Box Score Recap – 5/6/2013

Box Score Recap

Really nice line from Nick Hernandez – 2R on 4H, 1BB 1HR and 9K in 6IP. Aaron Altherr went deep again – his fourth of the year. Valle and Collier with multi-hit games – they both could use a few of those in a short span to get going.

Here’s the affiliate Scoreboard from MiLB.

 http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=143&ymd=20130506

5-6-13 boxscores

69 thoughts on “Box Score Recap – 5/6/2013”

  1. I know I’m late to the party, but this nick kid seems like he got something. And the whole Cwater team putting up solid numbers.

    Like

    1. It was back of rotation stuff before the injury don’t have any reports since. An average fastball from the left handed side (89-92), a plus changeup, and a work in progress breaking ball. He is going to be tested more at upper levels but health of course is the big deal.

      There is often a big deal made about age appropriateness and Nick at 24 stands out quite a bit in the FSL. However, age is less of a big deal for pitchers than it is for hitters, more important is knowing the arsenal as a good changeup or breaking ball can dominate lower levels where the lack of fastball can be exposed at upper levels. Hernandez has also thrown only 64 innings over the past 3 seasons so he is almost a fresh out of college arm when it comes to professional experience.

      Like

      1. Nick Hernandez is the poster boy for strict pitch counts.

        On May 16, 2010, Nick was breezing along pitching a no-hitter in the 8th inning when he felt a slight pain in his left shoulder. He thought nothing of it and since he had pitched 7 and 2/3 innings of no-hit ball he wanted to complete the no-hitter. He was also having a very dominant year in the Sally league. He continued to pitch giving up a home run to the next hitter and striking out the last hitter of the inning. He was removed from the game for the 9th inning.

        The following day the Phillies issued a press release indicating that Nick Hernandez was being removed from the rotation and given a week to two to rest since he has a very minor strain to his left shoulder. They insisted that they had caught the injury in time so all that was necessary was rest. Even as the rest period increased to months they still insisted it was only a minor injury and they had caught it in time. Later in the year, he began a minor league rehab assignment to the Gulf Coast League. However, the shoulder was still not right. Given more rest it still did not improve and he had shoulder surgery during the off-season.

        So began the loss of essentially three season to injury.

        Nick Hernandez was drafted out of College but he was much much younger than the typical college draft pick. So after 3 lost years he is still only 24.

        So from the above you can see why Jesse Biddle was removed in the first inning of his last start after only 41 pitches.

        Like

          1. Matt, I was looking at Bumgarner’s pitch speeds last night. He was right around 89-91. Is that why he was hit so hard, or was it a lack of command because he was all over the place. He did hit 92 occasionally, but that was what they call “touching”, I guess. Is it speed or command? Most major league pitchers, even good ones, are around where Hernandez is. The 93 and up are special. Why not Hernandez!

            Like

            1. Bumgarner averages 90.8 mph on the fastball this year and has touched 93.0. Actually by PitchFx it is a two-seam fastball with good armside and downward run. Fastball velocity has never been his calling card in professional baseball. Remember that the 20-80 scale is a bell curve around 50 so the majority of pitchers in the majors and minors are going to be right about average. Also it is the same curve as relievers too so Jake Diekmans 93-95 fastball that can touch 97 is on the same scale as Chapman sitting 99-100 touching 105, as Hernandez sitting 89-91 touching 92.

              There are many things that can help a fastball “play up” above its velocity. Movement is key, professional hitters can hit if it is straight. Command is a big part too (control is the ability to throw it for strikes and command is the ability to put it where you want it in the zone) because you can expand the strike zone for the hitter. Deception also can affect a grade because the longer it takes you to pick up the ball the less time you have to identify it (for example Biddle gets good extension on his release and the ball appears to come from much closer to the batter than other pitchers).

              Like

  4. Could someone provide updated prospect status,projected info. on Franco,Altherr and what about Perkins? Is he considered a prospect,and how ishis defense when he plays the outfield?

    Yes its still early,but its exciting especially if they can keep it up.

    Like

    1. Does anyone know the status of Colin Klevan who was put of the 7-day DL weeks back now?
      He pitched the All-Star Game last year, had great numbers at Lakewood.
      Got to Clearwater and was rocked, assuming due to his injury. Was he released, surgery?

