Fall League Update

8. Arizona Fall League

Mesa won 2 of their 3 games played since the last update with the relief pitchers, starting to take things up a notch, and Andrew Carpenter continuing to struggle. Sergio Escalona, Tyson Brummett and Pat Overholt all pitched a scoreless inning apiece in relief over the last several days. Carpenter started Mondays’ game and took the loss, going 4 innings and giving up 6 runs on 7 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 3. His ERA stands at 6.86 and his WHIP, almost as bad at 1.67.

Jason Donald played third again on Monday and went 2-4 with 2 runs and a double, keeping his average above .400. Quintin Berry played Tuesday in Center and Wednesday in Leftfield, going 2-10 with a run scored. A concerning statistic is that he was caught stealing again (5th time in the Fall), and picked off in Tuesdays’ game. His average is at .325. Jeremy SLayden played in all three games, starting in RF. 5-12, with 2 runs, a double and 3 RBI’s, continuing his very productive Fall. Lou Marson caught his first game of the Fall on Tuesday, was the designated hitter Monday and pich hit Wednesday, going a combined 3-6, with a run, double and 3 RBI’s. He is hitting .313 since joing Mesa.

65 thoughts on “Fall League Update”

  2. I wonder why Berry has been so god-awful at stealing this fall… do you think he was just running against poor defensive catchers in the summer and now he needs to make an adjustment to a more advanced level of play?

    Either way his numbers haven’t been too shabby. Maybe he read all the bashing on here about him under the “overrated prospects” section.

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  3. Wow Berry is getting caught waaay to much. However with Lopes here in Philly hopefully he can learn to read the pitchers better. Maybe he has a tell of his own?

    I really liek what Slayde has done here, too bad he’s left handed, he could have been the perfect platoon guy.

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  5. I would caution against reading too much into the bad numbers of Carpenter or any other AzFL pitcher. At this point in the baseball year–the opposite of spring training–the pitchers are way behind the hitters; it also might be the case that Carpenter is under instruction to use different pitches, work on specific things, etc. I can’t remember any good Phils pitching prospect ever doing very well in the AzFL.

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  9. before i forget i have to say that its great to talk baseball 365 with all you guys and girls. its great not to have to rely on the 2 minute sound bites on tv but to talk about the people who i know we all want to give us parade after parade. thanks

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  10. To me, Carpenter is rapidly losing any hint of prospect status. When he pitches well from time to time he then collapses into horrid pitching mosttimes.

    Don’t know if it’s his “head” or that he just doesn’t have the goods. ’09 MAY be his final shot at regaining better status; if not, he is taking up time and space…so he could be included in any deal or if not weanted he could be given his release.

    The Phils must have become frustrated with his performance’s ups and downs…mostly down. Make space for others….

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  11. I wish they traded Carpenter after he won 17 games at Clearwater. Ever since then his lines have just been depressing.

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  13. As for Carpenter maybe Forbes/Filer did more damage then we
    can imagine. Spring will tell all the guys who degraded at
    Reading should be a little slack from the staff since they obviously know. If only organizations were as loyal to their player as they are to bad coachs

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  14. Carpenter’s performance has been depressing. Besides Carassco and Bastardo, do we have anyone above Low A who projects to be a major league pitcher?

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  15. I’m not sure if the logical thing is to assume its a result of bad conditioning- after all, being a workhorse in the florida state league means you gotta be one strong hombre- and who can age into a slob in just one year? If something were wrong with him it would be one thing to try to suck it up and make it through a season without seeking help- but to continue on to the AFL, well that makes an injury less likely too I think.

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  16. Dajafi – by that same logic wouldn’t we have to discount the performance of hitters like Donald against those same pitchers?

    Pat – Edgar Garcia, maybe? He is still young for his level.

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  17. This might explain some of MT’s problems in paradise

    Blog: Ka’aihue wraps it up
    I’ve also been happy to see the asian players from Japan and Korea bring a different style and speed to the game. The pitchers from Asia have been doing a great job of messing with hitters timing(especially mine…I think I’m 2-15 off asian pitching). Hopefully I’ll hit better against the asian pitchers the next three weeks of the HWB league.

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  18. lol @ Carpenter being released. It’s winter ball, these stats mean absolutely nothing, a lot of these pitchers go there with strict orders on what they can and can’t throw. The idea is to improve by making adjustments to their game, they aren’t going there to pad stats. Just wait and see how he does in AAA next year, he finished the year very strong in AA/AAA. I presume they have him throwing a lot of fastballs and working on his worst offspeed pitch. If he’s doing that it shouldn’t really shock anyone, he only throws 89-92 mph fastballs.

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  19. Also forgot to add, you gotta remember these guys are playing a long, long season. It’s very possible you have some tired arms there.

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  22. Slayden is a jazzier version of Jason Michaels – a righty bat off the bench and 4th outfielder. There is an outside chance he could develop into a minor power threat, but that’s a reach. He’s useful, but, no, he’s not Jason Donald.

