Roster Watch

by **phatj** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 20:37:39

The "Abe" is an under-utilized facial hair style.

by **BassGuiFloyd** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:22:06

Red Sox placed RHP Curt Schilling on the 60-day disabled list.
Schilling was already expected to miss at least the first half of the season, so the move doesn't impact his status. Instead, placing him on the 60-day DL clears a 40-man roster spot for Lincoln Holdzkom.
link

by **Squire** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 14:17:08

Fascinating turn of events on Holdzkom. In essence, the Red Sox gambled and screwed the Phillies out of 25K. Boston could have accepted him back and NOT put him on the 40 man roster but would have had to pay 25K to the Phillies. They gambled on turning him down, he clears waivers, refuses an assignment and signs with Boston on a major league contract (thus, his placement on the 40). Boston wins, Holdzkom wins, Phillies lose.

SQUIRE

by **td11** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 15:30:36

as usual.

our day will come.

by **Woody** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 15:38:53

Squire wrote:Fascinating turn of events on Holdzkom. In essence, the Red Sox gambled and screwed the Phillies out of 25K. Boston could have accepted him back and NOT put him on the 40 man roster but would have had to pay 25K to the Phillies. They gambled on turning him down, he clears waivers, refuses an assignment and signs with Boston on a major league contract (thus, his placement on the 40). Boston wins, Holdzkom wins, Phillies lose.

SQUIRE

Did anyone doubt that this wouldn't happen?

by **Trent Steele** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 16:04:40

ekravitz wrote:Benson threw 4 innings in high A ball game today according to Randy Miller.

got knocked around. so much so that he was on a pitch count by inning and couldn't get through 3 of the innings

also, Hamels pitched with the flu in a high A ball game. he allowed two hits, 1 run and 7 K's in 5 innings

Well, it is the first time he faced hitters in a year, so not surprising.

by **seke2** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:02:27

...what? Tyler Mach retired?

He tore the cover off the ball last year for the first half of the season and was looking like a potential IF prospect.

Link?

by **CFP** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:03:09

Yeesh. Mach retired? Can't really believe that until I see a link.

EDIT: Ok, see it on the website thanks ekravitz.

by **phuturephillies** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:14:37

I was critical of the Mach pick at the time. Flushed $80K down the toilet and wasted a 4th round pick.

by **seke2** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:15:58

Yeah, and I thought his season last year was proving that wrong...but obviously not. You are quite astute, sir. Damn shame, he seemed like a guy who could hit enough that the Phils could have found a spot for him to play and get an opportunity.

by **phuturephillies** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:28:16

A commenter on the blog made a pretty accurate assessment.

I wonder if Mach looked at the small possibility of making the majors given his age and position skills that he decided that 5 years of minor league ball to have a small shot at the majors was going to be tough. The Phillies might have also talked to him about being a utility player this year, given that he and Cardenas both play 2B. I think Mach would have been double-jumped to Clearwater because of his offensive skills, but once he got there he probably would have had to find at bats at multiple positions because of Cardenas. If he went to Lakewood he would be 1 level behind Cardenas and 3 years older, another bad position to be in.

If I were the Phillies I would not ask for the bonus back. It is small and inconsequential in the larger scheme of things. There is a far greater chance that Mach will come back if they let him keep the money. If this were a million dollar bonus it might be a different story.

It does bring into even greater focus the question of why the Phillies made the pick in the first place. It sure looks like they were trying to save money and not like they had a great relationship with an underrated prospect.

Seems right. He'd have jumped to Clearwater, but would have been blocked by Cardenas, and they aren't going to take AB's away from one of their best prospects and give them to a utility guy.

by **steagles** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 22:42:58

i think the way to go would have been jumping mach to AA. he had no chance of supplanting cardenas at clearwater, and his bat was probably advanced enough to hold his head above water.

after that, he probably would have had the utley special in AAA. 1 year to adjust to the level of competition, 1 year to learn a new position. 1 year to bounce around between AAA and MLB.

his bat was good enough to have gotten a shot somewhere, even if not for the phillies. because of that, i can't imagine that he's completely done. at some point his itch will come back, and he'll have to find out exactly how well his bat matches up against professionals.

by **BassGuiFloyd** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 23:48:35

NEW PICTURES UP ON PHILLIES WEBSITE

by **philliesphhan** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 00:59:28

Moyer's picture is awesome

by 1 » Fri Mar 14, 2008 08:09:07

Asked about Hamels, Victorino said he believed the lefthander would make the big-league team.

by **ashton** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 09:30:05

Squire wrote:Boston could have accepted him back and NOT put him on the 40 man roster but would have had to pay 25K to the Phillies. They gambled on turning him down, he clears waivers, refuses an assignment and signs with Boston on a major league contract (thus, his placement on the 40). Boston wins, Holdzkom wins, Phillies lose.

SQUIRE

Boston loses. They used up a spot on their forty man roster to save 25K, which is pocket change to them. Dumb move.

by **phuturephillies** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:05:23

ashton wrote:
Squire wrote:Boston could have accepted him back and NOT put him on the 40 man roster but would have had to pay 25K to the Phillies. They gambled on turning him down, he clears waivers, refuses an assignment and signs with Boston on a major league contract (thus, his placement on the 40). Boston wins, Holdzkom wins, Phillies lose.

SQUIRE

Boston loses. They used up a spot on their forty man roster to save 25K, which is pocket change to them. Dumb move.

That spot on their 40 man came from putting Schilling on the 60 day DL, which he'd have gone on anyway. You lose.

by **jeff2sf** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:25:22

No, Flop, Ashton is completely right here. Whether the spot's available or not is immaterial. It's an opportunity cost that did not need to be spent. He was theirs, off the 40 man, with no cost but 25K measly dollars. And instead to save 25, they lock up a valuable 40 man spot that could be necessary later on (it might be immediate if they have any NRIs that will make the team, or it might take a while).

If he was so meritorious of a 40 man spot in March, they shouldn't have left him off in December. Just a bad job by the Red Sox.

by **Ace Rothstein** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 10:33:10

Is Colon on their 40 man yet ??

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