      Like

      1. From following him on Twitter, it did seem last week like he got some good injury news. What that is, I wouldn’t want to guess.

        Like

        1. Thank you for the update. Correct, don’t know what injury new could be good. At least it explains his horrible starts though. Lots of changes happening right now on the rosters, I guess time will tell.

          Like

    2. Im also very intrigued by what Perkins has been doing so far this season. Just seems like the two major flaws are the 5 walks in 129 ABs and according to baseball reference he already has 8 errors in the outfield this season. No doubt the kid can flat out hit but it seems like he is destined for a corner infield spot and it doesn’t seem like the power is there for that. Still will be interesting to track how he does this month, maybe he can make the jump to Reading by mid season.

      Like

      1. I only see 4 errors listed for Perkins not 8. Interestingly those 4 errors are all in LF in only 8 games while he has 0 errors in 18 games in RF. Could it be that he is not as good or comfortable with how the ball comes off the bat from the side?

        Like

        1. “Could it be that he is not as good or comfortable with how the ball comes off the bat from the side?”

          AKA Delmon Young Syndrome.

          Like

        2. Perkins is also leading the team in OF assists – 2 from RF and 3 from LF. From RF he threw out a runner at 3B and doubled a runner off 1B, from LF he has thown out 2 runners at Home and a runner at 2B. Altherr is second on the team with 3 OF assists.

          Like

    3. Franco is a stud, potential first division starter occasional all-star

      Way too early on Perkins and Altherr to make any judgements, both are definitely prospects but there still is a lot of work to be done. I have heard some not so positive reports on Perkins in the OF but he has not been playing there long enough to say anything definitively. I would be less worried about whether they can keep it up (the BABIP numbers are unsustainable and Altherr’s strikeout rate is still concerning) and how they adapt when the struggles begin. Both should see Reading before the end of the year given how Joe Jordan has moved prospects

      Like

      1. I agree with this. Franco is a legitimate propsect with (at the moment) no real flaws in his game. Perkins needs to develop some power and atlherr needs to SO less and show some consistency moving forward. If he keeps this up for another month, I’ll start to get really excited about him.

        Like

        1. Not to be nitpicky, but the lack of speed would be his one flaw. But, given that the rest of his skills maintain as he moves up, lack of speed will not be an issue.

          Like

        2. Not to be Donny Downer, but the scouts are saying Franco has a serious flaw in his swing. They say he has an armbar swing. Good pitchers will bust him with good fastballs inside and he will not be able to adjust.

          Like

      2. Perkins doesn’t walk and has limited power. It’s really tough to overcome that combination for a corner outfielder.

        Like

        1. How limited is his power? His ISO is pretty good right now, and he is a big guy. The walk rate is concerning, but he’s also not striking out much. He’s getting away with being a free swinger in A-ball but it may not work at the higher levels.

          Like

        2. Perkins is a 3B, learning to play OF. If he gets moved up in June, they could get him in the lineup as a 3B, which would improve his prospect status.

          Like

          1. I admit I’ve never seen him play, but his LD% is really low (11%) and he only has 4 HR in 442 PAs. His ISO last year was under .100 despite being older for his league. I think it’s limited power for a big league corner OF. Cody Asche had a similar jump in ISO last year at Reading with a higher LD% and more walks than Perkins and I don’t think anyone would be excited to see him in LF or RF.

            If he’s playing 3B down the road that obviously changes things.

            Like

            1. Joe Jordan said last week he will not be playing any third base….will rotate between LF and RF with Kelly Dugan.

              Like

  5. Larry Greene’s SSS statistics are among the strangest I’ve ever seen. He has either walked or struck out in 41 of his 63 PAs. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a .143 BA paired with a .333 OBP.

    Like

    1. He’s just like Adam Dunn, without the home runs.

      The best (and most troubling) explanation I’ve heard for this anomaly is that he lacks the bat speed to catch up to pitches, so he’s just waiting patiently and taking advantage of the wildness of young pitchers. This is obviously not a strategy that will work going forward. It’s early, yes, Greene is starting to look like he has the makings of an epic bust.

