August 2nd discussion

Box Score Recap

I provide the links, you tell me who is good and who isn’t.

Williamsport won 5-3.
Clearwater lost 3-1.
Reading won 11-3.
Lehigh Valley lost 2-1.

Annnnnd…begin.

83 thoughts on “August 2nd discussion”

  1. What kind of outfield is Spidale, Timo Perez and John Suomi? Is that the 1st time Suomi has played the OF? On the plus side, Cisco had a nice outing 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 K. harold Garcia is still hitting at a .333 clip. Reading knocked out 15 hits with Perez (4), Gosewisch (3), Garcia, Galvis and Rizz (all with 2). It was shame with LHV. Worley pitches a really nice game giving up 1 run on a 7th inning HR. Mayberry was thrown out at home in the 4th or the Pigs win that one in 9. Schwim gives up a run in the 10th to lose the game. In CLW, Cloyd got the rare start (1 ER in 4 IP). Myers and Ruf had 2 hits. Kennelly stays hot. Manzanillo had his 1st start in Wmsprt. He was roughed up in the 2nd inning giving up 3 hits with one being a HR and 3 runs but settled down to only give up 1 other hit. The bats came alive with Lanning, 3 hits including a HR, and 2 hits each for Alvarez, Cusick and Alonzo.

    We’re in August now. It’s time to start looking at the innings left in pitcher’s arms. Shreve and Colvin are limited to 5 IP each outing. May has 100 innings on his arm so he must be restricted too. Zeid and Julio Rodriguez have inning left and if Hernandez comes back he’ll have some left in the tank. they’ll bring Nick back slowly. I’m assuming we won’t see Cosart again this year but maybe a cameo or two. In CLW, Sanchez, Hyatt, Aumont and Correa have significant innings. Sanchez pitched over 135 innings last year so he’s got a lot left in him. Edgar Carcia is ramping up with 4 straight starts and the ability to pick up innings. Cloyd could also see some additional starts.

    In Reading, Naylor, Flande and Ramirez have inning left. They’ve been work horses over previous years so they aren’t close to the Verducci effect. Cisco has innings and even Worley @ LHV will see innings through the end of the year.

    Lakewood is where the arms have to be babied. The bullpen will get a workout as there will be a lot of 4 inning fillers needed.

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  2. Cesar Hernandez is worthy of some attention as a 20-year-old 2B with a good eye (15BBs and 16Ks this season). He’s 12th in AVG in the NYPL. He’s small, so he may never hit for power, but if he can field and get on base, that’s good enough for me.

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  3. just noticed Bastardo has not given up a run in the minors all year 3.0 in clw, and 12.1 innnings in LHV.

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  4. Cromp, it is interesting that Bastardo has pitched the exact same number of innings with the Phillies as he has with LHV (12.1). He has given up 4 hits at LHV and only 6 with the Phillies, which is comparable. This is an amazing stat! His strikeout numbers are likewise amazing, with 19 at LHV and 13 with the Phillies. At LHV, he has only 3 walks, which in 12.1 innings is great. The problem is that with the Phillies he has walked 9 in 12 innings which is way too many and has led to his giving up 7 earned runs and an ERA over 5, while he hasn’t allowed any runs at all in minors. If Bastardo can just relax enough to throw strikes at the major league level (and stay healthy) he could be the answer at closer.

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  6. Bastardo will end up as a very solid bullpen arm (ala JC Romero) if two things happen:

    1. He’s given a real chance without the threat of being demoted after a bad outing.
    2. He stays healthy.

    He’s got the stuff to do it and he’s shown flashes of it at the MLB level in his limited opportunities.

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  7. Williamsport- Hudson and Altherr collide on ball in OF. Both finished the inning, but were pinch hit for the next inning and haven’t played since. (Been McConnell in LF, Alvarez in CF, Santana in RF). Hudson seemed to get the worst, stayed down a while and trainer went out before he got up, then leaned over hands on knees till the one out till the end of inning, Altherr didn’t seem too bad.

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  8. I firmly believe if the playoffs started tomorrow, that Bastardo would be in the Phillies bullpen for the second lefty option, and a good one if he walks a few less. People often question when other LHV relievers will get their chance, but Bastardo should be on the Phillies today. He would give Charlie and earlier option for lefty v. lefty and frankly I think is better suited than Herndon at this point to contribute.

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  9. From the For What It’s Worth Department, a heck of a day at the plate yesterday for the recently departed farmhands. Jonathan Villar (who has been bumped up to high A) went 4 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI and Anthony Gose (still at high A) went 3 for 5 with a homer. (Villar also had two errors and a caught stealing.)

