Phillies Get Unexpected Day Off

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: No Game Yesterday

Phillies get unexpected day off due to rain.

NEXT GAME:

Saturday's scheduled starter, Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (0-0, 4.50 ERA), will start Sunday's 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Astros at Bright House Field, which will air on MLB.TV. The Phillies have made no announcement, but Hellickson or Aaron Nola will start Opening Day. At the moment, Hellickson is on schedule to make that start. Watch the game live on MLB.TV.

PHILS PHACTS:

Roster Getting Close To Completion – The Phillies took batting practice Saturday morning at Bright House Field, which is customary whenever they play the Blue Jays in a Grapefruit League game on an afternoon in Dunedin, Fla. But 45 minutes after they boarded the bus for the short drive to Florida Auto Exchange Stadium at around 11:30 a.m., they learned the game had been canceled because of rain. Saturday's scheduled starter, Phillies right-hander Jeremy Hellickson, will start Sunday's 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Astros at Bright House Field, which will air on MLB.TV. Before the cancellation the Phillies announced they had reassigned first baseman Brock Stassi to Minor League camp and optioned infielder Taylor Featherston to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The move leaves 48 players in camp, not including injured outfielder Aaron Altherr and injured left-hander Matt Harrison. Stassi, 26, hit .240 (6-for-25) with one double, two RBIs, three walks and five strikeouts this spring. Featherston, 26, hit .100 (2-for-20) with one home run, three RBIs, five walks and six strikeouts. "I'm happy with the way a lot of things went," Stassi said. Stassi won the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award last year after hitting .300 with 32 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 90 RBIs, 77 walks and 63 strikeouts with an .863 OPS in 133 games. He impressed folks with his defense this spring, but he will have to continue to hit this year to earn a promotion to the big leagues. Stassi left camp believing he can make the final jump. "Even growing up my dad always preached 'respect everyone, but fear no one,'" Stassi said. "I feel like I fit in over here. I don't know, it definitely was a confidence booster. Force the hand and prove myself. Nothing has ever been given to me in this game. I've had to earn everything. It's nothing new. Just got to keep handling my business and hopefully one day be back over here."

Former Site Now Historic Landmark – The Phillies have played Grapefruit League games at Bright House Field since 2004, but Clearwater has been their Spring Training home for 70 years. They helped the city commemorate its long Spring Training traditions Saturday, when the city unveiled a Florida Heritage Site marker at the former site of Clearwater Athletic Field. The field had been the Spring Training home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, Phillies and other professional baseball teams from 1923-56. "When you reflect on the history of the sport in Clearwater, we've been here forever -- 70 years," Phillies chairman David Montgomery said. "Babe Ruth came here in his last year in '48. Robin Roberts was so impressed to have him here at Athletic Field he … made a fellow grab a ball and had Babe Ruth sign it for his mother. So this represents not just Phillies history, but baseball history." Fire destroyed the field's grandstands in 1956, although by that time the Phillies had moved to Jack Russell Stadium two blocks away. The Phillies played Spring Training games at Jack Russell from 1955 to 2003. But the Phillies still had rookies practice at Athletic Field once Jack Russell opened. Those players nicknamed it "Iwo Jima" because of its rock-covered field. "We had an old wooden clubhouse with about three or four nails on it for your clothes and that was about it," former Phillies pitcher and manager Dallas Green said. "The infield was a little rough. Guys were getting bad hops left and right." The North Greenwood Recreation and Aquatic Complex now stands on the site of Athletic Field, but now at least folks who walk past will know the spot has some baseball significance, too.

Today In Phils History - It was on this day in 1914 that the Killefer saga officially began as the Federal League filed an injunction against the Phillies stating that the catcher had signed a contract with the league and had already accepted payment. In 1943 a New Yorker, William Cox (who was later named club president), lead a group to purchase the Phillies from the National League for roughly a quarter million dollars. 1990 saw an abbreviated spring training as MLB owners finally ended a month long lockout on this day. Lastly, happy 75th birthday to former Phillies player, coach and manager Pat Corrales. 

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies have begun the spring with a 12-5-2 record (13-5-2 if you include the exhibition game against the University of Tampa). 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!

