Biggest Winners and Losers of Phillies' First Week of Games

With just a week's worth of spring training games in the books. it is far too soon to formulate a realistic opinion of any one player. But it is never too soon for a player to make a good impression. Of course, it's never too soon for a player to make a bad impression either. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have had their share of good and bad moments early in the spring, and we'll take a look at some of its early winners and losers in the following slides. With that in mind, however, a word of caution: Don't read too deeply into spring stats. 

For most players on this roster, the spring is a time of preparation, not competition. Veteran players and most pitchers are trying to fine-tune themselves for the regular season and are not focused on putting up good numbers. 

But there is more to it than that. It's about how certain players look and feel during the spring as well. For the Phillies, a lot will have to fall in their direction this upcoming season. How certain players look and feel during the first week of the spring could go a long way. 

Here are the early winners and losers. 

Loser: Jonathan Pettibone

With John Lannan all but guaranteed to be the fifth starter in the Phillies' starting rotation when the club heads north, it was going to take a spectacular performance to force him out of the job. One of the few names capable of doing it was Jonathan Pettibone. 

Before the Phillies made the decision to sign Lannan over the offseason, Pettibone was a favorite for the job after going 13-8 with a 3.10 ERA combined at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley last season, including a 4-1 stint in Triple-A late in the season. 

Things have not gone so well for Pettibone in his first official appearance of the spring, however. The Atlanta Braves tagged him for three hits and four runs over two innings, including a pair of home runs. 

Pettibone isn't losing much here because he was a long shot to make the club in any case. But now he is almost guaranteed a return trip to Triple-A.

Winner: Carlos Ruiz

It's kind of hard to call Carlos Ruiz a "winner" knowing that he'll be suspended for the season's first 25 games following a second positive test for the banned amphetamine Adderall. But once again, Ruiz is showing that he can be one of this club's best hitters. 

Ruiz has appeared in three games this spring, going 3-for-7 with a walk and four RBI. 

The Phillies catcher will be on somewhat of a mission this spring. Not only will he have to prove that his 2012 season was not a fluke, but he'll have to prove that he is worthy of a contract extension if he wants to remain in Philadelphia. Ruiz will be a free agent at season's end.

Loser: Michael Young

Michael Young can really help the Phillies out as a one-year, stopgap third baseman. Unfortunately for both he and the club, his Grapefruit League debut hasn't gone very smoothly. 

The Phillies acquired Young on the cheap this offseason when they dealt relievers Josh Lindblom and Lisalverto Bonilla to the Texas Rangers, who also paid $10 million of the third baseman's salary. 

The hope is that he can make all of the routine plays defensively at third base and give the lineup a quality, right-handed bat. 

So far this spring, though, neither of those hopes have played out. Young has slumped out of the gate, going 0-for-8 with a walk. He has also played a below-average third base.  

The early prediction is that both of these things will improve with some repetition. 

Winner: Cliff Lee

Statistically speaking, the best member of the Phillies' rotation from a year ago was not the man who won 17 games and signed a mammoth contract extension. Rather, it was the one that had his payday a few winters ago, Cliff Lee. 

His record may not have shown it, but Lee was a strike-throwing machine in 2012, and that helped place him among the most valuable starting pitchers in baseball. With that in mind, he picked right up where he left off in his first start of the spring. 

Facing the Detroit Tigers, Lee tossed two shutout innings, striking out two and walking just one. 

The Phillies need their big three starting pitchers to pitch at full effectiveness if they want to have a shot at winning the division this season.

Loser: Jonathan Papelbon

The Phillies want Jonathan Papelbon to lead by example in what should be a relatively inexperienced bullpen this upcoming season, and this was certainly not the start they would have liked him to have. 

Papelbon, who has gained a reputation for poor results in non-save situations, was shelled for six runs and five hits in less than an inning's worth of work in his first appearance of the spring. He did, however, strikeout two batters, but he also walked two. 

Needless to say, watching your closer implode in his first game of the spring can be a bit unnerving. But if there is one guy that the Phillies shouldn't worry about when push comes to shove, it's Papelbon.

Winner: Roy Halladay

There were plenty of nails being chewed to the root in Philadelphia during the spring's second game as nervous fans anxiously awaited an updated on the health and effectiveness of one Roy Halladay. 

