Monthly Archives: April 2008

Clearwater Threshers Weekly Report

02. Org Reports, 04. Prospect Features, 5. Clearwater, Bastardo, Antonio, Savery, Joe

This week’s Clearwater Threshers report includes a bonus 8 games for the week thanks to a 10:30 am game on Wednesday that I was able to include here. Fortunately it was able to add another win to put them at a still disappointing 3-5 since my last report. As I mentioned last week it continues to be the pitching that is helping Clearwater out while their hitting as a team remains a disappointment to this point in the year.

Despite the poor team record there are some prospects on the team putting up terrific numbers. As I mentioned the pitching is carrying them to this point so I’ll touch on that first. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Weekly Report →

Jason Donald/Greg Golson chat hits

Bastardo, Antonio, ESPN/BA/BP Mentions

I’m working hard this afternoon

JM (DC): Hey Kevin, a few questions about Phillies prospects. Jason Donald was hitting well in Reading before hurting his hand, are scouts starting to come around on him or is he still a utility guy? Also, what do you make of Greg Golson’s fast start? Just a 3 week flash in the pan, or is he turning it around? He’s posting the highest walk rate of his career right now…

Kevin Goldstein: I actually like Donald quite a bit offensively, but defensively, he’s got a little Jed Lowrie in him where he’s playing there, and he’s holding his own, but it’s not really what you want there glove wise. Golson is a total tool shed, and what he’s doing right now is one of the top things to keep your eye in early in the season.

You rarely hear someone called a tool shed in a positive light, but KG pulled it off. If Donald turns into a Jed Lowrie type prospect, that would be pretty ok in my book.

Hey, we also got a Bastardo reference!

Jeff N (Lawyerville FLA): Hey Kevin, what do you know about Antonio Bastardo? Hes striking out like 20 guys per 9 innings right now. Is he just a fastball pitcher abusing weak hitters?

Kevin Goldstein: Well, 34 in 22.2 innings, but still damn good!. Tony the Bastard is a little lefty is good command and a great changeup. Not a lot of projection, but could end up a bullpen piece.

KG not only breaks out a toolshed reference, he goes with the preferred “Tony the Bastard” as well. What a world we live in…

Lets look at Golson’s start

Other Stuff

Golson is all the rage these days with his fast start at Reading, and really, its hard not to get excited, even for Golson doubter #1 right here. We’ve all seen the flashes of what he can do, and invariably, he cools off. While he’s probably going to slow down at some point (everyone does), his fast 3 week start is certainly a promising sign. I wanted to look at his numbers right now, compared to his numbers from past seasons, and see if we can see something obvious. So, lets get to work…

Continue reading Lets look at Golson’s start →

Tuesday thoughts…

Other Stuff

Today I was thinking I’d share my biggest surprise of the young season, and ask you for your biggest surprise, whether its a player playing really well or a guy struggling. I know which guy most people are going to talk about, so instead I’ll go for a guy who has kind of flown under the radar, despite getting off to an excellent start. The Phillies jumped Matt Spencer over Lakewood, despite him not having the greatest of debuts, and so far, he’s responded.

Continue reading Tuesday thoughts… →

2008 Mock draft, version 1.1

2008 Draft

*disclaimer*

Mock drafts done two months before the draft are pretty much worthless, but as you know, I love thinking about the draft and trying to figure out what teams will do. So, I figured it would be fun to start looking at teams, consider their drafting strategies in years past, the available talent, and then start to think about how the chips will fall. Since the Phillies pick at #24, its highly unlikely we’ll have any idea what they are planning to do until we get a lot closer to the draft, but I enjoy these types of exercises anyway, so we’ll just go with it and then after the draft, we can look back on this and laugh

* end disclaimer*

So here goes

Continue reading 2008 Mock draft, version 1.1 →

Brad Harman called up, Rollins to DL

Transactions

Just figured I’d throw this up now. The Phillies finally did the right thing putting Jimmy Rollins on the DL. Brad Harman gets the call, and I can only imagine that is because Jason Donald still isn’t 100% after being hit on the hand a week ago. Harman has come a long way after a really disappointing 2006 to making his big league debut less than 2 years later. Heres hoping for all the best for Brad.

Iron Pigs Review

7. Lehigh Valley

After the second full week of the International League season the Iron Pigs are mired in last place with a 2-13 record, eight full games behind the divsion leading Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees. While there are no Pigs among the league hitting leaders, Ron Chiavacci leads the league with a 0.52 ERA and is 8th in the league with 17.1 innings pitched. Brian Mazone is 7th in the league with 18 innings pitched, however leads the league in homers allowed with 4. JA Happ is tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 21.

