Clearwater Threshers Recap – 6/22/2018

Box Score Recap

The Clearwater Threshers (34-36) beat Dunedin, 8-3.  Bailey Falter gave up a home run on his first pitch of the game, and then throttled the Blue Jays for five innings.  He limited them to just the one run and  five hits.  He walked none and struck out nine.  Kyle Dohy made his initial appearance with the Threshers and pitched two innings.  He struck out three and the defense surrendered an unearned run.  Blake Quinn (5.70) pitched the final two innings, gave up a run and struck out two.

The Threshers supported Falter with 12 hits and 8 runs.  They tied the game in the second inning on Jose Pujols 10th HR, a high trajectory shot to right.  They took the lead with a run in the third on Adam Haseley’s sacrifice fly.  They expanded tyheir lead with 3 runs in the fourth on Luke Williams RBI double, an RBI ground out, and Grenny Cumana’s RBI single. They tacked on 3 more runs in the fifth on Lartigue’s RBI single, and Raul Rivas 2-run double.

Luke Williams (.246) had 3 hits. Jose Pujols (.308), Henri Lartigue (.272), and Grenny Cumana (.471) had 2 hits each.  Raul Rivas had 3 RBI.

Falter threw 77 pitches, 56 strikes (72.7%) and 14 of 20 first pitch strikes (70%).  His FB was 88-93 mph.  It sat 90-92 mph.  His SL ran 81-84 mph and sat at 84 mph.  And, his CB was 75-78 mph.

  • #1 Sixto Sanchez (4-3 , 2.51): is on the 7-day DL with elbow inflammation
  • #2 Adonis Medina (7-2, 3.99):
  • #3 Adam Haseley (.288): went 0-3 with an RBI, SF
  • #4 Mickey Moniak (.254): DNP
  • #8 Arquimedes Gamboa (.258): went 1-3 with a BB
  • #16 Jose Gomez (.225): went 0-3 with a sacrifice
  • #20 McKenzie Mills (0-2, 4.46):
  • #24 J.D. Hammer (1-1, 7.36):
  • #27 Connor Seabold (4-4, 3.90):
  • Bailey Falter (5-2, 2.96): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K

The GCL Phillies East (2-2) lost to the Pirates, 8-4.  Justin Miller made his first start since being drafted in 2016.  I had wondered about his future when he didn’t go north to Lakewood or Williamsport.  Injury or stretching him out as a starter seemed the only explanations.  I’m relieved that it is the latter.  Miller’s FB ran 86-90 as he gave up 2 ER in three innings.  He also had a high 70s CB.  Jonas De La Cruz also gave up 2 ER in three innings.  Bailey Cummings had a second successful, scoreless appearance allowing one hit in three innings.

The Phillies mounted an 11-hit attack and scored 4 runs.  Edgar Made had 3 hits and 2 RBI.  Luke Miller had 2 hits including a solo HR (1). Simon Muzziotti got his first hit of his rehab and an RBI.  Ben Aklinski had a double and 2 walks.

The  GCL Phillies West (1-2) lost to the Tigers West, 5-1.  Antonio Canizales (0-1, 9.64) gave up 5 runs and 2 HR in 4.2 innings.  Adam Cox allowed 2 base runners in his 0.1 inning.  Sati Santa Cruz pitched three, no-hit innings allowing 2 walks and striking out two.

The Phillies scored their only run in the sixth inning on Christian Valerio’s RBI double.

Trent Bowles had 2 hits in 3 at bats with a walk.

  • Alec Bohm (.500): went 1-4 
  • #23 Luis Garcia (.286): went 1-3 with a BB

In other action –

Lehigh Valley (42-31) beat Scranton, 8-3.  Drew Anderson pitched 6.2, three-hit innings giving up 2 unearned runs.  He walked 3 and struck out six.  Mark Leiter (4.15) pitched a scoreless inning.  Pedro Beato (4.73) entered in a save situation in the eighth and earned his 19th save.

The IronPigs scored 8 runs on 14 hits.  Matt McBride (.271) had 3 hits.  Dean Anna (.258), Joey Meneses (.304), Logan Moore (.222), and Damek Tomscha (.157) had 2 hits each.  Anna and Trevor Plouffe had 2 RBI each.

