Monthly Archives: March 2010

A Quick Look Around

Other Stuff

Update 3:00 p.m. Since this post was published about two hours ago, both Andrew Carpenter and Ryan Vogelsong have been sent down to Minor League camp.

As the Minor League Exhibition season begins and with many of those in major league camp being sent down to compete in the Minor League phase of Spring training, here is a look at how those players that have seen time in Major League “A” games fared thus far in the Spring.  Included are only those who will start the season in the minors and those who are competing for final roster spots in Philly.

Pitchers:

Starters-Kyle Kendrick:  9IP 4H 0ER 0BB 2K; 0.00 ERA, 0.44 WHIP; Andrew Carpenter 8 IP 5H 1ER 1BB 9K; 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP; Ryan Vogelsong 3IP 7H 4ER 3BB 1K; 12.00 ERA; Phillipe Aumont, 2.2 IP 2H 0ER 1BB, 0K; 0.00 ERA; Joe Savery 3IP 4H 3ER 2BB 1K; 9.00 ERA; Drew Naylor 2IP 1H 0ER 0BB 2K; 0.00 ERA; Yohan Flande: 3IP 6H 2ER 0BB 1K; 6.00 ERA, Jesus Sanchez, 1 IP 0H 0ER 0BB 2K; JC Ramirez: 4.1 IP 6H 4ER 3BB 3K; 8.31 ERA 2.08 WHIP. Continue reading A Quick Look Around →

Feedback

Other Stuff

As you know, I have been writing columns at this site for about a year now and I would like your feedback about their content.  The columns to date have included my insights into the world of minor league baseball.  I have written several types of articles that include: Q and A, mailbag, pitching philosophy, daily life, pitching mechanics, and interaction with big league players.  Which type of column is your preference?  Is there a topic I haven’t covered that you would like to read about?   I have really appreciated your support during this past year and I would like to improve upon the content of my columns so that you get to read what is of interest to you.  If you would like to provide me with your feedback, or if you have other questions you would like for me to answer, please feel free to let me know in the comments section or via email at x

SONAR revised/revisited

SONAR Scores

This is something I’ve been spending a lot of time working on with the completion of my Reader Top 30, and I feel like I have things where I want them, so I wanted to make another detailed post talking about my new creation, the SONAR score. If you’ve been around for a while, you read my introduction pieces here and here back in November. Like any good social scientist, I set out with a goal; to try and figure out a way to evaluate minor league prospects across all leagues, factoring in all of the aspects of the game that can be accurately measured, to try and evaluate what prospects have done, and which players might succeed/struggle going forward based on their peripherals. Along the way, I encountered many difficulties, including the simple amount of work it entails to code over 5,000 players into a system, and then trying to figure out if the formulas I used were accurate, helpful, or off the mark. My test run was published in November, and then I started to do position by position breakdowns. It was during this process, when I was looking at the numbers in depth (and based on reader feedback) that I discovered some of the flaws in the system, and I set about fixing the errors, making adjustments, and trying to make the system the best it can be. As any person who tries to create something new, the first run (or first 10 in this case) rarely is ever perfect. But a good scholar always tries to improve, to figure out what is missing, and to try and make it the best it can be. So that is where we are now. Check below for the details.

Continue reading SONAR revised/revisited →

Phils Make Cuts

Other Stuff

The Phillies made their first round of cuts today, as Minor League camp opens and games begin shortly. Included in the cuts: P Phillipe Aumont and P JC Ramirez (both acquired in the CLiff Lee deal), P Jesus Sanchez, P Joe Savery, P Drew Naylor, P Yohan Flande, P Bill White, C Tuffy Gosewisch, C John Suomi, C Kevin Nelson, OF Quintin Berry and OF Tyson Gillies (also acquired in the Lee deal). The one somewhat surprising name to be sent down early was Scott Mathieson who made two appearances giving up a run in two innings of work.  With the question marks surrounding the health of  both Lidge and Romero in the back of the ‘pen to start the year, many expected (myself included) Mathieson to make a legitimate run at an opening day roster spot.  I would expect him to start the season potentially closing in Lehigh Valley.

Catching Up… Part 3 (January 27th-March 1st)

Other Stuff

I arrived at Bright house Field on January 27th at 830am. When I arrived, there were 10-15 players at the complex already working out. The players ranged from the 32 year old, best pitcher in baseball, Roy Hallady, to the 19 year old, highly touted pitching prospect, Jarred Cosart. Mike Zagurski and Scott Mathieson were also there getting in shape to try and make the big league club.

Continue reading Catching Up… Part 3 (January 27th-March 1st) →

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…

Continue reading Lehigh Valley and Reading pitching staffs →

Monday Discussion/Game at 1PM on MLB Network

Spring Training 2010

Monday’s ST game against the Yankees will be on MLB Network at 1PM. I’m not sure of their blackout rules during ST, but if the game is being aired in Philly or New York (its one of them, obviously) then you might be blacked out via MLBN, but you can still watch on whatever the local affiliate is. Probably going to see more of the MLB regulars as the games progress, but still time to catch a bunch of prospects before re-assignments. I’m going to try and catch the game as it happens, and if I can, I’ll post some thoughts in real time.

In the meantime, a few articles. Zolecki talking with Phillippe Aumont about reverting back to his pre-draft mechanics. I’m optimistic about this. Delco Times article on Domonic Brown. He appears to be meeting everyone’s expectations so far in ST.

Check below for my in game thoughts

Continue reading Monday Discussion/Game at 1PM on MLB Network →

Reader Top 30 Spreadsheet

Site Info

Is now located under the “Top 30 Prospects” page at the top of the site. Head over there, scroll under the chart that I’ve made, and you’ll see a link to click to view it in Google Documents. Enjoy.

On an unrelated note, in my wordpress dashboard where the admin type stuff is, I can see what people are clicking, where links to this site are posted, etc etc, and I’ve noticed that every day, the “make a donation” button is getting 15-20 clicks, and there are no actual donations. If you’d like to donate (and as always, its 100% optional, but obviously greatly appreciated) and you’re having an issue with paypal, please send me an e-mail and I can try to help. Or maybe you just click the button out of habit, I understand that too. Either way, it was kind of a curiosity, and I wanted to make a note.

Comments on this are closed, if you want to comment on Reader Top 30 submissions, do it at the above link. Thanks.

2010 Minor League Workout Groups

Spring Training 2010

Most of you who visit this site regularly already know this, but for those who don’t, keep in mind that these groups, especially this first list, are very fluid. Where players are listed now is not likely to be where the player will end up playing the 2010 season for a large number of these guys.

CLICK HERE to view the 2010 Phillies minor league workout groups. Theoretically Group 1 would be Lehigh Valley, Group 2 would be Reading, Group 3 would be Clearwater, and group 4 would be Lakewood. There will eventually be a group 5 added to the list with Extended Spring Training and Williamsport guys on it as people on this list slide down the rungs over the course of Spring Training. Usually this list is updated each Monday or Tuesday so I’ll try to post the new list each week as they become available.