Results tagged ‘ Ruben Amaro Jr. ’
Awaiting Word on Doc
Awaiting the results of Roy Halladay’s second opinion?
The Phillies said they are waiting, too.
Halladay is on the disabled list with what the team has called a strained right latissimus dorsi. He is expected to be sidelined from activity for three weeks, but could be back on the mound pitching for the Phillies in six to eight weeks. Phillies physician Michael Ciccotti examined him Tuesday in Philadelphia, but Halladay got a second opinion from Mets physician David Altchek later this week.
Altcheck is examining previous MRI results and a recent CT scan, and when he has a report the Phillies said they will pass it along.
Is there any reason to believe Halladay’s injury could be more than previously believed?
“We don’t think so, but I’m going to wait until Altchek gets all the information,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “I’m pretty optimistic that it is what it is.”
Halladay had not looked like himself since Spring Training. His velocity had dipped from previous seasons. He also had not looked as sharp. The Phillies have been questioned why they did not exam Halladay earlier, if they suspected he was not right. Perhaps an earlier exam could caught the problem earlier.
“At no time did Doc really complain about anything or have any issue,” Amaro said. “Doc has been with us since January 1 in camp. We get to see him every single day. He’s seen. He does his work. Our medical people and our rehab people are with him all the time. He never really made any indication at all until more recently that he even had an issue. His velocity, I think a lot of people are making a lot of it, but it wasn’t all that different from where it’s been. Maybe a tick below. But I think more than anything else, we thought it was more of a mechanical thing. And I think Dubes (pitching coach Rich Dubee) and Roy had been working on some of that stuff because he didn’t think mechanically he was right. But it wasn’t anything all that alarming. Had the player told us something was bothering him we would have addressed it. Evidently, he didn’t.”
Amaro said it is not normal protocol to pull a player off the field when he has not complained about an injury and have him examined.
“We check with him every day, every start, if the player had an issue or felt like he had an issue he would tell us,” Amaro said. “It’s not like we’re not proactive about it. We’re proactive on all of our guys when it comes to that.”
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Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here! Here are our upcoming book signings:
- TOMORROW: Citizens Bank Park, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- June 16: Barnes & Noble, Wilmington, Del, 2 p.m.
Check out my Facebook page. Follow me on Twitter.
Oswalt? Phillies Have Other Fish to Fry
Vance Worley is out. Kyle Kendrick is in.
The Phillies said Worley has inflammation, but no structural damage in his right elbow. They think it is mild, so they will keep him from throwing for a week. If he looks and feels OK at that point, he could begin his throwing program. They are hopeful he misses only a few starts.
But what happens if Worley doesn’t come back as expected? Or what happens if the Phillies lose another starter?
Who do they turn to? The Phillies don’t have much depth at all after Kendrick.
“The depth is an issue for us,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “I think it is for a lot of clubs, but depth is an issue, and if we’ve got to reach down and grab somebody else if somebody else goes down, we’ll have to get somebody who’s pitching as well … and make that assessment of who that guy is.”
Worley’s injury brought up an interesting name today: Roy Oswalt.
Could the Phillies bring him back, much like they brought back Pedro Martinez midseason in 2009? I speculated they could do just that during Spring Training. But one issue with Oswalt is how much he would want to be paid. I’m sure the Phillies would like to save some money for the bullpen or a bat come trade deadline time.
“We think he’s throwing,” Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Oswalt. “I guess he is. But right now what I’m worried about is our team playing better. That’s my focus right now. I feel comfortable with the starters we have. If we get to the point where we’re not comfortable with him then that might be something we explore. But I will tell you that right now I’m happy with our guys the way we are right now, unless something changes. I think we’ve got other fish to fry right now.”
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Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here! Here are our upcoming book signings:
- June 2: Citizens Bank Park, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- June 16: Barnes & Noble, Wilmington, Del, 2 p.m.
Check out my Facebook page. Follow me on Twitter.
