Happy Monday to you. If you’ve been following along for a while now, you know that I’m generally critical of the current front office. But even I didn’t think they were capable of screwing up the Paul Owens Award, given to the Phillies minor league hitter and pitcher for the year. But, they did screw it up, again. As announced here (scroll down), the 2007 winners were Mike Zagurski and Quintin Berry. I’d LOVE someone to explain these choices. Berry had a nice season, he elevated his prospect status, but come on. Jason Donald put up better numbers at a higher level at the same age. Mike Costanzo had a huge second half at a higher level. Adrian Cardenas had a better season at the same level at a much younger age. And while Berry seems like a mistake, the Zagurski decision is indefensible, just like it was indefensible to give the award to Robinson Tejeda in the season where he spent a lot of time in the majors. Zagurski put up great numbers in the minors, but spent a good bit of time with the big league club, and he finished the season on the DL. Andrew Carpenter’s season wasn’t better? Josh Outman’s season wasn’t more impressive?
A true head scratcher, but that’s becoming common place for this organization.
Phuture Phillies 
I completely agree with you that these were bad choices. I also agree Donald and Carpenter. Disagree on your second pitching choice. The 3-year younger Carrasco over Outman.
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Hey, I’m a big fan of Berry, but I don’t know that I would rank him in the top 5 position player prospects – Donald, Costanzo (especially for the PR purposes, being a local kid), Cardenas, Harman were all more deserving.
As for the pitchers, how could Kendrick not win it?!?!? Especially given the organization’s rationale. IMO Drew Carpenter should have been a no-brainer to win it – the guy was the Ace of a championship team.
– Jeff
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I can’t fault the Phillies for their choices for the Paul Owens Award. It just demonstrates how inept of an organization the Phillies have continue to be year in and year out. The organization continues to fail in making common sense draft picks in the middle rounds, because of financial reasons. Taking who they feel will sign, and picks to fill in roster spots over true raw talent. The Awards went to players they felt needed ego boost over players that really demonstrated superiority on the field in their own age group or class.
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If Berry had such a great year why did they leave this soon to be 23 year old in low A ball all season especially when Golson was called up to AA from Clearwater? I thought this was a minor league award. Outman led all FSL’s starters in ERA and Carpenter won 19 games there. Glad he did not win 20. That would have caused a problem in explaining why he did not win the award. Guess they both came in tied for a close second in the balloting.
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There’s really nothing to say about this other than that it doesn’t at all surprise me. I’m sure Geary was runner-up for the award based on the way they’ve chosen winners in the past.
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While I didn’t agree with the Berry choice (I would have chosen Donald who hit .300 at two levels playing a demanding position and by season’s end batted 3rd on a championship team), Berry did make a strong case by having such a good year. On the pitching side however, Carpenter’s season seemed too good to overlook. The way he dominated down the stretch and won big game after big game is the dream of every organization. Odd selections indeed…
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WoW! With those picks I am suprised Rod Barajas didn’t win it, I mean he tore up Lakewood to the tune of a .375 avg.
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Great point again PhuturePhillies…
Paul Owens Award Winners…should have been……
Pitcher of The Year…
Andrew Carpenter won 19 Games !!!!!!! he should have been a NO-DOUBT-ABOUT-IT PICK!!! , plain and simple, Hands down best pitcher this season.
The Hitter should have been Mike Costanzo. ..Costanzo…who had a great 2nd half put up monster numbers…27 HR…92 Runs Scored…86 RBI…249 Total Bases…75 walks, led all Phillies minor leaguers in those stats.
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It was truly mystifying and calls directly into question the organization’s ability to evaluate players and their performances. Neither player should have ranked in the top 5 in his respective slot (pitcher and player). Bizarre.
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And we wonder why our minor league system is so weak. If they don’t know who is good and who is bad, how can they even evaluate talent or draft. This is a joke.
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It really is beyond explanation. Not sure even who you’d ask about it… maybe Salisbury? I’d love to know what they were thinking. At the risk of just echoing, I would have chosen Donald and Carpenter.
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I was more surprised at the pitching choice, because the first thought that came into my mind was “But Zagurski’s been in the big league ‘pen a decent amount this year.” That was followed with “And now he’s done for the year, on the dl…”
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from Mr. C: “The Awards went to players they felt needed ego boost over players that really demonstrated superiority…”
Just to play Devil’s Advocate, is it such horrible reasoning, assigning the award to a player who will potentially benefit the most from winning it?
