Welcome back to the weekly Reading Phillies report. If you guys have any suggestions or certain features that you would like to see me include in these reports, then please speak up in the comments. I will try to accomodate your ideas. Hopefully, I will be able to get some firsthand photos and videos from Reading this season, and post them here on Phuture Phillies. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
The Phils have started off the season on a positive note, winning two of their first three games behind some strong starting pitching.
Standings
| EAS Northern Division | W | L | PCT | GB | STREAK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 3 | 1 | .750 | – | L1 | 3-1 |
| Binghamton | 2 | 1 | .667 | 0.5 | W1 | 2-1 |
| Connecticut | 2 | 2 | .500 | 1.0 | L1 | 2-2 |
| Portland | 2 | 2 | .500 | 1.0 | W1 | 2-2 |
| Trenton | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1.5 | L1 | 1-2 |
| New Britain | 1 | 3 | .250 | 2.0 | W1 | 1-3 |
| EAS Southern Division | W | L | PCT | GB | STREAK | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | – | W4 | 4-0 |
| Akron | 3 | 1 | .750 | 1.0 | W1 | 3-1 |
| Reading | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1.5 | W2 | 2-1 |
| Harrisburg | 1 | 2 | .333 | 2.5 | L2 | 1-2 |
| Bowie | 1 | 3 | .250 | 3.0 | L1 | 1-3 |
| Altoona | 0 | 4 | .000 | 4.0 | L4 | 0-4 |
Game Recaps
04/09/09 – Reading Phillies (5) vs. Harrisburg Senators (6)
It was a tough opener for the Phils, as their starting pitching was excellent, their offense was good, and their bullpen was dreadful. Tyson Brummett got the opening day nod in his second tour of duty for the Phils and responded well, pitching 6 strong innings while giving up 5 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs. Unfortunately, Bisenius, German, Escalona, and Shortslef combined to blow a 5-2 lead giving up 4 earned, on 10 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings of miserable work. Oh well. The offense pounded out 5 runs on 14 hits with the star being one of the Phillies few unheralded catching prospects, Tuffy Gosewisch. Good ole’ Tuffy went 3-5 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored. Ironically, every position player besides the Phils’ best prospect, Taylor, collected at least 1 hit. Taylor, however, did collect 1 walk and 1 stolen base in his 5 plate appearances. So, the Phillies lost the opener, but Brummett had a really nice outing, perhaps an encouraging sign that his ’09 Reading season will be much better than his ’08 Reading season.
04/10/09 – Reading Phillies (2) vs. Harrisburg Senators (1)
Continuing with the good starting pitching theme, Joe Savery one upped Brummett, lasting the same 6 innings as Brummett, except Savery only gave up 1 earned run on 4 hits and 1 walk. The one earned run was a solo shot in the 3rd inning. Savery also registered a terrific 8 strikeouts in his Reading Phillies debut. What a great outing for Savery, as he seems to be carrying over some momentum from his terrific finish for Clearwater in ’08. Savery posted a 3.45 era in July ’08, and followed that with an even more impressive 2.76 era in August ’08. Lets hope the trend continues as Savery adjusts to AA life. Here is an audio clip of Savery describing his terrific outing. Bastardo pitched the 8th and 9th innings, collecting the win with 2 innings of 1 hit ball. Nothing to write home about with the offense, as the Philes collected 8 hits as a team, all singles. Michael Taylor led the way with a 2-4 night, including the game tying RBI single in the 8th. For those of you who are interested in Savery as a position player and not a pitcher, he went 0-1 with 1 sacrifice in his 2 at bats.
04/11/09 – Reading Phillies (3) vs. Harrisburg Senators(2)
Yet another terrific starting pitching effort, this performance via Vance Worley. Worley, making his Reading Phillies debut, pitched a very strong 5.2 innings. Worley gave up 2 earned on 5 hits and 2 walks while also collecting an impressive 6 strikeouts. Most of the damage came in the 5th inning for Worley, who allowed 2 singles and 2 walks before being relieved by Shortslef. Fortunately, Shortslef retired the first batter to escape a bases loaded jam. Shortslef started an impressive bullpen effort, as Shortslef, Overholt, German, and Escalona combined to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings. Once again, the offense was kept mostly dormant, collecting only 3 runs on 6 hits. I sense that a putrid offense might be a theme for the Phils this year, as the only bonafide prospect is Michael Taylor. Lesser prospects such as Berry and Harman will have to step up or the Phils will be forced to win many pitching duels. Anyway, Taylor was once again the offensive star, as he went 2-3 with 1 double, 1 RBI, and 1 walk.
