Here ya go! 
Adam Morgan
Phillies Spring Training Day 6-February 19, 2017
This is where spring training gets hard to blog about. The intra-squad games have yet to start and basically, you’re watching the same players do the same drills as the last few days. There were a few highlights, however.
The best thing was Odubel Hererra motioning for me to take a picture then giving me the thumbs up sign…as seen above.
Baseball Ross and I have pictures and video of today’s activities and you can watch it HERE. If you like the video, be sure to click subscribe so you will be notified when we post new videos. We hope to post new video every day of spring training.
The 2017 Philadelphia Phillies Major League Spring Training Roster
The 2017 Philadelphia Phillies Major League Spring Training roster was released today. I am including a copy for you.
Phillies Minor League Team 2016 Rosters Released!
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
Catchers
- JP Arencibia
- Andrew Knapp#
Infielders
- Carlos Alonso
- Taylor Featherston
- Ryan Jackson
- Tommy Joseph
- Angelys Nina
- Brock Stassi
Outfielders
- Cameron Perkins
- David Lough
- Darnell Sweeny #
- Wil Venable
- Nick Williams*
Starting Pitchers
- Mark Appel
- David Buchanan
- Zach Eflin
- Adam Morgan*
- Jake Thompson
The Bullpen
- Elvis Araujo
- Andrew Bailey
- Ernesto Frieri
- Luis Garcia
- Bobby Lafromboise*
- Edward Mujica
- Colton Murray
Reading Fightin’ Phils
Catchers
- Jorge Alfaro
- Logan Moore
Infielders
- JP Crawford*
- Jake Fox
- Rhys Hoskins
- Harold Martinez
- Angelo Mora#
- KC Serna
- Jesmuel Valentin#
Outfielders
- Aaron Brown
- Dylan Cozens
- Christian Marrero*
- Roman Quinn#
Starting Pitchers
- Alec Asher
- Ben Lively
- Ricardo Pinto
- Nick Pivetta
- Anthony Vasquez
The Bullpen
- Severino Gonzalez
- Ulises Joaquin
- Edubray Ramos
- Joeley Rodriguez*
- Reinier Roibal
- Tom Windle
Clearwater Threshers
Catchers
- Gabriel Lino
- Chace Numata#
- Joel Fisher
Infielders
- Maquin Canelo
- Zach Green
- Scott Kingery
- Kyle Martin*
- Drew Stankiewicz#
- Mitch Walding*
Outfielders
- Andrew Pullin*
- Herlis Rodriguez
- Cord Sandberg*
- Carlos Tocci
Starting Pitchers
- Tom Eshelman
- Ranfi Casimiro
- Elniery Garcia*
- Matthew Imhof*
- Will Morris
- Tyler Visa
The Bullpen
- Victor Arano
- Joey DeNato
- Matt Hockenberry
- Jario Munoz
- Miguel Nunez
- Alexis Rivero
- Jesen Therrien
Lakewood BlueClaws
Catchers
- Austin Bossart
- Deivi Grullon
- Wilson Garcia
Infielders
- Grenny Cumana
- Brendon Hayden
- Jan Hernandez
- Emmanuel Marrero#
- Josh Tobias#
Outfielders
- Zach Coppola
- Jose Pujols
- Cornelius Randolph*
- Damek Tomscha
- Jiandido Tromp
Starting Pitchers
- Harold Arauz
- Tyler Gilbert*
- Franklyn Kilome
- Luke Leftwich
- Mitch Gueller
- Shane Watson
The Bullpen
- Alejandro Arteaga
- Kenny Koplove
- Zach Morris*
- Robert Tasin
- Jose Taveras
- Alberto Tirado
- Jacob Waguespack
Extended Spring Training
Catchers
- Edgar Cabral
- Roldolfo Duran
- Greg Brodzinski
- Nerlius Martinez
- Gregori Rivero*
- Lenin Rodriguez
- Rafeal Marchan
Infielders
- Jose Antequera
- Daniel Brito*
- William Cuicas#
- Luis Encarnacion
- Luis Espiritu
- Arquismedez Gamboa#
- Edwin Rodriguez
- Lucas Williams
Outfielders
- Jesus Alastre
- Venn Biter*
- Carlos Duran
- Enmanuel Garcia
- Samuel Hiciano
- Mark Laird*
- Juan Luis*
- Jhailyn Ortiz
- Greg Pickett*
- Jake Sweaney
Starting Pitchers
- Ismael Cabrera
- Seranthony Dominguez
- Bailey Falter
- Nick Fanti
- Edgar Garcia
- Adonis Medina
- Felix Paulino
- William Stewart*
- Ranger Suarez*
The Bullpen
- Steiner Carmona
- Skylar Hunter
- Carlos Indriago
- Sutter McLoughlin
- Luis Morales
- Geudy Ortiz
- Oskerlly Sanchez*
- Anthony Sequiera
- Jeff Singer*
- Horace Stubblefield
- Gregory Infante
- Chris Leroux
- Jeremy Bleich
- Hoby Milner
Extended Spring Training Rehab
- Jimmy Cordero
- Frank Herrmann
- Yoervis Medina
- Brandon Leibrandt*
- Mark Leiter
- John Richy
- Andrew Anderson
- Scott Harris
- Austin Davis
- Derek Campbell
Day 4 of Spring Training 2016
It’s another beautiful day here in Baseball Land. The sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway…oh wait, Irving Berlin wrote that for White Christmas, but it is fitting here today.The cold weather is gone and it’s a picture perfect day.
