Box Score Recap 8-15-2012

Box Score Recap

JRod had 7K in 3IP out of the pen.  My goodness.  And 4 CLR pitchers, led by starter Mario Hollands, shutout Tampa, allowing only 8H, 0BB, and striking out 11 batters.  Well done.  And hey, Jon Pettibone with a pretty good night as well – 7H, 1BB, 1 R/ER and 6K in 7IP.

So, all that being said, let the Darin-Ruf-a-thon begin!  Oh, and can someone tell me if they outlawed the pitch-around in the Eastern League?  They must have.

LV  REA  CLR  LKW  WIL  GCL  DSL

215 thoughts on “Box Score Recap 8-15-2012”

  1. I am typically a skeptic about late bloomers in the minor-leagues…as anyone who pays attention to my posts here would note. However, at what point do you have to at least consider giving Ruf a try at a higher level? He’s hit at every level of the minors. He’s simply outclassing everyone in AA right now and his power display is getting to the point of being ridiculous. If he could even play a Pat Burrell level of LF, he might just be good enough to be an MLB player.

    Give him a chance, Rube.

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    1. It’s also good to remember that they quality of play tends to drop at the end of the season as guys from A+ get called up to AA and all the best AA players get called up to AAA or the majors.

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    3. Not counting today, there’s 17 games left in LV’s season. At this point, it doesn’t matter if they move him up or not, it won’t change anything. They’ll just let him finish the year in AA, and then start him with the Pigs next year.

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      1. I agree that it wont make a difference…it would just be nice for them to give him a taste of the next level as a reward for his great season.

        Developmentally it wont make one bit of difference though.

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  2. Heard Benny Looper on WIP last night with Jody MacDonald on my drive home from work. They talked almost exclusively about Reading. Looper was there for the Trenton series. Here is a recap on the players they discussed, and then my take on what Looper’s feelings were on each player going forward.

    Darin Ruf: Looper said he can definitely hit. Saw him hit 3 HR’s in the two games he saw in Reading so far. Said his ceiling as a LF is below average defensively. Said his range is well below average, has an average arm, and will catch everything he gets to. Basically, he didn’t sound real enthused about Ruf making it in LF. He did say Ruf will be playing LF in Venezuela this winter. Jody Mac asked about Ruf’s age, basically implying they should move him up to AAA and really push him. Looper pretty much shot that down.

    My take on Looper’s feelings on Ruf: The Phillies like him and think he can hit, but do not think he can play LF in the majors and are in no rush to push him.

    Cody Asche: He said Asche can flat out hit. Said he projects as average or slightly above average defensive 3B in majors. Then said he’s a tremendous athlete. Ran a 6.6 60 yard dash in spring training. Jody Mac asked about his power. Looper said the power is there and they think its coming soon. Then said even if he doesn’t hit a lot of HR’s, he will always hit a bunch of doubles.

    My take on Loopers feelings on Asche: Seemed excited about Asche and thinks he will be a starting 3B in majors and a good hitter.

    Adam Morgan: Said Morgan has great stuff and command and is skyrocketing through system. Above average curveball and fastball. Said he needs to tighten up his slider and changeup. Said Phillies see him as a future 2 or 3 in rotation.

    My take on Loopers feeliings on Morgan: High hopes for Morgan. Really likes him.

    Tommy Joseph: Said he always thought of Joseph as a hit first catcher before Phils got him, but is really impressed by his defense so far. Said he will def stick at catcher. Soft hands, strong arm, and hard worker. Has legitimate power in his bat and a decent approach. Also mentioned that Joseph is going through a period of adjustment with his stance and swing since joining Reading.

    My take on Loopers feelings on Joseph: They REALLY like Joseph.

    Ethan Martin: Spoke briefly on him. Said hes been great so far. Hitting 96 on gun. Really excited about him.

    Tyler Cloyd: Jody Mac basically asked “What are you guys waiting for in calling up Cloyd?” Looper really downplayed Cloyd. Said he has below average to fringe fastball. (no surprise) and that he mostly throws cutters. Can locate his cutter on both sides of plate. Jody Mac then pushed Looper about Cloyd being a September callup but Looper wouldn’t commit to anything. Looper said Cloyd is a guy that is going to have to keep proving himself.

    My take on Loopers feelings about Cloyd: Sounded as if Cloyd is not a high priority to the Phillies.

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    1. The same Benny Looper that was the driving force behind the 2nd Lee trade that netted us such can’t miss prospects Tyson Gillies, JC Ramirez and Phillippe Aumont?

      Perhaps they should get a 2nd opinion.

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      1. Would like to hear Joe Jordan’s take on the Reading players. Though, it probably is relatively simiilar to Benny’s.

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      2. Yeah because they were definitely marketed as “can’t miss prospects” but keep on having revisionist history.

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        1. So you think it was a good return for a #1 pitcher with a year plus left on his contract?

          Okay then. Even without hindsight, that deal was lambasted at the time.

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          1. Ok. When did I say that I liked the deal or defended the deal? Good job creating a straw man. The trade wasn’t a good one, but no one ever said that the prospects were “can’t miss” as you stated above.

