Monthly Archives: July 2015

Open Discussion–Trade Deadline Edition

Other Stuff

With the deadline in 72 hours and almost 250 comments already in this weeks Open Discussion post, this is somewhere to start fresh in discussing the latest news.

The latest news is that Cole Hamels start has been moved from Thursday to Friday (Post Deadline), a “no brainer” move that assures his value is at its peak and there is no threat of injury.  The Rangers, Cubs, Astros, Giants, Yankees and Red Sox continue to be mentioned as potential trade partners.

Strong rumors have Jonathan Papelbon moving to the Nationals.  As of 430 this afternoon, Papelbon has yet to appear in the Phillies clubhouse, which could be for a variety of reasons with the most likely being a trade is imminent.

Box Score Recap – 7/27/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (47-56) beat the Scranton RailRiders 3-1.  Anthony Vasquez (7-3, 3.73) went 8 innings and gave up 1 run on 5 hits and 2 walks.  Dustin McGowan picked up his 7th save.

Aaron Judge was held to 0-3 with a walk.  Gary Sanchez went 1-4 but was thrown out at second trying to stretch his single by Aaron Altherr to end the game.  Jordan Danks also picked up an outfield assist. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/27/2015 →

Open Discussion: Week of July 27th

Weekly Discussion

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

Of primary interest at his point in the season is that the Phillies haven’t moved any of their veterans, yet.  A deal for Hamels seems imminent, certainly by the end of the week.  The Cueto deal shouldn’t negatively affect the Phillies since the Royals were never in the picture and Cueto is one less attractive rental available for Hamels’ suitors.  Papelbon’s market seems to be shrinking.  But has Francoeur become a possible addition for a team looking for a right-handed bat off the bench?

The Phillies continue to struggle as they leave the All Star break in their wake.  They went into the break with a 5-game losing streak.  They had completed a 1-6 West Coast trip and 2-8 road trip.  They had gone 3-15 since reaching a 26-47 record after taking the first two games in a series against the Yankees on June 23rd.  Their 29-62 record at the break gave them a seemingly insurmountable 9.5 game lead over Milwaukee.

The Phillies 8-1 start after the break has not only allowed the streaking Marlins to pull within 5.5 games, but has allowed other teams to creep back into the race.  The #1 pick that so many fans were counting on to justify the season they are suffering through is now in doubt.

 

 

 

 

Box Score Recap – 7/26/2015

Box Score Recap

Clearwater (57-44) lost to the Bradenton Marauders 6-4.  David Whitehead left after 6 inings having given up 4 runs on 6 hits.  The Threshers had fought back twice to tie the game after 7 innings.  But, Harold Guerrero loaded the bases in the eighth with 2 outs when the skies opened up and brought about a 2-hour delay.  Miguel Nunez took the mound when play resumed and surrendered a 2-run single to the first batter he faced.   The Threshers got two men on base in the ninth, but couldn’t come back again. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/26/2015 →

Organizational Leaders, Hitting

Other Stuff

Runs: Rhys Hoskins (59); Carlos Tocci (57); Malquin Canelo (56); Chase D’Arnaud (54); Aaron Altherr (51); Andy Knapp (50); JP Crawford (48);  Roman Quinn (44); Herlis Rodriguez (43); Damek Tomscha (43)

Hits: Carlos Tocci (116);  Rhys Hoskins (112); Malquin Canelo (107); Brock Stassi (103); Aaron Altherr (103); Andrew Pullin (100); Brian Bogusevic (94); Willians Astudillo (92); Cord Sandberg (91); CHase D’Arnaud (89);

2B: Rhys Hoskins (25); Aaron Altherr (25); Malquin Canelo (25); Andy Knapp (23); Cameron Perkins (21); Brock Stassi (21); Damek Tomscha (21); Carlos Tocci (20); Russ Canzler (20);Jordan Danks (20)

HR:Rhys Hoskins (13);  Aaron Altherr (12); Andrew Pullin (10);Cameron Perkins (9); Brian Pointer (9); Brock Stassi (9); Herlis Roriguez (8); Russ Canzler (7); Art Charles (7); Aaron Brown (7)

RBI: Rhys Hoskins (66); Brock Stassi (65); Andrew Pullin (60); Aaron Altherr (53); Andy Knapp (50); Herlis Rodriguez (47); Willians Astudillo (42); Cameron Perkins (41); Tyler Henson (40); Art Charles (39)

SB: Roman Quinn (29); Tyler Henson (22); Carlos Tocci (17); Chase Harris (17); Chase D’Arnaud (17); Brian Bogusevic (16); Aaron Altherr (14); Grenny Cumana (14); Malquin Canelo (13); Dylan Cozens (12); Herlis Rodriguez (12); Zach Coppola (12)

