Threshers Recap – 4/23/2019

Box Score Recap

Clearwater (7-12) beat Florida, 1-0.

Spencer Howard and the Threshers found themselves in an old-time pitchers’ duel last night.  Florida’s (an Atlanta affiliate) Hayden Deal (1-1, 1.50) was perfect for five innings.  A walk, a force out, and a single set up an RBI double by Nick Maton for the game’s only score in the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Howard matched Deal scoreless inning for scoreless inning.  Howard finally left with two outs and a runner on base in the top of the sixth.  Grant Dyer would strand the runner and Howard would finish the night having allowed 4 hits, no walks, and striking out eleven.  He was lifted after his 84th pitch.

Dyer (1.64) pitched 1.1 innings, giving up a single, and striking out one.

Jonathan Hennigan (0.000 pitched two innings, striking out four. while picking up his 3rd save.

The Threshers’ trio combined to strike out 16 Fire Frogs.

The Threshers’ offense was little better than the previous might.  They collected just 5 hits.

(Sorry for the brevity in this and the other recaps.  Finger’s better, company has gone back to PA, but I have a new injury.  Won’t affect ability to report but will keep me home a few days.  Should be back at the Complex and Bright House next week.)

  • #5 Spencer Howard (1-1, 2.25) – 5.2 IP, 5 H. 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
  • #11 Jhailyn Ortiz (.182) went 0-3
  • #12 Simon Muzziotti (.266) went 1-4
  • #17 Kyle Young (0-3, 5.40)
  • #18 Nick Maton (.242) went 1-4 with an RBI 
  • #19 Rodolfo Duran (.154)
  • #20 Daniel Brito (.143)

Lehigh Valley (13-4) beat Pawtucket, 9-4.

Nick Pivetta (1-0, 6.00) got the win.  That’s about all the good I can say about that.  He pitched six innings, threw 64 strikes in 101 pitches, gave up 4 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks, struck out nine, and gave up a HR.  Edgar Garcia (2.38), Josh Martin (3.12), and Tom Windle (2.25) each tossed a scoreless inning.

Shane Robinson tied the game with an RBI single in the third inning.  Deivi Grullon provided a one-run lead in the fourth on a solo HR (3).  Dylan Cozens padded the lead with a 3-run HR (6) in the fifth.  After the Sox pulled within a run, Lane Adams provided an insurance run with a solo HR in the sixth.  The IronPigs continued to pad their lead with Matt McBride’s 2-run single in the eighth and Malquin Canelo’s sac fly in the ninth.

Robinson (.351) had 3 hits, Grullon (.405) had two.  Cozens went 1-4 with a HR, 3 RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and 3 strike outs.

  • #6 Enyel De Los Santos (2-0, 2.81)
  • #7 JoJo Romero (1-1, 9.00)
  • #10 Ranger Suarez (1-0, 8.00)
  • #16 Cole Irvin (1-0, 1.53)
  • #28 Edgar Garcia (0-1, 3.24) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Reading (8-7) beat Richmond, 5-2.

David Parkinson cruised thru the early innings.  He didn’t allow a base runner until a one-out walk in the third inning.  He didn’t allow a runner to reach third until back-to-back two-out singles in the fifth.  He lost his shutout bid in the sixth after a two-out walk, single, and 2-run double.

J.D. Hammer (1.08) stranded the runner and pitched a scoreless seventh.  Luke Leftwich (0.00)  pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.  And, Addison Russ (2.45) picked up his 2nd save with a little drama in the ninth.  He opened the inning K, single, K.  After the runner moved up on defensive indifference, he completed a 4-pitch walk and then walked the bases loaded.  A ground out ended the game.

Reading scored first on a wild pitch in the first inning.  That run held up until the Phils added 2 runs in the sixth on another wild pitch and Henri Lartigue’s RBI single.  The Flying Squirrels closed to within a run, but the Phils’ added 2 insurance runs in the ninth on Ali Castillo’s 2-run single.

Castillo (.395) went 3-5 from the lead off position with a run scored, 2 RBI, and a stolen base.  Darick Hall (.269) had 2 hits including a double.  Lartigue (.296) went 2-3 with arun scored, RBI, and a walk.  Josh Stephen (.269) pinch hit, drew a walk, and scored in the ninth.

