I could call last night’s performance by Phillippe Aumont a success, but he did give up a walk and three hits in 2.1 IP. He didn’t allow a run, but he allowed one of two inherited runners score. I’ll call it a push. Maikel Franco‘s hit in two straight and walked in three straight. I’ll call that a good sign and we’ll see how it plays out.
Hoby Milner left the Reading game in the fifth after taking a liner off his pitching hand/forearm. He threw a couple warm-ups and they pulled him, according to this Penn Live article. He was cruising along pretty nicely at that point, having given up just one hit and striking out three in 4.2IP. Kelly Dugan went deep and Cameron Perkins continued his hot start – he’s OPSing .927 on the young season.
Not much to report out of CLR except Kevin Walter had his second straight scoreless relief appearance to start the year. And LKW hitters managed just three doubles off of Hagerstown pitchers, including Nats’ top prospect Lucas Giolito, who struck out six, walked one and allowed just one hit in five innings. Tyler Viza got hit around some after a nice start – he did strike out five in five+ innings, versus just one walk, and he retired the first seven men in a row, and 15 out of the first 18. It all came apart in the sixth inning, however, as he didn’t record an out and allowed four runs.
Here’s the affiliate Scoreboard from MiLB. http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=143&ymd=20140410
Phuture Phillies 
Man, Rupp has now gone TWO GAMES without hitting a HR? What a slump. Maybe he’d injured.
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Just a few notes on the XST games, Knapp DHed and in the 3 ABs I saw he only reached on base via a HBP, but you can see 2 of his AB’s at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGkita, along with the video of Encarnacion’s HR. Pujols also homered in his game while Altherr DHed and doubled, so hopefully he’ll be back in Reading soon. Gillies was also rehabbing and seemed to be running quite well, he beat out a bunt, so he should be back soon as well. Hernandez and Sandberg also singled in the ABs that I saw.
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Heres a good one leandro castro walked three times. Has to be a sign ?
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There is no sample size. There was no Kelly Dugan home run. There is no Brad in DC.
Is that an accurate riff on solipsism? I’m not well versed.
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Based on the play of the big league team and the minors, dark days will continue for awhile. Realistically, other than Biddle (who isn’t a #1) we have no pitchers at all in the system.
I’ll find a bright side-
Larry Greene did not strike out yesterday.. last year struck out in 35% of plate appearances.. this year it is down to 21%
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That’s a pretty negative outlook 2 weeks in. Don’t you think its a little early?
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Phillies made some good FA signings this year that may pay off for the future. Hernandez and Byrd should definitely have trade value for the firesale.
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keep an eye on swing n misses of Phillies farm system. Either they don’t know how to draft contact hitters or they have poor hitting instructors. I don’t have stats to back it up but I suspect they ranked as one top strikeout teams last year (on all 4 levels) and are right back at it this year.
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Or maybe hitting a baseball is really hard.
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I know the numbers don’t look great but I’ve been impressed by Vizas first 2 starts in LWood. Looks like he was cruising along and maybe ran out of gas in the 6th. Considering he’s probably playing up a level, I like what I see so far.
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Pretty sure I remember a couple errors thrown in that inning as well, and a balk and wild pitch in the third helped that run score, so that’s fluky, too. All things considered, I like the performance.
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Yes, I saw yesterday as an encouraging game for Viza. Nothing shabby about not being able to go beyond 5.
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Nats did a ‘Cole Hamels’ with Lucas Giolito and looks like it will pan out with lots of success for them down the road. Good foresight on their part..
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It may be early, but Franco already has more walks (4) than he had all last July (3).
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Where is Andrew Anderson at right now? He has a solid year last year.
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He’s wth the XST group, but I have not seen him pitch as of yet. I thought he looked good last year as well.
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He should be in Lakewood. Why would he have to repeat if his ERA was low 2’s.
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I believe he was listed as injured in the workout groups.
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Ok. Will he be sent to Lakewood when he is healthy?
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I would think that’s his destination. No reason for him to repeat WIL, and no reason to force him into A+ to start the year, aside from maybe wanting him around the complex to monitor his injury progress.
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Had*
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