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  10. Can anyone tell me anything about Lanning?

    It’s good to see Galvis have some success in the past 10 games. Hopefully he can build on it and it’s not just a hot streak…

    Worley looked solid again. Glad to see him continue pitching well.

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  11. Boston Phan, I noticed Hernandez as well. Baseball America surprised me a bit when they listed Hernandez as their #31. But he has certainly shown some flashes of potential thus far.

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  12. Something about Lanning- 8th round of Minnesota around 3 years back, was released by them in Spring Training. Has mostly DH’ed at Williamsport lately as Cameron Rupp has caught and stepped up with hitting and defense. Lanning seems to be doing well so far with average and power. Still younger than some of this year’s draftees.

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  13. We’ll see about Bastardo. His walks have killed him in the limited time he has been up with the Phillies. He’s had a couple short stints, and hasn’t done well with the big club. And he’s gotten hurt at least 2 times, in very limited work.

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  14. Bastardo’s WHIP = 1.22 in the bigs, 9 walks in 12 innings
    JC Romero’s = 1.48, 20 walks in 24 innings

    Honestly I’d rather take my chances with Bastardo, who at least might settle in and cut down his walks. JC at this point is what he is.

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  17. Im also having trouble understanding why Bastardo isnt back up with the big team. Another lefty gives a lot more flexibility.

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  18. Bastardo not being with the big club is strictly a numbers game. They have nowhere to put him without releasing someone. And before we get the inevitable Dannys Baez comments, he’s still owed about $3.5m so he’s not going anywhere, fair or not.

    Bastardo will get called up in September and will take over Romero’s job full-time in 2011.

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  19. If the playoffs started today the phillies wouldn’t be playing. I agree on Bastardo though, I would think they would want him to get some more innings but If he keeps this up theres no reason he shouldn’t be called up by late August

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  20. Worley should be competing for a job in Phillies rotation next year and probably get it in 2012. He’ll be a good insurance policy at least. Bastardo is as close to a lock as you can get to replace JC Romero next year and still has a good chance to make this year’s postseason roster if they get in.
    When Gose and Villar finally make it we’ll all be crying about the Oswalt trade. Unless, of course, we win another World Series. That is the benchmark of a good season now.
    World Series or bust.

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  21. Don’t worry RWG, if those two guys are good there will be plenty of complaining about the trade even if the team wins the World Series this year and next. It’s just the beauty of this site. People on here still complain about losing Brian Schlitter.

    On the bad news front, Overbeck’s recent struggles have dropped his average below that of Freddy Galvis again. One would hope that would give the “call up X prospect because he’s hot” crowd some perspective, but alas I doubt it.

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  23. I would have questions about whether Bastardo can stay healthy enough to make it past Spring Training, let alone a full season. He’s had alot of down time, throughout his short career. Alot will be proven in Steptember, when the rosters expand. If he’s up and continues to battle getting the ball over the plate, he won;t be a lock to take Romero’s spot next year.

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  24. ****When Gose and Villar finally make it we’ll all be crying about the Oswalt trade. ****

    IF they make it, some will cry. Probably the same people that cried when the Cubs called up Brian Schlitter this year.

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  25. While I think Villar and Gose both have a chance to make the BIGs, its a long way from A ball to the Majors. Personally, I wonder if Gose will improve enough to get on base more. I still really like Gillies and James and they’re all such similar players. Altherr and Hudson are also similar but they’re even younger. There’s no doubt though that trading Villar puts more focus on Galvis and we all wonder whether he will ever hit enough. Question of the day: Why are Hyatt and Sanchez still at C-Water while Reading is starting Anderson and Taubenheim?

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  26. I like that the management takes time with players buy its time for Hyatt to move up and see what happens.

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  27. Completely agree on Hyatt. Great numbers w plenty of Ks.

    He had been tagged as a reliever after being chosen in the draft. Now, he should be elevated to a starting role since he has done so well as same.

    DeFratus should also–in addition to Bastardo and Worley–be called up in September. All 3 of them should be part of the competition for ’11s pitching staff. And be useful during the Sept stretch run. With Hyatt soon thereafter in ’11. Time to move Hyatt up to Reading. Why not?

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  28. Why not? I believe guys called up in September need to be on the 40 man roster. Right now, I think we only have one spot open and there will be a number of guys we need to protect. More thought needs to go onto it than just who might benefit from a call up.

