Monthly Archives: June 2015

Box Score Recap – 6/18/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (26-43) beat Bufalo Bisons 3-0 in Aaron Nola’s debut at AAA.  In a marquee match up with the Blue Jays #1 prospect (pre-season #4), Daniel Norris, Nola shined.  He needed 98 pitches (66 strikes) to throw 5.0 innings, but allowed only 5 base runners on 4 hits and a walk.  One runner was caught stealing and the walk occured on the second to the last batter he faced.  Nola punctuated his evening by striking out the next batter, his seventh, to end the fifth inning and his evening.  The IronPigs plated a run in the bottom of the inning to give Nola a chance for his first AAA victory and the bullpen took over.  Adam Loewen allowed 2 base runners but struck out 6 Bison in 2 innings.  Juan Gutierrez allowed 2 base runners in each inning but recorded the 2-inning save.

Norris dominated the IronPigs through the first four innings, allowing just 3 base runners.  The ‘Pigs broke through in the fifth when they converted a Jordan Danks walk and a Jayson Nix double into the game’s first run.  They applied more pressure in the sixth when they scored a one-out insurance run on a Darin Ruf single, Russ Canzler single and a Cord Phelps double.  However, that is all they could manage as the Bison brought in a reliever to end the threat.  Lehigh Valley tacked on an additional run on a Darin Ruf single in the seventh inning.

Ruf went 2-4 with a run and an RBI.  Danks added 2 hits.  Gabriel Lino went 1-4 and threw out a would-be base stealer.  Brian Bogusevic (.318) went 1-3 with a walk and stole his 10th base.

Jason Berken (3-4, 3.88) pitches tomorrow.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/18/2015 →

Lehigh Valley Report

Other Stuff

It has been ugly for Lehigh Valley who are in the midst of a seven game home stand and have lost 17 of their last 24 games, even after their walk off come from behind win last night.  Hope comes tonight with the introduction of Aaron Nola into the IronPigs rotation with his scheduled start against Buffalo.  At 25-43, the ‘Pigs are in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 13.5 games behind division leading Scranton.  Scranton visits Coca Cola Park over the weekend before an off day on Monday.

News and Notes: Tyler Henson is hitting .542 (13-24) with RISP and two out.  Not bad.

–SP Adam Morgan threw two innings (35 pitches) on Wednesday night before being removed from the game.  Not injured, speculation quickly grew that he was being removed to keep him fresh to pitch Sunday for the Phils in Jerome Williams spot in the rotation.  That speculation was seemingly stomped after the game when Manager Dave Brundage commented that they were simply trying to limit Morgan’s innings and did not have an available starter to take Morgan’s rotation spot.  Not sure how much I am buying into that.

–I have no real idea why Jayson Nix was re-acquired.  He was awful last year and continues to be awful .  He is 0 for his last 18 and 4-38 in his last 11 games.

–1B Chris McGuiness is hitting .177(11-62) over his last 19 games and has fallen to .234 on the year

–SS Edgar Duran, who has been out around a month with a hamstring strain, is close to returning. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report →

Box Score Recap – 6/17/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (25-43) beat Bufalo Bisons 8-7 in a game that featured 4 lead changes.  Adam Morgan only pitched 2.0 innings and was pulled after 35 pitches.  Speculation about an injury or possible call-up to the Phillies was put to rest after the game when Coach Brundage revealed that it was an organizational decision to cut back on Morgan’s innings, but he didn’t have a SP available to completely skip Morgan’s appearance.

The IronPigs chased Randy Wolf after 5.0 innings.  They came from behind 3 times as the bullpen couldn’t hold a lead and won on Chris McGuinness’ walk off 2-run single.  Darin Ruf went 1-5 but had a double and 2 RBI.  Cord Phelps went 3-4 with a BB, HR, and 2 RBI.  Gabriel Lino went 2-3 with an RBI.  McGuinness had 3 hits, Chase d’Arnaud and Russ Canzler had two each.  The ”Pigs mounted a 15-hit attack.

Thursday is Nola Day as Aaron Nola makes his AAA debut. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/17/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 6/16/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (24-43) won the completion of their suspended game 3-1.  Chad Billingsley took over in the fifth when the game resumed and pitched 3.0 innings for the win.  He gave up an unearned run on 3 hits and a walk.  Jake Diekman picked up his 3rd save.  Darin Ruf started at first and went 1-4 with 2 RBI. C  Gabriel Lino went 1-4 but struck out 3 times.  Jordan Danks and Cord Phelps had 2 hits each.

The IronPigs dropped the second game 3-1.  Seve Gonzalez took the loss with the following line – 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.  Adam Loewen pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing 1 hit and 1 walk while striking out four.  (1-1, 4.74) pitches second game tomorrow.  The ‘Pigs managed only 4 hits by LF Tyler Henson (RBI), CF Brian Bogusevic (.319), 3B Cord Phelps, and C Blake Forsythe (R, 2B).

Adam Morgan (0-6, 4.61) pitches tomorrow as the IronPigs face former Phillies’ pitcher Randy Wolf (5-1, 2.70). Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/16/2015 →

Today at the Carpenter Complex

Other Stuff

At 10:00AM this morning, twenty newly signed draft picks began their professional baseball careers.  Along with 21 other holdovers in camp, they took calisthenics and began taking PFPs and fielding drills.

