz’s return will also give manager Charlie Manuel a few more options for a lineup that recently saw Chase Utley and Michael Young move up in the batting order.

For the majority of this season, the Phillies have had four consecutive left-handed batters at the top of their order against right-handed pitching (causing Rollins to bat from the left side).  Rollins is batting .246 from the left side, compared to .292 from the right side. 

Young, who has primarily batted fifth, was the first right-handed batter that other teams faced at times.

When Laynce Nix started over John Mayberry, Jr. in right field, the Phillies lineup only had two right-handed batters at times, with either Erik Kratz or Humberto Quintero joining Young in the batting order.

With Ruiz back in the lineup, the Phillies will have the option of batting Young third and Ruiz fifth, likely leaving no more than two left-handers batting in consecutive spots in any part of the batting order.

Ruiz is coming off of the best statistical season of his career after he batted .325 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 2012, all career highs.  Ruiz also posted a .394 OBP, an improvement over his .371 mark in 2011, despite drawing 19 fewer walks.

The chances of Ruiz batting above .300, let alone .325, this season are slim, but his return could still play a crucial part in helping to boost an offense that is now under pressure to succeed before first place it too far out of reach.

If Ruiz can match, or exceed, the .265 batting average he had from the fifth spot in the lineup last season, and Domonic Brown can continue to regain the form he showed during spring training, the Phillies lineup will potentially have a pair of power hitters lower in the lineup. 

Add in Delmon Young to the mix, with Revere potentially batting eighth, and the Phillies lineup will have undergone the last few changes it can using internal options.

Ruiz’s return will also mean that a player currently struggling to find consistent offensive success will move to a reserve role.

Phillies catchers have combined to have the fourth-lowest batting average in the National League so far this season, and have the lowest OBP in the league.  Kratz is currently batting .185 with 16 strikeouts to 12 hits, while Quintero is batting .313 but has played in just six games.

Although solid work behind the plate initially could have outweighed any early offensive struggles, the Phillies now find themselves seven games out of first place before the first month of the season has ended.

Ruiz’s return should lead to an offensive upgrade by putting his bat in the lineup and also by moving either Kratz or Quintero primarily into a reserve role.  Although Ruiz only had one hit in two games in a High-A ball tuneup recently, his one hit was a three-run home run.  He also did not strike out in his eight at-bats.

It’s not often that a team adds a .300 hitter from the prior season to their lineup in late April, but the Phillies will be doing just that when Ruiz returns on Sunday. 

More importantly, they will be adding a right-handed batter to a lineup that primarily features left-handed batters against opposing right-handers at a time when any sustained offensive success has been difficult to find.

Whether he bats fifth, sixth or even seventh, Ruiz will give the Phillies a potential power addition as they chase down a first-place team whose season has featured anything but a lack of early power.

 

*Ruiz’s minor league statistics can be found on MiLB.com, while all other statistics can be found on ESPN.com

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Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 10 Prospects for Week 3

It didn’t take too long for the Philadelphia Phillies to call up a top prospect.

Despite two less than ideal starts, the first of the Phillies’ top prospects to reach the major league level this season appears to be Jonathan Pettibone, according to Paul Hagen on the Phillies’ website.

Pettibone has only made two starts at Triple-A, and hasn’t had the same type of results that he had in 2012 following a midseason call-up from Double-A.  He still is, however, a pitcher who can now begin making his case for a permanent rotation spot this season or next.

Besides Pettibone, the rest of the Phillies’ top prospects continued their minor league seasons with some improving while others still looking for early season success. 

The following list features the Phillies’ top 10 prospects, according to Baseball America.  Since Pettibone’s last start came at Triple-A, he remains on the list for this week.  However, with John Lannan now on the disabled list, a strong start from Pettibone could keep him in the rotation for several more starts.

Let’s take a look at which players’ stocks are up and which are down following week three.

 

*All statistics courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Stock Up, Stock Down for Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 10 Prospects for Week 2

With multiple starting pitchers, a third baseman, second baseman and catcher among the list of potential free agents for the Philadelphia Phillies following this season, it doesn’t hurt to monitor the progress of certain minor league prospects.

The season is only two weeks old, so there is still plenty of time for these prospects to improve their game or, unfortunately, regress by the end of the season.

As of now, however, a player such as Darin Ruf has a chance to remain on the Phillies’ radar for this season while players such as Cody Asche and Tommy Joseph could enter into the 2014 picture. 

Although the Phillies have plenty of prospects worth monitoring, the following list contains only those players listed by Baseball America as the team’s top 10 prospects.

With that in mind, here is a list of which players’ stocks are up and which are down following week two.

 

 

*All statistics courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Phillies Set Opening Day Roster

After weeks of speculation and predictions, the Philadelphia Phillies have officially set their Opening Day roster and determined which players will be charged with making the 2012 season a distant memory and 2013 a return to the postseason.

According to Ryan Lawrence on Philly.com, the Phillies have chosen Phillippe Aumont, Jeremy Horst, Raul Valdes, Ender Inciarte and Humberto Quintero to fill out the 25-man roster.