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  29. reading about pettis. It’s must be me but he said he throws 88-90 righthanded, I just think forget doesnt throw hard enough to be a effective reliever.I just think you need better velocity ,sure some have gotten away with 90 fastball, but rare

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  31. I agree with you somewhat, but I think that was his velocity as a starter, and a move to the bullpen may add two mph.

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  33. guess you missed the second part of my comment about Baez NoWheels. No doubt too busy crowing about being right using the ole small sample size argument…

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  34. The Phils think Herndon has a future otherwise Bastardo would be up already. I think they just need to bite the bullet and get Bastardo up there. I’d never wish injury on any player, but a short stint on the DL by Herndon or Baez just before 9/1 would allow Bastardo to be called up and eligible for the playoff roster.

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  35. May has pitched 6.0 so far tonight 0 er, 3 hits, 9 ko and 3 bbs. Man, if he can keep his control in check.

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  36. Is anyone else miffed that they didn’t draft more middle infield prospects? I know its hard to predict which amateurs have the range to keep playing SS through the minors let alone in the bigs, but with the dearth of middle infield prospects (or infield prospects period period) even before moving Villar it just doesnt make a ton of sense

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  37. Austin, we’d love middle infield prospects but if the players aren’t there, there’s nothing you can really do about it. You can reach and try to project a player, but you’ll get burned more often than not with that strategy. When you draft the best players irregardless of position, you can just deal your overstock for a quality player at your position of need.

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  38. @Austin

    Solid middle infield prospects are few and far in between. Most projectable middle infield ( 3B also ) prospects with average or plus hitting projections are gone by the time the Phillies pick. Their draft strategy has been to take THEIR best player available, which by the time they pick ends up being an athletic projectable outfielder or projectable pitching prospects.

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  39. Looks like they have solved the catching depth problem at least for tonight. Both Valle and Rupp have an rbi double and a two run homer. Valle’s was over 400 ft. to center that had to clear a 16ft wall at Greenville and anyone who hits a homer at historic Bowman Field needs to hit a tape measure shot to have any chance to get it out.

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  40. Tom:

    Bastardo is already on the 25, and Worley has already pitched in the MLs.

    Only DeFratus has not been on the 25 nor pitched in the bigs.

    Those two should be called up in Sept.

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  43. Alan is right, but “irregardless” FAIL

    An interesting example from this year’s draft is Stephen Malcolm. Not a very impressive hitter in junior college, but the Phils think he can stick at SS so they signed him up. He’s been coming on a tad of late in the GCL.

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  46. Howard did go to the team to Florida but due to pain has returned home to have it looked at, thats not a good sign.

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  47. Raul Ibanez has played first base 170 games according to the cube. At least some in the AL

    3up3kkk I agree Bastardo should be here. I am a fan. He is the new Happ . He get no respect.
    BTW I never use the stupid small sample size thing.

    Baez types are reason I hate FAs

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  48. As per the Philadelphia Inquirer tonight…Ryan Howard’s sprained left ankle is serious enough to warrant a return to Philadelphia, where he will be examined by team doctors on Tuesday. The Phillies slugger flew from Miami to Philadelphia tonight.

    Watch sports videos you won’t find anywhere else

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  49. *any chance the phils sign scott fraizer?*

    Not sure about Fraizer, but Brenton Allen said via his Twitter account that he was meeting with the Phillies today. He also has mentioned Fraizer on numerous occasions and how they talk from time to time. Both will go down to Aug. 15.

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  51. Ive been thinking about it all night man… Ibanez to first and call up Mayberry. Id take Francisco full time and maybe Victorino is back in 10 days?

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  52. Read that the Phillies will make a decision about Howard going to the DL today if he does they will bring up either Mayberry or Rizzotti

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  54. Tracy is a better hitter than Mayberry with more home runs in fewer at bats, a .289 BA and a .389 obp or so.

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  55. Is Cesar Hernandez someone to get excited about? He seems to hit (without much power) at every level.

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  57. August 31- as long as there are players on the DL, a player doesn’t need to be on the active roster by August 31 to be eligible for the playoffs, they need to be in the organization by August 31. When the injured player(s) return that will create an extra spot and they may set the roster as they wish. If they wish to create an additional spot they can recall a long injured minor leaguer (say Ehren Wasserman) shift them immediately to the 60 Day DL, free that spot on the 40 man roster and be able to add a player from the organization to the playoff roster.

