Two Young Players With Different Ambitions

PHILS PHACTS:

Not Letting The Grievance Get In The Way – If third baseman Maikel Franco becomes the player the Phillies expect him to be, the club will be delighted to have him under team control through 2021. But that's not a sure thing. Franco filed a grievance with the Phillies last year claiming they manipulated his service time to delay his eligibility for free agency. Franco opened the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and wasn't recalled until May 15, despite hitting .355 with a .923 OPS in 151 plate appearances in Triple-A. Franco accrued 170 days of service time with the Phillies, which is two days short of a full season. Those two days delayed his free agency from 2020 to '21. "Nothing has been decided at this point," Franco's agent, Ryan Royster, said in a telephone interview Monday morning. "Right now, I think what we want to focus on is Maikel getting prepared for the season. He's in camp, he's in uniform, he's with his teammates and that's where he wants to be right now." Royster declined to comment on the timeline for a potential resolution. The Mets recently awarded Ruben Tejada an extra day of service time, which allows him to become a free agent following the season. He had been short one day. "The grievance and things like that, that's not what his focus is on right now," Royster said. "All Maikel wants to do is win, and win in Philly." Phillies general manager Matt Klentak could not be reached for comment Monday. But when news first broke about the grievance during the Winter Meetings, he said he wasn't concerned about it bothering Franco. "I'm not particularly concerned with their being a carryover or on-field effect," Klentak said. MLB Players Association executive director Tony Clark spoke to Phillies players Monday morning at Bright House Field. He declined to address Franco's case, but spoke generally about teams possibly keeping players in the Minor Leagues to gain an extra season of team control. "It's unfortunate to talk about why a particular player outside of his ability would find himself in a place where there appears to be some manipulation related to when he comes up," Clark said. "I don't like having the conversation. I think it's unfortunate. I think we're one of the only leagues where some can argue that the best players aren't on the field all the time. And I don't see how that's beneficial for the entire industry. It's been a topic of discussion. It's not new, unfortunately. I think if it were easy to remedy perhaps it would have been discussed in a different fashion. It is something we'll continue to have dialogue on and see where it goes." Clark said service time rules are "worthy of more discussion" as MLB and the MLBPA begin negotiations on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Setting Solid Goals For The Season – The Phillies know Roman Quinn is fast. The Phillies believe he can hit, too. Quinn hit .306 with six doubles, six triples, four home runs, 15 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and a .791 OPS in 257 plate appearances last season with Double-A Reading. Quinn's ability to hit and run with the best of them (think Dee Gordon and Billy Hamilton-type speed) is why MLBPipeline.com considers him the 99th-best prospect in baseball. But one question lingers: Can he stay healthy? "I just want to play a full season for the first time," Quinn said recently at Bright House Field. The Phillies selected Quinn, 22, in the second round of the 2011 Draft. He played just 67 games with Class A Lakewood in '13 due to a broken wrist. He ruptured his right Achilles tendon before the '14 season, which limited him to 88 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater. He appeared on his way to Eastern League MVP consideration in '15 when a hip flexor injury sidelined him from June through the end of the season. "If you project his numbers in April and May in Reading over a full season, he's the best player in the league," Phillies player development director Joe Jordan said. "We've just to keep him out there." Quinn's first two months with Reading were exciting. Everybody began to think about him roaming the Phillies' outfield and causing problems for pitchers on the basepaths. "We kind of saw the type of player we have been hoping to see and waiting to see," Jordan said. "I think he got a lot of confidence out of that. He understands what he has a chance to do probably more than ever. It's within reach. He's just learned a lot about the type of player he is. He can bunt. He can put pressure on a club, more and different ways than anyone else can. I think he understands that. He knows what he needs to do." Quinn is fun to watch run. He said he got timed running 60 yards a couple years ago in Spring Training. He said he got clocked at about 6.3 seconds, which Jordan confirmed. Gordon's 60 reportedly is 6.2 seconds. Hamilton supposedly has never been timed in the 60, but one would think he would be right there with Gordon. Fellow Phillies prospect Nick Williams has talked about a head-to-head race with Quinn. Williams said he has run the 60 in 6.2 seconds. The point is Quinn has blink-and-miss-him speed, and he would like to show what he can do with that speed in the big leagues. He can take a step in that direction this season. He just needs to stay on the field. "It gets to me because I definitely need the at-bats," Quinn said about his injuries. "Not getting those 500 at-bats in a season hurts. I'm ready to go. I'm 100 percent right now. My body feels great."

Today In Phils History - The Phillies made history when they set sail for Jacksonville from New York in 1889 when they became the first National League team to hold spring training in Florida. Also largely forgotten to baseball history are the birthdays of Nick Strincevich (1915) and Ike Pearson (1917) who both sacrificed several years of their careers to serve in World War II.

THE BEGINNING:

With the Phillies having finished the 2015 season with a spectacularly awful record of 63-99 it will be interesting to see what kind of team new President Andy MacPhail and GM Matt Klentak put on the field. At the same time I am definitely looking forward to the games against Boston with former GM Ruben Amaro on the field. Given the departures, lingering contracts, a history of injuries, bipolar performances, and unproven talent, it should, at the very least, be an interesting season for the Phillies. Who knows, maybe they can avoid 100 losses... hopefully by more than one game!

Let The (Exhibition) Games Begin!

