Lehigh Valley

Phillippe Aumont, 25, Acquired from Seattle in 2010; 14 games; 0-1 with a 5.60ERA; 17.2IP 15H 19BB 18K; 0.76GO/AO; .246 opp. avg; 1.92WHIP; 9.7BB/9.2K per nine; .200 vs. LHH; .278 vs. RHH; .400 with RISP.  Ten walks per nine innings and getting lit up with RISP.  Not much more to say.

Justin DeFratus, 26, Phils 11th round pick in 2007; 14 games, 0-0 with a 4.20ERA; 3 saves; 15IP 17H 3BB 12K; 1.64 GO/AO; .309 opp. avg; 1.33WHIP; 1.8BB/7.2K per nine; .348 vs. LHH, .281 vs. RHH, .316 with RISP.  DeFratus is still trying to figure it out.  He has been extremely hittable this year and far less overpowering than in years past.

Kenny Giles, 23;Phils 7th round pick in 2011;  18 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 2-0 with a 1.29ERA; 8 saves; 21IP 11H 10BB 31K; 0.71GO/AO; .155 opp. avg; 1.00WHIP; 4.3BB/13.3K per nine;  These are simply overwhelmingly good stats.  The only brief moment of pause is a slightly elevated walk rate, but Giles has been dominant. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers →

There has been a rash of pitching injuries across baseball from every level from the majors through the minors and amatuer ranks.  For the most part the focus has been on Tommy John injuries, but the Phillies have had larger problems with injuries to all parts of pitchers bodies.  For the most part I am going to focus on the past year and a half, but I will also pull in pitchers who have affected the last few years who were injured in previous seasons.

Cliff Lee – LHP – Age: 35
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Cutter
Injury: Left Elbow Strain
Background: Lee pitched with elbow soreness for over a month.  The Phillies have opted for rest, fastball velocity down to start the year.

Jonathan Pettibone – RHP – Age: 22
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Slider
Injury: Torn Labrum
Background:  Pettibone was injured late in 2013 and has opted for rest over surgery. Continue reading Trying to Find Patterns in Phillies Pitching Injuries →

A look back at the time period of May 15-21…Looks like our #1 Not Hot Starter, David Buchanan, may be on his way to Philly to replace Cliff Lee in the rotation…I have to admit, Andrew Knapp is starting to worry me…With Willians Astudillo starting to catch more regularly, the fact that he continues to scald the ball becomes more intriguing…The transition to AAA for Kenny Giles seems to have been a smooth one from his early numbers…Just when some thought Justin DeFratus was fixed, he ends up taking a step backwards….The Reading bullpen was outstanding this week (Knigge, Murray, O’Sullivan, Ogando)

Hot Hitters: Min 12 AB’s: Willians Astudillo (.476, 8RBI); Albert Cartwright (.400, 9R, HR 2RBI, SB); Art Charles (.400, 5R); Anthony Phillips (.385); Samuel Hiciano (.375); Andrew Pullin (.364, 5R 1HR 5RBI); Wilmer Oberto (.350, 4R 3RBI); Ronny Cedeno (.333); Jiandido Tromp (.333, 4R 4RBI); Honorable Mention: Susdorf

Not Hot Hitters: Chris Serritella (.067);  Nick Ferdinand (.067); Andrew Knapp (.148); Gabrial Lino (.167); Aaron Altherr (.167); Carlos Alonso (.167); Tyler Henson (.174); Malquin Canelo (.188); Mitch Walding (.190) Continue reading Hot or Not →