Scotty Podsednik re-signed to a minor league deal with a ST invite.

can't wait to see him run through the brick wall below the tiki bar

A properly synced 94.1 would just be the bee's knees

Not only is the Rollins story likely to loom large in a short while but the jury is still out on Utley’s ability to handle the second base spot on a daily basis. While I applaud the team’s commitment to Utley and think he will do quite well, it still remains to be seen how he will handle the pressure of playing regularly and the daily obstacles that presents.

With these two separate yet equal stories at the forefront as the team prepares for spring training, it becomes not a question of talent, but depth. Do the Phil’s have a ready made alternative at the minor league level ready to step in soon if either Rollins or Utley need replacing? The short answer is no, and it is an area that the team is likely to address this June.

At one time, the Phil’s shortstop depth was the envy of organizations far and wide. Not only was Rollins an All-Star player and improving daily, but in minor league whiz, Anderson Machado, the team had a player that many compared to former Cincinnati great, Davy Concepcion. The stories of Machado’s defensive wizardry were legendary and there was even talk of one day moving Rollins to second base to accommodate the talented Machado.

Alas, Machado was traded to, ironically, those same Reds last July in the Todd Jones deal and by September he was dazzling National League fans in Cincinnati. It was recently announced that he had suffered a possible serious knee injury in winter ball so the jury may still be out on Machado’s contributions in 2005. Nevertheless, when he is ready to play it will be as a member of the Cincinnati Reds and not the Philadelphia Phillies.

Not only did the Phillie shortstop depth chart include Rollins and Machado but also included former high school great, Danny Gonzalez. A switch hitter from the Puerto Rico, Gonzalez was drafted in 1999 and has made slow but steady progress through the system, with his port of call expected to be Triple-A this spring.


At the rookie league levels are two intriguing but still inexperienced players. One of the better all around seasons by a Phillie ’04 draftee was put in by former University of Arizona infielder, John Hardy. Many Philadelphia scouts compared his talents and demeanor to Pirate shortstop, Jack Wilson…high praise indeed. Still, it is a long way from Batavia to the big leagues and Hardy’s .272 average was bolstered somewhat by his 5-5 performance in his minor league debut.

More will be known about Hardy after a full season at Lakewood in 2004. His college numbers, and the fact he can play second base also, suggest that he may have a career as a utility infielder if he can show enough offensive prowess.

Given the team’s depth at the third base position, another option might be to move talented Welinson Baez to the shortstop spot this year. Considered one of the organization’s brightest young players, Baez has played third base in the Gulf Coast rookie league. Still, he has the arm strength and agility to play short and the Phils may be wise to see if Baez can handle this challenging switch.

If Baez shows he can play shortstop, then perhaps with Gonzalez, C-Rod, Hardy and GCL teammate Bradley Harman, the team may not have such a “hole in the middle” as it may appear at present. In any case, look for the Phils brain trust to draft a shortstop in this June’s amateur draft.


No, one needs to constantly be on the lookout for impact players, of which Utley has the potential to become. The Phils can only hope he does because after him, the closest player to a major league prospect is former top pick, Tim Moss of the University of Texas. After an injury plagued first season, Moss began the ’04 year slowly before performing well in the final two months at Lakewood.

His final numbers are still a bit pedestrian at .256 with only 10 stolen bases, but most Phillie scouts think he is capable of much more and might just be ready for a breakout season in ’05. If he does, he could once again become the player he was projected to be when he was drafted as a future top of the order hitter for the Phils.

Moss was absolutely scintillating in college and his struggles have been a source of frustration and bewilderment to all involved. However, it was discovered that some of his problems weren’t physical but medical, and with proper medication, his play improved markedly. The Phils fully expect Moss to have a banner year at Clearwater and reestablish himself as a potential major leaguer of the future.

After Moss, one must look all the way to the Rookie League GCL Phillies for a second sacker with “star” potential in the system. Mitchell Graham is a strong testament to the inroads the Phils are making in Australia, along with players like Harman and pitcher, Scott Mitchinson. Graham was a most pleasant surprise at second for the Rookie Phils with solid defense, great footwork around the bag, and a .283 batting average.

