Breaking news: Phillies finalize division series roster

As expected, the Phils will carry 11 pitchers, including J.A. Happ and excluding Rudy Seanez, and So Taguchi makes the team as a bat off the bench.

(From a Phillies news release): Reliever Rudy Seanez and catcher Lou Marson are not on the roster, but will travel with the team. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick, infielders Mike Cervenak and Andy Tracy and outfielder Greg Golson have reported to Clearwater, Fla., and will participate in the Florida Instructional League program to stay sharp. Pitchers Adam Eaton and Les Walrond and infielder Tadahito Iguchi have returned to their respective homes.

Beerleaguer: That part about “respective homes” is to avoid any confusion in case you thought Eaton was going to Walrond’s place, Iguchi would crash at Eaton’s and Walrond would board a plane to Tokyo. Actually, Japan would be a fine idea for Les, although with the way he retired lefties the other day, and with the season the left-hander had in AAA, the Phils could extend a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. Iguchi didn't have much purpose in his second stint with the Phils. His career is on life support.

No surprises with the roster. The bench will include Matt Stairs, Geoff Jenkins, Taguchi, Eric Bruntlett, hopefully Pedro Feliz and not Greg Dobbs in today’s game and Chris Coste. The Phils give Marson a nice surprise by keeping him along for the ride. The charismatic Seanez will lend moral support to the bullpen.

Comments

[The Theory]

I got a good laugh at the "respective homes" bit.

[Matt]

I found it quite odd to see Adam Eaton wearing goggles and spraying champagne on Saturday. Why? What have you contributed to this team in a positive way, Adam? You've made $8 million each of the past two years and been left off the post-season roster in each.

It makes me wonder what his teammates think of him, and what his role will be next year.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Matt,

Maybe he bought the champagne. If you buy it, you can spray it. Oh, and technically, he's a "Phillie.

[Steve Jeltz]

They should dock Eaton's paycheck for $30 for the NL East champions hat and shirt.

[John]

Eaton pitched decently at the beginning of the year. Yes, he's a bum. Yes, his contract is ridiculous. Yes, I wish this was his last year with the team.

But he did contribute something. Not much, but something.

[BobbyD]

John Donnovan today on SI.com:

"The Phils topped the NL in home runs with 214, though that's mainly a function of smallish Citizens Bank Park."

This bandbox thing is becoming more overblown than snowballs at the fat guy. In 2008, the Phils hit 109 HR's at home and 105 on the road. Pat Burrell hit 12 HR's at home, and 21 on the road. Is it really that tough for a reporter to do a little research?

[Jack]

Clout- What was your Stairs prediction?

[Bubba]

Blues Brothers-Closing down Bob's Country Bunker--
"You don't have to go home but you can't stay here"

[Matt]

No BobbyD, much like the political press, sports journalists have their storylines and scripts and they almost never deviate from them. Ergo, David Eckstein is a great player, Dusty Baker still has a job, and the Phillies hit lots of home runs because of their ballpark.

Can you tell I read Fire Joe Morgan?

[J. Weitzel]

The Phils has a very short leash with Eaton once he started going south. But you're right, he lasted longer than I thought, and for a while, was getting quality starts with regularity.

[Willard Preacher]

"They should dock Eaton's paycheck for $30 for the NL East champions hat and shirt."

Truer words have never been spoken. I'm hoping they have a restraining order against him even showing up at CBP. At his "respective home" watching TBS is precisely where I want him right now.

[bob]

BobbyD - Could care less about what Donovan or other reporters, or opposing hitters think about whether CBP is a bandbox. If it gets opposing hitters out of their normal swing to hit fly balls, the phillies pitchers should (and have to some extent) take advantage of that. That said, I doubt informed players who do research really think that. I believe it was Smoltz and Piniella who both noted that the Phils are dangerous longball hitters in any ballpark and that CBP is not really that much of an advantage over other average ballparks.

[NCPhilly]

The charismatic Seanez... love it.

[Bubba]

Willard- I think Adam Eaton is more likely on the phone with his investment guy than watching Baseball

[QuakeShow]

Bubba:

Does that mean we can blame the market crash on Eaton, too?

[Willard Preacher]

Good point Bubba. Considering the performance, it's probably a safe assumption that baseball hasn't been on AE's mind for quite some time.

