Next to go is OF Ben Revere who was traded this afternoon to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Pitchers Alberto Tirado and Jimmy Cordero.

Cordero, 23, is a big RHP that split time this year between High A and AA (New Hampshire) in the Blue Jays organization.  In 32 games combined, he was 0-1 with a 2.70ERA; 1.20 WHIP to go along with a 3.6/8.3 walk to strikeout ratio.  Cordero is known as a flame thrower who can consistently hit 100 on the radar gun, but is also someone prone to control issues.  He has been a reliever throughout his tenure in the Jays organization and profiles as a set up guy in years to come.  Cordero’s command has been markedly better this year, than in years past.

ALberto Tirado, just 20, was the Jays #17 prospect entering 2015 according to the Jays Journal.  .  Playing for High A Dunedin this year, Tirado is 4-3 with a 3.23ERA and 1.30 WHIP.  He allows a troubling 5.1 walks per 9 innings while striking out a hitter and inning(9.0/9). Once rated a top 10 prospect, Tirado had a difficult 2014 with both control issues and fatigue eating away his effectiveness. He has thrown better this year, but with continued command issues.

As an aside, I don’t quite get the call up of Jordan Danks to fill Revere’s roster spot.  While Danks has a spot on the 40 man roster, he has done nothing this year to warrant a call up.  He has been sub .250 all year with little to no run production and is among the IL leaders in strikeouts.  While really wanting to see Aaron Altherr, I understand the concept of wanting him to get more AAA AB’s.  Brian Bogusevic is really the guy that should be complaining.  He has been among league leaders in avg, runs, and stolen bases all year and plays very good defense.  In any event, maybe this will help solidify the #1 pick in the draft.

Reading 9  Erie 8

After a low scoring affair the night before, this game was clearly going to be a shootout from the beginning.  The Fightin’s won on a walk-off single by Destin Hood (after winning on a walk-off single from Dugan the night before).

PITCHING:

BEN LIVELY: I was really hoping to see a good game from Ben, but he did not deliver.  He seemed to spot the ball pretty well and change speeds decently, but he gave up 3 HR’s and other hard hit balls in 5 innings.  The only good news was 5K’s and 0 BB’s.  He reached 94 once, but was usually between 87-91 with his fastball.  On the low end, he varied between 73 and 76.  Here is the breakdown by inning:

1^st: Foul popout to catcher/two 4-3 groundouts

2^nd: Swinging K/Hard double down LF line/No Doubt HR off roof above the pool in RF/Popout to 2^nd base/Swinging K (he had excellent movement on a few pitches in this AB)

3^rd: Line single between 1Bman/2Bman/Broken bat 6-4-3 DP/ 2B into left center on a long 9 pitch AB/Fly out to CF Hood who jumped and made a nice catch in front of the wall

4^th: Looking K/Infield single up middle/E-4, Greene missed a 2 hopper (during the AB Lively threw a Wild Thing Vaughn wild pitch over everyone straight to the backstop/RBI Double in the RC Gap/3 run HR/2 swinging K’s.  So… Lively struck out the side yet gave up 4 runs (3 earned).

5^th:  4-3 groundout/Long bomb HR/F-7 caught in CF/ Infield single (it was a cool play as SS Mora fielded the ball crossing in front of 2^nd base, he then flipped the ball to a surprised Brodie Greene (2^nd baseman) in hopes that Greene could make a better throw to first.  Greene did relay to first but the batter beat it out/Hard ground single to RF/Swinging K

TOM WINDLE:  Windle has been much improved since going to the bullpen.  He looked good in his first inning, but not as much in his 2^nd.  He was usually sitting at 91-92, and topped out at 93.  (All speeds were from the Reading stadium gun which is notoriously off).

