I saw these horses earlier today in a field just outside of Browersville, making the most of the lull before the storm.Is it now time for the Phillies' front office too to do some grazing? At least till the New Year? Non-roster invitees have been posted for spring training and minor league staff assignments have been announced. Some things to note among the latter: Dave Huppert is back with the IronPigs and I wish him a better collection of players. Steve Roadcap has taken over at Reading, which desperately needed a change of staff. Only Frank Cacciatore remains there. Ramon Henderson, the popular bullpen coach who gained fame pitching in the Home Run Derby to Bobby Abreu, then Ryan Howard, is now on the Clearwater staff. Henderson left the Phillies mid-season for personal reasons.
In the random awards department: Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel have won, respectively, GM and Manager of the Year awards and Brad Lidge was voted Closer of the Year. Those awards are courtesy of MLB's This Year in Baseball. Not to be overlooked: Pat Gillick was crowned King of Baseball by Minor League Baseball execs and managers. That is pretty cool. I didn't know there was a King of Baseball.
