Lehigh Valley and Reading pitching staffs

Spring Training 2010

I figured we’d start off trying to figure out who is going to be where by looking at both Reading and Lehigh Valley. We’ll then move on to the A ball affiliates, and after we cover pitching, we’ll try and sort out the position players in the system and who will be playing where. The minor league work out groups have been posted, and they will be continually updated throughout the rest of spring training, and eventually players will be assigned to their respective affiliates. But it doesn’t hurt to start speculating now. Check below the fold for more…

So here we go. Fill in the blanks as best you can. I’m going to include only guys who are legit prospects/fringe guys, not the career minor leaguers, but you can add them in if you’d like.

Lehigh Valley

SP1: Joe Savery, LHP
SP2: Drew Carpenter, RHP
SP3: Kyle Kendrick, RHP/Antonio Bastardo, LHP
SP4: Vance Worley, RHP (maybe Stutes as well, or in the pen, or they both repeat AA?)
SP5: Mike Cisco, RHP?

RP1: Ehren Wasserman, RHP (fringe guy, sidearmer recently signed, still a quasi-prospect)
RP2: Scott Mathieson, RHP
RP3: Sergio Escalona, LHP
RP4: Mike Zagurski, LHP (still a fringe guy I guess)
RP5:
RP6:

Reading

SP1: Phillipe Aumont, RHP
SP2: Yohan Flande, LHP
SP3: JC Ramirez, RHP
SP4: Edgar Garcia, RHP
SP5: Drew Naylor, RHP

RP1: Michael Schwimer, RHP
RP2: BJ Rosenberg, RHP
RP3:
RP4:
RP5:
RP6:

Notes: I think either Kendrick or Bastardo will make the ML roster, possibly both, but there’s a chance neither will. Bastardo may be used in relief in the minors this season if that is the role the Phillies think he’ll play in the big leagues this season should the need arise. We have a bunch of legitimate prospects and on paper, it looks like they could fill all the rotation spots, but we also have plenty of journeyman minor leaguers at the top 2 levels, which means some of these guys might be converted to the bullpen, possibly one of the Worley/Stutes/Cisco trio, and maybe Flande/Bastardo.

94 thoughts on “Lehigh Valley and Reading pitching staffs”

  1. I kinda feel like Aumont might start the year in Clearwater and then move to Reading once they feel like he’s got his arm slot fully established. Thoughts?

    Like

  2. I bet Stutes and Worley start in AA again, just due to numbers.

    Several guys that aren’t minor league filler yet:

    LV – Pat Overholt

    Reading – Tyson Brummett, Chance Chapman, Darren Byrd, Matt German (I know he’s not really considered a prospect but he’s been good at every level), Alex Concepcion (Phils resigned him b/c he was a FA this offseason).

    Like

  3. Stutes will be in the LhV rotation and, if he has a good spring, Rosenberg will also be in LhV, as a reliever. They seem to love Rosenberg.

    Like

  4. I forsee a lot of releases of AAAA guys. The projections don’t leave a lot of room for the Vogelsongs of the world.

    Like

  5. Just going out on a limb here, but. . . .

    I know it’s probably not good for a guy’s arm, but, for guys like Pat Overholt, why don’t they teach something like a split-fingered fastball. That’s what led Bruce Sutter from being another Pat Overholt to becoming a HOF reliever. Is it an injury risk? Sure it is, but what are Pat Overholt’s other options and is it a risk that he would gladly undertake for the opportunity to be a major league pitcher? I am sure he would answer that question in the affirmative.

    Like

  6. It has been stated that Aumont/Ramirez will both be starters in Reading. Bastardo has officially been named a reliever and there isn’t anyone better than him other than J.C. so he will be in the majors. Kendrick at worse will be Happ of 09 and will start in the pen. I can’t see Kendrick starting in the minors especially with J.C. on the DL to start the season.

    LHV: Carpenter/Savery/Stutes
    Reading: Worley/Flande/Cisco/Aumont/Ramirez

    Worley/Flande/Cisco I feel will be promoted early in the season to make way for Naylor/Garcia/DeFratus. Assuming DeFratus is a starter.

    Like

  7. What about Vogelsong in AAA? They keep mentioning him as a possible 5th starter candidate. So, I assume they want to keep him in AAA for organizational depth – like Lopez last year.

