Just a quick note that may be of some interest….Former Phillie Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle is taking in the Iron Pigs games tonight and tomorrow with Carlos Carrasco and Andrew Carpenter on the hill for Lehigh Valley respectively. Arbuckle is now working as a Senior Advisor to the Royals GM, Dayton Moore. Consider this name from the Royals rotation….Brian Bannister.
After a rain delay of just over an hour, Carrasco has thrown 14 pitches, 10 for strikes through an inning. He is throwing his fastball at 94-95. The inning went flyout, single, strikeout, long flyout to the warning track. 4-0 ‘Pigs through one (HR Rich Thompson, RBI double, Cairo, 2 run homer Tiffee).
2nd inning–fly out, strikeout, fly out deep to center. 25 total pitches, 16 for strikes. Fastball at 91-94.
3rd inning–ground out, ground out, walk, single, strikeout. 39 pitches, 23 for strikes. Fastball at 90-93. Line 3IP 2H 0R 1BB 3K. ‘Pigs 4-0.
4th inning–strikeout, walk, single, single, double play. Gets out of bases loaded jam. 52 pitches, 30 for strikes. 4IP 4H oR 2BB 4K
5th inning–ground out, fly out, walk, strikeout. 71 pitches, 39 strikes. fastball at 91-94. Line: 5IP 4H oER 3BB 5K. ‘Pigs 4-0.
6th inning–single, strikeout, strikeout, pop out. 89 pitches, 50 strikes, Fastball at 88-92. Line: 6IP 5H oER 3BB 7K. ‘Pigs 6-0 (Tracy 2 r homer)
7th inning–ground out, double, single, Carrasco is removed…Escalona gives up a single, scoring an inherited runner. Carrasco’s line: 6.1 IP 7H 1ER 3BB 7K, 103 pitches, 60 for strikes. A very good outing for Carrasco.
Phuture Phillies 
Confused on the Bannister reference…are you speaking of a possible trade?
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oh my no! id be a tad interested in Meche but noway on bannister
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Bannister sucks…for what its worth. Its not like he’s an up and coming young pitcher. He’s 28 and throws in the mid-to-high 80s (he’s a RHP). He’s a less talented poor man’s Joe Blanton.
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could Amaro be that stupid to trade for bannister? comeon he isn’t that dumb. who starts those stupid rumors.
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I would prefer Meche.
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I didn’t think it was coming from you, gregg. Bannister blows though.
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I think we all need to take a step back and say thank you gregg for live-blogging this game, you are the fricking man.
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The Phillis aren’t trading for Brian Bannister, he’s waiver wire fodder. If they are trading for someone on the Royals they’d be going for Gil Meche, but that may be a stretch too because of his contract.
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I 2nd Boston Phan’s comment, your live-blogging is much appreciated. Great level of detail.
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I don’t think that Meche’s contract is too too onerous. If we were okay about taking on Peavy or any other top starter’s salary, then Meche is doable as he’s a very good starter locked up through 2011.
Here’s his salary numbers:
09:$11M, 10:$12M, 11:$12M
He does have a no-trade clause though…Cots doesn’t specify if its a full one or limited one though.
As for his performance, he’s been a very good signing for the Royals so far.
ERA+
2007 – 128
2008 – 107
2009 – 105
His fastball hasn’t declined and there are no obvious weaknesses in his peripherals that I noticed at a quick glance. His WHIP is a little high this year but in his career range. His FIP is actually a very good 3.27 this year so his defense is probably allowing a few more hits than they should be. His GB rate is up this year and his HR rate is down so more balls are getting through. His BB rate is a tad up though. Other than that, I’d say he’d be a great trade piece and hopefully one that would cost less than a Peavy or Oswalt type pitcher. Though, the Royals new GM has a good reputation from his Atlanta days so he might bend Rube over royally.
Thanks again for the liveblogging gregg. I didn’t mean to jump on you about Bannister and I’m sorry if it came off that way in my comments on him.
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Gil Meche is pretty good and he makes less than Myers. I wanted them to sign him when he was a free agent a few years ago.
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Meche is very underated and the Royals made a good decision when they signed him to what was considered at the time to be a inflated contract. Looking back, it was a very good value and he has shown he is a very good pitcher while playing for them. Imagine him with a good defense and legit offense…he’d be a 15 game winner regularly. I wonder what it would cost for him? He’s a cost-controlled innings eater legit #2 guy who’s locked up at a reasonable rate for 2.5 more years.
