The first batter on the prospect-laden Red Sox farm club, the Portland Sea Dogs, clearly was privy to the theme for opening night. Ryan Kalish hammered a Vance Worley mistake deep into RF, over the wall. That would be the first of four home runs by the Dogs, the second of which was a game-changing 3-run bomb deep into the left field night by Luis Esposito, changing a 3-2 lead into a 5-3 deficit, and coming off Matt German, a reliever who projects to play an important role for Reading this year.
Worley, beginning his second year in AA, settled down nicely to throw three very good innings after his rocky first, but gave way to German after allowing two hits in the fifth, which he entered with a 2-run lead.
The game was never really close afterward.
A concerning aspect of the 10-run outburst by Portland was that it came off of Worley, the opening day starter, and the four relievers who figure to be the mainstays of the Reading pen, Rosenberg, Schwimer, German, and Chapman. To be fair, Schwimer and Chapman were both effective, Schwimer with 4 Ks in 2 IP yielding only a solo HR, and Chapman pitching a scoreless ninth.
Tuffy Gosewisch, the R-Phils’ catcher, said this about last night’s pitching in the Reading Eagle, “We also broke some bats and gave up some hits, and jammed some guys and gave up some hits. I don’t think our pitchers threw that bad tonight, to be honest. There were a few pitches that were bad – they all got crushed. You know, sometimes those pitches get missed.”
Offensively, Freddy Galvis had two hits, a bloop single to RF and ringing double to left, and Gosewisch himself added two hits, a ground-ball single and a double to deep CF.
Top prospect Domonic Brown had an RBI double to center field in four at bats (he also got caught stealing 3B), and fellow outfield prospect Tyson Gillies scored a run and drove in a run despite going hitless. Gillies was the only Reading player who had not played a AA game prior to last night.
Phuture Phillies 
I’m really hoping for a bounceback year from Worley as he repeats Double-A, and while it’s just one game in the books, it looked a lot like last year.
Good to see Galvis knock two hits while hitting high in the order; maybe it’s a sign that the organization has been impressed with his progress.
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Worley got off to a great start last year in Reading. He had a 2.83 ERA late last May, but now seems to have regressed since then.
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I forgot to add …. looking at the recap, Schwimer whiffed some pretty good hitters, even thought he got tagged for a HR. The next time around the batting order, the same hitters nailed Rosenberg.
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If Galvis becomes even an avg hitter (for a SS), what type of prospect is he?
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It sounds like the Red Sox have some nice hitting prospects on their AA team.
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Galvis slugged a homer in the season opener last year, so let’s at least give him another game or two before we get too excited. 8^)
Seriously though, given that we’ve been reading about his glove being “major league caliber” for a few years, I’d say if he can throw out an ops in the 700 – 750 range, he’ll have a nice career.
– Jeff
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Nepp what do you mean by avg. SS? I know 25 years ago that was probably 250-8-55-OPS of 700, maybe. Now maybe 270-15-65-OPS of 750. If galvis hits 260 with 700-750 OPS at 20 I would be happy and he should get a look at LHV to prepare him for his age 21 year there next year. If he is equally succesful there next year do you think we make him the utility guy in 2011 or have him repeat and possibly replace jroll?
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I know the catcher’s job is to defend the pitchers, but “I don’t think our pitchers threw that bad tonight…”? They gave up 10 runs. Sure wouldn’t want to park my car around any stadium when those pitchers actually have an off night then:)
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I’ve always thought we were being too harsh on Galvis. He has constantly been young for the levels he’s been playing at and he was already light hitting.
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NEPP: have to agree with marky mark that the answer hinges upon your definition of “average,” but if you think that Alcides Escobar is probably an average hitting major league shortstop when all is said and done (I do, at least), then I think that kind of comp is your answer.
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“If galvis hits 260 with 700-750 OPS at 20 I would be happy”
Chances are, if Galvis hits .260, he will not get close to a .700 OPS. He does not take walks, he does not hit for power and he does not have the speed to get a bunch of triples. Galvis will have to hit .290 to get a .700 OPS.
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Does anyone have some detail on the Clearwater and Lakewood game, it looks like both May and Cosart are throwing gems?
