Around the System–OF, Top Half

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A look at the outfield for Lehigh Valley, Reading and Clearwater with Lakewood,Williamsport and the GCL Phils to come next week. 

Lehigh Valley
Domonic Brown, 24, Phils 20th round pick in 2006; .286/.335/.437 in 206 AB’s; 5HR 26 RBI; 4/10 SB; 7%bb/19% k rates; .327 vs. LH; .273 vs. RH; .377 with RISP.  53 games in the OF with 7 errors (.933); 1.84 R/F. 4 OF assists. I would like to see Brown in Philly and Victorino elsewhere come next week.

Kyle Hudson, 25, Acquired from Tampa in 2012; .278/.353/.307 in 309 AB’s; 0HR 23 RBI; 19SB; 10%bb/17%k rates; .152 vs. LH, .307 vs. RH, .453 with RISP; Hitting .281 since June 1.  52 games in the OF with 2 errors (.984); 2.35 R/F; 1 OF assist. A poor man’s Rich Thompson, Hudson has played fairly well for the ‘Pigs.

Jason Pridie, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .362/.422/.638 in 58 AB’s; 2 HR 10 RBI. 13 games in the OF without an error; 2.08 R/F. Pridie re-joined Lehigh Valley just recently after a three week stint with the Phils.

Mike Spidale, 30, Re-Signed as a free agent in 2012; .288/.312/.346 in 208 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 1HR 13 RBI; 5/9 SB; 2%bb/7% k rates; Hitting .263 with Lehigh Valley, including .159 with RISP.  52 games in the OF with 3 errors (.961); 1.40 R/F; 1 OF assist. A defensive liability, SPidale has been seeing time because of injuries in the Lehigh Valley lineup.

Steve Susdorf, 26, Phils 19th round pick in 2008; .280/.344/.370 in 300 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 2HR 35 RBI; 4/8 SB; 9%bb/12% k rates; .154  vs. LH, .300 vs. RH, .283 with RISP. 55 games in the OF with 1 errors (.989);  1.69 R/F. Has also played 4 games at 1B with one error. Susdorf knows how to hit but a OF without power, and average defensive abilities has significant limitations advancing past AAA.

DL: Derrick Mitchell, 25, has now missed 8 weeks with a fractured wrist.

Reading

Leandro Castro, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2007; .288/.321/.424 in 347 AB’s; 6 HR 50 RBI; 11/19 SB; 3%bb/12%k rates; .314 vs. LH, .278 vs. RH, .291 with RISP; Hit .376 in June but just .227 in July.  92 games in the OF with 7 errors (.964); 7 OF assists; 2.05 R/F. Looking at Castro’s year as a whole, the Phils have to be pleased.

Tyson Gillies, 23, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; .291/.372/.434 in 175 AB’s; 2HR 16 RBI; 7/11 RBI; .279 vs. LH, .298 vs. RH, .273 with RISP; 7%bb/16%K rates.42 games in the OF with 2 errors (.981); 5 OF assists; 2.41 R/F.  Combine injury prone with attitude problem and what you get is Tyson Gillies.  Currently suspended for an incident with the teams bus driver (and injured) there is a real question mark when and if we will see Gillies again. He has obvious talent.  What is worse than wasted talent?

Jiwan James, 23, Phils 22nd round pick in 2007; .254/.301/.379 in 319 AB’s; 6HR 29 RBI; 7/15 SB; .268 vs. LH, .248 vs. RH, .224 with RISP; 6%bb/28% k rates; Hitting .233 in July.  91 games in the OF with 2 errors (.990); 2.10 R/F; 5 OF assists. James’ year has been mediocre with a troubling strikeout rate, and little success stealing bases. On the up side, he has been very good defensively.

D’Arby Myers, 23, Phils 4th round pick in 2006; .270/.293/.365 in 126 AB’s between Clearwater and Reading; 1HR 11 RBI; 6/7 SB; 4%bb/11%K rates.  Hitting .228/.254/.246 for Reading.  33 games in the OF with 3 errors (.973); 2.24 R/F. Has seen limited playing time this year and has not stood out when playing.

Brandon Tripp, 27, Re-Signed as a free agent in 2012; .256/.304/.381 in 328 AB’s; 5HR 40 RBI; 2SB; .200 vs. LH, .270 vs. RH, .275 with RISP; 4%bb/22% k rates. 62 games in the OF with 4 errors (.963); 1.66 R/F. Tripp has provided serviceable organizational depth.

Clearwater

Zach Collier, 22, Phils 1st round pick in 2008; .291/.345/.423 in 182AB’s; 2HR 24 RBI; 5/7 SB; 8%bb/18%k rates; .250 vs. LH, .318 vs. RH, .344 with RISP; Hitting .275 in July.  44 games in the OF with 2 errors (2.27 R/F). Collier has performed well after spending the first 50 games of the year suspended.  The last month of the season should tell the tale as to whether he starts next season in Reading.

Anthony Hewitt, 23, Phils 1st round pick in 2008; .236/.277/.409 in 301 AB’s; 12HR 41 RBI; 12/18 SB; 4%bb/31%K rates; .233 vs. LH, .238 vs. RH, .156 with RISP.  His strikeout rate and avg with RISP are just abysmal. His defense is more abysmal.  73 games in the OF with 18 errors (.888); 1.96 R/F. That being said, Hewitt has performed better than I thought he would this year. I had deservedly low expectations.

