A rare Saturday post, but this is something I’ve been thinking about recently, and I’ve crystallized a few of the ideas I had, so I figured I’d get it out there now, and hopefully we can develop it and discuss it over the next few weeks, and then put something in place before Spring Training starts. If you’ve been here a while, I think you realize that the comments, contributors, and everyone who stops in here is what makes this place tick. I try to provide my opinion, I try to guide the discussion, but from posting articles to providing first hand knowledge, you the readers are really what drives this sight. Without your interest, feedback and discussion, this blog wouldn’t be where it is today, and it wouldn’t encourage me to keep this place as up to date as I do.
So, I figured it was only natural that we devote a section of this site to you. My goal is to have people actively involved with the content of this site, based on first hand experiences. I have a Clearwater correspondent, our Reading correspondent from last year, Gregg, will be working on Allentown this year, I think I have someone for Lakewood, andyb is going to keep writing on the DSL and VSL prospects, but I’ll need a Reading person. This year I’d like to expand things, I want people who go to games to contribute their first hand takes on players, send me pictures from the games, amateur video if you have the knowhow to transfer the video to the internet, and everything in between. We can look at statistics and get a good idea, but if you know what you are looking for in a player, seeing him first hand is invaluable, and it really gives you a better idea of what to expect out of a guy. It’s what people at Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, Perfect Game and every other site rely on. I live in Maryland, I’m not close to any of the Phillies affiliates, so it’s tough for me to get to a lot of games every year, but I know there are lots of people here who go to games regularly, and you guys are an invaluable asset here. I will go over some things in particular to look for when watching a player, in terms of being able to provide usable feedback here. I’m not a pro scout, but I’ve read enough to kind of understand what scouts look at when watching a player. I’m not asking you to carry a radar gun or stopwatch with you to games, there are even simpler things to look for, all of which I’ll go over later.
Where to go from here. I need someone who wants to write the weekly report for Reading. If you’re interested, you can check out the work that Gregg did last year, using this post of his as an example. These reports focus on the general progress of the team and then focus specifically on the legit prospects as well. In addition, I’m going to set up a page for each affiliate where people can submit game reviews, thoughts on particular prospects, and anything else like that. In addition, I’ll create an account on either flickr or photobucket where we can upload and share pictures, and if we get video submitted, I’ll add the video to each player’s profile page as I create them. I have a number of other ideas right now that are also in the pipeline, but I figured I’d throw this out there while it was at the forefront of my cluttered brain.
Phuture Phillies 
James,
I’d love to do this, but I’m not sure how many games in Reading that I’d go to. Money is an issue, but distance isn’t — Reading’s about 15 mins from my house and I know exactly where the stadium is and how to get there.
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Seeing tons of games isn’t a prerequisite for you to do the weekly report. If you’re a good writer, if you understand the general idea that I’m shooting for here, and if you keep up with prospects, read the online articles and such, you can definitely do it. Seeing games is a plus, but not necessary. I can even try to work on getting you a press pass, or at least a limited pass, once I figure out who is going to be doing it for sure. Just something to consider.
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Hi Folks:
Please allow me to introduce my self as your new Lakewood Blue Claws correspondent. My name is Bob Everett and I live in Bayville, NJ, about 10 miles from Lakewood in Ocean County. I am grew up in Beachwood, the next town over, which makes me a life long resident of this area. I own an auto repair shop in Bayville and am president of our local little league. I am also a Phillies season ticket holder and am very involved in our community. I am married to a huge Penn State fan and have one teenage son in his senior year in high school. I have been to many Blue Claws games, have been to Scranton once (good move getting out of there IMHO) and Clearwater, while Reading is still on my list. And of course I have been to many Phillies games, first at the Vet & now CBP, the best of which, by far, was game 6 in 1980; I would HOPE no further explanation of that is needed!
