Very busy and productive week for the Reading Phillies. The Phils performed at their best this week as they sent there two Olympic respresentatives off in style, going 5-2 on the week, while beating up on the likes of New Britain, New Hampshire, and Harrisburg. Instead of doing the game by game recaps, lets take a look at what our best prospects did on the week.
Lets start off with the worst news first, that way everything else will seem awesome. Bastardo is still inactive, riding the “7-day” DL with a torn labrum muscle in his throwing shoulder. But, lets not dwell on the negagtives, because there were plenty of positives from the week that was. Brummett had an indifferent week, getting one start and allowing 3 earned over 5 innings. Brummett continues to allow a lot of walks, registering 5 on the night. Carrasco also had an off week, starting two games, and not pitching particularly effective in either one of them. He combined to give up 9 earned runs in 11.2 innings of work. There were some good signs, however. He only allowed 9 hits and 5 walks on the week, so it appears some of the runs were a bit flukish. Also, he struck out 14 batters total, 7 in each game. Great sign, ecspecially for those of you who love k’s as an indication of future success. The pitching star of the week would have to be the young Edgar Garcia. Garcia only had one appearance on the week, but pitched very effectively., He lasted 7 strong innings, allowing 3 earned on 5 hits and 2 walks. He also struck out 2 but took a tough loss on the evening. The last pitcher of note is Castro, who had one great outing and one terrible outing. He pitched 7 innings allowing 2 earned on 5 hits and only 1 walk one night. Then pitched 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, but still only 1 walk, adding up to 5 earned runs the next night. He did strike out an impressive 14 batters over the two games. Finally, we should all welcome Andrew Carpenter aboard. He was promoted this week, returning to Reading for the first time since his disastarous first 2 months of the season. Hopefully, he has worked out some issues and his here to stay (at least until he gets promoted once again).
Lets look at our 4 main hitting prospects by starting with the two Olympians, Marson and Donald. Marson had a fine week, not great, not lousy. He seems to be stuck in this land of medicority lately. Hopefully, the Olympics will jumpstart him for a september call-up. Anyway, he went 4-16 with 4 walks and 0 XBH and 0 RBI. Donald, meanwhile, continues to ride a hot streak. Donald went 5-12 with 4 walks, 1 3B, 1 RBI, and 1 RS on the week. Good luck to both of our great, young prospects in China. Golson had a bizzare week, going 9-32 (good) with 4 walks (bad), 0 2B (bad), 0 3B (bad), 2 HR (good), 6 RS (good), 4 RBI (indifferent), and 12 K’s (bad). In other words, it was a pretty normal week for Golson. Slayden was the star of the week. Slayden went 12-33 with 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 RS, and 2 walks. Congratulations, Slayden, your performance has earned you the first ever Reading Phillies Star of the Week! In all seriousness, I know Slayden is old for his age but I have been a pretty big believer of his for a while, I think he can be a good everyday major league outfielder. That is it folks, thanks for reading.
Phuture Phillies 
Thanks Zac. Reading actually pulled itself out of the cellar, only to put themselves back in it. I’d like to see this team pull together through the end of the season. They need some consistency. They’ve lost a chunk of the offense (Donald and Marson) so some guys have to step up. Harman and Golson are the two I’d like to see pick up the slack. Slayden is already showing he’ll do his part. Pitching has to get more consistent. Sam Walls has more BBs than Ks. He seemed to be turning it around with 4 straight decent outings and then got smacked around last night. Castro is a mystery to me. He’s up and down and all around. I think moving him to the bullpen has set him back.
I also got a chuckle out of one thing you wrote, “Slayden is old for his age”. I know what you meant to say and I’ve done it a few times myself.
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Thanks for the report on Slayden. I’ve seen him play and I’ve been following his progress carefully. I don’t know if he can be a major league regular (maybe he can), but I coming to the conclusion that he is going to, at the very least, be a nice hitter coming off the bench and perhaps also a 4th or 5th outfielder. The type of guy that Charlie Manuel loves to have around.
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Is it just me or just Carrasco continue to be the more irritating Phillies prospect in existence? Every time you think he’s turned the corner he suddenly pitches like crap for a couple of games…he’s so bloody inconsistent. When he’s on…HE’s ON!! but when he’s off…man it gets ugly.
