The Phillies DSL affiliate is off to a relatively slow start at 6-10, 6 games behind the division-leading Mariners. As with the VSL club, we will use this post to highlight some of the players worth watching closely this season. The DSL team looks to have a few more prospects than the VSL squad, especially on the pitching staff.
Monthly Archives: June 2009
Around the System –Outfield
This completes the first trip around the minor league system. This look at the OF should help lift the cloud of depression left here during the last couple around the system segments. Look for Trip Two of Around the System to start at the end of next week, with our second look at the bullpen.
Lehigh Valley
Jason Ellison–Age 31; .241/.332/.332; 2 HR 13 RBI; 5 SB; 17 Runs; .163 with RISP; 3 outfield assists, no errors
John Mayberry–Age 25; .263/.341/.480; 8 HR 31 RBI; 4 SB; 30 Runs; .281 with RISP; 1 outfield assist; no errors
Mike Spidale–Age 27; .315/.344/.473; 3 HR 17 RBI; 4 SB; 21 runs; 1 error, 3 outfield assists; (combined Reading/LV stats)
Rich Thompson–Age 30; .232/.286/.327; 1 HR, 18 RBI; 14 SB; 24 runs; 1 error; 4 outfield assists. Continue reading Around the System –Outfield
Clearwater Threshers Report
With the draft consuming most of the talk here at Phuture Phillies last week the Threshers Report was very abbreviated, so I’ll cover the last two weeks worth of action in this report. Since the last full report the team finds themselves in third place with a record of 30-31. They were 6-8 over the last 14 games, but showed some promising signs particularly with the starting pitching. Yohan Flande has led the way on the mound and was 1-0 in his last three starts including a complete game shut out. In his other two starts he gave up just three combined runs, but got little offensive support.
Joe Savery is all the rage
Seems like a new article pops up every day talking about what he will or won’t be. The latest from Marcus Hayes is here.
As someone who has backed Savery when everyone else turned on him and suggested he was bust, its nice to see that he’s altered his way of thinking at least. He’s still got another season after this one before he has to be protected on the 40 man roster, and if he stays in shape and focuses on his command and control, he’ll still be a starting pitcher for the big club at some point. The Phillies gambled with that pick. They knew that if he rebounded 100% from surgery, he’d be one of the steals of the draft at 19. He obviously hasn’t come back to what he was as a freshman, so it looks like a “failed gamble”, but if you look at the rest of the first round, we didn’t pass up on a can’t miss guy to take him other than Porcello, who we had no interest in paying for. Tim Alderson would have been a nice pick, Chris Withrow too, but that draft class looks kind of sketchy right now after the top 10 picks or so.
I hope Savery can maintain his focus and sharpen his pitches. We can still use him.
Lakewood BlueClaws Report (6/9 – 6/15)
Near the end of the first half of the season in the SAL, the BlueClaws find themselves exactly where they want to be: in first place in the SAL North, controlling their own destiny. With a three-game series against second place Delmarva, who, at the beginning of the series was only back by four games, the current condensed series taking place may play a big part in determining the first-half champions.
Having split the first two games of said series, the BlueClaws lead in the division remains at four games, and their magic number is now five with eight games left to play. A win Tuesday in the final game of the series against Delmarva would go a long way in helping to sew up the first half championship, potentially decreasing the magic number to three.
Daily Discussion
–Excellent outing today from Joe Savery in Reading, earning his eighth win of the still young season, while throwing six shutout innings, giving up just one hit.
—Jeremy Slayden has 7 RBI’s in his first 9 at bats, since being sent down from Lehigh Valley to Reading.
–The Magic Number for Lakewood for their first half championship is currently at seven. Trevor May is making his season debut in Game Two of the Blue Claws doubleheader tonight. May was the Phils 4th round pick in the 2008 draft out of Kelso High School in Washington, and received a $375,000 signing bonus last season.
Lehigh Valley Weekend Report
6/12/09–After receiving news that both Lou Marson and Jason Donald were placed on the DL, and the nights scheduled starter, Kyle Kendrick, was called up to the big club, the ‘Pigs showed some resiliency in their 3-2, ten inning win over Charlotte. Charlotte scored two early runs off of spot starter Jake Woods, who went 4 innings, and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits. Lehigh Valley bounced back with a run in the third when David Newhan scored on a passed ball, and added another in the 4th on an RBI double by Paul Hoover to tie the score at two. The game remained tied at two until the 10th, when JJ Furmaniak’s RBI single scored Miguel Cairo. The Lehigh Valley bullpen pitched six scoreless innings in relief of Woods, with Tyler Walker (2-1) picking up the win. Cairo, Hoover, and newly recalled Mike Spidale all had two hits for the ‘Pigs. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekend Report
Roster Note
Relief Pitcher Tyler Walker, who has over four years of major league experience, has been recalled by the Phils for todays game against Boston. Walker has pitched very well in Lehigh Valley, going 2-1, with a 1.40 ERA in his 15 appearances. Opponents are hitting just .125 against him this year, and he has 3 saves. Walker’s control has been excellent walking just 3 and striking out 20, in 19.1 innings pitched. It is my belief, for what it is worth, that Walker is the one that can give the Phillies what they need from Lehigh Valley. He will provide some consistency, has closed in the majors (he had 23 saves in ’05) in the past and can pitch multiple innings if needed. Sergio Escalona was sent back down to Lehigh Valley after pitching multiple innings for the Phils last night.
Injury Update
–Todd Zolecki of MLB.com is reporting that Jason Donald will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus. He is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.
—Lou Marson was placed on the DL on Friday with a right ankle contusion after taking a foul ball off his ankle Thursday night. He should be back after missing the 7 day minor league minimum.
Draft Pick register added
At the top of the site. It will be updated when new info/signings are available. If you come across an article on one of our draftees, please post it there. You can also get to it by following this link. Thanks.
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