What you may not know about Ocean County is that it is, by far, Mets & Yankees country. Obviously, it was a GREAT time to be a Phillies fan around here this past September! Oh, and I have caught thousands of Blue Claws in Barnegat Bay over the years!
I look forward to covering the Blue Claws this year and hope I will be able to provide some insight for my fellow Phillies fans. Feel free to email BobEv@aol.com. You can also check out our Little League web site at http://www.berkeleylittleleague.org to see one of my passions. Only a few weeks to pitchers & catchers!
Bob
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Welcome aboard Bob. Thanks again for helping out.
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James,
Send me an e-mail regarding what you’d like me to do — wetwillyworld69@yahoo.com
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Rob, if you write as well as you select your email address we’ll all be entertained.
Thanks again to James and all the contributors here.
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James,
I got some ideas regarding video on your site that I can contribute with. I am going to send you an email from HTVP. Just thought I’d let you know it isn’t spam. Let me know if you don’t receive it. info@hometeamvideoproduction or nm19@comcast.net
Nick
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Anon,
I picked that e-mail when I was a pre-teen, it’s a reference to Wet Willy, a cartoon created by World Industries, which is a skateboard company. I’m actually a published poet and journalist, so I don’t know how much room there is to critique my writing ability.
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Rob,
Yes, you’re right. Being a published poet and journalist is critique enough… 😉
Chuck
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Bobev, Maybe I will see you at a blueclaws game this year. I live in Southern Ocean County (West Creek). However down here there are more Philly fans than those NY’ers.
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phuturephillies et al:
I am a writer, currently doing speechwriting and corporate communications. I have published a few technology articles in national magazines and once wrote a column called Paper Tigers in Philly’s weekly City Paper–personal observations attending sports evemts (Phils game, Eagles pre-season camp with Vermeil, etc. Even wrote a book review by a Philly author.
I’m a lifetime Phils fan who values both sabermetrics and consistent, informed, analytical observation of players over time. I have done a lot of the latter, being a Phils fan since the days of Bobby Malkmus, Valmy Thomas, Joe Koppe. The era I was first introduced to prepared me for phuture phutility!
I am living in Durham, NC and go to at least one game (try to get to a few) when AAA and Low a teams come into Durham and Greensboro (just an hour or so down I-85).
I would be happy to supplement the reports from people doing these levels with write-ups on what I see at these games. I have done this before–pretty extensive observations on game performance, my assessment of things like FB speed, visible confidence levels, plate discipline, etc., etc. I interviewed Scott Mathieson, Tim Moss, and a few other players one year in Greensboro and wrote that up.
If you think this fits your bill, you could think of me as the “Away Team” (attention Star Trek fans) and I could do at least two articles supplementing these levels and provide some color and whatever insight I can drum up.
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I am from King of Prussia area, halfway between Allentown and Reading. I can definitely get to a few Reading and Allentown games. I will do whatever is needed for the site (Around my work schedule), e-mail me with whatever you may need. Cisco616@yahoo.com. Thanks for the site as a Philadelphian originally I am a lifelong Phils fan and this site keeps me informed of what is waiting in the minors.
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James, I’ve said before that I can do Reading, if needed. The only problem is transportation. I can’t drive :(. I do go to a lot of Reading games with my family, I have my own blog here on WordPress, and I read most of the articles on our prospects. I would be a great candidate for the Reading job, though some of the other people on here seem to be more established than I am. I would love to write for such a reputable website as this. Drop me a line if necessary. wogglymaster@yahoo.com
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Hey Guys…I haven’t posted a lot here in the offseason, but I’ve been around. I’ll be looking forward to continuing to contribute Threshers notes this upcoming season and you can view my Threshers Blog by clicking on the “Threshers Blog” link at the right hand side of this page.
I also have Spring Training tickets, so if there is anything that you want me to contribute during March I’d be glad to do that. I’m at every game in the Spring, and about 80% of the Threshers games through the year. (I can’t make all of the road games), but I do write ups for all games even those I don’t attend.
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