Prospect Watch
Brad Harman
Harman has gotten off to a less than impressive start, to say the least. He has collected 2 singles in 13 at bats. He also walked once and struck out 4 times. This is Harman’s second full season at Reading, after a very disappointing ’08 campaign. If he has a repeat performance in ’09, he will officially fall off of the prospect radar.
Quintin Berry
Berry, like Harman, has struggled out of the gates. Berry has collected 2 singles in 11 at bats. At least Berry has also picked up 2 walks, 1 run and 1 RBI with 3 strikeouts. Still, this is not a pretty picture. Hopefully, Berry will adjust to life in AA.
Michael Taylor
Fresh off of demolishing A and A+ pitching, Taylor has continued to look impressive in his 3 game debut at AA Reading. Taylor went 4-11 on the week with 1 double, 2 walks, 2 RBI, 2 strikeouts, and 1 stolen base. Taylor is going to have to carry the offense this season, much like he already has in the opening series.
Antonio Bastardo
Bastardo got a nice long look from the Philadelphia Phillies in spring training this year as a lefty reliever out of the ‘pen. It seems like that position is his future, as the Phils eventually sent him back down to Reading to be used in that same fashion. Up until this point in his career, including Bastardo’s 14 starts last season in Reading, Bastardo has been almost exclusively a starting pitcher. But, this season, Bastardo will attempt to adjust to life in the bullpen. This is a bit of a lateral move to me. Over the course of his career, Bastardo has fared much better against LH when compared to RH batters. A career FIP of 2.34 vs. LH and 4.33 vs. RH including a LH FIP of 4.17 and a RH FIP of 6.26 last season at Reading would indicate a move to the bullpen should suit Bastardo. However, Bastardo, over the course of his career has shown the ability to go through an opposing lineup multiple times. His career FIP’s by inning are as follows:
1st – 3.24
2nd – 2.59
3rd – 5.63
4th – 3.76
5th – 4.09
6th – 4.01
7th – 4.05
8th – 1.18
9th – 6.51
All in all, that is a pretty steady performance. So, I think the Philadelphia Phillies see a potential need for LH relief pitchers, and decided that Bastardo is a viable option. Thus, they have asked Bastardo to make the transition. I think this is probably best for the long term, as his floor is probably a loogy now with his ceiling being a back end bullpen arm. Anyway, his first foray into relief pitching went well, as he allowed 1 hit with 1 strikeout and 1 walk in 2 innings of scoreless ball.
Tyson Brummett
Brummett got the opening day nod, and he did not dissapoint. Brummett pitched a terrific 6 innings of 2 run ball. He allowed 5 hits and 1 walk while also striking out 2 batters. Great start for Brummett who really got hammered last year after his promotion to Reading. This is an important season for the 24 year old Brummett, as father time is creeping up on him. In his defense, he has been pushed aggresively by the Phils, as Brummett played at three different levels in ’08. Brummett pitches again on Wednesday, so hopefully he can string together several strong performances.
Sergio Escalona
Escalona, he of the 40 man roster, pitched OK in a relief role for ’08 Reading. His pretty 2.22 ERA (’08 Reading) is a bit misleading. Along with the 2.22 ERA, Escalona also racked up a 4.35 FIP and a 1.58 WHIP. His ’09 season has started out in a similarly OK fashion, as he has given up 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run in 3.1 innings of work. He has also collected 1 save and 3 strikeouts. I think Escalona is a candidate to move up the orginizational ladder quickly, as he is 24 years old and has never really dominated any particular level. I think we need to see if Escalona can maintain his league average performances in higher levels, and if not, I think it is a roster spot that can be better used elsewhere.
Edgar Garcia
Garcia has been detained in the Dominican because of visa issues.