So maybe 3-4 prospects including one very good one? Maybe build a package around Taylor, Donald and a B-level pitcher (not Carrasco or Drabek).
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I wouldn’t call a guy with a career 4.35 ERA (4.11 this year) a legit number 2, but I don’t think the big club needs that anyway. I’d be happy with Meche, but I wouldn’t give up a ton for him. Definitely wouldn’t trade one of Taylor, Brown or Drabek, but since he’s locked up for a bit, I’d be okay with Carrasco as the centerpiece.
Carrasco hasn’t been bad over his last 7 starts, I’m happy to see him having some success again at AAA. And great job on the live-blog, Gregg.
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Taylor included in a deal for Meche? You’re joking, right?
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id be more than happy to give Carrasco up for Meche, even Donald. No way to the big 3.
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Nepp a legit #2 on the royals maybe but not on a championship team. Meche is no better than blanton which isn’t too bad. Meche is a 3 and to center a package around taylor and than add more is absurd. The royals are happy to shed some salary and carrasco,donald, savery is plenty for a very nice 3.
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I wouldn’t worry about Dayton Moore bending anybody over, he traded away two very good bullpen arms for other peoples junk (Coco Crisp, & Mike Jacobs), signed Jose Guillen to a 3 year 36 mil deal, signed Farnsworth to a 2 year 9.25 mil deal (LOL), and gave up their 2nd round pick for Juan Cruz of all people… think about that for a second – the Phils got killed for signing a type A in Ibanez – They signed a type A in JUAN FREAKING CRUZ!!
We can only hope Rueben doesn’t rush in and make a panic deal giving up one of the big guns…
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nowheels please Says:
June 26, 2009 at 7:34 pm
oh my no! id be a tad interested in Meche but noway on bannister
NOT ME NOT ME AT ALL
Bannister has one outstanding tract. He does very well on the critical 0-1 count. Why is that important? Check the stats
The batter cant K and also unlikely to walk so it a very high average situation . Most pitchers have almost the same average against 0-1 as 0-0. And of course most batters
are meat with two strikes (I tried to explain this to talk show guys. you know warehouse thinks)
Get Grienke than I will be impressed
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Meche is better than Blanton…by a good margin.
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On another note, you have to give up something to get something…Carrasco, Donald and a third could very well get him but then you’re giving up one of the few pitchers we have that might help the team this year out of the minors. Considering Bastardo, Carpenter, etc have already shown they aren’t that person, it might not make much sense to toss Carlos to the winds in a trade.
The team already said that Taylor is pretty much trade bait as it is…not that I like it too much.
Rube will overpay, its a question of how much.
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I enjoyed the live blog.
I’d happily take Meche if it didn’t require one of the big three. I’d have to think he could shave a quarter point or so off of his era pitching in the NL. Then again, the Royals park is second highest in overall park factors but well below CBP in the HR portion of that exercise. I think Meche is a bit fly ball prone so that could spell trouble. However, I’d rather send Carrasco up to start then trade him for Bannister. CC could do what Bannister would do.
Gregg – did you do this from the game or are they broadcast locally in the LHV area? I wish there was a MiLB TV service available. I’d pay a similar price to what MLB TV costs to watch any minor league game I wanted.
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The only two guys that may be available that I would be give up Taylor, Carrasco, etc. for is Cliff Lee and Dan Haren.
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Greinke and Taylor played high school together and it is certain Greinke would like to have Taylor in KC.
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Bannister is one of the smartest guys in baseball, but his stuff is the definition of mediocre.
Meche, on the other hand, is a quality starter, and would become our second best SP.
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People have the misinpression that Bannister is a young up and coming starter. He’s not. He’s a 28 year old having his career year with very mediocre stuff. His fastball (the games I’ve seen) sits 86-88 and his secondary stuff is average. He’s not a future star. This is probably his high water mark.
Meche is good and would be even better with a legit defense behind him. And his GB rates are actually respectable.
GB/FB is 1.08 for his career and 1.52 for 2009.
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“Greinke and Taylor played high school together and it is certain Greinke would like to have Taylor in KC.”
he can pray, hope, beg, plead, do what ever he wants. If we give Taylor to KC for anything we should all go after Amaro with pitchforks.
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Haha, what if it’s for Greinke?…Not saying it could or would happen, but “anything” seems out of place in that statement.
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you have to be kidding taylor for meche. i wouldnt send them donald next years ss. carrasco marson or brown yes. actually bring up carrasco or marson, brown and a lower pitching prospect. but if meche is better than blanton whos been great than i send carrasco marson or brown marson. the phillies have to start hitting and theyll win.
