Maikel Franco: 4-5, 2 2b, HR, 3RBI. Take a look at pre/post ASB just for fun. Night and day.
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
The ‘Pigs are hanging on but bare;y, with a 3-3 week that leaves them 69-61, 5.5 games behind division leading Scranton and a half game behind Pawtucket for the wild card position. After a rainout last night, the ‘Pigs play a doubleheader tonight at home against Toledo, followed by three on the road against Rochester. Lehigh Valley is home for 11 of their last 14 games, where they are 42-21.
Probables: Tuesday (1)Cochran; (2) Pettibone; Wednesday: Elarton; Thursday: Cloyd; Friday: Brummett. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Who is Going Up?
Hitting the hot topic of the week, the Phillies have to be considering who to reward for their 2012 performance and who they want to get an early look at for the 2013 season.
The first variable of course is the 40 man roster. The following minor leaguers are on the 40: Phillipe Aumont, Jake Diekman, Justin DeFratus, Joe Savery, JC Ramirez, Sebastian Valle, Cesar Hernandez, Hector Luna and Tyson Gillies.
Both Lehigh Valley and Reading are in playoff races, and as the Phillies playoff hopes died several weeks ago, there is no urgency to bring in reinforcements. So, the call ups wont begin in force until the RPhils and/or ‘Pigs are eliminated from contention.
Going through the possibilities one by one: Aumont–I think will get a shot unless he collpases during the final two weeks of the season. Diekman–Probably goes as the Phils will want him to continue to get work through the end of September and will want to see if he can help in 2013; Savery–I would be very surprised to see Savery back up. He was awful in Philly and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him with another organization come 2013. DeFratus– I would like to see DeFratus up and he has been pitching well but has thrown limited innings since his return from the DL; Ramirez–Is currently on a nice run but I think the Phils may hesitate to reward him after a fairly mediocre season; Valle– I would be shocked to see him in Philly this year. Hernandez–Ditto; Luna–Will be up if there is an injury, gives the Phils another right handed bat off the bench. Gillies–I think the Phillies would really want to call him up as CF remains on the true question marks moving forward but do they reward someone who has been a true problem child?
Outside the 40 candidiates: Tyler Cloyd should have been up a month ago and I hope the Phils do the right thing, which is to give the callup to someone who has worked tremendously hard to improve and put up stats which have been both outstanding and remarkably consistent. Darin Ruf–Certainly the people’s candidate, however I would be surprised to see the Phillies make that move. You could argue for his callup under the “Cloyd argument”.
Good conversation. Have at it.
Box Score Recap 8-19-2012
Zach Collier has hit HR in 3 straight games. He had 3 all year before that. And 2 his whole career before this year. Intriguing. I guess. Or something. He’s confusing.
Box Score Recap 8-18-2012
Hard to argue with the line from Ethan Martin last night. 4H, 2BB, 7K in 7 scoreless IP. Also nice performance from Seth Rosin, and 2 scoreless from Ryan O’Sullivan. 2-4 with a double and an RBI for Gabriel Lino. Too bad Tommy Joseph took the collar. He ruined the 2012 trade class’ night. I’m sure they all went back to their respective hotels and cursed his name.
Also, Aaron Altherr back from the DL with 2 hits in a DH role for Lakewood. And Larry Greene has 5 hits in four games this week – all doubles.
Clearwater Game Report
NYPhilsManiac19 saw perhaps the best pitching performance of the year in the Phils minor league system. Here is the report:
The obvious story of last night’s Threshers vs Manatees game was Jesse Biddle and his 7 no-hit innings. He was absolutely dominant. I have seen many minor league games over the years and it was amongst the best pitching performances I’ve seen (2 others that come to mind are Lisalberto Bonilla’s great game for Lakewood last year, and Ben Rivera’s 7-inning no hitter for Scranton many years ago). It was obvious right off the bat that we were in for a special night after Jesse struck out the side with ease in the first inning (looking- fastball, looking- curve, swinging- fastball). The second inning went quickly with a weak fly, weak grounder to third and a K looking on a filthy curve. Inning 3…more of the same 2 K’s on sweet curves (one looking, one swinging) although one hitter did hit a screaming lineout right at Lavin in LF. The 4th inning was his “toughest” inning- The first Batter hit a 3-1 pitch and lined to Lavin in LF but he caught it just short of the track, 2nd batter grounded very hard to 1st, third batter drew a walk (after Biddle was ahead 1-2, he threw a low curve, then a high fastball, then was way high and outside with ball four). Biddle bounced a curve that went to the backstop which allowed the runner to advance to 2nd, but the batter flew out to deep CF to end the “threat.” Inning 5 was a 6-3 (nice play in the hole by Duran), an error by Duran on a pretty routine grounder, a K looking- another beauty of a curve, and a K swinging (half-hearted swing that the hitter couldn’t hold up on). Inning 6 went quickly with a 1-3 comebacker (broken bat), and 2 K’s (looking- curve, half swing at 3-2 fastball). The 7th and final inning was another easy one with a weak liner to left and two more K’s (swinging- low fastball and swinging- crazy curve in the dirt). Biddle was so locked in that as soon as Rupp threw the ball back, he was on the rubber ready to throw. It was like he couldn’t wait to make his next pitch. He had the ball on a string all night. There was no radar gun so I don’t know how hard he was throwing, but the opposing hitters had trouble keeping up with the fastball and were mesmerized by the curve. Continue reading Clearwater Game Report
Box Score Recap 8-17-2012
Well, Jesse Biddle would have thrown a no-hitter if it would have just started raining after the 7th inning. Stupid weather. Anyway, 12 K and 2 BB over 7 scoreless IP. He’s a keeper.
Around the System, Starting Pitching, Lower Half
A look at rotation in the lower parts of the organization. Note with Williamsport and GCL, the rotations are often changing these days with innings limitations and the like. I tried to put out there those who have been consistently starting or those who have just moved into the rotation.
Lakewood
Gabrial Arias, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2007; 34 games (5 starts); 4-7 with a 3.81 ERA; 85IP 93H 23BB 86K; 0.89 GO/AO; .276 opp. avg., 2.4BB/9.0K per nine; .264 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .318 with RISP; 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 10 games (5 starts) since July 1. Arias has really come around as of late and should see time in CLearwater next year. Continue reading Around the System, Starting Pitching, Lower Half
GCL Game report
Courtesy of NYPhilsManiac 19; Insightful as always!
Pitching:
SHANE WATSON: Watson made his first multi-inning appearance of his brief career by hurling 2 shutout innings. His first 4 pitches out of the gate were strikes. He K’d the first guy and got the 2nd on a weak fly to short CF. He hit the 3rd batter with the first pitch on the foot but got the 4th guy to line out easily to CF.
His second inning went smoothly as well. The lead off batter hit a single that had eyes and snuck between the 1st baseman and 2nd baseman, Watson got called for a balk, but a few pitches later he wheeled and picked the runner off 2nd, From there it was a slow hit GB to third and a lazy fly ball to left. He showed good poise after the balk rebounding with the pick-off and 2 easy outs. He also showed a good move to 1st base. He fell behind 3-1 on the last batter, but got the count full before inducing the flyout. He appeared to throw a curve and changeup but I can’t profess to be an expert on that. Continue reading GCL Game report
Box Score Recap 8-16-2012
Hey, that Kelly Dugan’s on another hot streak. Watch out. Also, good to see Harold Martinez above the ol’ Mendoza line. He’s been hitting a little bit lately. Continue reading Box Score Recap 8-16-2012
Phuture Phillies 