Pitchers had throwing from the mound and catchers are taking BP from the coaches.
The only out of the ordinary thing that happened was that David Buchanan took a line drive “come-backer” off of his shoulder.
Catchers and some position players took batting practice:
The highlight of batting practice was watching Carlos Alonso. He returned to the field showing no ill-affects of last year’s season-ending injury. In fact, he hit two out of the park and missed a third by only a few inches.
That’s all from here in Clearwater, back at it again tomorrow!
Day Five of Spring Training 2015
Today was one of those day where there wasn’t a lot of things that were out of the ordinary going on. Pitchers and catchers took batting practice, did drills and ran. Position players took batting practice and did fielding drills. Ryan Howard reportedly was at Brighthouse taking batting practice, but we did not make it over there Later in the afternoon, there was some workouts/long tossing by the minor leaguers that have reported early.
I think that sometimes a picture can speak more than a lot of esoteric comments on what is going on. So I present some pictures….
Day Two of Phillies Spring Training 2015
Day two of spring dawned cold, so cold that records were broken throughout the Tampa Bay area. At our house in Dunedin, the temperatures when I woke up were at freezing.
Amazingly enough, by the time we got to the Carpenter Complex, t temperature was similar to yesterday’s temperature at 47°, but the wind had died down. It was a much more comfortable day.
I began the day watching the major-league pitchers in their PFPs.
I was happy to see my old friend Jesse Biddle on the mound. He looks good, confident and prepared for this season.
Adam Morgan was sharp and showed no sign of the shoulder injury that played him last summer. After making the play shown above, the coaches shouted, “Great play, Adam!”
Cole Hamels.
Justin DeFratus looked nimble.
We also ventured over to the half field next to Bright House stadium. Here, we saw Cody Asche and Darin Ruf taking ground balls.
Cody Asche
Darin Ruf
Baseball Ross and I stayed until The major-league players broke for lunch. Ross and I grabbed lunch ourselves then returned to catch the minor-league players who are already in camp practice. The pitchers have been throwing live batting practice to several of the position players who have reported early as well.
First thing we saw as we returned, was Roman Quinn working in the outfield. Moments later, he looked happy to be taking batting practice.
It was a much better day weather wise but we hurried home as today was “Tardy Mardi Gras” in Dunedin. Since the weather was horrid on Tuesday, the parade with more than 50 floats and tons of beads, doubloons, candy and toys was held tonight. It was a blast and I think I did rather well.
Tomorrow the weather is predicted to be in the 70s so here’s to better days.
Adam Morgan returns to the mound in Fall Instructional League Intra-Squad game
Today was one of the most beautiful days for baseball since spring training. As Baseball Ross and I took our seats under the overhang in the shade, we were pleasantly surprised when we saw Adam Morgan take the mound.
Morgan has been sidelined since last summer with a shoulder injury. He spent the better part of that year here in Clearwater rehabbing.
He looked good, seemed to have good control and his velocity seemed to build with every inning. Considering it’s been almost a year since he’s pitched in a competitive setting, it was quite an impressive return.
Here’s to hoping that next season will be his best yet.
It is the Spring of my Discontent
To paraphrase Steinbeck (and badly at that), it is the spring of my discontent. I love baseball, I do, but I’m so frustrated with it, so discontent.
There’s so many reasons…almost too many to count, but I’ll try.