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            1. Of course the point was that those were the three that Looper hand-picked due to his “extensive” knowledge of the Mariners system.

              The point being that he’s not exactly the greatest judge of talent.

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            2. So you are now saying they weren’t called can’t miss? Or were they? Because you are getting confusing.

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            4. You act like every team acquires top shelf talent back.

              The Mariners and Indians haven’t gotten a lot of value for Cliff Lee either.

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            5. The point isn’t that the prospects weren’t “can’t miss” prospects and then proved to be crappy… The problem was that the you should have gotten more for Cliff Lee then you got. If that means “outsmarting” the general concensus on a few prospects, or nabbing atleast 1 blue chipper then that’s what it means. The players we recieved in the trade were questionable upfront, and even more questionable now. It was a complete failure by Looper and by our wonderful GM to identify and aquire appropriate talent for a non-rental ace.

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            6. I agree, however that’s not the point he made. He said they were “can’t miss” like the FO classified them as such, which is misleading and wrong. Again, revisionist history based on not liking a deal doesn’t make it any more true.

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            7. No my point was that Looper isn’t the best judge of talent. You chose to go off on a tangent about me saying “cant miss” sarcastically.

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        1. The point is you shouldn’t ask anyone, look at the phillies actions. If he plays LF the remainder of the year and then goes to the AFL that pretty much signifys the phillies believe in his potential in LF, end of story, doesn’t matter what Looper says.

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            3. A fly ball’s a fly ball, a line drive still sinks. Defense is the reason he’s playing there.

              I almost said “wind is still wind”, but I think “still wind” is an oxy moron.

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    3. I’m dubious of the 6.6 in the 60. Wouldn’t that make him a 70 runner at least? I feel like that would be widely reported by baseballamerica and other places

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      2. It’s fair to doubt this. The point, however, is that Asche is very athletic and really fast for a corner infielder. I saw him at Reading and the person he most resembled on the base paths (actually, the player he most resembles, period), was Chase Utley. Asche can run and he knows what he is doing out there.

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      3. Larry Greene Jr. also did a 6.6 in the 60, and was clocked at 15 seconds moving home to home around the bases. I seen both on the videos around his draft time. Yet people will praise scouting reports stating ” a big ponderous oaf that will definitely have to move to First Base” or words to that effect. Even so, I don’t think that the time itself is so extremely rare as to draw rave reviews.

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        1. …and certainly, if he were being considered as a running back by three teams in the best conference in college football, he has running ability.

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    4. Personally, I think, in the very near term, the acquisition of Martin is going to result in the availability of May in a trade. I think the Phillies are, and perhaps should, fill some of their needs through a trade this off season. Some guys will be virtually off limits (Biddle, Morgan, Asche, Quinn, Watson, Gueller, Cozens, Z. Green, Walding), but I fully expect that one or more of May, Martin, Pettibone, Rodriguez, and Wright to be traded. All of the relief prospects and young relievers in the majors, with the possible exception of Diekman (who Rich Dubee loves), will also be in play. Honestly, they have a glut of pitchers and will really have to trade some of these guys so they don’t risk losing them in a Rule 5 draft. The question will be – which of the righty pitchers do they value most highly. Don’t kid yourself, Martin, Pettibone and May are all very close as prospects right now, but they probably won’t be as close as major league pitchers.

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      2. Just FYI – and you may know this anyway, but current year draftees cannot be traded for 1 year anyway. Those guys aren’t “virtually off limits”. They’re not even available per MLB rules.

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    5. Answer: I posted about this interview yesterday and had similar impressions. One thing I do not know is if the Venezuelan Winter League precludes the AZ Fall League or not. Anyone know if they coincide? Looper did not mention the AFL as part of the plan for Ruf.

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      1. Perhaps they have a good sense of where Ruf is at the plate, and really just need a league where he can play LF. They could send guys that need more competetive ABs (Gillies, Asche) to the AFL.

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    6. Thanks for this write-up … very informative! Reading hasn’t been this thick with prospects in years. Martin and Joseph are definitely intriguing … I like the Pence trade (the second one, of course) more and more each day.

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    7. Oh yeah, because there has never been (starting even) a Philly Left Fielder with below average range and an average arm. Seems the catches everything hit at him would be the top factor. Looper is probably one of those who goes by what is shown on the stopwatch of some transcriber sitting in the 700 level timing how long it takes for a fielder to get to a ball, without consideration given to if the fielder runs too fast he will overrun the ball. And , as said below, Looper having stood on the table for Aumont, J.C. Ramirez, and Gillies is suspect anyway. I say they should have canned him at the point where it was becoming clear they would have no short term MLB impact. Especially in a trade for a top-of-the-line MLB pitcher. He should even have been canned for the recommending of Gillies, who, it has been revealed, has “issues” of long standing. If all that was not of the recommendation of Looper, it should have been , because he had been Seattle’s GM and got canned for that.

