Box Score Recap 9-7-2012

Box Score Recap

Reading falls again – down 2-1 in the series now.  Ethan Martin struck out 11 over 7.2 IP.  Cody Asche had 2 doubles, but a costly error that helped lead to 2 runs in the 8th.

REA  Mike Drago’s gamer from the Reading Eagle

53 thoughts on “Box Score Recap 9-7-2012”

  2. It would be interesting if Ethan Martin beats all the Baby Aces to the Show. I think there is no better prospect at Reading currently. Could see him getting a call-up to Philly next spring if his work carries over successfully to AAA. Other than that there are some quiet bats. If the Phils were going to call up Ruf or Gillies, it would have been great to see their successful hitting carry over into the playoffs.

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  3. Some will say that this doesn’t mean anything, and they may be right. However, it’s great to see a young pitching prospect come up HUGE in the postseason. Personally, while I’m against the idea of “Clutch” as a tool for hitters, I think pitchers probably do have some variation on that theme.

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    1. I am going to disagree with you slightly, I don’t believe in a “clutch” tool for any player because to say they step up is to say that they aren’t giving their best all the time (this line was actually said by Keith Law on his podcast I just think it is very true). I do think their is a sort of “anti-clutch” that is a mental thing where a player goes outside of their comfort zone in certain moments such as a batter losing plate discipline late in game in order to try and hit one out or a pitcher overthrowing his pitches and losing his command. In other words “clutch” in my mind is not stepping back when under pressure rather than stepping forward. This means that Martin isn’t reaching a whole new level under pressure but rather this is his level that he is capable of and he needs to not fall apart when things go wrong.

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      1. Doesn’t mean a player gives more in big situations. Clutch is a player who doesn’t change in big situations, or isn’t shaken by big situations.

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        1. The idea that a pitcher might hold something in reserve as far as an extra MPH on a fastball or give that one wicked arm snap on a curve in a big situation doesn’t prove he’s not trying his hardest the rest of the time. Pacing is important over a long night and a long season.

          Does that prove “clutch” is a thing – I don’t think so.

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  4. Saddest thing of all is the game was played before 3,600 fans. This team averages over 5K a game during the regular season. There were probably quite a few Philly fans at the game too.

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    1. Yea I was surprised by it, there was a ton of empty seats. I would say the crowd was over 50% Phillies fans.

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    2. It is a minor league phenomenon, playoff games are always poorly attended because minor league games are pre-planned attractions where teams rely on group sales well ahead of time. Playoffs are something that are unplanned for and so it takes the diehards (of which there aren’t actually that many) to come out to playoff games. It is good for the Reading fans to show up but I wouldn’t blame the Trenton fans too much as there are probably not that many actual fans to begin with.

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      1. Even for the regular season games, attendance is higher when school is not is session. Minor league baseball is a big family thing and when the kids are in school attendance is down. This is something that persists into May, after the cool nights of April are past and continues in any regular season Sept. games scheduled after school starts.

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    3. I went to the game last night and was shocked by the small attendance but was told that many High Schools play Friday Night football. I will share my insights about the game as a fan not a scout:
      1) Ethan Martin was by far the most impressive player as Trenton scored a fluke runs on a half swing that resulted in a opposite field double that landed on the LF foul line and Adams bloop to right. He looks like a steal from the Dodgers if he continues this progression.
      2) Cody Asche was the best position player as he showed patience and has nice gap power. However; he also made the key error in the eighth but otherwise was solid in the field. Asche has the potential to be our future 3B in 2014.
      3) Darin Ruf showed plate discipline and Trenton would not pitch to him and hit into bad luck. He also got picked off in the top of the 8th to kill a rally. I have seen him in LF and he was passable defensively.
      4) Tyson Gillies was patient as he hit the ball hard and drew a walk in which he scored the only run. He is extremely fast and plays a shallower CF which allowed him to catch possible bloop hits. He can help the Phillies with his defense alone but he could be a true leadoff man but needs to steal more bases.
      5) LeAndro Castro had one hit and did not get a good break on the game winning hit. Otherwise, he was solid defensely but not impressive at bat.
      6) Tug Hulett, Troy Hanazawa, Myers and Brandon Tripp were unimpressive at the plate but were good defensively(not Trip who is DH).
      7) Tommy Joseph at catcher looked good behind the plate but other than his double was not great at the plate. Overall, I see a good future for him.
      Overall, Reading played well defensively but hit poorly in situational times failing to move the runners over especially when Tommy Joseph opened the sixth inning with a double and did not score. Reading needs to steal bases, bunt, move runners over when needed or the series will probably end Saturday night. Another fan suggested seperating Gillies and Asche and other lineup changes.
      Lastly, our section noticed Ruben Amaro in the stands with someone else with a red beard and we said hello which they acknowledged but Ruben was glued to the game or his phone otherwise. I am not sure how he is before games with fans.

