Box Score Recap – 6/24/2013

Box Score Recap

Ethan Martin with another in a series of lines that look better if you skip the part we all know is the problem for Ethan Martin. 5BB and just 58% strikes, but he allowed just 1 run on 3 hits and struck out 8 in 6 innings. Be careful around Maikel Franco. He’s scalding hot. Like pre-lawsuit McDonald’s coffee hot. Andrew Pullin with his first HR of the year for Williamsport.

Larry Greene doubled and scored in the ninth to retake the lead after Delvi Francisco couldn’t hold it in the bottom of the eighth. Roman Quinn left that contest after the top of the first. He was hit by a pitch, stayed in the game to steal a base and score, and was then pulled – no details yet on any injury that may have occurred.

Here’s the affiliate Scoreboard from MiLB.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=143&ymd=20130624

6-24-2013

119 thoughts on “Box Score Recap – 6/24/2013”

  2. Why was Quinn pulled after his first AB? Hurt when he got hit by the pitch?

    Good to see Shane Watson put together a nice start. And of course it’s becoming almost a daily thing with Maikel Franco at this point. He is just seeing the ball incredibly well right now with all of these XBH’s and striking out so little (none in Reading). He keeps mashing like this and it seems almost possible that he could get a cup of coffee in September.

    Like

      1. I agree with at least the first part but I will say that Asche better not falter or get hurt. If Franco gets called up because of a problem with Asche & the Phillies realignment, Cody might not see the big leagues with Philly. Who doesn’t know the story of Wally Pipp? But at least Pipp was the entrenched first baseman before Gehrig got into a game.

        Like

    2. That was my guess about Quinn. He was certainly running OK. He probably had swelling from the HBP and they decided to be safe.

      Like

  3. * Ethan Martin high BB/9 is up again. Not sure team can live with his 5 BB/9 as starter. Wish there was stat for when pitchers get their walks. If there late its fatigue and it its early its too much adrenaline or maybe he just has bad mechanics…hoping it not the later.

    * Shane Watson really good outing. Hoping Phillies are forcing him to use his fastball and change up more instead of his advance breaking ball.

    Like

    1. Martin will walk guys at any time. Yesterday he walked one in the 1st, 4th and 5th innings. He walked 2 in the 2nd. He had a 1-2-3 inning in the 6th. Two of the BBs were wiped off the bases by Cameron Rupp while trying to steal. Two of the BBs were to lead off innings. These are the scariest because these can become big innings fast. Martin better buy Rupp dinner because both of those leadoff walks were caught stealing. It’s not all Rupp because the pitcher has something to do with the running game but Rupp nailed those guys.

      Like

      1. A small positive note I guess- at least he didn’t completely fall apart when he started walking people. Last season if he started walking people he’d completely blow up.

        Like

      2. The other positive takeaway is that in 6 innings of work he “only” had 8 base runners for a WHIP of 1.33…not terrible. Conversely, his groundout/flyout ratio was 1/6…so his numbers are just as much Jekyll and Hyde as his results start to start. So after typing this I had hoped to make myself feel better about his prospects to stick as a starter, but I think I managed to convince myself otherwise!

        Like

  4. Watch out Larry Greene fans. He’s 9 – 21 in his last 5 games. Almost since he hit that 1st HR. He’s trying to put .200 in the rear view mirror. Dugan is going the other way. He’s 2 -21 with 7 Ks since Franco moved to AA. He has to adjust to life without Mr. Franco. Of course there is a 2nd option. Move him to AA and bat Franco right behind him. Nah, make him prove himself in the post-Franco era.

    Like

    1. He’s been better. The K rate is still really bad. He needs to start showing more power and cutting back on the strikeouts soon.

      Like

  5. Who is Malquin Canelo? There’s a bevy of highly drafted infielders in GCL and he gets the start at short. Granted, we know most of those guys were destined to move off of shortstop, but it’s still worth noting?

    Like

    2. I think they see something there that they want to see tested in competition. The Dominican players seem to do very well at the world level. Who’s to say that a LA free agent is not equal to or better than players who were drafted.

      Like

    3. He was the starting DSL shortstop last year. Since he was the starter in spite of a .167 batting average, the assumption is that he is very strong defensively. I am sure Crawford will start when ready, but it is always good to have other good defensive options.

