Along with two Flyers games I managed to watch a Threshers’ game and 3 XST games.  I think I saw about 6 runs scored in the 4 baseball games.  I saw way to many errors and fielding mistakes during the same period.  I probably saw close to 400 pitches … just by pitchers in the Phillies organization.

First, the Threshers.

Ethan Stewart started Wednesday and took the loss.  Although he seemed to struggle with consistent control, Stewart did throw about 61 strikes in 94 pitches in 4.2 innings.  He pitched into and out of trouble in the 2^nd and 4^th innings.  He would have done the same in the 5^th but a defensive error led the way to 4 unearned runs.  Mike Adams made an appearance in the 6^th inning.  He sandwiched a double with two strike outs.  Following an RBI single he had reached 19 pitches on the four batters.  After a coaching visit to the mound, he walked the next batter on 4 pitches and was quickly lifted.

Offensively, Pete Lavin hit a home run to give the Threshers a short-lived one run lead.

Defensively, K.C. Serna made a couple of nice plays that saved runs, but he also committed the error that led to 4 unearned runs.

XST.

The two rosters seem fluid.  Players move from group to group from one day to the next.

Thursday:  Pitcher Filiberto Sanchez had perhaps his worst outing.  I’ve seen him pitch often and never saw him struggle with his command as much as this day.  I didn’t keep a line on him, but he was up with most of his pitches.  Before leaving, I walked over to the other game and saw Luis Encarnacion crush one over the left field fence.

Friday:  Pitchers Jorge Serrano and Matt Southard were victimized by suspect defensive play enroute to a 14-1 drubbing.  Serrano threw 69 pitches in 3 innings, allowed 9 runs, 8 earned, on 6 hits, hit two batters, and walked three while striking out two.  Southard threw 67 pitches in 1.2 innings allowed 5 runs, 3 earned, on 3 hits, 3 walks, and 1 hit batter while striking out one.  Jonathan Musser mopped up with a tidy 8-pitch 1-2-3 6^th inning.  (I learned this morning that the other game was equally lop-sided.)

Saturday: Pitcher Ricardo Pinto had good velocity and kept his pitches low but still managed to throw 81 pitches thru 4 innings.  He allowed 4 runs, 3 earned on 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out one.  Mitch Gueller followed with 36 pitches thru 3 innings facing only 10 batters. He allowed 1 unearned run, walked a batter, and struck out two.  Jays won 5-2.

The offense for the three games can be bunched up in this one paragraph.  Aaron Altherr went 4 for 6 with 5 walks.  He stole a base and played center field on two of the days. Cord Sanberg executed a pretty hit-and-run Thursday pushing a hit through the vacated shortstop position.  Jiandido Tromp went 4-4 in 2 games with a double and a home run.  herlis Rodriguez went 2 for 5 in 2 games.

I can understand losing base runners on attempted steals or when a catcher tries to go from first to third on a hit-and-run that goes to left field.  This is where you learn the capabilities of your players and push them to see what their limitations are.  I can’t understand how so many fielding errors can be made or how so many fielding decisions can be incorrect.  For instance, in Friday’s and Saturday’s games, I saw –

1. Friday, pitcher fields a sac bunt and whiffs on the tag of the batter and doesn’t throw to first.
2. Shortstop lobs a high arcing toss to second, runner beats throw, no chance at first.  (Note, that the same shortstop was lectured to by the coach after the previous inning when he fielded a ball and ran to second and threw to first to barely complete a double play.  He was told he had make the toss to second on that type of play.)
3. Errant throw from pitcher to first.
4. With a runner on first, shortstop bobbles a tailor-made double play but manages to throw out the slow-footed batter (This led to three runs instead of ending the inning and cost Southard an additional 18 pitches).
5. Third baseman commits 2 fielding errors in the same inning leading to 2 unearned runs.
6. Saturday, right fielder breaks late on a ball hit over his head for an RBI double.
7. Left fielder turns wrong and lets a ball land on the warning track for a double.
8. Right fielder takes a circuitous route to a ball that he lets drop in front of him for a single.
9. Texas league double drops between shortstop and left fielder. Yeah, double.
10. Error on the first baseman on a ball hit between his legs.
11. Error on the second baseman that led to an unearned run.

Now, maybe some of these 12 instances were unavoidable.  But they just stand out when they lead to additional pitches, more batters, and runs scored.

One last thing.  It looks like Matt Southard is throwing much harder than last year.  He seems to be coming over the top more.  At 6’9”, it makes him look that much more imposing when he strides toward a batter with a quicker fast ball.