      As for the “take” on everything, let’s just say don’t subscribe to it. Some people will hear what they want to hear, and if they read something, they will take from it what they want to take from it. Some people have an agenda. Now, I will have to go to WIP’s website and see what it really says. Seems to me , if people were a good , courteous INTERNET poster, they would look that up beforehand, and if a link was available,post it , and , if not , state it as such.

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      1. Wow you are a pleasant person.

        I will refrain from calling you what you are because this is a family website.

        No agenda at all my man. Strictly reported what Looper said to the best of my memory since I listened to it yestrday in my car and wrote it this morning.

        As for my take on each guy, I was just trying to give a feel for the tone of Loopers answers about each guy.

        No agenda and not sure why you seem to be ma at me for taking the time to report what Looper said since I’m sure most people on here didn’t hear the interview.

        As for you going on WIPs website to check my source, knock yourself out bro.

        The big question here is why are you so angry about my post? Is it because Looper and the Phillies feelings don’t coincide with yours.

        Says a lot about you that you get this mad about something out of your control and also that you question my integrity just because wht I heard on the radio doesn’t agree with your feelings.

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        2. Don’t go by feelings, go by thought. Not angry about nothing. I do not state what is angry I state the truth. If people interpret the truth as angry what’s that tell . No particular discontent with most recent stuff, maybe some residual discontent from past stuff which can always be re-hashed. If it is Looper and the Phillies feelings that determine what they do , they should get some who rule by thought. Not necessarily questioning one’s integrity when questioning if their interpretation of the spoken and written word is as accurate as they assume. It is mostly computerese education that presumes absolute truth is found at the press of a button and getting the word of one the system promotes as an authority . That is why some are deficient in interpreting the spoken and written word. And it is my thought that some people do have an agenda of promoting Fan Graphs style guidelines as hard and fast infallible rules and beating the opposition over the head with them.
          Also, for the record, I never specifically addressed anything to any specific person. Not in the original or in this reply to it. Never have, Never will.

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          1. Right, so I guess you weren’t referring to me when you said “as for your take”. That’s funny because after each prospect I gave my “take” on Loopers tone when discussing that prospect.

            And don’t back down now big guy; you most certainly questioned my integrity by implying that I somehow had an agenda and that you would check WIPs website to make sure what I said is true. Which is funny since I made it very clear In my post what was Loopers statements, and what was my feeling on the tone of the statement.

            And thanks but I’m pretty sure I’m not deficient in interpreting the spoken and written word. Pretty sure I learned those skills at some point during law school or the 10 years since of practicing law.

            Wow you are a character Marfis. An absolute pompous dbag. I tried not to call you a name but you’re on my last nerve.

            Makes me wonder why I even spent the time reporting what Looper said if this is the annoying stuff I have to put up with after…

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            1. For what it is worth, I greatly appreciated your post, as I had just gotten into the car and turned on the radio as the Looper interview was ending. Thanks, and don’t let any one individual spoil it for you.

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            2. It was a great post and I really appreciate it. In addition, sifarm has been on my ignore list for years and it has greatly improved my phuturephilliesexperience. I recommend it to all.

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          2. His write up was almost an exact transcript. Summarizing a 5+ minute conversation concisely and accurately is a skill and appreciated. Adding “his take” is the purpose of this website. Discussing one’s thoughts, not regurgitating facts and links. Your post was nonsensical and a waste of all of our time.

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      2. I think the below average range, average arm issue can be minimized if you have a CF with great range and good arm. However, because we do not have a CF on the same timetable as Ruf (or already in place — I am not talking about free agents here, so please no Bourn comments) , it hurts his chance in Philly because of his age. It would be nice if Gillies can prove he can play, stay healthy, and not do weird off-field things.

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        1. If they signed Bourn, they could handle a below average range LF…much the same way having Werth and Vic allowed them to have Burrell and Ibanez (both of whom were veritable statues in LF) manage LF.

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      3. So marfis here’s the thing – everything I’ve read from people who have seen him supports Looper’s take on his defense. Oh, some of them try to put a more positive spin on it, but weak arm, poor range, but sure handed regarding balls that he does get to pretty much describes it. Now, maybe you think his offense is SO good that it outweighs that. I don’t, but I could be wrong. But is there really anything about Looper’s description of his defense that you disagree with? And, if so, based on what? Personal observation?

        What’s really hilarious is that you have always been one of the guys most down on Brown because of his defense. Well he was pretty bad last year, but has turned it around this year – as many predicted, because he does have the athleticism to play a solid or better outfield. Ruf seemingly doesn’t – but even if he can somehow, I don’t know, get faster and more agile to extend his range to the point where he is a decent left fielder – then he will. It is not as if the Phillies are not going to give him an opportunity to do that. In the minor leagues and winter ball, where he belongs for now.

