Monthly Archives: April 2010

Implications of Rollins possibly hitting the DL

Galvis, Freddy

I received a number of e-mails today asking me if I thought the Phillies would entertain the idea of Freddy Galvis coming up from AA to play SS should Rollins go on the DL. My immediate reaction was “no chance”, and even after I started to actually think about it more, and wonder if it was plausible, my response is still the same; no chance. Galvis turned 20 in November, and though he reached AA last year, his career batting line in the minors is .235/.284/.288. Yes, his glove is big league ready. Yes, he wouldn’t be expected to carry the slack for Rollins offensively. But he’s not ready to hit major league pitching, and despite his solid start at Reading, I don’t know many people who thought he was even ready to hit AA pitching, let alone MLB pitching. While its likely that he’d be very good defensively, the Phillies signed Juan Castro because they believed he could legitimately hold down SS if something happened to Rollins. Galvis doesn’t have to be placed on the 40 man roster till after the 2010 season. Calling him up now adds him to the 40 man, and it would burn up his first option year. It just doesn’t make sense.

Bocock would seem like the most logical choice to fill the bench MI spot. Galvis is where he belongs right now, getting regular AB’s and trying to adjust to AA pitching.

Quintin Berry to the DL

Other Stuff

The recent questions about the lack of playing time for Quintin Berry have been answered as the Reading OF has been placed on the DL with an infection.  No immediate information as to who will replace him on the Reading roster, but I would suspect it will be either Brian Stavisky, who is currently on the DL or Steve Susdorf, who is currently down in CLearwater.

Box Score Roundup; April 12th

Box Score Recap

Welcome to the box score roundup. My goal is to publish just a bare bones recap of the night’s action every night and then have that serve as the springboard for discussion during the following day. As always, I ask that you keep the discussion on the site prospect relevant, but I’ll basically just create one of these per day, you can use it to talk about the previous night’s action, and then if side conversations break off relating to prospects, so be it. Gregg is going to put up new posts during the day if something newsworthy breaks, as he did today with the BJ Rosenberg to the DL post. I’ll write posts during the week if something major happens and I want to give my spin on it, and as I mentioned last night in my weekly notes column, I’m hoping to have a long piece once a week. We should have affiliate reports for the 4 full season affiliates throughout the year, hopefully Jeff pops in from Clearwater every once in a while, and lots of other stuff. But for now, let’s get to the box scores, check below…

Continue reading Box Score Roundup; April 12th →

Rosenberg to DL

Other Stuff

As speculated, something wasn’t right with Reading reliever BJ ROsenberg, and it was specifically his right lat.  Rosenberg has been hit hard in both outings this season, and his last three if the exhibition against the “Pigs is included. He was placed on the DL today with a right lat strain according to Reading Phillies Media Relations Director Tommy Viola.  Schwimer and Stutes should be seeing most if not all save situations for the time being I would think.

Sunday/Monday notes column, 1st edition

Weekly Notes Column

My goal is for this post to become a recurring weekly feature, where I kind of work on a longer piece and post it sometime Sunday night/Monday morning, kind of just going over some things I’ve noticed, some trends I might see developing, and things to watch for as we progress through another minor league season. As the draft gets closer, I might throw some draft tidbits in there, and just basically a bunch of other stuff. I know that my output here has been sporadic, sometimes its a whole lot, sometimes its not much, and I want this to serve as my weekly reminder to make time for the site and stay involved. Gregg and everyone else do a fantastic job here, and I’m eternally grateful, but just as a parent sometimes gets jealousy of the bond with the nanny/caretaker, I sometimes feel like I need to be a responsible parent to the baby I’ve created here. So lets get started…

Continue reading Sunday/Monday notes column, 1st edition →

First Week Observations

Other Stuff

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.  Continue reading First Week Observations →

Schwimer Earns 1st AA Save, Lidge Rocked

Other Stuff

A couple of quick points this Saturday evening.  Michael Schwimer earned his first save at the AA level pitching a 1-2-3 ninth against Portland in the 4-1 Reading victory.  Mike Cisco got the start and pitched well, giving up 1 run over his 6 innings of work.  After struggling in consecutive appearances, BJ Rosenberg has received consecutive nights off with Escalona getting the save last night and Schwimer following up this evening.

Down in Clearwater, JC Romero made his second rehab appearance and pitched a scoreless inning giving up a hit, and struck out two.  Brad Lidge followed Romero and was hit around, giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, and also walked a batter before being removed in the second inning.

‘Pigs Weekend Update

7. Lehigh Valley

Friday-It was their second game of the year, and with it came their second walk off loss for Lehigh Valley. A 10th inning sacrifice fly by Chris Duncan scored Pete Orr, giving SYracuse the 10 inning 5-4 victory. Two critical errors by Cody Ransom led to 4 unearned runs in the loss, and the 3 thru 6 hitters in the Lehigh Valley lineup (Mayberry, Tracy, Ransom, Wise) were a combined 0-18, which was difficult to overcome.  Ryan Vogelsong got his first start in three years on American soil and went 4 innings giving up three runs (none earned) on two hits.  He walked five and struck out two.  Jason Anderson (0-1) took the loss in relief. Chris Duffy was the offensive punch going 3-4 with a double and triple knocking in three. Wilson Valdez and Brian Bocock added two hits apiece. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update →

Reading struggles in opener

02. Org Reports, 6. Reading

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. Continue reading Reading struggles in opener →

Threshers Win Big in Season Opener

Other Stuff

Fidel Hernadez got off to a strong start with 4 RBIs in the game, while Brian Gump and Troy Hanzawa each had 2 RBIs. Matt Rizzotti picked up the Threshers’ first HR of the year going 3-4 on the night, and Austin Hyatt held the Jays hitless going into the 7th until giving up a 2-run HR.

If you haven’t already signed up for the Threshers Nation Twitter feed go do it now to get live updates as the games happen all season. CLICK HERE for tonight’s boxscore.

Appologies first thing for my lack of Clearwater coverage the past year. I’ll try to participate as I can….