An abbreviated week because of the All Star break led to a 2-3 record on the week, leaving Lehigh Valley at 40-59 on the year, 22 games back of division leading Pawtucket. ‘Pig league leaders include Mike Cervenak who is 4th in at bats (356), 9th in runs (55), 3rd in hits (110), 9th in doubles (21), and 2nd in average (.310). Andy Tracy is 8th in slugging % (.518), 5th in on base % (.393), 3rd in RBI’s (65), 6th in homers (17), and 4th in doubles (24). Pitching leaders include Brian Mazone who is 5th in innings (116.2), 5th in homers allowed (15), and 4th in WHIP (1.16). Les Walrond is 9th in ERA(3.32). JA Happ is 8th in ERA (3.31), 10th in IP (108.2), leading the league in strikeouts (116), and 7th in WHIP (1.20). Matt Childers is 2nd in the league with 15 saves.
Monthly Archives: July 2008
Phillies acquire Joe Blanton for 3 prospects
Jason Donald on his Olympic selection
Saw this at BA, thought I’d pass it along.
“I was really excited,” Donald said after taking batting practice at the Double-A Eastern League All-Star game. “My mind just started racing just thinking about everything. I don’t think I really heard too much after they told me that I made the club. Now hopefully it starts to sink in a little more. I still have a little bit, a couple more weeks here, l and I’m going to do my best to finish it out with Reading and then go on to Beijing and try to win a gold medal.”
Donald, 23, is batting .301/.381/.493 in 302 at-bats this season for Double-A Reading. One of the better offensive shortstops in the minors, Donald doesn’t have any experience playing in international competitions, but his sound approach at the plate and line-drive stroke should be assets when the Olympics begin next month.
“You hear things, obviously with Cuba just because of our history with them, and I know just how good of a baseball country they are, but you know I really don’t know too much,” Donald said. “I know they’re going to bring their best, as are all the teams, so I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”
Goldstein on Galvis and Sampson
In his latest NL East Notebook, he hits on two of our better prospects at Lakewood;
Two players currently at the Phillies’ Low-A affiliate at Lakewood don’t have very good numbers, but that doesn’t mean the scouts aren’t impressed with them nevertheless. Freddy Galvis, an 18-year-old Venezuelan shortstop, is batting just .225/.289/.257, but one scout who recent saw him couldn’t help but be impressed. “Defensively, he’s what I call an extreme defender—he’s just a magician out there,” said the scout. “Every day you see him, he’ll make at least one play that a lot of big-league shortstops wouldn’t have a chance at. And he’s not just flash, all the routine plays are made as well.” As for his non-existent offense, the scout did see enough room for improvement to tag him as an everyday player. “Look, he’s definitely a bottom of the lineup guy, but he slaps the ball around and keeps his hands inside well. I think that small-ball situational hitting will be there for him in the end, as there are some offensive instincts there.”
Another player not exactly lighting up the stat sheet for the Blue Claws is 19-year-old right-hander Julian Sampson. A 12th-round pick last year who got third-round money, Sampson has a 4.98 ERA in 16 starts with just 41 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings, but a scout who saw him found him the most memorable arm on the staff. “There’s just a lot to like there—he’s athletic, powerful, and has really nice arm action,” recalled the scout. “I saw effortless 91-93 mph velocity that touched 95, an above-average breaking ball, and an interesting kind of palmball as a change.” So why the poor numbers with that kind of stuff? The scout offered a couple of theories. “His command is below average, so he’s currently centering the ball, and there’s no deception in his delivery, so batters get a good long look at it.
Reading Phillies Weekly Report (7/9 – 7/15)
The Reading Phillies had a tough week, dropping 4 out of 6 games to skid into the all-star break at 39-56. It was an unusual week, with lots of player movement and awkward scheduling due in part to the futures game held Monday at Yankee Stadium. There was also a Brett Myers sighting this week, so lets get to all of the action in the game recaps…
Continue reading Reading Phillies Weekly Report (7/9 – 7/15)
Marson and Donald make US Olympic Team
It was rumored before, its official now.
