Monthly Archives: June 2014

Around the System–Corner Infield

Other Stuff

This is really frighening.  Next up, Middle Infield.

Lehigh Valley

Maikel Franco, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2009; .223/.290/.357 in 224 AB’s; 5HR 25RBI; 8%bb/16%k rates; .276 vs. LHP; .205 vs. RHP; .243 with RISP; 46 games at 3B with 2 errors (.984); 11 games at 1B without an error;  Hitting .255 since May 1.  Improved since we last spoke but nowhere near where most of us thought he would be offensively.  Playing well with the glove.

Jim Murphy, 28, Phils 18th round pick in 2006; .240/.321/.423 in 208 AB’s; 8HR 31RBI; 9%bb/24%k rates; .211 vs. LHP; .252 vs. RHP; .236 with RISP; .226 since May 1.  49 games at 1B with 3 errors (.993); Murphy is providing some pop but he is hitting about 30 points below where most expected this year. Continue reading Around the System–Corner Infield →

Draft Day 3 Recap

2014 Draft

The Phillies had a strange Day 3 of the draft, starting it off with 18 straight college players, despite having freed up money on day 2.  They did rebound with a lot of HS guys late, so we will see how it all filters out on signing day.  With 30 picks there is no way to give them all full attention, but here are some highlights.

Drew Stankiewicz – A bloodlines guy.  Drew is a left handed hitting SS who likely moves to 2B in pro-ball.  It is a long road to climb, but second baseman who can hit have a chance to stick around and surprise later.  Solid pick.

Austin Davis – I love this pick, but I have a thing for lefties with changeups.  Davis has been up to 94 with the fastball and the changeup is solid, he also lacks the heavy workload of other college juniors.  Right now he has to find a consistent arm slot and a breaking ball.  This pick my take a bit, but there is upside here. Continue reading Draft Day 3 Recap →

Box Score Recap – 6/6/2014

Box Score Recap

I kinda rambled on and on here. I blame the dudes tearing down a shed outside my bedroom window at 7:15 am. Anyway, Happy Draft Saturday, everyone! Let’s all keep a good thought for “Prep Arm With Upside” or “Toolsy Outfielder Who Really Isn’t As Interested In College As He’s Led His Parents To Believe, And Is Willing To Break It To Them Over The Next Five Weeks, Because While Breaking Your Mother’s Heart Is A Bummer, Money Is Way Better Than Learning And Stuff”.

On to Friday’s results – Cam Rupp had two hits and Cam Perkins drew two walks for LV. Perkins has done a nice job taking his walks this year, improving drastically over his 2013 rates. If you’re a corner OF with an ISO of around .150, any extra offensive value you can add is huge, and walking your way to an OBP over .400 is a pretty good start.

Jesse Biddle did not fair well in his start – 7R on 6H, 2HR, 2BB, 2K in 2.1 IP. Just under 60% of his pitches went for strikes. Colt Murray with six Ks in an extended relief, and first baseman Brock Stassi played mop-up for Austin Wright, inducing a fly ball out with the bases loaded to close out the top of the ninth of a Reading blow-out loss. Wright walked four men (around a FC and a wild pitch) in the ninth. That’s…that’s not so good.

Ethan Stewart induced 11 groundball outs and struck out five over seven innings. That’s the kind of performance that keeps people wondering if there isn’t something valuable lurking under the surface on that guy, if only he could be at all consistent. You don’t generally get 11 guys to ground out in a game by accident. Since a meltdown, seven walk performance on May 26th, Stewart has walked just five over 16.1 IP. So keep any eye on him going forward.

Dylan Cozens hit his third triple of the year. He’s a guy who’s not ready to give up on the idea that he can be a true athlete – he’s stolen 10 bases and been caught just twice this year. If he doubles up on his counting stats by the end of the year, (we’re close to the halfway mark), he’ll have 30 doubles, 6 triples, 14 homers and 20 steals. His 26% K rate is high, and his walk rate is historically low for him, ~6.5%. It was around 10% last year and even higher in the GCL in 2012. All in all, I’d take that kind of season as a pass of the level, for sure.

Also of note from Friday, Yacksel Rios struck out four in a two inning save, adn Carlos Tocci was 2-4 with a double for Lakewood. KC Serna had four hits including two doubles for CLR. Carlos Alonso hit a double and a home run for Reading. Sean O’Sullivan managed to work his way through seven innings of one-run ball for Lehigh Valley. And both Complex League teams lost to the respective Complex League Cubs, or “Los Cachorros”. I could never do the “rr” sound. It’s why my career dream of being a diplomatic translator for the Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Horticulture and Fisheries was eventually crushed. DAMN YOU TONGUE ROLL SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!

