Cook Book Update, Roster & More!

My apologies for the lack of posts today. My “day” began last night around 8:00pm when I started baking and continued through just a few minutes ago.

Today, if you hadn’t heard, was the day of our recipe photo shoot for the Noise Nation Cookbook fundraiser for the National Brain Tumor Society. We prepared over 30 recipes and Frank Mitman stopped by to take photos of them. Frank does incredible work and made the food look even better once he had it placed and set up. Many thanks go out to Frank and his wife for taking up almost 5 hours of his Saturday to help us with our project!

We are looking to print the cookbooks in May… details will be posted when the date gets closer. We are still accepting donations for ad space and also personal dedications. Thanks to all who have assisted.

I could not go on without mentioning the great cook book coalition crew that came around today to assist. Amanda, Dave, Iron Chef Barb, Deb, Becky, Aaron, Heather, Pat, Emily and Jeff… you all did GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Special thanks to my sisters who also helped with a couple dishes!

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While we were cooking the Ironpig’s released the official opening day roster. Word is that Worley will be the opening day starter. Might be time to wake the “Worley Bird” up from her winter slumber. It’s late so stand by for a copy/paste moment…

From the Ironpig’s Media Dept.

(Allentown, Pa.) – A notable returning nucleus that includes International League All-Stars RHP Nate Bump and RHP Scott Mathieson along with accomplished performers such as OF Rich Thompson, LHP Mike Zagurski, RHP Drew Carpenter and RHP Vance Worley, comprise the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 2011 initial roster, the Phillies announced today.

Nate Bump was named an All-Star for the first time in his pro career and tied for the team-lead in wins despite seeing limited action in the final two months of the season due to Lyme disease and a shoulder injury. At the All-Star break, Bump’s 2.62 ERA was the 4th-best ERA in the IL. Originally selected by San Francisco in the first round (25th overall) of the 1998 draft, he was traded alongside fellow IronPigs pitcher Jason Grilli to Florida as part of the Livan Hernandez deal in 1999. Bump left Penn State as the school’s all-time leader in wins, strikeouts, games started and innings pitched and remains the highest drafted player in Nittany Lions’ history and the school’s only first-rounder.

Scott Mathieson returns following an ultra-successful season that saw the hard-throwing reliever set a franchise record for saves (26), receive an IL All-Star Game nod and pitch in the Major Leagues for the first time since 2006. In addition to establishing an IronPigs’ single-season mark for saves, Mathieson was also named the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May after registering five saves with a miniscule 0.64 ERA in 11 appearances. Once on the fast-track in the Phillies system, the 17th round pick in 2002 made it up to Philadelphia in just his fifth pro season (2006) before undergoing his first of two Tommy John elbow surgeries.

The two aforementioned IL All-Stars headline an accomplished pitching staff that returns top pitching prospect Vance Worley and a large bulk of one of the league’s best bullpens in 2010 including Zagurski, RHP Mike Stutes, RHP Michael Schwimer and converted-starter RHP Drew Carpenter.

Vance Worley, 23, is a top pitching prospect within the Phillies organization and a member of Philadelphia’s 40-Man Roster. The team’s third round pick in 2008 initially skipped Triple-A last year and made his Major League debut with a scoreless inning of relief on July 24 against Colorado. Sent to Lehigh Valley following that game, Worley went 1-3 with a 3.77 ERA in eight starts as an IronPig. He was again recalled to Philadelphia following the minor league season and finished 1-1, 1.38 in five games, two starts in his first Major League season. While in Reading, Worley went 9-4 with a 3.20 ERA and was selected as a 2010 Eastern League All-Star.

The other expected starters are all organizational newcomers in RHP Eddie Bonine, LHP Ryan Feierabend and LHP Dan Meyer.

Eddie Bonine, 29, spent his first full season in the Majors last season with the Detroit Tigers – going 4-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 47 games. In fact, he started the season going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his first 14 games and boasted a career-best 16.0-inning scoreless streak from April 11 through May 15. The former 23rd rounder by San Diego in 2003 was nabbed by Detroit in the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 12, 2005. He would later win his Major League debut in a start against the Dodgers on June, 14, 2008; then made the Tigers Opening Day roster in 2009. Overall, the Columbus, Ga., native is a career 7-3 with a 4.74 ERA in 62 Major League games. Bonine has also pitched parts of three seasons in the International League with Toledo, going a combined 17-9 with a 4.20 ERA in 35 games from 2007-09.

