Erik Kratz

Ruben Amaro laid out the organization’s off-season honey-do list with a single ultimatum. "The bottom line is this," he said at the Phillies year-end press conference. "If our players that we paid a great deal of money to do not perform next year, we’re going to be in trouble...

One of my favorite scenes in the move “Major League” is when general manager Charlie Donovan and one of the Indians Board members are trying to talk to to owner Rachel Phelps about the current state of the roster.

In spring training, the Phillies lack of depth was laughable. Really. Legitimate punch line. But if you look around, this club seems an awful lot like one with options. Behind the plate, they've got Carlos Ruiz and Erik Kratz, maybe Brian Schneider...

Phillies placed 1B Jim Thome on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 29, with a lower back strain and recalled catcher Erik Kratz from the minors to take his place on the active roster. Thome hasn't played since tweaking his lower back after sliding into second base during Saturday's game...