      Like

  7. It’s good to see Larry Greene have some success. If he can get his K rate down in the 2nd half, and keep hitting a few 2Bs, he’ll be OK.

    Like

  10. For those that care, Jason Parks at BP had Maikel Franco at #42 in his mid-season Top 50 rankings. He had Jesse Biddle and Carlos Tocci in the just missed group

    Like

    1. I’m kind of surprised Tocci is so high. It is great that he has not been overwhelmed in full season ball but it is not like he is tearing the cover off the ball either.

      Like

      1. Come on dude, the kid is 17 playing above average defense, and holding his own offensively in a league with players older by several years. I had him #1 coming into this season for the Phils, but even I have now moved Franco past him for obvious reasons. But what Tocci has done this year is borderline miraculous if you put it in the proper perspective, and if numbers tick upwards as the season progresses, should land him in most people’s top 100’s.

        Like

        1. I’m not saying he’s not an excellent prospect but I would think on a national list he’d be back end fringe 100 which is excellent for a 17 year old, but it’s not as if he was doing what Beltre did at 17 (.307/.406/.586 in half a year of A and .262/.322/..450 in half a tyear at A+).

          Like

          1. Yeah, but Beltre was ranked #30 in all of Baseball, when he put up those numbers. Not just top 100.

            Like

    4. So that means Carlos Tocci is a top 100 candidate. By next years’ pre-seaon, Franco, Biddle, Crawford and Tocci will probably all be top 100.

      Like

        1. I think most people instantly put Crawford as our #3 prospect, which would probably land him in the back end of top 100 lists.

          Like

        2. Not really presumptuous. If you follow the BA lists, you see that in most years, players drafted in the top half of the 1st round, who do anything, get ranked in the top 100.

          Like

            1. Every single High School player that was picked in the top 16 picks last year, made the pre-season, BA top 100.

              #02. Buxton: 10
              #01. Coreia: 13
              #06. Almora: 33
              #07. Fried: 46
              #11. Russell: 48
              #10. Dahl: 53
              #13. Hawkins: 55
              #16. Giolito: 67

              And Lance Mccullers, who should have been drafted in the top 20, was #50.

              I don’t know why it’s so hard to believe #16 JP Crawford could be top 100 next pre-season.

              Like

      2. I would put Quinn in there. He has what it takes. It takes time to put it all together while learning a new position. Give him another year.

        Like

        1. But but Puddinhead, he should be ready NOW! No excuses. There are absolutely no excuses for this kid to not be the number one SS prospect in the game right now!

          /sarcasm for those who can’t read through the lines

          Like

          1. I agree with you but it is hard to put someone who hasn’t put it together in the top 100. It doesn’t mean that he isn’t a good prospect just not a top 100 prospect.

            Like

      3. I just do not see it with Tocci yet. I know he has a decent hit tool and is good defensively, but he has shown no power and little offensive speed so far. I worry he is only a 50-55 runner as he matures which might make him one of those guys that hits a pretty empty .290. He is young and has lots of time, but one would think we need to see more development of his other tools before he is top 100 material.

        Like

        1. So you’re thinking he looks a lot like Ben Revere? At least at this point in his career. I hope you’re wrong but I trust your baseball instincts.

          Like

          1. Not Ben Revere. He has more power already than that. Maybe more like a Jason Michaels type once he fills out. The type that hits .290 with a .320 OBP and a .400 SLG. That is more of a 4th or 5th OF than a starter. I get that he is still learning how to steal bases, but on the other hand catchers in the SAL are not that good. Hopefully his hitting instincts will let him become more of a higher OBP player as he matures and adds power.

            I like Tocci and he probably is in the bottom of an improving top 10 for us. I just don’t see him as a top 100 in baseball prospect yet.

            Like

            1. A good fielding center fielder who hits .290/.320/.400 is a regular, albeit only an average one.

              Moot point in a way – if he hits .290 and slgs .400 he will obp .350 at least IMO, With plus defense and speed, that’s a well above average regular center fielder.

