The Phillies announced the signing of catcher Erik Kratz late yesterday. Kratz, 30, from Telford, PA, was a 2002 draft pick of the Toronto BlueJays and spent the last two seasons in the Pirates organization at AAA Indianapolis. Kratz made his major league debut last season for the Pirates, seeing action in 9 games. For Indianapolis last season Kratz hit .274/.380/.496 with 9HR and 41 RBI and threw out 21% of baserunners attempting to steal on him. In his minor league career, he has thrown out 31% of baserunners. Kratz should be an upgrade over Paul Hoover who struggled last season for Lehigh Valley. Continue reading Phils Sign Erik Kratz, Eddie Bonine
Monthly Archives: November 2010
Minor League (Re)Signings, AFL Update
Signings have begun trickling in with the news that the Phillies have resigned 2B Fidel Hernandez as well as Catcher Torre Langley. In addition, the Phils have signed Free Agent Pete Orr, who has over 500 major league plate appearances and can play 2b, SS, 3B and the corner OF if necessary. Orr spent last season in the Nationals organization playing for (AAA) Syracuse, where the 31 year old hit .264/.326/.436 with 12 HR and 35 RBI’s, to go along with 25 stolen bases. Orr will almost assuredly open the season in Lehigh Valley as either their starting 2B or 3B. Continue reading Minor League (Re)Signings, AFL Update
Minor League Free Agent List
Baseball America came out with the list of the minor league free agents in each organization and the highlights of the Phils list are as follows:
1B: Andy Tracy; 2B: Melvin Dorta; SS: Ozzie Chavez, 3B: Neil Sellers, Cody Ransom; OF: Rich Thompson, Mike Spidale, Kevin Mahar, Timo Perez; C: Joel Naughton, Kevin Nelson, John Suomi; SP: Brandon Duckworth, Ty Taubenheim, Brian Mazone; RP: Jason Anderson, Alex Concepcion, Oscar Villarreal, Ehren Wasserman, Kyle Carr.
Some names that may interest the Phils organization to fill their holes that will be created who have major league experience: P Chuck James, OF Endy Chavez, P Yusmeiro Petit, P Tony Pena, Jr., P Dana Eveland, 3B Dallas McPherson, P Brett Tomko, P Jason Hirsch, C JR House, 3B Mike Cervenak, OF Jacque Jones, INF D’Angelo Jiminez, P CHarlie Haeger, P CLaudio Vargas, OF Brett Carroll, 1B Brad Eldred, 3B Andy Marte, P Jason Grilli, C Clint Sammons.
Sandberg a Candidate for AAA job
Both the Daily News and the Inquirer are reporting that Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has emerged as a candidate for the vacant Managerial position in Lehigh Valley. Sandberg, 51 was the manager of Iowa City, the AAA affiliate of the Cubs last year. While an early candidate for the Cubs manager position, he decided not to return to the organization after the job was given to Mike Quade. Continue reading Sandberg a Candidate for AAA job
11/9 Open discussion and a poll
I wanted to start a new discussion repository, so this is it. Talk about whatever you’d like. I’m currently working on my preliminary top 30, because I’m again putting together a Top 30 list for the Maple Street Press Phillies annual thing. Which got me to thinking. So we’ll have a poll, related to the Reader Top 30. Last year we started late and voted up through spring training. We can do that again this year, or we can start earlier, like after Thanksgiving, and then wrap things up after Christmas. I have no preference, I just run the thing, so its your call. Vote, and also express your opinion one way or another. I won’t necessarily just decide based on the vote totals (unless its completely lopsided), I want to hear rationale as well. Thanks.
AFL Update
Matt Rizzotti went 1-3 on Thursday, knocking in 2 runs on a single. In 42 AB’s, Rizzotti is at .405/.509/.452 with 0HR and 9 RBI’s. While walking twice as much as he has struck out in the AFL (10/5), Rizzotti has now gone over 100 plate appearances without a homer including his late season time in Lehigh Valley.
Justin DeFratus had a bumpy inning earning the save on Thursday giving up a single and a walk, but he got the job done and still has not allowed a run in 6 AFL games, striking out 10 in 6 innings. Continue reading AFL Update
Zeid, DeFratus named AFL Rising Stars, AFL update
Matt Rizzotti continues to swing a very hot bat, going a combined 5-10 in games Monday and Tuesday, with 2 doubles and 4 RBI’s. In 39 Fall League AB’s, Rizzotti is at .410/.531/.462 with 0 HR and 7 RBI. He has walked 10 times and struck out only 4 times.
Tim Kennelly has been opening eyes in his limited action going 2-3 with 2 runs and a double in the 15-1 Mesa win Monday. Kennelly was behind the plate with 5 hurlers from the Phils organization on the hill. Kennelly is now at .429/.500/.619 in his 21 AB’s, with 0HR and 2 RBI’s. Continue reading Zeid, DeFratus named AFL Rising Stars, AFL update
Jason Grey at ESPN on De Fratus/Rosenberg
Justin De Fratus, Philadelphia Phillies: De Fratus absolutely looks like a big league bullpen arm, with a 92-95 mph fastball that touched 96 mph once when I saw him, and good tilt on an 83-85 mph slider that can get strikeouts. A strong pitcher with a good frame who uses his lower half well, De Fratus does a good job finishing his pitches. De Fratus isn’t far from a call-up and looks like he could fill a seventh- or eighth-inning role at the big league level, and from there anything can happen. Then again, he’s also in an organization that left Scott Mathieson behind to dominate Triple-A hitters all year.
B.J. Rosenberg, Phillies: Rosenberg appeared in only 20 games this season due to a lat strain, so we can give him a bit of a pass if he’s still getting up to speed. In one of his outings I saw, he gave up three homers in four batters, all on poorly located fastballs. He has been working in the 91-92 mph range and occasionally touching 93 mph, but with not a lot of movement on it. His low-80s slider projects to “solid average,” and his 80-81 mph changeup has been below average. I’m just not seeing good stuff or command right now.
I love that De Fratus is getting his deserved props now. He’s done what every prospect needs to do, continue to prove himself while he climbs the ladder. 2011 could be a big year for him. Rosenberg, well, not as optimistic.
Phuture Phillies 