PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – At the midpoint of the Grapefruit League schedule, the Phillies still have a slew of decisions to make in the bullpen.
Picking a closer is a big one.
David Hernandez, the presumed closer coming into camp, is working his way back from a sore right triceps. He believes he will be ready for opening day (see story), but is not guaranteed the job even if he is.
Manager Pete Mackanin is not in favor of going the closer-by-committee route.
“We don’t need (a set guy), but we’d like to have one,” he said. “We’d like to be able to say, ‘This is our guy.’ We’re still in the process of trying to figure that out.”
Whether it’s as closer or not, non-roster invite Andrew Bailey is making a good impression to win a spot in the bullpen. He struck out all three batters he faced in an inning of work against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Bailey spotted his low-90s fastball well and used his cutter/slider effectively.
So far this spring, Bailey has pitched four scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He has not walked a batter and struck out five.
“Bailey looks awfully good,” Mackanin said. “He has a great attitude and a good demeanor on the mound. He throws strikes.”
Bailey, 31, is a South Jersey native from Paul VI High School. He was the American League rookie of the year (2009) and a two-time All-Star during his time with the Oakland A’s. His career was derailed by shoulder problems, but he’s healthy now — “ready to rock,” as he said — and looking to re-establish himself with the Phillies after getting back to the majors with the Yankees late last season.
Bailey certainly has the experience to handle the closer role if the Phillies went with him, but his goal is more general than that. He’s on a minor-league contract and first wants to make the team.
“They signed me to compete and I feel like I’ve put myself in position to see what happens at the end of camp,” Bailey said. “The goal is to control what you can control and that’s getting outs, working hard and doing your job. We’ll see what happens the next couple of weeks.
“I think early on (in your career) you get a little near-sighted with (being a closer). Obviously, everybody wants to close, but I think coming back from the surgery I just want the opportunity to be part of the team and be a guy they can rely on in the bullpen in whatever role it is and whatever role I fit it.”
The Phillies still have almost three weeks to pick a closer.
“We're going to have to decide the last week of spring training,” Mackanin said. “We'll come up with somebody. Whoever it is may not be a premier closer, but you never know, he might be a good closer.”
The game
The Phillies won, 5-2, to improve to 11-4-2 on the spring.
Non-roster invite Cedric Hunter, bidding for a job as an extra outfielder, followed up Monday’s three-hit game with a solo homer.
Aaron Nola had his best start of the spring. He pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed six hits and two runs, walked none and struck out five. Nola showed a good sweeping breaking ball. He allowed a home run on a hanging changeup. He’s been working on the pitch this spring.
Injury report
Non-roster Reliever Yoervis Medina injured his right elbow in the ninth inning and had to leave the game.
“He felt a pop,” Mackanin said. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”
Transactions
The Phillies optioned pitchers Alec Asher and David Buchanan to Triple A. Asher and Buchanan were extreme long shots to make the starting rotation. That race is between Vince Velasquez, Adam Morgan and Brett Oberholtzer.
Up next
The Phillies have their one off day of the spring Wednesday. They resume play Thursday in Clearwater against the Rays. Velasquez will start that game.