    Like

  8. They are probably looking at Kendrick like the 6th starter that they will almost certainly need during the season and as the likely 5th starter next year.

    Like

  9. I agree with Johnny that Kendrick will be this year’s Happ. I think they’ll keep him on the roster because he’s throwing the ball great. I also think Bastardo will take Romero’s job for now because he’s not ready and maybe even after he comes back. Lidge’s injury will allow someone to come north for a week or two and it will definitely be someone on the 40 man. An interesting name to remember is Herndon, the rule 5 guy, because he’s thrown the ball very well so far. I think Chapman and Concepcion will be in the pen at AAA. I think Duckworth and Vogelsong will likely start at AAA and bad performance will get them released later. mazzone is another possibility for one of those two spots. I think Cisco and Flande will be in the pen at AA with Stutes and Worley in the AA rotation with Garcia in the CWater rotation. I believe there are about 10 AAAA pitchers that will still have to be released at the end of ST.

    Like

  10. I really think that Cisco and Flande have performed well enough to continue to be starters. Especially Cisco. Since Flande and is a lefty and throws a good slider, I expect them to put him in the pen before Cisco. Especially considering how few lefty relievers we have at the current major league level.

    Like

  11. Catch, Overholt already has a plus pitch in the slider. His problem is not the lack of good stuff, it’s that he has very little command of it.

    Like

  12. Why on earth would Garcia start at Clearwater? He already dominated that level 2 years ago. He will be in Reading again, either as a starter or reliever.
    LV: Vogelsong, Duckworth, Carpenter, Savery, Stutes. Mathieson, Rosenberg, Escalona and Zagurski in the pen.
    Reading: JC Ramirez, Flande, Worley, E Garcia, Cisco. Schwimer, Naylor, Chapman and Cloyd in the pen .
    Clearwater: Trevor May, Phillipe Aumont, DeFratus, Matt Way, Sanchez. Hyatt, Sampson and Correia in the pen.
    Lakewood: Cosart, Shreve, Pettibone, N Hernandez.

    Like

  13. On Garcia:

    He has hit the wall, including last season’s soap opera keeping him inactive most of the season. He doesn’t deserve AA status; rather, start him at Clwtr A and have HIM take it from there with uber coaching and reminders to him that he soon could be on the cusp of major career loss.

    Is he a head case?

    2010 could tell the tale. Together with Carrasco they were once the proud symbols of a superior staff to come.

    Now with Carrasco’s own head-case gone, only Garcia remains…with all kinds of questions.

    Finally coming forward with more maturity and effort and adding him to the list of actual prospect? That’s a good call!

    2010 is his make or break season…IMO.

    Like

  14. I am in Orlando, heading to the Phillies game tonight and then on Thursday in Clearrwater. Thursday they are calling for rain all day. What will happen if they get rained out or is there a place to try and get autographs (we would also be interested in the minor leaguers)? If anyone who has been to ST has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and go Phils!

    Like

  15. Pigs- Savery, Mazone, Carpenter, Duckworth, Vogelsong/Stutes/Bump/Kendrick (could be 1 or none)

    BP: Mathieson, Zagurski, Escalona, Overholt, Chapman

    R Phils- Stutes (if not in AAA), Flande, Ramirez, Worley, Aumont/Garcia/Cisco (2 outta the 3 in the pen)

    BP: Schwimer, Garcia, Cisco, Naylor, Rosenberg (if not in AAA)

    Like

  16. You know, I wouldn’t be all that upset if Aumont went back to Clearwater so that he could get a running start. Why not get back on track in a place where the weather is nice and the pressure is less. He’d probably be up to Reading by June or July – basically, the same track Drabek took last year. It’s not like we need him in the majors anytime soon – what’s the rush?

    Like

  17. I agree on Aumont. As he is transitioning back into starting, why rush him? He’s not that old. He can always be moved up midseason.

    Like

  18. Agree that most of the AAAA guys that were signed will not be here once the season starts. I can see a strter or two and a reliever or two at LV to keep in reserve for injuries at the ML leveel, but there are enough prospects sufficiently talented to move up that should not be blocked. In addition, I think that there is a reasonable chance that the Dodgers will return Monteserios and he should relieve at least at the AA level if not AAA.

