Monthly Archives: July 2013

General Discussion – Week of 7-22-2013 – Pre-Deadline Edition

Weekly Discussion

Last chance for the big club to sway the thinking of their leadership. A strong week might rightfully lead to a buy-a-couple-pieces stance, though a big splash is probably not in the offing, I would guess. A mediocre week might lead to a sell-off of a couple pieces, or a stand-pat position – MYoung and Lannan are moveable, if someone wants them, wouldn’t necessarily harm the team, and might net you a big-league bench OF to fill in now and when Revere returns, replace Laynce Nix and his non-exystance off the Phils bench, and a middle reliever to fill in the gap so you don’t have to call up Phillippe Aumont again. An 0-6 week might lead Rube to hit the reset button, moving guys like Papelbon, Utley, Rollins, Lee, Ruiz, and who knows who else.

If they can’t find a taker for John Lannan before the non-waiver deadline, I would shop Kyle Kendrick. FIP and xFIP at 3.88 and 4.00 respectively, one more year of team control, cheap for the rest of this year, knows how to take a practical joke. (I missed in the original post that Lannan is an arb4 this year. He was a super 2 and so gets 4 years of arb, not 3- adds to his value and changes the complexion of both the Young comparison and the Kendrick point a bit). When Doc comes back, presumably in a couple weeks, it will likely send a competent Jon Pettibone back to AAA. Pettibone’s FIP and xFIP are right around 4.20. That’s fine with me for a fifth starter.

Box Score Recap – 7/22/2013

Box Score Recap

Adam Morgan back at Lehigh Valley 71 pitches, 46 strikes, 4 innings. Works for me. Sebastian Valle with his second 2 HR game in the last 4. Impressive. Less impressive? Your Clearwater Threshers were no-hit by three Jupiter Hammerheads. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/22/2013 →

Around the System–OF, Top Half

Other Stuff

A look at the OF at the upper reaches of the organization. Stats are thru Saturday. The report on Lakewood, Williamsport and GCL will be out this week.

Lehigh Valley

Leandro Castro, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2007; .267/.297/.397 in 292 AB’s; 7HR 43 RBI; 16/22 SB; .364 vs. LHP, .225 vs. RHP; .338 with RISP; 4%bb/18%K rates; .259 since June 1. 77 games in the OF with 6 errors (.966); 6 OF assists. Castro has had a very good year and in my mind has placed on himself on the radar screen for a 4th or 5th OF candidate in Philadelphia next year. His biggest issue has always been his free swinging. While still a free swinger, he is making a whole heck of alot more contact than in the past.  Work in the OF has been less than stellar.

Steve Susdorf, 27, Phils 19th round pick in 2008 draft;.341/.429/.438 in 185 AB’s; 1HR 24RBI; 8SB; .324 vs. LH, .344 with RH, .327 with RISP; .352 since June 1. 13%bb/14% k rates.  43 games in the OF with 1 error (.983); 2 OF assists; I am not quite sure what Lance Nix gives you that Steve Susdorf can’t. Susdorf has been the picture of consistency, hitting both righties and lefties and giving you a very good AB each and every time. Continue reading Around the System–OF, Top Half →

Box Score Recap – 7/20/2013

Box Score Recap

Lakewood and Clearwater both squeak out wins in their respective slugfests. Yacksel Rios got hit around a little in his start, while Josh Warner has been looks pretty good in relief. And Lehigh Valley went 12 scoreless innings with Columbus before Justin Friend finally gave up a solo HR in the 13th. I’ll have to skip the graphic for now, maybe get it up later, but here’s a place to discuss. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/20/2013 →

