Winding down the season, this looks at the time period from 8/10 thru 8/16.  Minimum of 11 AB’s.

–Why waste more superlatives.  I am going to simply say….Cody Asche and Darin Ruf.

–After a very rough week one in Triple A, Sebastian Valle bounced back with a vengence this week, with two crucial HR’s. and 9 hits.

–Jon Pettibone with two very impressive outings (and wins) for the IronPigs, where he was keeping the opposition extremely off balance which resulted in a boatload of ground ball outs.

–Under the radar screen, Austin Wright now has double digit wins for CLearwater and an ERA sitting right around 3.

–Brody Colvin continues to be an enigma that doesn’t belong in AA.

–D’Arby Myers with 5 hits on Thursday evening is forcing people to notice.

–Michael Nesseth continues to be my “sleeper”. Keep an eye on him.

Hot Hitters: D’Arby Myers (.615, 3SB); Cameron Perkins (.500); Sebastian Valle (.474, 2HR 7RBI); Cody Asche (.448, 6R 10RBI); Gabrial Lino (.438, 2HR 4RBI); Miguel ABreu (.417, 7RBI); Brock Stassi (.375); Alejandro Vilalobos (.368); Harold Martinez (.364); Cameron Rupp (.364); Darin Ruf (.333, 7R 6HR 11 RBI);  Honorable Mention: Franco, Austudillo, Cozens, Green, Duffy, Lavin, Quinn, Cartwright, Dugan Continue reading Hot or Not →

The Phillies have announced that Ryan O’Sullivan is the “player to be named later” in the Joe Blanton deal, and that O’Sullivan will report to Class A Clearwater.  O’Sullivan, 21, is a RHP that was drafted in the 4th round by the Dodgers in the 2011 draft.  O’Sullivan is a combined 8-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 29 games (9 starts), across both A (Great Lakes) and High A (Rancho Cucamonga) in the Dodgers organization. He walked 31 and struck out 55 in 88.2 IP.

Continued mediocrity for Lehigh Valley is taking its toll on the standings as the ‘Pigs have now fallen to  66-58, after a 3-3 week and are in 3rd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Scranton and 2 games behind Pawtucket for a wild card berth. Lehigh Valley concluded a home stand last night and now go on the road for four games against Buffalo before returning home for four games against Toledo.

Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A look at the starting pitching in the top half of the organization with Lakewood, Williamsport and the GCL to come late in the week.

Lehigh Valley

Tyler Cloyd, 25, Phils 18th round pick in 2008; 23 starts; 14-1 with a 2.07 ERA; 148IP 112H 34BB 104K; 1.03 GO/AO; .213 opp. avg., .254 vs. LH, .164 vs. RH, .189 with RISP. 0.99 WHIP; 2.0BB/6.3K per nine; 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 7 starts since July 1.  Frankly the pitching line that Cloyd has put up this year could not be better.  The critics say he doesn’t throw hard enough.  If you know how to pitch, that can make up for 5MPH and then some. I bought in last year before the hype and believe now he should have been in Philly at least a month ago.  What is the downside of giving him a shot? Continue reading Around the System, Starting Pitching, Top Half →