The Phillies’ starting staff has been set since before spring training began, with Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Kyle Kendrick and John Lannan opening the season in the rotation.  Hamels has been chosen as the team’s Opening Day starter and will take the mound Monday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Hamels finished the spring with 15 strikeouts in 19 innings and a 0.95 ERA. 

Halladay remains as the only question mark in the rotation to start the season health-wise, but he is currently scheduled to start the second game of the season for the Phils.  Lee, meanwhile, gave up one hit and struck out five in four innings during his last start leading up to the regular season.

The Phillies bullpen remained as the only unsettled area during the final week of spring training, but Aumont has beaten out Michael Stutes to start the season.  Neither pitcher was overwhelmingly successful in his most recent outing, but Aumont’s seven strikeouts to four walks earned him the nod over Stutes’ eight strikeouts to nine walks.

Both Horst and Valdes improved as camp continued and give the Phillies a balanced Opening Day bullpen with three left-handers and four right-handers.

Jonathan Papelbon, Mike Adams, Chad Durbin and Antonio Bastardo have also made the Opening Day bullpen, although all four were considered locks prior to spring training.

The Phillies used 19 different pitchers in a relief role last season, meaning that pitchers such as Stutes, Justin De Fratus and Jake Diekman will all likely see time in the major leagues.

The infield was locked into place following the release of Yuniesky Betancourt, but Kevin Frandsen and Freddy Galvis have now officially made the 25-man roster as reserve infielders.

Galvis, who has recently spent time in the outfield, has now played five positions this spring.  His defense has remained above average, while his offense has also improved.  However, Galvis has also struck out 22 times while drawing just two walks, giving him an OBP of .284.

Both Galvis and Frandsen will backup starters Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Michael Young—all of whom had starting positions guaranteed prior to spring training, barring injury. 

Howard and Utley, both of whom were recovering from injury, are batting .337 and .279 this spring, respectively.

Erik Kratz will open the season as the Phillies’ starter at catcher and will be backed up by Quintero, who beat out a late charge by Steven Lerud to earn a roster spot.  However, Quintero’s spot on the 25-man roster will likely only last until Carlos Ruiz’s return in late-April.

The Phillies entered spring training with one starting outfielder and several players battling for the corner spots.  As spring training concludes, the team now finds itself with two solidified starters in center fielder Ben Revere and corner outfielder Domonic Brown.

Brown, arguably the Phillies’ best player this spring, is batting .368 with seven home runs and 24 runs scored.  He will play one corner outfield spot, with John Mayberry, Jr. and Laynce Nix platooning in the other.

Inciarte, the Phillies’ Rule 5 selection, has made the Opening Day roster unless the Phillies are able to make a waiver claim or find another outfielder that has been released by a team.  Inciarte’s roster spot will also be in jeopardy once Delmon Young returns from injury.  For now, however, he provides a late inning defensive option for the Phils.

The Phillies’ remaining decision prior to Opening Day involves the starting lineup, with manager Charlie Manuel having options regarding where to bat Revere, Rollins, Young and Brown.

This 2013 Opening Day roster differs significantly from the 2012 Opening Day roster, but the Phillies have nevertheless determined which players will be asked to get the ball rolling towards starting a new postseason streak in 2013.

 

*All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Final Predictions for Who Will Make Philadelphia Phillies Roster

The Philadelphia Phillies are just one week away from handing the ball to Cole Hamels and beginning the 2013 season against the Atlanta Braves.

In the meantime, the Phillies have already put an end to most of the uncertainty surrounding the Opening Day roster.

By sending outfielder Darin Ruf to Triple-A to start the season, as Jim Salisbury wrote on CSNPhilly.com, the team currently has five healthy outfielders left in camp.  By releasing Yuniesky Betancourt, as Jim Salisbury on CSNPhilly.com also reported yesterday, the Phillies have essentially determined what their bench will look like with backup catcher as a possible exception.

That leaves the bullpen as the only unsettled area heading into the final week of spring training.

Of course, just as Betancourt is now a roster cut of the Phillies, a number of other players will also soon be cut by teams and will become options for the Phils should they have interest.

Until then, here are final predictions for who will make the Phillies’ roster, with names to watch at each position included.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Should Phils Add Yuniesky Betancourt to 25-Man Roster?

As spring training winds down and the Philadelphia Phillies prepare to head north for two final tune-up games at Citizens Bank Park in less than a week, most of the undecided roster spots involve relief pitchers.

However, there’s still at least one roster spot up for grabs that does not involve a reliever.

The Phillies’ starting infield is healthy and, for the first time since 2010, set to be in the Opening Day lineup.  However, a decision must still be made regarding which players will be backing up these starters off the bench this season.

Kevin Frandsen, after batting .338 with 14 home runs and 66 hits in 55 games last season, has all but officially been given a reserve infielder spot this season.  Considering that he is out of minor league options and has turned in a solid spring training, collecting 14 hits in 18 games, Frandsen should not only make the Opening Day roster but also have significant contributions throughout the season.

But who will join him as a reserve infielder?

Unless the Phillies decide to carry four outfielders until Delmon Young’s return, the team essentially has Freddy Galvis and Yuniesky Betancourt fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster. 

