With the draft upcoming beginning on June 4th, and the many changes facing the scouting department of every MLB organization, it seems time to throw around what has changed and what effect it could have on the Phillies. The Phils are without a first round pick this year because of the signing of Jonathan Papelbon, however sit with both the 40th and the 54th pick in the Supplemental Round (broadcast live on June 4 by MLB Network). The first notable change is the fact that the length of the draft has changed from 50 rounds in prior years, to 40 rounds this year.  Rounds 2-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com. Continue reading The Draft →

A look back at the time period of 5/23 thru 5/29. Quick points:

–I watched David Buchanan throw an impressive CG shutout Monday in Harrisburg where he kept the Senators extremely off balance.

–Another week where it is a good thing to be named “Cody”.

—Leandro Castro has really been hitting over the last several weeks, while Tyson Gillies’ week was limited by his wrist injury.

—I have to give some “pub” to Troy Hanzawa. He has come out of nowhere this year and has hit as consistently as just about anyone in the organization, while continuing to show the slick fielding he has in the past.

–Another “out of nowehere” name is Tyson Brummett, who was named Phils Minor League Pitcher of the Week last week.  He is putting up huge strikeout numbers at AAA this year after several years appearing extremely pedestrian.

–Hot Hitters: Tyson Gillies (.500, 3R 1HR 5RBI); Leandro Castro (.458, 5R 1HR 2RBI); Troy Hanzawa (.389, 5R); Cody Asche (.381); Anthony Hewitt (.368); Cody Overbeck (.360, 3R 1HR 5 RBI); Kelly Dugan (.321, 5R 2HR 4 RBI); Darin Ruf (.304, 5R 2HR 4RBI) Continue reading Hot or Not →

A miserable week for Lehigh Valley who have fallen to 28-23, after a 1-5 week and are now in 4th place of the Northern DIvision of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. The week culminated with the ‘Pigs coughing up a 7 run lead when Michael Schwimer gave up 6 in the ninth to Gwinnett yesterday. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

I didn’t really know what else to title this, so I came up with some sort of boring title like you see above. In some ways, I think this is going to feel like some stream of consciousness writing at some points about baseball, prospects, trade deadlines, and a bunch of other stuff. Who knows when I will stop.

Continue reading Domonic Brown: A Discussion →

Just some quick hits from over the weekend:

Tyson Gillies was removed from the Reading game Saturday evening in Harrisburg after a collision.  He is day to day with a wrist contusion.

Brody Colvin worked in relief after being scheduled to start the Clearwater game on Saturday night.

Austin Hyatt is suffering the same short term fate as Colvin.  Hyatt is being removed from the Lehigh Valley rotation in favor of Tom Cochran.  I suspect it is short term and simply to give Hyatt a psychological breather.  Continue reading Monday Musings →