  • #2 Adonis Medina (0-0, 3.00)
  • #3 Adam Haseley (.161) went 1-3 with a run scored, 2 BB
  • #9 Mickey Moniak (.214) went 1-4 with a sacrifice
  • #13 Arquimedes Gamboa (.114) entered during a double switch and went 0-1
  • #15 Mauricio Llovera (2.89)
  • #21 David Parkinson (2-1, 4.02) – 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, WP
  • #22 Kyle Dohy (2-0, 0.82)
  • #25 Cornelius Randolph (.229)
  • #29 Connor Seabold – on the 7-day IL

Lakewood (6-13) beat Rome, 3-2.

Some better results from the piggy back.  Victor Santos (2-1, 2.50) pitched five innings and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks.  He struck out six.  Francisco Morales (5.93) pitched three shutout innings allowing 2 hits and walking two.  He struck out seven.  Robinson Martinez (7.94) picked up his 2nd save walking one and striking out three in one inning.

Lakewood scored first on Cole Stobbe’s RBI double and Jonathan Guzman’s RBI single in the second inning.  They added an important insurance run in the third on Stobbe’s bases loaded walk.

Rafael Marchan (.316) had 3 of the BlueClaws’ 9 hits.  Carlos De La Cruz and Stobbe had 2 hits each.  Jake Holmes and Guzman had the other two hits.  Alec Bohm went hitless for the first time in a long time but did draw a walk.  Matt Kroon and Stobbe drew 2 walks each.  De La Cruz drew the other walk.  Luis Garcia was back at the top of the order and went 0-4.

  • #1 Alec Bohm (.349) went 0-3 with a BB
  • #4 Luis Garcia (.194) went 0-4 
  • #8 Francisco Morales (5.93) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
  • #14 Rafael Marchan (.316) went 3-4 with a run scored
  • #23 Dominic Pipkin (5.84)
  • #24 Kevin Gowdy (2.79)
  • #26 Jhordany Mezquita (1-2, 9.49)

Unassigned Prospects

  • #27 Starlyn Castillo
  • #30 Manuel Silva

Williamsport begins its 2019 season on June 14th.

GCL Phillies East begins its 2019 season  on June 24th.

GCL Phillies West begins its 2019 season on June 24th.

DSL Phillies Red begins its 2019 season on June 2nd.

DSL Phillies White begins its 2019 season on June 2nd.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

The rosters and lists are up to date as of April 17th.