Pete Lavin, 24, .256/.299/.348 in 348 AB’s; 4HR 27 RBI; 12/15 SB; 6%bb/16% k rates; .215 vs. LH. .280 vs. RH, .246 with RISP; Hitting .212 since June 1st.  86 games in the OF without an error; 1.98 R/F. Since starting the season very hot, Lavin has come back to Earth and then some.

23 thoughts on “Around the System–OF, Top Half”

  1. Is there anything of Collier’s game that separates him? Or is he in danger of appearing susdorfish? I know he’s still young, even after everything that’s kept him off the field.

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    1. Zero Chance he is in LF.
      He might be in CF or RF

      The Phi’s tried him in LF and he could never pick it up and the stress killed his bat.
      He has not been in LF in the minors for a while.
      No chance they promote him and put him in LF.

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  3. Jiwan James has been playing with a sore knee this year according to the Reading manager. Thus the reduced SB totals.

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  4. For a team that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in 5 years, ditching what Victorino provides in terms of energy and speed and defense – and it seems reasonable offense this year for Domonic Brown might be worthwhile. Even throwing away the memories of D. Brown’s previous performance in MLB, I hope that the Phils don’t put him in the sink-or-swim position of being The Man this year.

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    1. I’m sorry, who’s the team who hasn’t sniffed the playoffs in 5 years? Because the Phillies have consistently been among the league’s best teams since 2008. This is the first year they’ve struggled.

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  5. I don’t think there is much else for Brown to accomplish in the minors as a hitter, of course staying healthy would be nice. When he played last year he wasn’t bad at all as a hitter and posted respectable strikeout to walk ratios for a rookie. At this point in the phillies season where all hope is basically gone there is no reason Brown shouldn’t be playing as the every day leftfielder and it shouldn’t even matter if victorino gets traded. I’m sick of watching Mayberry swing a bat and he ain’t getting any better anytime soon and there is no point in using a veteran like Pierre on a team that is sinking fast.

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  6. Gregg, I expect you’ll get your wish with Vic and Brown. I would be shocked if Vic is a Phillie in 36 hours and Brown will definitely be called up.

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  7. Trading Victorino would be selling low. I know it’s Ruben’s prerogative to buy high and sell low, but that doesn’t make it the correct decision.

    Better would be to sign him to a 1-year deal so as to develop Gillies and James one more year and see if either one can be the starting CF in 2014. Right now, he would be a very easy sign as his market value has never been lower, since he is definitely a better player than this and has simply had an off year. Even better would be to instead trade Pence and get some value back from last year’s horrible trade, and get rid of a player that will be quite costly next year.

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    1. Vic is a free agent…and he isn’t going to take a 1 year deal. He MIGHT sign the qualifying offer as it will be around $12.5 million…but he wont take less. I doubt he signs that offer though.

      Right now, and for the last 2-3 seasons, he’s basically a platoon bat at the plate with great defense.

      Also, Gillies isn’t someone you should be counting on even in 2014.

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      1. Obviously you shouldn’t count on Gillies, which is why I said you should see what you have with him and James by keeping Victorino one more year. That is the opposite of counting on a player.

        Anyway, Victorino is having a down year, and according to you he is nothing more than a platoon bat. Why would anybody necessarily sign him to a longer deal? Outfielders are the easiest position to fill besides 1B.

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      2. Shane might be having a rough time this year, but last year was about as far away from a “platoon bat” as you can be, and was a top 15 batter in the NL, which is huge for a CF. He was pretty solid in 2009/10 as well.

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        1. Shane’s Splits:

          2010
          vs RHP: .681 OPS
          vs LHP: .921 OPS

          2011
          vs RHP: .787 OPS
          vs LHP: 1.032 OPS

          2012
          vs RHP: .627 OPS
          vs LHP: ..973 OPS

          More like 2 of the last 3 but yeah. Right now, for 2/3 of his ABs, he’s a .600-.700 OPS hitter.

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    2. Initially I thought that trading Victorino was a no-brainer, although now, I agree with you as it seems that he’s got little trade value. Sign him to a one year contract, trade Pierre, bring up Brown to play left field and see what you have in your center field prospects to be a long term solution.

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  8. I wonder how he would do if he became a right handed hitter full time, his swing from the left side doesn’t even look comfortable for him

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  9. What to think of the Reading OFs?
    Gillies looks like a potential Major Leaguer. His speed, defense, and OBP should be enough to get him there. But his injury history is alarming. Not sure whether he will have much power and if his speed will be reduced by injury.
    James seems to have the same batting line at every level. If he can become a very good base stealer his defense should get him to the majors also. The K’s are still too high and he still has no power but if he can give a .700 OPS with GG defense I think he could be a starter. Will Phillies be okay to leave him unprotected again?
    Castro is a guy I always root for. Still profiles as 4th OF since he has solid tools and can play all OF spots. Shows some speed, some power, and no plate discipline. Just like the other two, not somebody Phillies should rely on. He is someone I could see drafted in Rule5.

    I think Nix/Mayberry could be one of the OF next year. Brown will be another. Then, a vet (Pence) for the 3rd spot. However, It is likely will sign FA CF to bump NixBerry to the bench. If Gillies, James, and Castro are all still with Phillies then one of them could be a midseason callup for 2013.

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    1. I dont think J James has shown anything that indicates he can hit MLB pitching – a 2013 call up seems unlikely.

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