  • #11 Enyel De Los Santos (7-3, 1.63):
  • #12 Tom Eshelman (1-6, 7.09):
  • #13 Roman Quinn (.289): 7-day DL, right middle finger strain
  • #15 Dylan Cozens (.226): called up to Philadelphia (on the 10-day DL)
  • #21 Drew Anderson (4-2, 3.48): 6.2 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K 
  • #22 Cole Irvin (8-3, 2.61):

Reading (32-40) beat New Hampshire, 5-3.  Franklyn Kilome gave up 2 first inning runs, then shut the Fisher Cats down.  He pitched six innings and allowed 6 hits.  Unfortunately, he had trouble with the strike zone and walked 4 while striking out two.  Tyler Gilbert (2.91) pitched two shutout innings.  Edgar Garcia (2.92) couldn’t get an out in the ninth, facing 3 batters and giving up a run.  Jeff Singer struck out two while getting his 3rd save.

The Phils scored their runs on Zach Green’s 2 run HR (13) in the second inning and Darick Hall’s 3-run HR (5) in the third.

Deivi Grullon (.268) had 3 hits.  Hall (.275) had two hits.

  • #6 JoJo Romero (5-5, 4.52):
  • #7 Franklyn Kilome (2-4, 4.52): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
  • #9 Ranger Suarez (3-3, 3.04):
  • #14 Cornelius Randolph (.195): went 1-4

Lakewood (42-29) lost to Columbia 9-1.  Spencer Howard lasted 4.2 innings and gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk.  Connor Brogdon (4.02) gave up 2 runs on 4 hits in 1.1 innings. Jonathan Hennigan (3.75) gave up 2 runs on 5 hits in two innings.  BlueClaws’ pitchers did not record a strike out.

Lakewood took a short-lived lead with a run in the first inning on an RBI ground out.

Quincy Nieporte (.252) had 3 hits.

  • #5 Jhailyn Ortiz (.251): went 0-4 with a BB
  • #10 Daniel Brito (.242): went 0-4 with 4 K
  • #17 Kyle Young (2-3, 3.19):
  • #19 Spencer Howard (3-6, 5.25):
  • #26 Simon Muzziotti (.293): 7-day DL (hand injury, in Clearwater)
  • #29 Nick Maton (.267): went 1-3 with a run scored, double

Williamsport (5-3) beat Batavia, 9-7 in a rain shortened, seven inning game.

Francisco Morales allowed one run in five innings.  Orestes Melendez (6.75) pitched an inning and gave up 3 runs.  Anton Kuznetsov (11.25) also gave up 3 runs in an inning of work.  Randy Alcantara pitched 0.1 inning and got his first save when the rains came.

Williamsport opened with a 6-run first on a throwing error, Danny Mayer’s RBI double, Brayan Gonzalez’ RBI single, Jonathan Guzman’s RBI single, an RBI ground out, and a passed ball.  They added a run in the second on Gonzalez’ RBI double.  They tacked on 2 very important insurance runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Matt Vierling and Keudy Bocio.

Matt Vierling (.480) had 3 hits.  Keudy Bocio, Danny Mayer (.296), Brayan Gonzalez (.240), Jonathan Guzman, and Jesus Azuaje (.250) had 2 hits each.

  • #18 Francisco Morales (1-0, 3.24): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
  • #28 Jonathan Guzman (.154): went 2-4 with 2 runs, RBI
  • #30 Jhordany Mezquita:

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

Other prospects –

  • Former #10 Seranthony Dominguez lost prospect status after 45 days on the Phillies roster, everybody from 11 to 29 moves up one, and Jhordany Mezquita enters at #30.
  • #25 Kevin Gowdy: not expected to pitch this season

DSL Phillies Red (6-12) won 4-3 in 11 innings.

DSL Phillies White (7-11) lost 4-0.

