Yesterday the Phillies placed Scott Mathieson, Mike Zagurski, and Francisco Rosario all on the 15-day disabled list.  Mathierson is recovering from ulner nerve transreposition surgery and Zagurski is recovering from hamstring surgery.  Both players have seen no action this spring, and were expected to begin the season in the DL.  Rosario was a different story. Diagnosed with a right shoulder strain, there were no prior reports about an injury.  This does explain why he hasn’t pitched since March 14th.

Despite his 5.91 ERA this spring, Rosario was one of the favorites to land to the final (or two) spots in the bullpen.  He allowed 7 earned runs in 4 appearances, but 6 were in a start on March 14th, the last time he took the mound.

Rosario’s trip to the DL opens the door for Clay Condrey.  Condrey is a pitcher who’s never impressed me, but hasn’t had a terrible spring. 

Assuming the Phillies carry twelve pitchers, Condrey’s competition is limited.  Travis Blackley, JD Durbin, and Vic Darrenbourg would be his primary competition.  Given that Blackley and Darrensbourg are both left-handed pitchers, that would only factor in if the Phillies take the eleven man staff.  If you had to choose between Condrey and Durbin, it’s a no brainer, Condrey gets the nod.  I’m suprised Durbin is still on the roster.

The left-handed side is tricky.  I figured it was Blackley’s.  He’s a Rule 5 pick, so if he doesn’t make the team they lose him (unless the Giants don’t want him back).  Blackley has shown some great breaking pitches, but also shown that he’s unable to control them.  In yesterday’s rain shorted action, Blackley faced two hitters.  He hit one (Curtis Granderson, who was sent for x-rays), and walked the other.

At 37 Darrensbourg has plenty of experience.  A long shot to make the team (he hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2005), he’s had a strong spring posting a 2.57 ERA in seven innings.  But given his career numbers (8-17 4.96), what he’s doing in spring probably won’t be what we see this season.

It’s a tough call and this week is when the decisions will be made.  Once the Chris Snelling/Wes Helms situation is figured out, we’ll know more about the bullpen.  Since none of the lefties are really stepping up,  I’d think Condrey has the advantage to make the team regardless if the staff is 11 or 12 pitchers.