Looking To Repeat Rule 5 Success

PHILS PHACTS:

The Phillies Are #1 – The Phillies will come home from next week's Winter Meetings with at least one new player on their 40-man roster. They have the No. 1 pick in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, and they plan to use it. Pro scouting director Mike Ondo said the Phillies have not decided who they will select, but they hope he will be as talented as some of the players they have selected in previous Rule 5 Drafts, like Shane Victorino, Odubel Herrera and Ender Inciarte. The Phillies are on the hunt for pitching, so it might seem obvious they will take a pitcher. Then again, how can they pass on a talented position player? "I can tell you, when we were playing well and had more of a veteran club I think we drafted more toward need at that point," Ondo said. "Obviously, last year we tried to take more of the prospect with ceiling." Herrera proved to be a gem in last year's Rule 5 Draft. After the Phillies plucked him from the Rangers' organization, he hit .297 with 30 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 41 RBIs and a .762 OPS in 537 plate appearances. He had no problem sticking on the Phillies' 25-man roster the entire season, which was required in order for him to remain in the organization. From 2006-14, 33 percent of players selected in the Rule 5 Draft (48-of-144) have remained with the teams that selected them, including 11 of 14 players last year. So while the odds are against a player sticking with the team that selects him, the Phillies have the advantage of being thin on talent with an opportunity to let that player develop. "As we narrow down the list to a more manageable 10 names or so, we'll discuss whether we select a player based on need or take the best player available," Ondo said. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo recently listed 10 of the best prospects available in this year's Rule 5 Draft. The Phillies' selection could come from this group. Of course, the trick isn't necessarily finding a talented player. It's finding a talented player who can stay in the big leagues an entire season. "Are they ready to handle it?" Ondo said. "How ready are they to survive or flourish? In Herrera's case, he took the ball and ran with it." Ondo and his team will continue to pore over reports through next week's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn., before settling on somebody. They hope to find the next Herrera. If so, it will be a nice victory for the rebuilding Phillies. "There's talent on these lists," Ondo said. "It's just a matter of feeling comfortable with the player that we choose."

Two Down – The Phillies avoided salary arbitration with two of their players on Wednesday by agreeing to contracts with outfielder Peter Bourjos and infielder Andres Blanco. Bourjos, who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday, agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract, while Blanco's deal is for one year, $1.45 million. The Phillies are expected to tender contracts to their three other players who are arbitration-eligible -- right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Jeanmar Gomez and shortstop Freddy Galvis -- before Wednesday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline.

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! However, at least Ryan Madson got another ring this year.

It Continues To Be A Slow Off Season

PHILS PHACTS:

Sometime, no news is good news!

THE BEGINNING:

The Phillies finally put an end to the season finishing in last place in the NL East with a record of 63-99. Given the departures, aging stars, injuries, and bipolar performances, this has ended up being one of the worst seasons in franchise history! However, at least Ryan Madson got another ring this year.

Phillies Show Some Power Against Yankees

EXHIBITION GAME RECAP: Phillies Beat Yankees 7-3

The Phillies' offense is very left-handed heavy, which makes right-handed hitter Darin Ruf a pretty important part of their 2015 roster. After Carlos Beltran's RBI single off Joely Rodriguez in the sixth inning tied the game for the Yankees, Ruf hit his first spring homer in the eighth to put Philadelphia up in a 7-3 victory over New York at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday night. Cody Asche also hit his first spring homer, while Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz stroked run-scoring singles off Yankees starter Esmil Rogers, who surrendered his first three runs of the spring in an underwhelming 3 1/3-inning outing. Chase Headley homered in the second for New York off Phillies starter Aaron Harang, and Stephen Drew, who went deep Wednesday, lashed a third-inning RBI double.

TODAY’S EXHIBITION GAME:

The Phillies play the Pirates on Friday at 1:05 p.m. ET in Bradenton, Fla., where right-hander Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has another opportunity to prove he deserves a spot in the rotation. Gonzalez has not shown that yet. He has a 9.00 ERA in three Grapefruit League appearances. "A little bit more consistency and a good solid outing would go a long way," Sandberg said.

PHILS NOTES:

• Chase Utley went 2-for-2 with one walk and two runs scored. He has not played in the field yet because of a sprained right ankle, but Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said before the game that could be coming soon.
• Harang allowed two hits and one earned run in three innings, which was progress. He had missed two of his first three starts this spring because of back soreness. The Phillies need Harang healthy with Cliff Lee lost for the season.
• Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown left the game in the bottom of the third inning because of soreness in his left Achilles. He said it has been bothering him for a couple of weeks. He will be examined by a team doctor on Friday.

PHILS PHACTS:

Another Phillie Goes Down – Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown sounded deflated Thursday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He left the Grapefruit League game against the Yankees in the third inning because of soreness in his left Achilles. He said in the visitors' clubhouse the Achilles had been bothering him for a couple of weeks. "They're saying tendinitis," Brown said. Brown said he will have a team doctor examine him Friday. He struck out twice in his only two plate appearances Thursday. He is hitting .241 (7-for-29) with one double, two RBIs, five walks and five strikeouts in 11 games. The Phillies are hoping for a big bounceback season from Brown, who struggled as one of the least productive outfielders in baseball in 2014. "I want to be in there, Spring Training or not," Brown said. "I feel pretty good at the plate. I don't want to miss any time, but this is part of the game, also. I'm definitely frustrated for sure. It seemed like we were going in the right direction, it was getting a little bit better. "As soon as Chase Headley hit the home run [in the second inning], I took off and started feeling it then. Once I got to the on-deck circle. ... I could definitely feel it. Not pulling but grabbing a little bit." Brown missed a game earlier this week because of dehydration. He said he had been doubling up on anti-inflammatories, which might have keyed the dehydration.