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  23. Michaels was a much better defensive player than Slayden. Above average in the corners and passable in CF. Slayden will need to hit more than Michaels. He has more power but much less contact. He will need to improve to even be a 4th OF given his defense.

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  24. Catch – I agree, a 4th outfielder who should replace Jenkins in a year. Like Jenkins, he’s a lefty hitter though.

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  25. I wasn’t saying that they should release Carpenter, just saying that in one year his value has completely bottomed out.

    I really hope the kid turns things around, I thought he had alot of promise.

    Any more word on how Taylor is playing in Hawaiai?>

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  27. dajafi – You win the prize. You’re the 1st one to get the reference since I started using the handle on various Phillies boards/sites.

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  29. I’ve been a fan of that band since an ex turned me onto them about ten years ago, but found that “pink album” impenetrable until pretty recently. It’s tremendous though, and that song is one of the two best on it (Theo B is the other one).

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  31. Q. Berry is a lucky guy learning the “ins and the “outs ” of hitting from HOFers Tony Glynn and Ryne Sandberg according to his AFL blog: http://aflphillies.mlblogs.com/:
    “I’m learning a lot here, especially from our hitting coach, Ryne Sandberg. Having a Hall of Famer in Tony Gwynn as a college hitting coach made great improvements to my game on the outside pitch. This has been a great strength of mine for years. Now I have another Hall of Famer in Ryne who has completely elevated my game on the inside pitch. This has been something that I struggled with for years and Ryne has made my confidence level higher than ever before when it comes to the inside pitch. And that’s just after a few weeks. I must say I’m pretty lucky!

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  32. That’s a very interesting comment by Berry. I remember watching him and thinking that very thing. He hits the outside pitch the other way very well which when you’re a slap hitter is what you’re supposed to do but he struggled on the inside pitch. If he really figures that out, he can be a legit 5th outfielder and he’s older so it could be soon. As for his stealing stats, without watching him its impossible to know. Maybe he’s struggling reading lefthanded pitchers’ moves and getting bad jumps off them. That can be taught, speed can’t.

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  33. I agree with Murray on Berry, however I feel that Slayden is repeatedly overlooked. He’s a very consistantly good hitter who knocks in runs on every level, and I think he’d be a nice 5th outfielder, pinch-hitter type. I saw Greg Dobbs early on and predicted that he’d have good pinch-hitting abilities and I see the same in Slayden

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  34. I stand corrected on Slayden, he does bat lefty, which is unfortunate for him. The team is swimming with extra lefty bats and we need a righty. I think he’ll play in the majors and will be good off the bench and as an extra outfielder, but it may not be with the Phillies. He’s probably good trade fodder, but if he is not dealt, he should go up to AAA and let it fly. He’ll play major league ball, it just may not be for the Phillies and, if he goes, I doubt we’ll miss him all that much. That’s not an insult, mind you, it’s just that he does not seem to be much more than an extra part and I don’t think he has the highest ceiling. I am more intrigued by Clay Harris than I am Jeremy Slayden as I think there’s an outside shot that Harris will develop into an outstanding hitter.

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  35. Like some have said, Jeremy Slayden should do
    AAA and then work in as a fill-in somewhere.
    I say at Geoff Jenkins current level, but much
    more lightly paid.

    C. Harris, yeah seems to be potential. Like
    to see him at 1B in AAA.

    Carpenter is likely working on some things.
    Likely a long way to go before they are
    loaded with an organization of pitchers
    better than him.

    For the Arbuckle fetishists, here’s a note.
    Assumed same position as Philly with Kansas
    City Royals. Some will claim if Royals start moving
    up it’s his doing. Note: Royals spent more
    money in the MLB entry draft than any other
    team.

    Said he went over Free Agent and trade possibilties
    with GM Drayton Moore right off.

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  37. I thougth the redsox this year alone spent over 131 % above slot more than anyone. and they didn’t have top 5 choice who get big money.

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  39. With the HWB season ending tonight, Dominic Brown is hitting .368 after going 3 for 4 last night, just two points off the League’s batting lead. After a strong season in Hawaii for Brown wouldn’t an opening day Reading starting outfield of Taylor in left, Berry in center and Brown in right sell some tickets?

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  40. agreed with others. don’t put too much weight on Q’s base stealing issues in the AFL. these guys go to these leagues to try to hone their skills. they are told to try new things in an “no risk” environment. he might be working on some new things. remember, it is supposed to be an instructional league. so we want him to be trying new things and not worrying about the results.

    but i disagree that he will only be a 5th outfielder. i have already stated my case, so i won’t be redundant, but i just think that 10 years from now you will look at his stats and say “wow…i didn’t realize he was that productive”. but maybe i will be wrong. wouldn’t be the first time and certainly won’t be the last.

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  41. With tonight being the last game, I suspect Drabek will be on the mound. Big finish need, baby! I’m more than excited by this kid now. Like I mentioned before, a 1/2 year at each level before he hits the majors in July 2010.
    I keep reading where Ruben is constantly emphasizing pitching. It surprizes me. But he’s right. That’s good to see so far. The funny thing is……….it’s the opposite thinking of his mentor Eddie Wade.