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

The Phillies play the University of Tampa on Sunday afternoon in an exhibition at Bright House Field. Rule 5 Draft pick Odubel Herrera will hit leadoff and play center field. Cesar Hernandez (second base), Cord Phelps (third base), Darin Ruf (left field), Chris McGuiness (first base), Russ Canzler (designated hitter), Aaron Altherr (right field), Tommy Joseph (catcher) and Chase d'Arnaud (shortstop) follow him in the lineup. Right-hander Paul Clemens will start. "He's a guy that has a little bit of starting experience," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He could be a long-man type of guy."

PHILS PHACTS:

Bullpen Battle – The Phillies are in the beginning stages of a substantial rebuilding process. But they believe they could be extremely competitive in at least one area in 2015. They believe they could have one of the better bullpens in baseball. The Phillies bullpen finished ninth in the National League last season with a 3.60 ERA. But from June 1 through the end of the season, it ranked fifth with a 3.36 ERA and second averaging 9.81 strikeouts per nine innings. Credit a consistently strong season by Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles' arrival, Jake Diekman's big arm from the left side and marked improvement from Justin De Fratus for much of that. The club expects Giles, Diekman, De Fratus and others to take another step forward this season, making the bullpen even better. Those high expectations should create some interesting roster battles this spring. The Phillies typically carry seven pitchers in the bullpen, although they could open with six if they want to carry an extra bench player. "It's time to see them with hitters in there," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said on Saturday, following a rain-shortened workout. "[I'm] kind of open minded, as far as the bullpen goes." Here is a look at the bullpen candidates, as the Phillies get set to play the University of Tampa in an exhibition on Sunday at Bright House Field. Their first Grapefruit League game is on Tuesday against the Yankees: RHP Jonathan Papelbon: He is a lock, as well as the closer -- assuming the Phillies do not trade him before Opening Day. RHP Ken Giles: His 0.79 WHIP last season ranks fifth among all rookie relievers since 1914. His 5.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio is sixth, and his 12.61 strikeouts-per-nine innings average is 10th. He is a lock to make the team. LHP Jake Diekman: Also a lock, he posted a 2.70 ERA in 61 appearances from April 22 through Sept. 21, striking out 80 batters over 60 innings. RHP Justin De Fratus: He struggled in his first four appearances before being sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He returned and posted a 1.89 ERA in 50 appearances from May 26 through the end of the season. He is a lock, as well, leaving three jobs available in a seven-man bullpen. LHP Andy Oliver: He has an edge, if for no other reason than he is a Rule 5 Draft pick on a rebuilding team. If the Phillies like what they see, they could stash him in the bullpen just to keep his arm in the organization. But he will need to throw strikes. He struck out 85, but walked 47, in 64 innings last season with Triple-A Indianapolis (Pirates). LHP Mario Hollands: He was one of the best stories of 2014, coming out of relative obscurity to make the Opening Day roster. He pitched pretty well, too. He has a very good chance to make the team. The Phillies carried three left-handers in the 'pen last year, so it's not out of the question Diekman, Oliver and Hollands make the team. RHP Luis Garcia: The Phillies named Garcia their Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2014, based upon a dominant performance in Triple-A. Garcia fizzled in his first four appearances with the Phillies, posting a 12.71 ERA. He improved in his final nine, though, posting a 2.16 ERA. The Phillies believe that is the real Garcia, but he will have to prove it this spring to get a job. RHP Jeanmar Gomez: The non-roster invitee entered camp under the radar, but he has a good chance to make the team. The 27-year-old posted a 3.28 ERA in 78 appearances over the past two seasons with Pittsburgh. RHP Hector Neris: He pitched a scoreless inning last season for the Phillies, but went a combined 6-3 with a 3.61 ERA in 48 appearances last season with Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley. He will have to put up strong numbers in camp. RHP Phillippe Aumont: He is out of options, so if he does not make the Opening Day roster, he will have to clear waivers before the Phillies can send him to Triple-A. He has a great arm, but he has been unable to put it together. The possibility of losing Aumont could push him onto the roster, but only if he pitches well (i.e. throws strikes). RHP Ethan Martin: He missed some time last season with a shoulder issue, and Sandberg said his mechanics need some fine tuning. Martin would have to come on strong to turn a few heads. RHP Paul Clemens: He could be this season's Jeff Manship, who made the 2014 Opening Day roster as a swingman. But Manship had to pitch really well to earn that spot. Clemens will have to do the same. Left-hander Elvis Araujo and right-hander Nefi Ogando are also in camp, but neither has pitched above Double-A. Expect them to open the season in the Minor Leagues.

Pettibone Making Progress – Phillies right-hander Jonathan Pettibone pitched pretty well in 18 starts in 2013. But a right shoulder injury popped up that July, which has limited him to just seven starts and 35 1/3 innings at the Major League and Minor League levels since. He ultimately required surgery to repair the shoulder in June 2014, which has him behind schedule this spring. "It's a little tight just grinding through these past couple days -- starting to throw bullpens, stretching out my long toss and everything," Pettibone said on Saturday at Bright House Field. "It's come along great. We haven't had any setbacks, so that's definitely a positive." Pettibone, 24, will throw his third bullpen session on Sunday. He is expected to remain in Clearwater once the season starts to make a few starts before he joins Triple-A Lehigh Valley. From there, he hopes to begin his road back to the big leagues -- where he posted a 4.04 ERA in 100 1/3 innings as a rookie. "Anytime after surgery, you're kind of uneasy about the whole situation," said Pettibone. "But I've been kind of staying positive."

ON THE RECORD:

The Phillies will look to rebound this season from a 73-89 record last year. While uncertainty abounds, there is little question that the franchise is in rebuild mode based on the moves and statements that have been made during the offseason. The only question that remains is whether or not the young and veteran talent on the team can work together to disprove Gillick’s predictions either this year or next.