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        1. I don’t recall saying too much about the defense of D. Brown. In fact when everyone on here was singing the praises of Michael Taylor, I was the first to say that D. Brown was the better prospect. As to the defense thing, I said he had the speed to play in CF, , and would be better off there than as a corner Outfielder. I don’t recall saying too much about the Corner OF defense, but if I did , it more guised in the terms of the evaluations of others.
          As to Ruf’s defense, the statement I made in the above post in question, was that The Philly squad has had numerous OF with below average range and average arms. I believe that Ruf (seen at 1B) has more ability to move around and be sound defensively than other OF conversion projects in recent years (Overbeck, Rizzotti). He may not move around like Gregor Blanco , or somebody) but the chance of getting an inexpensive RH Power Hitter for the line-up, should over rule all that.
          I do not object to what Looper says, I was more interested to question Looper, per se, and some of the bogus theories promoted as to what is valuable in an OF and the way prospects can advance.

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    8. Maybe Benny should see how feeble we look against a good LH pitcher(ie Buerhle) and then reconsider his position.

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  3. One reason to leave Ruf in Reading is to go for the triple crown. Moving him to LHV for the last few weeks of the season will have absolutey no impact on him.

    BA HR RBI
    Ruf .313 29 83
    League Lead .322 22 87

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  4. I guess the other teams don’t consider Ruf a prospect. The logical move is to pitch to him as if he were not a prospect. I guess he has other ideas. That being said, the name Steve Bilko keeps popping into my head. He was a prodigious AAA home run hitter, who, despite numerous attempts, could not hit in the majors. Ruf deserves a chance. He may fail, but give him a chance to fail. I think the Phillies would like to use him in the outfield, if he can handle it. He did not do badly last night.

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  5. Ruf was already pitched around earlier in the year. I think the rules, this late in the season, are to pitch to everyone. If he has a weakness, it’s against righties. He’s hitting (only) .286 versus .370 aginst lefties. Of his 6 HRs in the last 4 games, 4 were against lefties. He has an ungodly 1.227 OPS against lefties and .886 against righties. He’s hotter than a nuclear meltdown in Arizona in August but he deserves to be recognized. Let’s get a look at him in LHV next year, if he’s still around.

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  6. was Pettibone a baby ace or was it jrod?…Pettibone looks like the best chance at starting from baby aces…cosart gone, may & colvin struggling, jrod in pen…Pettibone may get a shot at 5th spot with kendrick and cloyd…also i think Martin and Morgan may have passed May and Colvin on depth chart with Biddle closing fast

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    1. May is still ahead of Pettibone. Just because Pettibone is having a better season doesn’t mean that May has all of a sudden fallen off the wagon. The stuff is there. Harnessing the stuff is the ket. Pettibone’s upside is someone like Jon Garland. Not great by any means but a serviceable starter. May has the upside of a #2. Much more valuable. He can also repeat Reading next year and maybe seeing Biddle and the others around him will push him to do better.

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      1. The odds of May actually reaching his upside are pretty slim whereas there’s a decent chance that Pettibone will be an MLB starter in the next few years. May has had 5 seasons in the minors now and his BB/9 has consistently been right around 5 with no improvement.

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          1. It simply depends on what factors you use to rank prospects. If you go the Baseball America route and go solely off of pure stuff and athleticism, they’d definitely put May ahead of Pettibone. Others might flip them at this point based on May’s failures in AA.

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            1. True. When I think prospect, I think of potential. May’s potential is greater than Pettibone’s. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.

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            2. I totally get that. I typically value the potential guys over pure performance guys…as their upside is so much higher. However, at this point, I am just not impressed with May. I think he’ll end up as a reliever due to his control problems. I like Pettibone because he has decent stuff, great control and he induces alot of groundballs.

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            3. Nepp, man you and I are hitting the same tones today… I’m feeling a little lost with May as well, and actually gave serious thought to the potential for him to play out of the pen last night…

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            4. May is only 22 right? Or is he 23? I don’t think that repeating a year in Reading is out of the question.

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            6. Based on what we have coming up from Clearwater, barring a few more disasters (ie. 6-8 BB games), I’d be shocked if May didn’t get moved up.

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            8. May didn’t really repeat low-A. He pitched 2 half seasons there, adding up to 1 season worth of experience at the level. Then like 1.5 seasons in hi-A.

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      2. He did not say Pettibone passed him as a prospect but simply passed him on the depth cart meaning he is more likely to make the bigs before May. read slowly before you tell people they are wrong

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        1. Everyone is touchy today. Having a difference of opinion does not mean someone else is wrong. I didn’t tell him he was wrong. Yeesh dude.

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          1. The point was you were more interested in proving him wrong then understanding what he was saying, because obviously you didn’t take the time to reread what was being said. I had the same thought you did when i first read the comment then i reread and realized what he was really saying. Truth is you are both right May is still the better prospect but pettibone is closer to realizing his potential which is not as great as May’s.

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    2. I think that Pettibone was a “baby ace”. He certainly has fulfilled their expectations. He has been steady as a rock going through the system. May has a higher up-side, but Pettibone has done what he needs to do. May’s command is still wanting, not Jon’s.

