Iron Pigs Update

7. Lehigh Valley

Lehigh Valley continues in last place in the IL Northern Division at 31-51, 19.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket.  Among the hitting leaders, continues to be Mike Cervenak who is 3rd in at bats (297), 7th in runs(48), 1st in hits (92), and 8th in average (.310). Andy Tracy is 5th in the league in walks (40), and 8th in the league in on base % (.392).  Although struggling a bit lately, Brian Mazone remains among the IL pitching leaders.  He is 7th in wins (7), 9th in ERA (3.29), 2nd in starts (16), first in innings (104.0), 4th in homers allowed (13), and 5th in WHIP (1.12).  James Happ continues to lead the lead in strikeouts (99) and is 7th in innings pitched(94.1). Matt Childers has been very strong lately and is now 4th in the league with 11 saves.

The ‘Pigs opened a series Monday against Durham, in North Carolina, with an outstanding performance by JA Happ (5-6). Happ went six shutout innings, giving up only a lone hit, while walking 2 and striking out nine, in the 7-0 victory.  RJ Swindle and John Ennis pitched a combined 3 scoreless innings to complete the shutout.  The offense was led by Jon Knott and Brennan King, both of whom were 2-4 and knocked their 5th homers. Mike Cervenak was 3-4 with a run and an RBI, Andy Tracy was 2-5 with 2 runs and an RBI, and Brandon Watson added 2 hits, on a big offensive night for the ‘Pigs.

On Tuesday, the Lehigh Valley offense showed little energy in a 4-1 loss to Durham.  Travis Blackley (3-4) started and took the loss, going 6 innings and giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits.  he walked 3 and struck out 4.  The ‘Pigs managed a lone run, on a solo homer by Andy Tracy (12) in the 7th inning.  Brandon Watson provided much of the other offense going 4-4 with a stolen base.

A 3 run homer in the 8th inning by Jon Knott (6), led Lehigh Valley to an exciting 4-3, come from behind victory Wednesday afternoon.  Les Walrond started and went 6 solid innings giving up just 1 run on 5 hits.  He walked 4 and struck out 7.  Steve Green (4-0) got the win in relief with Matt Childers striking out 5 in 2 scoreless innings to pick up his 11th save. Mike Rouse added 2 hits for the ‘Pigs.

The ‘Pigs concluded their series with Durham on Thursday with an offensive explosion scoring 10 early runs, and held on for a 10-8 victory.  Gary Knotts had a very rocky outing going 4.2 innings and giving up 8 runs on 6 hits. He walked 5 and struck out 3.  Jason ANderson (1-1) picked up the win in relief with Matt Childers collecting his 12th save. The offense was on fire with homers by Jon Knott (7) and Jason Jaramillo (4). Mike Rouse had a huge game going 4-5 with 2 runs, 3 doubles, and 2 RBI’s. TJ Bohn, Jason Jaramillo, and Mike Cervenak all had multi hit games for the ‘Pigs.

40 man report: JA Happ is now 5-6 in his 16 starts with a 3.73 ERA in 94 innings pitched.  He has walked 36 and struck out 99. The opposition is hitting .247 against him. He has been strong lately, going 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA in June.  Catcher Jason Jaramillo is now hitting .256 with 3 HR and 19 RBI’s in his 61 games. His ob% is .318 and is hitting .268 with RISP.  He is now throwing out runners at a 26% rate.  He is hitting .293 in June.  Infielder Oscar Robles continues his extremely mediocre performamce with a .213 average, 1 HR and 13 RBI’s in 41 games.  He is hitting .225 with RISP, and his fielding has been average.  OF TJ Bohn continues his horrific season sporting a .174 average, 2 HR and 5 RBI’s in 138 AB’s.  He is hitting .150 with RISP, has 3 SB and 2 suspensions on the year.

Notes: Andy Tracy returned to the lineup on Monday night after missing 3 games with a strained hamstring.

—TJ Bohn was suspended for the second time in 2 weeks, this time for comments he made about the umpiring over last weekend.

—Rich Thompson missed games Monday thru Wednesday with an undisclosed injury.

—Chris Snelling remains out with an inflammed knee.

–Relief Pitcher Steve Green has a 11.1 inning scoreless streak snapped on Wednesday.

–Lehigh Valley has either won or split 10 of the last 12 series.

–OF Brandon Watson had a 10 game hitting streak snapped last night.

—Jason Jaramillo has now thrown out 17 off 66 runners (26%).

–Lehigh Valley no longer has the worst record in the IL. (That honor goes to Norfolk)

–Look for Kris Benson to make a rehab start on Sunday for Lehigh Valley.

23 thoughts on “Iron Pigs Update”

  4. –Lehigh Valley no longer has the worst record in the IL. (That honor goes to Norfolk)

    Actually have to give the team credit for playing decent baseball after having about one of the worst starts possible, especially in a new town with a new stadium..

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  6. Happ is looking strong. I still think the team should look internally for another starter when the need arises.