Galvis may have been the early favorite for winning a bench job, after proving that he is capable of playing above-average defense during the 2012 season.  The biggest question mark surrounding Galvis was whether his offense had improved.  A .288 average and 17 hits in 21 games this spring suggests that he can improve on his.226 average in 58 major league games last season. 

However, Galvis’ .288 average includes 17 strikeouts to just two walks, and a .311 OBP.

Meanwhile, Betancourt has batted .439 in 18 fewer at-bats than Galvis prior to today’s game, to go with 18 hits and just one strikeout.  Betancourt has a .444 OBP.

Betancourt appeared in 57 games last season to Galvis’ 58, and batted .228, also similar to Galvis.  However, Betancourt also hit seven home runs and 36 RBI.

Both players have had solid spring trainings, and both have remained in the running for a final roster spot heading into the final days of camp.  For Galvis, this means that his offense has improved while, for Betancourt, this means that he has played his way into contention after being a last minute offseason signing.

There is one big difference between the two players, however.

Betancourt’s contract allows him to ask for his release if he is not added to the 25-man roster by Sunday.

And, according to an article by Matt Gelb on Philly.com, Betancourt will do just that if the Phillies do not add him to the roster.

The Phillies are in a good position heading into Opening Day, as either Galvis or Betancourt in addition to Frandsen will give the team a solid bench to start the season. 

However, what about as the season progresses?

With teams such as the St. Louis Cardinals and possibly Los Angeles Dodgers looking for infield help following spring training injuries, it’s understandable why Betancourt would ask for his release if the Phillies attempt to send him to the minor leagues.  Galvis, meanwhile, can be sent to Triple-A without passing through waivers and start everyday rather than serving a limited role off the bench.

But what about the options after these infielders?  The Phillies will have Michael Martinez in their minor league system, as well as Pete Orr and Andres Blanco, who recently re-signed with the team according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America. 

Not exactly a grouping that inspires a lot of confidence.

If Frandsen or Galvis were to get injured, the Phillies would be forced to call-up one of these players to add to their bench.  With Galvis less than a year removed from suffering a back injury, and a starting infield that has had its share of injuries, having as much depth as possible makes more sense.

The Phillies could still release Betancourt and take their chances with the rest of the roster remaining healthy, or even take a look at free agents.  But having Galvis available in Triple-A would not be the worst scenario to start the season.

It’s uncertain whether a team would be willing to make a minor trade offer for Betancourt prior to Sunday when they could make a free agent offer in a few days instead. 

The Phillies could also hold onto him until a team is willing to make a trade offer, and then call up Galvis to join the major league roster.  Obtaining anything for Betancourt, even a low-level prospect, would be a solid deal considering that he was originally a last minute addition to camp.

The previously mentioned article by Gelb notes that Betancourt’s contract could earn him as much as $1.4 million through incentives.  That’s a bigger price than the Phillies likely would want to pay a reserve infielder, especially with Frandsen making $850,000.  Additionally, a player would have to be optioned off the 40-man roster, possibly Mauricio Robles, in order to make room for Betancourt.

The Phillies were in a similar situation last season with Juan Pierre, and ended up making a decision that gave the team a .300 hitter for the season.

It’s not a bad position to be in, having three players capable of making the major league roster.

However, with the Phillies’ starting infielders having trouble remaining on the field in recent seasons, lessening the team’s depth and removing a bench option from the equation could be a difficult decision to make.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Breaking Down Philadelphia Phillies’ Blueprint for Winning the Division

The Philadelphia Phillies were in an unfamiliar position at the end of last season.

Rather than preparing for a postseason division series, the Phillies ceded their position atop the National League East and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

The good news is that with Opening Day less than two weeks away, the Phillies will soon have an opportunity to make their way back to the top of the NL East standings and, in the process, the postseason.

In order to do so, however, a number of things must go right, ranging from the health and productivity of the players to the decisions made by the coaching staff and front office.

If it all works, the Phillies just might have a chance to start a new streak this season.

Here is a blueprint for the Phillies to make their way back to the top of the National League East.

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Full Update of Surprises, Busts and Injuries at Philadelphia Phillies Camp

The Philadelphia Phillies recently sent the majority of their prospects training with the major league roster over to their minor league camp, and have just 18 games remaining before the team heads north for Opening Day.

At this point, it’s time for players to narrow down their lists of which areas still need work before the start of the season. For some players, only a few weeks remain to even earn a spot on the major league roster.

The Phillies’ camp has featured a little bit of everything this spring. 

Some players have shined bright while others are still looking for a spark, and some prospects provided optimism for the future while others left much to be desired.

Basically, it’s had all the characteristics of a typical spring training camp.

Since pitchers and catchers first reported nearly a month ago, the Phillies have had their share of surprise performances from players. A few busts here and there so far and, thankfully, few injuries that are still lingering.

The Phils must now hope that two of these three trends continue into the regular season.

This list features only players who either appeared in the major leagues last season, or who were projected as having a chance to make the major league roster out of spring training this season.

With three weeks to go until Opening Day, here is an update on the surprises, busts and injuries at Phillies camp.

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