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i think that your assessment of golson is a little harsh. he didn’t have a bizare week. 4 walks in 32 ABs is not “Bad”. he also had a few sac flies (which is good situational hitting). the k rate was not good, but otherwise a 9-32 week with 4 walks, 2 homers and 2 sac flies is a good week.
assessment is about frame of reference. if you start with the assumption that a player is a certain way, then it alters objectivity.
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I think the assessment of Golson is fine.
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Carrasco shows the inconsistency of a 21 year-old pitcher.
There was another former Philly prospect who showed that same trait at a young age but was rushed to the big leagues anyway. Gavin Floyd is now pitching pretty well with the WhiteSox at the age of 25 after failing miserably with the Phillies big club.
Hopefully they don’t make the same mistake with Carrasco of trying to force his development by pushing him to the majors sooner than he is ready.
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****Carrasco shows the inconsistency of a 21 year-old pitcher****
I know I know…that’s what I keep telling myself. I’m beginning to think he might spend another year at Reading to work on his issues though. Each prospect develops at his own pace.
Ironically I was almost happy to see that Golson looks like he might be taking more pitches lately…maybe he’s learning patience? His walk rate has been way up for July (for him anyway) though his Avg is in the .240 range
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4 walks for Golson in a week is damn good – probably a career high.
Otherwise, I didn’t have any problem with the Golson write up. First off, Zac is doing this as a volunteer, and objectivity is not a requirement. Secondly, that is a pretty standard week for Golson, which Zac did say, and overall Golson has had a pretty decent year – mixing exciting play with some frustration (especially the Golden Sombrero on July 27th)
– Jeff
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I’d have no problem with Carrasco starting next season at AA Reading again. As soon as he shows more consistant performances, promote him to AAA.
He just seems to be one of those guys who needs a little additional time at each level to get comfortable.
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I just posted a message about Slayden on another board and came here and saw that he was being appreciated. Good. If we can actually get something for Jason Werth, and move him, I don’t see a tremendous dropoff by throwing Slayden up there. I’d like to see him as an outfielder off the bench, at least for the time being.
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Watched Carrasco start 7 or 8 games for Reading over the last two years. Go expecting to see him dominate and every time been disappointed. Little command of his pitches and when he did come in always hit hard. But patience is a virtue.
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I like Slayden . . . much more than most people. But there is nothing right now that makes me think that he’s on the same level of Jayson Werth. In my view, Werth is on the verge of becoming a minor star – nearly a Pat Burrell type of offensive player with much more speed and defense. A really good player. It’s possible that Slayden could become another Jason Bay, but he’s more likely a better version of Jason Michaels. That’s not bad and he can help the Phillies, but he’s unlikely to become a very good major league regular. I hope I’m wrong about that, however.
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It’s unfortunate, but not likely that we’ll ever see that opportunity.
That is, for Werth to get a FT gig with the Phillies, or for Slayden to get the same.
Before he beat up a cop, Michaels was a very serviceable outfielder.
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at first i thought the slayden to bay comparison was off, but looking at the minor league numbers, it is actually a good comparison.
At similar level and age:
– Bay had more steals
– Same XBH %, but Bay had more HR
– similar k rate (22% which is to be expected with the power)
– bay has a higher walk rate although slayden’s is respectable
– same batting average
– slayden has more rbi’s but that might be because he has an on base machine hitting in front of him.
interesting.
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Not to be argumentative but Slayden is 26 and in AA…hardly a huge prospect other than a 4/5 OF at best.
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seems like the tides are changing for Garcia….do u guys think his future will b as a closer or as a starter??…..I think he def has to prove something next yr if he wants to be shining on the mound for more than 1 inning in ‘las grandes ligas’
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nepp – it is a good point, but i think past a certain age, it really doesn’t matter. stats are stats.
if someone really young is doing it at a high level, like marson at 22. that stands out. but bays stats were at age 24/25. so the fact that slayden’s are at 26 is not really material. no one is saying this guy is going to be a HOF’er. just that it looks like he is an mlb’er.
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A typical week is a 37.5 K rate? Is that close to his career average? I could understand accepting that K rate if he had Ryan Howard’s power.