Joe Savery
Savery begins the ’09 season at Reading after having gone through a tumultous ’08 season in which there were many highs and many lows. His first performance of ’09 was definitely a high, as he allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits and 1 walk in 6 innings. He also struck out an impressive 8 batters.
Michael Stutes
Stutes dominated Williamsport and Lakewood in ’08 after the Phillies drafted him out of Oregon State University. Stutes makes his first appearance for Reading and his first performance of the ’09 season on Monday.
Vance Worley
Worley, similarly to Stutes, dominated Williamsport and Lakewood after being drafted out of college. His first appearance for Reading was a success, as he pitched 5.2 strong innings of 2 run ball. Worley seemed to run out of gas a bit in the fifth inning of his start, as he allowed two hits and two walks before begin relieved by the ‘pen.
Stat Leaders
Kevin Mahar – RS – 4 – T-5th
Kevin Mahar – 2B – 2 – T-4th
Tuffy Gosewisch – 2B – 2 – T-4th
Kevin Mahar – OBP – .500 – T-10th
Michael Taylor – OBP – .462 – T-14th
Tuffy Gosewisch – OBP – .455 – T-16th
Kevin Mahar – SLG – .714 – 10th
Kevin Mahar – AVG – .429 – 9th
Brian Stavisky – AVG – .417 – 10th
Michael Taylor – AVG – .364 – T-18th
Kevin Mahar – OPS – 1.214 – 10th
Transactions
04/11/09 – RHP Jason Anderson assigned to Lehigh Valley IronPigs from Reading Phillies.
Phuture Phillies 
very impressive and detailed report
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Excellent stuff Zac, thanks.
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thanks for the full report. You’re right that this team appears to be short on offense but does have some good pitching talent. Expect a lot low-scoring 1-run games…
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Fine job of reporting and analyzing.
Informative and well written.
Hoping to enjoy this column–along with the other fine ones–for all of 2009’s season.
And, here’s lifting one for Harry Kalas!! NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN!!
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..adding: Yes, the R’s offense appears short…BUT MAYBE he R’s as offensive help about mid-season…???!!
THAT would be terrific to see both Taylor and Brown in the same OF…later this season!
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Good stuff, I’d love to see somebody come up mid-season to add a little offensive pop. To me, Gus Milner could be a dark-horse guy to have a breakout season in the outfield. He’s 6’5, 240, and 25 years old so he’s close to org. filler, but I still think a good year could keep him on the radar. He has pop and speed (22 SBs last year) but it’s a matter of handling the strike zone to really turn some heads. Nice report zac
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I wish Reading lots of luck and hopefully the players can overcome the lack of a manager. Roadcap does not develop players. He thinks he is in the major leagues.
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Wildone – There’s nothing wrong with teaching how to win in AA. We haven’t seen this in years.
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Well done Zac. Great report
– Jeff
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That report made me feel like I was at every game, great job and thank you.
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Agree on Gus Milner’s possibility. He has been just below the radar for the last couple years…yet seems to put up some at least decent/good numbers.
A breakthrough this season would be one of the icings on the cake of near prospects.
Worth following.
P.S. Greatly gratified to see how Savery has done. With a worthy season he’d be a possibility for next year’s staff…and realizing the big potential many saw in him when he was drafted. Adding in an Oct ober play in the AFL and maybe we’d have a THIRD LEFTY on the staff soon.
Add in Drabek and Carrasco and we’ve got the potential for a way superior pitching staff for years to come.
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Excellent report, Zac. Love the individual prospect updates in addition to the regular game reports.
And I don’t want to be a jinx here, but it looks like Reading’s strong starting pitching is continuing — Stutes has struck out five, walked three, and held the B-Mets scoreless through five innings.
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So far tonight: Michael Stutes: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Not too shabby.
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Errrr, should’ve left something out of the above line, NEPP. Come on now, follow my lead…
/twitching nervously
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Stutes and Flande dominant tonight. Taylor with another RBI and Lakewoods raking. (Stutes is out after five, unfortunately)
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Yeah, sorry I jinxed him…damn.
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Where do you guys get a live boxscore Reading?
