The BlueClaws were not able to put much together this week, as they went 2-4 in their six games. Their pitching, which had been the key to the team’s success faltered a bit as a whole, giving up thirty runs for the week.
Lakewood, at 13-10, currently sits tied with Delmarva, a half game back for the SAL Northern Division lead, behind Greensboro and Kannapolis.
Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Weekly Report (4/28 – 5/3)
I know this is a bit long, but it encompasses two weeks worth of action due to my critically ill daughter, oops, I meant computer. No really, I did. I hope everyone enjoys the goodness that Reading has to offer and comments it up. Have fun!
Over the past two weeks, the Phillies have had some phenomenal individual efforts by the likes of Stutes, Worley, Bastardo, and Taylor. Even with these efforts, however, the Phils found themselves only going 7-5 over that two week span. Despite the mediocre record, I think the teams play thus far is above what most of us expected. Surprisingly, the Phils sit at 13-8 and are tied for 3rd in the Eastern League. Not surprisingly, the pitching has really carried the team while the offense has mostly been a one man show featuring Michael Taylor.
Continue reading Reading Phillies Weekly Report (4/20 – 5/3)
5/1/09– Carlos Carrasco was brilliant against Toledo for the first three innings, but struggled through the fourth and fifth, leaving with a 5-1 deficit, having gone 4.2 innings and yielding 5 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 8. The ‘Pigs chipped away at the four run lead, eventually taking the lead in the bottom of the 8th on a sac fly by Mike Cervenak, who had three hits and three RBI’s on the night. On a wet night, Jason Donald made his first start at third, committing an error on his first chance, but was unfazed at the plate, adding three hits. Rich Thompson was clearly the spark plug of the offense, in the 6-5 victory, stealing 3 bases, scoring 3 runs, adding two hits, and generally playing heads up baseball. Jake Woods (2-0) got the win in relief with Mike Koplove picking up his first save of the year in a 1-2-3 ninth. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Game Report
Jason Donald is getting his first start of the year at third base tonight. Newly acquired David Newhan is at SS, with Carlos Ruiz, back in the lineup once again catching and hitting 7th. Unfortunately, Donald made an error on his first chance at third, but is making up for it at the plate, with two hits and an RBI, thus far on the evening.
It’s not technically the BP Ten Pack or the BA Hotsheet, but Kevin Goldstein has started giving daily minor league updates over at Baseball Prospectus. It hasn’t fallen under the guise of premium content (at least not yet), so it’s certainly worth the daily read for all of you minor league aficionados. Anyhoo, Goldstein has Michael Taylor in today’s update:
Michael Taylor, OF, Phillies (Double-A Reading)
Thursday’s stats: 3-for-5, 2 2B, HR (3), 5 RBI
After three disappointing years at Stanford, Taylor got away from the single-plane “Stanford swing” in 2008 and suddenly delivered a .346/.412/.557 season while suddenly looking like the player who in high school was one of the best tools guys in the country. A monster athlete at six-foot-six and 250 pounds, Taylor is batting .424 during a current seven game hitting streak and .338/.389/.569 overall. The scary part? Some think he’s just starting to tap into his potential.
Just to add a few tidbits: there was some concern last year that Taylor’s strikeout-to-walk ratio in Clearwater indicated that he would have some difficulty adjusting to Double-A, but his 10:6 ratio so far this year is more than manageable. His .231 ISO, 6 walks, and 5 stolen bases (in 5 attempts) add up to a .400 SecA. We’re just a few weeks into the season, but the early returns are certainly promising.
Phuture Phillies 