              Like

            2. We really do not know if he has plus speed. He sure is not using it yet and he has not shown much of an ability to draw a walk. Again, I like him as a prospect. But if you can’t project any power yet and he has not shown an ability to steal a base – you really can’t call him top 100 or anywhere near at this point. His tools need to develop and be more than projection for that to be a valid ranking.

              Like

        2. Right there with you about Tocci. I think people think that just because he’s so young he’ll automatically develop some power, but I’m not so sure about that.

          Like

        3. Trust me guys, you have to see Tocci play to understand how good he’s going to be. His speed is much better than 50, more like 70 in my opinion. Just because a 17 year old isn’t stealing bases doesn’t mean he isn’t fast. He is playing a great CF and you can’t do that without plus speed.

          As for power, I don’t think there is any way to know how much he’ll develop but even if he never develops much, he’ll be much more than a 4th or 5th OF. He will very easily log a lot of doubles and triples based on his speed, will not K much, play gold glove defense in CF, and steal a lot of bases, not to mention he already has the baseball instincts of a Chase Utley.

          Like

    5. Been talking up Tocci for two years now and even I’m surprised that he received that kind of recognition. Fantastic. Even Franco at 42 is a bit of a surprise but certainly a pleasant one. Great stuff –

      Like

      1. improved K and walk rate. Double jumped. Youngest in the league and plays premium defense. It’s all projection based but he’s on the right path.

        Like

  12. Aumont baffling:
    Aumont had the following to say to the Easton Express Times about mixed messages he felt he was getting from the organization:
    “It’s very, very confusing,’ Aumont said. ‘Baseball is a very confusing thing because you have so many people who have so many different perspectives on how to do things. At the major league level, (bullpen coach) Rod (Nichols) is telling me something, then I come down here (to Triple-A) and can hear different stuff. Which way do I go? Do I want to please the people while I’m down here right now or do I do the things the big league wants me to do even if I’m not doing the stuff they want me to do here?'”
    The reliever attempted to clarify his earlier remarks, which he felt were “mistranslated.”
    “The mixed messages was never an issue,” Aumont said Monday at Petco Park. “It was put out as an issue, but it wasn’t. It was unfortunate it was sort of translated that way. I certainly felt bad. Especially for the people who were trying to help me. I didn’t like that. But it was mistranslated, in their words, because I just remember they were asking me how was it to go from here to there, and I just said I have to find a medium where I have to please everybody. … I felt bad. For a few days I felt like crap. This is not where I want to be. I’m the last guy who wants to go out there and point fingers… Not at all. But I made some phone calls and stuff and apologized. Stuff happens.”
    —the guy has the head to be a closer for sure.

    Like

  13. Tocci being a top 75 prospect is pretty exciting. Matt wasn’t wrong pumping him up with the ‘best season out of anyone’ thing. Only question I have is where has the speed gone – 9 for 11 in 38 games last season and 5 for 9 in 65 games this year.

    Like

    1. Speed is still there. I have heard he has had problems getting a good first step both out of the box and on steals. Also he is not reading pitchers well on his jumps. Both very solvable issues for a 17 year old

      Like

    2. As a really young guy he’s still probably trying to figure out how to use it. You need more than just speed to steal bases, unless you have otherworldly speed and I was under the impression that he didn’t have that. Catchers in Low A are probably the best defensive catchers he’s seen to date and I doubt the coaching staff is focusing on his running game.

      Like

    3. For some, it takes time to figure out how to steal bases, no matter how fast you are. Look at Cesar Hernandez.

      Like

  14. Bullpen Banter had a top 75 list yesterday – only Phillie on it was Franco somewhere in the 50s. No Biddle on it.

    Like

  15. So if Asche is not going to play 3rd and he had so much difficulty at 2nd, is he a legit candidate for LF or RF or is he destined to be trade bait?

    Like

    1. I don’t think his bat sticks at a corner OF starter on a contender. Maybe he becomes a Greg Dobbs type corner utility guy. Either way, Franco has a way to go, good chance he starts for one year next year and then gets moved in a trade when Franco is ready.

      Like

          1. It’s not a matter of what I would be happy with, regarding any of the prospects.
            Rodeo gave a comp that I think is fair for Asche, based on what he has done in the minor leagues. Dobbs was similar in the minors.