Hamels Suspended Five Games, Fined
The moment Cole Hamels admitted he purposely drilled Bryce Harper with a pitch Sunday everybody knew he would be suspended.
He was.
Major League Baseball on Monday suspended him five games and fined him an undisclosed amount for his bean ball. Hamels did not appeal the suspension and began serving it immediately.
The effect of the suspension on the Phillies is minimal. Hamels, who was unavailable to comment before Monday’s series opener against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park, had been scheduled to pitch Saturday against the San Diego Padres. But because the Phillies do not play Thursday, it is a smart bet they will have Roy Halladay pitch Saturday on regular rest and push Hamels’ next start to Sunday.
Howard Could Begin Comeback Next Week
The Phillies are optimistic Ryan Howard will be cleared to begin baseball activities next week.
And once he begins they believe they can be aggressive with his rehab.
Howard suffered a setback in February, when he developed an infection in his left heel following surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles. The infection required a second surgical procedure, and it has taken a long time to heal.
In fact, the wound has not completely healed. But the Phillies will immobilize Howard over the next week, minimizing his lower-body workouts, to put him in position to begin his comeback.
Baby, You’re (Gonna Be) A Rich Man
So we know Cole Hamels will be signing at least a five-year, $112.5 million contract.
The Giants and Matt Cain agreed to those terms yesterday, and I believe most everybody would agree Hamels is a better pitcher than Cain. Hamels is 74-54 with a 3.39 ERA since 2006, pitching half his games in cozy Citizens Bank Park. Cain is 67-72 with a 3.39 ERA since 2006, pitching half his games at canyon-esque AT&T Park. Hamels has more strikeouts (1,091 to 1,055), a better strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.74 to 2.32) and WHIP (1.14 to 1.21) in that span. He is at the top of most pitching categories in the National League since he made his big-league debut. Cain is up there with him, but Hamels is usually just a bit better.
So if Cain got that, Hamels gets what?
I wonder if the Phillies said today, “How about Cliff Lee money?” if Hamels takes it.
Pierre Makes Team, Podsednik on Bubble
Phillies outfielder Juan Pierre has his spot on the Opening Day roster.
Scott Podsednik does not, and he does not think he will.
The Phillies had until noon tomorrow to inform Pierre if he had made the 25-man roster, but they told him he made the team following today’s 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay at Bright House Field. If Pierre had not made the roster he could have asked for his release. But Pierre, who is hitting .313 (15-for-48) with one double and two RBIs in 23 Grapefruit League games, showed the Phillies enough to convince them to keep him at $800,000.
“We definitely feel like Juan can help us,” Charlie Manuel said. “I look at where he could fit in some of the lineups we could use, and he’s done a little bit of everything in the game. He’s been a bench player. He’s been a regular for a long time. Last couple of years, he has a lot of at-bats in the big leagues.”
The Phillies insisted this does not mean Podsednik, who is hitting .347 (17-for-49) with five doubles, one home run and two RBIs in 26 games, will not make the team, although he signed a Minor League contract, which means he is contractually obligated to open the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley if the Phillies request it. Podsednik said he would accept his assignment to Lehigh Valley, depending on the situation. But other than retirement his only way out of it would be if the Phillies granted him his release.
Hamels Isn’t Worried About Free Agency
Cole Hamels looked good in 5 2/3 innings this afternoon at Bright House Field. He will pitch a few innings in an exhibition game next week in Philadelphia before pitching in the home opener April 9 against Miami at Citizens Bank Park.
Hamels becomes a free agent after the season. The Phillies and Hamels are not close to an extension, but Hamels isn’t too worried about it. Here is what he said:
Q: Surprised or upset at all a deal might not be struck before Opening Day?
A: No, I haven’t been thinking about it at all. This is something where it’s going to linger until something happens. Fortunately for the way I go out every single day and the approach I take is just to go out and get in good shape, get my workouts in, do everything I can possibly do right on the field, and things will take care of itself.
