I give the scores, you rant and rave.
GCL Phillies lost 2-0 and lost 2-1.
Williamsport won 3-2.
Lakewood lost 3-2.
Clearwater won 5-1.
Reading lost 5-3.
* Jiwan James now has a 20 game hitting streak
* Jim Salisbury reports that Jarred Cosart saw Dr Andrews and was given a clean bill of health. Which is good, obviously.
A look at the bottom half of the system, with a good deal of talent to talk about.
Lakewood
Brody Colvin, 19, 17 games, 5-6 with a 3.87 ERA; 93 IP 82H 31BB 80K, 1.21 WHIP, .234 opp. avg., 1.11 GO/AO; .217 vs. LH, .245 vs. RH, .209 with RISP. Colvin may be the biggest bright spot among the pitchers in the organization since May. Since May 1, he is 4-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 13 starts, walking 22 and striking out 71 in 77.2 innings of work.
Trevor May, 20, 16 games in Clearwater, 5-5 with a 5.01 ERA; 70 IP 53H 61BB 90K; .212 opp. avg., 0.76 GO/AO, 1.63 WHIP. Has made two starts in Lakewood with a line of: 11IP 11H 7ER 5BB 13K. May’s problems are well documented as his control. He has as much talent as anyone in the organization but needs to find the plate. He is currently averaging 7.33 BB/9, while also averaging 11.44 K/9. Continue reading Around the System, Bottom Half
Recap: The BlueClaws went 4-3 on the week. Colby Shreve and Jon Pettibone were the standouts on the pitching side. Jiwan James was the most notable on the hitting side as he extended his hitting streak to 19 games, moving within 2 games of the Lakewood record. After winning the first half championship, the ‘Claws are again on top of the SAL North with a 12-5 record, 2 1/2 games ahead of Hickory. Baseball America ranked Lakewood as perhaps the single most talented team in the entire minor leagues. In personnel notes, Trevor May made his first two starts for Lakewood, while Matt Way and Jordan Ellis both moved on to Clearwater. And tooting my own horn, I won four tickets to a future ‘Claws game via Twitter by coming up with the best Springsteen-related reference they can use on the air (home run call: “The Big Man has joined the band”.)
A good weekend for Lehigh Valley as they took 2 out of 3 from Scranton as they go into the All Star Break. With this being All Star week, no Lehigh Valley report this Thursday, just a brief ‘Pigs update next Sunday, as Lehigh Valley gets back into the action.
Saturday (1)–The ‘Pigs played two on Saturday after their game in Scranton on Friday was rained out. JA Happ (0-1) got the start and took the loss in the 3-0 Scranton victory in game One. Scranton put two runs on Happ in the third inning on 3 consecutive hits and a sacrifice fly, and added an insurance run in the 5th on Jesus Montero’s 7th homer of the year. Happ left after 5, having allowed 3 runs on 5 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 7. Lehigh Valley was unable to do much of anything against Scranton starter Tim Redding who allowed just four hits. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Report
I’m in transit today but I wanted to put up a post to discuss the Futures Game. So here it is. ESPN 2, and I believe it starts at 6:00 ET. Ill post updates later if I can. Enjoy
Just a brief note that Lakewood closer Jordan Ellis, 24 was promoted to High A Clearwater. Ellis although old for the league has pitched very well, going 3-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 33 games to go along with 11 saves. In his 43.2 innings of work, Ellis has allowed 31 hits, walked 17 and struck out 55. Opponents were hitting just .200 against him, and his WHIP in Lakewood stood at 1.09. Going to Clearwater along with Ellis is Catcher Torre Langley, 22.
New faces on the Lakewood roster are Catcher David Doss along with LHP Kyle Carr who was the Twins 12th Round pick in the ’08 draft.
The ranks of the infirm have finally started to dwindle, with another activation from the disabled list by the Phillies, this time catcher Carlos Ruiz. To make room on the roster, the Phils designated catcher Dane Sardinha for assignment. Sardinha filled in admirably, even knocking a few homers out of the yard during a time where both Ruiz and Brian Schneider were suffering through injuries.
A look at the current starting rotations for the top half of the minor league organization. Lakewood, Williamsport and GCL to follow next week sometime.
Lehigh Valley
JA Happ, 27, Makes his first start (other than rehab) for Lehigh Valley Saturday evening.
Andrew Carpenter, 25, 16 starts, 7-6 with a 3.21 ERA; 89.2 IP 85H 30BB 63K; 1.28 WHIP; .252 opp. avg., 1.11 Go/AO; .192 vs. LH, .301 vs. RH, .218 with RISP. Carpenter has once again been very solid and has been denied any meaningful opportunity at Major League work whether starting or in long relief. Maybe in time.
Nate Bump, 33, 16 starts, 7-4 with a 2.55 ERA; 95.1 IP 102H 22BB 46K 5HR allowed; 1.30 WHIP; .277 opp. avg., 1.36 GO/AO; .301 vs. LH, .257 vs. RH, .240 with RISP/ Bump is far from overpowering but simply knows how to pitch. He is deep insurance for the Phils. Continue reading Around the System, Starters, Top Half
Baseball America is doing their midseason reports, and with it comes their Top 25 still in the minors, 25 more in alphabetical order, and then a chat. Some Phillies content here.
1. Domonic Brown, of, Phillies (Triple-A Lehigh Valley): The power has come through as the Phillies predicted, as Brown has started to fill out at age 22 and surpassed his career home runs total in his first 65 games at Double-A Reading. Then he went out and hit four in his first 13 games after a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He ranks 10th in the minors in OPS, and he’s doing it with big tools at upper levels. His still-raw defensive skills (his defensive tools are fine) are his only major flaw.
Brown is a beast, and I think the qualms over his defense might be a bit overstated. He’ll be fine defensively.
Cosart and Singleton were both listed in the 26-50 range.
Check below for the comments given by John Manuel in the chat
With rumors swirling that Cliff Lee is about to be traded again, I’m sure the discussion of that trade, in comparison to the trade the Phillies made with the Mariners in December, will find its way into every discussion on this site. So I’m going to cut that off at the pass right here. I’ve already discussed the trade here before, in great detail, but it seems there are still a number of misconceptions about the deal, and a lot of yelling and shouting that seems, to me at least, to be very misguided. Find out why I feel that way below.
Phuture Phillies 