Lehigh Valley was shutout over a rain-shortened five inning contest by Red Sox off-season #11 prospect (per BA) Anthony Ranaudo. Phillippe Aumont allowed just one base runner (by walk, of course) and struck out the side in his only inning, if we’re looking for things to be happy-ish about. For a guy who revamped his delivery in the off-season, I have no problem giving him a while to work it out, especially with so many questionable arms (and bats) holding roster spots that aren’t nearly as exciting as his often-filthy movement. I will not, however, refrain from making light of his bad outings with “Aumont is French For”s. I just don’t have it in me.

Cam Perkins had one hit and Ken Giles struck out the side in order in a most-decidedly non-save situation, with Reading down 10-2 in the eighth. Boston’s #7 (BA) Mookie Betts is crushing Eastern League pitching, OPSing 1.159 on the year. He tagged the Fightins with a 3-4, HR, 3RBI performance. Also his name is Mookie Betts. It’s no “Rock Shoulders“, but it’s an easy 70. Also, apparently he was a good bowler in high school. Thanks for that nugget, BA Prospect Handbook!

A thing happened in Clearwater. It resembled a sporting contest, but I don’t think anyone would confuse it with an actual contest. Chad Carman, a guy who’s usually a catcher, was the best pitcher for one side. That’s not normally a good sign.

And, what’s this? Hitting? I don’t believe it!!! Yes, Lakewood used the sticks well in their 9-4 rain-shortened affair with Lexington, pounding out 13 hits, including 8 doubles, in their seven innings at the dish. Notable were Dylan Cozens and Willians Astudillo, who each tallied two doubles, and Samuel Hiciano, Jan Hernandez, and Mitch Walding with two hits a piece, all including one for two bases. Walding is just back from rehabbing after rib-removal surgery, to get rid of the bum rib he possessed that could be broken by getting off a couch. I’m sure there’s a joke to be made there, but I’m struggling to find it. Rest assured, it wouldn’t have been that funny anyway, as most of you probably already assume with most of my material.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/29/2014 →

(Forgot to mention B.J. Rosenberg when I posted this – he took a liner off the head in the 11th and had to be removed. He walked from the field under his own power, but it sounded like he was having concussion-like symptoms – I’m sure we’ll hear more about it today or tomorrow after testing. I follow @GJoyce9 on Twitter for Pigs’ news, FWIW. I’m sure he’ll have updates around the same time as anyone else).

As much as we’d like to believe Jesse Biddle is an ace, most of us are resigned to the idea that his ceiling is likely a mid-back of the rotation guy. With starts like he had a couple times in a row before this, I understand why some of us, (myself included), get a little excited about him.  But after last night, we’re reminded why no professional is assuming he’ll be an #1 or #2 type starter. He’s young enough to build on bad games like this – he can try to learn to mitigate the damage and fix his mechanical issues on the fly, so hopefully in 2015 or 2016 when he’s a full-time big leaguer, these five and six walk nightmares become three and four walk bummers, and leave his team a little better shot at pulling the game out of the fire for him.

As for Greg Smith, he’s really got it working right now. Gregg (@PhuturePhilz) said on Twitter last night that Smith should be the first man up if you need another starter. I personally wouldn’t go that far, but I think Smith could get a look at some point. He costs you a roster spot, so Jonathan Pettibone makes more sense right now, IMO, but I’d take Smith over David Buchanan at the moment, if only for the fact that Smith can be waived off the 40-man with minimal risk when he’s done in the bigs, and Buchanan would need to stay on or risk losing a young, serviceable arm to a waiver claim.

Also, FTR, I spent three minutes on BRef trying to figure out why I couldn’t find the right “Matt” Smith to link to. I like to think I’m pretty smart sometimes. Other times…

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/28/2014 →

All across the system today, starters managed their games without throwing a ton of strikeouts. David Buchanan led the org with 5k/5.2IP, Perci Garner has 2K/6IP, Miguel Nunez 1K/6.2IP, and Tyler Viza 1K/6IP.

Quite a first impression Gabriel Lino is leaving on the Florida State League – 2-4 with a home run in his first game for Clearwater. Aaron Altherr was 3-4 with a 2B for Reading, while Logan Moore went 1-3 and also doubled in his AA debut. Moore was a JuCo draftee four years ago, and he’ll need to be protected this off season or exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. I have a hard time believing he’d make a big league club out of spring training in 2015, so I’d guess he’s safely a Phillie next year, protected or not.

And finally, J.P. Crawford hit his second long ball of the year, to go along with two bases on balls. He’s got 13 walks now, and just 15Ks in just shy of 100 PAs. His OPS in .931 over his last ten games, driven by a higher OBP than SLG. He’s walked nine times in those ten games, and managed 11 hits, but just two for extra bases. I’m not sure how he’ll hold up over a full year, but if he manages to OPS near the .794 he’s sporting right now, as a 19-year-old in Lakewood, he’ll make every top 100 list in the off-season, and possibly push his way into the Top 50 on a majority of those. You’re already allowed to get excited, but a full year of this will open up the floodgates of prospectorial gushing the likes of which Philly hasn’t seen since Dom Brown was beginning his ascent towards an eventual peak as BA’s mid-season #1 overall in 2010.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/27/2014 →