    Like

  19. I do not think there are any pitchers being blocked at AAA by Vogelsong or Duckworth. There are no pitching prospects that have passed the AA test yet. Stutes, Worley and Garcia did not pass AA. If anything, those 3 guys may block some guys like Way or DeFratus from going to Reading as starters.

    Like

  20. I don’t know why Aumont is even in question on where he is going to be. The Phillies have officially announced that he and Ramirez will be starters in Reading. I personally would start both in Clearwater just to get their feet wet but that doesn’t matter. Garcia had a 4.32 ERA with o.k. peripherals last year in Clearwater so let’s not make it out to be like he’s wasting his time at single-A. Naylor will get the nod over him and I could easily see DeFratus, Cloyd or Way jumping over him. Even though Way was only drafted last year he could impress enough to get AA fairly quickly. Similar to Stutes/Worley/Cisco.

    Like

  21. Ken, just go over to Carpenter complex next to Brighthouse. You can actually get most of the minor leaguers to stop, sign autographs, and talk to you. They all have their names on their backs so it’s easy to figure out who you are talking to.

    Like

  22. Airborn – thanks for the advice.

    At the game now. Halladay gave up two hits in the first but got out of trouble by striking out mccann. Halladay has hit 94 mph.

    Werth just launched a two run homer that just cleared the right field wall. 2-0 Phils.

    Like

  23. I think both p’s from the lee trade start in clearwater. LHV will have vogelsong or duckwoth most likely both to start the year. there’s to many injurys thoughout the year for the big club to dump these guys so early. unless they have out clauses in their contracts they should be kept for insurance.

    Like

  24. Talk of Edgar Garcia going to Clearwater is silly. Garcia passed that test TWO years ago with a 3.97 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.9 K/9 at age 20. He only went to Clearwater last year because there were no spots left in Reading once he finally got his VISA late in the season.
    Aumont is working on his mechanics and getting stretched out for starting. There are at least 7 guys who could start at Reading. It makes sense for Aumont to work on his 3/4 arm slot in Clearwater.

    Like

  25. LHV – Kendrick, Savery, Carpenter, Duckworth, and Stutes
    BP – Mathieson, Zagurski, Escalona, Bump, Wasserman, Villareal, and Worley

    Rea – Flande, Cisco, Aumont, Ramirez, Naylor
    BP – Rosenberg, Schwimmer, Chapman, German, Cloyd, Garcia, Brummett, and DeFratus

    Like

  26. How many innings will Aumont throw? He threw 51 last year and 55 the year before. If he’s going to be a starter, 80 innings isn’t enough. I’m assuming he’ll start with short outings and work up to 6 – 7 – 8 inning outings. Early in the season, you’re going to need additional starters or “long” relievers to fill in as inning eaters. You might need 5 or even 6 starters in Reading at least at the start. As injuries or performance issues play out, we’ll probably be wondering where all the pitching depth went.

    Like

  28. I’d guess closer to 140-150…same strategy as Drabek. Remember Drabek made a huge jump like that too. 140 and shut down by early August is a good plan.

    Like

  29. I think Bellman has the right idea – there may be some sort of piggybacking where Aumont pitches the first 3-4 innings and then another starter prospect comes in (Flande? DeFratus?). You usually see this in low-A, not in AA, but it would be a sensible way to get Aumont used to starting without piling on innings. It also allows a team with more than 5 starting pitching prospects at a level to get each of them multiple innings. I doubt you’ll see that kind of creativity in reality, however.

    Like

  30. Wow dominic brown is fast. Aumont should go to clearwater, younger players will swing at his wild stuff more than veterans, so he will get some confidence, he is very wild may never see the majors,

    Like

  31. Having Aumont at Reading will force him to work on his secondary pitches instead of just blowing it by younger inexperienced hitters in Clearwater. He should start the year there. If he can’t handle pitching in Reading, then he’s not tat much of a prospect anyway.

    Like

  32. Aumont can work on his secondary pitches at Clearwater without getting crushed. He is changing his delivery this year. Doing all of that while trying to get out top prospects will be difficult. The minute he starts getting hit, he will revert back to bad mechanics and try to blow the hitters away the only way he knew how as a professional.
    Getting beat up in AA while working on mechanics does not make him a bad prospect. It means the organization should have let him work on mechanics at a lower level.

