Yearly Archives: 2014

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

Other Stuff

A tough 2-5 week for Lehigh Valley who concluded a long road trip in Durham and came home on Tuesday to begin a 8 game homestand against Louisville and Indianapolis. The ‘Pigs now sit in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Syracuse.

‘Pigs Prospects:Kenny Giles has been unscored upon in 8 of his 10 outings for Lehigh Valley, earning 2 wins, 5 saves and a hold over that time period. In his 10 games for the ‘Pigs, Giles is 2-0 with a 2.13ERA; 1.11WHIP and .171 opp average.

Maikel Franco has been very quiet, hitting just .200 over the last 10 games with 0HR and 4RBI and missing some time with an upper respiratory issue. On the year, Franco now sits at .228/.297/.356 with 4HR and 22RBI.  Absent a solid 3-4 weeks, 2014 has been a struggle for Franco.  Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Box Score Recap – 6/2/2014

Box Score Recap

Brad Lincoln pitched well for Lehigh Valley, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out five in seven scoreless innings. Ken Giles earned the save there with a clean inning, with 1K. Maikel Franco was 1-4 with a 2B. Clearwater was blanked by Bradenton. With Andrew Knapp gone, it’s Quinn and Lino and not much else to get terribly excited about from a prospect point of view.

Speaking of…all it took was a demotion to Lakewood to get Knapp back on track – he’s OPSing 1.267 on the year in four (4) plate appearances at that level. (For those uninitiated, that’s me being funny. Watch for it. Hard to spot at times.) Dylan Cozens was 2-5 with two doubles and Willians Astudillo extended his hitting streak to 17 and walked twice (!!!).

And speaking of…DSL’s Edwin Rodriguez with the Golden Whatever-it-is-when-you-walk-four-times-in-a-game. Golden Ticket, (as in a “free pass”)? Golden Egg, (as in the goose-egg for number of ABs)? Umm…Golden Corral? Golden Earring? Golden, Colorado? Steven Golden? Ok, I got nothin’. Point is he walked four times.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/2/2014 →

XST and Threshers; June 2, 2014

Game Reports

The XST games had been moved up from their 1:00PM start to noon, so when I arrived they were just completing the 2nd inning. As I walked up to the Williamsport game, Justin Parr was completing his AB, working a walk. Nick Ferdinand followed with a perfectly executed hit-and-run. Then the Yankees “rolled” the inning. I overheard one of the Yankee pitching coaches remark that the pitcher had thrown too many 3-2 counts.  Apparently, it was “Take a Pitch Day”. Most of the Williamsport batters were working deep counts, even guys who usually hack at the first pitch.

Feliberto Sanchez pitched 6 innings. Continue reading XST and Threshers; June 2, 2014 →

General Discussion – Week of 6-2-2014 – OH MY GOD IT’S STILL THE METS SERIES Edition

Weekly Discussion

This has to be in the running for the worst series in the history of the league, just by sheer volume of bad baseball.

Also, I got around to posting the graphic and some notes in the Box Score Recap for today, so feel free to discuss that stuff over in that thread.

Discuss.

Reading Report: 5/27-6/1

Other Stuff, , , , ,

It was a bit of a busy week for the Fightins, even though this recap will only cover six games. (I cheated a bit and posted last Tuesday instead of Memorial Day.) For the team, it was a bit of a rough go, as they went 1-5 from Tuesday-Sunday. There are plenty of storylines to cover in this week’s recap, so let’s get to it. Continue reading Reading Report: 5/27-6/1 →

Around the System–OF

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Lehigh Valley

Leandro Castro, 25, Signed as a free agent in 2007; .249/317/.367 in 169 AB’s; 4/7 SB; 8%bb/17%k rates; .216 vs. RHP; .263 vs. LHP; .277 with RISP; Hit .255 in May; 48 games in the OF with 6 errors (.946); 4 OF assists; Castro has greatly improved his walk and strikeout rate, which were an area of huge concern in years past. That said, he has been mediocre thus far, and his fielding is always an adventure.

Tyson Gillies, 25, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; .224/.280/.315 in 143 AB’s; 2HR 10RBI; 3/5SB; 4%bb/26%k rates; .147 vs. LHP; .248 vs. RHP; .219 with RISP; .242 in May.  36 games in the OF with 1 error (.991); 2 OF assists; Just flat out lousy.  A little less lousy in May.

