Phillies re-assign a bunch to minor league camp

[all4phillysportsfan]

The Official Site of The Philadelphia Phillies: News: Philadelphia Phillies News

Notes: Roberson sent to Minors
Outfielder among 14 demoted from big-league camp
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

The Phils see Chris Roberson as a Major Leaguer, but want to see more improvement. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Phillies Headlines




CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The day Chris Roberson feared arrived sooner than expected, as the outfielder became one of 14 Phillies who were victims of the spring's first roster reduction.
On Monday, Roberson and pitcher Anderson Garcia were optioned to Minor League camp, while catchers Tim Gradoville, Jason Hill, Jason Jaramillo and Lou Marson, infielder Andrew Beattie, outfielders Lou Collier and Greg Golson, and pitchers Jim Crowell, John Ennis, Jeff Farnsworth and Brian Mazone were reassigned to the Minor League complex.

Yoel Hernandez, who last month was removed from the 40-man roster, was reassigned to Minor League camp. The Phillies' roster now stands at 46 players.

By demoting Roberson this early, the Phils sent a message that they wanted to see improvement from the 27-year-old, who hit .195 in 41 at-bats over 57 games last season in Philadelphia. He went hitless in 10 spring at-bats and had made some fundamental mistakes.

"I still see him making mistakes he made three and four years ago," said Mike Arbuckle, the team's assistant general Manager of scouting and player development. "He can't continue to do that. It's a matter of focus and consistency. He's got an opportunity to come back [to the Minors] and play every day. He can play in the big leagues, but there comes a point where he has to show us he's ready, or show 29 other clubs that he's ready.

"We feel like some guys have outplayed him over here and realistically, he's not in the hunt to make that 25th spot," Arbuckle said. "We've got some other guys who have played better. We were honest with him. We told him that he has to be more consistent in his game. He has good ability and good tools, but still makes too many mistakes."

At 27, Roberson sees the crossroads. Though he didn't play baseball until his teens -- playing mostly basketball -- he felt he was making progress. He hit .307 at Class A Clearwater (2004), .311 at Double-A Reading ('05), and .292 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ('06).

Then came the .195 with the Phillies, and the 0-for-10 this spring. He has been outplayed by Michael Bourn, Karim Garcia and Greg Dobbs, who are also competing for a roster spot. The organization sees Roberson as a fourth outfielder type, and wants a more sound player.

With one Minor League option remaining, Roberson get a chance to reassert himself in the eyes of the organization. He was given the day off Monday, and Arbuckle expects him to report on Tuesday. Roberson has 72 hours to decide. If he doesn't report to the Minor League complex, he'll be placed on baseball's restricted list.

"Once you get out of Triple-A, you don't want to go back," Roberson said last week. "Once you got that taste of the big leagues, you want to stay there."

[fire_bettman]

Roberson is a clown, he should worry more about his game than his dance and hi five moves

[all4phillysportsfan]

I agree. Roberson is in the doghouse, and he'll be lucky if he gets called up again.

[fire_bettman]

i think bourn will make it before he does. he looked impressive defensively the few times i saw him

[all4phillysportsfan]

Bourn will be the Phillies CF in 2008, which is why I think we should trade Rowand for a reliever and Lieber for a RF.

[Emmanuel]

I think Bourn is good enough now to be a 4th outfielder. But he probably willget sent down

[all4phillysportsfan]

I think they want Bourn to play everyday, but I do agree, he is good enough to be the 4th OF on this team.

[fire_bettman]

i'll third that.. plus the guy is a great pinch runner for late in the game to try to manufacture a run

[all4phillysportsfan]

If I remember correctly in his 1st major league game, he got picked off 1st base.

[fire_bettman]

he did but he was pretty solid after that. lopes has been working with him on his first step to second because he was kind of lunging toward the mound instead of 2nd base

[all4phillysportsfan]

Davey Lopes is gonna help make the Phillies a very aggressive team on the base paths. Instead of not stealing many bases with a very high percentage, I think the Phillies will steal many more bases, with a little less success, but the more stolen bases will make a difference.