      Like

      1. That’s disappointing if true. My hope was that the numbers coluld be explained by a great eye/patience and that the organization was making signficant changes to his swing.

        Like

      2. From Phoulballz interview with Morandini –
        “He’s struggling, there’s no question about it. He got off to a slow start and it kind of compounded with some frustration and, so right now, he’s just kind of hitting on his heels a little bit, he’s not using his back side, like we want him to use his back side, which is forcing his head to move a little bit and he’s not getting a good feel for the strike zone. He’s taking a lot of third strikes right now. We’re just working on him trying to get more of a load, use his back side, get off his heels. I think basically, he needs to go out, get a couple hits and he’ll be fine. We’ve all been through it.”

        I have seen other quotes that he is bailing out on pitches and not using any of his power with a slot bat as well.

        Like

  6. Quinn and Greene are both getting brutalized at the plate. I’ve heard numerous posters here say that we shouldn’t worry much about quinn, but that larry green is a significant worry. I don’t buy it. Quinn is striking out in over 30% of his at-bats! My doubts about where we placed them in our top 30 have gone from a whisper to a roar…

    K rate is now statistically significant for quinn and unlike green is unlikely to ever have the power to justify that high of a K rate. He’ll fail as a prospect if he doesn’t get in under control.

    Green meanwhile has a stratospheric walk rate (28% of AB’s), but a 55% k rate. I’m not even sure what to make of him yet but his sample isn’t yet close to statistically significant but those rates are so outlandish that neither will continue going forward. He also has zero power at this point which is discouraging considering he was viewed as an 80 power potential.

    Overall, these two players are the two i’m most concerned about in our entire system. Not saying we should trade them or that they’re sure to be failures, but this year so far has produced nothing but major concerns for both their futures.

    Like

    1. Quinn doesn’t concern me yet. He’s only ever had 400 ABs in his life batting LH and is really struggling with it at the moment (.235 OBP LH vs. .375 OBP RH). The speed is still there and the defense appears to be improving. He is a raw prospect and will take some time to develop. Of course, has plenty of time considering he is 19.

      Green’s extreme BB and SO % obviously suggest a good approach at the plate paired with a massive hole in his swing. That will likely take a lot of work to fix.

      Like

    2. Before completely crushing Quinn remember he started switch hitting around the time of the draft and is a natural right handed hitter but given the amount of RHP he is hitting primarily from his LH side (19 PA vs LHP and 93 PA vs RHP). A recent interview with Morandini indicated that Quinn was really struggling with plate discipline from that side and chasing pitches he shouldn’t (specifically chasing high pitches). He has more power from the LH side and it is a good looking swing but remember that he has to learn how to pick up pitches from a different location. It certainly is a step back but I would be far from panic right now on him.

      Greene on the other hand there are bad reports on everything and it isn’t pretty.

      Like

    3. Quinn has a 27.6% K rate and Greene is at 42.9%. You need to count the plate appearances that are not at bats. Greene is a concern for me as he is not making good contact when he puts it in play. He very well could be tentative as Morandini implies, though I now question the bat speed a little. Quinn needs his to come down into the low 20s certainly, but 27.6% is not outlandish these days even for a leadoff hitter. This is also still small sample size and Lakewood is even more of a pitcher’s park in cold weather.

      Like

    1. Yes indeed. Collier and Dugan were both 2012 surprises. Collier is obviously struggling, but Dugan is doing well in limited ABs.

      Like

  8. I know intellectually that it’s a misleading statistic, but it sure is nice to seek Maikel Franco sitting at second in the FSL in RBIs, behind Miguel Sano, BA’s #9 prospect after the 2012 season (and it must be higher now, considering the way he is destroying the pitching at High A as a 19 year old. An OPS of 1.222–good lord).

    Like

    1. Sano is a monster (nothing relevant to the discussion just wanted to acknowledge that Sano is really good)

      Very few stats are completely useless, they are just misused. Franco’s RBI total reflects well on Altherr and Dugan who are hitting in front of Franco and getting on base. To someone who isn’t necessarily looking for it that RBI total can help point out the extra base hits and the power. He is clearly the second best 3B in the league (unless you already have Baez penciled in at third).

