Already for the Phillies Minor League affliliates with losses in both Lakewood and CLearwater. Kyle Drabek did pitch well, however, going 6.1 innings and giving up only one earned run on six hits. He walked one and struck out nine.
This evening, Antonio Bastardo on the hill in Reading, with Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco pitching in Allentown, in their doubleheader.
Phuture Phillies 
FWIW, Drabek is now averaging 11.6 K/9 and he’s only walked 9 batters in almost 36 IP. Those are pretty good ratios to say the least. That’s also a fantastic K/BB ratio.
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… and Brown had a double, a triple and a walk. He was also caught stealing and thrown out at the plate, but he is on an offensive tear
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I believe (without checking his MILB page) that he now has 6 multi-hit games in his past 10 played. Its something ridiculous like that…and he’s batting around .400 over that time period IIRC.
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Is it likely that Drabek will see significant action in AA this year? What is the ceiling on him? #3 starter?
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I think the ceiling on Drabek is All-Star, but I might be wearing red-tinted glasses.
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Brown’s biggest area for concern coming into this year was the fact that he hadn’t hit for much power yet. Well…
2006: .051 ISO
2007: .116 ISO
2008: .126 ISO
2009: .298 ISO
Jeez. And he’s doing it while maintaining solid K:BB numbers and while hitting in a pitcher’s league. The word “breakout” comes to mind.
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I feel after tonight we may see Kendrick move to the Majors rotation….
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well, either that or Happ….but, I’d like to see Kendrick back, and demote Park till he gets his act together….
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Between Drabek and Brown it’s actually been a pretty nice day so far for prospects, which is what really matters. Let’s be honest, most people don’t really care about a minor league’s team record, right?
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I thnik tat BA has put the ceiling on Drabek as an Ace on just about any team. multiple all star appearances kind of guy, with a lot of good seasons.
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Well, after being accused of never having anything nice to say about any Phillie prospect (kind of odd given I haven’t commented on many prospects yet), I think Drabek’s ceiling is clearly very very high, almost certainly the highest of any current Phillie prospect. Yes, he could indeed become an all star.
The reason he isn’t their number one prospect, and the reason not to get TOO excited about him of any other pitcher prospect at his level, is relatively few pitchers (especially at his level) hit their ceiling – certainly fewer pitchers than position players. That’s because of the high rate arm injuries. But ironicaly in Drabek’s case, his injury history, now that he is fully recovered, is probably a plus – i.e., he is now LESS likely to have a debilitating injury before he hits the majors.
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Interesting, thanks.
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Regarding Happ/Kendrick – even though I’m less of a Happ fan than many people here, and I was pulling for Kendrick to repeat his rookie performance … honestly, giving the 5th starter spot to Kendrick over Happ would be insane. Kendrick caught lightning in a bottle in 2007, but with his low strikeout rate I’d be surprised if his ERA was ever under 5.00 for a full season again. If he was their only option besides Park then maybe. But he isn’t.
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Heck, Drabek could be better than his dad – and his dad had a hell of a career. Again, given his current level and the injury factor (again, not his history but the general fact that all pitchers are subject to a high injury rate), you can’t project him to do that, but he could.
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What’s amazing is that they have 5 starters in the minors, Carrasco, Worley, Stutes, Drabek and Knapp, whose fast balls sit in the mid 90’s and have topped out even higher d since the start of the season. Even more amazing is that their velocities sit so much higher than any starter now in the big team’s rotation. My favorite for a breakout from the young hard throwing five is Vance Worley.
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Drabek is going to get a lot of attention real soon – especially considering Brett Myers free agency this summer; and Kendrick’s fall from grace. I still wonder about mental make-up. I don’t think many people have ever doubted his talent. I just want to see this type of achievement over the entire year.
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I believe most of the runs scored against Drabek have been in later innings. If I am right a little more time and arm strength
and conditioning will get him further into the game
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Mike Taylor with an RBI double as well
Kendrick pitched decent 5 Innings, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 2 Walks 5 K’s
Good ground ball rate 7:3
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Some real nice pitching across the whole system tonight, including Park.
Rickey, is Drabek throwing mid-90s during the season? Or was it in Spring Training? That would be great if he has maintained that velocity into the season.
I’m pretty sure Carrasco is low 90s, not mid 90s, on his fastball. Has that changed this year?
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Chuck LaMar said in a pre game Phils radio show interview that Drabek was throwing at 93-94 in one of his early starts. Carrasco has been reported in the 93-95 range this year either in a Morning Call story or on the radio play by play.
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Also another comment on Brown’s hot streak, over his last ten games, has like 10 extra base hits, and is slugging like .970, just absolutely crazy
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Carrasco normally worked in the 91-93 range last year…so hopefully its not just a hot gun. It would be a helpful improvement for him to gain a couple MPH on his fastball as its lets him make more mistakes and get away with them.
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Yeah, Brown’s hot streak has been frightening. His obp is something like .550 during the last ten games as well. He’s been rock solid for the past few years – now he looks like he’s taken the step to an All-Star quality player. I wonder if he will play the whole year at Clearwater, or if he’ll get a midseason promotion.
He was a 20th rounder, right? The Phils deserve some serious props for that pick.
– Jeff
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I think Brown was considered a tough sign – everyone thought he wanted to play football in college – which is why he slipped. Definitely give props to the Phils for taking that chance. We saw them execute on some of those types of picks in last year’s draft too. Keep it up! My guess is that the earliest Brown sees AA is post All-Star Break, barring some rash of injuries. The Phils generally take their time with prospects and do not move them up unless the prospect is doing all the things they have asked him to work on.
On Carrasco, his player page says he works 89-93 and touches 94-95 when he needs to. I suppose I should have checked there first!
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Rickey Branch Says:
May 6, 2009 at 5:03 pm
What’s amazing is that they have 5 starters in the minors, Carrasco, Worley, Stutes, Drabek and Knapp, whose fast balls sit in the mid 90’s and have topped out even higher d since the start of the season. ‘
I know you watch alot of these guys RB, but i don’t think Carrasco, Worley or Stutes have been ‘sitting in the mid 90’s’. Reports on Stutes and Worley are coming in at 91-93 mph.
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We’ll see if Carlos is a morning person. I’ve got the Gameday fired up already to “watch” – at least the radar gun. Buffalo’s record is 4-20? wow
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Carlos might be a “morning person”, but unfortunately not a THIS morning person, as he got touched up a bit again.
5.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR. Should this be a concern?? He hasn’t set the world on fire so far this spring, but he is 22 in AAA and he is still learning. He is on the short list for a call up to the bigs if one of the starters needs to be shelved due to injury or ineffectiveness. Happ would be the first “internal” call up, of course.
Carlos obviously needs more time honing the skills in AAA. Hopefully, he gets more time (ie, no call up needed) and he stays healthy and pitches better.
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just my gut rodeo drabek will be a top of the line guy,worley will a strong contributor, knapp another strong guy carrasco from what ive seen maybe dealt. theres just something missing when i watch him pitch probably his lack of a second pitch with consistency. my rotation 2010 hamels,drabek,happ,worley and a pick up. leaving carrasco,stutes,flande to be moved. 3rd donald ss rollins 2nd utley,1st howard c marson. lf ibanez cf vic rf taylor. icant get over ricky b,s assessment of taylor with guerrero, leaving brown i lhv or as a chip.hows this carrasco and brown for the best righty ive seen in the nl. rich harden. just musing on a rainy day.
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