Today’s Transactions (newest transactions in bold text)
4/23/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated LHP Tyler Gilbert from the 7-day IL
4/23/2019 – RHP Luis Ramirez assigned to Clearwater  from Williamsport
4/23/2019 – RHP Gustavo Armas assigned to Williamsport from Clearwater
4/22/2019 – Phillies optioned LHP Austin Davis to Lehigh Valley
4/22/2019 – Phillies recalled RHP Edubray Ramos from Lehigh Valley
4/22/2019 – RHP Andrew Brown assigned to Williamsport from Clearwater
4/22/2019 – Julian Garcia assigned from Williamsport to Clearwater
4/22/2019 – Gregori Rivero released by Williamsport
4/20/2019 – Phillies placed SS Jean Segura on the 10-day IL retro to 4/17, hamstring
4/20/2019 – Phillies placed SS Scott Kingery on the 10-day IL, hamstring strain
4/20/2019 – Phillies placed RHP Victor Arano on the 10-day IL retro to 4/19, elbow
4/20/2019 – Phillies recalled RHP Drew Anderson from Lehigh Valley
4/20/2019 – Phillies recalled 3B Mitch Walding from Lehigh Valley
4/20/2019 – Phillies recalled LHP Austin Davis from Lehigh Valley
4/20/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated C Matt McBride from the 7-day IL
4/20/2019 – RHP Ben Brown assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
4/20/2019 – LF Jimmy Smith assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
4/19/2019 – Reading placed LF Cornelius Randolph on the 7-day injured list
4/19/2019 – LHP Jeff Singer assigned to Reading
4/19/2019 – Clearwater placed LHP Zach Warren on the 7-day injured list
4/19/2019 – 3B Dalton Guthrie assigned to Clearwater
4/19/2019 – LHP Ethan Lindow assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
4/19/2019 – RHP James McArthur assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
4/19/2019 – RHP Kevin Gowdy assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
4/19/2019 – Tyler Carr assigned from Williamsport to Lakewood
4/19/2019 – Alejandro Requena assigned from Clearwater to Williamsport
4/19/2019 – Kyle Young assigned from Williamsport to Clearwater
4/18/2019 – Phillies placed CF Odubel Herrera on the 10-day IL, hamstring strain
4/18/2019 – Phillies activated CF Roman Quinn from the 10-day IL
4/18/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Tyler Viza from the 7-day IL
4/18/2019 – Luis Carrasco assigned from Clearwater to Williamsport
4/18/2019 – Seth McGarry assigned from Williamsport to Clearwater
4/18/2019 – JD Hammer assigned from Lehigh Valley to Reading
4/17/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated 3B Gift Ngoepe from the 7-day IL
4/17/2019 – Phillies transferred Tommy Hunter from the 10-day to 60-day IL, forearm
4/17/2019 – Phillies optioned RHP Nick Pivetta to Lehigh Valley
4/17/2019 – Phillies selected the contract of 2B Phil Gosselin from Lehigh Valley
4/16/2019 – Phillies optioned RHP Drew Anderson to Lehigh Valley
4/16/2019 – Phillies recalled RHP Jerad Eickhoff from Lehigh Valley
4/16/2019 – RHP Spencer Howard assigned to Clearwater from Williamsport
4/16/2019 – LHP Jhordany Mezquita assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
4/16/2019 – RHP Dominic Pipkin assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
4/16/2019 – JD Hammer assigned from Reading to Lehigh Valley
4/16/2019 – Alexis Rivero assigned from Williamsport to Reading
4/16/2019 – Julian Garcia assigned from Clearwater to Williamsport
4/16/2019 – Tyler Carr assigned from Lakewood to Williamsport
4/16/2019 – Jack Perkins assigned from Lakewood to Williamsport
4/15/2019 – Phillies recalled RHP Drew Anderson from Lehigh Valley
4/15/2019 – Phillies placed RHP David Robertson on the 10-day IL. Elbow soreness
4/15/2019 – LHP Ethan Lindow assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
4/15/2019 – RHP Tyler McKay assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
4/14/2019 – LHP Kyle Young assigned to Williamsport from Clearwater
4/14/2019 – RHP Andrew Brown assigned to Clearwater from Williamsport

62 thoughts on “Threshers Recap – 4/23/2019”

  1. Two outs in the 6th, runner on, and 84 pitches. Howard should have been allowed to try and finish the inning.

    1. Sometimes I wonder if minor league affiliates are playing to win or are in for the full development of a player.

      1. The Phillies have openly said that they use the minors to develop players. That is the priority over wins. No need to wonder. They are open about it.

        1. Jhailyn Ortiz dob 11/18/1998
          Juan Soto dob 10/25/1998
          Victor Robles dob 5/19/1997

          Where are they now?

            1. Be it talent evaluation or development, this system should be red hot right now – and it’s just okay.

          2. That is a little unfair. Those two are two of the best young players in all of baseball. Very few players born in 1998 should be expected to play in the majors.

            This is not to say that Ortiz has performed well, just that perhaps you are using the wrong frame for this problem.

            1. Unfair? Expand the sample size all you want and then tell me about the success of the Phils’ Latin American scouting and player development. Ortiz was their prize signing back in 2015. Name me a Phils’ All Star that they signed as an amateur out of L.A.

              Success stories? Take all the time you feel you need.

  2. Haseley’s splits show some interesting things. He’s played 5 games at home and he’s hitting .263/.364/.368. In 9 away games, .108/.214/.216 (Yikes!). He’s hitting .250/.300/.464 against lefties and .071/.235/.071 against righties (Double Yikes!!). These stats are way too short season but they show a bit of his struggle.