Q: When news broke Magic Johnson is buying the Dodgers everybody was saying, ‘Oh, that’s good news for Hamels.’ Did you think anything about it?
A: I didn’t know Magic Johnson knew anything about baseball. That’s my reaction. (laughs) I’m kind of glad everything can move on. It’s good to know all Major League teams have a functioning ownernship, and things are more clear for everybody, not just in baseball.
The Utley Confusion
There have been a lot of questions regarding Chase Utley’s injured knees.
Ruben Amaro Jr. tried to answer them yesterday.
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The Phillies optioned left-hander Jake Diekman to Minor League camp this morning. They also reassigned right-handers Scott Elarton and Brian Sanches. Diekman and Elarton opened some eyes this camp.
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Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Here are our upcoming book signings:
- April 2: Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 3: Chester County Book Company in West Chester, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 26: Barnes & Noble in Marlton, NJ, 7 p.m.
Madson Injury Won’t Rattle Hamels
Cole Hamels’ head dropped the moment he heard former teammate Ryan Madson needs Tommy John surgery.
“That’s terrible,” he said. “That’s terrible.”
Madson signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Reds in the offseason after he could not find the multiyear deal he wanted. He hoped to have a fantastic season in Cincinnati then get the big money contract next winter.
That will not happen now.
Hamels finds himself in a similar situation as Madson. He is scheduled to become a free agent following the season. If he has a big season and hits the free agent market, there is speculation he could earn more than $120 million. Of course, he also has to remain healthy the entire year to make that happen.
Hamels said today at JetBlue Park that Madson’s injury does not affect his feelings regarding free agency (i.e. he’s not going to have his agent John Boggs call Ruben Amaro Jr. to have him sign a club-friendly deal).
“No, because I think I’ve had some serious injuries with breaking arms and having herniated discs,” Hamels said. “So what? You lose a year, but you kind of gain a year because you don’t have the wear and tear. Hopefully, Madson can look at it like that. If you’ve overcome an injury, I think you can overcome anything. Obviously, I’ve had a few, so I know how to overcome them … Obviously, you can’t help the freak accidents. Sometimes it’s just straight bad luck. But he’s got a good personality. I think he’ll be able to get through it. I don’t think he’ll be with Cincinnati any longer, but he’ll be a nice free agent for some team. Maybe he’ll come back here.”
The bigger question is would Hamels be with him?
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Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Here are our upcoming book signings:
- April 2: Barnes & Noble in Plymouth Meeting, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 3: Chester County Book Company in West Chester, PA, 7 p.m.
- April 26: Barnes & Noble in Marlton, NJ, 7 p.m.
Howard, Utley Updates
Ruben Amaro Jr. offered some updates on Ryan Howard and Chase Utley this morning at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland:
- Ryan Howard. Amaro said Howard will have his walking boot on for at least a week. “Maybe longer,” he said. Amaro said the infection is OK. “We’re just being really cautious with it,” he said. “The wound itself has to heal. He’s doing fine. We just want to make sure it heals. It’ll heal. … We just want to make sure we don’t have any more recurrence of any infections at all.” Because Howard is wearing the boot he has done little if anything in terms of conditioning or staying in shape.
- Chase Utley. Utley is hitting, but not really doing much of anything else on the field. (The Phillies said at the beginning of camp they planned to bring along Utley slowly because of his chronic right knee condition, but the fact he has missed the first week of games is surprising.) “We’ve been keeping him off his feet,” Amaro said. He said he expects Utley to play at some point this spring, but could not say if he would play within the week. Amaro said it’s a decision between the club, doctors and Utley. The Phillies think Utley needs 30-40 at-bats to get ready for the season. They said that shouldn’t be a problem with Minor League Spring Training games beginning Monday.
- Jose Contreras. He threw a bullpen today and is close to pitching in games.
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Jim Salisbury and I co-authored the book The Rotation, which is now available. Check it out here!
Todd Zolecki
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