For those who have not heard, Tyson Gillies was slapped with a three-game team suspension, after a frustrated outburst that damaged some equipment and a wall in Thursday night. Gillies had four Ks on that night last night, and, well, I throw stuff and curse and whatever when I take the Golden Sombrero or the professional or household equivalent – hitting my thumb with a hammer while putting together an Ikea storage cabinet last weekend, for example. Those little nails you use to tack on the back panel are too small for stubby blogger fingers. Damned Swedes.
Anyway, I’m not too mad about this one if that’s all it was, and the games will go on. Oh wait, maybe not. Lehigh Valley was…postponed Friday?!?!?!? GILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tommy Joseph‘s dialed in at the plate right now – he’s hit home runs in three of his last four games. Aaron Altherr hit his first AA bomb in that one, while Kelly Dugan was lifted for a pinch hitter in the third inning. I have not seen a reason for that yet. That game went 12 innings, and gave us our first Ken Giles‘ run and blown save of the year. Good bullpen work during the first nine of that game to back up a lackluster looking line from Severino Gonzalez.
In Lakewood, Carlos Tocci had two XBH in the double header, while J.P. Crawford was 2-3 in the nightcap, with his his sixth steal and his fifth error. Not to be outdone, Gabriel Lino tallied his seventh passed ball. Jan Hernandez is 0-12 with six Ks (yikes) since he’s been filling in for injured Zach Green. FWIW, Green’s not on the DL, and remains with Lakewood even though he was moved to the XST roster. Seems like he may return shortly. One more injury note: Larry Greene Jr. is said to be day-to-day with a sore wrist. Those two injury notes come from Jay Floyd (@phoulballz), I think. If not, sorry to whoever reported those items.
And finally, Clearwater managed just two hits on the night, as the recently demoted Brody Colvin made his first A+ start of the year. Not sure they’re actually “merit” demoting him, rather than just needing somewhere to stretch him out. He hadn’t been bad out of the pen in a couple innings thus far in 2014. Perhaps, as Matt suggested tonight on Twitter, they have finally decided he’s nothing more than an org arm. Or perhaps they’ve found him a new pitch and they need him to get some innings to work on it. I won’t lose much sleep over the club’s logic, there, TBH.
Here’s the affiliate Scoreboard from MiLB. http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?sid=milb&org=143&ymd=20140425
Phuture Phillies 
Wow the Lakewood pitching is terrible. What happened to G.Lino 7 passed balls and 23 SO’s yikes. I am very high on J.Hernandez but not a good start for him. Good for T.Joseph, and C.Tocci. I wonder why Tocci isn’t being aggressive in trying to steal bases.
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In honor of the pitching staff, Lakewood is changing its team name to the “Org Fillers”
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‘The BlueOrgFillingClaws’….I like it catch. has a ring to it.
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Lino isn’t a catcher… saw him a few weeks ago in Greensboro. He is too tall for the position, what stuck out was how long his arms were and it caused him to be a few split seconds late on throws to second. 7 Passed Balls doesn’t surprise me, he isn’t low enough to the ground. Astudillo should catch and Lino should be at 1B. Simple as that
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He’s not a hitter either. If he has to play 1B he is a non prospect unless everything all of a sudden clicks
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In other news, I don’t know how many people have seen Robinson Torres of the Blueclaws but he scares me. Only because he looks like Michael Martinez long lost brother. Very scary to be honest and he plays like him too. Let’s hope Ruben doesn’t call him up next time we lose a IF to the DL.
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Damn. LWood is awful. I know it’s early but can’t believe they’re this bad. At least Tocci has given us some optimism over the last week or so. T. Joseph as well. Showing some power. Maybe he’s back to pre last yr form.
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I wonder if they get out guys out of xst, to help Lakewood. They are right now as you stated terrible, very bad when your lower levels are this bad. And you don’t have much at higher levels, nice job ruben,
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The huge problem is pitching and you can look right at Mecias and Watson on the DL, maybe Gueller comes up at some point, but there isn’t much they can do
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Tocci has definitely developed the ability to get the ball out of the infield if nothing else. It’s a good start..
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.850+ OPS from a 22-year old catcher in AA? If he keeps that up another month he’s in my top 5.
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Very encouraging by him. If he is now going to make enough contact to let the power play that’s something he wasn’t even doing in our system before he got injured. We could use a good season by someone like him
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One thing to keep in mind with Joseph is that he could be a major beneficiary of the change in the rule on collisions at home. There are other ways to get concussions as a catcher, of course, but eliminating the full-contact aspects of the position definitely gives him a fighting chance to stick there long term.
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Ugh, as soon as I wrote this it was announced Joseph is going on the DL after taking a foul tip off his mask. Supposedly just “precautionary” but still, not what you want to hear
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Tocci’s line over the last 10 games:
.351 / .405 / .486
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At this rate, how long is it until Joseph is promoted to AAA? I’d guess towards the end of May.
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No reason to promote him with Rupp at LHV. Let him build confidence hitting bombs at Reading’s launching pad.
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Speaking of the launching pad at Reading….have they ever tried to move the fences out a little to get it more balanced?
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I agree with Mike. The important thing is Joseph is healthy and playing. It really dsnt matter if its AA or AAA. If something happens to Ruiz or Nieves Rupp will get the call up. At the point Joseph could be promoted
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Apparently, Gillies’ days in Philly-org pinstripes are slowly drawing to a close.
His tweet close to the apology tweet to the bus driver incident in Reading.
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If being a crappy player can’t do it, his attitude and actions certainly will…though they haven’t so far. I’d have to imagine he’s on an EXTREMELY short leash after his latest outburst – after the bus driver incident, he ended up deleting his Twitter for a few days. Apology or not (and let’s face it, it was just a form letter), he hasn’t learned from the last time.
Yeah, we all get pissed off, but I think we can all manage our emotions better than he does.
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Very disturbing trend….2 Ks in last 10 PA for you, Willians Astudillo.
Que pasa dudio?
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Watched Lakewood back on the 16th. Cozens impressed me, Crawford didn’t play, I can see the hype surrounding Pullin and Tocci but it just isn’t there yet for them. Zach Green confuses me because he had a good game and he looks the part. Larry Greene is just sad to watch, Lino/Astudillo might make it as a backup catcher in the Majors. Hiciano wasn’t great either, I liked him the least outside of Robinson Torres.
Leiter Jr. has the makings for a good middle reliever (Brad Lincoln comp?)… Manny Martinez if he can harness his sidearm delivery could be something.
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Talked to old Marlins manager Jack McKeon who was at the game as a fan. Asked him about some of the players. He said Tocci swings a “heavy bat” but everything is there for him. What he needs is strength. He clearly isn’t strong enough to drive the ball. He was as small as advertised.
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If Green had a good game and “looks the part” then how is it exactly that he confuses you? That just makes no sense
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His stats don’t match up with what I saw. Good contact, good build, was an average fielder, looks like he can handle corner OF and IF if the org. wants to do that with him. But he was batting under .100 when I saw him.
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