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New manager's job: turn around Phillies

Roly DeArmas was getting ready for his second season as manager of the Gulf Coast Phillies two weeks ago when he found out he had a new assignment.

Instead of coaching the short-season Gulf Coast League team, he would be taking over the advanced Class A team in Clearwater after the parent club demoted John Morris, a former Cardinals outfielder who played in the 1987 World Series.

Morris, in his first year as a manager in the Phillies organization, was assigned to be a hitting coach with the Gulf Coast Phillies. Clearwater ended the first half of its season with 10 straight losses and was a league-worst 22-50, 21 games behind the first-place Tampa Yankees.

Before changing managers, the Phillies made numerous player moves and shored up their defense by signing two minor-league veterans, rightfielder Troy McNaughton and first baseman Troy Farnsworth, to support Clearwater's demoralized pitching staff.

"Their record concerns me, and I've tried to piece together a lineup to improve the club because we're trying to create a positive attitude for our young pitchers there," Phillies farm director Mike Arbuckle said to Baseball America.

DeArmas has been a part of the Phillies organization for 23 years (1973-93 and 2001-02) as a player and coach. He spent the winter working at baseball academies in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

"These are just some of the things that happen in baseball," said DeArmas, who was the Clearwater manager in 1987. "I'm a Phillie at heart and I always want to help the organization, but this is a tough situation. John (Morris) is a friend and I know it's got to be hard on his family."

DeArmas met with the players after taking the position but has not made drastic changes.

"I didn't know much about the players before coming here," DeArmas said. "They're all good kids who have kept their heads up so far. I'm just going to keep stressing the fundamentals and do some extra work with them.

"Other than that, we'll just keep on trucking and whatever happens, happens."

TAMPA YANKEES: Outfield prospect John-Ford Griffin was promoted to Class AA Norwich, and the 23rd overall pick in last year's draft had a strong debut. He went 2-for-4 and hit a home run. Griffin batted .267 for Tampa.

HOT STREAK: Clearwater third baseman Juan Richardson has been on a tear since being named MVP of the FSL All-Star game last week. On Sunday, Richardson hit two home runs in an inning, including a grand slam. He is the first Clearwater player to hit two home runs in an inning and the first in the FSL this season.

ALUMNUS UPDATE: Former Tampa Yankee Drew Henson charged the mound after being hit by Brett Myers, the Phillies' top pitching prospect, during a Class AAA game Monday between Columbus and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The altercation caused a bench-clearing brawl and resulted in a $450 fine and ejection for Henson, Myers and two others.

Henson played in Tampa in 1999.

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