1. The injury bug bit early, often and viciously. Roman Quinn, Jiwan James, Cole Hamels, Ethan Martin, Cameron Rupp, Kelly Dugan, Tommy Joseph, Mitch Walding, Adam Morgan, Hugo Arrocha, Josh Warner, Steven Inch, Nic Hanson, Chase Numata, Cory Bass, Darin Ruf, Rivar Angulo, Delvy Francisco, Mike Adams, Chris Bootcheck, Yoel Mecias, Anthony Phillips, Colin Klevin, Hoby Milner, Ryan Demmin, Aaron Altherr, Larry Greene, Zach Green, Brandon Short, Drew Anderson, Freddy Galvis, Andres Blanco and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez. These are the guys I can think of right off the top of my head! While some of them have returned or are scheduled to return, there are still others that have no timeframe for return.
2. It’s barely a month into the season and Tyson Gillies was suspended for three games for destroying a bat rack in the clubhouse. To me this is a symptom of a larger problem, both with Gillies and the entire system. Gillies is developing a reputation as a guy with anger management issues. Another example happened just two weeks ago here in Florida. Kevin Walter was unhappy with the way things were going during a game in Tampa. He left the field, stormed into the locker room behind the dugout and from where I was sitting I could hear him swearing and a loud thump as if something was either thrown or a table tipped over. Just after that another Thresher player came out of the locker room with a worried look on his face. He stopped another player from going into the locker room saying “You DON’T want to go in there!”
It also is a symptom of how players (and fans) are frustrated with the lack of production and success in the organization. (Read on to number 3 for an example.)
3. The lack of wins. The records speak for themselves:
Phillies 13-12
Iron Pigs 11-13
Fightins 11-10
Threshers 5-19
Lakewood 7-16
Of the five teams currently playing in the organization, only TWO are above .500 and both of those teams are only ONE GAME over.
4. Misusing players. I have a prime example of this and it’s the one that had me totally stymied. Last season, there was only ONE Gold Glove winner in the entire Phillies system, Carlos Alonso. Carlos played 2nd for the Threshers and only made TWO errors all YEAR. ALL YEAR. He was promoted to Reading (and rightly so) and where did they have this Gold Glove winning second baseman play? Third and THE OUTFIELD! Really?!? REALLY?!? I’d have loved to sit in on the coaches meeting where they thought up that gem.
5. Bad umpiring. Last night was the end-all, be-all of bad calls. If you read my Twitter feed last night, you could tell how I was seething. The Threshers had been losing (again) and had battled back and had the winning run was at the plate. Pete Lavin had homered earlier in the game to spark the comeback and had come close to a second homer after that. Lavin came to the plate and Bright House Field was buzzing with anticipation. One foul, two fouls, three fouls, four fouls, it was easy to see that Lavin was pushing hard to be the hero. On the final call he checked his swing and from where Ross and I were sitting (and I later confirmed with another season ticket holder with another point of view) we did NOT see him break his wrists and the bat head did not cross the plate. The home plate ump called him out and didn’t even call the base ump to confirm! The game was over! Lavin was livid. If you know Pete, you know he rarely says anything to an ump, he’s fairly laid back. Last night, Lavin walked after the ump to discuss the call. The ump just walked away.
At that point, Nelson Prada got involved. When he started he seemed more in disbelief that the home plate ump didn’t even check with the base ump. I was just turning to leave when I heard Prada go ballistic! (While I am “censoring” this he used the full words) “That’s F*ing BS! That’s a F*ing BS call!”
I have to say, I was right there with Prada. While I’ve been known to occasionally heckle an ump and sitting behind home is great for that, I do not swear. There’s kids and it’s just not “proper”. Last night was the closest I’ve ever come to losing my cool and joining Prada with F-bombing the ump. My blood boiled! To end a game on a bogus call and not even check with the base ump when the winning run was at the plate was just bogus. I was so frustrated and angry. It took me a good hour after the game to cool off. I don’t think I’ve ever been that angry at a game.
I must admit I’m still sort of angry, angry and discontent enough that if Ethan Stewart and Colin Kelvin (returning from the DL) were not pitching today and tomorrow, I wouldn’t go.
If you want to see me try to decide if I’ll go tonight, watch this video, it’s pretty accurate as to how I’m feeling…
Starting Thursday, the Threshers are on the road, so I’ll get a break then, but man, I’ll be dragging myself in tonight. It’ll almost be like trying to drag myself into work on a “Monday morning”.
Let’s hope that Stewart and Kleven use this misfortune as a jumping off point so that we do not end the first month of the season with only 5 wins. If they do, we would be on pace to go 25-115 (assuming they’d continue with winning 5 games a month).
Final Workout Group Posting
Here it is…
