Call to the pen
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Bottlenecked Spots on the Phillies

By Tal Venada

Feb 25, 2017; Clearwater, FL, USA;Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) and catcher Cameron Rupp (29) talk prior to their spring training game against the New York Yankees at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Clearwater, FL, USA;Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) and catcher Cameron Rupp (29) talk prior to their spring training game against the New York Yankees at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Valentin Beats the Throw, but Will He Beat the Competition for a Utility Role? Photo by Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports. Philadelphia Phillies.
Valentin Beats the Throw, but Will He Beat the Competition for a Utility Role? Photo by Reinhold Matay – USA TODAY Sports. Philadelphia Phillies. /

For a few open jobs, statistics and performance count when general manager Matt Klentak and his skipper review each player on the bubble to decide the four reserve slots on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Nitty-Gritty:

When it comes to choices, necessity always trumps luxury because more of a strength doesn’t fix a weakness.

For the most part, the bench has the only positional competition: two outfielders, one infielder and a backup catcher. And even though the decisions involved appear small, each spot is important during almost every game. Rarely does a manager finish a contest without considering his reserves for pinch-hitting, late-game defense or a double switch for an overextended pitcher. To complicate things, moreover, regulars drop any experimentation and use the last three weeks to prepare for the campaign.

If you consider their status, the two backups with a shot to go north in April are roster-protected players and invitees. However, Klentak must remove or disable someone from the 40-man roster if an extra participant makes the squad. In other words, those athletes are at a disadvantage from day one.

Entering camp, Andrew Knapp had the inside track for the back half of the catching tandem, but he isn’t hitting or ready to play first base. Of course, the plan was for Knapp to back up the regular receiver and starting first baseman, while Jorge Alfaro would handle the games behind the plate for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. However, if this position is still a problem at March’s end, Klentak has backstops Ryan Hanigan and Bryan Holaday.

While Tom McCarthy’s team recently broadcasted a weekend game, two fans watching at home voiced their evaluation regarding the infielders. One asked the other who besides Andres Blanco is going to be a utility man. Will it be Jesmuel Valentin, Hector Gomez, Pedro Florimon or Taylor Featherston? Well, Valentin was at Lehigh Valley last summer and his father and uncle played in the majors. Yeah, I thought his name sounded familiar, but who are the others? Plan B.

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