A 2-5 week for Lehigh Valley, who continue to play miserably and are 48-76, in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 25 games behind division leading Scranton.
Leaders– Hitting–Andy Tracy is 2nd in walks (59)and 7th in OBP(.374). Pitching: Brian Mazone leads the league in losses (12), 4th in starts (24), 6th in IP(143) and is 8th in WHIP (1.21); Drew Carpenter is third in losses (10) and 7th in walks (48); Nate Bump is 6th in ERA (3.35); Scott Mathieson is 2nd in saves (22).
Monday–Another in what is becoming a long line of bad starts by Drew Carpenter (7-10) in the 7-4 Lehigh Valley loss to Rochester, closing out their series having lost 3 of 4. An infield RBI single by John Mayberry in the first inning gave the ‘Pigs the early lead but before they could catch their breath they looked up and were behind 5-3 after three innings. Carpenter lasted 4 innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 4, throwing 83 pitches in those 4 innings. Lehigh Valley cut the lead to 5-2 on a Rich Thompson (3) solo homer but another Cody Ransom error (20), led to two more RedWings runs in the 6th, making it 7-2 Rochester. A Chris Aguila (3) solo homer and Rich Thompson RBI single in the 9th closed out the scoring. Rich Thompson had a huge day at the plate going 4-5 with 2 runs, 2 doubles, a homer and two RBI’s. Cody Ransom also added 2 hits.
Tuesday–OFF
Wednesday (1)–A 4-1 victory for Lehigh Valley in Game One of their doubleheader against Pawtucket on Wednesday behind a strong outing by Ty Taubenheim (1-2), who went 5.2 allowing just a run on 5 hits. He didnt walk a batter and struck out 6. The teams exchanged runs in the 2nd with the ‘Pigs run coming on a solo homer by Andy Tracy (17). Lehigh Valley added two in the 3rd when Rich Thompson (4) hit a two run homer giving the ‘Pigs a 3-1 lead. An insurance run was added in the 6th on an RBI single by Cody Ransom. Scott Mathieson earned his 22nd save, throwing a scoreless inning, striking out 2.
Wednesday (2)–The ‘Pigs were shut out in Game Two, 2-0 as they managed just 2 hits all game. Joe Savery fresh off a stint on the DL went three scoreless innings to start the game, but was removed as he was on a pitch count. Mike Stutes (3-1) gave up two runs in the 5th and took the loss in relief.
‘Pigs Prospects-John Mayberry has been hot and just had a 12 game hitting streak snapped. Over the last 10 games, Mayberry is hitting .378 with 2HR and 4 RBI, raising his average this year to .269/.330/428. I would expect him in Philly in September.
Matt Rizzotti had a rough go of it this week, hitting just .200 on the week and .194 over his last 10 games. He hasn’t homered in his 39 AAA at bats and has 4 RBI’s. Very small sample size.
Mike Stutes– Prior to the bump in the road last night when he took the loss allowing 2 runs, Stutes had gone 5 games without giving up a run (7IP, 10K). A promising close to the year for Stutes who is now 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 21 games with Lehigh Valley. He has struck out 34 in his 29 innings of work and opponents are hitting just .229 against him.
Michael Schwimer had a fairly quite week, appearing in just one game since our last report. He went 1.1 in that game, allowing 2 hits, an unearned run, a walk, and struck out 3. In Lehigh Valley: 14 games, 2-2 with a 1.02 ERA; 17.2 IP 16K, 1.13 WHIP; .197 opp. avg.
Scott Mathieson pitched in 2 games, threw 2 scoreless innings, and earned 2 saves for Lehigh Valley as Mathieson took over as the franchise leader for saves in a season with 22. On the year, 3-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 47 games, 56.1 IP 40H 21BB 73K, 1.08 WHIP, .201 opp. avg., .229 with RISP. He better be in Philly in September.
Vance Worley made his 4th start for Lehigh Valley and went 6.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 5 hits. He walked one and struck out 7. For Lehigh Valley: 4 starts, 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA; 25IP 22H 6BB 20K, 1.12 WHIP; .239 opp. avg.
Mike Zagurski pitched 3 times this week without allowing a run, after several bumpy when returning to Lehigh Valley from Philly. On the year for the ‘Pigs, 2-3 with a 3.74 ERA in 45 games, 45.2 IP 41H 25BB 59K, 1.44 WHIP, .240 opp. avg.
Antonio Bastardo had an outing where he was absolutely crushed, but bounced back with two more scoreless outings, making it 17 of 18 appearances for Lehigh Valley without giving up a run. He will be in Philly in September.