Box Score Recap – 7/19/2013

Box Score Recap

Maikel Franco back above .400 after a 3-5 night. Kelly Dugan with three hits as well, giving him 4 multi-hit games in his last six. That’s a nice little run after a slow start at AA. And Zach Collier hit his 6th HR of the year and brought his BA back above the old Mendoza line. Sounds like he made an adjustment after a video session a couple days ago that has helped his swing (read Mike Drago’s story about that – from the Reading Eagle). Ken Giles struck out 4 and walked 2 in 2 scoreless innings. He’s got a 14/4 K/BB ratio in 7.1 IP since coming back from injury. I’d say he’s healed, (though 4BB in 7.1 IP is not ideal). And a disappointing performance from Wilmer Oberto. 2-5 with a triple and ZERO HOMERUNS! Can you believe that? Shameful. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/19/2013 →

Box Score Recap – 7/18/2013

Box Score Recap

If not for Jesse Biddle’s really nice outing, the entire write-up for today may have been “If Wilmer Oberto isn’t the player of the week, we all know the fix is in” or “O My Berto” or “Wilmer is Spanish for Grand and Oberto is Spanish for Slam”. Or something. But alas, quite the performance from Mr. Biddle. Too good to not mention.

He picked up his first win since the beginning of May or something, (though he did have that career altering Futures Game W), while going 7 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned), on 3H 2BB with 7K. Threw 66% strikes. Very nice.

And while I’ve spoiled my week-long Wilmer Oberto love fest with other results, I may as well mention a decent game for Ethan Martin, (though he still didn’t throw enough strikes to work at the big league level), 3-5 from Maikel Franco, (though he did have an error in the field), and 2 HR for Sebastian Valle, (though he remains Sebastian Valle). Every GCL Phillie reached base, and only debuting Venn Biter did not have a hit (in 2 PAs). And do not stare directly at Mitch Gueller’s line. I REPEAT – DO NOT LOOK AT MITCH GUELLER’S LINE WITHOUT PROPER EYE PROTECTION. Not even one out. Let’s hope Mitch himself doesn’t look at that one too much. Better forgotten.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/18/2013 →

Industry Mid-Season Top 50 Prospect Lists

Other Stuff

Most major publications have released their Midseason Rankings.  The only two players to make any list where AA LHP Jesse Biddle and AA 3B Maikel Franco.  Both did not appear on all lists and there was no a consensus on the order in which they appeared or the opinions about them.

Baseball America: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-prospect-update-top-50-prospects/

Jesse Biddle – #43

Maikel Franco – Breakout Prospect (surefire Top 100) Continue reading Industry Mid-Season Top 50 Prospect Lists →

Box Score Recap – 7/17/2013

Box Score Recap

One of the better games of Zach Collier’s season, 3-4, a HR short of the cycle, and a steal. Jim Murphy with 2 HR…a friendly reminder that he turns 28 in 2 months. Severino Gonzalez back in CLR and his start went…poorly. After throwing 6 no-hit innings last time out, Jeb Stefan only goes 3 innings. He allowed 1R on 4H 2BB and 3K. Curious why he was pulled so early. Gabriel Lino 2-4 with 2 doubles.

A nice line from Adam Morgan rehabbing at GCL – 3H and 5K in 4 scoreless innings. I imagine he’ll work some more down there, maybe with CLR, and hopefully he’s back in AAA in August.

And Wilmer Oberto, with whom we all got a little acquainted yesterday after his 2HR game on Tuesday, added his 3rd HR in 2 days. I told Matt I have been pronouncing his name like Mr. Ed says, “Wilbur”. Also worth trying – yelling it like Fred Flintstone yells “Wilma”. Good times…yes…indeed…good times.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/17/2013 →

Hot or Not

Other Stuff

A look at the week of July 11-17. Quick thoughts…Sebastian Valle’s offensive struggles have reached epic proportions with his average now hovering around .200 for the year…Is Jim Murphy the next Darin Ruf?  I think more likely Matt Rizzotti, but the numbers are impressive nonetheless…Time to pay attention to Wilmer Oberto. He has more than twice as many RBI’s as any other member of the GCL club…Very good to see Kenny Giles back on the hot reliever list after a frustrating injury filled year.

Continue reading Hot or Not →