The Phillies did poorly overall in the Spring counting wins
& losses, but Spring stats need to be taken with a grain of salt, especially
for the veterans. There was improvement at the end of camp – 2-10-2 in 1st
14 games, 7-7-1 in last 15 – but the over-30-YO infielders, key pieces in 2014, showed little signs of improvement. What will be more
telling is what happens in the first two weeks, and thanks to injuries, it’d be
wise to wait until the end of the month before hitting the panic button. My
thinking, however, is that the Phillies are not contenders in 2014 and will
need to start unloading contracts in July, but let’s not unload too many
players. I don’t want to see the Phillies join the Sixers in mediocrity.
Before I dive into the roster, there is one key component to
2014 that is different than 2013: coaching. We have a new manager in Sandberg
who took Charlie Manuel’s guys and won half of their last 40 games played in
2013; now, he’s in control and doing a lot in the clubhouse and on the field (“Fundamentals!”).
And he has two coaches new to the Phillies org. (John Mizerock (assist. hitting)
& Bob McClure (pitching)). He also has a new tool to keep officiating in check –
expanded instant replay. These factors are probably worth 3-6 “wins above replacement” (WAR - a replacement-level team wins 45-50 games) if evaluated like players. And with that said, it is time to preview the 2014 roster & an
abbreviated depth chart.
Starting Line-Up (and age) – in fielding order (2-9):
C Carlos Ruiz (34), 1B Ryan Howard (33), 2B Chase Utley (34), SS Jimmy Rollins
(34), 3B Cody Asche (23), LF Dom Brown (25), CF Ben Revere (25), RF Marlon Byrd
(35) - Avg. Age: 30.4
Starting Rotation: LHP Cliff Lee (34), RHP A.J.
Burnett (37), LHP Cole Hamels (30) – DL, RHP Kyle Kendrick (28), RHP Roberto
Hernandez (32) - Avg. Age: 32.2
Other Starters: Jeff Manship (invitee), Dave
Buchannan (invitee), Jon Pettibone (DL), Ethan Martin (Long-Man – on DL),
Miguel Gonzalez (60-Day DL), B.J. Rosenberg (Long-Man – on 40-Man), Jesse Biddle
(Top Prospect), Adam Morgan (Prospect – Minor League DL)
Bullpen: RHP J. Papelbon (32, CL), LHP Antonio
Bastardo (27), RHP Justin De Fratus (25), LHP Jake Deikman (26), RHP Brad Lincoln
(28) - Avg. Age: 28.6 (incl. Adams)
Other Bullpen: RHP Mike Adams (34, DL), RHP Ken Giles
(100-mph Prospect), RHP Phillipe Aumont, LHP Jeremy Horst, RHP Luis Garcia
Bench: C Wil Nieves (35); IF Cesar Hernandez (23); OF-1B
John Mayberry, Jr. (29); OF Tony Gwynn Jr. (30) - Avg. Age: 26.5 (incl. DL & Franco)
Other Bench: IF Freddy Galvis (23, DL), LF-1B Darin
Ruf (26, DL), IF Maikel Franco (20, Top Prospect); Catching Depth: Rupp,
Joseph, Valle
Disabled List:
- Cole Hamels (offseason shoulder tendinitis, late April)
- Jon Pettibone (shoulder, mid-late April)
- Ethan Martin (shoulder)
- Miguel Gonzalez (shoulder, 60-Day)
- Adam Morgan (shoulder surgery, minor league 60-Day DL)
- Mike Adams (recovery from July shoulder surgery, mid-April)
- Freddy Galvis (recovery from MRSA, late April)
- Darin Ruf (oblique, mid-late April)
When Hamels, Adams, Ruf, and Galvis return, the whole team will
see a boost. Hamels is our No. 1 starter; Adams was signed to be our RHP set-up
man; Ruf provides the power off the bench; and Galvis provides the defense.
Furthermore, Ruf can relieve Howard at 1B, and Galvis can relieve Rollins at SS
later on in the season… something necessary but a task Manuel was unable/
unwilling to do.
Projected Payroll (season): $189MM – right up against
the luxury tax threshold. So, it’s either stand pat (contenders) or sell
(non-conteders) at the trade deadline.
My Projected W-L Record: slightly below .500 at ASG;
near 81-81 (±7
wins)
Enjoy the season and go Phillies (hopefully)!