    Like

  33. Aumont should start at Clearwater . He is going back to his old delivery and needs a lot of work . Seattle stole Lee by including this guy in the trade .
    Kendrick will be with the big club as # 5 SP or middle relief .
    The Plillies middle relief has been awful so far this Spring with poor performaces by Contrares, and Madson . Bastardo will make the team also since Romero will not be ready for opening day .

    Like

  34. Alright, I’m tired of hearing about Aumont. It’s clear he is a long way away and not the same level of prospect as Drabek (not yet at least, the Phillies minor leagues can work some wonders with pitchers – and didn’t we project Drabek to only be a third starter? So maybe Aumont could be better.)

    Let’s talk about Savery. Weren’t some people questioning him as a pitcher due to his hitting prowess? How does HE look? I want a stud pitcher in the minors to root for, and Drabek seemed to be that guy, and Carassco before him. Do we have that kind of pitcher anymore?

    Like

  35. Lehigh Valley
    Savery, Carpenter, Stutes, Vogelsong, Duckworth

    Reading
    Aumont, Ramirez, Worley, Naylor, Cisco/Flande

    I expect Kendrick and Bastardo to both make the 25-man roster coming out of spring training and Worley (assuming some early success) will move quickly to AAA to take Duckworth’s spot so that Cisco/Flande will both have full-time spots in the AA rotation by June.

    Like

  38. Yes, the Phillies MIGHT have that type of pitcher but you will need to look down lower at the Clearwater/lakewood level

    Like

  39. Don’t forget Brody Colvin. I think phuturephillies suggested a May-like year for him in terms of progression if not performance. Let’s hope!

    Like

  40. Savery-Carpenter-Stutes-Vogelsong-Duckworth as the LV rotation

    Aumont-Ramirez – Worley – Flande – Garcia as the Reading rotation

    I too don’t see the continued speculation regarding pitchers, whom the Phillies have already publicly announced as being in the Reading rotation. You simply don’t do that with a quality prospect like Aumont and Ramierez, even if after ST you wish you could. After the announcement, that would be like publicly declaring that they flunked ST. For better or worse, and I think for better, they will be starters at Reading.
    I also don’t understand why some are predicting Kendrick will start in the minors.

    Like

  41. Allentown – I initial was thinking Kendrick in AAA but I have feeling now he may start off in the pen for this Phils and then take over #5 spot in their rotation. Maybe time for Bastardo in AAA.

    Like

  42. Allentown, your predicted rotations make a lot of sense. You did not mention where starters Mike Cisco, Drew Naylor and DeFratus would be placed.
    Clearwwater has May, Way, Sanchez, Sampson and Correia.

    Like

  44. maybe someone can tell me about Ramirez, looked up his numbers last three years, losing record high era yet seattle moved him up and put him on 40 man roster. wonder what they saw in him?

    Like

  45. Dr. Steve please dont asked about salvery, i get so angry. We took him over porcello and at twenty porcello is a starting pitcher for detroit, while savery is not even a prospect. May is proabley the pitcher most likely to be like Drabek.

    Like

  46. Let’s all get over the thing with Savery being drafted. This organization takes chances on its first round draft picks who have question marks due to, among other things, inexperience and injuries. That’s why we were able to get Cole Hamels with a mid-round pick. With that philsophy, sometimes you wind up with a stud (Hamels) and sometimes you get a dud (probably so with Savery), but it’s better than just getting slightly above average guys all the time. If you do that, you slowly become the Pirates, so stop getting mad already.

    Like

  47. Enough about Savery. Was anyone at ST today to see Ramirez pitch? The line was very impressive and, apparently, the team just loves this guy. If you read this and saw him please chime in.

    One other marginally related thing. If you haven’t done so, go onto ESPN and check out the highlights of Strasburg. If this kid stays healthy and has decent control, there’s no telling what he could do. I knew about the killer FB, but his curve ball is hard, breaks pretty late and moves like crazy – the hitters had no chance. What a prospect!

    Like

  48. 26 other teams passed up on Porcello due to his price tag. And if there’s something to get mad about, it’s that the teams who were supposed to get a stud pitcher in the draft did not (i.e. the top five picks).

    Porcello turned out great, but you’ll go broke giving out exorbitant bonuses to high school arms.

    Like

  49. I saw Strasburg live. Tremendous talent certainly, and I’m hoping for a chance to see him pitch in person this spring. Jason Heyward is another player who is going to terrorize the Phils for the next several seasons. He’s impressive.

