Right-hander Trevor May is the Phils top prospect, according Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com’s Draft and Prospect Expert.  May will enter 2012 in the Reading Phillies rotation, and at just 22 years old, appears to be the closest to major-league ready of any of the Phils pitching prospects.  Mayo wrote…

May is starting to develop into a more complete pitcher and not just a thrower. The fastball is up to 95 mph and it has plenty of sink. May has no trouble maintaining velocity deep into his starts. He complements his fastball with an above-average curve and a changeup that shows glimpses of being above-average as well. While he still walks a good number of hitters, he lowered his walk rate considerably and showed better overall command.  He’ll keep refining his stuff and command, eventually settling in as a very durable No. 2 or 3 starter.

Last year in Clearwater, May went 10-8 with a 3.63 ERA, striking out 208 in just 151.1 innings (12.4Ks/9) and walking 67 (4BBs/9) with a WHIP of 1.242.  Opposing hitters batted just .221 against him (stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com).

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Sardinha’s so not going to Senior Week.

With Dominic Brown sitting out with the flu, I’d say these NRIs are off to a slamming start to the spring.

Maybe that’s why the Phillies newest signing wasn’t a teenager or whatever the hell you want to call Dane Sardinha. 32-year-old Brad Wilkerson and his 2008 BA of .220 got the latest minor league contract with the Phils.   With a batting average that maxed out statistically in 2003 at .268, Wilkerson’s offense has been on a steady decline for the last few seasons, but does not have a history of punching cops or drunk driving.  Of course, there’s a pretty big chance you won’t find that factoid on his Baseball Reference page.

"I don't have no 'A' material," Charlie told some reporter. You might say Charlie's 'A material' is baseball.

But, despite crimes, misdemeanors, and disease, Spring Training in Clearwater just kept on rolling.  Today was the initial full squad meeting and workout, meaning Charlie Manuel was standing in front of everybody in the same room since however the 2009 World Series ended.  I don’t really remember; I was outside the bar when it was over and all I really remember is people with slurred speech started talking about getting in their cars and heading up the freeway to burn down Yankee Stadium.  I think it was Brody Colvin.

Anyway, Charlie calmly suggested that the Phillies just win in his speech today, which was nice.  Is it a phrase that you could probably hear in most major league locker rooms?  Yes.  But at least the Phillies are fortunate enough to not be a team where the coach is saying it while holding his head in his hands and sobbing.

“Charlie’s able to joke around, but at the same time, really convey his message and be serious,” said Greg Dobbs.

Ha, ha, ha.  Just get in the batting cage, Greg.

Check out the video.  When they’re interviewing J-Roll (starting at 1:47), he keeps looking at the reporter crouching to his right, and the guy keeps smiling at him like a loon.  Weird.