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Clearwater (8th inning) –
May, 6IP, 1H, 1BB, 10 K’s
Gose, 3/5, 3B, 1 SB
Kennelly, 0/1, 3 BB’s
Lakewood (8th inning) –
Cosart, 5 2/3 IP, 4H, 3R (all earned), 1BB, 7K’s, 1 HR Allowed
James, 2/5, 1 HR, 1 3B, 2RBI, 1K
Santana, 2/3, 1 2B, 2RBI, 1K
Hewitt, 2/3, 1 HR, 2RBI, 1 BB
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Nice Gillies article: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=211559
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Cosart was cruising until the 6th inning. He was pitching a 2 hitter, with 7 Ks through 5. His final line looks average, but he allowed all 3 runs in the 6th, his last pitch was a 2-run HR. He hit 97 mph in the 6th inning according to the play-by-play.
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How does a guy with a 97 mph last till the 38th rd. I know he was considered a tough sign and was raw, but so was colvin and he was takin in the 8th rd. If the phils are going to spend big in the first round, then guys like cosart are a must.
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So when do we trade Cosart (and others) to Seattle for Cliff Lee? He’s this year’s Jason Knapp.
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Mr. Law of ESPN said in his recent chat, “…if you live near Lakewood, go see them when Jarred Cosart pitches. Apparently he’s added a lot of velocity – I just heard he held 95-96 in a late-March start – and he might be the second-best prospect in that system all of a sudden.”
I would die if we traded Cosart (who is better and has more upside then Ramirez and Aumont) for half a season of Lee……
By the way, I have been coming to this site everyday to read comments/post for the last month or so. Awesome stuff.
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anyone know what kind of offspeed stuff cosart offers, his start today reminded of drabek last year at clearwater there was a few times that he would dominate for 5 or 6 and would get hit with a 3 spot all of a sudden
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Can someone tell me why Gosewich is even anywhere near this team? Isn’t he the guy that got hammered and arrested for DUI on the night of spring training? I think he was released from the police station at like 5am, and had to be at the field by 8am? Not only does that show his stupidity, but do you really want that influence around young prospects?
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Steve – Where did you hear that?
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I don’t know all the details, but Dane Sardinha (the backup catcher in Lehigh) was arrested for DUI during Spring Training. I imagine that’s who Steve is thinking of.
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“That’s the one thing I’m going to bring to the table every day,” he said. “Hard work and hustle are something that you can be consistent with. That’s a freebie. That’s a given. Basically, that’s my game.”
When he says stuff like that, how can you help love a kid like Tyson Gillies? I can’t wait to see him play.
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Bernard – don’t fall in love with any of these guys (how ironic, since I just said I love Gillies) – if recent history is any guide, a decent percentage of our good prospects will be traded. I am hoping that the really desperate trades are over for a while since the major league team appears to be fully stocked at every slot, but I’m not holding my breath. Count on at least a number of our good outfield prospects being traded as their are not enough potential positions for the number of players we have. Also, the more I look at what I think is coming, the more certain I become that the major league team will not sign both Werth and Howard – there’s too much cheap minor league talent to tie both of these guys up with astronomical contracts. It wouldn’t make sense from a cost/benefit standpoint.
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I wish I lived near Lakewood. That outfield has to be as toolsy as any outfield in all of minor league baseball. James seems to be jumping off of the charts. After a great instructional league and good spring, this guy may be for real. Santana is a monster with all of the tools at the ripe age of 17, while Hewitt may have more tools than the other two. Impressive to see him get off to a good start. This is a big year for him.
I am psyched about all I have heard about Cosart. It appears he is filthy. Nice to know we can trade 7 top prospects and still have stud prospects waiting to blow up. When you draft tools, you take a risk, but in order to win big you gotta bet big. No more Gregg Leggs!!!
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That purported Mr. Law quote above, does not sound like Keith Law. Law’s most recent chat was something like yesterday and that was not in it. I have seen that quote attributed to John Manuel of Baseball America, which can be accessed from ESPN if you are a premium subscriber.
Since this was supposed to be about Lehigh Valley, Duffy and Valdez hitting so far. Bocock started to hit yesterday, Ransom not so much yet. Sellers used again as PH. Ransom 2 errors yesterday and Bocock one. Suppose that was the cause of Vogelsong giving up runs, as he gave up 3 though ERA still 0.00.
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That is a Law quote from his prior chat. I posted it a few days ago also
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The Outfielders in Clearwater will be looking over their shoulder in a month. Castro and James will be there by June.
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Just saw on phillies.com, on the phillies insider blog, that Travis Mattair did decide to retire. The post was at the bottom of a story about opening day, and just said Travis Mattair a three year pro has decided to retire.