    Like

  50. Here’s my guesses.

    LVIP- ST- Carpenter, Stutes, Savery, Cisco, Worley
    ……. RP- A. Concepcion, Zagurskie, Bastardo, Escalona, Mathieson, Schwimer, Rosenberg
    RDG- ST- Naylor, Flande, Aumont, Ramirez, E. Garcia
    …… RP- C.Chapman, A. Hyatt, E. McConnell, J. MacIntosh, W. Tejeda, Z. Sterner, C. Kissock

    Like

  51. As for the rotations, Lehigh Valley is likely going to see Vogelsong, Duckworth, Mazone, Savery, Carpenter and Kendrick. With one of those pitchers filling the long relief role (I’m guessing Mazone, I’m shocked he still got AAA hitters out at times). I really doubt prospects will get pushed to AAA simply because AA is overstocked. What is more likely to happen is that a pitcher or two will get held back at extended Spring Training, shuffling in as injuries and attrition take their toll in Reading.

    Like

  52. Pitchers that could become studs: May, Cosart, Shreve, Colvin, and Aumont. Yes Aumont has some mechanical issues but he has huge upside potential. Not ot the same level of pitcher but Sanchez is exciting to watch and follow and the Matheson story is a great one to follow. At ST last week, I asked him how his arm felt and he gave me a big smile and a big thumb up. I told him lots of folks were rooting for him. By the way, why the love for Garcia? I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Phillies traded him at the end of spring training to give him a fresh start somewhere else.

    Like

  53. mikemike, in the draft thread you said 2009 was the first mlb draft you ever followed. How could you have been angry about the Phillies drafting Savery over Porcello in 2007? You didnt even follow the draft, and probably had no idea who Porcello was at the time.

    Like

  54. I’d rather have Kendrick in AAA getting starters innings in preparation for a callup then riding the bench in the Majors then getting sent down when Romero comes back. I think Bastardo stays in the pen all year because I expect him to be good and replace Romero next year.

    LHV: Kendrick, Carpenter, Savery, Stutes, Vogelsong. Duckworth, Bump and Mazone ready for any openings. Rosenberg and Mathieson as closers. Escalona and Wasserman as setup guys. Villareal and Overholt if they can carry that many.

    Savery and Carpenter are locks. Kendrick has to wait for an injury or spot start. One of the vets will get the last starters spot mostly to teach the young guys. I picked Vogelsong since he might have the Japanese work ethic. I think they like Rosenberg and need to get Mathieson work with some pressure.

    Reading: Aumont, Ramirez, Cisco, Garcia, Flande/Worley. Schwimer and Naylor close. Zagurski and Worley setup. Maybe some overflow AAAA guys fill rest of the pen.

    Aumont and Ramirez are locks. I think Worley or Flande gets moved to the pen but mostly because of numbers. I just think Worley projects as a better relief pitcher than Flande. Like Flande, though, Naylor needs to move quickly. He’ll be on the 40-man for a second year and now may be the time to fast track him in the pen. Too many lefties in AAA so Zagurski gets to be a vet for the AA pen. He could easily be called up over Escalona if needed. Brummet and Chapman also in the pen.

    Clearwater: May, Way, Sanchez, DeFratus, Correa. Closer is Hyatt. Lefty is Diekman. Sampson, Cloyd and Byrd repeat.

    Way and Hyatt are too old but Reading is full, so no need to double jump them. I think Sanchez needs innings but will be fast tracked to the pen soon since he is already on the 40-man. DeFratus may also move to the pen as he progresses but he should continue as a starter until he proves otherwise.

    Like

  55. “why the love for Garcia”
    I have not seen a lot of love for Garcia. Guys are just including him in their projected Reading rotation because that is where he will be if he comes to camp with his arm in shape. Garcia is only 22 years old. Baseball America rates him in the 30 prospects. BA only rates 7 starting pitchers (in the high minors) higher than Garcia in the Phillies system. Aumont, Ramirez, Stutes, Flande, Worley, Savery and Cisco. There are 10 starting pitcher spots in the high minors, 7 guys rated higher than Garcia. Garcia will pitch at Reading.

