Spring training is so close you can almost smell the freshly mowed grass at Bright House Field. As the days count down to Clearwater, we take a daily look at something related to the Phillies. Some days, it will be newsy, some days it will be lighter in nature, some days it will be a thought or quick opinionanything to get us in the mood for a little warmth, a little sunshine and those three sweet words: pitchers and catchers.
When Jamie Moyer was a Phillie he used to quietly slip over to Carpenter Complex every spring and speak to the organizations minor-league pitchers.
Moyer was an invited guest. Team officials used to like to have him address the organizations young pitchers on what it took to get toand stay inthe major leagues. Moyer barely mentioned talent. His message focused on perseverance, preparation, conditioning, attitude, mental edge and many of the other intangibles it takes to survive in the majors.
Moyer used to end his talks by poking fun at his age and mentioning how he was old enough to be a father to many of the pitchers. Then the forty-something pitcher would grow serious.
You know why Im still pitching in the majors? hed ask the group. Because none of you have taken my job. I invite every one of you to come take my job. Thats the way this game works.
Ive thought of Moyer and his message as the Phillies have made a flurry of signings recently. The Phils have added relievers Dontrelle Willis and Chad Qualls on big-league deals. Pitcher Joel Pineiro got a minor-league deal and so did outfielder Juan Pierre.
These signings, as well as earlier ones, have left some wondering whether club officials were taking away opportunities for younger players. Why not give lefty relievers Joe Savery and Jake Diekman a look instead of signing Willis? Why sign the righthander Qualls when right-handed relief pitching -- Phillippe Aumont, Justin De Fratus, Michael Schwimer and others -- is the organizations most advanced area of depth?
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Though these are legitimate questions, there is no problem with adding surplus talent, even to areas of depth. Opportunities are earned through performance. If a pitcher gets outs, he will get his chance. Look at Mike Stutes. He impressed team officials with his work last spring, but was sent to Triple A at the end of camp to work on his command of pitches and holding runners on base. He continued to impress at Triple A in April and was in the big leagues by the end of the month. Yes, a guy like Qualls got a big-league deal because the team felt it needed some experience in the eighth inning. But if he doesnt pitch well, and someone younger and less proven does, the more effective pitcher will eventually get his chance. None of these late signings were expensive -- Qualls got 1.15 million -- so the Phils dont have any great financial obligation to stick with one of these guys if they are not doing the job. If Justin De Fratus or Phillippe Aumont is dealing in Triple A, he will find his way to the majors.
Teams like the Phillies sign a surplus of depth at this time of year because there are many innings to fill in spring training and a lot of talent evaluators assembled in one spot. There is a full months worth of exhibition games in March. Some days, there are two games, either a split-squad game or a B game. Once minor-league camp gets rolling, there are four more games, plenty of innings to get people the opportunities they need to impress someone and, as Moyer used to say, work toward taking someones job.
At last check, the Phillies will have 57 players in camp, 18 on non-roster contracts. Some of these non-roster players were signed to help at Triple A, where the Phils are thin on prospects, and an invite to big-league camp was incentive for the players to sign with the club. Some of these non-roster players will be let go in March, some will help the Triple A club, as Brandon Moss did last year, and others will help in the majors, as Pete Orr did last year. Some could even become currency that could be used in a trade.
So dont fret all these fringe signings that the Phillies have made recently. Depth is a good thing. It creates competition. It pushes people. The ones who perform well get the opportunities. That, in essence, is what Jamie Moyer used to tell Phillies minor-league pitchers.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com