Pitching Staff
Brett Anderson (A’s), Geno Espineli (Giants), Clayton Richard (White Sox), Jake Arrieta (Orioles), Trevor Cahill (A’s), Kevin Jepsen (Angels), Brandon Knight (Mets), Mike Koplove (Dodgers), Blaine Neal (Tigers), Jeff Stevens (Indians), Casey Weathers (Rockies), Stephen Strasburg (San Diego State).
Catchers
Lou Marson (Phillies), Taylor Teagarden (Rangers)
Infielders
Brian Barden (Cardinals), Matt Brown (Angels), Jason Donald (Phillies), Mike Hessman (Tigers), Terry Tiffee (Dodgers)
Outfielders
Dexter Fowler (Rockies), John Gall (Marlins), Matt LaPorta (Indians), Colby Rasmus (Cardinals)
Lakewood BlueClaws Report (7/8-7/14)
After a somewhat disappointing first half of the season for the BlueClaws, they have bounced back in the second half of the season so far. After a strong week, where they went 5-2, the BlueClaws are only three games back of the West Virginia Power for the Northen Division lead in the SAL.
The signing deadline is one month from today
And here’s basically where we stand. The following players are unsigned
109. Jonathon Pettibone, RHP (Esperanza HS, CA)
196. Colby Shreve, RHP (CC of Southern Nevada)
226. Johnny Coy, 3B (Benson HS, MO)
376. James Weber, RHP (Central Clearwater Catholic HS, FL)
766. Daniel Edwards, RHP (Kansas State)
886. Keon Broxton, 3B (Lakeland High School, FL)
916. DJ Henderson, SS (Southeastern HS, MI)
976. Sean Ellis, RHP (Polk CC, FL)
1006. James Simpson, 1B (Dowagiac Union HS, MI)
1036. Blaine O’Brien, RHP (Scituate HS, MA)
1126. Matthew Johnson, OF (John W North HS, CA)
1156. Jarred Cosart, RHP (Clear Creek HS, TX)
1186. Joseph Pond, RHP (Judge Memorial Catholic HS, UT)
1216. Daniel Marrs, RHP (James River HS, VA)
1246. Michael Petello, OF (Scottsdale CC, AZ)
1335. Charles Law, RHP (Mainland Regional HS, NJ)
1363. Justin Zumwalde, 1B (Sabino HS, AZ)
1390. Giovany Soto, LHP (Advanced Central College HS)
1444. Mark Ginther, SS (Jenks HS, OK)
1471. Michael Russo, RHP (Hun School, NJ)
1498. Josh Hake, RHP (Park University, AZ)
At this point, I think Shreve is going to get done, and I think we will see Pettibone sign as well. Coy is not going to sign. I think Weber is 50/50, since his Florida commitment is now gone. But it will take above slot to sign him, and because Shreve will cost more than slot, its iffy. Do we have hope for anyone else? Could the Phillies surprise us and sign a guy like Cosart, Marrs, or Broxton? We have one month to wait and see.
Monday notes
Just a few notes today to give you something to think about.
* Josh Outman, after a rough transition to the bullpen, seems to be getting things on track. Over his last 10 games he’s put up this line;
17.0 IP — 1.59 ERA — 12 H — 5 BB — 9 K
I still disagree with the decision to move him to the pen, but at this point, it has to soon be time to bring him up and get his feet wet. If the goal was to have him available for the stretch drive, its better that he gets into games now instead of being thrown into the fire in September.
Futures Game notes
Due to flipping around, I only caught the first few innings of the game and I missed Golson’s time in the spotlight, so I figured I’d just post the thoughts of others who saw the game. If you find more accounts/summaries of the game, post them in the comments and I’ll add them here. Click below
Phuture Phillies 