    Like

  56. Ctach 22- I was at the game today, and Ramirez looked great. He is a big strong guy who throws hard. He was getting a lot of ground balls and strikeouts. I also saw him pitch in Dunedin last Friday, when he didn’t pitch as well. In that game he was facing the Jays starters, his defense let him down a couple times, and Vogelsong let in his inherited runners to make his line look worse than he pitched. All in all I have been impressed with JC so far

    Like

  57. My 2 cents:
    LHV: Carpenter, Savery (L), Duckworth, Vogelsong are locks. I am guessing Kendrick makes it to Philly out of Spring Training… Leaving Mazone to round out the rotation.

    Reading: Stutes, Flande (L), Aumont, Ramirez are locks, mostly because they have already told us their plans for Ramirez & Aumont. My best guess for the last spot is Cisco.
    Brummett & Worley will be long relief or spot starts to help stretch out Ramirez & Aumont’s arms.

    Clearwater: Naylor, Garcia, Sampson, Cloyd and Sanchez as I think Byrd goes to long relief or maybe they go with 6 starters….

    Lakewood: May, Way, Correa, De Fratus & Nicholas Hernandez… now follow me….

    I see no reason to rush any of the pitchers as they have no where to go on the big team… so what’s the hurry? Let them perform/ get confidence at the levels they were assigned near the end of the year, some were moved up a level close to the end of the year so starting and building confidence would be smart, once the cold weather is out of the way the first wave of promotions won’t be long…I think that if we get good results from our picthing early the first promotions/moves will be:

    Mazone out
    Stutes to LHV
    Naylor to Reading
    May to Clearwater
    Zied or Cossart to Lakewood…

    Like

  58. You have everyone repeating their previous level. When has that ever happened?
    Cosart will start the season at Lakewood. May will start the season at Clearwater. Naylor will start the season at Reading, probably in the Bullpen.

    Like

  59. Just saying…When have the Phillies ever had this much pitching depth in the majors & minors… not like there is any openings in the major league rotation this year or probably next so where are you rushing them to…unless you want to trade away more depth? They will will advance the ones that have nothing left to prove at their respective levels but to this point I do not see that excpet maybe Naylor & Stutes..and that willcome at the cost of a Minorleague veteran as soon as we see what we have early on in the season…

    Like

  60. I’ll be stunned if Naylor isn’t in the Reading rotation. I’ll also be stunned if Flande is. The starters will be guys who need innings to develop, like Sanchez and DeFratus, or guys who the team feels can be major league starters. The numbers they have below AAA will provide interesting decisions.

    Like

  61. Savery has pitched two scoreless innings in today’s game…no hits…but no shock he walked two…Flande is coming in now

    Like

  62. Mathieson struck out two in an inning of work. For those of you at ST – please give us any tidbit of info you might have on any relevant performance (Flande did well too). This is like the old days (for me, that’s the 1970s) when I was a kid and I sat around listening to the radio trying to get scraps of information and not being able to see some of these players for myself.

    Like

  63. If he doesnt’ get hurt (always a big “if”), I think it’s pretty clear that Mathieson is going to be a major league pitcher fairly soon and he’s got a chance to be a good one. If he’s as good as I think he might be, he could have a spot by mid-year. I expect the same of Bastardo, except he should start the year with the club – Charlie loves him.

    Like

  64. Flande and Mathieson looked great today. I especially love Flande, probably to an irrational extent. He just looks cool when he pitches, kind of like a LH Pedro Martinez. He works fast and has nasty movement on his pitches. I hope they find a way to tap his potential, whether it be as a starter or reliever .

    Like

  65. I wouldn’t be shocked if Flande becomes that lefty bullpen guy down the road for this Phils. Especially if Bastardo goes through another injury plagued year.

    Like

  66. Baseball America does not like Flande as lefty bullpen specialist. His best pitch is a change-up. In order to be a lefty specialist you need the plus breaking ball and/or fastball. IMO, Flande best opportunity to succeed would be as a 5th starter if he improves his slider a little.
    I am very interested to see how the Phillies use Aumont, Ramirez, Flande and Garcia at Reading. Hope they use each of them as starters because they seem to have the most potential of the pitchers at that level.

    Like

  67. Herndon continues to be impressive putting the ball on the ground. Today he gave up two hard hit ground ball outs and struck out a batter. So far in his three innings of no run, no hit, two walks work, he has induced 7 ground ball outs, one air out and a strike out. But finding a spot for him in the pen is hard to figure out short of moving Durbin or sending Kendrick to AAA or DLing Lidge to open the season. I would expect the Angels to take him back under Rule 5 if he is not on the 25 man.

