27 thoughts on “Box Score Recap – 4/17/2018”

1. I would move Ortiz down in the order. He’s showing an inability to put the ball in play. He’s 0 for 15 in his last 4 games with 12 Ks. Maybe in the 7 or 8 hole he can relax a little and see some different pitches. At this rate, he’ll get demoted to Wmsprt when their season starts. Let’s give him a fighting chance to turn things around.

2. Brito, Ortiz, Moniak, Randolph – 4 of my top offensive prospects all under 200

   1. Yeah, it’s still early, but just brutal starts for that group. And last night particularly bad for a few:

      Moniak – 0 for 5, 3K
      Randolph – 0 for 4, 2K
      Ortiz – 0 for 5, 4K (now batting .079)

      Ouch.

      1. the strikeouts are the key to evaluating a prospect. 0-5 tells you nothing about a game. it happens to everyone. he could have crushed 5 line drives that were caught and that is a great hitting game regardless of the outcome.

         but the inability to make contact is a serious problem. frankly, i am not sure that it is a fixable problem.

         i have said many times on this blog…if you look at the k rates of great mlb hitters when they were in A ball, all of them are really low. The exception is for big power hitters. So Ortiz gets a pass in my book.

         K rates don’t stabilize until 100 plate appearances. so it is still early in the season. but the high k rates are definitely an ominous sign.

         1. there is nothing to date that suggests the moniak or Randolph can or will play/succeed in the major leagues.
            I consider them nonprospects and no longer count them into future Phillies plans until they do something that changes my mind. helps me avoid disappointment and i look at the system with an eye toward not getting contributions from them.
            I am open to having my mind changed by their efforts , however

            1. I think most people following this site would agree, even if they would rather not say so. There is SO much to be excited about now and for the foreseeable future at the major league level. Our farm may be ranked in the mid teens by end of the season. However, what Klemaraz do with this draft may keep it from dropping too far, especially if they acquire a competitive balance pick or 2.

               1. agreed
                  the core of young position players in philly will help overcome some of these missed draft picks.
                  I’m mainly concerned about if the thought process that went into those picks is flawed and still being applied

               2. moniak and Randolph were drafted for a high level hit tool that doesn’t seem to exist

3. Eflin, still early on in the season, but 60 Game Score average over his first three starts.
   He is getting out of the gate fast.
   If he can continue to rake in LHV, and somehow make it consistently translate to the majors when he gets his next chance in the majors, he could be a real middle of the rotation gem.
   For a RHP his 4S FB velo is a plus, but will need to get more swing and miss with his secondary stuff and command location.

   1. I am a huge Zach Eflin fan, but you’re right, he’s not quite there yet and it’s good he’s still in AAA. The main difference between Zach and Pivetta is that Pivetta has some nasty swing and miss stuff with his breaking pitches. Zach hasn’t shown that yet in the big leagues. I will probably watch portions of his last start to see if he’s made strides. But he’s got to get over the mountain to develop into the pitcher I think a lot of us think he can become. He’s still young, has decent control and throws plenty hard enough. The raw tools all appear to be there.

      1. I remember reading about Eflin two years ago when he said through out his professional career he decided he was going to go with his 2SMr vs the 4SMr so he could pitch deeper into games…I think the Padres had that re-enforced into his pitching mentality.
         So he had a low little swing and miss metric profile.
         Now, also not sure how the two bad knees played into all of his makeup on the mound during those early years in A ball up thru LHV two years ago.
         I hope he can continue to have success, not just in LHV, but beyond..

      2. Zach hasn’t shown swing and miss stuff in the minor leagues. Pivetta’s K rates were materially higher at every level than Efflin’s. Pivetta throws harder and has a better breaking ball. the risk with Pivetta was always walks. he had too many walks early in his career. but the strikeouts were always there.

         the phillies developed him really, really well.

         But efflin and pivetta are not comparable prospects IMO.

   2. Eflin is the prototypical pitcher that I like — physically and demeanor in the mound. BUT — his low K/9 is consistent with his lack of a swing and miss pitch particularly the breaking ball. And his supposed to be best 2nd pitch – the CU is not being utilized with confidence.

      I was encouraged watching Vinny’s last start. The game he pitched against TB is probably his career high throwing the CU. Eflin should follow a similar gameplan since his CU is at least average. Throw that CU to set up a mid-90s high FB for a K.

      1. Eflin and Lively could easily switch places if Lively continues to pitch poorly

         1. I would agree, Murray. But they may wait to see how Eickhoff returns. This is why they need to move a pitcher for a cba pick.

         2. I concur

4. Answer – Muzziotti. A list of one. The question – who has exceeded expectations offensively so far. I could probably add Listi to the list but he’s not playing every day yet. Tomscha maybe too but he’s shown this is who he is. We need some warmer weather up north to get hitting season cranked up.

   1. OFer Josh Stephens I wold add to that list also.

      1. Who Romus???? Stephens??? never heard of him

         1. I guess Josh Stephen is supplanting Andrew Pullin as the new lefty bat left field only darling in the system. Remember that kid named Randolph?

         2. rocco…yes I know…he is your guy.
            Right now, performing better than friend from southern California, Mickey Mo.
            Hopefully they both end up the season with plus metrics.

   2. Canelo

      1. Yes, I should have added Canelo to my list although I’m not sure it’s sustainable

   3. Dylan Cozens has exceeded my expectations albeit in an unsustainable way. .368 BABIP and 34% K-rate.

   4. Also … Cabral (.379/.419/.690)

      1. Cabral will be a revelation. He’s only 22 and known to be a defensive catcher. I tweeted MattWinks before the start of the spring training if he thinks Cabral can be a Chooch — the answer is that Cabral is an org filler.

         1. I believe I said he was more Logan Moore than Ruiz. Carlos Ruiz followed a completely unique path where he made a sudden leap in his late 20s. It is not a comp or prediction that is able to be made. Cabral has shown a bit more with his bat this season, but AAAA defense first catcher is still the likely outcome, but there is certainly a path to major league backup.

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