At the end of an abbreviated Week One of the Minor League season, some general thoughts to get some discussion moving:
–In Lehigh Valley, Scott Mathieson is the name to talk about with 4 shutout innings over two appearances. Chris Duffy, has added spark to the top of the ‘Pigs order and is hitting .368 with 7 RBI’s through 4 games. John Mayberry is looking to get himself going at .167. A special note for those of you who look to argue about the 25th man on the Phils roster. Wilson Valdez has started the year at .474 and has played well at SS thus far.
—Quintin Berry, still on the Phils 40 man roster. not only was dropped down to AA Reading from AAA at the end of camp, but now is seeing limited time for the RPhils. Berry has played in just one of their first four games going 0-3. Domonic Brown is hitting .200 out of the gate while Freddy Galvis has turned some heads in the early going with both his bat (.294) and glove. Some concern with the start of BJ Rosenberg who has been hit very hard in both of his outings thus far.
–The Clearwater rotation has looked very good thus far with each pitcher going at least 6 innings and giving up two runs or less (May, Ramirez, Hyatt, Sanchez). Most impressive was May who went 6 shutout innings, striking out 10 on opening night. Anthony Gose has started hot at a .350 clip, while Tim Kennelly 0 for his first 11.
–Lakewood is ripping the ball with hot starts from Villar (.384), J. James (.389), Castro (.375), Buschini (.357), Barnes (.412), Ruf (.500), and Hewitt (.500). Sebastian Valle, on the other hand has struggled out of the gate at (.067). On the mound, Brody Colvin and Matt Way were hit around a bit while Luke Wertz had an impressive week throwing 3 shutout innings in relief.
Phuture Phillies 
Have to agree with you on Berry, you wonder how much time he has left in the system. I’m not suggesting that he’ll be cut in the middle of the year, as there’s nobody really at CW pushing for the spot. You know your days are numbered when they’d rather go with minor league filler (Spidale) over you.
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Jiwan James is quickly becoming my favorite prospect. Seems he gets a hit in his first 2 at-bats every game. Jonathan Villar not far behind on the favorites list. Love the switch hitting, premium position players.
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I’m glad Mathieson has started off well…don’t know what has happened to Rosenberg..maybe people were right and he was only good in the Lower minors because of his age…good to see Galvis hit the first 4 games..CLW has some pitching…if May keeps pitching like he did his first game he will be pitching in Reading by the end of the season…looks like Lakewood might have some high scoring games this year.
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I think the aspect of May’s performance that is really impressive is that he only gave up one walk. Remember he has averaged 5 walks per 9 inn. in both his 1st 2 seasons. If he has finally gotten that part of his game under control he should really take off this year. Also I saw Hyatt pitch the season opener and he was very impressive, the 2 runs he gave up(2 run homer by d’Arnaud) came in the last inning that he pitched when he was probably tiring.
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I can’t see Rosenberg’s struggles being anything other than a short-term problem, either physical or mechanical. He has shown enough consistency to make it clear he belongs in high minors. For whatever reason, just a rough stretch that needs to be fixed, if it can. But has nothing to do with a healthy, properly throwing Rosenberg not being a solid AA/AAA pitcher and a candidate to help Phils. Don’t see why we overreact when a solid prospect hits some rough patches.
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Diamond – I really don’t see anyone here overreacting, I think there’s some legitimate cause for concern. He’s gotten hit around pretty hard in his last 3 outings (including the LV exhibition game). These weren’t just bad outings, they were flat out beatings.
AA is really the level which separates the men from the boys. As it’s been said many times, if you can play here, you can probably play in the big leagues. It’s reasons like this, I really don’t get too excited about anyone until they pass the AA test.
With all of that said, I think Rosenberg can bounce back, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he flames out at this level. It’s happened to many successful low A guys in the history of the league.
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My concern with both Rosenberg and Way is health–guys this hard to hit don’t all of a sudden give up OBAs over .500, even in very small samples. I saw Rosenberg at LV, and he was ROCKED. The hits he gave up were smashed. And May dominated the Sally League last year.
Pitchers hide injuries ALL the time in the minors. They don’t want to jeopardize heir status by becoming training room warriors. Remember Happ doing this in AAA?
Let’s hope they pitch through it.
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Just wondering if anybody else saw that Mike Constanzo was cut by the Orioles. I know he hit .200 last year. Considering how well he hit in 2007 in Reading, perhaps it might be nice to bring him back. It’s not like we have any third base prospects to speak of. I read that he was injured last year. Perhaps he could rebound if back in the Phils system?
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Oops. I obviously meant Mike Costanzo.
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Mike had a knee injury that he was trying to play through, to no avail. The Orioles asked him to try pitching. He declined and wants to get another shot to play 3b. Way too many strikeouts to be considered a MLB option, but did have a great year at Reading.
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How old is Mike? Actually with Pickney playing well, Ransom, and Sellers, I don’t think they have room for another organizational type 3B.
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Costanzo’s prospect days are over. I think he’s likely to land in the Atlantic League if he continues playing.
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Costanzo signed yesterday with the Camden Riversharks
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Matt: I think this is an overreaction:
” … don’t know what has happened to Rosenberg..maybe people were right and he was only good in the Lower minors because of his age …”
Not sure you saw that. Concern is fine. Drawing global conclusions from rough patches is overreaction. That was my point.
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LKW- I see Hewitt 1 SO in 11 plate appearances. Maybe trending up.
CLW- Derrick Mitchell and Joel Naughton played for a 2nd day in row after getting 2 hits each in a game and repeated the 2 hit thing. May change the pecking order a bit. Mitchell now playing RF rather than mostly all LF last season. Hit very well for a stretch at the end of last season. Susdorf has manned LF so far, Gump has been replaced in RF by Mitchell, and D’Arby Myers has hardly played. Kennelly a possibility to move to OF with possible new catcher(S) coming on board. Micthell younger than Gump, Susdorf, and maybe the other 2 as well, if not close to same.
RDG- yes only 3 AB’s for Berry sticks out. 39 players on 40 man roster, maybe that is the spot where the pressure gives if more MLB types are needed.
LVIP- Sellers v. Ransom , I say that’s a key. If they resolve that, then they can move Andy Tracy to more of 1B-DH, Kick Tagg Bozied upstairs from Reading to share 1B-DH, Kick James Murphy upstairs from Cleawater to 1B at Reading, Kick Darin Ruf upstairs from Lakewood to Clearwater. That will be when they are ready to move Jon Singleton to 1B at Lakewood. Should transpire with a few more weeks at XST for fielding drills and such.
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I read that Berry hasn’t been getting playing time because of sickness.
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More hits for Jiwan James, Anthony Hewitt and Leandro Castro tonight. Lakewood lineup getting props on BA.
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Very impressive starts at 3 of the 4 minor league stops so far this early season… Anyone mention the super intriguing pitching match-up scheduled for Wednesday this week at Reading? Get your tickets now! Our very own Aumont will face non other than Drabek… Battle of the top pitching prospects…talk about a great spot for Aumont to win some people over with a strong showing… If I lived close I would be at that game! We need some up to the minute updates that night…Any chance there is a radio station where we could pick up the game other than MilB?
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100412&content_id=9250574&vkey=news_t522&fext=.jsp&sid=t522
On Wednesday, April 14, the exciting homestand concludes, with a matchup for the ages, as former R-Phils starter Kyle Drabek (1-0, 5.40) makes his much anticipated return to the mound at FirstEnergy Stadium, facing-off against R-Phils newcomer and a top Phillies prospect — Phillippe Aumont.
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Rosenberg has a strained right lat and is going to the DL. Get healthy, get good again.
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