Left-handers look all right to new manager Girardi

PHILADELPHIA » Over the last 31 years, Joe Girardi has caught in both major leagues, managed in both major leagues, has been a coach and an analyst.

He might have seen it all. He never saw what he has seen during the Phillies’ ongoing summer camp.

“I think we have a surplus of left-handers here, which is really strange,” the manager said. “Right? I’ve never been on a club that has this many left-handers with the type of stuff we have.”

He would know. So he’s on the record that a left-handed stable of Jose Alvarez, Cole Irvin, Francisco Liriano, Adam Morgan, Damon Jones, JoJo Romero, Garrett Cleavinger and Ranger Suarez is historic in its depth. Of course, this is his first major-league team with a 60-man roster, so it could be that it has more depth of everything than he has ever experienced.

After an intrasquad game Sunday, Girardi said he was impressed by the veteran Morgan and the rookie Jones, who was 5-4 with a 2.19 ERA in three minor-league stops last year. But in a short scrimmage Monday evening, Irvin was spotty in his three innings, which began with Andrew McCutchen powering his second pitch over the center field fence.

“We have some power arms in the system,” said pitching coach Bryan Price said. “I think the beauty of it is having the experience with Morgan, Alvarez, Liriano, some key components on the left side of the bullpen.

“But when you talk about left-handers like Damon Jones and Garrett Cleavinger, they are really ‘stuff’ guys. JoJo Romero has been impressive. So we’re seeing stuff.”

Liriano, who pulled the stunt off in 2006, is the only one of that group to have been a major-league All-Star.

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For as long as there has been professional baseball, there has been a popular if untested early-season hum.

For as long as he’s heard it, Price has hoped that it would disappear.

The theory: During training camp and shortly after, pitchers are ahead of hitters.

“My entire young life I heard that,” Price said. “And from my experience, at this level, I’ve never known it to be true.”

As Price braces for the 60game season that will begin for the Phillies July 24, he is high on his staff. Yet no pitcher will have the usual benefit of less-than-perfect early-season hitting weather.

“Sometimes the cold weather has something to do with it,” Price said. “I’ve always felt that in cold weather, starting pitchers tend to have the advantage over everybody else. But we’re starting the season in the dead of summer and it kind of balances everything out. For the pitchers, the summer months beat on you. On the East Coast and down in the southeast, it’s going to be warm. And I think it’s going to be interesting to see.”

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Scott Kingery continues to work himself back into playing shape after shaking a virus. If the projected second baseman is not available when the Phillies open their season July 24 against visiting Miami, Girardi will not move Jean Segura from third, even temporarily.

“I would probably put Jean at third and have somebody else play second,” the manager said. “That’s the way I’d look at it. We’re not sure where Scott is going to be. It’s hard to say right now, and how quickly we get him up to full speed, but in my mind I am thinking about playing Jean at third, for sure.”

Though Bryce Harper worked some innings at third, the pitchers Monday were backed in the field by coaches. Segura had a first-inning single, then rattled a double off the left-center fence in the third.

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With Girardi determined to keep as many starting pitchers ready for instant use as a hedge against any failed virus tests, Price expects that the Phils’ 30-man roster will include 16 pitchers.

Spencer Howard, the organization’s most prized prospect, was expected to be further seasoned in the minors this year. But he remains in the mix for a roster spot.

“If he is the guy we think he is, and we do, he’s going to have a really nice future in Philadelphia,” Price said. “But at some point in time, he has to have a workload. Last year was shortened by injury for him. Workload is important. If he doesn’t make the team out of summer camp, then he’ll be getting workload in Lehigh Valley. But I really hope and expect to see him pitching here, if not on Opening Day, then at some point in time. He really needs the work and I think he is ready to compete at this level.”

••• Recovered from back spasms, Zach Eflin threw what pitching coach Bryan Price called “a beautiful” bullpen session Monday.

Girardi had said the key will be how well Eflin responds Tuesday.