Daily Archives: February 19, 2014

Maikel Franco #17, Jesse Biddle #71, and JP Crawford #78 on Baseball America Top 100

Other Stuff

Last night Baseball America release their Top 100 prospects in minor league baseball.  The Phillies were represent on that list by Maikel Franco (17), Jesse Biddle (71), and J.P. Crawford (78).  Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez was eligible for the list, but did not make it.

There are many parts of the list I don’t agree with, but that has a lot to do with my personal philosophies on what has value.  The full list can be found here.

Here are the writeups on the Phillies Players: Continue reading Maikel Franco #17, Jesse Biddle #71, and JP Crawford #78 on Baseball America Top 100 →

2014 Spring Training, Day 6

Spring Training 2014

First full squad practice. You would think that there would be more to write about, but I really don’t have much.

After all their preliminary stretching, calisthenics, running, and long toss, the players split into 4 groups – a handful of pitchers went to the “Seven Mounds” (apparently this is their official designation for the mounds between the buildings), outfielders went back to Bright House for batting practice. the infielders and outfielders split into two groups on Schmidt and Ashburn Fields to practice fielding bunts.   Rupp and Marson rotated at catcher.

Schmidt Field included the 6 infielders we expect to be on the 25-man roster – Howard, Utley, Rollins, Galvis, Asche, and Frandesn.  Rollins and Galvis rotated at short, Asche and Frandsen rotated at third.  The pitchers were – Buchanan, Biddle, Diekman, De Fratus, Garcia, Hollands, Lincoln, Jimenez, Martin.  I think Rosenberg, Aumont, Gonzalez, Lee, Kendrick, and Papelbon were also part of this group. Continue reading 2014 Spring Training, Day 6 →

Trades, Player Development, and the Value of High Picks

Other Stuff

There has been a lot written into about the downfall of the Phillies and their various strategies to pull themselves out of it.  I think much of the downfall has been placed on the wrong things.  Bloggers often reach for the draft and player development as two easy punching bags.  I think it is a lazy way of being sensational and lacks a understanding of the basics of player development.

What set in motion this examination was a paragraph from a That Ball’s Outta Here editorial on a David Murphy piece: Continue reading Trades, Player Development, and the Value of High Picks →