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If it’s not Greinke, it’s Meche. I saw some highlights of one of Meche’s starts either June 10th or June 16thon BBTN. His fastball and curve were dazzling. In those two games, he threw 115 and 132 pitches and gave up no runs. His next two starts since then aren’t that good, throwing 75 and 84 pitches.
Coming from Seattle, I’m sure Gillick knows Meche better than anyone.
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If it were for Greinke I’d think Arbuckle would have watched Drabek the night before, but whose to say he wasn’t there?
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Greinke won’t be traded for anyone. Hes one of the cornerstones of that franchise.
Meche is one of the more underrated guys around.
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Rodeo–
I was at the game last night….will be there again tonight and do another live blog for Carpenter’s start if there is interest
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The list of silly things the Phillies have done over the years is long starting with HOFers Jenkins and Sandberg. Trading Taylor will eventually rank right up there.
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Is Drew Carpenter for Brian Bannister a fair trade?
I checked out Bannister’s numbers online. His record in day games is great. By contrast he’s about 10 games under .500 in night games. He’s also not very good after the fifth inning. But is he better than Carpenter given his major league experience?
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I would be shocked if it was Greinke. He’s their featured attraction out there so I don’t think he is going anywhere.
I think Meche would be a nice pickup. They shouldn’t have to sell the farm for him and he should give them a good number of quality starts. I don’t see a guy out there that will guarantee them a playoff spot(maybe Cliff Lee).
IMHO, next year is the best shot for the Phils. It’s hard to repeat for a reason and I think we are seeing why. Every team is getting up for them. Now, they were getting up earlier in the season but are just throwing their gloves out there right now. I don’t worry so much about the hitting, it’s everything else.
Their best shot this year is to get a new player to spark the team. Meche might be that guy.
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carpenter for bannister one bad pitcher for another, doesn’t help anyone. can’t figure out why you would suggest that.
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mikemike: I wasn’t recommending it just asking if it was fair value. If it is bad for bad as you suggest that at least sounds fair. More MLB experience vs. less could tilt it slightly in Phils favor.
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gregg how did carrasco,s #2 look last night? btw i checked meche on bb reference he looks ok. they compare him to marquis, arroyo, padilla, and myers. i think he,d look good but not for taylor. as i said donald will be next years ss so i would not move him. tradable pieces imo marson, brown stutes, knapp and carrasco. of course for haren anybody. i,d think you could get meche for carrasco and marson.
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I just want a two not anymore 4-5 types, to get back to the top.
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“Donald: next year’s SS” John, you are ridiculous. Donald has hit as poorly as J-Roll this season, at a lower level. What makes you think he should replace him, let alone could?
Carpenter-for-Bannister sounds like a fair deal, but it wouldn’t help the big club any.
Meche would be a salary dump for Kansas City. Amaro should be able to acquire him without giving up a top prospect. I wouldn’t trade Carrasco. Carrasco is at a “sell low” point and should really be more valuable than Meche. He’s too young to give up on. The big club would be able to fill Myers’ spot with Meche. It’s a deal worth discussing. In this market, Meche might be the best available starter to us.
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John, why do you keep stating Brown is tradable? Seriously…
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I’d like to see another live blog. If you don’t mind gregg.
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I sorry for posting this but how can anyone come on this site and think they know baseball, and think j. roll can’t play, He is a top shortstop, best defensive shortstop in the game, he is a good hitter with power, the phillies have put him at leadoff which he isn;t the type, he is in a slump, but don’t insult people by saying donald will take his place. Donald couldn’t hold his jock, let alone replace him. ridicious statement.
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Oh, and I’d also like to see another live blog tonight. I don’t know that I can participate, but it’s a nice feature (used sparingly). I think Carpenter merits a closer look. He might be coming back to Philly next time around.
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tjc. i say that because im tired of hearing taylor , who i believe is better than brown is constantly being mentioned as trade bait. brown is in a ball and everyone makes this guy out to be strawberry. lets see him do it a couple of years like taylor. as far as donald a guy doesnt get better EVERY LEVEL and suddenly become a bum at 25. something was wrong and its not his ability. as far as rollins he,s right up there with bowa as best phillies ss but he,s 31 and not doing a thing. mikemike part of his problem is uppercutting the ball for power, which destroys his obp. this has been 2 years . he never gets on base,never. something is wrong. could it be age. bat him 8th and yes he,s a great fielder but dont tell me its ridiculous to think donald can do more with the bat. and im not saying this year but next.