6^th:  Hard lineout to LF/Bunt right back to the box 1-3/Soft lineout to LF

7^th:  Easy flyout to CF/HR (Dean Green’s 2^nd of the day- he is a serious power hitter)/BB, at which point he was relieved by O’Sullivan.  (As if this wasn’t enough, I got the “pleasure” of also watching the other O’Sullivan at the Iron Pigs game later).  Stephen Shackelford (Reading closer) pitched a perfect 9^th and ended up getting the win.

OFFENSE:

DUGAN (1-5):  Not a good day for Kelly who K’d three times (once looking, twice swinging at low pitches).  He also grounded out to first base and had a nice single that he served the opposite way into LF

PERKINS (1-4): Line Drive HR right down the LF line/High flyout to shallow CF/Sac Fly to CF/2 swinging K’s on fastballs (94,96 mph).  Cameron also made a nice catch in the field and later threw out a runner trying to score from 2^nd on a single.  The run would have given Erie a 9-8 lead in the 8^th.

STASSI (1-5):  Swinging K on an 80 mph change-up/Pop out into shallow LC, SS made a very nice over the shoulder catch or he would have had a single/2 run triple (could easily have just been a single, the left-fielder dove in for the ball, missed it and it bounced right over him and rolled to the track)/Hard 1-3 grounder back to the box/E-4 which extended the inning.   Brock scored the winning run from 2nd when Hood delivered the walk-off single.

KNAPP (2-3):  Hard ground single up the middle (scored from 1^st on a Hood double)/Double that one-hopped off the left-centerfield fence/BB/Groundout to 1B/BB (worked the count full in the 9^th) which moved Stassi into scoring position and set-up the winning hit.  Knapp also had a 2-run 2B in the 4-run 9th inning rally the previous night, along with a walk.

JPC had the day off so there wasn’t anyone else to report on.  Angelo Mora doubled, tripled, and singled in his first three AB’s but did not get a hit the rest of the way (seemed to be swinging extra hard in hopes of hitting one out and completing the cycle).  Harold Martinez went 2-4 and raise his average to .303.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

There is no point in doing a report from last night’s LV game since Altherr is the only prospect there.  He had a rough day vs SWB ace, Luis Severino, bugt still found ways to contribute.  Here are his AB’s:

K’d looking at an 86 mph 2-2 pitch/5-4 FC, hustled to avoid the DP- went to 2^nd on a WP, 3^rd on a deep flyout, and scored on another WP/HBP on a 1-2 pitch after fouling off 5- one of which was a long shot down LF line/K’d looking with runners on 1^st and 3^rd, looked at 2 strikes and couldn’t check his swing on the other

-nyphilsmaniac19

After a four game winning streak, Lehigh Valley has now lost two in a row, but are still trending upward having won 18 of their last 28 games and have the best record in the IL since June 14th.  The roster shake up that will come with bodies needed in Philadelphia and likely coming from both Reading and Texas will make the roster look significantly different for the seasons’s final month than it does today.  On the year, the ‘Pigs are 47-58 and sit in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 10.5 games behind division leading Scranton. The ‘Pigs are home against Norfolk this weekend before hitting the road early next week in Toledo.

News and Notes: The ‘Pigs lead the league in caught stealing %, having thrown out over 36% of would be base stealers.

–Russ Canzler, who has been on the DL with an oblique strain has begun baseball activities.

Since May 14th, SP Jason Berken ranks 3rd in the league in ERA (2.42).  This time span includes 9 starts and 4 relief appearances.

–RP Adam Loewen has retired 28 of the last 32 batters he has faced and has help the oppposition scoreless in his last 9 appearances, during which he earned 5 saves.  My hope is that Loewen sees the Phillies roster shortly.

–In his last 3 starts, SP Anthony Vasquez is 3-0 with an 0.82ERA, allowing just 2ER in 22IP. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

With the names still trickling in, the Cole Hamels deal is all but final with the Phillies sending Hamels to the Texas Rangers.

The names that currently seem to be confirmed are Hamels and Jake Diekman going to Texas for Catcher Jorge Alfaro, OF Nick Williams, P Alec Asher, P Jerad Eickhoff,  and P Matt Harrison.