      But it is nice to see him on the top of leader boards getting attention, was on a couple Top 100 lists going into the season, clearly a Top 100 prospect now.

      Like

    2. No to nitpick, but Franco is 20, not 19.
      For me, the RBIs don’t mean much. What is most impressive to me, is the HRs and low strikeouts. The FSL has major league sized ball parks, so his power is real. He has great numbers so far, and all of his peripherals are all in line with his previous norms, except GB%. His performance, so far, is not a mirage.

      Like

          1. While I never believed Domingo Santana’s age, Miguel Sano is legit the movie/documentation “Pelotero” is about him. Excellent movie btw. about Baseball in the Dominican.

            Like

            1. Sano’s age was never verified, the conclusion was that he was the correct person. That being said at this point the age is irrelevant based on what he can do to a baseball.

              I strongly endorse watching the documentary (it is on Netflix), it is well worth the time and gives great insight into the development and signing process in the Dominican

              Like

  9. Mecias and Nunez have been pitching in tandem all year at LWood and they continue to both get better. You never know, they both have some talent. As for L Greene, all the news is discouraging… I haven’t seen anyone comment on what for me was the biggest news of the day yesterday and that was Ethan Martin’s performance. I just realized it’s not listed above. Anytime Martin can throw 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 run, we should all be VERY excited and look forward to his next start to see if he can build on it. Stutes also threw two innings of no hit, no walk ball as maybe he’s starting to figure it out. Collier with 3 hits comes next for me sicne he’s struggled so badly all year.

    Like

    1. Yep, Martin and Diekman pitched 7 combined innings and only walked 1 batter between them (throw Stutes in there too I guess)- that’s a good day, especially for Martin. 69 of 102 pitches for strikes.

      Like

      1. Have to give Ruben credit on that trade for Martin with Vic to LAD. Even LarryM would agree with that.

        Like

    3. Martin was pounding the strike zone early with FB 92-94 on the stadium gun, touched 96 once. Louisville squared a few of them up–most were caught as line drives or deep flies, and one should have been. Starting in about the third inning, he got a better feel for his curve and, I think, a change, and became near un-hittable. Weak contact only at that point on.

      Stutes and Diek looked really good as well.

      Like

      1. Talked to someone at the game, velocity is down a bit (he is not a large guy), hit 93 in the first inning, didn’t break 91 from that point forward.

        Like

    1. I believe he’s in extended. But what ever happened to Bryan Morgado? i remember always getting confused between him and Morgan, and then he disappeared…

      Like

  11. Morgado was given his release, but something makes me believe he signed back with us.

    Like

  12. I see Greg Smith had a good first start of the year. He has 40 Major League starts. He will move to LV on Friday when Cloyd or Morgan move up. With his good MLB stats he could be a sixth stater.

    Like

    1. Cloyd’s turn to pitch is Wednesday, so if he move’s up we’ll need a starter then. Probably Zach Miner and Cesar Jimenez tag-teaming again (they’ve done well). Otherwise, yeah Morgan’s turn is Friday so pencil in the tag team then.

      Reading is down TWO starters with Brody Colvin’s balky hammy, and Cochran moving up to LHV. With that, and Smith having been a free agent for a while, I think he’ll stick around in Reading for a little bit. Keep an eye on Brian Bass pitching for Camden, though…

      Like

        1. Yeah, I don’t know. Could be. I just don’t see Smith at AAA until he’s had a few starts and helped the AA rotation a few turns, that’s all. He looked good, though, by all accounts.

          BTW, Bass’ ERA at Camden is >6 I think, and our old friend Aaron Cook ended up with AAA Colorado Springs and has an ERA >7 last I checked. Grass isn’t always greener, I guess. (standard disclaimer about PCL launchpads)

          Like

  13. Bass has ERA of 7.00 , better bet would be Matt Way who Phillies traded away and is now 2.45 in 4 starts.

    Like

  14. Not sure how much it’s been talked about here, but Harold Martinez is looking like every bit of a major bust as a second-round pick. Hitting .195 in his third year of pro ball.

    Like

Comments are closed.