            Like

        2. As a possible outcome, yeah I could see that. I would be a little disappointed with that though. I think he has a realistic chance to be better, especially considering Dobbs is has a negative career fWAR. Asche has certainly had a better minor league career than Dobbs.

          Like

          1. +1 on being a little disappointed if he turned into Dobbs. When Dobbs was Asche’s age, he put up a .874 OPS in short-season plus 14 good plate appearances Hi-A. Asche’s currently at a .773 OPS in AAA, so I don’t see the similarity. Asche is just moving too fast for that.

            (Note: I’m aware I’m comparing what’s considered Asche’s age-23 season to what’s considered Dobbs’s age-22 season; I did this because it compares the season Asche turns 23 on June 30th to the season in which Dobbs turned 23 on July 2nd, due to a cutoff fluke).

            Like

            2. Look at their birthdates. Greg Dobbs was literally 363 days older in his age-23 season than Asche is in his. Asche at AA was nearly two years younger than Dobbs- that makes up for the .090 OPS difference.

              Like

            3. I have no idea what you are talking about.
              Greg Dobbs hit 365, with a 966 OPS, in AA, in his age 23 season.
              Cody Asche hit 273, with a 775 OPS, in AAA in his age 23 season.
              Asche has an advantage, because he played 1 level higher, but I don’t see where there is any insult to Asche, by comparing him to Dobbs.
              If it sounds better, I’ll just say Dobbs is a reasonable “floor” for Asche.

              Like

            4. Here’s where I’m going with the seasons: when sites say “age-X season,” they need to use some date as a cutoff. Baseball Reference uses the age of the player on June 30th of that year. Because Cody Asche was born on June 30th, he is as young as he could possibly be as an age-23 player this year- he turns 23 on June 30th of his age-23 season. Greg Dobbs, on the other hand, was born on July 2nd. He turned 24 on July 2nd of his age-23 season, making him 363 days older at the cutoff point but still classified as a 23-year-old by BR.
              Going by DOB, Asche is 6/30/1990. He turns 23 in a few days. This year he’s in AAA with a .775 OPS.
              Again by DOB, Dobbs was 7/2/1978. He turned 23 on July 2nd of 2001. During that season, he was mostly in short-season ball with a .874 OPS, plus 14 good plate appearances in Hi-A.
              Because Dobbs was born immediately after the cutoff and Asche immediately before, the age-X season listed by Baseball Reference gives the illusion that Asche is a year older now than Dobbs was in 2001, but it’s simply untrue.

              Like

            5. Dobbs could barely play 3B. Asche looks to be at least average there. Does defense play no role in these evaluations? A scout I talked to once admitted that most of them don’t look at gloves, partly because they are told not too.

              Like

            8. Yes, he did have good numbers in AA that season, but it was only 108 PAs. Not necessarily insignificant but he spent 355 PAs that season in A-ball (not even Hi-A) putting up a .769 OPS. I dunno, maybe something clicked for him, or maybe the AA performance was a tad flukish.

              Anyway, it seems he didn’t play much the next season, but then in his age 25 season he returned to AA and put up numbers similar to what Asche did last year in his age 22 season. Then he got a promotion to AAA and hit quite poorly.

              Like

      2. I think I’d like to see Franco get around the league a couple of times before I would trade Asche. We have all had some fun making fun of those disparaging Franco’s arm bar swing but there is a lot of windup in his swing (that he compensates for with incredible bat speed) that may get exploited at higher levels. I want to know he can truly succeed and/or adjust before trading Asche away.

        Like

  16. Wow, that was a really good night for the prospects.

    Ruf, Rupp, Franco, Collier, Gillies, Altherr, L Greene, Watson, Cozens, Pullin, Lino, and Pujols all did good things, and a JDT sighting on top of it.

    Like

  17. Will Ruf, Asche, and Hernandez go to Philly as a package deal on July 31? Young, Utley and Young could easily all be gone by July 31.
    Its nice to see a Jiwan James sighting, anyone notice that Chris O’hare got an inning at CWater (1st player from this draft class to touch High A), it was great to see Watson throw a gem, and Martin continues to confound with those walks. Any chance the big club would call up Martin and put him in the pen? I’m hoping that Milner is hurt with those back to back starts of his. I was ready to put him in my top 20 thinking he’d be in Reading soon. Hit the brakes….

