Minor League Discussion: Week of November 12, 2018

Weekly Discussion

It looks like some roster movement may have occurred.  These transactions haven’t been announced, so they aren’t official.  Yet.  And, we can be assured that there will be more. But, it looks like the following assignments have/will occur among the full season teams –

  • Deivi Grullon, Adam Haseley, and Jan Hernandez to Lehigh Valley;
  • Trevor Bettencourt, Ismael Cabrera, J.D. Hammer, Mauricio Llovera, Adonis Medina, Sixto Sanchez, Edgar Cabral, Henri Lartigue, Arquimedes Gamboa, Harold Garcia, Raul Rivas, Luke Williams, Grenny Cumana, and Mickey Moniak to Reading;
  •  Rodolfo Duran, Nick Maton, and Jake Scheiner to Clearwater; and
  • Colton Eastman, Tyler Fallwell, Abrahan Gutierrez, Rafael Marchan, Alec Bohm, Luis Garcia, Stoney O’Brien, and Malvin Matos to Lakewood.

Continue reading Minor League Discussion: Week of November 12, 2018 →

Open Discussion: Week of November 12, 2018

Weekly Discussion

The Hot Stove Season continues.  The player’s deadline to accept or reject their team’s qualifying offers is Monday.  Any who haven’t yet acted have until 5:00 PM EST.

The GM meetings were held last week in Carlsbad, CA.  The biggest early news was a Bob Nightengale article in USA Today that suggested (okay, he was adamant) that the Phillies would announce the signing of Bryce Harper during the baseball meeting in Las Vegas next month.  And then, a half-dozen other sports writers wrote articles stating that a half-dozen other ball clubs were in on Harper.  In any event, the Phillies were able to get meetings with whomever they wanted, and also spoke with everyone who asked to meet with them.

I think the only thing we can be sure of is that the Phillies will be active.

The owners’ meetings are this week in Atlanta, GA.  I don’t expect any trade talk, but I’m sure that they will be talking about things like the DH and pace of play.  Expect the commissioner to receive an extension.

This is the Phuture Phillies Open Discussion for Phillies and other baseball topics. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 12, 2018 →

2018 Clearwater Threshers’ Season Recap

02. Org Reports, 2. GCL

The Clearwater Threshers are the Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in the Florida State League.  They are the High-A level in the Phillies minor league system.  To some,they represent the halfway point in player development with AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley above and full-season A and the short season/rookie leagues below.

The Florida State League is located in central and southern Florida.  It is comprised of 12 teams in 2 divisions and includes representatives from 12 major league organizations.

North Division – Atlanta (Florida Fire Frogs), Cincinnati (Daytona Tortugas), Detroit (Lakeland Flying Tigers), Philadelphia (Clearwater Threshers), New York Yankees (Tampa Tarpons), and Toronto (Dunedin Blue Jays).

South Division – Miami (Jupiter Hammerheads), Minnesota (Fort Myers Miracle), New York Mets (St. Lucie Mets), Pittsburgh (Bradenton Marauders), St. Louis (Palm Beach Cardinals), and Tampa Bay (Charlotte Stone Crabs).

The Threshers are led by second-year manager, Shawn Williams.  His staff includes hitting coach John Mizerock, first base coach Ruben Gotay, and pitching coach Aaron Fultz, who is also serving in the same capacity in the Arizona Fall League. Continue reading 2018 Clearwater Threshers’ Season Recap →

2019 Phillies Minor League Digest

Other Stuff

A Fan’s View: Third Annual Phillies Minor League Digest is out in paperback on Amazon.  My friend, Steve Potter, is the author.  Philadelphia sports writer Jim Salisbury provides the foreword.  Steve has enlisted contributions from people who have seen the Phillies’ affiliates and prospects in the minors.  I was one of several contributors.

Phuture Phillies is not a place for people to sell things and I have deleted such posts in the comments section.  However, I don’t get paid for my time at Phuture Phillies, so I’m going to allow myself this one exception.  Especially since NO ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BOOK RECEIVES ANY TYPE OF MONETARY COMPENASATION.

This is Steve’s third digest  He donates the proceeds to Phillies’ Charities.

Here’s the LINK, if interested.

 

 

Open Discussion: Week of November 5, 2018

Weekly Discussion

The Hot Stove Season officially began Friday at 5:00 PM when the deadline for teams to  extend qualifying passed.  All free agents are now free to bargain with all teams interested in them.  “Let the fun begin!”

This is the Phuture Phillies Open Discussion for Phillies and other baseball topics. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 5, 2018 →

2018 Phuture Phillies Post Season Top 30 Results

Top Prospect Lists

The second annual Phuture Phillies Post Season Prospect Poll has been closed.  You were asked to provide your top 30 prospects in the organization as you see them.  Your criteria could have included any or all of the following – a player’s present value to the organization, his major league potential, his proximity to the major league,  his professional ceiling, his age at their current level, or whatever criteria you feel is important.  I received just 17 prospect lists, down from last year’s 43. Continue reading 2018 Phuture Phillies Post Season Top 30 Results →

Results of 2018 Phuture Phillies Top Pitchers Polls

Top Prospect Lists

Here are the results of the remaining four “Best” polls.  Well, final three polls and one example that some people can’t follow instructions.  These final polls are for Right-Handed Starters, Left-Handed Starters, Closers, and the too difficult for people to comprehend Relievers Poll.  This concludes the “best of” polls for 2018. Continue reading Results of 2018 Phuture Phillies Top Pitchers Polls →

Open Discussion: Week of October 29, 2018

Weekly Discussion

Congratulations to the Red Sox!  Now we can start the hot stove league.  With the end of the world series, a whole bunch of major leaguers can declare free agency.  On Monday morning at 9:00 AM any player with 6 or more years of Major League service who has not executed a contract for next season shall become a free agent.

A five day “quiet period” begins, prohibiting teams other than the player’s former team from negotiating.  The Phillies have four such free agents – Wilson Ramos, Asdrubel Cabrera, Aaron Loup, and Jose Bautista.

By the end of the week, 21 minor leaguers can become free agents – Dean Anna, Harold Arauz, Pedro Beato, Malquin Canelo, Ranfi Casimiro, Collin Cowgill, Ryan Goins, Zach Green, Gabriel Lino, Kevin Martir, Matt McBride, Heiker Meneses, Joey Meneses, Will Middlebrooks, Logan Moore, Danny Ortiz, Trevor Plouffe (who has already declared free agency), Nick Rickles, Alberto Tirado, Jiandido Tromp, and Jesmuel Valentin.

The Phillies completed their search for Joe Jordan’s replacement when they hired Josh Bonifay as their Director of Player Development.  I’ll have to begin camping out at the Complex to meet him.  I expect he’ll be down during one of the off-season clinics they hold during the off-season.

This is the Phuture Phillies Open Discussion for Phillies and other baseball topics. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of October 29, 2018 →