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  7. I appreciate the comments about giving Darin Ruf a chance.If given a chance in AAA,he could supprise (the so called experts on here AND the phillies brass) If he fails,SO What you tried,what if he excells in AAA and in the majors,well then you have something that a lot of clubs are in need of,a right handed power bat that hits for average.The phillies are too loyal to their current players,(past stars) that aren’t playing at their past level anymore,and if things don’t change they won’t have a championship caliber team anytime soon. And the excuse of not moving Ruf up as a first baseman because of Ryan Howard blocking him in the majors is hogwash,Let’s say Ruf does well,they move him to the majors,he does well there,Trade Howard,pay some of his salary,Ruf plays first,it would then cost you less for your first baseman.AND if you move Ruf up to AAA now,even if they have only 2 to 3 weeks left and he does well,LOOK at the trade value.With his age you need to be aggressive,If he flames out,then you experts were right and you didn’t lose a THING!

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    2. Once you said: “The phillies are too loyal to their current players,(past stars)”

      I read (porn stars) and thought to myself… gee, maybe he’s right, time to get a new favorite…

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  8. Worley vs. Pettibone

    I admit I am new to following the minor leagues. But what is pettibone’s potential compared to worley? More, about the same, or less? Didnt watch worley in minors but their numbers seem comparable.

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    1. Here’s the problem with Worley. He has lost 2-3 MPH in velocity since last year. It’s a big deal. In fact, it’s a HUGE deal. When he’s throwing 91-94, he’s a legitimate #3. At 88-92, he’s a 5th starter. He’s young and he needs elbow chip surgery. Will he recover his velocity thereafter? Who knows?

      Pettibone is a damned good prospect in my eyes. He’s dramatically underrated by the baseball press. If he develops a good third pitch to go along with his above average fastball and his average to above average curveball, he could project as high as a borderline #2, but more likely a rock solid #3 (and, I view a #3 differently than some of the baseball blog wonks – to me, a solid #3 is a guy you would be happy to have starting a World Series Game – basically, a 3 WAR pitcher – Hiroki Kuroda or Danny Jackson in his prime). He’s also got outstanding make-up and plus command.

      So, whose got he better projected future right now? I’d have to say Pettibone, but it all depends on how Worley bounces back.

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      1. Worley’s velocity was fine in April before the elbow flared up…probably nothing to worry about.

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        1. Good question. When it first cropped up in May, it made sense as they were still in the race. At this point, it starts to be a bit odd. Overall, its not a long-term issue. Hamels had the same issue last year and its not a major surgery to fix it. Odd that they haven’t just shut him down for the year given that the season is over for all intents and purposes.

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          1. Yeh – whats the point. Let Cloyd Pettitbone whomever come up and start. I dont see any upside to letting him pitch another what ,8 max, starts?

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      3. Catch, jj cooper from BA says pettibone has a good fb and change, but needs to work on his slider. No comments about a curve. I’m not saying you’re wrong, just reporting what BA said earlier this year.

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        1. Thanks, that’s helpful. I watched the game last night. The breaking pitch I saw him throw repeatedly look for all the world like a curve ball. If it’s a slider, it’s an odd one as it breaks precisely the way a curve breaks. Either way, it’s an okay, but not great pitch. He throws it where he wants, but if it does not improve, big leaguers will hammer it if he leave it over the middle of the plate.

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      4. I’m operating under the assumption that Worley will get his velo back next year when he’s healthy, and for that reason I say Worley has more potential. It’s not a wide margin, but I don’t view Pettibone as favorably as you do. His pitch repertoire sounds like a better Kyle Kendrick to me; a 4th or 5th starter. A good 4 at best, while I see Worley as potentially an okay #3.

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  9. Saw Pettibone’s start in buffalo. He knows how to control his pitches. Hit 93 on gun. Amount hit 99, Diekman 97.

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  10. Isn’t that a typical answer from the Phillies brass – so the 2 fan favorites do not translate in real world (ML players) . Don’t the Phillies at least consider these 2 for September?
    Are they (as long as they in the Phila org) destined to languish in the minors —
    if they Phils don’t take a chance on these guys, I hope another team does and the team that sign them to Milb contracts are in the Eastern Div and Ruf or Cloyd come back to make the Phils rue their prior talent judgments.. (brought to you by the organization that traded away Fergie Jenkins, and Ryne Sandberg , but signs &/or calls up Mini Mart and signs Qualls)

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    1. This is a dumb exercise but trading away Ryne Sandberg has NOTHING to do with keeping Tyler Cloyd in AAA and Darin Ruf in AA.

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    2. “Fan favorites?” There’s like twenty people on this message board. Most fans have no clue who either of these dudes are.

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  11. Ruf’s OPS sits at an even 1.000 as of today. Does anybody have any idea how many recent prospects have reached that figure?

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      1. Does anyone have a reference to a guy who seems to produce better as he moves up a level like Ruf has? isn’t that a positive indicator that implies the kid still has an upside despite his age?

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        1. Mike Morse. David Freese. There are always a few outliers that are older and develop elite power a little later than most. Morse is an extreme outlier as he did not even begin to hit for significant power until he was almost out of the minors.

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          2. But don’t those guys really show just how unusual it would be for Ruf to make it? Morse is justifiably regarded as a late bloomer, yet had a good AA season as a 22 year old and 258 PA in the majors as a 23 year old. Freese is a much better example (though he played well in AAA as a 25 year old, after a double jump) – except he is a third baseman, a position of legitimate scarcity, whereas slugging first basemen (and defensively challenged left fielders) are a dime a dozen in the upper minors.