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James is too raw and new to the outfield, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t spend the whole year at Lakewood. With the glut of outfield talent, don’t see anyone getting fast tracked
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A few things:
1) Cosart has been electric in his starts, and will soften the blow of trading Drabek. In his last two starts of spring training he threw 7 2/3 innings and struck out 17. His curveball is nasty and a tremendous complement to the 96-97 mph heater. He could develop quickly and move a step or two this season.
2) James is raw, yes, but turning it on. He’s perhaps the best pure athlete in the organization and has begun to display tremendous baseball instincts. At 20, he represents the youth in a system stacked with outfielders.
3) Watch for Justin DeFratus. The move to the bullpen is interesting and I expect him to develop into strong relievers.
4) May is a young power arm reminiscent of Jason Knapp. While still a kid, he could also jump this season if he simply overpowers the FSL.
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This is from a chat on ESPN with Jim Callis. Not much info. to go on, but any thoughts?
Scott (Philadelphia)
Anthony Hewitt’s 2010: progress or more of the same?
Jim Callis (2:49 PM)
I don’t think he’ll ever hit.
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Tom, Jiwan James is 21 years old. If the Phillies can place 17 year old Santana in Lakewood. They can certainly move 21 year olds Castro and Jiwan James to Clearwater in June.
There is no glut of Outfielders at Clearwater. There is one prospect there (Gose). If Jiwan James and Castro are hitting .333 at Lakewood with 200 PA’s, by June, there is no reason to hold them back due to the likes of Brian Gump and D’arby Myers.
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Hewitt must be able to hit in Asheville. He went 2 for 3 including driving a two run homer over the center field fence last night. Most importantly he did not stike out in any at bats.
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To marfis-
The quote is in there. Its was posted 1:26pm. The question asked to klaw doesn’t show up, but its there.
http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/31714
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I feel sorry for anyone who has to watch LHV play on a nightly basis (like Gregg). Such a beautiful stadium, such good fan support, and the bunch of these minor league veteran guys they run out there are absolutely terrible, and have been for years.
I get it, we just don’t have prospects in the upper level of the system and we need “system guys” to get by, but can’t they do a better job at signing these career minor league guys? Nate Bump, Voglesong, Mazonne..what a terrible pitching staff.
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Matt,
Bump’s career AAA ERA = 2.62 with a 2.38 last season.
Mazone’s career AAA ERA = 3.66 with a 3.50 in Lehigh Valley last year.
Those guys are excellent AAA vets.
Even Vogelsong has a AAA ERA just under 4.00, which isn’t bad.
LV’s problems are in the bullpen, and with their lack of power. Duffy, Thompson, Valdez, and Bocock really aren’t even good minor league hitters. Well,Duffy is OK, but none of them have power. Mayberry and Tracy really supply their only power. They need a AAA-DH type who hits 30 bombs a year.
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Let’s be honest, the LV team is wretched and has been since it’s founding, to varying degrees. It is a AAAA taxi squad and a finishing school for prospects with a future. Right now, Mathieson’s the only top tier prospect. Zagurski and Mayberry are borderline guys. That’s it.
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I don’t think Lehigh Valley is that bad even. 0-3, but three one-run losses. Ransom’s a legit power threat, I’ve seen him play enough to believe it. The problem is that the starting pitching in all three games has struggled. I don’t really know much about Vogelsong or Bump. Mazone looked like toast last year but I might’ve just seen him on a bad day. The ‘Pigs will turn this thing around though.
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@catch 22
This is not the 1980s, or even before. Since teh early 90s, almost every AAA team has been what you describe above. AAAA vets act as an extended bench for the big leagues, and then a few prospects that need another year or two do their internship with those teams.
This year, without the trades, we’d have Marson, Taylor, Donald, Carrasco (or Kendrick), and probably Drabek at Lehigh Valley. The rest would be those minor league vets.
Now, I’ll agree completely with you if you assert that we’re not that good at identifying good offensive AAAA talent, especially in the middle infield. We also put too much emphasis on speed in the OF rather than hitting ability. Rich Thompson and Dwayne Wise and Jason Ellison and JJ Furmaniak and Brennan King and TJ Bohn and Mike Rouse and Oscar Robles and Casey Smith (especially) don’t belong on any AAA team, and we’ve signed ’em all, and resigned some of ’em.
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