A quick look at who is coming: Jorge Alfaro is a 22 year old AA catcher who was hitting .253/.314/.432 with 5HR and 21RBI’s to go along with a 28% caught stealing rate before going down with a significant left ankle injury.  He has been out 6 weeks and could miss the remainder of the season.  Jerad Eickhoff, 25, was the Rangers 15th round pick in the 2011 draft.  He has pitched all season for AAA Round Rock, going 8-4 with a 4.47ERA in 17 starts, spanning 96.2 innings.  His WHIP sits at 1.30 and his BB/K ratio is a solid 3.1/9.0.

OF Nick WIlliams  was the Rangers 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft out of Ball High School in Galvaston, TX. Just 21, Williams has spent this season at AA Frisco, hitting .300/.357/.480 with 13HR 45RBI and 10SB.  He walks at an 8% ate, while striking out in 18% of his plate appearances.  23 year old Alec Asher was the Rangers 4th round pick in the 2012 draft and has made 12 starts for AAA Round Rock this season going 3-6 with a 4.73ERA in 64.2IP.  He sports a solid 2.6/7.5 walk to K ratio to go along with a 1.39WHIP.

29 year old LHP Matt Harrison is part of the deal and is owed in excess of $26M guaranteed over the next two seasons.  He has made a total of 9 major league starts over the last two seasons due to multiple injuries.  Harrison does have an abundance of talent if healthy, having won 18 games for the Rangers in the 2012 season, throwing in excess of 210 innings with an outstanding 3.29ERA.

21 year old RHP Jake Thompson who was originally a 2012 2nd round pick by the Tigers is also part of the deal.  Thompson is 6-6 with a 4.72ERA in 17 starts for AA Frisco this season having thrown 87.2 innings and a 3.1/8.0 walk to strikeout ratio.  Thompson currently has a rather high WHIP of 1.41, but had an excellent 2014 season where he went 10-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 25 starts between High A and AA.

Jake Thompson, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro were the #3,4 and 5 prospects in the Baseball America’s mid season organizational rankings for the Rangers system.  Alec Asher ranks as the #13 prospect in the Rangers system.

Look for more analysis of the trade tomorrow at Phuturephillies.com.

While the details are still filtering in, it has been confirmed that the Phillies have traded closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals in exchange for Nick Pivetta, a RHP currently playing for Harrisburg(AA).

Pivetta, 22, is a 6’5, 220 pound 4th round pick of the Nationals and is a combined 7-6 with a 3.02ERA for Potomac(A+) and Harrisburg this year. In 101.1IP, he has walked 38 and struck out 78, to go along with a WHIP of 1.25.  Coming into this season, Pivetta was the #10 prospect, and #5 pitcher in the Nationals organization.  Pivetta reportedly throws a mid 90’s fastball, a plus curveball and a changeup that is developing into a plus pitch as well.  The likely upside for Pivetta is as a #3-4 starter.  Look for Pivetta to join the Reading rotation shortly.

Without getting too much into Papelbon, and was a very effective player who was a cancer to the organization.  I am hoping to see Adam Loewen get a shot to take Papelbon’s roster spot, as he has been tremendous over the last two months for Lehigh Valley.

Intimidators 3, Blue Claws 1

PITCHING:

RANFI CASIMIRO  started and pitched into the 7^th inning.  His fastball was mostly 91-92 on the stadium gun and he topped out at 93.  His off-speed stuff was usually 81-84, but on a couple of occasions, he threw almost an eephus pitch that was 76 (he got bad swings and misses both times).

1^st:  3 easy outs surrounded by a slow grounder that was right at where the SS would have been except LW had an extreme shift on for the Kannapolis #3 hitter (a lefty hitter named Lechich ).  The ball went into LF for a single.

2^nd: Two Deep Flyouts (one which followed a foul ball scalded down the LF line), and a routine 6-3 groundout.