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  42. Well he has the player sans LF, in fact the less he does the better. He can set up for a lot of College players in the Draft and aim for 2010,2011.
    I wonder how many players stay in Paradise a while ,poor kids
    christmas under a palm tree sounds….

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  43. If you sign more than one type a free agent what happens. Who gets the draft pick, and does it go more than one year. Say the Yankees sign CC, Lowe, and Burrell how would the teams get compenstation.

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  44. some points, the yankees have no need for burrell. if texeria gets 20 mil. what is howard worth. and since i believe donald and marson are not going anywhere what is carrasco doing in venezuela. right now i believe he is the most important piece of the phillies future.has he developed a 2nd shut down pitch. ive seen savery quite a bit and im not a big believer, i havent seen drabek but from what i read hes on the right track. hows bastardo and naylor. we havent been talking much about pitching but i believe carrasco or one of these guys has to become a strong #2 behind hamels,this is the either happ or carrasco must show what they can do, before the free agent market next year.

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  45. MIKemike- every year the free agents are ranked
    according to thier rank at their position. It is
    usually printed in USATODAY. Simply put, the player
    with the higher numerical ranking gets the higher
    draft pick. Within each position there is a numerical
    grade. Say if a team signs 5 type A’s, the team
    losing the player gets signing team’s 1st, and it
    can go to 2nd,3rd,4th, 5th, right down the line.
    Phillies already experienced this when David Delucci
    who was a type A and they did not get a 1st.

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  46. John never said they did. so if the yankees would sign those players CC is first so milk. gets there first and sandwich pick, philliess would get second and third and dodgers 4 and 5 is that right. all happens in one year.

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  47. I don’t know the numerical rankings, but if CC is top rated
    Brewers get the 1st and sandwich between 1st and 2nd.
    Say if Lowe is 2nd rated Dodgers get the Yanks 2nd and
    later sandwich between 1st and 2nd. And if Burrell is
    3rd rated Phillies get Yanks 3rd round pick and still
    later sandwich between 1st and 2nd. I’ll try to look
    for the rankings.

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  50. Yep, you were right on the rankings. The list is there
    at USATODAY, though I missed it for awhile.
    CC is 1st at 98.110, Then Pat Burrell at an even 80,
    and Lowe is at 75.430. I note that Jamie Moyer is the
    lowest rated of the type A starting pitchers at 73.110.

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  51. It’s not a question on why the Yankees would sign Burrell, but a discussion on how the compensation picks function, which I’m not sure on either and would like a clarification.

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  52. So, there’s a chart on the USATODAY website, which is a
    reprint of the official chart for MLB compiled by the elias sports bureau. Players are rated within their positions as
    to type A or type B, etc. With the designation there is
    a numerical score (i.e. 80.000 for Pat Burrell). If a team
    signs multiple type A’s the team that loses the player with
    the highest numerical score gets the highest draft pick.
    For example. if a team signs 5 type A free agents, the team
    losing the player with the highest numerical recieves signing
    teams 1st, 2nd highest receives the 2nd, on down the line.
    All teams receiving compensation recieve a sandwich pick
    between the 1st and 2nd rounds.

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  53. What an up and down final regular season game for the Phils prospects in the HWB league. In a game where Shane Victorino was reportedly honored and threw out the first pitch and Dominic Brown went 3 for 4 for the second straight game to win the regular season HWB batting title, two other Phils were unable to get the job done with season on the line for the Honolulu Sharks. Kyle Drabek was in full control of a one run game after pitching 4 no hit, no run innings by coming on in relief to pitch out of a jam with a strike out in the 5th inning. Then in the top of the 9th a runner got on base on a wild pitch strike out . Then with two outs and two strikes on the hitter representing the lead run, Drabek grooved one that was hit out to give Waikiki a 5-4 lead. In the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and one out Michael Taylor came up to pinch hit against lefthanded pitcher Jeremy Papelbon. He continued his problems of hitting lefthanded pitching in the HWB by popping out for the second out. Papelbon got the final out to eliminate Honolulu form the the Championship game. This game should be a great learning experience for both Drabek and Taylor and make them better players as we move into the 09 season.

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  56. Dajafi – The live album is what grabbed me. It’s probably one of the best ‘live’ albums ever IMHO. It sounds like they were great to see live, I never had the chance.

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  57. Thank you Marfis.

    Where did you find this year’s numerical rankings? I can’t find them using the google. I want to keep Burrell but I’d hate to see the Phils get the shaft if they can’t sign him by not getting an additional 1st rounder.

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  60. Ha ha, sure thing Skunky, I’ll make him a ‘mixed’ tape while I eat some pretzeled bread and watch a documentary on bumbled bees!

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  61. Rodeo Jones, where I get the numerical rankings,
    and I don’t know how to put links on here,
    I go to the USATODAY website http://www.usatoday.com
    go to the MLB section. Down near the bottom of the
    page, the last time I looked there was a picture of
    Mark Texeira, and it says Current Values, something
    like that.

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