Daily Archives: May 16, 2014

A look at the Giles-less Reading bullpen

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Ken Giles struck out 29 of the 57 batters he faced in the Eastern League in 2014. There was no question that his promotion was warranted, and no question that the Lehigh Valley bullpen was prepared for the right-hander’s talented arm to join them.

It did, naturally, leave a bit of a hole in the relief corps in Reading. It’s been a week since Giles’ promotion to the Pigs, and the Reading bullpen has had a few games to sort out what life is like without the hard-throwing Giles. (The pen also lost Kyle Simon, who was promoted to Lehigh Valley along with Giles.) So, what’s left in the bullpen for the Fightins? Will we see other promotions sometime soon? Should we expect to see any of them with the big club this year? Continue reading A look at the Giles-less Reading bullpen →

Around the System–Catchers

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A first look at catchers throughout the organization.  Definitely more optimism than the lot of middle infielders, although currently no true stand out.  Next Up: STarting Pitching.

Lehigh Valley

Koyie Hill, 35, Acquired from Washington  in 2014; .298/.366/.464 in 84 AB’s; 2HR 14RBI; 10%bb/24%k rates; .211 vs. LHP, .323 vs. RHP; .423 with RISP. 22 games at C with 1 error (.993); 2 passed balls; 7/17(41%) CS;  Hill has played much more than expected due to Rupp’s injury and has been outstanding in the role he has been asked to fill,  With Rupp now back in the lineup, expect  Hill to be used twice a week.

Sebastian Valle, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2006; .227/.245/.455 in 44AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 2HR 12RBI; 4%bb/22%k rates.  12 games at C with 1 error (.988); 1 passed ball; 2/7(29%) CS; Valle has been relegated to a back up role at both Reading and Lehigh Valley, playing once or twice a week.  He shows flashes but has not been playing regularly enough to establish any real consistency.

Cameron Rupp, 25, Phils 3rd round pick in 2010; .259/.459/.778 in 27 AB’s; 4HR 9RBI; 9 games at C with no errors; 0 passed balls; 1/5(20%); CS; Just returned yesterday after missing a little over a month with an oblique injury. Continue reading Around the System–Catchers →

Box Score Recap – 5/15/2014

Box Score Recap

“Soft-Tossing 28-Year-Old Righty Wins AAA Game” isn’t usually the headline around here, but it was a heck of a game from Barry Enright – 1R on 4H, 1HR, 1BB and 2K in a complete game victory. Tyson Gillies, Tyler Henson and Steve Susdorf all with multi-hit games, Jim Murphy was 2-4 with a double and a home run, and Cameron Rupp was 1-1 with a double, three walks, and scored twice in his return to AAA action after a couple weeks on the shelf. I’m starting to think things about Gillies. Just small things. Maybe nothing will come of it.

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez made his professional debut as part of his official rehab assignment, giving up 3R on 6H, 2BB, 1K in 5IP. Jim wrote up his impressions last night. Check it out. Five Threshers had multi-hit games in that one.

And in the VSL, Jesus Alastre notched his first professional XBH, a triple. DCWildcat53 pointed out in the comments yesterday that Jim Salisbury reported that Alastre was a July 2 signing last year for $50k, so now I won’t have to search for it. DC REPRESENT! Also, 2012 high-bonus guy Willerker Isava saw the field in that contest, his first action of the year, at third base instead of his prior position of shortstop.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/15/2014 →