Continue reading Iron Pigs Review →

Outman v Carrasco

ESPN/BA/BP Mentions

I meant to write this up yesterday, but I was sidetracked after the chat and then forgot to put it up last night. A commenter posted it, which reminded me to do it now. Yesterday in his chat, Jim Callis was asked whether he liked Carlos Carrasco or Josh Outman more, and his response was…

Brian (Philly): Carlos Carrasco or Josh Outman?

SportsNation Jim: Beginning to think the answer to that one should be Outman.

Now this strikes me as somewhat strange. I don’t mind someone liking Outman a bit more, but nothing in their comparative numbers this year would indicate Outman should pull ahead of Carrasco, as Carrasco was again ranked higher by BA heading into this season.

Carrasco, Age 21: 11.0 IP — 8 H — 4 BB — 14 K — 2 HR — 0.55 GO: AO
Outman, Age 23: 17.0 IP — 18 H — 8 BB — 19 K — 0 HR — 0.68 GO:AO

The only statistical advantage Outman has over Carrasco is a few more groundballs at this point, and Carlos has allowed 2 HR. But Carrasco is 2 years younger than Outman, which is a really big consideration in this debate. Outman’s fastball is good for a lefty, with plus velocity, but his control is a real work in progress, as it has been since he came out of college. Carrasco hasn’t done anything to diminish his stock this season, and Outman hasn’t really blown the doors off just yet. Both guys still have work to do, neither guy is ready for the bigs just yet, and 2-3 starts is hardly a telling sample size. Anyway, its nice to see Outman is liked in the talent evaluation circles, but I still think Carlos gets the nod, at least until we have a significant 2008 sample worth analyzing.

Clearwater Threshers News

5. Clearwater, Bastardo, Antonio, Game Recaps

The Clearwater Threshers continue to struggle with a record of 4-8 on the season.  The pitching has by far been the team’s strength as they have the 4th best ERA in the league at 3.32 and the 3rd most strikeouts with 94.  Unfortunately their hitting has kept them from winning very many as they are dead last in the league in hits, and slugging percentage with only 20 extra base hits on the year.

Antonio Bastardo and Joe Savery have lead the way for the starting pitchers each posting impressive 0.90 ERAs on the year while Adrian Cardenas (.347), Matt Spencer (.302) and John Urick (.300) are the only Threshers hitters batting .300 or better with five players languishing at .200 or below.

Continue reading Clearwater Threshers News →

Weekly Report Lakewood Blue Claws

4. Lakewood

Very busy week for me, sorry this is late. Busy getting our Little League going. This is short and sweet.

The Blue Claws went 4-3 this week; even the losses were very close games.Last Wednesday, The Blue Claws beat Hagerstown 6-5 behind Mike Durant’s 4-4 day with a double and home run. Lakewood scored three runs in the bottom of the 6th with 4 straight two out hits. Taylor, Durant and Mattair all singled before Joel Naughton cleared the bases with a double. Tyson Brummett pitched well going 6ip, just 3hs and 1ER. Simon go the first of his 3 lucky wins this week. Thursday night the Blue Claws rapped out 11 hits to back Julian Sampson’s 5ip,6h, 2r, 2bb 4k effort. The Blue Claws won 7-5. Rizzotti, Taylor, Bolt, and Winn each had two hits. Simon got this second win in a row in relief. Friday, Lakewood’s bats went ice cold, only getting 3 hits in a 3-1 loss at Delmarva. Diekman pitched well, 6ip, 4 hits just one run with 3bb & 4ks. Saturday Delmarva won again, 2-1. Joel Naughton had 2 doubles and Chance Chapman went just 4 ip giving up 5 hits and one run. Rocchio got the loss in relief. On Sunday, the bats came back to life behind the solid effort of Drew Naylor, 7ip, 2r, 8k & just one bb. Naughton went 2 for 2 after pinch hitting; Kyle Bolt had 2 doubles to pace Lakewood. Yesterday, the Blue Claws were at Lake County, losing 5-4. Tyson Brummett went 6 innings, giving up 5h, 4 earned runs with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. Michael Taylor had two hits including a home run.And earlier today Lakewood finished up their road trip with a 5-3 win. Julian Sampson went 7ip, givng up just 2 runs. Durant and Taylor kept going with their hot hitting with 2 hits a piece, Taylor’s were both doubles.

Who’s Hot ( through Monday)

Mike Taylor.364 with 4doubles
Mike Durant .325, 4 HR 8 RBI
Drew Naylor 3.18 era, 17ip 20k 3bb
Tyson Brummett 3.18, 17ip, 21k, 7bb

Who’s Not
Freddy Galvis .163
D’Arby Myers .162
Travis Mattair .143
Derrick Mitchell .118

Who’s Lucky
Jared Simon 3 wins in relief

From the Jersey Shore,
Bob Everett