    Like

  70. I saw Flande late last year in New Britain. He had trouble getting his off speed stuff over the plate. NB was sitting on the FB. His FB was consistantly in the low 90s, peaking at 93 once, on the NB gun. I don’t know how hot the NB gun is but Zagurski pitched later in the game and touched 93 once. I liked Flande because he battled out there. A few plays (or lack there of) in the infield by Sellers and Mahar made his line a lot worse than it had to be. Although Galvis was at SS and made a few nice plays to help out.

    Like

  71. I don’t see a spot for Herndon so they will be probably be sending him back to the Angels. We could get lucky and they don’t want him back like the Phils got lucky when the Dodgers didn’t want Victorino back and I think we just paid $50K to them. Big mistake for the Dodgers.

    Like

  72. The Inquirer has an article on Andrew Carpenter this morning that starts out with: This off-season, Andrew Carpenter decided to resume exercises to strengthen his right arm that he last did four years ago in college. When he was at Long Beach State, his fastball hit 94 m.p.h. Now it hovers between 88 and 92 m.p.h., and Carpenter is looking for any sort of extra edge that could prolong his next major-league stay beyond 21 days.

    Can someone explain to me why a pitcher would stop his off-season workout routine, or why it would take him four years to resume his routine after losing 6-8 mpn in top end velocity??? Why aren’t players, as property of the teams, with the money invested, put on mandatory offseason programs and constantly monitored. I have never understood the concept of a training camp, you should be working out your entire potential career.

    Like

  73. “Can someone explain to me why a pitcher would stop his off-season workout routine, or why it would take him four years to resume his routine after losing 6-8 mpn in top end velocity??? Why aren’t players, as property of the teams, with the money invested, put on mandatory offseason programs and constantly monitored. I have never understood the concept of a training camp, you should be working out your entire potential career.”

    I saw that too and thought to myself – what the #$%^!%@#$? – why did he stop doing his workouts and as a second round pick, why wasn’t the team finding ways to strengthen his arm and return him to form? In a lot of ways, I have confidence in this team and its player development people. But when I read something like this it makes me think that there’s not a whole lot of follow-up with players and how they need to prepare their bodies for peak performance. One of the good things with the Phils is that they cultivate an “old time” baseball mentality – focusing on fundamentals and baseball skills and not rushing players. But being “old time” is a curse to the extent that modern training techniques are not even being introduced, no less enforced. I mean, really, why the hell is Andrew Carpenter being left to his own devices when it comes to his workout regimine and routines. That is so dumb ass backwards – it really pissed me off too.

    Like

  74. On a less contentious point – I saw clips of Galvis last night. It was hard to see everything, but he looked to me like a player that can (and probably has) put on muscle and strength and he did not swing the bat in the feeble way that I anticipated (I had visions of Larry Bowa and Bud Harrelson in my head – some really ugly stuff). He stood in there strongly and took a decent swing on the replay I saw.

    Like

  75. One more Andrew Carpenter point. This one is on the player himself. Okay, now, you’re a prospect and you are doing a shoulder routine that has you throwing the ball 94 MPH, which makes you a hotshot prospect because you have good control and decent breaking pitches. Then you stop doing the shoulder routine and now you’ve got a fringy FB in the 88-90 range. How clueless (or lazy – another possibility has he has come into camp fat and out of shape before) is this guy for not thinking to himself, “holy crap, I don’t throw as hard as I used to – I better get back to the shoulder stuff I was doing before and get my velocity back to where it was before.”

    Like

  76. Interesting that Flande throws in the lower 90s – I thought he was more a trick and finesse lefty. He’s kind of a weird prospect – even knowing this information, I’m not sure what to make of him. I guess we’ll know more as the year progresses.

    Like

  77. Re: Carpenter. Every Spring Training there are a thousand articles about how Player X is coming into camp in the best shape of his life. It gets so ridiculous that it delves into self-parody.

    Like

  78. I thought it was a little ironic that the article said he’s throwing a split-fingered fastball, a pitch that is clearly disfavored by the organization due to its tendency to ruin arms. However, I wrote earlier this week that, when a prospect is really borderline, it probably makes sense to teach this type of pitch because it can be extremely effective. I guess the Phils are at the point with him where they are willing to try almost anything – Carpenter’s such a borderline prospect right now.