Transactions 

6/22/18–Philadelphia recalled LHP Zac Curtis from Lehigh Valley
6/20/18–Ethan Evanko signed as a non-drafted free agent
6/20/18–Blake Bennett signed as a non-drafted free agent
6/20/18–Jesus Luna released
6/19/18–Phillies signed draft pick Madison Stokes
6/21/18–RHP Robinson Martinez assigned to Lakewood from GCL Phillies East.
6/21/18–LHP Jonathan Hennigan assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport Crosscutters.
6/21/18–RHP Manuel Urias assigned to DSL Phillies Red.
6/21/18–RHP Luis Gomez assigned to DSL Phillies White from DSL Phillies Red.
6/21/18–RHP Jhostyn Marin assigned to DSL Phillies White.
6/21/18–Clearwater placed LHP Nick Fanti on the 7-day DL
6/21/18–Clearwater placed RHP JD Hammer on the 7-day DL retro to 6.19/2018
6/21/18–Clearwater placed RHP Ismael Cabrera on the 7-day DL
6/21/18–LHP Kyle Dohy assigned to Clearwater from Lakewood .
6/21/18–RHP Addison Russ assigned to Clearwater from Lakewood .
6/21/18–Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Jake Thompson to Lehigh Valley
6/20/18–Lakewood sent 1B Greg Pickett on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies West.
6/20/18–Philadelphia placed SS J.P. Crawford on the 10-day DL. Broken left hand.
6/20/18–Philadelphia signed C Jesse Wilkening.
6/20/18–Philadelphia recalled 3B Mitch Walding from Lehigh Valley
6/20/18–Lehigh Valley sent RHP Tyler Viza on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies East.
6/20/18–2B Heiker Meneses assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading Phls.
6/20/18–Reading activated 2B Emmanuel Marrero from the 7-day DL
6/20/18–Lakewood sent OF Simon Muzziotti on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies East.
6/20/18–Lakewood sent 1B Greg Pickett on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies West.
6/20/18–C Jesse Wilkening assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/19/18–Phillies signed free agent LHP Ethan Evanko to a minor league contract.
6/19/18–Clearwater sent RHP Alejandro Requena on a rehab assignment to GCL Phillies West.

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 6/20.

30 thoughts on “Clearwater Threshers Recap – 6/22/2018”

  1. Matt Vierling with 3 more hits, batting .480 through first seven games. Let’s move him up already!

  2. Wow Luke Williams is white hot with some pop. Duran also showing alot of power.

    1. Williams is showing life for the first time. I was ready to move in from him but he’s earned a longer leash. His upside is still just as a utility guy though.

  3. Luke Williams who I laugh at when they drafted him. Is really coming on. I Think it keeps this up for the month of july, he goes to reading in august.

    1. rocco…not everybody can go to Reading….Pujols, Haseley are also candidates…gone already Hall and Listi.
      Reading will need to send players to LHV to make room…..I can see Grullon and/or Green being bumped up to get their AAA experience started , but who else?
      Not Cornelius, … maybe Sandberg, Hernandez, Stank, Marrero, Canelo, Bossart, or Coppola???? who knows.

  4. With nobody setting themselves apart in Lehigh, I am very encouraged by these bats recently coming alive:

    Reading – dh Austin Listi, 1b Darick Hall, 3b/1b Zach Green and c Austin Bossart.

    Clearwater – of Adam Haseley, 3b Luke Williams

    Lakewood – rf Jhailyn Ortiz (though he’s cooled off of late, but still working ABs and drawing BB)

    Williamsport – of Matt Vierling, c Rafael Marchan and 1b Danny Mayer

    GCL – 3b Alec Bohm

    Time for some upward mobility….

  5. pretty amazing turnaround for Luke Williams in June, but lets give it some time.

    So Drew Anderson putting up solid numbers in AAA after missing a month with the forearm strain. What do people see him as? Is he a future long man, or would his stuff play up more as a 1 or 2 inning reliever? He’s on the 40 unlike Irvin/DeLosSantos so still could get the call if they needed a spot starter.

    1. I would like to see Anderson moved to the pen and start getting experience pitching there. He throws hard and could be a late inning guy but let’s start him as a middle reliever and see how he does.

      1. This is how I see it too. I’ve also read that he doesn’t always maintain his velocity later in his starts. I think he’s a reliever eventually, I’m just not sure when they make the move.

  6. Great to see Falter back on the mound, it had been awhile. He’s a legit prospect and should be moving up evrtyone’s list.
    At LHV, I think it’s time to try Anderson as a reliever where I think he could be very good. I don’t think his future is as a reliever. I’m waiting for Cozens to come off the DL and go back down so I have someone to follow in LHV’s boxscore. Jim – any sign of Roman yet?
    At Reading, Edgar Garcia must be hurt. He was so good early and now can’t get an out. I expect to see him on the DL.
    Pujols? We all gave up on him but he’s bounced back in a big way this year. He always had the talent so this could be for real.
    Vierling needs to move up soon but I’m sure there’s a plan.
    What’s the deal with Howard?

    1. I don’t think I’ve ever been less enthused about a still-young prospect with loud tools putting up a good line than I am with Pujols. He’s clearly made improvements but he just strikes out too much. His BABIP is crazy high and I fear that if he goes to AA the strikeouts will jump back over 40%.

      Good to see Vierling off to a strong start but it’s 25 at-bats and all his hits but one are singles. I don’t have any problem with him being at Williamsport.