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          3. Are there any REALLY good comps for Ruff – of a player who was in AA for the first time in his age 25/26 season, played first base and/or a marginal left field, hit well, low draft pick (it matters, like it or not) and went on to any degree of major league success? I’m honestly curious; I know of none, but I do think the man can hit, and. appearances to the contrary, am really pulling for him.

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      2. I’m inclined to think Ruf’s season is actually a little more impressive than Rizzotti’s. Advantages of Ruff: more HR, larger sample size. Advantage of Rizzoti – babip aided batting average. Bozied is a better comp, though of course 4 years older and, like Rizzotti, his numbers were much better than the rest of his minor league career.

        But point taken.

        I’m curious, by the way, why Bozied never got a shot. Not after 2010, of course, but after 2004. That was his other really good season, in AAA, at 24. Granted, PCL, but still Then again, looks like an injury – only 57 games in 2004, then 26 games in 2005, and wasn’t playing full time again till 2007.

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  12. Good one. Running this team right now must be like juggling chainsaws. The worst place for a club to be is mediocre land. While I’m a glass half full kind of guy I have to think if we weren’t a year removed from a 102 win season we might be willing to take a chance or two on a few of these guys.

    So minus his point about Fergie and Ryne (as this regime had nothing to do with those guys) he does have a point about MM. And while I like to see them take fliers on guys like that I am definitely opposed when they stick with them to long.

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      2. SERIOUSLY! Im so tired of him taking up MLB roster space…. I’d rather see Pete Orr (so thats saying something because I dont like Orr much either) but would really rather see Cesar or someone get a little sniff of the majors. Or go get Yuneisky Betancourt or someone off the waiver wire and see if you catch lightning in a bottle – but thats not happening with MiniMart (and Hector Luna too – Im kinda over that – wanna keep him in AAA next year for emergency’s? Fine, but we know what he is…AAAA).

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        1. Agree on Mini-Mart. No need for Betancourt or Orr. They have Hernandez on the 40-man roster and could call him up. He can’t do any worse and the Phils may get an idea if he can be a contributor next year.

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  13. Well the evaluations of Asche, Morgan and Martin have me drooling ….

    Nice to see Valle go 3-4……….. Pullin is STILL RAKING…

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    1. i loved looper’s evaluations of asche, morgan and martin as well.

      btw, since the phillies do consider asche a prospect, does that mean they’ll only pursue a short-term solution at third this offseason, with asche’s ETA in 2014?

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        1. nice to hear looper raving about martin and joseph, although I wouldn’t get too excited about his appraisals being that he just traded 2 former all-stars to get them and may, in part, be trying to mollify a fanbase that hasn’t seen their team be on the sell-side of a major trade for 7-8 years. Of course this doesn’t affect martin and joseph at all and looper’s comments may be his honest opinions, but really what is he supposed to say on a radio show?

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      2. YES! It is apparent that the Phils believe that Asche will be their 3rd baseman soon. I believe that they see him on the big club sometime in ’13, and thus signing a long term 3rd baseman over the winter would be nuts. IMO Galvis would start at 3rd if Asche is not quite ready at the season’s beginning with Cody to be up from LV within the season.

        Not going for a 3rd baseman out of the organization allows 1) the system to grow from within and 2) puts that $$ to signing better righty outfielders to fill holes and balance the lineup.

        Go Cody!

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        1. I doubt Galvis will be Plan A at 3B to begin the season. I’d sooner see them trading in the off season for someone under control for only a year, having less trade value and needing to give up less. That being said, I’m very excited about Cody as well.

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          1. Why give up anything for a guy who’d likely be out of a starting job midway in the season? Galvis would do pre-Asche IF we git a couple of righty outfielders.

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        2. For Galvis to be the starting 3B on this team, they’ve must’ve spent a lot of money on Left Field, Center Field, and the Bullpen.

          More likely, I see them trying to sign Kevin Youkilis or someone to a one year contract.

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  14. Thanks Dmar… I guess i was a little overzealous about the the john quinn days. : )

    There are a lot folks in Reading and LV pulling for Ruf. & Cloyd, I was at a recent LV game when TC was pitching.. at least that day there were fans voicing their enthusiasm for Cloyd

    Take care..

    AEPL

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  17. This is a compilation video of Darin Ruf’s HR’ in this series vs Trenton

    Let’s not have any doubts about his power, this isn’t Matt Rizzotti folks

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    1. Jeremy, thanks for the video clips of Darin Ruf. The way the big team hits LH pitching it can’t hurt to try Ruf in LF at the major league level.

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  18. Good to see JRod do well out of the bullpen. Ever since I saw him up to 93/94 MPH on the gun in relief in Lakewood, I have thought that his future might be in relief. Obviously not all of the “baby aces” can be starters for the Phillies.

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  20. There were a lot of nice performances by guys like Ruf, Pettibone, Pullin, etc. last night, but I think the most encouraging was J-rod’s. He could be huge for the Phillies bullpen next year if he keeps it up.