AVG: (Min 200 AB’s); Carlos Tocci (.316); Willians Astudillo (.311); Rhys Hoskins (.309); Roman Quinn (.306); JP Crawford (.305); Angelo Mora (.301); Aaron Altherr (.297); Brian Bogusevic (.296); Herlis Rodriguez (.296); Andy Knapp (.279)

Box Score Recap – 7/25/2015

Box Score Recap

The big news Saturday was Cole Hamels’ no hitter in Chicago.  The possibility that the game might be his last start for the Phillies, made following the game’s progress mandatory over social media.  I was following on Game Day, and the Threshers’ broadcasters were giving periodic updates.

As the no-no became the story, I became less attentive to the game in front of me.  Then the weather gods stepped in and the field in Clearwater was covered as a light rain suddenly increased in volume.  The field had taken a lot of water over the previous 24 hours, so this was a prudent decision.

With every fan seeking protection from the rain up on the concourse, GM John Timberlake put the MLB feed of the Phillies’ game up on the big screen.  So, we all got to see Hamels get the final three outs live during our rain delay.

I don’t think this will increase the return in any trade that may develop over the next week, but I’m sure it alleviated any worries over Hamels’ last two starts (which should not have decreased the return in any trade).  Of note should be that Hamels FB averaged 94 MPH. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/25/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 7/24/2015

Box Score Recap

GCL Phillies (20-8) postponed, rain. Double header v. Yankees1 Saturday at 10:00AM.

Clearwater (56-42) postponed, rain. Double header v. Hammerheads Saturday at 5:00PM.

That’s a lot of baseball.  The morning games are at the Carpenter Complex.  The evening games are at Bright House Field.  Thankfully, they’ll be seven inning games.

Lehigh Valley (45-55) beat the Syracuse Chiefs 3-2 in 11 innings.  Seve Gonzalez went 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk.  Dalier Hinojosa, Adam Loewen (2.45), and Juan Gutierrez (1.71) held the Chiefs to one hit and struck out 6 over the last 5 innings.  They faced a line up that included some familiar names – Darin mastroianni, Jayson Werth, and Tony Gwynn. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/24/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 7/23/2015

Box Score Recap

The big news out of Florida is a possible injury suffered by Cornelius Randolph.  The Phillies first round pick was helped from the field after a collision at second base in the first game of a double header against the GCL Blue Jays.

With the game tied 3-3, Randolph walked with one out in the seventh.  Luis Encarnacion grounded to short and Randolph reached second safely with a hard slide into the fielder at the bag.  One pitch later he limped from the field with assistance.  He did not dress for the second game although he was seen walking around the Complex. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/23/2015 →

Lehigh Valley Report

Other Stuff

The ‘Pigs have won 2 of three on this 7 game home and continue at home with one more against Toledo tonight, followed by a weekend series at home against Syracuse.  Since their low water mark of 22-42 in mid June, the ‘Pigs have gone 22-12 including wins in 15 of their last 22 games.  With six weeks left in the season, Lehigh Valley sits at 44-54, in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 8 games behind division leading Rochester.  Next week starts on the road for two in Scranton.

News and Notes: Fan Favorite Erik Kratz returned to Lehigh Valley with a 3-4, 2RS, 2 double effort in his first game back in an IronPig uniform.

–Over his last two starts, Pitcher Anthony Vasquez has allowed just one earned run on 9 hits, spanning 14 innings.

–RP Adam Loewen has been perfect over his last six outings, retiring all 18 batters he has faced. Since returning from AA just over a month ago, Loewen has help the opposition scoreless in 17 of 18 outings, earned 8 saves, and struck out an astounding 35 in 21.1 innings of work.   Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report →

Box Score Recap – 7/22/2015

Box Score Recap

Dylan Cozens returned to the Threshers’ line up on Wednesday.  He was the DH and batted fifth behind Rhys Hoskins.  It looked like Jupiter’s game plan was to feed Cozens a steady diet of off-speed pitches.  He struck out his first two at bats on pitches that broke low and away.  In his third at bat, he jumped on a first pitch fast ball and grounded out sharply to third.  Jupiter finally made a mistake and Cozens made them pay with a tape measure shot to right in the eighth inning.

Ethan Stewart was added to the Clearwater roster from Reading.  The Threshers had been carrying 24 on their roster anticipating Cozens’ return, however a cooresponding move must have been made prior to the game since they currently have 26 players on their roster 13 pitchers and 13 position players. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/22/2015 →