Roster news from the last couple days – Tyson Gillies was DFAed by the Phillies and cleared waivers, and is expected back on the Lehigh Valley roster. Cesar Jimenez was also DFAed to make room for Ronny Cedeno to go up to the Phils. Luis Garcia completed a quick rehab assignment at AAA and was optioned off the DL, and Jiwan James is back in Reading, as is previously injured C Lars Davis – not sure if they’ve moved Logan Moore back to CLR, but I wouldn’t be surprised, even though he’s had seven hits in his last four AA games.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/6/2014 →

MLB Draft Day 3

2014 Draft

There are 30 picks to be made today, some will be overslot and at slot ($100,000) HS players, some will be guys who will never sign, and then there will be college players picked for their ability to fill a need on an organizational roster.  We will keep it updated when we have a chance.

A quick note from Brad – We have our first signing reported by the player on Twitter – It’s 10th Rounder Matt Shortall. No bonus info yet, but bet on saving a $100K plus on that one. Anyway, I’ll be working to get the draft tracker up after we have all 40 picks.

Also Sam McWilliams has signed – Matt

https://twitter.com/SamMcWilliams3/status/475384399799021568

Round 11 – Drew Stankiewicz, SS, Arizona St (JR)
Round 12 – Austin Davis, LHP, Cal State Bakersfield (JR)
Round 13 – Nathan Thornhill, RHP, Texas (SR)
Round 14 – Chase Harris, OF, New Mexico (SR)
Round 15 – Jared Fisher, RHP, Washington (JR)
Round 16 – Calvin Rayburn, RHP, Barry University (SR)
Round 17 – Damek Tomscha, 3B, Auburn (SR)
Round 18 – Sean McHugh, C, Purdue (SR)
Round 19 – Joey Denato, LHP, Indiana (SR)
Round 20 – Derek Campbell, 2B, California (SR)
Round 21 – Tim Zier, 2B, San Diego State (SR)
Round 22 – Ryan Powers, RHP, Miami (OH) (JR)
Round 23 – Joel Fisher, C, Michigan St. (SR)
Round 24 – Preston Packrall, RHP, University of Tampa (SR)
Round 25 – Bryan Sova, RHP, Creighton (SR)
Round 26 – Jacques De Gruy, RHP, Furman (SR)
Round 27 – Scott Harris, LHP, Buena Vista University (JR)
Round 28 – Tanner Kiest, RHP, Chaffey College (J2)
Round 29 – Al Molina, SS, Red Bank Catholic HS (NJ)
Round 30 – Brandon Murray, RHP, Hubert HS (IN)
Round 31 – Shane Gonzales, RHP, Fullerton (Calif.) JC (CA)
Round 32 – Tom Flacco, OF, Eastern HS, Voorhees Township (NJ)
Round 33 – James Harrington, RHP, Mesquite HS, Gilbert (AZ)
Round 34 – Scott Tomassetti, C, Sierra Vista HS, Las Vegas (NV)
Round 35 – Thomas Gamble, OF, Moorestown HS (NJ)
Round 36 – Blake Wiggins, C, Pulaski Academy, Little Rock (AR)
Round 37 – Heath Rogalla, RHP, Oak Park and River HS (IL)
Round 38 – Kollin Schrenk, RHP, Kell HS, Charlotte (NC)
Round 39 – Keenan Eaton, OF, Chaparrell HS (CO)
Round 40 – Jesse Berardi, SS, Commack HS (NY)

Draft Reaction Rounds 3-10

2014 Draft

There really isn’t a good time to evaluate a draft class, so I am not going to call this win or a loss for the Phillies, and with 30 more picks to go there still could be some surprises.  With that, I will say I like it because they stuck to a board so far and aren’t being fancy, taking guys who fall without putting their whole draft on one player.  I am not reading too much into the amount of college players, and it is impossible to know whether they targeted college players or it just fell that way without seeing their draft board.

Aaron Brown – The Phillies are sticking him in the OF for now (he could end up a reliever if that fails), and he probably starts in CF, though RF is likely the long term position given his arm strength.  Brown is still pretty raw as a hitter, with an approach that struggles against off speed pitches, but big time power.  The Phillies will likely bring him along slow, but he has more upside than most 3rd round college hitters.