[GM-Carson]

This bandbox bullshit is old already. The Brick Cit House isn't a pitchers park, and can still be considered a hitters park, but it's no bandbox. The Phillies power guys can go deep any where any time, so shut the f**k up you dumbass no-nothing reporters!

[mike cunningham]

@jeltz -- Awesome: "They should dock Eaton's paycheck for $30 for the NL East champions hat and shirt"

[Bubba]

Quake- Jason won't allow no politicking during playoff on the site & in support of his position I will forgo any blame setting on the issue until after Howard & Thome square off in the World Series.

[8thandpine]

anyone know the lineup? - i thought i just heard on WIP that Stairs was starting in right field... did i hear correctly?

p.s. F**k Adam Eaton. Beerleaguer posters have more of a right to celebrate on the field than that guy.

[Mark]

Donovan, besides being lazy, is sloppy. "Mainly a function of CBP"? What does that mean? Of the 214 homers hit, the majority are ball-park created? Are we talking 2/3rds? 3/5ths? But surely without CBP the Phillies would have definitely hit <107? Obviously that's absurd, but what else could "mainly" mean?

[GM-Carson]

From Zolecki:
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan spoke minutes ago about Pat Burrell's strained lower back, which could keep him from Game 1 of the NLDS.

Sheridan said Burrell "felt significantly better after batting practice yesterday. ... Obviously, this morning we got here at 8 and started working on him. He feels pretty good. We're going to progress him along after batting practice and see how he feels and go from there." Manuel has two different lineups, in case Burrell can't play. Matt Stairs will start in right field with Jayson Werth moving to left field, if Burrell can't go.

Sheridan said running or fielding isn't an issue for Burrell. Hitting is. They want to be careful because Burrell could make the back worse. Manuel mentioned that it probably is more important that Burrell be ready to face lefthander CC Sabathia tomorrow than righthander Yovani Gallardo today.

*I say sit Burrell, don't risk further injury. I think Stairs will come up big today in his place.

[bay_area_phan]

Bubba: From the last thread . . . my surprise was not that Eaton was left off the roster. Obviously, he doesn't belong on the 25-man roster; that's not even a question. My surprise was that he doesn't even get to travel with the team, the way Seanez does.

Not that I have a problem with the decision. Why should the guy get a free trip to Milwaukee and a nice hotel room, at team expense?

[8thandpine]

So what's the lineup without Burrell? anyone with ideas?

victorino batting 2nd or 6th?

[Bubba]

Carson- does that mean they can use Pat the Bat as a pinch runner and defensive replacement for Stairs in the 8th inning??

[Bonehead]

Curious as to why Cholly prefers Stairs in RF, Werth in LF. He still does a few too many things that leaves one shaking one's head.

[Brian G]

"Sheridan said running or fielding isn't an issue for Burrell."

I strongly disagree.

[Bubba]

BAP- From the use Eaton got since his return to the club- I think Charley doesn't even want to see him.

[thephaithful]

Brian G: Haha yeah I would have disagree as well. What Sheridan meant to say was: "PatB's running and fielding are already as bad as you get, so the back wont have any affect"

Maybe a "tweak" to his back is what he needs, sicne he's hitting a ripe ol buckninety since August.

[Bonehead]

Okay. Its approaching 2:00. Need to start scoping my escape route from the office.

[bob]

Brian G: lol. also - if burrell is walking around "gingerly", how could his back not affect his running and fielding?

[thephaithful]

bonehead: i'm with you on that one. And of course its been quiet all morning, so i know im going to get bombarded with work the second I try to get the Fk outta here.

[Durbinator]

Send Eaton home for good!

Invite Walrond and Iguchi to Spring Training on minor league deals. They would be decent depth at AAA.

[8thandpine]

today's lineup

rollins
werth
utley
howard
burrell
victorino
feliz
ruiz
hamels

[clout]

Jack: I said every post-season there's a fringe player who winds up having a big series. My candidate is Stairs. He should start over Jenkins.

[Mike B]

i guess if Marson had a little more experience, he would be considered for a roster spot?? Surprised Charlie didn't want the flexibility to pinch-hit for Ruiz, or, even more creatively, start one of the other catchers, bring Ruiz in later...