    I’d rate Jaramillo as the most likely minor leaguer to be traded this summer.

    TJ Bohn > So Taguchi

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  7. I tried to see if Benson starting Sunday would line him up with either Eaton or Myers start and was disappointed to see it was Moyer instead…so I’d figure at least 2 starts at LV for Benson assuming he can continue to stay healthy…a big task for him.

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  9. Kdos to the fans for hanging with the Pigs during the dry spell. They’re second in the league in avg. attendance. I see the Italian tenor Valentino Pascucci is doing pretty well for the Mets AAA (.301 / 15hr/ 38 RBI). He certainly wasn’t helping us. I think the chemistry is better now. I’m on Casey Smith watch. Let’s release him and move up Harman or Donald. Cardenas could get a look at Reading.

    Does a pickoff count as a caught stealing for a catcher? I see Jaramillo has a few pickoffs. I know he’s willing and able to throw somebody out anywhere, anytime. Blackley also must have a good move to first. He has 3 pickoffs over is last 2 starts. Maybe his strategy is to walk a hot hitter and pick him off. Same as a strikeout.

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  11. just a guess, but i doubt any pitchers are comfortable with walking a hitter to try and get a pickoff for an out…. doesnt take much to stay close to the bag and ruin that gameplan…

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  12. I don’t believe pickoffs count as a CS…I could be wrong though…the intent to steal usually has to be there (in the Scorer’s opinion.

    On Benson: The FO stated that he will get at minimum 2 starts at AAA before any further decision is made. According to Todd Zolecki his velocity was consistently at 88/89 in his last start in Clearwater. That’s still down from when he was healthy a few years ago (then he was 91-93) but up from 2 weeks ago when he was 85-87. If he can continue to gain back velocity he can be effective…the talent has always been there for Kris, he just has to stay healthy and harness it.

    ****Let’s release him and move up Harman or Donald. Cardenas could get a look at Reading. ****

    I agree completely but from what we’ve said here, the Phillies are not likely to do that before any major trades. All 3 are possible tradebait and the better they do at their levels the more attractive they will be. Aug 1st however, I’d love to see Donald in AAA (hell I’d like to see him on the Phillies bench right now instead of Taguchi) and Cardenas in AA (he’s proven he can dominate A+ pitching at this point).

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  13. A few notes from milb.com on the Pigs recent surge that i found interesting…
    OUT OF THE I.L. CELLAR: Lehigh Valley climbed back ahead of Norfolk on Monday and out of the IL cellar. They climbed out for three days June 13-15. The IronPigs spent the first 70 days if the season in last place in the IL.

    GETTING SERIES-OUS: With the split in Charlotte, the IronPigs have now either won or split 9 of the last 11 series. They’ve won five, split four and lost just two. They started the season losing their first 10 series.

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  15. I saw the Iron Pigs in action last night against the Durham Bulls. They won 10-8, although they had a 10-1 lead at one point, so it got closer than it should have been.

    Here are my unimportant and unintelligent first-hand impressions:
    Jason Jaramillo (apparently pronounced “Me-o” and not “Mill-o”–at least that’s how the announcer pronounced it) hit a no-doubt three-run home run to right-center. I’d say it was a good 390-ft. blast or so.
    Immediately after Jaramillo hit that bomb, the Bulls pitcher beaned the next player (King, I think) in the back and got tossed. The Bulls’ 39-year-old catcher walked all the way to first base to prevent any fisticuffs.
    Jaramillo tried to pick someone off of second base with the bases loaded at one point and made a strong and pretty accurate throw, but to no avail. He seemed to have a pretty good arm.
    Andy Tracy (1B) seemed slower than dirt.
    Happ and Blackley spent the whole game talking to one another and taking in the action from the dugout.

    Like I said, unimportant stuff, but I thought I’d pass it along.

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  18. r98, I assume you already know this but Happ is going tonight against Scott Richmond. Richmond was just called up from AA. He’s a 6’5′ righty. 5 w 8L with New Hampshire with an ERA just under 5. Almost a strikeout an inning. If Happ has a good outing, we could see him in a trade or in Philly after the All-Star break.

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  19. Didn’t I say earlier we should bring up Watson? I know him being lefty is probably a problem but So really makes us have a 24 man roster and not a real 25 man roster. He’s not a bat off the bench. He’s Burrell’s caddy. He’s worthless.

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  22. was 3rd row beside home last nigh for Happ’s start, he looked great… he actually was touching 91 in the 7th and 8th on the stadium gun, he was crusing for most of the game, a misjudged ball cost him the run and the win eventually

    he deserves another shot soon, without a doubt…..

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  23. very composed last night as well, wasn’t wild, never got flustered, granted they didnt hit him enough to get flustered, but even after the run, he just kept pitching, effectively, inside, outside, changeup looked good, he was spotting his fastball early like it was his job, he did lose a notch of control as the game went on, but realistacally 2 of his five hits probably could have been caught, and the run saved as well…. he looked in control, at all times

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