I left after an hour, before they started batting practice, but here is a list of the new players and a list of the players remaining from XST. (Draft Tracker updated) Continue reading Today at the Carpenter Complex →

Box Score Recap – 6/15/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (23-42) Game against Buffalo Bison’s suspended with IronPigs leading 2-0 in the fourth.  Reschuled before tomorrow’s game.  Chad Billingsley (1-1, 4.74) pitches second game tomorrow.

Reading (33-29) Much needed off day.  Jesse Biddle (5-1, 4.11) pitches tomorrow. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/15/2015 →

Open Discussion: Week of June 15th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

Draft Tracker is pinned at the top of the site.  No signings official, but a few kids are reporting to Clearwater tomorrow.

Some random stuff to light a fire –

  • If Freddie Galvis can’t make a routine throw … never mind.
  • They finally promoted Nola to LHV.
  • Well, he should have been promoted to Philadelphia.
  • Or, they should have left him in Reading.
  • Does Chase Utley have any options left?
  • The Phillies now have the worst record in baseball.
  • Who’s going to last in Philly longer, Giles or Sandberg/McClure/Bowa?  My first thought when I saw the clip was, “Really?  They’re going to get in the face of the guy who actually has a future in Philadelphia?”

Box Score Recap – 6/14/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (23-42) shut out the Norfolk Tides 2-0.  Phillippe Aumont had one of those lines he puts up occasionally – 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 9 K, 106 pitches, 56 strikes – but pitched effectively when he had to, kept the Tides off the board, and got the win.  Jason Berken was the bridge to the ninth inning, and Jake Diekman notched his second save.  Brian Bogusevic hit a solo HR (6) in the first inning and Russ Canzler added an insurance run in the sixth.  Gabriel Lino, the only “prospect” in a line up AAAA players, went 0-3.  Anthony Vasquez (1-3, 2.73) pitches tomorrow.  After the game, the Phillies announced the promotion of Aaron Nola from Reading to the IronPigs.  Pitching in the losing environment that surrounds the Lehigh Valley affiliate should prepare him for a later call-up to the major league team. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/14/2015 →

Aaron Nola promoted to Lehigh Valley

Other Stuff

The State secret that is Ruben Amaro’s timeline for Aaron Nola was finally learned today with his call up to AAA Lehigh Valley to presumably make his first start Thursday in Allentown.  Nola, who just turned 22 has been consistently outstanding this year, with a 7-3 record and a 1.88ERA in his 12 AA starts.  In 76.2IP for Reading, Nola has allowed just 59 hits, walking 9 and striking out 59, while holding the opposition to a .219 avg.  After having one start skipped to “keep him fresh”, Nola threw 5 innings yesterday (69 pitches), and yielded 2 earned runs on a first inning 2R homer.  Just one year removed from college ball, I would expect the Phils to keep Nola at no more than 160-170IP this year and to be closely monitored post All Star break.  Top prospect status aside, Nola will be a very welcome addition to both the team (23-42) and the fans in Allentown who have had very little to watch and even less to cheer about as we approach the minor league seasons half way point.

Around the System–Corner INF

Other Stuff

The moves to me at this stage are obvious.  Stassi to Lehigh Valley, Charles playing regularly in Reading and Hoskins to Clearwater.  See the evidence below.

Lehigh Valley

Chris McGuiness, 27, SIgned as a free agent in 2015; .226/.342/.296 in 159 AB’s; 1HR 16RBI; 16%BB/15%K rates; .263 vs LHP; .215 vs RHP; .200 last 30 days; .205 with RISP; 38 games at 1B with 2 errors (.994); 8.18 R/F.  Has been consistently unproductive all year.

Russ Canzler, 29, Re-Signed as a free agent in 2015; .260/.319/.383 in 196AB’s; 4HR 20RBI; 8%BB/18%K rates; .276 vs LHP; .254 vs. RHP; .211 over last 30 days; .245 with RISP; 28 games at 1B with 2 errors (.992); 5 games at 3B without an error; 6 games in the OF with 1 error.  After a fast start, Canzler has been almost non-existent for over a month now.

Cord Phelps, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2015; .220/.298/.269 in 182 AB’s; 2HR 9RBI; 2SB; 10%BB/15%K rates; .224 vs. LHP; .218 vs. RHP; .267 over last month; .250 with RISP; 27 games at 3B with 3 errors (.952); 22 games at 2B with 2 errors (.981).  Has provided little to no offense while continuing his versatility in the field

Reading

Art Charles, 24, Acquired from Toronto in 2013; .274/.355/.514 in 146 AB’s; 6HR 27RBI; 12%BB/24%K rates; .304 vs LHP; .268 vs RHP; .177 over last 30 days; .283 with RISP; 18 games at 1B with 2 errors (.988); 9.22 R/F. After an unbelievable start, Charles has come back to Earth, hard over the last month.  That said, he is playing sparingly and I would like him to receive more regular time.

Brock Stassi, 25, Phils 33rd round pick in 2011; .333/.395/.498 in 207AB’s; 7HR 48RBI; 3SB; 10%BB/12%K rates; .388 with RISP; .339 over last 30 days; 48 games at 1B with 3 errors (.992); 8.19 R/F; 2 games in the OF without an error.  Stassi has been consistently outstanding all year.  I am far from convinced of any major league credentials, however, he should be in Lehigh Valley.  With an organizational guy above him who is hitting .226 with 1HR, there is no reason Stassi should be in Reading after 600 plus AB’s at this level.  Move Stassi and let Charles play. Continue reading Around the System–Corner INF →