Ryan Feierabend, 25, was originally selected by Seattle in the third round of the 2003 draft and was one of 13 players to make their Major League debut with the Mariners in 2006. In his debut on Sept. 6, he worked two scoreless innings of relief against Toronto. The Columbus, Ohio, native has gone 2-11 with a 7.22 ERA in 25 career Major League appearances with the Mariners while last pitching in the Big Leagues in 2008. He was named Seattle’s Triple-A Pitcher of the Year in 2008 after a 7-1 stint with a 2.04 ERA in 13 starts. Feierabend missed all of 2009 after undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on his left elbow during Spring Training.

Dan Meyer, 29, is a former first round selection of Atlanta in 2002 that was signed by the Phillies as a Minor League free agent this winter. After making his Major League debut with Atlanta in 2004, Meyer was dealt to Oakland in the Tim Hudson trade on 12/16/04. The Woodbury, N.J., native enjoyed tremendous success during his first full season in the Major Leagues with Florida in 2009, logging 71 appearances and a 3.09 ERA.

A “Tommy John” survivor, LHP Mike Zagurski returned to the Major Leagues last season for the first time since undergoing left elbow reconstructive surgery in 2008. In addition to making eight appearances over two separate stints with the Phillies last year, Zagurski also had a streak of 20 consecutive appearances (21.1 IP) without allowing an earned run with the IronPigs. He had a breakout 2007 campaign in which he pitched at four levels in the Phillies system and won the prestigious Paul Owens Award before suffering the elbow setback in 2008. During his tremendous 2007 campaign, the 28-year-old logged a sparkling 1.39 ERA in 25 Minor League games while making his Major League debut that same season and appearing in 25 more games out of the Phillies bullpen (1-0, 5.91).

RHP Mike Stutes excelled after making the transition to reliever in 2010 and advanced to the Triple-A level at the season’s midway point. With the IronPigs, Stutes allowed just 29 hits in 40.2 innings and logged a 2.21 ERA in his final 13 games. This spring, Stutes proved his mettle further by allowing just one run in 11.0 innings of work in Phillies camp including an appearance in the exhibition series against Pittsburgh this past week at Citizens Bank Park. Prior to being drafted by the Phillies in the 11th round of 2008, the 24-year-old won back-to-back National Championships with Oregon State in 2006 and 2007.

Like Stutes, RHP Michael Schwimer advanced to Triple-A after beginning the 2010 season with the Reading Phillies. At the time of his July 7 promotion, Schwimer led the R-Phils with 11 saves and was named a mid-season Eastern League All-Star. Upon promotion to the Lehigh Valley, Schwimer became one of the IronPigs most capable relievers, allowing just three earned runs in 20.0 innings (1.35 ERA). Schwimer was taken by the Phillies in the 14th round of the 2008 draft after a standout career at the University of Virginia.

The winningest pitcher in IronPigs history — former Phillies second-round pick RHP Drew Carpenter — will begin 2011 as a reliever for the first time in his career. The California native made his first career Phillies Opening Day roster in 2010 but was optioned prior to appearing in a game. With the IronPigs, he tied for the team lead in wins (8) while making 27 starts. In 2009, Carpenter was one of the IL’s most outstanding performers, going 11-6 with a 3.35 ERA while being named an IL All-Star and finishing among the Top 10 in ERA (3.35, 6th), wins (11, T-4th), innings pitched (156.0, 3rd) and strikeouts (120, 6th).

The bullpen returnees will be complimented by a pair of talented veterans in RHP Jason Grilli and RHP Brian Bass.

Jason Grilli returns after missing the entire 2010 season due a right knee injury that required surgery. Formerly drafted fourth overall by Florida in 1997, Grilli made his Major League debut with the Marlins in 2000 and has appeared with Florida (2000-01), Chicago-AL (2004), Detroit (2005-08), Colorado (2008-09) and Texas (2009) throughout his Major League career. Jason’s father, Steve, pitched in the Major Leagues for both Detroit (1975-77) and Toronto (1979).