Nice, but got anything that isn't older than most kindergartners?

remember when don money said his replacement was good glove, no bat

would love to see the pirates non-tender garrett jones and the phillies sign him.

phdave, I think PtK hacked your account.

ffs

Phils sign Scott Ellarton to minor league deal.

He's 35, I've never heard of him and B-R has him last pitching 15 innings in 2008. I predict greatness.

I tater trots.

Phils signed Brian Sanches to a minor league deal. He wasn't good last year but he's a decent bullpen arm to have as a back-up. His 2 prior seasons were strong to quite strong.

From the MLB Press Release:

The Phillies have signed eight players to minor league contracts with invitations to major league spring training as non-roster players, the club announced today.
Scott Elarton, RHP – Elarton last pitched professionally in 2010, appearing in 16 games for triple-A Charlotte. A nine-year major league veteran, Elarton was a 17-game winner for the Houston Astros in 2000, with his last big league appearance coming in 2008 with the Cleveland Indians. In 232 career major league games (170 starts), he is 56-61 with a 5.29 ERA for the Astros (1998-2001), Colorado Rockies (2001, 2003-04), Indians (2004-05, 2008) and Kansas City Royals (2006-07).
Kevin Frandsen, INF – In 81 games in the Phillies minor league system in 2011, Frandsen batted .309 with five home runs and 43 RBI, appearing at first base, second base, third base and shortstop. He hit .397 (27-68) in his final 17 games of the season. In 228 career major league games, Frandsen has a .243 batting average with seven home runs and 53 RBI for the San Francisco Giants (2006-09) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2010).
Tuffy Gosewisch, C – Gosewisch will attend his fourth consecutive major league camp with the Phillies. The 28-year-old hit .247 with 13 home runs and 66 RBI in 109 games for double-A Reading, setting professional highs in games, home runs, RBI, hits (91) and stolen bases (4). For the season, Gosewisch was named the best defensive catcher in the Eastern League by Baseball America.
Pat Misch, LHP – Misch, 30, made six appearances, all in relief, for the New York Mets in 2011, but spent most of his season with triple-A Buffalo, where he went 8-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts. He pitched at least 7.0 innings in 10 of those starts. In 78 career major league games (24 starts) for the San Francisco Giants (2006-09) and Mets (2009-11), Misch is 4-15 with a 4.80 ERA.
Pete Orr, INF – Orr, 31, shuttled between the Phillies and triple-A Lehigh Valley throughout the season. Between both teams, he made starts at second base, shortstop, third base and right field. Orr hit .219 in 46 games for the Phillies and .267 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 75 games for the IronPigs.
Scott Podsednik, OF – Podsednik spent the entire 2011 season in the minor leagues between the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia and was limited to 34 games due to a stress fracture in his left foot. For the Phillies, the 35-year-old played in 14 games for triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he batted .245 with six doubles and a triple. A member of the 2005 World Champion White Sox, Podsednik is a career .279 hitter in the major leagues with 41 home runs, 300 RBI and 301 stolen bases.
Brian Sanches, RHP – In 39 games for the Florida Marlins in 2011, Sanches went 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA. The 33-year-old pitched at least 2.0 innings in 16 appearances last season, including two spot starts, and had a stint on the disabled list in the second half with a strained right elbow. In 36 of his 39 appearances, Sanches posted a 2.48 ERA (15 ER, 54.1 IP). In 189 career major league games, he is 13-6 with a 3.58 ERA for the Phillies (2006-07), Washington Nationals (2008) and Marlins (2009-11).
Raul Valdes, LHP – Valdes appeared in 13 major league games in 2011 and went 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA between the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees. A native of Cuba, he appeared in a combined 30 minor league games (seven starts) for triple-A Memphis and triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and posted a 7-2 record with a 4.50 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 62.0 innings (9.3 SO/9.0 IP). Valdes, 34, has a 2.18 ERA in his last 17 major league games with a .237 opponents’ batting average and 22 strikeouts in 20.2 innings (9.6 SO/9.0 IP).

Have there been any recent Press Releases?

What the hell Loblaw

The B1G Piece wrote:I tater trots.

Scott Elarton holy shit I remember playing with him in MLB 02 on PS and he was one of the liek 5 pitchers who didn't even have fastball as an option