A good weekend for the IronPigs, a statement that has not been made often. See below for game reviews, notes and transactions.
Thursday–Brian Mazone (4-6), Oscar Villarreal, and Mike Zagurski combined on a 3 hit shutout as Lehigh Valley blanked Scranton 2-0, opening a four game series Thursday evening. Mazone went six very strong innings, giving up just two hits, and Zagurski earned his first save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth, striking out 2. The ‘Pigs runs came in the third when the red hot Andy Tracy (10) smashed a 2 run homer. John Mayberry was 3-4 with a run scored, while Melvin Dorta added 2 hits and a stolen base.
Friday–The two runs Scranton scored in the second inning was all they needed in the 4-1 Lehigh Valley loss Friday night. The ‘Pigs had all kinds of trouble with Scranton starter Dustin Mosely scoring just a lone run on a Andy Tracy RBI single. Andrew Carpenter (6-5) started for Lehigh Valley and was hit around a bit, as he lasted 5.2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 6. Lehigh Valley managed just 3 hits all night, two of them by Andy Tracy.
Saturday–The new “stopper” of the Lehigh Valley staff, Nelson FIgueroa (3-0) was on the hill Saturday evening and gave another excellent effort, going 7 innings, and allowing just 2 runs on 3 hits in the Lehigh Valley 5-4 victory. Figueroa struck out 8 and didn’t walk a batter. Things got a little too close for comfort after Ryan Vogelsong gave up 2 runs in the 8th, making it 5-4 Lehigh Valley, however Oscar Villarreal came in and shut the door, pitching a scoreless ninth, earning his 1st save of the year. Lehigh Valley put three on Scranton in the first inning thanks to an Andy Tracy 2 run single and a Melvin Dorta sac fly. Two more ‘Pig runs were added in the 5th on consecutive RBI singles by Neil Sellers and John Suomi. Both Dorta and Rich Thompson had multiple hit games for Lehigh Valley.
Sunday–Lehigh Valley won a series at long last, taking 3 of 4 from Scranton with their 4-1 win on Sunday afternoon. Nate Bump got the start, but left the game after 3.1 scoreless innings after taking a line drive off of his elbow. He is not expected to miss a start. A Rich Thompson RBI single gave the ‘Pigs a 1-0 lead in the 4th, and Lehigh Valley added 3 more in the 6th on a two run single by John Mayberry followed by an RBI single by Luis Maza. Brandon Duckworth (2-2) picked up the win in relief throwing four innings and allowing just one run. Mike Zagurski came in to get the last two outs in the 9th to earn his 2nd save of the season. Rich Thompson (3-5,r,2b, rbi, sb) led the Lehigh Valley offense, while Dorta, Mayberry, and Duffy all had two hits apiece.
Notes: Willy Taveras is a perfect 7 for 7 in stolen bases.
–Since his return from the DL, Andy Tracy is hitting .376 with 7HR and 25 RBI and an OBP over .540. Tracy was ejected in the 5th inning Sunday for arguing balls and strikes.
—Mike Zagurski has now not allowed an earned run in his last 19 appearances.
—Melvin Dorta has a 11 game hitting streak . In his last 27 games, he is hitting .354 and has taken over at 2B for Luis Maza.
–Since coming off the DL, Alex Concepcion is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 14 innings.
–The scoreless streak of Nelson Figueroa ended at 15.2 innings.
—Mike Stutes made his Lehigh Valley debut on Sunday in the 8th inning. After giving up a double, he retired the next 2 hitters. After starting the 9th, Stutes, gave up a leadoff double and then retired Jesus Montero on a fly out. With lefties coming up, Stutes was removed for Mike Zagurski.
–Lehigh Valley opens an eight game road trio with four games in Norfolk starting tomorrow. Joe Savery (1-7) takes the mound.