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go to milb.com and click on the double a scoreboard tab in the upper left corner and then click on the reading game
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Stutes ,Savery and Worley nice name for a law firm
So far the jumpers are good Thank you Ruben for taking a chance
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I know this isn’t Reading-related, but while we’re discussing tonight’s games… why would Clearwater sit Matt Rizzotti when he’s been raking (7-for-13, 1.341 OPS through 3 games)? I know you need to rotate the squad, but you should keep the hot bat in the lineup, right?
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Thanks
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Flande had some impressive numbers tonight— I’ve never heard of him, is he filler?
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Great information. I hope you can keep up that level of detail. It’s very informative.
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“Skunky Says:
April 13, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Flande had some impressive numbers tonight— I’ve never heard of him, is he filler?”
They seem to think well of him, but he’s more finesse than firm.
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Thanks fish
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From Mike Drago (link)…
Stutes had five of those punchouts, including three straight in the first and second innings when he buzzsawed through the 3-4-5 hitters.
Stutes went through the lineup twice without surrendering so much as a hard-hit ball.
“I don’t think I had my best stuff tonight,” said Stutes, whose fastball sat at 91-92 mph and touched 95. “But it’s a good first start.”
Good news all around. A promising start to the year for the Reading rotation.
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looks like Drabek will be one more start and some sunny weather away form Reading So the new law firm is
DRABEK,SAVERY,STUTES AND DRABEK. That is enough to make any team turn green or is it red
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IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA
Worley 5.0 3 4 1 3 6 0 2.53
lol that is a weird line
He pitches he hits he help old ladies cross the street
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Vance Worley is gonna be a good one. At 21 years 6 months he is the youngest player on the R-Phils roster. Sorta has a lower body build similar to Nolan Ryan. Worley is listed at 6’2″ with big power thighs. He has another thing in common with Ryan. In his first EL start on April 11th Worley struck out the side in the third inning against Harrisburg on 9 pitches. The rare Immaculate Inning. Ryan is one of only 38 major league pitchers to have accomplished the Immaculate inning and one of only three to have done it twice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitchers_who_have_struck_out_three_batters_on_nine_pitches
Watching him tonight in a rematch with Harrisburg Worley had some command problems though walking a run in the first but still managed to strike out the side again with an over powering fast ball. Though he only struck out 3 more Senators the rest of his outing he kept the ball on the ground for the most part when they made contact. Only 3 of his 15 outs recorded in the game were in the air. So not only does Worley have some serious heat he throws ground balls. The Phils awarded Worley at the end of spring training the Bill Giles award for “outstanding work ethic” and it is clearly paying off for him so far in his two Reading starts.
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Clearly a little better defense and relief and Worley come closer to his first outing. I am looking forward to see Reading soon
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Headlines from Philies website
Phils’ Myers tries to keep ball in yard
Hamels upset with self in Phils’ loss
Park not happy about debut with Phillies
B which of these PHILLIES quotes do you find most incouraging
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this staff needs to be shaken up. happ must start and carrasco must be given a shot.they are suffering from post world series stress. tyhe gloves come off monday.
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Let’s all calm down about the major league staff right now. Good things are happening in Reading, so let’s stick to that.
Rickey: when you say Worley’s fastball is “overpowering,” can you elaborate? Are we talking low 90’s with a good amount of sink?
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I think we need to remove some of the fillers from Reading as soon as possible to get a true prospect feeling there. Stutes tonight luv to be there. Should be a great pitching staff by the mid or later season
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I am sorry, but why do fillers not give us a true prospect feeling?
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Just that sometimes the more guys play together the better if they get to the show. To confess fillers bore the hell out of me
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Good Report!
Tx
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Nice pitching this Sunday. Dont overlook German really good job. Is he making a move????
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After today in 5 games of relief work over 7.1 innings, German is 3rd in K’s with 13 and tied for 1st in Holds in the League with 3, giving up no runs, 3 hits and 3 walks. Can’t do much better than that. Should get the call to AAA soon. Certainly would be a more effective LOOGY than Woods will ever be.
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.The line on german is low 80’s hard to believe . Today three innings is that a loogy type pitcher. What makes him so effective?
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Now wheels please This is the reason I love lakewood this year so many young prospect,
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dieing to get there but i have to wait until i get a job near there I am a courier and business stinks
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