DUNEDIN, Fla. — Outside of closer frontrunner David Hernandez and veteran right-hander Jeanmar Gomez — who both have guaranteed, one-year major-league deals — there are literally no locks in the Phillies' bullpen.
Not former closers Andrew Bailey and Ernesto Frieri, not Luis Garcia, not Elvis Araujo, not anyone else who pitched in relief for the Phils in 2015. This camp is all about competition and the most competition is taking place in the bullpen.
Among the lefties, there's nobody who really stands out as the frontrunner. Araujo had a 3.38 ERA in 40 appearances for the Phillies last season, but that was his rookie year and we all know how volatile relievers' performances can be from year to year. Stuff-wise, there was nothing about Araujo that screamed dominant situational lefty. In fact, on Saturday, he allowed a two-run home run to left-handed hitting Michael Saunders.
That's why it's so important for someone like Bobby LaFromboise to make a strong first impression. And so far, he has. The side-winding lefty threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts Saturday to give him three scoreless frames on the spring.
Manager Pete Mackanin likes what he sees from LaFromboise (pronounced La-fromm-boyce) so far.
"The one thing that's impressive to me is the funk that he has," Mackanin said. "When you bring guys in to face a lefty, he's got a good enough breaking ball — he struck a lefty out with a changeup (Saturday). That kind of deception, I like to see that. There's a ton of pitchers that have your basic fastball-slider-changeup combo, but when you do that, you have to be really good with your command. If you're not, you get hit.
"A guy like LaFromboise, and we've seen (Brett) Oberholtzer and (Daniel) Stumpf the other day, you can get away with a changeup right down the middle of the plate because the deception of the pitch upsets the hitter's timing. It's gonna be interesting. It's gonna be fun trying to decide."
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Hitters talk all the time about the effect that funk, herky-jerky motions and deceptiveness have on their timing. Being robotic and perfectly mechanical may be easier on a pitcher's arm, but it also helps the hitter diagnose the pitch out of his hand better and gives him less to focus on during his load. So as long as he continues to pitch well, don't underestimate the impact that LaFromboise's sidearm, slinging delivery may have on his chances of making the team.
Oberholtzer is a candidate for the 'pen if he doesn't win the fifth starter's job. Stumpf is a Rule 5 pick. There's also Araujo and non-roster invitee James Russell. (Adam Morgan is likely ticketed for the Triple A rotation.) Of that group, Russell has by far the most major-league experience with 387 appearances, mostly with the Cubs.
One would assume at least two left-handed relievers will make the Phillies' opening day roster, unless there are just so many righties impressing.
But it's all wide open and Mackanin is enjoying working from scratch.
"Wide open. We’re looking at everybody. That’s the beauty of this spring training," Mackanin said. "Last year, we got a look at our young guys. It was the type of year we were able to do that and build from there. This year, we’re looking at all of these new faces and getting an idea.
"We’ve only been in a week’s worth of games. I’m real happy with the fact that I’m seeing a lot of players, a lot of pitchers. I don’t expect anybody to be really good at this point. If you’re really good either swinging the bat good or pitching really well, you know, it’s still a long spring. So whether you start fast or slow, it’s not that important. What’s important is the middle to the end of spring, that’s when we get down to the nitty gritty."