Do you all think that patience and zone recognition can be learned or is it an innate ability? I think its an innate ability. You can learn to recognize the strike zone with time but you also need the ability to recognize pitches and have amazing depth perception. I guess what I’m trying to say is that a guy with a high average or very high balls in play will be able to eventually learn the strike zone since they seemingly have the innate ability to judge depth and speed. I know I don’t, my eyes sucks.
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Slayden is old for his age? I don’t even know how to begin assessing that hurdle. Maybe get an earring and a Corvette like my uncle did?
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Sellers having a nice game for Reading today. Quietly putting together a good year.
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I have to take the negative side here. I don’t see a top prospect in the system right now other than maybe Marson and maybe Donald (someplace other than Philadelphia).
Carrasco may be great some day but that day isn’t today. He better stay where he is for still another year. He is way too inconsistent. After him, who? I thought Garcia was progressing but he hasn’t done anything much since his promotion. Brummett also is also underachieving at Reading.
The guys I have long range hope for are Monasterious and maybe Drew Naylor. I used to think Carpenter could make a middle of the rotation guy in Philly but obviously he has taken a step back for now.
What about Clay Harris? Nobody mentions this kid but his numbers are great. He gets promotied and his strike out rate stays about the same (very low), he gets more BB’s than K’s. He hits for power. To me this kid with his background looks like the best hitting prospect in the system.
Am I wrong? Is there someone fundamentally wrong with him?
He’s only been a Reading a few weeks but he is certainly doing well there. I guess the next month will tell the tale.
Joey
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Carrasco = 21
Garcia = 20
Slayden = 26
Marson = 22
Production > Projection
Its funny because no one thinks Cole Hamels (how old is he?) is a better MLB’er because he dominated Luis Gonzalez (40) in a game as opposed to if he dominated Ryan Zimmerman (25?).
If a guy can cut the mustard, play him regardless of age.
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Besides, wouldn’t the Phils FO rather have a guy come up at 26/27, that way he can be under their control to 32/33 and they can not worry about having to sign them to a long term deal after that, because he will have been deemed too old for a multi-year deal?
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There’s also the argument that Slayden is playing so well essentially because he’s in his peak years while the guys he’s up against are 22/23 and still learning…He’s Jason Michaels with slightly less average and maybe more power…i.e. a 5th OF on a playoff team.
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Nice outing for Carpenter today – 7 IP, 5 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 Ks, 1 BB, 1 HR allowed.
Good rebound from his terrible start of the season. Looks like he might have worked out his bugs in Clearwater.
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Joey, What is it about Monasterios that you like?
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Pat Burrell:
Just saw your question. I didn’t mean to overstate it lol. But there is so little to like at the A+, AA and AAA levels that I admit I clutch at straws.
I keep individual game stats for pitchers rathr than using the summary line. This gives me a chance to back out that bad game or two that might distort a player’s potential.
Monasterios has been a slow developer but he did look like a comer early this year. But I wasn’t thinking of him as a future star, just maybe someone who could make the rotation. Before the DL, it seemed to me that for the most part he kept a low WHIP and didn’t hurt himself. I liked that.
I think those traits are a good indicator of a kid’s potential. Especially the WHIP. Something around 1.1 to 1.3 gives me hope. I am not big on K’s unless they come with some other things but I am big on the WHIP.
I have a formula which I use to try to measure a pitcher’s potential. I believe we should judge a player by his performance on the field and not by any established criteria. For example, if he does very well at Lakewood, move him up to Clearwater. I don’t care how many games he pitched or any other guidelines. If he does the job at one level, move him up. If he falls on his face, drop him back to regroup (like Carpenter), then when he is ready, move him up again. If he fails again, I am pretty much going to look elsewhere. As long as he performs at one level, I move him up. Brummett was one. Michael Taylor was another. Drew Naylor was a third. Antonio Bastardo did well at Lakewood and then at Clearwater so they moved him up to Reading. Fine. If he can’t hack it at Reading we know his limit. If he can, Lehigh Valley waits for him and maybe Philadelphia. If not, he can stay at Reading or drop back to Clearwater and try again. You only get to fail once with me. You have to really make great strides to come back more than one time.
