BETTER KNOW A BALLCLUB: LYNX TAKE FORM

The Lynx season opener is a mere three weeks away. The team has a new parent club, the Philadelphia Phillies, which means a whole new cast of characters out on Coventry Rd. Carl Kiiffner of Ottawa Lynx Blog looks at the prospective Opening Day roster:

It’s a real dogfight for the last two Phillies position player spots between Chris Coste, Greg Dobbs and former Yankees outfielder Karim Garcia.

Both Garcia and Dobbs are lefty bats. The big club’s manager, Charlie Manuel, seems to favour Coste since he can start him in a number of spots (catcher, third, outfield), so I'll put him on the Phillies. Dobbs beats Garcia on stats.

This means I'm moving Garcia, Michael Bourn, Chris Roberson and Randall Simon to Ottawa.

Catcher: Jason Jaramillo (pictured)

Jaramillo is an up-and coming-catcher and by all accounts is ready for Triple A.

Infield: 1B Randall Simon, 2B Carlos Leon, 3B Brennan King, SS Danny Sandoval

No one is going to take National League MVP Ryan Howard's spot at 1B, which leaves Simon competing with the likes of Coste, Garcia and Dobbs for a spot on the bench in Philly. He just doesn't have the numbers to take a job. Sandoval's spring hasn't been great and that leaves him on the outside looking in.

Outfield: Pedro Swann, Michael Bourn, Chris Roberson

Much has been written about Roberson's demotion and seems highly unlikely he won't report to the minor league camp, even if his ego's taken a major bruising. King, Swann, Bourn (and Roberson) will bide their time in Ottawa, waiting for a combination of injuries or trades to see them move up (or perhaps, away from Philadelphia).

Bench: C Tim Gradoville, IF Joey Hammond, IF Gary Burnham, OF Karim Garcia, OF Ron Calloway

Did I mention that Philadelphia was deep? Look at the experience on this prospective "bench." This is Hammond's 10th season, Burnham's 11th, Garcia's 14th and Calloway's 10th -- that's 45 seasons' experience, not to mention a combined 1,799 RBI and .281 average.

Gradoville? I'm taking a bit of a flyer here -- the Phils may value his defensive ability with the hopes that he can find his bat in Ottawa. If they want more experience, which they may given Jaramillo's age, look for Dusty Wathan to step in.

Starting pitchers: J.A. Happ, Brian Mazone, Fabio Castro, Zach Segovia, Justin Germano

There was some talk the Phillies would keep Happ, but he was hit pretty hard the other day and a move to The Show was always considered a stretch. Brian Mazone was in the first round of spring training cuts, but I think he's done enough to prove himself at Double-A Reading. Castro's one of those guys who is likely on the bubble between AA Reading and Ottawa, but fortune favors the brave, so I'll throw Fabio into the Ottawa rotation.

Segovia's a guy who appears ready for Triple-A after a strong 2006 in Double-A, but there's been some rumbling in the blogosphere that the Phillies may try to bury him in Reading in April to avoid the "cold of Ottawa," -- don't get me started. Germano may be another "flyer," particularly if the Phils convert him to a reliever.

Bullpen: Joe Bisenius, Yoel Hernandez (injured), Anderson Garcia, Nick Evangelista, Jim Crowell, John Ennis, Jeff Farnsworth

There may be a problem with Phillies closer Tom Gordon's elbow. This may drastically alter my prospective Lynx pitching staff. Will they go out and make a trade if Gordon can’t go, or will guys like Joe Bisenius be brought up a little earlier than planned? As of today, I've got Joe here in Ottawa.

Unfortunately for Hernandez, injury cut his spring training short, but I've optimistically pencilled him in. Anderson Garcia fell victim to the first round of cuts, but if he can find his stuff here in Ottawa, he should get another shot. Nick Evangelista was being groomed as a closer; it's unrealistic to expect him to to do a double jump, but will the Gordon situation get him a longer look here in Ottawa? I'm betting yes, even though he started last year in Single-A Clearwater.

Crowell is a known commodity to the Phillies having pitched in the organization (most recently Scranton) and for the Phillies at the big league level (2004). Farnsworth and Ennis have experience at the minor league level (Ennis pitched a few games in MLB), but these are two picks I have the least confidence in. They may not survive if guys like Jim Ed Warden get pushed out of Philadelphia and accept their Ottawa assignments.

Carl Kiiffner writes the Ottawa Lynx Blog. Contact him at carlk23@rogers.com.