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congrats to happ cg so. thats for everybody who wanted him in the rotation over park. if they hit theyll win. hamels, blanton, happ, and moyer are doing great. one more pitcher and keep hitting. if a deal is not made carrasco is the only choice left, although i like this meche talk.
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It is ridiculous to think Donald can do more with the bat than Rollins. Donald has never proven he can hit pitching above the AA-level. Rollins has won an MVP award.
I hear people saying that Rollins has been in decline. He hasn’t been in decline. He is having a bad season. Last year’s struggles can be chalked up to the high ankle sprain. So, remember that before you make the excuse that Donald’s meniscus tear has caused his struggles in Lehigh Valley.
Could it be age? Rollins is 30 years old. He is in his prime.
Donald can’t even push Bruntlett off the end of the Phillies bench.
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I have been waiting for this day since Happ first came up.
I believe if Rollins hadn’t made an error in the fourth that day. Happ would of made it through the fifth (he was coming off the DL in the minors).but that’s history.
The most impressive thing about the complete game is 88 pitches and on Fox to boot. They let him pitch his game today
with high fastballs out of the zone. If only they had started him from ST. Oh well that is also history.
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sorry an earlier box score 100 pitches still great
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couple of things- first, rollins is not the best defensive shortstop in the majors. fo careers, its been Adam Everette and Troy Tuluwittski, and its really not that close to either of them. I’d put rollins as the #3 or #4.
second rollins BABIP is at .217. his career is .294, which is about average. He isn’t striking out to much moer than normal, he on pace for around 80 Ks. and his fly ball percentage is around his career average. just that most of those fly balls aren’t leaving the infield. sorry to talk about the big club.
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Confidence Man Says, “John, you are ridiculous”
mikemike Says: “how can anyone come on this site and think they know baseball… insult people by saying donald will take (Rollins’) place.
Ditto. It’s amazing to me that the guy’s who post the most comments on this site are the same guys who make the dumbest comments. PP ought to ban these guys like he did with ‘rocky’ last year.
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Carrasco’s curve looked good, not great last night. There have been a number of other starts where it was great, locking up the opposition. His strength last night was changing speeds, and he actually beared down with RISP.
Look for another live blog tonight.
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mike77 you like to start trouble I never mention anyones name, there was more than one person who wants rollins replaced, get your fact .
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I would like to see Carrasco get the July 1st turn for the big club.
If Arbuckle was scouting Carrasco, I agree that Meche is probably the only veteran player on their club that makes sense in return. Bannister not nearly enough, Greinke untouchable. Unless they are thinking about punting on Alex Gordon already….
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thats a good healthy philosophy ban anyone who doesnt agree with you. whats next ” book burning”.
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johnfromphilly.ne nice couldn’t have said it better.
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John, you are right. You have right to your opinion. I just wish you would’nt pontificate in each thread as if your an authority, when it is obvious that you don’t know much about minor league ball.
First it was the Phillies are crazy for not giving Jason Donald the 3rd base job out of spring training because he is better than Feliz. (not felix, mikemike)
Then it was the ridiculous, “I would’nt trade Donald for Buchholz”
Now it’s Donald WILL replace the reigning Gold Glove SS, who just happens to have multiple years left on his contract.
Come on man. Stop saying things just to get a reaction.
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as far as knowing about minor league ball or major league ball for that matter, sometimes your right, sometimes your wrong. it all comes down to who makes it and who doesnt. it,s just an opinion based on stats and a gut feeling. it doesnt make someone ridiculous or not ridiculous. where were the comments when i said howard would sign last year and most of the posters said he wouldnt or trade him. very few as i recall said you were right john. its the same old story, people like to rip other people. i love rollins just as much as the next guy but somethings wrong and i happen to think donald, and ive seen him play in person enough,will make it. thats all it is man, an opinion. btw i did say next year. i said the same thing about sandberg, franco and was told i was nuts by paul owens. so you see i do have some history.in the minors.
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“i said the same thing about sandberg, franco and was told i was nuts by paul owens.”
John, as someone who is old enough to remember when Julio Franco was in the minors, that is not a believable statement. Franco was by all accounts a 5 tool, ‘no doubt about it’, stud. There is not a scout alive, let alone Paul Owens who said he would not make it. That’s the kind of nonsense that I was just talking about.
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amazing
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if your not ridiculous your a liar , right. keep believing that. your not worth my time, man.
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my apologies james for the nonsense but the liar bit goes a little too far.
