March 30, 1985
Game 1985-ST-25: Jack Russell Stadium - Phillies 5, Pirates 1 / 9-16
First good start of spring for Scott Sanderson, which is just in time, as it’s his last tune-up before the season. Mike Diaz slams his third spring home run in this one.
March 31, 1985
Game 1985-ST-26: Al Lopez Field - Reds 5, Phillies 0 / 9-17
Ugh, another two-hitter. Steve Carlton allows three runs in his final spring start.
Second round of cuts:
RP Pete Falcone reassigned to minor league camp
RP Rich Gaynor reassigned to minor league camp
RP Ben Hayes reassigned to minor league camp
RP John McLarnan reassigned to minor league camp
C Milt May reassigned to minor league camp
LF Alan Bannister reassigned to minor league camp
LF Bobby Brown reassigned to minor league camp
CF Larry Harlow reassigned to minor league camp
RF Jay Erdahl reassigned to minor league camp
RF Joe Lefebvre reassigned to minor league camp
Lefebvre is the big name here, going from opening day 1984 starter to spring training 1985 cut. He just didn’t have it, hitting under .200 and being outpaced by a number of younger players.
April 1, 1985
Game 1985-ST-27: Jack Russell Stadium - Phillies 5, Braves 4 / 10-17
Karl Best seals his fate by giving up three runs in an inning, while Kelly Downs has really improved in a big way (he’s at 2.92 this spring after some relief appearances). In a four-run eighth, Dave Concepcion and Glenn Wilson double, and Bruce Fields homers. Fields (.429) is angling for a bench spot.
April 2, 1985
Game 1985-ST-28: Al Lang Field - Phillies 7, Cardinals 2 / 11-17
Another four-run eighth, this time off former one-time signing Joe Cowley, and it’s a cool moment: a Dave Concepcion grand slam. Kenneth Walker (7.2 IP, 1.17 ERA, 6 K, 2 BB) has probably secured his bullpen spot.
April 3, 1985
Game 1985-ST-29: Jack Russell Stadium - Giants 5, Phillies 1 / 11-18
Kevin Gross ends his spring with a dud, finishing with a 4.50 ERA. Todd Worrell pitches well, ending a solid spring (8 IP, 1.13 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB), and I imagine he’s pretty close to the majors now.
Meanwhile, the White Sox lose closer Ron Reed for the season. Tough loss. So I swoop in:
TRADE
To Chicago White Sox
Jamie Easterly - RP
To Philadelphia Phillies
Pat Adams - 1B
$125,000 cash
Adams, 25, is a power-hitting first baseman who is an AA- to AAA-level player right now. He’s decent, but this is more about the money. Plus, I got Easterly for nothing (he has a major league option). Yes, he’s a good pitcher, but my depth is youth now.
April 4, 1985
Last spring game of the year.
Game 1985-ST-30: Al Lang Field - Phillies 3, Mets 2 / 12-18
Not the worst team this spring, but heh, close. The Angels (20-10) and Expos (19-11) have the top records. Cool. As for the game, a good start for Scott Sanderson, Bruce Fields collects two hits, and Glenn Wilson finishes probably the best spring of any of our hitters. He goes .326/.367/.587 with 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K.
April 5, 1985
So let’s go over the team. Here’s who is staying:
- C/1B - Darren Daulton - 49/67
- C/1B/2B/3B - Tommy Thompson - 34/38
- 1B/3B - Mike Schmidt - 61/61
- 2B - Juan Samuel - 48/48
- 3B - Paul Molitor - 51/55
- SS/3B/2B - UL Washington - 39/39
- C/1B/3B/RF - Mike Diaz - 46/46
- LF/1B/RF/CF - Von Hayes - 52/58
- CF/RF/LF - Dave Stegman - 39/39
- RF/LF - Glenn Wilson - 43/43
That leaves three, maybe four spots open for the offense.
- SP - Steve Carlton - 53/53
- SP - John Denny - 56/56
- SP - Charles Hudson - 52/52
- SP - Kevin Gross - 49/49
- SP - Scott Sanderson - 48/48
- RP - Larry Andersen - 55/55
- RP - Bill Campbell - 56/56
- RP - Donnie Moore - 50/50
- RP - Don Carman - 49/49
- RP - Tug McGraw - 42/42
And that leaves one or two spots here.
Offensively, here’s who is on the shortlist:
- 2B/1B/3B/SS - Steve Kiefer - 46 PA, .136/.174/.182, 1 XBH, 2 BB, 14 K
- 2B/3B/SS - Luis Aguayo - 25 PA, .125/.160/.167, 0 XBH, 1 BB, 7 K
- 3B/CF/1B/2B/SS - Bill Lyons - 51 PA, .190/.333/.310, 5 XBH, 8 BB, 6 K
- 3B/SS - Dave Concepcion - 32 PA, .207/.281/.414, 4 XBH, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 SB
- SS/2B - Steve Jeltz - 73 PA, .179/.370/.196, 1 XBH, 17 BB, 10 K
- LF/RF/CF - Jeff Stone - 69 PA, .233/.319/.317, 3 XBH, 8 BB, 12 K, 4 SB
- LF/CF - Bruce Fields - 26 PA, .381/.500/.524, 1 XBH, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
- LF/RF/CF - Billy Sample - 21 PA, .222/.333/.222, 0 XBH, 3 BB, 2 K
Not a great spring for the offense. Aguayo and Lyons are without options, so if either of them misses the cut, he’ll have to get through waivers. And Concepcion and Sample are on conditional deals, so if they don’t make it, I have 30 days to figure something out.
Before spring, and during much of spring, I was leaning toward keeping Lyons and Stone. I’m sure about the former, who can play multiple positions, and decently, while hitting relatively well. Stone is another question. I want him on the team, as he’s electric and has demonstrated an ability to play well in the majors and over spring training. But I also want him to play often, and he won’t get to perform every day if he’s in the majors (Hayes and Wilson have really locked up their spots).
Alternatively, I can go with Fields and Sample - who feel more like fourth and fifth outfielders anyway - and, if there’s an injury in my outfield, or I feel like I need a starter change by May or June, it’s Stone time, regardless of how he’s playing in Portland.
As for a fourth spot, I’m not sure. I’m leaning Aguayo because of the lack of an option, but I could also use a seven-man bullpen. Or not. Here’s the reliever shortlist:
- RP - Tim Worrell - 8 IP, 1.13 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB, 2.58 FIP
- RP - Terrence Walker - 7.2 IP, 1.17 ERA, 6 K, 2 BB, 2.42 FIP
- RP - Paul Assenmacher - 7.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 6 K, 4 BB, 3.61 FIP
- RP - Chuck Cary - 7.1 IP, 3.68 ERA, 6 K, 7 BB, 5.79 FIP
- RP - Arturo Gonzalez - 6.1 IP, 4.26 ERA, 5 K, 4 BB, 5.57 FIP
- RP - Karl Best - 5.1 IP, 8.44 ERA, 4 K, 5 BB, 9.95 FIP
I like Walker most, but Worrell pitched well this spring. Heh.
In the end I’m going with Aguayo over the seventh reliever. And I’ll keep Stone in Portland, but only for now.