Moving Closer To Second – There are 18 days before Opening Day and Chase Utley still has not played an inning at second base. Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said that could happen soon. "We're getting closer to that date," Sandberg said before Thursday night's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "He got ground balls yesterday and he wanted to get a pregame today and then DH and then we'll go from there." Utley, who played his fifth Spring Training game as a designated hitter on Thursday, sprained his right ankle in January, and it has been slow to heal. Outfielder and non-roster invitee Jeff Francoeur has not played since last week because of a sore left oblique. He needs to get on the field if he expects to make the team. Sandberg said Francoeur, who is hitting .278 (5-for-18) with two doubles and two RBIs this spring, could play in a game this weekend. "He needs a couple of days of batting practice and then just build up to a game-speed situation for him," Sandberg said. "And him being a high-intensity guy, it might be tough for him to do, but he's going to have to manage a little bit in his first couple of games back by cutting down his swing a little bit and kind of ease into it to see where he's at."

Back To Form? – Aaron Harang's sore back would have been an issue this spring even if everybody in the Phillies' rotation had been healthy. But with Cliff Lee's season almost certainly finished, the back that forced Harang to miss a couple of Grapefruit League starts became more important. Harang returned to the mound Thursday night in a game against the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, allowing two hits, one earned run and striking out one in three innings. "You know what?" Harang said. "I was trying to be an innings guy before Cliff went down. I'm not going to be putting any more pressure on myself. I'm just going to go out and do what I do, go out and give us a chance to win. "I'm not worried about [the back]. I've felt really good the last few days. I don't have feeling or semblance of what was going on [with the injury]." Harang threw a little more than 50 pitches, including a quick session in the bullpen. He could have three more starts before the regular season opens. The veteran said it is enough time to be ready. "Obviously, we just have to make sure nothing comes up, but the last few days I've felt great," he said. Harang threw a 1-1 cutter to Chase Headley in the second inning, and Headley connected, hitting a solo home run to right field. Harang allowed an unearned run in the third. "Having that time off, I've got to go out and find that feel," the righty said.

Franco Struggles Through Spring – There will be no Kris Bryant controversy in Phillies camp this spring. Infielder Maikel Franco is ranked No. 3 among the organization's top prospects, and the past two springs he entered camp with an opportunity to push third baseman Cody Asche for a job. But even if Franco played well this spring, he still might have opened the season in Triple-A because a few more weeks there would push his free agency from 2020 to '21. The Cubs have the same exact situation with Bryant, who is their top prospect. But Bryant is having a fantastic spring while Franco is not. Franco, who struck out in his lone at-bat in Thursday night's 7-3 win over the Yankees, is hitting .200 (6-for-30) with one RBI and four strikeouts. "I don't know if there's something about big league camp or what, but after a very good winter ball of swinging the bat, he's struggled," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's struggled this spring as far as having consistent at-bats, having a good approach and putting together good at-bats. It's been a struggle with him. He looks like he's trying to do too much. He looks like he's over-swinging. He's definitely talked about it on a daily basis, so all in all, it's been a little bit of struggle for him." Franco, 22, played an entire season of winter ball, where he hit .265 with nine doubles, eight home runs, 31 RBIs and a .779 OPS in 43 games. Could he be tired? "He doesn't show tiredness," Sandberg said. "It's more about just cutting down the swing and looking for solid contact, making that a goal rather than some power and home runs. I just wonder if he's looking for too much too soon. Early in camp, it's more about fine-tuning your swing and having a good approach and having good, solid contact. That's more of the approach that's being talked to him about."  Franco is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter in Friday's game against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla.

Getting Closer To Return – Phillies right-hander Chad Billingsley is scheduled to pitch in a Minor League game on Saturday at Carpenter Complex. Billingsley is recovering from a pair of right elbow surgeries, and this will be his first game action since June, when he made a rehab appearance with Double-A Rancho Cucamonga. The Phillies hope he can be ready to join the rotation by late April. Billingsley's progress became increasingly important following this week's news that Cliff Lee is almost certainly lost for the season because of a torn tendon in his left elbow. Two other Phillies starters also have been banged up recently. Right-hander Aaron Harang missed two of his first three Grapefruit League starts because of back problems. He started Thursday night against the Yankees. Right-hander Jerome Williams missed his last start because of a "tweaked" right hamstring. He is scheduled to start Sunday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers.

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.