Giant economy report–3 weeks at once.
Reading was 10-10 over the last three weeks (now 7 games under .500 and 9.5 games out of first place), with a lack of offense being the culprit in most of the losses. A lingering hamstring injury to Tyson Gillies and a cool-ish Domonic Brown didn’t help. Promoting Matt Rizzottti from Clearwater seems to have given a bit of a spark to the offense, although Rizzotti hadn’t many men on base for him with Brown slumping and Quentin Berry having not returned to his usual form after nursing an injury during April.
Vance Worley was the hottest starter for the R-Phils during this period, going 3-0 with 3.10 ERA, although his BB/K and K/IP numbers are still not indicative of a top prospect. Drew Naylor threw well 3 times (including a 9-inning shutout on the 25th) and poorly twice, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 2.95 ERA. Yohan Flande was solid, with three great starts and a stinker last Saturday, giving him a 2-1 record and a 2.80 ERA. Phillippe Aumont has struggled, with an ERA over 7.00 in 4 starts, although he did have one solid start on the 18th. His last two starts have been very troubling, with opposing hitters teeing off to an average of .398 against him. Jason Anderson has picked up the 5th starter’s role with Mike Cisco hurt.
The hitters have been struggling to put anything together, scoring more than 5 runs only three times in three weeks. They scored 2 or less runs 7 times, and were shut out twice. Reading is last in the league in batting average, and next-to-last in OPS. This is shocking for a team with a few highly regarded prospects and some more-than-competent journeymen hitters. Tuffy Gosewisch, Ozzie Chavez, Freddy Galvis, Quentin Berry, and Brandon Pinckney are all hitting less than .230 and all have more than 100 ABs (with Galvis having almost 200). Rizzotti has been a pleasant addition so far, hitting .353 and posting a 1.157 OPS over his first 50 AA ABs. Although Domonic Brown hit almost .300 in May, much of his production came in the first week, and his OPS over the last 10 games is under .800. Brian Stavisky and Kevin Mahar, both of whom figured to post more than solid numbers in AA, have struggled and currently have OPSs under .700. Without their production, this lineup really can’t carry the 5 guys hitting less than .230, so either those guys have to get less time, or Stavisky, Mahar, and, to a lesser extent, Spidale and Bozied have to start picking up the slack.
The core of the bullpen was relatively solid over the 3-week period, with Escalona giving up 4 runs in 11 IP, German giving up 3 runs in 8 IP, and Michael Scwimmer giving up 3 runs in 11 IP. However, Ty Taubenheim, Chance Chapman, a recently returned BJ Rosenberg, and an also recently returned Tyson Brummett have been more generous.
Hopefully, with Gillies slated to return soon, Berry almost certain to improve, and a little more production from the minor league vets and the middle relievers, the next couple of weeks will turn the season around. Up this week are New Hampshire, Portland, and the first visit by Trenton.
Phuture Phillies 
I’m scratching my head wondering why some of the AAAA guys we hire to hit don’t live up to their baseball cards.
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If you perform up to your baseball cards, you don’t end up in AAAA all your life – inconsistency, underperformance . . . that’s why those guys aren’t major leaguers.
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Berry took the Golden Sombrero last night. A lead-off man yet!
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I drove out to Altoona (2hr 45min each way) to see the game last night, I’d always wanted to see thier ballpark, and it is beautiful, best minor league park I’ve been to so far, the roller coaster over the the right field wall is so different. And the design in general… wow
Anyway about the game Worley looked great, he gave up hits and monster solo shot to Hague early but to left but what impressed me was how he pitched in the middle innings towards the end of his performance.
Berry is a waste and should be benched his avg is well below .200 now he looks ridculous at the plate fanned 4 times no at bat was even close.
Reading could hav had more runs early but I’m beginning to notice what seems like poor managerial decisions, Brown was caugt stealing from 2nd to 3rd in the bot 1st. It looked like a called steal. There is no need to do this, this early. Spidale had just hit a double and scored on passed ball, Brown moved from 1st to 2nd on the passed ball. You’re two best hitters are coming to the plate in Bozied (clean up) and Rizzoti (5th spot) why steal? both ended up getting on base (rizzoti hitting a doube) Brown could have been the 2nd run of the inning, but no. He started going before the ball was pitched and was easily picked off at 3rd from the pitcher.
I don’t understand the logic of manager Roadcap, the line up sometimes just don’t make sense, move some damn guys around. Rizzotti is your best hitter right now, why is he batting 5th? And this isn’t the first time I’ve seen steal early in teh game backfire
Other notes from the game, Freddy Galvis looked good had a couple hits and rbi’s. Rizzoti doesn’t look horrible at first on the field. Reading really stole thsi one, the last hit that ended up being decisive for their 3rd run was misplayed in Center by Altoona, talking with some fans the CF (name escapes me) hasn’t been playing well because he is pissed with the Pirates orginization.
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Not true, Catch 22. There are many AAAA guys who have had consistently solid seasons. Chris Coste was one, and he may never have gotten an opportunity until the Phils gave him a late one. Tons more. Andy Tracy is one. Neil Sellers has been consistent until this year. Big downturn from him. Stavisky has had .913,. .862, .930, .831 OPS his last 4 years. He has had one bad year in his career, with very few ABs, so I assume that was injury related.
What you said is simply not true. In fact, the only reason teams pay AAAA guys $50K to $150K a year is that they perform consistently at that level. They tend not to get a big league job because they struggle there, not in the minors. AAAA means better than AAA, not good enough for majors.
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Jeremy,
I would suggest that some of the roster/line-up decisions are not Roadcamp’s to make. No doubt the minor league coordinators has certain dictates in regards to who’s playing, the stealing of bases, who’s hitting where in the line-up, etc.
Again, the minor leagues focus on player development, not winning ball games.
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Help me out and take my Phillies poll!! Let me know your favorite Phillies player… text NICOLE (PLAYER) to 67768. More details to follow. Thanks for your help!! (example: NICOLE HALLADAY)
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