    Like

    1. I think the Phillies are going to leave Martin in the AAA rotation for as long as they possibly can until he either gains some command or runs out of option years. If he hasn’t put it together by midseason 2015 (his last option year), then they’ll probably move him to the pen.

      He could also be a September callup and get used out of the pen I guess.

      Like

    3. Milner’s outing last evening could be comparable to a Cole Hamel’s 2013 season to date.
      There in lies the similarities.

      Like

    1. and 2 stolen bases … just like seeing early success for guys. Jose Pujols 1-2 with another double as well.

      Not saying it means a damn thing to the future, just like to see positive things happen early … something they can build on.

      Like

      1. Pujols is something I dream on. I’m certainly on the Tooci wagon, but Pujols is the one that grabs my attention and says “WATCH ME HIT BALLS HARD.”

        Like

    2. Sandberg really showing off today. Line drive opposite field single in the 1st. Stolen Base. Bunt single in the 3rd. Stolen Base. HR in the 5th. Walk in the 7th…

      Like

    4. I’m glad he busted out today. Was about to consider him a bust.

      Probably too early to call Trey Williams a bust, but not if he doesn’t pick it up…

      Like

          1. Yeah, Tom. Just taking the piss.

            As a HS kid playing in the low minors, you get more than three games before you can be called a bust.

            At least ten…

            Like

      2. Its somewhat important for Trey to get off early because he still has that stigma of lethargic play last year. I would look more at his body language than the stat line.

        Like

  20. cormican (Raleigh): Jason, I’m somewhat surprised to see Carlos Tocci on the firnges of the top 50. I’m impressed he’s holding his own in full season ball at 17, but what do you think is his ultimate potential?

    Jason Parks on the Midseason Top 50 Prospects: Any 17-year-old that can hold their own in a full-season league impresses me. I think he needs to add strength without losing tools, but I think he makes it happen. He’s a gifted player.

    Like

    1. I think when he comes back they should just make the move to CF. His fielding troubles appear to affect him at the plate (ie dominic brown). Get Quinn comfortable in the field and let his bat action speak for itself.

      Like

      2. There’s no point to moving him at this stage in the game. Absolutely none. Keep him at SS.

        Like

        2. Agree also. I’d also throw 2B into the mix for him before we consider CF. From all reports he does have plus range at SS.

          Like

        3. There’s also no way for any of us to know whether his offensive and defensive struggles are connected.

          Like

  22. Lots of news to nurture in our Pharm. Though I have been a big supporter of Asche as he moved quickly up but now my enthusiasm is tempered by his inability to hit lefties. Don’t know if he can “learn” to overcome this deficiency at all or during this season or soon thereafter.

    Gotta believe he hears footsteps coming up behind him and we know Asche is a hard worker. He doesn’t have long to get it done.

    OTOH, we should recognize how well Rupp has started off at LV. Very good defensive catcher with offense usually getting better in the 2nd half of the season. Discounting any chance that Joseph will see the bigs any time soon, Rupp appears first in line to see a spot in the Phils catching corps with Ruiz (please) to be re-signed. Valle? Completely exposed as an all-or-nothing offensive player with little improvement on that in the recent two seasons.

    Viva Rupp!

    Like

    1. Cody Asche can always be helpful to the Phillies as most of MLB pitching is RH and a good platoon position player is still valuable. Hope that Rupp can replace the backup catcher and Darin Ruf is the LF and move Domonic to LF..

      Like

      1. according to the phillies scouting director. He is best defensive catcher in phillies farm system. Its always been does he have the bat to be a starter. IF he doesn’t he is nice backup. I like his game.

        Like

  23. Listening to the game last night I heard the announcer say Watson was up to 98. Was anybody at the game by any chance? I wouldn’t mind some feedback.

    Like

  24. -Is Rupp now our top catching prospect? (excluding 2013 draftees)
    -I wasn’t on the Tocci bandwagon until I realized he should be a junior in high school.

    Like

  25. Zach Green goes deep again … First inning 2-run shot. That’s 4 in 32 at-bats.

    Phillies are LONG over due to hit a home run on an position player draft pick …

    Like

Comments are closed.