Around the System–Outfield

Other Stuff

Alot to talk about in the OF.  Next up, catchers, late in the week.

Lehigh Valley

Domonic Brown, 24, Phils 20th round pick in 2006; .247/.290/.355 in 93 AB’s; 6%bb/21%k rates; 0HR 13 RBI; 3/6 SB; .318 vs. LH, .225 vs. RH, .450 with RISP; 24 games in the OF with 5 errors (.878). Consistent disappointment from Brown for the past year and a half with production far from expected, difficulties in the field, and a myriad of injuries hampering his development.Reverse splits are noteworthy and although on 20 AB’s, his avg. with RISP is a huge positive.

Rich Thompson, 33, Re-signed as free agent in 2012; .289/.386/.455 in 76 AB’s; 5 SB; 0HR 9 RBI; 10% bb/10% k rates; .346 vs. LH, .260 vs. RH; .429 with RISP. 24 games in the OF (mostly CF) with one error (.981).  Getting more playing time with Podsednik being traded and is started to produce in exactly the same way Thompson does every year for Lehigh Valley

Mike Spidale, 30, Re-signed as free agent in 2012; .343/.353/.463 in 67 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 1 HR 8 RBI; 1 SB. The All Time leader in hits for the Reading Phils gets his 2nd call up to Lehigh Valley and is just 26 AB’s in.  An organizational guy, but a professional hitter. Likely to be used as a 4th OF for Lehigh Valley.

Derrick Mitchell, 25, Phils 23rd round pick in 2005; .248/.304/.410 in 104 AB’s; 4HR 14 RBI; 3/4 SB; 7% bb/15% k rates; .229 vs. LH, .257 vs. RH, .182 with RISP. 29 games in the OF (mostly RF) with 1 error; 3 OF assists, Mitchell has been excellent in the field and has shown moments of promise at the plate but needs consistency.

Reading

Tyson Gillies, 23, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; .266/.345/.383 in 128 AB’s; 1HR 10 RBI; 5/7 SB; 7%bb/15% k rates; .267 vs. LH, .265 vs. RH, .243 with RISP, .222 in May. 31 games in CF with 2 errors (.975); 3 OF assists. Simply the fact that Gillies has been on the field regularly is a huge positive. When combined with the fact that he has been relatively productive for the first six weeks, that is a bonus.  Lets talk in July.

Leandro Castro, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2007;222/.271/.333 in 108 AB’s; 1 HR 17 RBI; 2/5 SB; 3%bb/21% k rates; .250 vs. LH, .208 vs. RH, .229 with RISP.  Has played 30 games in the OF without an error. A very difficult transition to AA continues for the free swinging Castro.  Needs considerably more plate discipline.

Steve Susdorf, 26, Phils 19th round pick in 2008; .295/.358/.400 in 95 AB’s; 1HR 14 RBI; 2/4 SB; 9%bb/14% k rates; .348 vs. LH, .278 vs. RH, .353 with RISP, .250 in May. 6 games in the OF without an error (also 2 at iB).Susdorf has hit at each level as he has progressed but because he started in the system at age 23, he is behind the eight ball.  An average fielder at best, Susdorf needs to stay away from being the next Jeremy Slayden and this year probably will decide that. Has been used almost exclusively as DH.

Jiwan James, 23, Phils 22nd round pick in 2007; .236/.267/.409 in 110 AB’s; 3 HR 17 RBI; 2/6 SB; 4%bb/33% k rates; .250 vs. LH,.227 vs. RH, .240 with RISP. 31 games in the OF without an error. 3 OF assists. Not a whole lot of positives to point out if you are whiffing in a third of your AB’s.  James has had a couple of consecutive multi hit games, so lets see if he is turning this thing around. Has played very well defensively.

Clearwater

Miguel Alvarez, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2007; Hitting .175 without a HR or an RBI in 40 AB’s.  9 games in the OF with 1 error (.950). An abysmal first month a half for Alvarez, who spent time on the DL and has done zero when off of it.

Anthony Hewitt, 23, Phils 1st round pick in 2008; .267/.313/.433 in 90 AB’s; 4HR 14 RBI; 3/4 SB; 4%bb/26%k rates; .200 vs. LH, .320 vs. RH, .179 with RISP, .372 in May. 23 games in the OF with 7 errors (.883); 3 OF assists.  I am not ready to buy in yet.  He has had streaks like these before and has been a butcher in the field.  Lets chat in more depth during the next report.