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  5. According to a Trentonian article Trenton was under 500 against left-handed pictures, and it also said that Morgan is pitching next for Reading

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  6. Interesting tidbit from MLBTR:

    “The Phillies are looking at third base and left field options for next year and that search includes players already in the organization. One scout has been impressed by 26-year-old Darin Ruf, who hit 38 home runs at Double-A this year. “He might be Matt Holliday,” the scout said, praising Ruf’s hitting ability.”

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  7. I mentioned it in the last recap, but I was at the game and LOVE Asche’s swing. What I liked about Martin that you don’t see in a box score is that he struck guys out with fastballs, off speed and a bunch of guys looking. Really mixed it up.

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  8. For anyone who is interested, I posted 2 videos of Martin and 1 of Joseph and Asche at You-Tube on TheGKita channel. I was very impressed with Martin’s newly found control and his ability to miss bats, I counted 19 swing and misses. It looks like Asche can hit lefties as well as righties, as he had a line drive gap double off of each.

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  9. I have a question for anyone who would care to enlighten me. I read on another board (not PP) a comment where a person claimed that the level of play at AA was higher than AAA. It doesn’t make sense to me but I wasn’t going to argue when I do not have all the facts in hand.

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    1. many of the AAA players are guys who are career minor leaguers, or can’t make it to the bigs for any length of time. AA is where most of the best prospects are.

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    2. The answer is complicated and it really depends on who it is better for. The AA has much more prospect type talent, this is due to two big things, one is that many teams are jumping players straight from AA to the majors and that the AAA team has become the place to store pieces that are easy call ups like back up catchers, bullpen arms, and your 6th/7th OF (this a self-fulfilling loop where teams jump more and more prospects straight to the bigs depleting the talent in AAA). This means AAA tends to be full of pitchers with fringy stuff or fringy command, those with major league caliber stuff tend to go directly to the big leagues and don’t linger in AAA, this means that for the most part AAA is a great place for hitter learn to deal with off-speed pitches but is very poor for teaching them how to deal with premium velocity. AAA hitters, like pitchers, tend to have one huge flaw most often the inability to recognize a breaking pitch (at which point they crush fastballs) or they cannot deal with plus velocity (and they crush mistake pitches), but overall they tend to be professional hitters who may have had a cup of coffee in the bigs. This doesn’t always challenge pitchers but it can really expose a pitcher who makes mistakes.

      All these factors combine to make AAA better for fundamental well played baseball but much of the talent on the rosters is hoping to get a shot at the end of a big league bench or bullpen. AA baseball is not at the level of AAA but you will see much better talent with higher grade tools. So it depends on what you value in watching baseball, if you want to argue higher level play has to do with talent, upside, and tools it is AA, if you want to say that it is about the way fundamentals and current skills than AAA has the higher level of competition.

