Players:
Ryan Howard -34 – MLB
Darin Ruf – 27 – MLB
Jim Murphy – 28 – AAA
Cody Overbeck – 27 – AAA
Brock Stassi – 24 – AA
Chris Serritella – 24 – A+
Art Charles – 23 – A+
William Carmona – 23 – A+
Wilmer Oberto – 21 – A- Continue reading Positional Preview – First Base
Groups 1 and 2 this morning. Normally, I would have watched Group 2, but Mike Adams was going to pitch the first inning in the Group 1 game. Since this would be against slightly more advanced hitters than those he faced against Group 2 in an intra-squad game earlier in the week, I chose to watch Group 1. Adams was followed by Pettibone for 3 innings.
I reported earlier this week that Adams threw well against Group 2, but after retiring the first 3 batters, he gave up singles to Joseph and Harold Martinez before the outing was called by the coaches. Continue reading MiLB Spring Training 2014; March 22nd, Adams vs. the Blue Jays
Groups 3 and 4 were back on their normal fields, Ashburn and Schmidt playing the Blue Jays farm teams. Group 5 was playing an independent team from Long Island, the Storm. I was able to get a good spot at the backstop on Ashburn, so I Group 3 and Miguel Nunez. Continue reading MiLB Spring Training 2014; March 21st, vs. the Blue Jays
With the major league club falling apart (almost literally), it turns to the minor league system to provide the optimism in 2014. The problem is that the farm system is not good right now. Ranking wise, it has been as high as 14, but for the most part it settles in the 20-25 range. The good news is that it is trending up and with the right set of circumstances it could come close to the top farm systems in the game.
Lets start by looking at the makeup of the Top 5 farm systems in Baseball America’s Handbook (Top 100 rankings included, these rankings may differ due to the BA ranking process). Continue reading Road to a Top Farm System
This morning Jay Floyd posted the new minor league workout groups up on Phoulballz.
Here is the list (cleaner list picture taken by Baseball Betsy):
I didn’t expect much today. It was a scheduled camp day where Groups 1 and 2; and Groups 3 and 4 would play intra-squad games while Group 5 would play a team from the Blue Jays. I could see Jesse Biddle warming up, so I ended up at Roberts Field to watch him this afternoon. While waiting for the game to start, I noticed that Scott Palmer was sitting in the bleachers. Soon after, Pat Gillick walked past. Then Charley Kerfeld. Dickie Noles came out to the back of the cage. So did Dallas Green. Gary Matthews came out to sit with Palmer. Ruben Amaro came out and sat at the table in the balcony behind home plate. Why were so many guys here and not in Dunedin where the Phillies were playing the Toronto Blue Jays in a Grapefruit League game?
Mike Adams. Continue reading MiLB Spring Training 2014; Camp Day
Starting with catcher, I am going to take a position by position look at the positional group, and highlight some players in it. This is not a comprehensive organizational list of each position, but it is meant to give a good feel for position as a whole. Each position will have its own feel for the categories and questions.
Players: Name-Age-Projected 2014 Level (Top 30 Rank)
Carlos Ruiz – 35 – MLB
Wil Nieves – 36 – MLB
Cameron Rupp – 25 – AAA (23)
Koyie Hill – 37 – AAA
Tommy Joseph – 22 – AA (22)
Sebastian Valle – 23 – AA Continue reading Positional Preview – Catcher
Heavy rains throughout central Florida forced the cancellation of games yesterday. Today, Groups 1 and 2 were on the rode in Bradenton. Groups 3 and 4 played at the Complex. Group 3 usually plays on Ashburn Field, but the 1-3 inches of rain that fell in the Tampa Bay area must have rendered the field too water-logged for a game. Group 3 was moved to Roberts Field.
Group 4 played on Schmidt Field. Ranfi Casimiro was the starter. I checked the line up card and saw that Cozens was slated to start in center, again.
Ethan Stewart was the starter for group 3. I had to leave early to pick up family at the airport, I chose to watch Stewart. The wind on Roberts was strong, blowing from the left field corner to the right field corner. Continue reading MiLB Spring Training 2014; March 18th, vs. the Pirates
Yes, it’s that time of year, again. Last year they used Ryan O’Sullivan on St. Pat’s, and I was kinda hoping just for the sake of the brothers saying they pitched together in a big league-ish game that they’d use Sean and Ryan today, but alas, Sean is actually battling for a roster spot, (I guess), so he went on his regular turn yesterday. Maybe we’ll still see Ryan again today, but it’s less cool.
Also wondering what other MiLB guys we may get a look at here the last couple weeks. We’ve seen Hector Neris a couple times the last few years, wouldn’t be surprised to see someone similar, like a reliever-only A+/AA level kind of guy – maybe Neifi Ogando or Colt Murray or someone like that – hard throwers that could move up the system if they get results. Continue reading General Discussion – Week of 3-17-2014 – Green Jersey Edition
There are many Phillies prospect lists out on the internet. Some come from sites just putting forth their top 10 names, others are groups of experts covering the minor leagues as a whole, but their are small pockets where communities and writers have taken the deep dive into the minor league system. One of those people is Dan Cormican of The Good Phight. Dan has a deep knowledge of the system and what it takes to make a good prospect. This year he has once again released his Top 30 Phillies prospects (1-10, 11-20, 21-30) and he took the time to answer a few of my questions about his rankings, as well as a few questions about the 2014 MLB Draft.
What goes into your process of creating your list?
It evolves every year, I typically spend the first month or two in the fall looking at stats and notes I’ve made throughout the year to get a sense for what guys did that year. Initially I’m looking at the top line results (ERA, W/L records, AVG/SLG/OPS, etc.). This makes the first version of the list. Then I move on to scouting reports for players that year. Did someone have great stats but scouts see a future DH or slow bat speed or a weakness in swing or approach that suggests problems at higher levels. A lot of reordering often happens to the list at this point. I then do one last perusal through the “luck” stats. Did someone have a phenomenal year, but with a .450 BABiP (or for Pitchers a .240 BABiP) or vice versa, did a guy struggle, but have an abnormal HR/OFB rate. Very little movement happens on the list here. I still want to rank guys on actual present performance, not what may possibly have happened, but I do use it as a tie breaker. Continue reading Interview with Dan Cormican of The Good Phight
Phuture Phillies 