Peter Lavin, 24, Phils 20th round pick in 2011; .299/.336/.410 in 117 AB’s; 2HR 13 RBI; 4/6 SB; 6%bb/14% k rates; .306 vs. LH, .294 vs. RH, .286 with RISP.  27 games in CF without an error.  2 assists. Prime candidate to move to AA in July based on his age and production if he keeps it up. That can only occur if Gillies moves up….

Brandon Tripp, 27, Re-Signed as a free agent in 2012; .280/.324/.416 in 120 AB’s; 1 HR 17RBI; 0SB; 4%bb/22% k rates; .271 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .257 with RISP, .300 in May. 27 games in the OF (LF and RF) and has made one error.  4 OF assists. Tripp has played well.

Lakewood

Aaron Altherr, 21, Phils 9th round pick in 2009;  .264/.331/.392 in 125 AB’s; 2 HR 16 RBI; 10/14 SB; 7%bb/21% k rates; .250 vs. LH, .269 vs. RH, .250 with RISP, .154 in May.  Played 23 games in the OF without an error (19 in LF). Altherr has played well in a Lakewood lineup that has really struggled offensively.

Gauntlett Eldemire, 23, Phils 6th round pick in 2010; .228/.368/.307 in 101 AB’s; 14 SB; 17%bb/26% k rates; .148 vs. LH, .257 vs. RH; .190 with RISP.  Played 28 games in the OF (18 in RF) and made 2 errors (.978). Eldemire’s eye at the plate is keeping this from becoming a miserable line of stats. Because of his excellent walk rate, he has been on base enough to steal bases and produce runs. That being said, .228 at Low A from a college guy will not cut it long term.

Kyrell Hudson, 21, Phils 3rd round pick in 2009; .178/.219/.215 in 107 AB’s; 16SB; 0HR 10 RBI; 3%bb/36% k rates; .267 vs. LHP, .143 vs. RHP; .229 with RISP; .212 in May. Has played 27 games in the OF (mostly CF) and made 2 errors (.973). Incredible speed and makes things happen on the base paths but you can’t steal first.

Brian Pointer, 20, Phils 28th round pick in 2010; .228/.328/.439 in 114 AB’s; 6 SB; 12%bb/31%k rates; 5 HR 19 RBI; .174 vs. LH, .242 vs. RH, .286 with RISP, .083 in May; Has Struck out in 46% of his May AB’s.  Has played 25 games in the OF (RF and LF) and made 3 errors (.946). The flavor du jour during the seasons first two weeks, Pointer has settled down and then some into a miserable May.  Give him some time….

38 thoughts on “Around the System–Outfield”

  3. Again I find it odd that none of the position players we drafted going back X number of years has made any type of MLB impact either for us or players we traded with someone else. That worries me.

    Not only from the standpoint of who we draft but our ability to monitor other teams systems and what you might want back if you do become a “Seller”. My case study would be our trade of Lee to Seattle vs. the Orioles Trade of Bedard to Seattle which Included Adam Jones. On paper that was a 5 for 1 deal but the reality was Bedard for Jones.

    There are distinct differences in the 2 deals with the main being Bedard was under control where as Lee was going to become a free agent. While I do like Gillies and see he may become a Michael Bourn type player I think I would much prefer a Jones type player.

    So I wonder if Monty and the boys are making the same evaluations?

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    1. How bout Freddy Galvis? Debuted in the minors in 2007 and he’s making an impact. Not a huge one so far but there’s no reason he shouldn’t count.

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  4. I’m sorry I know I should be positive, but this system is brutal right now and desperately needs an infusion of talent. There isn’t one player hat you could currently project as an above average major league position player in the entire system at this point. It is time for the Phillies to take a look on how they have been evaluating talent recently. We need to devote more resources to the draft as well as the international budget.

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    1. How many you think a system should produce? I mean how many openings do you have each year? And I disagree the system still has lots of talent that can be projected as above average major league.

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    2. ‘We need to devote more resources to the draft as well as the international budget’….the international draft/cap will make the playing field more equal then in the past, where teams like the Rangers, Yankees, Sox et al spent to extreme measures to acquire the best Latin talent. Phillies should now fair better when it comes to Latin talent acquisition.

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  5. i think larry greene and roman quinn could qualify as potentially above average, but they’re still in extended spring training. so i see your point.

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  6. If Gillies stays at AA all year, is it possible Lavin gets the jump to AAA? Is that ever done or is AA too important for eval/development?