Brian Bass, 29, was signed by the Phillies as a Minor League free agent this winter after spending a vast majority of the last three seasons in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Baltimore. An original sixth round selection of Kansas City in 2000, Bass was signed by Minnesota as a free agent in 2007 and made his Big League debut with the club in 2008. He was later traded to Baltimore, where he spent the entirety of the 2009 season with the Orioles, going 5-3 with a 4.90 ERA in 48 relief appearance.

RHP Drew Naylor, a member of the Phillies’ 40-man roster and a 12-game winner with Double-A Reading last year, and LHP Juan Perez, who most recently pitched in the Major Leagues with Pittsburgh in 2007, will begin the season on the Disabled List.

By in large the IronPigs offense has received a significant facelift with the return of just two position players in Thompson and C Dane Sardinha.

Rich Thompson, 31, is the team’s all-time leader in steals (79) and along with Drew Carpenter is one of just two players to spend parts of four seasons with the IronPigs. The speedster enters 2011 ranked second among active Minor Leaguers with 387 stolen bases (Estaban German, 474). He also finished last year with seven triples, tied for fourth most in the IL. A product of James Madison (VA) University, Thompson made his Major League debut in 2004, appearing in six games with the Kansas City Royals.

Dane Sardinha spent a majority of last season with Lehigh Valley while also appearing in 13 games for the Phillies. With the Phillies, Sardinha hit three homers, including his first ever in the Major Leagues on June 24 against Cleveland. A tremendous defensive asset, Sardinha received a non-roster invite to Phillies Spring Training for the second consecutive season this year. The Hawaii native once gunned down 49% of potential base stealers with Louisville in 2006. In 2004, the 30-year-old was named an IL midseason All-Star.

Newcomer C Erik Kratz, a product of nearby Telford, Pa., is expected to split the catching duties with Sardinha. The 30-year-old was named an IL All-Star for the second consecutive year with Indianapolis last season. Interestingly, it was during the 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game at Coca-Cola Park that Kratz received word of his first-ever Major League promotion. Kratz had spent parts of nine seasons in the Minor Leagues before appearing in nine games with Pittsburgh in 2010. He is a career .252 hitter with 77 home runs in 624 Minor League games.

The remodeled infield includes a pair of accomplished sluggers in 1B Tagg Bozied, who will begin the year on the Disabled List, and 1B/3B Jeff Larish.

Tagg Bozied, 31, spent last season at Double-A Reading – where he led Eastern League in average (.315) while setting a career best in home runs (27) and tying a career high in RBI (92). Among his 2010 accolades, Bozied was selected as a midseason EL All-Star and a participant in the Home Run Derby as well as being named Double-A Hitter of Year by MiLB.com. Signed by Philadelphia as a minor league free agent Jan. 16, 2010, Bozied was once a top prospect for the San Diego Padres – who drafted him in the third round of 2001 and promoted him up to Triple-A in just his second affiliated pro season in 2003. But a freak injury derailed his progress in 2004. Bozied was hitting .315-16-58 in 56 games before a season-ending knee injury which occurred in a team celebration when crossing home plate after hitting a walk-off grand slam.

Jeff Larish, 28, was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent this winter after stints in the Major Leagues with Detroit and Oakland last year. He has posted prodigious power numbers throughout his professional career, including an EL-best 28 home runs and 101 RBI with Erie in 2007 while capturing Detroit’s Minor League Player of the Year honors. Larish made his Major League debut with Detroit in 2008 – the same season that Baseball America tabbed him as having the best power in the IL. As a collegiate player at Arizona State, Larish slugged 51 career home runs, trailing just Bob Horner’s total of 56 for most in Sun Devils history.

Newly acquired infielders Kevin Frandsen, Rob Hudson and long-time Major Leaguer Ronnie Belliard will team join 2B Josh Barfield for middle-infield duties.