If you take the word of an opponent on that day—Detroit Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter—Halladay was in midseason form (h/t Philadelphia Daily News, Ryan Lawrence):

"

The sinker, the cutter, hitting the outside corner. Yeah he was there. No doubt. I mean, we had no chance. He looks like he’s already ready. It’s my second spring game, everything looks hard. He was filthy.

"

That is certainly good news for the prospects of a strong Phillies' rotation this season. Halladay, who struck out two batters in two innings of work and allowed a solo home run in his first appearance, will have a large say in whether or not the Phillies contend for a division title.

Loser: Raul Valdes

One of the unsung heroes in the Phillies' bullpen last season was left-handed reliever Raul Valdes, who was signed as a minor league free agent and made his Phillies debut early in the season. 

Valdes quickly became one of the club's more consistent relievers before suffering a knee injury late in the season that would require offseason surgery. 

With a clouded bullpen picture waiting for him in spring training, Valdes is one of those players that would need to perform exceptionally well to make the cut. He sputtered out of the starting gate, however, allowing two earned runs on four hits in his first inning of work this spring.  

Winner: Cole Hamels

This has to be a fun time for Cole Hamels. Just months after signing a six-year, $144 million contract extension to remain a member of this starting rotation, the Phillies have positioned him to lead the charge on Opening Day. 

All eyes will be on the Phillies' new "ace of aces" this spring, and so far, so good. Hamels has tossed five innings so far, allowing one unearned run and five hits while striking out six and showing off his command as he has yet to walk a batter.

The good ol' "eye test" confirmed those sterling early-spring numbers as well. Hamels' fastball/changeup combination had members of the young Houston Astros and the rival Atlanta Braves swinging and missing often.

Loser: Justin De Fratus

Spring training isn't often a good measuring stick to judge a player's performance because small sample sizes can lead to ugly numbers. But Justin De Fratus has not made a good impression early in the preseason. 

After missing most of last season with an injury, many people expected De Fratus to come into camp and all but solidify his role in the major league bullpen. Now, he'll have some work to do if he wants to reverse his fortunes. 

De Fratus has allowed five earned runs in just three innings this season, allowing six hits, walking three and striking out none. 

Again, it is early in the spring, and I still believe that De Fratus makes the cut. He's one of the most talented relievers that the Phillies have in camp. He'll need to start retiring some batters to fulfill that prophecy, however.

Winners: Kevin Frandsen and Freddy Galvis

The average age of the Phillies' four starting infielders heading into the 2013 season is 34. To keep all of these players fresh throughout the season, the Phillies will have to give them plenty of breaks. It isn't easy getting old. 

If approached from that perspective, and given that outfielder Delmon Young will not be ready for the start of the regular season, keeping two utility infielders on the roster suddenly seems like a solid idea. 

Kevin Frandsen and Freddy Galvis are doing their best this spring to ensure that this is a theory that sticks. 

Frandsen has five hits in 13 plate appearances early in the spring, including a double and a home run. Galvis, who hasn't gotten off to as hot a start as he would like defensively, has still played well in the field while going 4-for-12 at the plate.

Loser: Mike Stutes

Mike Stutes has been on a depth-chart free fall since making his MLB debut back in 2011. After stabilizing the bullpen for a short time, Stutes' inconsistency has made him an intriguing but frustrating option for the Phillies ever since.

He was then saddled with a tough shoulder injury that would eventually require surgery and force him to miss most of the 2012 season. 

So Stutes has been one to watch early in 2013. He has the potential to force his way into the Phillies' bullpen if he can prove that he is ready to face MLB hitters. 

His first appearance of the spring gave no such indication, however. Stutes was hit hard, surrendering two runs on one hit while walking two and striking out no one. It should be noted that all three of his outs were well-struck as well. 

More likely than not, the Phillies will be sending Stutes back to Triple-A to build some momentum before bringing him back to MLB.

Winner: Phillippe Aumont

Phillippe Aumont has made just one appearance this spring, but with other relievers floundering early in camp, the Phillies will be happy to see Aumont excel. 

