Liberty Ball

Minor injury news with 2 stars marred the opening of camp for National league favorite Philadelphia Phillies.  Free agent signee LH SP Cliff Lee strained his left side while playing catch at home in Arkansas before reporting to camp. He flew to Philadelphia for an examination from the Phillies medical staff and the injury was viewed as minor. Lee took 8  days off and threw his 1st bullpen session Tuesday(February 22) without an issue. Although Lee did not throw as long as the other pitchers, he is expected to be ready to open the season.

All star 2B Chase Utley, who has not played in the first 3 preseason games, had an MRI on his injured right knee and the exam revealed patellar tendinits. The Phillies will rest him and see how he progresses before taking further action, Cortisone injections as well as surgery have not been ruled out.  Utley claims he has had tendinitis in his knee previously but it went away. He also stated it does not bother him while he hits, only when he plays the field or runs.  Maybe this explains why Philadelphia were kicking the tires on Texas Rangers INF Michael Young recently,  Young can play any infield position and is a tremendous team guy. With Utley’s knee issue and SS Jimmy Rollins missing major time in 2010 with 2 separate hamstring injuries, he would make sense.

FANTASY TIP: Looking for a cheap,under the radar starting pitcher? I always look for guys from the National League, who pitch for good team as well as someone who pitched well in the 2nd half. I give you Joe Blanton(9-6,4.82 in 29 2010 games(28 starts) . In 2010, he posted a 6-1 record with a 3.48 ERA post all star break and slotted in the #5 role for a strong Phillies club, he will draw some very favorable match ups.  In his spring debut Sunday February 27th, he tossed 3 scoreless innings vs. the New York Yankees ,allowing only a lead off walk to OF Brett Gardner to start the game.

While attending the University of Michigan in the late 90s, I used to attend a ton of Detroit Tigers game at old Tiger Stadium. In 1997, the club used their #1 overall draft pick on a hard throwing RH out of Rice University, Matt Anderson. He blew both batters and the speed gun(100 MPH plus) out of the water and seemed to have  a promising career ahead. His first season in pro ball(1998) he struck out 45 in 41 innings while posting a 0.65 ERA in 30 games in the minors. After saving 22 games for Detroit in 2001, he tore a muscle in the arm pit of his throwing arm and never was the same pitcher. His fast ball topped out in the 90s and he never posted an ERA under 4.72 in the majors or 3.79 in the minors. He was out of the game in 2007 then pitched in the Chicago White Sox system in 2008. After two seasons away from the game, the Phillies signed him to minor league after the righthander battled hard over the past 18 months.  ”There’s no doubt in my mind I’ll pitch in the big leagues again.” Anderson told espn.com. A good gamble by a great organization!

With the 4 time defending NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies set to open spring training Monday February 14th(Pitchers-Catchers report date), Here are the issues the team must solve by the start of the season.

1- WHO BATS LEADOFF? After dealing with hamstring issues for most of the season, all star SS Jimmy Rollins was moved out of the lineup spot and replaced by CF Shane Victorino in September. With J Roll fully recovered, who hits #1?

2- FOUR ACES: I Think it is safe to assume that RH Roy Halladay and LH Cliff Lee will pitch the 1st and 2nd games of the year. Then decision time: Roy Oswalt or Cole Hamels? The decision might be easier with the starters being balanced(2 righties, 2 lefties) and 5th starter Joe Blanton being a righty, So bet on  Oswalt then Hamels.

3- RF: I have talked about this in almost every blog this off-season but talk and hype is cheap. Domonic Brown is replacing an elite player who added a lot on and off the field in Jayson Werth but he has the talent to pull it off. When you balance that with a great organization and environment around him and he should succeed.

4- INJURY INSURANCE: The club plans on having veteran Kyle Kendrick and top pitching prospect Vance Worley prepare as starting pitchers in spring training as a built in insurance policy if injury strikes. Kendrick will stay up and toss middle relief for the big club while Worley will more than likely start the season in the Triple A rotation. Barring injury and trade, veteran RHP Joe Blanton remains the #5 starter.

One of the few true questions facing the 4 time defending NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies is who will replace all star RF Jayson Werth in right field. The club hopes it is super prospect Domonic Brown, who was dominant(.900 OPS in over 330 at bats) in both Double and Triple A in 2010, The youngster hit only .210 in 62 ML at bats after being recalled by the Phils as a injury replacement.  However, he a legit 5 tool guy, rated as the #4  prospect in all of baseball by MLB Network and mlb.com’s  chief scout Jonathan  Mayo. Physically, he is long and lean ala Darryl Strawberry and a young Barry Bonds. Personally, I see a ton of Carl Crawford, a rare athletic specimen. With a strong spring, he is a good bet to open the season as the everyday RF but Manager Charlie Manuel tends to break in youngsters slowly, so a platoon with veteran Ben Francisco is not out of the question.

Domonic Brown Scouting Grades(from Baseballamerica.com, grade scale 20-80)

BATTING: 65

POWER: 60

SPEED: 60

DEFENSE: 55

ARM: 70

Not much news to report regarding the 4 time defending NL East champions as they prepare for the 2011 campaign, Some small items to look at however. Pitchers and catchers or aptly nicknamed by Phillies fans, “Aces and Catchers”, report February 14th. The title in reference to the incredible wheeling and dealing by the Philadelphia front office over the  past 14 months that has allowed the Phillies to add 3 elite starters in Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and  most recently Cliff Lee.  GM Ruben Amaro Jr. likes RHP Joe Blanton(2 yrs/17 million left on his deal) as an insurance policy and continues to insist he will keep the veteran.