Monthly Archives: May 2011

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

7. Lehigh Valley

Another good week for the ‘Pigs, even with it ending having been swept by Gwinnett in a doubleheader yesterday. Lehigh Valley went 4-2 since the last report and are now 27-18 on the season, and are atop the Northern Division of the International League, three games ahead of both Pawtucket and Scranton.  Their eight game home stand continues tomorrow with a four game series against Rochester.

‘Pigs Leaders, Hitting: Jeff Larish is tied for 7th in homers (8); Rich Thompson leads the league in stolen bases (18) and is 7th in OBP (.393).

Pitching: Mike Zagurski is tied for 4th in saves (7); Ryan Feireabend is tied for 2nd in homers allowed (10); Michael Schwimer is tied for the league lead in holds (5). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Box Score Recap, 24 May 2011

Box Score Recap

Tonight’s box scores belong on Desolation Row. At least the VSL Phillies showed a little organizational pride!

Continue reading Box Score Recap, 24 May 2011 →

Box Score Recap, 23 May 2011

Box Score Recap

23 innings. A loss. Wow. No other words. We can analyze this box score for a week.

Continue reading Box Score Recap, 23 May 2011 →

Box Score Recap, 22 May 2011

Box Score Recap

You want the truth about today’s minor league games? You can’t handle the truth! If you can, check below the fold.

Continue reading Box Score Recap, 22 May 2011 →

2011 MLB Draft Preview, Part 1

2011 Draft

Welcome to my first look at the 2011 draft from the Phillies perspective. In past years, minorleaguebaseball.com had lots of scouting reports and videos available, making it easy to check out a bunch of the top 100 prospects. This year, it seems they’ve decided not to do that, instead just posting a few videos and no detailed scouting reports. Maybe they’ll have more before the draft, hopefully they will. Instead, I’ve had to go and do a bit more digging, hence, this piece being delayed a bit. Also, with the Phillies not having a first round pick, my desire to dig in to the draft has been diminished slightly. That said, its still one of my favorite events of the year, and I have plenty of thoughts. I’m planning on putting up a few more draft pieces before the actual draft takes place, then of course we’ll have an open draft day discussion, and I’ll compile all of the picks, as well as info on all of the picks and then my instant analysis. For now, check below the fold for my first look at the 2011 draft and what to expect from the Phillies.

Continue reading 2011 MLB Draft Preview, Part 1 →

Box Score Recap, May 20+21

Box Score Recap

I got hung up with other things Friday night, so I’m combining both nights into one. Its a monster graphic, with lots of good news. Also, check back later today for my first piece on the 2011 draft.

Continue reading Box Score Recap, May 20+21 →

Schwimer Focused….

Other Stuff

Michael Schwimer gave the assembled media, Phuture Phillies included some of his time prior to the game this evening against Gwinnett. Schwimer has been simply dominant lately, going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA in his last 9 games with a save.  During that same time period, Schwimer has thrown 14 innings, giving up just 2 runs on five hits, while striking out 23 and allowing just one of eleven inherited runners to score.

With his profile continuing to rise on the Philadelphia radar screen and after some early season struggles, Schwimer has turned it around, “I have to give credit to two people on that.  Rod Nichols had tinkered a little bit, a few weeks back with some of my mechanics to get my front side turned in a little more and get more closed off.  I felt I was opening up a little bit early and I was able to be more deceptive to hitters because of that…I also had a meeting with Chuck LaMar a few weeks back and he talked to me about my mental demeanor and being more aggressive…rather than getting to cute and trying to make certain pitches in certain counts.  Those two things have changed the way I have approached pitching this year and it has a lot of positives.” Continue reading Schwimer Focused…. →

Around the System–Starters

Around the System

A look at the current starting rotation at each level in the organization. Clearwater, as expected, standing out.

Lehigh Valley

Vance Worley, 23, 5 starts, 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA; 25.2IP 26H 7BB 26K, 1.28 WHIP, 5 HR allowed, .260 opp. avg., 0.96 GO/AO; .143 with RISP; .257 vs. LH, .262 vs. RH.  Clearly the Phils #6 starter, he has pitched well in Lehigh Valley excluding his last outing.

Nate Bump, 34, 8 starts, 2-3 with a 5.44 ERA; 43IP 60H 11BB 23K; 1.65 WHIP; 1.51 GO/AO; .335 opp. avg., .397 vs. LH, .292 vs. RH, .352 with RISP.  It simply hasn’t been pretty for Bump this year, with slight improvement over his last two starts.  He is getting hit hard and often. Continue reading Around the System–Starters →

Brown, Herndon Up…Mathieson Down

Other Stuff

In the first of what will be a series of roster moves the Phils have called up RP David Herndon and OF Domonic Brown, placed OF Shane Victorino on the 15 day disabled list and optioned RP Scott Mathieson to AAA Lehigh Valley.  Just 12 hours after GM Ruben Amaro told the assembled media that Brown would not be called up, that is just what happened and Brown is expected to be available this evening against Texas.  The swap of Herndon and Mathieson makes sense in that Herndon is fresh and can provide some immediate innings in Philadelphia if necessary, after the depleted bullpen threw, in essence, the whole game last night (including two IP by Mathieson).

P Joe Blanton is still expected to be placed on the DL, most likely over the weekend.  When that occurs, the likely move will be Vance Worley rejoining the Phillies rotation.  Herndon has pitched well in Lehigh Valley, going 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a save in 5 games, spanning nine innings.  He has walked one and struck out nine for Lehigh Valley.

Box Score Recap, 19 May 2011

Box Score Recap

You’re a box score junkie, and I’ve got your fix.

Continue reading Box Score Recap, 19 May 2011 →