    Like

  80. Y’all may want to relax about the Carpenter comment. Talk about reading too much into a quote. I may be wrong too, but I took it as meaning he is going BACK to an old workout regimen from one the Phillies had prescribed, as opposed to starting one after having not done anything for four years. Again, I may be wrong too, but let’s not assume the guy hasn’t done anything at all for four years.

    Like

  81. Two thoughts on my main man Carp: 1) The Phils have their own workout program for pitchers. Carp is probably switching back to his old one because he felt it worked better for him. 2) He has always thrown a split. I don’t know why the Phils’ did not talk him out of it, like they have with other pitchers, but it is not a new thing for him.

    Like

  83. ***Again, I may be wrong too, but let’s not assume the guy hasn’t done anything at all for four years.***

    That would make a bit more sense…it just came out really poorly on his part…or the reporter didn’t go into enough detail.

    Like

  84. I don’t think the Phils should advise him against throwing a split unless his arm hurts or it is otherwise holding him back or keeping his velocity down. He needs all the help he can get.

    Like

  85. after reading schwimmer’s blog, and his admiration for the hard work Halladay puts in, I hope he will follow suit and drive the rest of the pitching staff to work as hard as he does to be as good as he is. Kyle Kendrick, it has been well documented, is following him everywhere because he wants to make it back to the big leagues and now he may benefit from his no nonsense attitude.
    Halladay has talent, that is undeniable, but I hope the rest of the pitchers learn by osmosis that talent is wasted without hard work. The job is a well paid one; I do not understand why Halladay’s 4 hour daily workout routine is not a mandatory requirement of all pitchers…not our problem, but someone like CC Sabathia should at least attempt to work out for $23 million a year, right? why is their not a workout clause in all contracts for these athletes?

    Like

  86. Because, I imagine a guy like C C Sabathia will reply that he has been very successful doing what he has been doing and thinks a change will make his performance worse. He’s likely to say that he would happily pitch for somebody else if the way he goes about his business bothers them so much. There is this tendency to assume that chiseled bodies equate to maximum baseball performance, but that is likely questionable. We now have a great physical specimen in Ryan Howard, but although he is improved defensively, the chunky Ryan was the better hitter. How any more HRs would Babe Ruth have had, if he only worked hard enough to lose the paunch? Maybe more, but maybe less. If Blanton slimmed down to Kendrick proportions, how much better would he pitch?

    Like

  87. Are you serious Allentown? Pitchers learned how to pitch to Ryan and they walk him a whole lot more now. His weight has nothing to do with home runs. The fact that Ryan REMAINS a top-tier hitter has everything to do with his work ethic and nothing to do with canceling his standing reservation at Waffle House.

    Like

  88. I don’t like to contradict folks on here but please don’t say that getting in better shape can hurt a player’s performance because that’s just silly. Being stronger and fitter helps in so many ways. Howard lost all that weight and is moving around so much better. his footwork in the field is night and day better and his base running is actually amazing to me for a guy his size. He really goes first to third pretty well now. As for his hitting, his power numbers are still terrific. His challenge is to learn how to go to left field more on off speed pitches away and he’s working hard on that. Sorry, back to the minor leagues. Games start Monday!!!! I can’t wait to see the game updates on Tuesday. The highlight of spring training will be if Gose, Gillies and J James race. I’ve asked Schwim to make it happen and to report on it. I don’t think James is in the class of the other two but I think it would want the challenge. Gose can flat out fly but so can Gillies. Bourn has nothing on these two as far as speed and he can fly.

    Like

  89. Well first cuts and Mathieson is on it. No too shocked since he only threw 30 innings last year. I hope we do see him later in the year. Maybe a Sept call up. I guess they like what they are seeing from Herndon. It looks like Rosenberg made the first cut as well. Dom Brown will get a few more ABs before being sent down.

    Like

  91. The minor league games start Monday so this is normal. I’m surprised they kept Dom up a little longer actually rather than letting him settle into the minor league routine.

    Like

  93. From the Ironpigs’ Facebook page.

    “Lehigh Valley IronPigs Phillies Triple-A Spring Training games begin tomorrow, March 15! Get results instantly by becoming a twitter follower of PigsRadio today!”

    So if you’re looking for a way to follow the action, there ya go.

    Like

Comments are closed.