Down On The Farm, 2011 Edition

Phillies signed 32 year old Joe Thurston to a minor league deal to add infield depth at AAA.  He had played in the Phillies organization in 2006 & 2007.  Spent 2009 with St. Louis Cardinals where he played in 124 games (3B, 2B, LF), hitting .225
2011 @ New Orleans:  .300-13
2010 @ Gwinnett:  .273-13
2008 @ Pawtucket: .316-11

This signing may mean Pete Orr and/or Hector Luna are making the Phillies 25 man roster.

Trivia:  When Chase Utley got hit by a pitch and went on the DL in July, 2007 Joe Thurston was called up from Ottawa to take his place.  2 days later he was replaced on the Phillies roster by Tadahito Iguchi and Thurston was sent back to Ottawa without ever getting in a game.  Joe did get 18 at bats with the Phillies in 2006 but 267 of his 337 big league at bats came with the 2009 Cardinals. 

Marlins released Aaron Rowand.

Juan Pierre makes the Phillies 25 man roster.  Erik Kratz was sent to Lehigh Valley and Lou Montanez & Tuffy Gosewisch were told they won't make the Phillies but will remain in big league camp for now.   Scott Podsednik, Hector Luna and Pete Orr are still in the running for a spot with the Phillies.  2 of them should make it if the Phillies go with 11 pitchers instead of 12.   Mike Stutes and Jose Contreras apparently will be staying in Florida when the team moves north.  

Phillies traded Matt Rizzotti to the Twins for cash considerations.

Phillies signed Andrés Blanco to a minor league deal after he opted out and was released by the Nationals.   The 28 year old middle infielder has played in the major leagues with the Royals (04-06), White Sox (09), and Rangers ('10-'11). 

Keeping in mind that guys like Podsednik, Orr, and Luna are still with the big club, this is how the 2012 Ironpigs Roster currently looks:  (this is only 22 for the 25 spots)

Pitchers
Phillippe Aumont
Dave Bush
Tom Cochran
Jake Diekman
Scott Elarton
Jeremy Horst
Austin Hyatt
Pat Misch
David Purcey
Brian Sanches
Michael Schwimer

Catchers:
Erik Kratz
Tuffy Gosewisch
John Suomi

Infielders:
Andres Blanco
Kevin Frandsen
Cody Overbeck
Joe Thurston

Outfielders:
Domonic Brown
Derrick Mitchell
Luis "Lou" Montanez
Rich Thompson

I am in shock over the Phillies release of pitcher Eric Pettis today.   The 23 year old right-handed relief pitcher was a low round draft pick in the 2010 draft out of Cal-Irvine.  He was assigned to Williamsport after being drafted and went 8-0 1.37, 7 Saves with 67 strikeouts in 59 innings, earning a promotion to Lakewood for the postseason.   He started 2011 at Lakewood and was 0-1 1.23 with 2 Saves in 10 games when he was promoted to Clearwater.   In 37 games with the Threshers, he went 2-2 3.27 with 3 Saves, allowed 50 hits in 55 innings, & struck out 46 while walking just 12. 
Eric Pettis is a good guy.  He was always willing to talk on twitter and his blog was one of the most thoughtful and well written blogs by a baseball player that I've ever seen.  He wrote a book that is available for Kindle through amazon.com called "Just A Minor Perspective: Through The Eyes of a Minor League Rookie" about his first year in minor league baseball.   

This one caught me totally by surprise.  Sometimes I just don't understand how a team decides who to keep and who to let go.   

Just realized that pitcher Nate Bump is not on the Ironpigs roster.  He was in the Ironpigs starting rotation the past 2 years and was an International League allstar in 2010.   A little research revealed an article by Ironpigs beat writer Jeff Schuler which said Bump was released.   Opening night starter will be Dave Bush.  

I am in shock over the Phillies release of pitcher Eric Pettis today.

Nice interview with Eric regarding his release at  http://phoulballz.com/ 

This was the part I found most interesting:

PhoulBallz: You fielded some questions on Twitter about this, but for those that don't know, what reasons were you given for the release?

EP: I was told that it was strictly a "numbers thing". The organization was really backed up with relievers this year and they "decided to go younger". They told me that "I've done well" and that their decision had nothing to do with anything I had done this spring.


PhoulBallz:  Do you feel there was more to it? And can you elaborate?

EP:  I don't know if I can say there was more to it, but I certainly don't buy their explanation. If what they told me was 100% true, then many more who were in a similar situation would have been cut as well. I think it boils down to my skill-set not fitting into the plan of the new man in charge (Joe Jordan, director of player development).