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    3. AAA has become an extension of the MLB roster as teams tend to carry more MLB ready talent in the form of fringe MLB veterans. So you’ll likely to see more prospect types in AA, but I don’t agree that this makes AA more competitive, just more prospect laden

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      1. Agreed. The overall level of competition is definitely better at AAA (if it weren’t, players like Michael Taylor, Matt Rizzotti, Austin Hyatt and Cody Overbeck would perform better at AAA than AA and we know for a fact that is not the case), but there are more players with a high level of potential at AA than AAA. These “more talent players” at AA, however, are just not as far along in their development (as a group) as the players at AAA, many of whom are experienced veterans who can play competently, but only have fringe level major league talent. Hopefully, this explanation makes sense.

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        1. It all depends on the league and the organization, everybody runs differently. I see a lot of Tampa Bay’s AAA team and the Rays like to take each prospect level by level (Evan Longoria, David Price, Matt Moore), I have never seen them call a player up from AA. On the other hand the Marlins AA used to be in my area, and they would only allow prospects to reach AA before the call up (Jason Vargas, Jeremy Hermida, Josh Johnson), and then the player would hit AAA on the way back down.

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          1. I am talking about minor league levels as a whole, not individual teams. In many years, a particular major league team’s AA team might have better front line players than its AAA team, but as a whole, AAA competition is undoubtedly better than AA competition.

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            1. Agreed, the quality of AAA is ten times better than AA. More players are desperate for jobs in AAA, guys like Elarton and Misch, and therefore more is laid on the line opposed to AA where most players are on teams radars as being prospects

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  10. Watching triple a for the most part,is watching pitchers throw 88 mph fastballs, and a lot of junk. and so many of the umpires to me, call a lot of that junk strikes, that arent, which imo. makes it harder to learn for the young prospect. rather watch double a

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  12. Thanks Catch 22 and everyone else who responded to my inquiry. You did a great job of articulating what I intuitively believe to be true. Your qualitative arguments are appealing, and I suppose it is unrealistic to believe that there might exist a way to quantify (via some clever metric) the overall level of play of one level versus another.

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  13. Joe Jordan tells Jim Jackson on the pre-game show tonight that Kyle Simon could possibly help the big club as early as next season.

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    1. Wow, he must be think really highly of him given the fact he saw him in BAL system. If Herndon doesn’t pan out, Simon could be a nice sinker-baller out of the pen

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    2. I’m NOT a “DittoHead.” but ditto on Simon. I mentioned that chance several days ago and I’m glad that it could come true. Props to the coaches and scouts.He is one of the two we acquired by outright thievery from the O’s. Lino also has the skills to further firm up the catching corps which is NOW, surprisingly, one of the organization’s strengths. And a few other catchers are coming forward, too.

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  14. From what I saw Simon is in the mix for next year. Although it will be harder to make the big club next year. With what they add this winter along with DeFratus , Aumont and Stutes. Carry overs Pap, Bas-Hurst-Valdas,Herndon. Diekman,Schwimmer and Rosenberg this years auditioners. We have a log jam. Trades and or releases are in order. There is not enough room to protect all. Some are 25ish. I like Giles Shreve, Friend, Bonnila and Knigge behind them. Big decisions to make.

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    1. Reading’s bullpen could be lights out next year, think with Bonilla, Giles, and Knigge you would only need 6 innings out of your starters and then no batter would see a fastball under 97 mph for the rest of the game.

      Also Tonyg22 Ryan O’Sullivan could be in the mix for Sept. callup next year

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    2. I agree. There’s a whole mess of guys who ‘could’ help the team next year. It would be nice to use this surplus for trades but unfortunately probably none of them have much value as unproven relievers.

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    3. If Bonilla did not get hurt, I think he would have made it to the Phillies by now once the rosters expanded in September. His off-speed stuff is that good. His out pitch – it’s either a splitter or a change (not quite sure what it is) – is either a plus, or even a plus plus, offering and he has a damned good fastball too. Bonilla has a big upside as do many of our young relievers, including Diekman, Aumont and Giles. DeFratus, Rosenberg, and Knigge seem to be in the next tier. Shreve and Friend seem to be fringe prospects at best. Shreve might be intriguing as a middle relief prospect or a swing man.