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    1. I was by far more encouraged by Pettibone last night. He just turned 22 and is doing quite nicely in AAA. It is still early, but very encouraging that this guy looks like he can be a legitimate MLB starter.

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    2. I always thought Pettibone would be the first Baby Ace to get the call, looks like that is pretty realistic

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  22. If the Phillies are receiving their PTBNL today, as reported, they may be receiving a pretty decent prospect. I posted a couple weeks ago that I believe the prospect may be from the 2011 draft and the Phillies have to wait until his signing date to be announced. My guess is they get Pitcher, Ryan O’sullivan, the Dodgers’ preseason #23 prospect. He signed on August 16, 2011.

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    2. Nice guess.

      Good results, lousy peripherals, but he’ll be 22 in Reading next year. He’s also Sean O’Sullivan’s brother, FWIW.

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    3. Is he a sinkerballer? Not a lot of Ks but the other peripherals are solid. Looks like he gets a lot of ground outs.

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    1. it isn’t Schoop from those likely very exaggerated rumors from talks with the Orioles, but it isn’t a terrible pick up for a guy that coming into the season they couldn’t move. The Phillies are just collecting arms which is a great strategy.

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      1. Those weren’t exaggerated, they were very close to happening. Would have been Blanton and a good Phils prospect for Schoop (who would be a better prospect than the one the Phils gave up) but the two sides couldn’t finalize it. If you look at the O’s prospects after Bundy and Schoop, O’Sullivan is not a bad result.

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    1. Surprisingly it’s a pretty positive report. Sounds like Sickels thinks if somebody were to give him a shot he might do something with it.

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      1. It’s positive, but in the same way that people like me are positive. He still understands that it’s going to be really tough for him to get any real shot, for good, or at least understandable, reasons.

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      2. I mean, you don’t see him comparing him to Ryan Howard for example. That kind of stuff makes me not want to stick up for him – no need to encourage that sort of thing. Even worse, there are people around here apparently seriously arguing that the Phillies should bench Howard and give Ruf a shot at first base RIGHT NOW.

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  25. I will be attending the Reading game tonight as well, anything anyone wants me to sepcifically look at?, Colvin is on the hill, no word on line ups yet.

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  26. I’m as skeptical as anyone about older prospects tearing up the minors, but as people have pointed out, Ruf is basically mirroring Howard’s progression, only about 16 months older. My take on listening to Looper is that they are interested in finding out what they have in him by having him play more LF and winter ball. Luckily, CBP has a pretty small LF. At this point, I believe that the Phils should call him up this season, either now or Sept and see what he does. Who cares about the EL playoffs. If he tears it up in Philly, we may have something. If not, he starts next year at LHV. Whats the harm?

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    1. “Mirroring Howard’s progression”.
      He isn’t mirroring Howard. Ryan Howard didn’t repeat Clearwater. Ruf hasnt hit as well at Clearwater or Reading, as Howard did at a younger age.

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      1. Howard spent his whole second year in Lakewood. Ruf started his second year in Lakewood, tore it up, and was moved up to Clearwater. Then he repeated Clearwater, but that just put him back at Howard’s pace.

        But yeah, as good as Ruf’s year in Reading has been, it hasn’t matched Howard’s 4th year.

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        1. at the same time, would you take 85% of howards power in his prime with 85% of the strikeouts and a slightly higher average (because there is unlikely to be a situation where you hit it to the right side of the infield in 70% of all ground balls you hit)

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          1. The Howard comparison is more that Howard is an example of a college 1B who moved up one level per year and took 4 years to really break out (in AA no less).

            They’re obviously not completely comparable due to pedigree, tools (Howard’s power was always plus-plus), and age (since Howard was younger), and also because Howard’s 2004 was so off the charts.

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  28. The Iron Pigs with a necessary victory today. Valle and Fox were 3/4. Valle with a home run and Fox with two doubles. They relieved Cochran on time before he let in a lot. DeFratus with a four-out save. Valle with his 6/8 over the last two games has jumped his BA sixty points to .289. Real small sample size gets astounding results.

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  29. R Phil’s line up

    Gillies CF
    Asche 3B
    Ruf LF
    Tripp DH
    Joseph C
    Abreu 2B
    Myers RF
    Opitz 1B
    Hanzawa SS
    Colvin P

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  30. Brody not a hot start, walked first batter on 5 pitches an then 3-0 to the 2nd batter gave up two run shot to right fastball 91-93 a max of 95 change up around 80

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    1. Colvin gave up 4 runs on four hits, could have been worse if not for brilliant diving tag out by Troy Hanzawa. Ruf had to throw to the plate on a hit, decent arm

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      1. Colvin has loaded up the bases in the top of the 6th with one out, Whatcott now warming, got the 2nd out on a pop foul flare to 1B. FastBall still hitting 92 and he hit the batter to bring in a run. And his night is done. That was his second hit batter of the evening

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    2. Colvin gives up another 2 run blast in the top of the 3rd and a double off the very top of the wall on the dry next pitch. He’s already up to 50 pitches.