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Did anyone see this from the Phils site?
Philadelphia Phillies rookie left-hander Antonio Bastardo will miss his next start, scheduled for Wednesday, due to a strained left shoulder, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Sunday.
Bastardo, who had posted a 6.75 ERA in five starts, is scheduled to see team doctor Michael Ciccotti in Philadelphia on Monday.
Lefty Cole Hamels will move up a day to take Bastardo’s Wednesday start at Atlanta, and the team is expected to promote its top prospect, right-hander Carlos Carrasco, from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make his Major League debut on Thursday.
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btw the actual report was great hitter average power poor fielder bad arm great speed. goodbye.
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john, i also think that taylor is the better prospect IMO, however you make it sound like he is leaps and bounds above Brown. Taylor has been in the minors one year less than Brown. Brown was drafted out of high school, and he’s younger. This holds quite a bit of weight considering he’s only a half-step behind.
Make your points, but be reasonable.
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i dont think taylor is leaps and bounds ahead of brown, i dont know. i just like taylor more,based on stat wise their pretty much even but people whove seen them seem to say taylor is better. plus taylor is rh and seems like a headier player. maybe brown will be a star i dont know. i would just take taylor.
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I wish that at my age I could understand how prospects are judged. As a fan all I see is a kid who is putting up monster numbers at each level. a five tool player. Yet he is just starting to get the respect from scouts and guys like law, I hear guys like gio gonzalez who has been traded about four times is a stud, prove nothing, maybin proved nothing, there has to be some thing I am missing ,who has better numbers then this kid has put up at three levels, and still gets little respect, he is rumored to be tradeable why? He should be untouchable, unless you are getting halladay, or webb, not cain or lee or oswalt.
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Webb is out for the season I think.
mikemike “I second that emotion”
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John,
The context of the Franco trade is that the Phillies believed (and they were not alone) that Hayes was going to be a star. He was better than many people here remember, but not nearly as good as expected.
Franco was a very well regarded prospect when traded, and coming off a stellar year in AAA (.300 BA, 21 HR, 33 SB, .856 OPS, etc.). though not quite as well regarded as was Hayes (that’s why it wasn’t an even exchange, well, that and the fact that Hayes had a year of ML experience). I’m perfectly willing to believe that Owens undervalued Franco somewhat (obviously in retrospect he either undervalued Franco or undervalued Hayes, though again I think it was more a matter of overvaluing Hayes), but I don’t believe for a minute that Owens thought Franco wouldn’t “make it.” Saying that does indeed negatively impact your credibility.
(I’d note regarding Sandberg that obviously the Phillies brain trust just completely missed the boat on what a great prospect he was.)
Moreover, putting Donald in the same category as Franco and Sandberg is just silly. At Donald’s age, Sandberg had 3 years of Major league experience and an MVP. Franco had one year of ML experience where he was second in the ROY voting (and the above mentioned stellar year at AAA).
Finally, and I mean this seriously, I’d like to hear just what your alleged experience with the Phillies was. The fact of the matter is this: while a lot of what you say in these threads is purely a matter of opinion – you may be right, you may be wrong – every now and then you take a position so contrary to conventional wisdom that it makes us hesitate to believe that you had substantial experience in the system.
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I think there were two things in the sandberg trade ,One green knew him and had it evalutate right, second they wanted bowa out of town so bad they would have given up anyone.
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It is amazing how bad a trade the Sandberg trade was. I was all ready to … not defend it, but explain how it must have looked at the time, with reference toaquiring a quality, youngish SS in DeJesus, but even in the context of the time (very few shortstops in that era contributed much offensively) it doesn’t make sense – Dejesus was not that good in his best years, and was coming off a horrible year when the trade was made. Bowa was well past his prime and never as good as us fans at the time thought he was, but even straight up for DeJesus it doesn’t look like a great trade, let alone throwing in a hall of famer.
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Taylor 2-2 with a double and rbi thus far this morning against Trenton. Savery going for #10 in wins and first in Eastern League.
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Michael Taylor is an absolute beast. He’s making the vaunted jump to AA look ridiculously easy.
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For those of you who have seen Taylor play, how does he stand at the plate? Does he pick up his foot? Where do his hands start? Does he waggle his bat? Are his hands high or low?
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Speaking of the R-Phils…what happened to the weekly updates??
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Anonymuos,FYI Taylor,stands deep,md closed stance,footwork even,hands start a little high,but he 6’6”
no bat movement,IMO a line drive machine,and i repeat ,ball screams of his bat.
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