      I would also like to know what the deal is with Howard.

    2. Murray,

      He’s gotten off to a slow start and AAA might be his limit, but Tomscha is a name I check.

      Pujols looked like a much more mature, patient hitter when I saw him play a couple of weeks ago. He still strikes out, but he also appears to be seeing more pitches. Jim, obviously, sees him enough to say whether that is true. I’m looking forward to a few Thresher games next month to watch Pujols over a more extended time.

  7. Given his recent strong outings I don’t know that I’m ready to cannibalize Anderson from starter into deliver. I get the needs of the big team and all but if he can be a #4 starter that can be valuable for a team or via trade. The starter I’d convert right now would be Kilome. Can his 4-sm go from 96-97 to 98-99? Can he throw that curve out of the same tunnel? Can we forget about nibbling with 92mph 2-sm? Can he do Seranthony things? I think there’s a chance. He’s also on the 40-man.

    1. I think it is reasonable to think that Kilome hasn’t been converted to the bullpen yet because he may be more valuable in any potential trade as a starter. Later, yes.

    2. Kram – I’m right there with you. Leave Anderson as a starter. While the Phills have 4 to 5 quality starters right now in the majors, injuries happen and Anderson has to be on the short list for call ups since he’s performing well and is also on the 40 man roster.

      It’s also not like there’s a starter at AA the Phills have to promote. Saurez is young and could benefit an entire yr at AA. Kilome, Romero, Arauz aren’t exactly knocking down the door.

      1. Though Romero has been coming on stronger…last 7 starts has had 5 quality starts and only has issued 11 walks over the 45 innings he has pitched.

        1. Romero had absolutley been much better as of late, but I don’t think he’s pushing for a promotion to AA. He’s also young enough where he could stay in AA all year and it wouldn’t be holding him down.

          I think any promotion to AA from Clearwater is more because a pitcher in AA moved to the pen or was traded. Just my opinion though

  8. Romus the way manager used the bullpen, They will have to expand roster. or they will burn out a lot of guys. 6 innings and its bullpen time. That’s one reason I believe you can never compare players stats from one era to another. In the earlier days, guys pitched double headers. Relief pitchers were former starters who got older. The velo on this new breed is unreal. 95 Is nothing to most of these guys. crazy.

    1. Exactly….in 2008, the average major-league fastball registered 90.9 mph.
      In 2013, the average fastball reached 92.0 mph. In 2003, Houston reliever Billy Wagner was the only pitcher to throw at least 25 pitches at 100 mph or faster, according to Baseball Info Solutions. In 2013 alone , eight pitchers hit triple digits.
      Five years later still trending upward.
      https://www.theatlas.com/charts/S1-DccGC

      https://www.mlb.com/news/mets-top-2017-statcast-fastball-velocity-ranks/c-216314410

      Saw this:
      “Pitching mechanics expert Doug Thorburn trained under former major league pitcher and pitching coach Tom House at National Pitching Association, which House co-founded in San Diego. Thorburn said the velocity surge is in large part tied to a focus on shoulder strengthening.
      “We have a saying down in San Diego that we’ve never had a bad-arm surfer,” said Thorburn, who writes for Baseball Prospectus. “That’s because those guys are out there paddling all the time, working those back-side shoulder muscles. They developed a balance of strength, front side and back side.

      “For a long time, pitchers really focused on the front side, their beach muscles. Front-side shoulder muscles help to increase acceleration of the baseball. But the back-side shoulder muscles put on the brakes. Your brain knows not to accelerate beyond a limit it cannot possibly slow down. Some of these guys who had underdeveloped back-side shoulder muscles were not able to max out velocity even though they were yoked out in on the front side. A lot of (the velocity increase) is working the back-side shoulder muscles.”

      1. It seems that the anatomy of pitching has developed much faster and is far better understood than the anatomy of hitting. We can just look at the numbers.

          1. rocco…what the heck is wrong with you!
            You don’t know that?

            Anatomy….what the Phillies are doing to the Nationals now.
            They are giving them an anatomy.

            1. I wonder if any team had three sons of major league players on there team. This kid Bo Bichette is 20 in triple a and he went to Lakewood hs in the phillies backyard. was second round draft choice. Toronto has two studs in this kid and Guerrero. plus biggios kid.

  9. There was a pitcher a number of years ago who was pretty good. He studied, and got a Masters in, Kinesiology, which studies the movement of the body. I think his name was Mike Marshall.

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