Judging by the comments in last week’s Open Discussion, it seems appropriate to institute a weekly Draft Discussion. This will make it possible to have all relevant draft news, reports, and discussions under one category and in one place.
A.J. Puk works a scoreless T1. 95-97, great command of his slider at 84-85. Counted at least 15 scouts behind home plate.
Saturday, the Phillies beat R.A. Dickey and most of the Blue Jays starting line up 8-5. Vince Velasquez pitched four, 2-run innings; and David Lough, J.P. Arencibia, and Nick Williams hit home runs leading a 14-hit attack. Yoervis Medina struck out the side in the ninth. The Phillies are 9-3 and have the second best record in the Grapefruit League.
Over at the Complex, a drama that will go a long way to determining the success of the Phillies’ regular season was held. It drew at least six coaches as spectators, as well as Matt Klentak and Joe Jordan. Jerad Eickhoff threw to live hitters for the first time since suffering a thumb injury before spring training started. I don’t think it went well.
Continue reading 2016 Spring Training, March 12th
Thursday, the Phillies traveled to central Florida and whipped the Atlanta Braves 9-2, pushing their spring record to 8-3-2. Former Phillies Michael Bourn and Kyle Kendrick started for Atlanta. Bourn went 1-3. He fared better than Kendrick who faced 16 batters in 1.2 innings and allowed 7 ER on 9 hits and 2 walks. The Phillies put up double digit hits again (16). Ryan Howard returned from an illness and recorded his first spring base hit. Roman Quinn posted his third triple in 18 at bats. Meanwhile, back at the Complex in Clearwater, the Phillies held two more intrasquad games at minor league camp. Continue reading 2016 Spring Training, March 11th
I spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Bright House watching the Phillies beat Pittsburgh and Baltimore. They are 7-3 with 2 ties (against Toronto and Detroit). They also have 2 wins against the Yankees and a second win over the Pirates. Time to upgrade those win predictions for 2016! Continue reading 2016 Spring Training, March 8-10
This week is among my favorite weeks of spring baseball. There are 150 players at the Carpenter Complex. Thirty-plus on each of four fields. More than enough action to satiate anyone’s thirst for baseball. Young baseball. Baseball played by players too young to know their chances are long at making a major league roster. The youngest players in camp are teenagers Lenin Rodriguez (17) and Jhailyn Ortiz. And, players trying to extend their dream for one more season. The oldest player in camp is Jake Fox at 33. Continue reading Minor League Spring Training and the Game against Japan
Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics. The 2016 minor league groups have been released. I have a copy here, but I expect to have more functional copies tomorrow.
Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of March 6th
Nick de la Torre 
Phuture Phillies 