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      2. Is Darby Myers much of a prospect, he doesn’t seem to have much power, but has a decent average. Wondering what the Phillies think of him

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    3. Surprisingly Colvin is still in the game it’s the top of the 5th he does have 5k’s. His ERA will be well north of 9 though.

      Joesph has drawn 2 walks so far
      Asche had a solid hit in his first AB
      Best player so far tonight is Myers two great hits am two stolen bases

      Tripp may have broken his hand when he was hit Castro has replaced him at DH

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    4. Colvin gave up a solo shot to center in the 5th so through 5 ip 8 hits 7 earned runs 6 K’s a walk and 3 HR’s

      Nobody is warming up, although jay Johnson is stretching

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  32. Colvin’s line 5.2 IP 8 runs, 7 earned  9 hits 1 walk 6 k’s 2 hit batters and 3 HR ERA now 9.31

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    1. Scratch that Whatcott gave up a triple so 11 runs are charged to Colvin but “only” 7 are earned

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    1. This is the downside of the recent more aggressive promotion policy. I was fine with the old policy, for a lot of reasons, but I think it’s clear that (for example) a guy like Asche would probably not have been promoted as aggressively in the past by the organization, and he has thrived. But there is sometimes a cost.

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    2. Yeah, everyone always says the jump to AA is the biggest in the majors. Doubly true in our system for pitchers, who are going from a pitcher’s park to a hitter’s park.

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    3. I am not going to argue that you are wrong, but the development isn’t always about stats but about other parts of the process. I look at this start and I can make a couple of guesses based on what happened.
      1. The ball was in the zone too much based on the amount if hits and balls crushed, this could be compensation to avoid walks.
      2. He had 6Ks while also living in the zone which means he has swing and miss stuff which is important to see.
      I look at this and it is encouraging that his stuff is still there and it is coming down to mechanics and approach which are easier to teach than stuff (btw if you combined him and Cloyd you might have a #1)

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    4. Perhaps it was more of a “Its time to sh!t or get off the pot” moment for him. 2nd full year in Clearwater with only minor improvement. Its time for Colvin to show something.

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    5. What exactly had Colvin “built” in Clearwater. Colvin has been mostly terrible since he signed, except the 2nd half of 2010.

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      1. He also showed up completely out of shape last year and has been in and out of the doghouse for his entire career with us.

        Its a shame given his upside when he was drafted.

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  34. Asche with a bases clearing double its been a very long 6th inning with 7 runs in the top half and 6 in the bottom half so far

    Darin having a rough nite (lol) 0-4 with 3 k’s

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  36. Asche with a bases clearing double. He’s a hitting machine. Franco with a sweet game. 2B, 3B, BB. Love it.

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  37. The pitching in the GCL looked good. JDT has quite a few walks but he is striking guys out, any reports on his stuff? It would be nice to see him starting next year in LKW with the newer guys like Watson and Gueller doing extended spring and then WPT to manage their innings (though wouldn’t be upset if they pushed them all)

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    1. All three of them should start in Lakewood. Phillies usually have their good high school arms skip the NYP; and as has been mentioned here before, it sets up Lakewood to be one heck of a squad.

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    1. Yes he impresses me more and more every game. Made a really nice defensive play earlier I was going to post about his defense being good but then he wiffed pretty badly on an easy hit to him.

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  41. Meanwhile Tyler Kniggie hits 97-100 mph has a 84 mph change, absolute flame thrower but lacks control

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      1. Jeremy – i was there a few weeks ago and Knigge was consistently 93 or 94 on the gun. Are you adding a few mph based on your experience in sitting with scouts at various games and comparing their guns with the stadiun gun?

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        1. Yes I add the 2-3 mph to every pitch I see. There is no way for me to know though if it’s 2 or 3 on any given pitch but in my experiences seeing the scouts guns about 3/4 of the time it was 3 mph. So when you saw him he was throwing more like 96-97, usually I see him in the 97-98 range bit occasionally he reaches back and adds a couple mph the board was flashing 96-97 tonight for most of his fastballs that’s why I said hitting 99 consistently. A couple weeks back the board lit 99 at least twice so he had hit 101 or 102

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    1. Looks to me like Opitz is a 2B type. Don’t see using Duffy or Murphy there. Looks like they now have 4 2B,SS,3B players: Asche, M. Abreu, Hanzawa, and Opitz. Opitz was born on the same day as Ruf, so anybody runs short of guys to wail about being too old, you have another.

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  43. Tommy Joseph hit his first home run as a Phillie blas to the deck mid level in LF, also had 3 walks tonight

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  44. Franco with a double and a triple tonight and Asche with 3 hits. 3rd base is looking better and better.

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      1. I’ve all but given up on him…. though I admit it’s to early to do so, he could always turn it around… those tolsey players are tough to guage, even Hewitt is now hitting over .250 with great power.

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  46. The middle of the GCL lineup is fearsome…well, at least by GCL standards. Tocci (wRC+ of 118), Pullin (wRC+ of 152), Z. Green (140), Astudillo (122), and Cozens (129). All top 20 for the league. Pretty awesome!

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