Earlier today, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins and Ruben Amaro Jr. all held press conferences starting at 11:30.
Tomorrow, Charlie Manuel will address the media to answer more questions on a struggling offense among other things that went wrong last week in the Phils NLDS exit to the Cardinals in five games.
Along with the press conferences, a series of other small updates occurred today.
-You can read about Rollins’ presser and some Amaro comments here.
-Victorino discussed disappointment in his press conference. He also talked about the Phils offense and how he knows that Manuel won’t want to change anything about their approach to hitting.
-Amaro’s comments can be read on CSN Philly. To summarize, he challenged Manuel and hitting coach Greg Gross to do a better job with the offense. He also didn’t go into any detail on negotiations – nothing unusual – with Rollins, starting pitcher Cole Hamles and closer Ryan Madson. He did express that he would like to have all three back.
-Speaking of Madson, Amaro said that if he can’t sign Madson, he will look for a closer via free agency. That means he won’t fill the spot internally and therefor meaning reliever Antonio Bastardo is still an 8th-inning guy.
-Amaro also wants out fielder Domonic Brown to spend a full season in Lehigh Valley. The prospect is still very rough around the edges as a hitter and his fielding needs to drastically improve, especially if he’s going to make the switch from right field to left.
-Third baseman Placido Polanco had double sports hernia surgery. Right fielder Hunter Pence had hernia surgery as well. Hamels will have loose bodies removed from his left elbow. All were known prior to the press conference.
-First baseman Ryan Howard will be seeking second opinions on his ruptured left Achilles’ tendon. He will have surgery that will keep him sidelined at least four months. Amaro said he hopes to have Howard back in the lineup sometime in April, a much better date than the originally rumored May-June timeline.
-Outfielder/first baseman John Mayberry Jr. is the favorite to be the Phillies starting left fielder next season with Raul Ibanez as a free agent. He could also see some time at first base with Howard’s injury.
-Amaro on starting pitcher Roy Oswalt’s status with his $16 million option for next year: “We’re still discussing that internally. We’ve made no final decision on his situation. He is still one of the better starting pitchers in baseball. We have to make a decision on that, maybe a tough one.”
-Paul Hagen of the Philly Daily News tweeted: Rumor that Orioles are interested in Phillies Scott Proefrock for GM opening, but Baltimore hasn’t asked for permission to talk to him yet.
-AA Reading Phils manager Mark Parent was hired as the bench coach for the Chicago White Sox. The Sox recently named Robin Ventura their manager to replace Ozzie Guillen, who is now at the reigns in Miami.
TTB 