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    2. I’m 99% sure it won’t happen (never say never) but I could see them dropping James down if he continues his struggles.

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      1. Yea, i am just thinking age wise and solid production in a pitchers league plus a possible hole next in the OF maybe they roll the dice and see if Lavin is for real. I would move him to AAA if he keeps these numbers up by end of june.

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  7. AA is more important than AAA. It is a big jump to AA, a lot of the players sink here. I you do good in AA you just need to get some more experience in AAA to make it to the Majors.

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    1. They are looking for lightning in a bottle with a lot of toolsy guys. So far it’s more like a firefly in a jar. Wouldn’t it be great if we picked in the top 5 of the draft every year? Wait a minute… no it wouldn’t. That would mean we’d be the Pirates, Royals or the Nats. Maybe I’d like to be a Nats fan this year but we’ll see at the end of the year. May doesn’t mean too much, September or October is when you want to opine or wail about the lack of impact prospects.

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  9. It is very sad, I’m afraid we are in for years of under 500 baseball. There is not a one high ceiling every day prospect in the entire system. I know, I know, we have traded many prospects away for pitching. but I don’t see any of those prospects in the big leagues yet. Something is wrong with our scouting system, Look at the Braves every year they produce and quality big league player. Their is not one outfield prospect in the system that is even above average for their league, let alone a quality Major league prospect.

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    1. I disagree with your opinion as we have several possible solid players coming up within two years. Also, we can trade young pitching for young positional prospects.

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    2. Yes, look at the Braves….according to MLB.COM, three of their top four prospects are Latin signings…Teheran, Vizcaino and Bethancourt…all obtaining sizable signing bonus money. Phillies are more frugal with their international monies. And now that there is a cap or draft, things will change in talent stock replenishment/acquisitions for many teams who use to be big spenders.

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  10. Internationally, remember the Phillies recently signed Carlos Tocci. There’s Sebastian Valle, Lisalberto Bonilla, Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez coming up. And Freddy Galvis of course is contributing in Philly. So the Phillies’ international track record may look better in a year or two.

    FWIW, 9 of BA’s top 30 Phillies prospects were International signees. The only teams with more International players in their top 30 were Detroit and Texas.

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    1. Exactly…and the Phillies did that with a ‘budget’. I am optimistic that in a cap/draft international market now, they will increase their efficiency and do even better. But don’t get carried away with what we have now in the system until they reach the MLB, many of the former big spending teams are playing first and second year MLB players now, ie Jesus Montero, R. Delgado.

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  11. The most interesting guy in this list in Mitchell. I remember someone, maybe it was you Gregg, reported that Sandberg asked for Mitchell to be assigned to LHV. He started slowly. He’s been producing lately. In fact, I think he’s tied with Overbeck for the most RBIs. He’s got some tools and back a few years ago we discussed his nice combo of power and speed. He’s getting and will get more playing time because of Pods getting traded and Brown out of the lineup. He’s making the most of it. Could he be a 5th OF’er in the Majors? Possibly. Probably not with the Phils but somewhere. He’s pretty darn good defensively and he has some pop in his bat.

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    1. Interesting, Mitchell and Brown are both born in the same year,1987, eight months apart. But the perrception is that Mitchell has been a long-time ‘career org filler’.

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      1. Gotta like his arm, also. Last time I looked he (Mitchell) had all of the Pigs OF assists.

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          2. I mean, you don’t get bonus points for younger players. This isn’t a prospect acquisition by Tampa. This is a “we need a player NOW because of injuries” move. And the only thing Mitchell does better than Thompson is hit for power.

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  12. That’s what I was thinking, Mitchell has more to offer as a 25 yr old , in a year or so watch out ……

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  13. It’s funny. Dom Brown battling injuries is hitting .247. Mitchell is hitting .239. Last year Brown’s OBP was 70 points higher than Mitchell, at a level higher. The perception on Brown is much better than Mitchell because he HAS performed at higher levels in the past.

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    1. Pls…no more excuses for Dom Brown….’battling injuries’…part of the game for everyone.

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  14. bellman totally totally disagree. add harper . desmond. strasburg, morse, and there two closers clpper and forget the other kid. and put that with the money we can spend at big league market , you would have a great team for years to come, the reason the other teams cant do it you mention, is they have to spend so little in freeagency, and lose players. big difference in our case. we can spend more than most of the teams expcet yankees and boston

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