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  15. I think swimmer is out of the picture.not only with his play but also his attitude., love to see diekman start throwing strikes he is nasty, forgot about us having herdon, damm we lost a lot of bullpen guys.

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    1. I think Schwimer will be given one last chance, the Phillies seem pretty inclined to do so given the fact that Mayberry is on his third shot at winning a starting job, Gillies is on his third chance at remaining in the organization and now with the Twitter ordeal, and The “Injury” Schwimer should get one last chance.

      By the way I see the Opening Day Bullpen to look a little like this:
      Schwimer
      De Fratus
      FA: Madson, Broxton, Grilli, or Jake Diekman makes team
      Bastardo
      Lindblom
      Aumont
      Papelbon

      Valdes gets claimed when the Phillies sign a reliever, or they trade him.
      Stutes starts in AAA along with Herndon who still has a couple months till he is fully recovered, and Horst becomes one of the next in line at LHV. The Ironpigs should look pretty good as well with: Stutes, Herndon, J-Rod, Friend, Horst, Rosenberg, and Diekman in the pen

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  16. Not only has Schwimmer PO’d the FO, but also his pitching has been considerably less than exemplary. If there is any team with a decent regard for him, he could be moved (included) in a trade with somebody (Lee?, etc.) for that solid right handed outfielder with some power.

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  17. Oh, and more before I forget: Yes, Asche (my guy) had TWO 2bhs, but he also had another hit for a grand total of THREE (3).

    Pls don’t cheat my guy; give as much credit as is due (or more) for this guy carrying an outstanding season with his bag of balls…and finely turned bats.

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  18. Evan

    I’d be shocked if Horst is not one of the top 2 lefties out of the pen next year. He’d have to blow up badly in ST because he has been lights out when used intelligently. It’s up to Diekman whether they end up with 3 lefties starting out ’13. He and Bastardo take longer to find their zone whereas Horst comes in throwing trikes. This is significant if someone is coming in to face aq single left handed batter.

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  19. In the paper this morning Brookover suggests that the Phillies could add Asche if Frandsen’s injury keeps him out.

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  20. Here’s the full quote from the scout who talked to Jayson Stark about Darrin Ruf. Pretty encouraging stuff: “He might be Matt Holliday … I saw him eight or nine games. And I saw him hit everything. I saw him take a 97 mile-an-hour heater from Zach Wheeler off the wall for a double. I saw him hit a change up for a home run. I saw him barrel up junk ballers, guys who throw hard and everything in between. And defensively I actually thought he was better in the outfield than at first base. He’s an interesting guy.”

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  21. And that ends our minor league season as Reading goes down. Ruf had the chance to be the hero in the 9th and hit into a double play to end the game and season. He did hit a homer earlier. It’s on to Philly for Ruf. Will Asche go with him??

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  22. You know Murray, until this injury to Frandsen, I would have said no way. Now I think there is a chance, although I think the reason they won’t call him up is because they don’t have to protect him on the 40 man this year so by calling him up for 3 weeks it could cause them to lose someone in the rule 5. With such a deep system and with so many names to protect, I don’t think they bring Asche up.

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    1. It might show us how close they think Asche is to the show. There’s plenty of guys they can move to create a spot on the 40 but I don’t think they’ll want to lose time for Asche. Having said that, watching Martinez play 3b regularly is torture.

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      1. Finding someone to create a spot now is not the issue. The issue is in preparing for the upcoming rule 5, the team has to protect as many key minor leaguers as possible who would be at risk of being drafted. Asche does not have to be protected until after 2013, so by bringing him up for 3 weeks, you risk losing a top 30 prospect in the draft because you have Asche on the 40 man roster before he needs to be.

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      2. They wanted to get a look at Chase Utley at 3rd base… They could give him a tryout at third base.

        Cody Asche isn’t going to get called up IMO because of service time. He’s got almost no chance of starting 2013 on the Opening Day Phillies so they’d be wasting a contract option.

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