Steve Susdorf, 28, Phils 19th round pick in 2008 draft; .281/.343/.338 in 160 AB’s; 0HR 14RBI; 3/5SB; 9%bb/17% k rates; .257 vs. LHP; .288 vs. RHP; .286 with RISP; .322/.392/.402 in May.  20 games in the OF without an error; 1 OF assist; After a very slow start, Susdorf is now hitting in the manner he is capable which is high average with little power.  He gives you a professional AB every time. Continue reading Around the System–OF →

Box Score Recap – 6/1/2014

Box Score Recap

Couple notes here as I post the graphic. Leandro Castro is trying to get back on track, OPSing near .800 for his last 10 games after a 3-4 with two 2B on Sunday. Severino Gonzalez got roughed up after a trio of decent outings previous – he was throwing strikes, though many of them were hit with bats, and three of those traveled quite far.

Andrew Knapp hit his first HR of the year. Ethan Stewart had a nice line, his best since the third week of the season. Willians Astudillo kept his hitting streak alive at 16 games. Delvi Francisco came apart at the seams, and our main man in the VSL Jesus Alastre has been out of action for a couple days now.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/1/2014 →

Brad and Matt do a Mock Draft: Part 1 (1-27)

2014 Draft

Mock drafts for the MLB Draft are fairly useless as they are normally all off after the first few picks.  With that we decided to do one mock draft instead of going head to head.  It provides a good level of conflict as the other person always takes the players you want in a spot.  With that we both included our picks for each spot.  We will be going to 50 picks to get the Phillies first two picks.  At both #7 and #47 we will both submit our picks and reasoning.  Now expect us to get no picks right.  I have odds, Brad’s got the evens. -Matt

#1 Houston Astros select Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic HS (California)

I think the Astros think a lot about Rodon or getting cute with another player on an underslot deal, but ultimately Aiken offers the most upside and is polished enough he could move almost as quickly as a college pitcher through the system. (Brad: Aiken)

#2 Miami Marlins select Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State

It sure will be fun to watch Rodon shut down Ryan Howard and Dom Brown, (among others), a couple times a year in a very short time. Keith Law had the Marlins in on a bat a couple weeks ago, (he’s since changed his mock pick to Rodon), so maybe Alex Jackson, but after a resurgence from his early season doldrums, I think Rodon will prove too good to pass up. With four early picks, this could be an underslot opportunity, but I don’t think so. (Matt: Kolek) Continue reading Brad and Matt do a Mock Draft: Part 1 (1-27) →

Threshers; June 1, 2014

Game Reports, , , , , ,

We were treated to another pitchers’ duel today. Ethan Stewart and Bradenton’s Jason Creasy battled for 6 innings. Stewart blinked first allowing a 5th inning run. They completed the 6th inning with the Marauders protecting a 1-0 lead.  After a short rain delay, the bullpens took over. Both pens combined to allow 6 runs in the 7th inning.  They settled down and closed out the final two innings without any further scoring.

Ethan Stewart pitched a tough, gritty 6 innings. Continue reading Threshers; June 1, 2014 →

Four Moves to Make in June

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This should spur some discussion.  All this is assuming continued production and health.

1.  Jesse Biddle to Lehigh Valley–Its time.  His control has been better and he is pushing 40 starts in AA, with an ERA under 3.20 and the opposition hitting under .230 against him.

2.  Cameron Perkins to Lehigh Valley–The IronPigs OF at this stage has several AAAA players that will never make a contribution in the majors beyond possibly that of a 5th OF. WHile I don’t see Perkins as a Major League regular, I do think he has the potential to be a 4th OF with 300+ AB’s a year for a big league club.  Challenge him.

3.  Peter Lavin to Reading–It is not likely that Peter Lavin will ever make the major leagues but having him play three years at High A makes no sense.  He is producing, so reward him.  He will do a competent job in Reading.

4.  Cody Forsythe to Clearwater– Forsythe is a 23 year old college draftee who is has been pitching very well for Lakewood. 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 8 saves; .216 opp avg…Again, challenge him.  A new class of draftees will be here shortly which will replenish the rosters at the lower levels…

Move I wouldnt make yet–JP Crawford.  Crawford has done everything asked and then some.  I am of the opinion that losing is an attitude and I would be a little leery about putting him into the current environment in Clearwater.  If I were king, I would let him play in Lakewood until the beginning of August and then consider giving him a taste of Reading, or in the alternative CLearwater for the final three weeks or so of the season.