We have no pitchers in our system that have demonstrated to me that they are going to be top of the rotation pitchers in the big leagues. At least, at this moment. Maybe a couple who have shots at the back end of the rotation but that’s about it. (I am excluding Drabek.)
The formula I use to measure pitching prospects is
100.0 + IP/G + K’s/IP (-) ERA (-) HR/9IP (-) 2 x WHIP = Value
Anything over 101.0 is a #1. 100.0 to 100.9 is a #2. 99.0 to 99.9 is a #3. 98.0 to 98.9 is a #4 and 97.0 to 97.99 is a #5. It works out pretty good and sort of highlights potential. A pitcher has to earn a summary rating of at least a #2 (100.0 points) to be promoted.
There was a period of four games early in the year when Carlos had a rollig average of 101.82 with an average WHIP of 1.1. That was at Clearwater. I thought he was coming on but then he got hurt and when he got back he threw some bad games so at this time, I am not so sure.
Whats funny is how good these kids can look at one level and how bad at the next level. I was liking Garcia at Clearwater but he’s behind the curve at Reading. Same with Brummett. Carrasco runs a continuous 100.0 (#2) but he is so up and down I can’t really develop any confidence in him. I think he needs anothe year at Double AA.
Carpenter was bad at Reading, then found himself at Clearwater (2nd time around) As I said, I do drop out a really bad game when doing totals. Carpenter back at Clearwater threw a good series of game earning ratings of 103.63/104.12/101.25/101.28/107/07 (great)/and then a clunker at 94.50.
Back at Reading his 1st start earned him a 102.99.
Normally I would be excited at that kind of performance but having seen him first time around, I am going to be a bit more cautious this time. I thought Drew might be a middle of the rotation workhorse in the majors, particularly after his championship year, so I was really disappinted by his failure at Reading. I kept reading on this site that he might be hurt so I don’t know about that. I am rooting for him because we are thin at his position. But he has to pitch well this time around.
Anyway, I didn’t mean to run on but I thought Monasterious showed me something was cooking with him then he got hurt. Right now, I don’t know who to watch. Savery was bad, got better, then got killed again so who knows about him. And there really isn’t anybody else to except Drew Naylor. He was great at Lakewood. so I was hopeful he would do well at Clearwater and finally he began to assert himself with two splendid outings but then a couple of days ago he got lit up for 10 runes in 3.1 innings. How can anybody with real talent have an outing like that one?
It took him down a peg and now he has something to overcome just like Brummett.
Anyway, Happ is in Philly. He is a pretty decent propsect although I am not sure for what. lol. No one else at LV. No one really special right now at Reading unless Carpenter dashes through this opening. With Savery falling back again, he drops down so Clearwater’s cup is emptyl.
Naylor’s performance the other night pushes him back a peg or two. Byrd has bounced up and down so for the time being, I am just watching him. Which brings me back to MONASTERIOS. LOL
So that’s what I like about him.
OMG we don’t have much in the way of genuins talent at the pitching position. Not now anyway. I’d like to mention Grabek but it’s way too early for that. So – nobody.
How sad.
I still think I like Harris. But if he’s as good a prospect as I think he is, why did they sit him this week for four games in favor of a journeyman going nowhere?
I think I need a new team.
Joey
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It won’t make you feel any better to see the line from Savery’s outing tonight. 1 IP, 8 R, 1 SO, 4 BB. Can’t get much worse than that. It’s hard for me to get excited about him or Carrasco, until they string together a few more consistently positive starts. At pitching, the system does seem thinner than when the season started.
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Pat Burrell:
Don’t know if you care to respond but if you do you can email me your response: Chonors686@Aol.com.
Kendrick who in my book is a #4, had a 99.54 last time out (#3) and a 101.36 tonight for a #1 rating. And this kid somehow just wins games.
Last year, for the year he earned a rating of 98.88 or a strong #4. This year so far, he is earning a 97.26 or a #5. So he did better last year. And his ERA was better last year. BUT, and its a big but, he just wins games. In the two years so far, he is 19-10. That’s .655.
Compare that with Jamie Moye’s 24-18 .571. Jamies is a +6. Kyle is a +9. So go figure 🙂
Joey
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