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  58. Duke, I am not sure what Gregg meant to say about Tracy in his corner infielder analysis, but he hit 3 homers in April, 4 in May, 4 in June and 3 in July. Don’t see the dropoff there. He hit 1 double in April, 3 in May, 8 in June and 6 in July. Overall, his best month was June and his worst was April. Last year with the Phillies, Tracy got 5 hits in 12 at bats. As I said above, I’d love to see Rizzotti, but if they do bring up Tracy, it will not be unreasonable.

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  61. I’m not one to rush to promote prospects. I’m OK keeping Singleton, Cosart and Colvin in Lakewood all year. It’s OK to keep May in Lakewood too. I’m fine with Rizzotti in AA.

    But what I truly can’t understand is why Hyatt has not been moved up to AA. He did have a small struggling period, but for the most part he’s been dominant. Not saying I think he’s a super prospect, as I would be he’s got middle reliever as his ceiling, but it’s time to find out more about him. He’s a 24 year old in HiA. His time has more than come. Move him up. I think the Phils can deal with fewer starts for Ty Taubenheim.

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  64. If Ryan Howard gets put on the DL, I think it will be either Andy Tracy, Matt Rizzotti, or John Mayberry that will get called up. John Mayberry is already on the 40 man roster so he has a good shot.

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  67. Like others, I’m not sure why Austin Hyatt is still in High A – don’t they want to see what they have in him before the year is over? Very puzzling.

    On Howard, if he’s out, I am fine with Gload and Dobbs playing some first base. Gload has been one of the bigger surprises for me – that fellow can really swing the bat; he’s a much, much better player than I imagined and, teaming with Dobbs, should be able to play perfectly fine for a short period of time. The only open question for me is whether Rizzotti is possibly ready for a promotion. It would be a lot of fun to see him hit, although, frankly, I’m not too sure that is what’s best for his development.

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  70. I’m not a big Bill Conlin (Daily News) fan, but he’s loves following prospects … here’s a llittle piece from his column today:

    ”
    When I saw first baseman Matt Rizzotti play for the Clearwater Threshers early in the season, he was not impressive. The only thing the 24-year-old pride of Manhattan College appeared to have in common with Ryan Howard was his size and lefthandedness. But Matt’s 6-5, 235-pound frame didn’t appear to generate a lot of bat speed. Then the 2007 sixth-round draft pick went on a tear and was batting a surprising .358 when promoted to Reading. I told some people that Double A pitching would expose his lack of bat speed. How wrong I was. The guy has been a pitcher-demolishing tower of power in his 73 Eastern League games. His .362 average is third best in organized ball. Matt has pounded 16 homers, 25 doubles and driven in 60 runs. Nobody has hit like that in Reading since some guy named Howard. Unlike Ryan, however, Rizzotti does not strike out a lot – just 55 in 254 ABs. His on-base percentage is a sick .455, his slugging pecentage .598 and his OPS an insane 1.104. So, if the Big Piece, who suffered a nasty ankle sprain tumbling back into second base on Sunday, winds up worse than day-to-day, can Ruben Amaro afford to not bring up Matt Rizzotti?”

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  71. Later in the same column, Conlin makes the case for bringing back Bastardo before the rosters expand. However, he doesn’t say who should be sent down to make room.

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  73. If you had to ask me to guess, I’m guessing Howard’s trip to the DL would not result in the promotion of a first baseman. Rather, I see Gload and Dobbs playing first and the team promoting another relief pitcher, most likely, Bastardo.

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  74. I would bet they won’t leave themselves be a bat short to make room for a reliever they don’t need. Phils bullpen has pitched fewer innings this year than any other team in the NL (by far, in fact), so it would be hard to make the argument that they are overworked. They could use another lefty in the pen, and Bastardo deserves to be there, but not at the expense of a bat. Also, given the way Gload has been hitting (1.200 OPS over the last month), it’s hard to believe Dobbs is going to be getting any time at first in Howard’s absence.

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  75. At what point do scouts change their thinking about Rizzotto if he keeps hitting like this?

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  77. Rizzotti would need to start 2011 in AAA and rake like he’s doing right now. Then he would get more pub.

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  78. Any chance it garcia to play second and polanco goes back to third. I guess that is nuts to think they would do that?

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  79. joe strosser says:
    August 3, 2010 at 4:25 PM
    At what point do scouts change their thinking about Rizzotto if he keeps hitting like this?

    Hall of Fame Election 2029

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  81. Oh goody. This also means that Rizz will be staying put in AA, which is obviously the best use of his talents. That way we’ll never find out if he can hit AAA pitching. Nice.

    And Mayberry? Also great. That way they can platoon him with Domonic, who clearly can’t hit lefty pitching. [sarcasm\]

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