Ronnie Belliard, who will turn 36 on Opening Day, has been a mainstay in the Major Leagues for more than the last decade and was recently signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent after being released by the New York Yankees. In 1,484 games over parts of 13 seasons with Milwaukee (1998-2002), Colorado (2003), Cleveland (2004-06), St. Louis (2006), Washington (2007-09) and Los Angeles-NL (2009-10), he possesses a .273 career batting average with 114 home runs and 601 RBI. He ranks among the leaders of active second baseman in doubles (4th), home runs (5th), RBI (5th) and games played (6th). An All-Star with Cleveland in 2004, Belliard was also a member of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. In 2006, Belliard represented the Dominican Republic in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

Josh Barfield, 28, was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent this winter after playing the entirety of 2010 with San Diego’s Triple-A affiliate, the Portland Beavers. He was limited to just 78 games last year due to a finger contusion and a right hamstring strain but still managed to hit .294. Originally selected by San Diego in the fourth round of 2001, Barfield was traded to Cleveland for 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and RHP Andrew Brown prior to 2007. During his first full season in the Majors in 2006, Barfield hit .280 in 150 games for the Padres and finished second among all NL rookies in steals (21), fifth in hits (151) and doubles (32) and sixth in runs (72).

Kevin Frandsen, 28, was recently signed by the Phillies after being released by San Diego earlier this spring. Over parts of five Major League campaigns with the San Francisco Giants (2006-09) and Los Angeles Angels (2010), Frandsen has batted .243 in 568 games played. Frandsen was originally a 12th round pick of San Francisco in 2004 out of San Jose State University.

Rob Hudson was newly picked up by the Phillies from the Chicago White Sox late in Spring Training. The 27-year-old split time between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte last year, hitting a combined .227 in 92 games.

In addition to Thompson, newcomers OF Delwyn Young, OF Brandon Moss, OF Cory Sullivan and OF Matt Miller are all expected to see sizable playing time in a veteran outfield.

Delwyn Young, an original fourth round selection of Los Angeles (NL) in 2002, was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent this off-season. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Young made his Major League debut for the Dodgers in 2006 and hit .382 in 19 Big League games the next season. He was traded to Pittsburgh on April 15, 2009, and proceeded to hit .266 with seven home runs and 43 RBI. Last year, Young finished third in the Majors with 16 pinch hits including a game-tying, two-run, pinch-hit home run off RHP Stephen Strasburg on June 8; the first career homer allowed by Washington’s heralded pitcher.

Brandon Moss, 27, is an original eighth round pick of Boston in 2002 that was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent this off-season. During a breakout 2007 season with Pawtucket that included 41 doubles (which tied Wade Boggs for most in a single season in franchise history), Moss made his Major League debut and hit .280 in 15 games during his rookie year. The following season, Moss hit his first career home run on Opening Day against Oakland in a game played at the Tokyo Dome in Japan — becoming the first player in Red Sox history to homer in a regular season game outside of North America. Later that year, Moss was dealt to Pittsburgh in a three-team trade that sent Jason Bay to Boston and Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles. He spent a bulk of last season with Triple-A Indianapolis and led the IL with 96 RBI.

Cory Sullivan, 31, appeared in 57 games with Houston last year and elected to sign with the Phillies as a minor league free agent this winter. Sullivan’s last stint in the IL came with Buffalo in 2009, a season in which he also hit .250 in 64 games for the New York Mets. The Tulsa, Okla., native is an original seventh round pick of Colorado in 2001 who initially reached the Major Leagues in 2005, hitting .294 in 139 games for the Rockies. On April 9, 2006, in San Diego, he tied a Major League record and became the first player since 1951 to record two triples in an inning.

Matt Miller, 28, enters his first season outside the Colorado organization after signing with Philadelphia as a minor league free agent this winter. A former 13th round pick of Colorado in 2004, Miller is a career .313 hitter in 832 Minor League games. Last year. in the midst of his third stint with Triple-A Colorado Springs, he was named a PCL All-Star while hitting .325 with 10 home runs and 81 RBI. In 2008, he led the Texas League with a robust .344 batting average.

As announced earlier, the team will guided by manager Ryne Sandberg, hitting coach Sal Rende and pitching coach Rod Nichols.

Again, what a great day today for a great cause. Just a few more days until the first game and then Opening Day at the Coke!

I’ll write more tomorrow…

OinK!