Continue reading Draft Reaction Rounds 3-10 →

Is Jesse Biddle Still on Track for a Mid-Season Call-Up to AAA?

Other Stuff,

In their quest to add to their pitching cupboard, the Phillies last night turned their attention to Aaron Nola and Matt Imhof, two men they hope will join the Major League rotation in Philadelphia someday.

Four years ago, however, it was Jesse Biddle’s time in the spotlight, when the Phillies made him the 27th pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. While Biddle is still just 22, there are certain pressures and expectations that come with being the top pitching prospect in an organization. Throughout his career in the Minors, Biddle has done a fine job of navigating the waters while finding himself as a pitcher.

As Matt mentioned in his blog post last week, one of the moves he would make in June would be to promote Biddle to Lehigh Valley as soon as possible. While we did just see two call-ups this past week, with Tyler Knigge and Cam Perkins going to the Iron Pigs, is Biddle due for a promotion as well? Continue reading Is Jesse Biddle Still on Track for a Mid-Season Call-Up to AAA? →

Box Score Recap – 6/5/2014

Box Score Recap

Maikel Franco and pinch hitter Greg Smith (uhh…ok) hit home runs for Lehigh Valley. Phillippe Aumont drew a walk in that contest. Baseball’s interesting. Both LV and Reading used what seems like all of their pitchers, so let’s hope for some long starts today. Aaron Altherr, Logan Moore and Carlos Alonso each had three hits for REA, and Roman Quinn managed the same for CLR. Looks like Jeb Stefan’s been pushed to the bullpen for that squad, and 2013 pick Mark Meadors made his first outing of the year there as well. Lakewood was blanked by Delmarva, though Carlos Tocci and Dylan Cozens managed  XBHs.

We reach the end of an era, as Jesus Alastre did not reach safely for the first time in his career. Pour one out, folks. And in the Dom Rep, the pitching tandem of Yonathan Trinidad and Yonathan Gonzalez couldn’t hold off the Cubs. It was a fairly low-scoring affair, and I wonder if anyone thought, “What A Yon Fest”. Probably not. And now I’m yawning. And can’t stop. And maybe so are you. Hope no one’s in a meeting or anything.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/5/2014 →

Draft Day 2 Discussion Rounds 3-10

2014 Draft

The drat kicks off today at 12:35 ET.  The Phillies will have 8 picks, they will likely take a mix of players, and that mix of players will determine where they go underslot, or if they stick to their board.   We will keep this post updated with picks as they come in.

Round 3 – Aaron Brown, OF, Pepperdine University

Round 4 – Chris Oliver, RHP, Arkansas

Round 5 – Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Sacramento State

Round 6 – Brandon Leibrandt, LHP, Florida State

Round 7 – Emmanuel Marrero, SS, Alabama St

Round 8 – Sam Mc Williams, RHP, Beech HS (TN)

Round 9 – Matt Hockenberry, RHP, Temple (Senior)

Round 10 – Matt Shortall, OF, Texas-Arlington (Senior)

The Phillise Select LHP Matt Imhof with the #47 Overall Pick

2014 Draft

After starting their draft with a polished college pitcher, the Phillies continued with another college pitcher with good fastball command in Matt Imhof from Cal Poly.  Imhof leads the NCAA in strikeouts thanks to a low 90s fastball that he can get good movement on.  The secondary stuff needs a lot of work for him to stay in the rotation.  He is young enough with enough size that the stuff FB could tick a bit up.  He is more a #3/#4 starter if it all works out, but likely on the low side without a major jump in stuff.

He is a bit of a reach at #47, but if the Phillies could save a little bit of money here to spend later, he is a good value.

The Phillies Select Aaron Nola with the 7th Overall Pick

2014 Draft

The Phillies didn’t buck the mock drafts and took LSU RHP Aaron Nola with the #7 pick.  I am not a huge fan of the pick, but do not confuse that with Nola being a bad pick.  Most experts thought that #7 was the lowest that Nola would fall, and that he would return value equal to that level of pick.

Nola does not have a prototype  starting pitcher build at 6’1″ 170 lbs and the delivery is very low for a RHP.  Nola’s calling card is plus control and a good feel for pitching.  Don’t confuse this with a lack of stuff, as Nola can get the fastball up to 96, though he is more 92-95.  The changeup is a current plus pitch, and there could be more given his feel for pitching.  The slider is still a work in progress, and given his low slow will likely be a pitch that sees heavy platoon splits. Continue reading The Phillies Select Aaron Nola with the 7th Overall Pick →