Monthly Archives: August 2013

Around the System, Starting Pitching, Lower Half

Other Stuff

A look at starting pitching in the lower half of the organization. Next up: Relievers.

Lakewood

Nic Hanson, 21, Phils 16th round pick in 2012 draft; 16 games (10 starts); 2-2 with a 2.49ERA; 1SV; 76IP 77H 12BB 60K; 1HR allowed; 1.26 GO/AO; .260 opp. avg., .261 vs. LH, .259 vs. RH, .277 with RISP; 1.16 WHIP; 1.4BB/7.1K k per 9; 1-1 with a 1.09 ERA in his last 5 starts.  Hanson has pitched very, very well since coming off the DL and is certainly on course for a promotion.

Miguel Nunez, 20, Signed as a free agent in 2010; 21 games (17 starts); 8-7 with a 4.50ERA; 104IP 114H 34BB 56K; 4HR allowed; 0.82GO/AO; .282 opp. avg; .311 vs. LH, .262 vs. RH, .269 with RISP; 1.42WHIP; 2.9BB/4.8K per 9; 6 starts in July; 3-1 with a 3.98ERA. Nunez has done respectable job this year…nothing more, nothing less. Continue reading Around the System, Starting Pitching, Lower Half →

Box Score Recap – 8/1/2013

Box Score Recap

Happy Ethan Martin Day, everyone! Raise your hand if your significant other questioned why you would so very much need to watch a game of a team you unequivocally stated two days ago was a lost cause. *raises hand*

Anyone who cares about W-L records in the minors, (or at all, really), take a look at Seth Rosin’s line from last night, and tell me why you care he got the “L”. Rosin’s had a pretty nice year. He limits walks, but doesn’t strike out enough guys – around 6.7/9. His GB rate of 41% (per firstinning.com), is not as strong as you’d like for a guy like that. To me, he’s destined for the bullpen, where he excelled in 2012 for the Giants, albeit as a 23-yr-old in A+. It’s probably worth letting him continue to start and hope he can find more sink and get a ton of groundballs or more life on something and get more Ks. He’s built to last, at 6’6″/25olbs, so he could be a workhorse starter if he can miss more bats or induce more weak contact.

Elsewhere, a nice night from Nic Hanson – 8 strong innings. Sam Hiciano with his second HR in as many days – he was last year’s “guy to watch” in the DSL boxes, and he’s sticking at WIL so far in somewhat limited action. Mitch described him as having had a wrist injury for a while, so now that he’s back, it’s nice to see his power hasn’t been completely sapped. And two doubles from Malquin Canelo – speaking of which, be sure to check out @Longenhagen’s post on the Crosscutters http://crashburnalley.com/2013/08/01/longenhagen-scouts-williamsport-gonzalez-updates-bites-from-reading/

Good info on a bunch of guys, Canelo included, plus Rios, Cozens, Pullin, Green, Knapp, plus  more on MAG and other notes.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/1/2013 →

Reading Game Report

Other Stuff

NYPhilsmaniac19 is at it again with his insightful first hand reports:

Reading vs Erie Game Report, July 30

PITCHING:  Not much to report here since no prospects pitched. 

Austin Wright started and got the win despite giving up 10 baserunners and 5 runs (4 earned) in 5 innings.  Few of the hits against him were cheap.  He topped out at 92 on the gun.  I’m not sure if he was hiding his best move, but he barely lobbed the ball to first on pick-off throws.  I figured he was setting them up, but he never showed anything better. 

Hector Neris came on for the next 2 innings and looked excellent.  He only gave up one baserunner on a walk and he K’d 4 (struck out the side in the 6th).  He topped out at 94 which he reached a few times. 

Kyle Simon pitched the 8th allowing 2 runners via a walk and a Murphy error, but he pitched out of it.

Michael Nesseth came on to shut the door and pitched a scoreless inning.  He did allow 2 hits, but one was on a slow roller to 3rd that Franco played non-chalantly and the runner beat the throw.

OFFENSE: Continue reading Reading Game Report →

Austin Wright to the Bullpen and Converting Starters to Relievers

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Today Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle reported that the Phillies will be converting Austin Wright to a full time reliever (Brody Colvin back to the rotation).  The move is one that I thought would come eventually but did not expect right now.  More interesting to the move is what Joe Jordan said which piqued my interest.

Philles are converting Reading’s Austin Wright to the bullpen. He’s 5-5, 6.09 in 16 starts; pitching better lately after DL stint #phillies

Joe Jordan on Austin Wright: “We really feel he’s got a couple pitches that have a chance to play really good out of the bullpen.” #phillies Continue reading Austin Wright to the Bullpen and Converting Starters to Relievers →

Phillies call up Ethan Martin

Martin, Ethan

The Phillies are calling up Ethan Martin to make his major league debut on Friday.  The reports are Cliff Lee will not be ready to go and Martin represents the best option in the minors.

Martin was acquired for Shane Victorino at the 2012 trade deadline and was the 15th pick in the 2008 draft.  So far this year in AAA he is 11-5 with a 4.12 ERA with 67 BBs and 107 Ks over 115.2 IP.  He has pitched much better of late but walks are still an issue.

Martin will bring a fastball that sits plus velocity (93-95) but he can show plus plus when needed.  The curveball has been a plus pitch in the past and can flash plus plus.  The slider is an average pitch with potential.  At this point the changeup is a dream and not a usable pitch.  Martin has the stuff to dominate if he can keep the ball in the zone.  If he loses feel for his secondary offerings he has the tendency to overthrow the fastball and lose his delivery.

Box Score Recap – 7/31/2013

Box Score Recap

Franco, Dugan and Hewitt all hit bombs for Reading. Hewitt, in fact, hit 2. If he hits 20 more in August, we may have something there. Mario Hollands scatterred 9 hits over 6 innings, allowing just one run. Larry Greene hitting out of the two hole, his natural spot, of course 😉 Ricky Bielski continues to hold the GCL at bay – he’s allowed just 9 hits and 3 walks in 14 innings, while striking out 12.

And Zach Green hit his sixth HR of the year. He’s striking out a ton, though. 13 in his last 10 games, (38PAs), and his rate for the year is near 29%. He’s walked a good amount, but his 2012 Ks are what led me to keep him out of my top 30 this off-season, and it seems like they’re continuing as an issue.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/31/2013 →