Again, it was just one inning, but Aumont looked good. His pitches had good life and movement to them, and he retired his first three batters of the spring rather effortlessly. 

That's something that the Phillies will need out of Aumont. With Jonathan Papelbon and Mike Adams also aboard, you can make the case that there are three relievers with "closer potential" in this bullpen.

Loser: Darin Ruf

This isn't the start that most fans had envisioned for 2012 home run sensation Darin Ruf. 

The Phillies, who failed to add a significant upgrade in either corner outfield position this offseason, cling to the hope that Ruf can learn to play a passable left field while providing some big time right-handed power at the plate. 

So far this season, Ruf has done neither of those things. 

The biggest cause for concern is his sloppy defense in the outfield. While he has committed just a pair of errors, they were the kind of errors that get the circus music on the bloopers reel.

Ruf has also gotten off to a slow start at the plate, going 0-for-10 before registering back-to-back singles against the Atlanta Braves. 

It still seems as though the Phillies are intent on giving Ruf a shot to play left field. After missing a few games with arm soreness, he'll be one to keep an eye on throughout the month of March.

Winner: Chase Utley

Chase Utley isn't going to lead the Grapefruit League in games played this spring, but getting on the field at all in the month of February makes the Phillies second baseman a winner early in the preseason. 

After missing the last two springs with a chronically degenerative knee condition known as chondromalacia, Utley made his return to Grapefruit League action this spring—as good a sign as any that the fan favorite is healthy. 

Utley has appeared in three games, going 3-for-6 with a walk, strikeout and RBI. 

With the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves having improved over the offseason, the Phillies will need a healthy Utley to play a full season if they have any dream of recapturing that NL East crown.

Loser: B.J. Rosenberg

Each spring, the Phillies seem to find a reliever who pitches well enough to garner consideration for a spot in the bullpen. With a few spots (potentially) up for grabs this spring, such a reliever could realistically make the club. 

That man will not be B.J. Rosenberg. 

After making his MLB debut in 2012, Rosenberg arrived at camp on the outside looking in with the opportunity to force his way into the bullpen with a strong spring.

He's not off to a good start. 

Through three innings, Rosenberg has allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits. He has walked three and struck out none. 

The fact of the matter here is that a guy like Rosenberg had to do everything right this spring to have a shot at making the club. He is likely ticketed for Triple-A.

Winner: Ryan Howard

The Phillies missed Ryan Howard's bat in the middle of their lineup last season, both when he was on the disabled list and when he returned, as it quickly became clear that he was not entirely healthy. 

In fact, it hasn't been until early this spring that we have gotten the sense that Howard is still able to be that above-average power threat in the middle of the order. 

Through six games, Howard is 8-for-15 with three doubles, two walks, three strikeouts and five RBI. 

Though it may not seem this way so early in the preseason, receiving production out of Howard in a manner other than the home run is a sign that the Phillies first baseman is healthy. They'll need him to supply the power, however, and hang in their against tough lefties to score runs. 

Loser: John Mayberry Jr.

What's left for John Mayberry Jr. as a member of the Phillies? 

After several chances to land a starting job on the roster, Mayberry has fallen on the depth chart to the point where, with two corner outfield positions open, he isn't a favorite for either one. 

Mayberry hasn't done much to help his own cause this spring either. The right-handed slugger is just 2-for-11 with three strikeouts and a walk, though it should be noted that both of his hits were for extra bases, including a home run. 

Mayberry needed to reinvent a name for himself this spring, however. If push comes to shove, how much of an argument would be made to keep him on the roster at this point? 

Winner: Domonic Brown

After spending the last few months searching for a corner outfielder to give this club some offensive support, have the Phillies finally found their man? More specifically, are the Phillies finally ready to unleash Domonic Brown into a full-time role? 

That will certainly be the case as long as Brown has his way, and he hasn't done anything to make people think any differently this spring. 

Early on in the Grapefruit League slate, Brown has arguably been the Phillies' best hitter. He is 5-for-12 with a double and three walks and has destroyed a couple of baseballs for home runs. He's also struck out just once and has driven in three runs. 

Brown has all of the potential in the world. If the spring is a sign of things to come, the Phillies have themselves quite the outfielder. Of course, he'll need the opportunity to play full-time to make things happen.