Transactions: With Scott Mathieson called up to Philadelphia, Mike Stutes was called up from Reading and will likely share end of game duties with Mike Zagurski. Stutes was 3-0 with a 3.79 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games in Reading. Opponents were hitting .217 against him (under .200 with RISP).
–Catcher Dane Sardinha was called up to Philadelphia on Saturday after Carlos RUiz was hit in the head on Friday evening. Paul Hoover who had been on the DL with left knee inflammation was activated taking Sardinha’s spot on the LehighValley roster.
Phuture Phillies 
We’ll see what happens with the roster, as Mathieson should be back shortly. Perhaps Bump to the DL after he got hit on the elbow today.
I skipped the game for yard work today, but reports have Stutes hitting 96 multiple times on the CCP gun.
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Bump should be fine and is expected to make his next start.
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Guess I’m still confused on Mathieson. I understand he remains with the organization, but can he be optioned to the minors without being risked? From what I understood, he could be recalled to the Phillies, but wasn’t sure how he could get back to AAA
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Just reread the Mathieson explanation and it seems clear to me the only way he can be sent to the minors is to clear through waivers. Not a chance someone who can hit 99 (he did in his one outing) will go unclaimed. So, as I see it, he’s either sticking with the phillies all year or he will be in another organization
if this isn’t correct, someone please tell me what is!!
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The Phillies are fully expecting another team to put a claim in for Mathieson. At which time, we have to the opportunity to take him back off of waivers, obviously doing so. We would then have to send someone else down or put Ruiz on the DL. This is the perfect way to bring Sardinha up to backup catcher as we wait to see how long Ruiz is out for.
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Monasterios was DL’ed the other day with blisters. Maybe Herndon could be DL’ed with a finger nail contusion or an inability to breath through his eyelids?
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Mathieson had options left. The move was made solely to prevent having to lose Ruiz for 15 days when he’ll likely only need a week at most.
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Mathieson is on re-callable waivers and if another team claims him they can pull him off.. Since he is still in his final option year he can then be sent to the minors. Maybe he can be traded as a likely move of Juan Castro seems imminent. Monasterios has blisters on two fingers of his pitching hand, a legitimate injury. Herndon has his role and the bulk of the relief work will be filled by the veterans and they hope they will not pitch like they did Saturday. Madson and Happ also expected to return shortly.
Hoover off of DL, so maybe they swap him with Sardinha for a hoped short stay in MLB.
Looks like Zagurski filling the Closer role for now.
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They will not be trading Mathieson. Additionally, the ‘Pigs manager has stated that the closer role in Lehigh Valley will be dictated by the situation (i.e. on Saturday, the right handed hitters were faced by Oscar Villarreal)
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I would be shocked if they didn’t release or DFA (if he wants to stay in the org and clear waivers) Juan Castro to keep Valdez.
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Anyone saying that Mathieson will go to the minors, I just don’t think that’s right. I’m just quoting the article that PP posted:
“Problem is, Mathieson cannot be optioned without going on waivers. ”
“We’re very hopeful he stays in the organization,”
So, if he can’t be optioned without going on waivers, as I understand it, the only way he can go to the minors is if no other team claims him. He would get claimed.
So again, as I read it, he either remains with the Phillies all year, or he gets claimed by another team while trying to be sent to the minors.
From the article posted, I believe this to be the case. If you think something different, please post a reason, not just a comment saying he will be going back to LHV.
Thanks!
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I looked at Gelb’s article again, and got what I got the first time, the waivers are revocable waivers, which means if he is claimed he can be pulled back. Then because he is still in his last option year he can be optioned to minors. He had to go on recallable waivers because of a rule stating that players with his length of time between his original appearance on the 40 man roster and now, have to go on revocable waivers before optioning.
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Funny how confusing this is. I guess I get stuck on the quote from Proefock where he says we’re hopeful he stays in the organization. If it were as you said Marifs, and I’m not sure myself, so I’m doing the best I can, I think his quote would have been more like “he WILL be with us”.
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