Probables: Thursday: Worley; Friday: Mazone; Saturday: Carpenter; Sunday: TBA
Transactions: Brandon Duckworth was placed on the DL with a left calf strain. Joe Savery, who was on the DL with turf toe was activated and started on Wednesday.
Phuture Phillies 
No discussion of Savery’s professional hitting career beginning or is that old news?
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Three names… would love to hear some input:
Tagg Bozied- the more you read about this guy’s story, the more you want to root for him. Triple crown winner in college (beat out Jason Bay for conference POY), freak injury celebrating a walk-off HR in the minors barred a would-be trip to the majors, his wife breaks her neck when hit by a car and he’s told she would never be able to breathe on her own… guy is putting up solid numbers. He’s an old prospect but given what he has gone through, it’s safe to say he’s not going to quit.
Mario Hollands… 6’5″ lefty has been trending in the right direction for a few years now and has been great in the NYPL (for what it’s worth). Reportedly has a nice array of pitches. College numbers weren’t awe inspiring but they got better as the years went on (and he’s a 6’5″ lefty).
Aaron Altherr… a lot to like about this kid.
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Altherr and Hollands were working the autograph table before the game last Saturday night at Bowman Field. Came across as real good guys.
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Don’t think Savery’s hitting career will be any news unless he can play somewhere other than 1b.
He’s way behind several good prospects plus that guy with the big contract.
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I think we’ve had the whole “Savery hitter” conversation once already, but my guess is that he’ll perform like Darin Ruf, perhaps a bit better. I like Rizzotti far more than Savery as a hitter, and I’m a “Rizzotti hater” (ha ha).
Then again, one never knows. Best of luck to him!
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Savery was a D-I All-American 1st baseman, so he must have some potential there…If I’m not mistaken, he was a 2nd round prospect at 1B. If he’s really a “great athlete”, he should be able to handle a corner outfield spot.
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WOW. Make this a topic. How do the Phils justify having a AAA club. for 3-4 years very few prospects and a bunch of over the hill Quad 4 players. No offense to those players..but was it not so long ago that AAA was supposed to be a upgrade from AA. Our AA and maybe Clearwater would beat them or give them a run for their money. Very sad…I feel bad for those in Lehigh/Scranton….But I love Lakewood
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that was Lehigh/Scranton fans
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Just for fun, has anyone thought about the Phillies in 2015. Projected Line-up?
1B – Howard
2B – Utley
SS – Galvis
3b -No clue
C – Vale
RF – Brown
LF – Singleton (can he play outfield?)
CF – Gillies
SP-Hamels
SP- Cosart
SP-May
SP – Colvin
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Okay, I know it’s just for fun, but …
(1) Galvis as the starting Phillies SS? Ugh, I hope not. His ceiling is reserve IF or starting SS for a non-contender. EVEN IF he starts to hit a little, he’s not a guy who is going to draw a lot of walks or hit for power. Say he can hit .280 (which is incredibly optimistic). With few walks and no power, that’s still pretty weak, even at SS, and even with possible gold glove level defense.
(2) OF COURSE some of those spots will be filled by free agents. Maybe that’s obvious & assumed, but that’s sort of why these sorts of exercises tend to be a little silly. Which is okay – it’s just baseball after all – but the existance of the FA market does seem to escape some people around here. I’m especially inclined to think that with Howard and Utley likely in age related decline by then, and no one in the system (except maybe Brown) projected to be an all star level hitter, that the team will/should sign a top FA position player (or two) at some point in the next few years, either at 3B, SS or in the OF. Especially given the existance of so many decent starting pitching prospects who will still be cost controlled in 2015, they should have the money for it.
(3) I have a feeling – just a feeling – that Hamels will be gone when he his contract is up.
(4) Not all three of Cosart, Colvin and May will make it. However, with other decent mid/back of the rotation possibilities, there IS a chance IMO that by 2015 they will have a mostly (3/5 or 4/5) home grown rotation. And a good one.
(5) Really not sure about Valle. Maybe. A long shot. The same could probably be said about Gilles. And, especially considering the needed position switch, I think that Santana is more likely than Singleton in LF. I’m a lot higher on Santana than a lot of people around here.
Regarding #2, some people will say that the Phillies have avoided signing all star level free agents in the past and they thus likely will in the future. I disagree. Assuming that the payroll continues its current growth path, or even stays at the same level, starting in 2012 there will be a large chunk of cash available for major FA signings. And, aside from players currently with long term contracts, with the exception of Hamels, no one currently in the organization who will justify a huge contract. (Actually, that point is why I may be wrong about #3).
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The Joe Savery hitting experiment is about 3 years too late.
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I feel for those in LHV who were planning to see Howard tonight.
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