If the goal is to maximize the cadre of investments over time, why not help someone out; perhaps giving an organizational confidence-boost will push either into a better strata. Or, perhaps, they know each has hit their ceiling, and the award is sort of a “thanks for playing,” to be hung on a future fireplace mantle.
Its obvious the best players didn’t win; and its downright folly to think the FO (or the players themselves) don’t know this.
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I don’t get how people can still defend the front office. I really don’t.
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Andrew Carpenter & Jason Donald both elevated their games this year and helped an otherwise prospectless (except for Brad Harman) Clearwater team pull out a great late season run for a division win and an FSL Championship.
I know it would be hard to give it to two guys on the same team, but if any two deserved it they were the ones.
Ridiculous…
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Things that make you go hmmm…
All that matters is that they promote and give chances to the right guys.
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I’m certainly not a front-office apologist, but do you really think the org thought those two were the most valuable players in the system this year? there’s gotta be more to it… i mean, i know we may not have the brightest minds in the game, but implying they can’t discearn the best seasons post facto?
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So, how long until the truth comes out as to why these jabronis were chosen?
For that matter, WHO IS IT that does the choosing/voting within the organization? In spring training, most of the big wigs are public and very accessable. I saw Dallas Green sitting in the stands at least 6 times during spring training last year and amazingly I kept from yelling at him. Saw Gillick numerous times just walking around. Amaro is a constant spectator as well.
If I knew who chose this award, I could actually ask them what they were thinking. Would I get a satisfactory answer? Probably not, but damn, it felt good a few years ago to get into a discussion with Ed Wade about his absolutely stupid moves.
A lot better than complaining on a message board.
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It’s Carpenter and Donald. No question.
I’m thinking Phuture Phillies should have it’s own post-season awards, overall, by level, by improvement, whatever. It would be, methinks, a better list with more accurate assessments.
Incidently, I liked the post that indicated that the selections show, yet again, in another way, that the organization lacks an eye for talent.
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In any event, if everyone’s been reading the newspapers today, you know that next year is Gillick’s last as Phillies GM. I hope the organization gives Arbuckle a chance as I know he understands the importance of the farm system and, really, how can you kill a guy who has put four players on the field that have HOF potential?
I fear, however, that the Phillies will do the conventional thing and give the job to company man Amaro. I have no confidence that Amaro knows what he is doing and am also concerned that the elevation of Amaro will lead to the defection of Arbuckle and the unwinding of the Phillies farm system. Yes, there are probably many other people out there who would be qualified to replace Arbuckle. Will the Phillies get one of those people? I doubt it.
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I’m having a hard time getting exercised over this one. Yes, they’re bad choices. But these awards are meaningless.
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I love Quintin Berry as a prospect and have no problem with him as the Owens award winner. He showed amazing discipline at the plate along with blazing speed–a potentially lethal combination–and I think he’ll make an excellent big league leadoff hitter. Jason Donald would have been a good choice, too.
Mike Zagurski did make a strong impression in his brief stint with the Phillies, but like most of you I would have gone with Carpenter, who was the ace of a championship team. Seems obvious, but what the heck.
To those who are particularly upset, just keep in mind that the Paul Owens award won’t make or break any of these guys.
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One person mentioned having Phuture Phillies Awards, and in my opinion this would be an excellent idea. I do my own awards every year in Clearwater for the team, and get the sence that the guys really appreciate them. Being only for Clearwater my awards don’t always go to the top prsopects, but to the guys on the team who deserved them.
Phuture Phillies awards would tend more to go to prospects, but you have guys like Drew Carpenter this year who was not a TOP prospect, but really had a great year worthy of recognition.
This site seems to have a very good following for being in it’s infancy, and in years to come it could be an award worth bragging about.
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Just an F.Y.I.
Carpenter & Costanzo were named Top Phillies Minor League Players for 2007 by Jim Salisbury-(Philly Inquirer) in Baseball America’s Organization Report on September 21st.
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Maybe they awarded those two because of how they worked to improve and that it shows that even if you are not a top draft pick that hard work and persistence pays off. Sometimes you morons look to much into it. Just be thankful your team is in the race.
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I think they picked those two to increase their trade value next season.
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Whoever wrote this article is a loser and shouldnt write for any league higher than JV baseball, Zagurski had 30K’s and only 4 walks in 16 innings in High-A with an astonishing 1.10 era, Then thrown into the Double A fire at midseason he had 8 K’s and 2 walks in only 7 innings with a 1.29 era before being called up. Then threw a little for Triple-A ottawa where he managed an era of 2.00. Dominated at every level, and threw well in the show. Stop playing world of warcraft and maybe watch a game or two
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Good idea.
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