3^rd:  Here is where things went awry.  The leadoff batter reached on a hard grounder that went right through Kingery at 2B (E-4).  The next batter walked.  The third hitter bunted to move the runners up, but put it perfectly down the 3Bline and beat it out.  With the bases loaded, Ranfi K’d the next guy swinging (92 mph FB).  On a 3-2 pitch the next batter reached out and poked a pitch over the outside corner right up the middle (it was close to both 2B and SS, but squirted through) to plate 2 runs.  The inning ended on a nice 4-6-3 DP.

4^th: Two swinging K’s, and lazy flyout to CF along with a BB.  One thing that bothered me at different times (especially in the 4^th inning) was Casimiro’s ability to get ahead of hitters, and then let them get back to either 3-2 or even a walk.  The first K went from 0-2 to 3-2, and the walk went from 1-2 to ball 4.

5^th: Infield Single (Marerro at SS made a very nice backhand diving pickup and threw in the dirt, but Martin couldn’t make the scoop)/Hard lineout to Tomscha (3B)/Double down the RF line- Martin dove and got a little piece if it, but it still went to the corner and left runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with one out/Swinging K (huge drop, missed it by a wide margin)/Slow 4-3 groundout.

6^th:  5-3 (nice diving play by Tomscha)/Walk (again from 1-2 count)/5-4-3 DP.  Casi seemed to be tiring but he came out for another inning which I had a bad feeling wouldn’t go so well…

7^th: Flyout to RF/K (pitch in the dirt)/HBP/Ground 1B into RF/RBI Single into RF.  With two on and two outs, Casi was removed, and relieved by Jairo Munoz

JAIRO MUNOZ:

7^th: threw one pitch and ended the threat with a routine 6-3

8^th: Foul Pop up to Catcher/Hard line single to LF/6-4-3 DP.  Munoz hit 95 a number of times, and his offspeed stuff was 79.

CALVIN RAYBURN:

9^th: 1-3 Comebacker/E-6 under Marrero’s glove on backhand side/Soft Lineout to 2B/easy 6-3 GO.  Rayburn was consistently 92-93 and topped out once at 94.  He either didn’t throw anything offspeed or I missed it.

HITTING:

(I only tracked players who would be considered some form of a prospect.  Chase Harris did lead off the bottom of the 1st with a double and scored what turned out to be the Claws only run.  I didn’t get to see Grullon who had the day off though Jose Mayorga did get 2 hits.  Tromp went 0-3 with a HBP and no hard hit balls.  Emmanuel Marrero went 1-3 with a single)

HERLIS RODRIGUEZ:  2-3 (but a very strange 2 for 3).  He reached in the first when he laid a nice bunt down the 3^rd baseline to move over Harris.  The pitcher bobbled it and didn’t make a throw.  It could easily have been an error or a Sac FC but it was scored a single. After a 5 pitch walk, he reached on  another lucky bunt single (literally blooped just over the 1^st basemen’s head and landed behind him in the infield).  Ironically, his only well-hit ball was a hard lineout to RF in his final AB.

SCOTT KINGERY: RBI 6-4 weak groundout/Hard ground single between SS and 3B/Swinging K at a ball in the dirt/Hard 5-3 Groundout  He also stole a base without a throw as the pitch was way outside.

KYLE MARTIN:  Foul Popout to 3B (after fouling off 4 pitches)/Hard lineout to deep LC (moved a runner to 3^rd)/Hard lineout to CF/Topped a slow 4-3 roller

DAMEK TOMSCHA:  5-3 Chopper/5-4-3 DP/Line Single up the Middle/High Flyout to Medium RF

CORD SANDBERG: 3-1 groundout(rolled over an outside pitch)/5 pitch walk/swinging K/Topped a 4-3 grounder

Leaving my hotel now to attend the R-Phils game tonight.

Leaving my hotel in Reading now to attend the Fightin Phils game tonight.

-nyphilsmaniac19