Reading continues its climb up the Southern division standings, now with a record of 50-47, in third place, just 5.5 games out of first, within striking distance. By way of league leaders, Matt Maloney is 2nd in Innings (110), 5th in homers allowed (12) and 4th in strikouts (98). Chris Key is 7th in saves (12). Greg Jacobs is 10th in runs (54), 3rd in hits (102), 3rd in doubles (26), 3rd in homers (16), and 2nd in RBI’s (64). Mike Costanzo is 2nd in homers (17), 4th in runs (64), and 2nd in strikouts (114). Jason Hill leads the league with 29 doubles. Javon Moran is 3rd in stolen bases (23), and Jesus Merchan continues to lead the league in hitting at .345.
Monthly Archives: July 2007
Biggest step forward/backward?
Another open discussion question. Which propsect (or two) do you feel has taken the greatest step forward this season, and on the flip side, which guy has taken the biggest step backward? My answer will come tomorrow.
Are the Phillies buyers or sellers?
Open discussion question today. The trade deadline is 2 weeks away. Should the big league club be buying or selling? If they are buying, what prospects do you think should be considered off limits? Keep in mind, you normally have to give something to get something. In my mind, the Phillies are constructed to “win now”, in the sense that much of their talent is at its peak or getting close to its peak, and they aren’t really in the beginning of a 5 year plan or something like that where they have a bigger window of opportunity. So, what do you think? Who shouldn’t be traded?
Joe Savery signs
Well, maybe. This article has a headline that includes the word “reportedly”, yet it comes from Phillies.com. So, did he or didn’t he? I’ll assume he did, and if so, that’s one step closer to this draft being at least average, and probably a bit better. Maybe we should insert Savery into the rotation now.
Phillies sign Brazilian prospect
This excerpt comes from the New York Times
Brazilian Baseball Confederation officials say one of their main goals is to make the game popular — or at least known — among other Brazilians. As a result, programs to encourage youngsters to play baseball have been organized in recent years on the hardscrabble outskirts of some major cities, and new leagues and tournaments have begun.
That effort has already yielded a promising player who will be competing in Rio. Gilmar Pereira is a strapping 19-year-old right-handed pitcher with a 95-mile-an-hour fastball who was recruited from a poor neighborhood eight years ago, sent to Japan at 14 for three years of nurturing, and is now a Phillies farmhand.
“My dad thought at first that this was a sport with no future, but thanks to baseball, I’ve received a good education and gotten to know other cultures,” Pereira said. “I don’t know where I’d be today without baseball, because there is a lot of crime and drugs in my old neighborhood, and baseball has calmed me down and given me a focus in life.”
That’s all I know, but everyone likes a 95 mph fastball.
VSL Update – July
The VSL Phillies are currently 26-23 and in 4th place in the league, 9 games behind the Astro’s team. This has been somewhat of a transitional year for the Phillies after last year’s championships. With a much younger roster the Phillies are still playing .500, if not a bit better. It still is a little early to tell who are the best prospects. Here is a quick update on the better performers and the younger guys who may be the better prospects.
Offense
Yonderman Rodriguez (age 20) – IF who plays 2B, SS, and 3B is hitting .370 with a .886 OPS. He is clearly a polished player with more BB than SO. Unfortunately his age is a red flag on his prospect status. He does not have enough power or speed to be special in those areas, so his ability to hit for a high average is much of his value. Continue reading VSL Update – July
Ottawa Lynx Pitching First Half 2007-The Bullpen
The bullpen in the first half followed the lead of the starters: when they were good they were very good but…… As discussed in previous posts, much of the problem began with the troubles, (injuries-releases), experienced by the starting pitching. But some of it was just plain bad.
Continue reading Ottawa Lynx Pitching First Half 2007-The Bullpen
Ottawa Lynx Week Fourteen
The Lynx limped into the three day All-Star break losing three of four to Scranton/Wilkes Barre in a repeat of their previous four game home stand against the Yankees. In what has become the norm for this team in the 2007 season, two games were blowouts, (one was an Ottawa win), and two were one run games. Game one was especially ugly as J.A. Happ’s return to the rotation was a disaster. Happ had been hit hard in his major league debut and his return to the Lynx rotation was even more unsuccessful. Happ, (1-3), threw fifty pitches and retired only two batters. The game got so out of hand that outfielder Jim Rushford pitched the eighth inning. Scranton scored seven runs in the first innings, one in the second and three in the third. The Lynx scored four in the fourth and one in the fifth but Scranton scored another five runs in their half of the fifth. Jason Anderson went four inning and gave up seven runs. Yankee starter Chase Wright, (6-3), gave up seven runs in five innings of work but which the huge early Scranton lead, he didn’t have to be very fine and could just put the ball over the plate. Gary Burnham went 4-4 with five RBI for the Lynx and Dusty Wathan went 3-4 driving in three. Yes it was one of those games for certain but as we’ve seen through much of the first half, one of those games is becoming the norm.
It’s Mach-Mania
Tyler Mach seems to be the man of the hour. Everyone knows that I wasn’t found of the pick when it was made and said as much in my draft review, and now folks want to know if I’ve changed my mind, and they want to know why he’s still in Williamsport and hasn’t been moved up. So, I’ll try and tackle those questions and give you as good an answer as I can. Before that, just to add there is nothing new on the Joe Savery front, as far as I know, but he’s going to sign. I’ve also got nothing new to add on Brandon Workman and Julian Sampson, but I have a feeling that nothing will happen there until Savery is signed. Now, onto Mach-Mania..
Rotoworld’s Top 150 prospects
Midseason report released today.
29. Carlos Carrasco – RHP Phillies – DOB: 03/21/87 – ETA: June 2008
Previous rankings: 2007 #936-2, 2.84 ERA, 49 H, 53/22 K/BB in 69 2/3 IP for Single-A Clearwater
3-0, 3.48 ERA, 15 H, 14/12 K/BB in 20 2/3 IP for Double-A ReadingThe lack of a strikeout breaking ball hasn’t prevented Carrasco from holding hitters to a .199 average this season. That’s because he has nice movement on his 91-94 mph fastball and one of the top changeups in the minors. An improved curveball would give him top-of-the-rotation potential, and he still looks plenty good enough to succeed as is. The Phillies could choose to hurry him to the majors next month if they’re still in contention.
Pitchers ranked ahead of Carrasco
4. Clay Buchholz (BOS)
12. Max Scherzer (ARI)
14. Adam Miller (CLE)
16. Eric Hurley (TEX)
19. Joba Chamberlain (NYY)
21. Gio Gonzalez (CHW)
22. Nick Adenhart (ANA)
24. Wade Davis (TBD)
27. Jacob McGee (TBD)
That would make double C the 10th best pitching prospect in baseball. Not bad.
Adrian Cardenas checks in at #93 which is low, considering the names above him. Mathieson was ranked #125, and Josh Outman #130.
Phuture Phillies 