  3. Always enjoyable when the farm has 3 early midweek games on the docket. Reading and Lakewood (Gowdy) start at 10:30am, and Clearwater begins at noon. I’ll have Gameday up and running. A good night last night, 4 Ws for the farm. Would be nice to see fewer BAs below the Mendoza line, but….after the big league club’s performance of the Bad News Bears, it’s still early….right?

  4. Love the 4 wins. What’s the deal with Hennigan? He’s been lights out. Is he a prospect that we’ve overlooked?

    1. I haven’t seen him but his stats show some promise. He’s 24 yo so he is who he’s going to be. He’s 6’4″ and around 200 lbs. The Phils sent him to the AZL last year. He had a 1.29 ERA with 9 Ks in 7 IP. He also had a 1.571 WHIP and 5 BBs. So there were some pluses and some minuses. So far this year in A+, he has 16Ks and a BB in 11 IP. He also has 3 saves. But he’s 24 in A+ and if he doesn’t get a shot at AA by June then he’s just an older guy beating up on younger guys. If he’s in Reading and performing well in the next month or so then maybe there is something there. Just my take from far away.

      1. Makes sense. 24 is old for Cwater. He’s certainly pitching like a guy who wants a promotion.

  5. Howard’s leading the FSL in strikeouts and xFIP in the early running. He’s pitching like a prospect that wants to move fast through the system.

    1. If he can keep pitching like this, I would think he will be in Reading by June……..though if selected to the All-Star game for the North team, Phillies may let him attend the game June 15 in Jupiter, pitch an inning or two, then afterwards get him ready to move up north.

    2. Fun fact: last time Spencer struck out 11 was against Alec Bohm’s Wichita State.

      2. Mr H … I looked high and low for video of Spencer’s 11 K outing vs Wichita State. No luck, but I did find his post game interview:

        Can’t see Spencer spending too much more time in Clearwater.

  6. I’ll drive this hype train if I have to. We have a 20 yo catcher with twice as many walks as strikeouts, hitting doubles with good defensive tools. If I was going to put money on anyone having a breakout season, right now it’s Marchan.

    We’ve all seen hot starts fizzle but this isn’t coming out of nowhere. His stock is up for now.

    1. I’m with you Handzus, and was advocating for him to be ranked higher on the PP prospect list this February. He had a good year hitting last year in WPT. It appears he has good contact ability at the plate. I have read elsewhere that he has promise defensively. If he can add power, then watch out.

      1. I was tentative on him coming into the year because of the low BB rate, lack of power and smallish size. His start to the year could hardly address those concerns better.

  7. A few things that I am loving right now:
    1. Spencer friggin Howard. Wow he looks every part of a top SP. he might be Almaraz’s best pick. Electric stuff and dominating results. This is what top prospects look like. No excuses. No but, but, but explanations. Just going out and dominating. Very exciting.
    2. Marchan is doing great early on. He may be a top 5 prospect by year’s end on my list.
    3. Grullon continues to impress me. Top notch defender who is really hitting the ball hard. That is a valuable prospect. I would love to see him get a chance to replace Knapp.
    4. Bohm hitting like he should at Low A. It was a disappointing placement. But he is doing what he should do. I think they bump him to Clearwater soon just to challenge his bat. But it seems to me that his defense at third is still a very big open question.

    1. I would add Kevin Gowdy to your list. Inconsistency is expected when you haven’t pitched in awhile. 5 IP today, 2 hits and no runs, 2 BB/3 KS. 1.84 ERA for the year with almost a strikeout per inning. Too many walks.

      All in all, I’m very pleased 29th what he’s done.

      1. ummm…I wouldn’t add Kevin to my list. Not a believer. Need to see much more and need to see velo tick up and sustain. happy that he is out there. but not ready to buy in yet.

  8. I agree Romus, Howard looks great, and I would let him stay through the All Star game. Bohm, though, may need to go to Clearwater soon. I know the organization, as v1 said, does not care about Ws vs player development, but Clearwater needs Bohm’s bat. He was a College 1st rd pick, not HS, and should be well established, already at Clearwater. He is already behind what I would consider “on track” for a guy like him. And, I believe that playing winning baseball adds to the development of players. Sure, a Pitcher can lose a game because he is trying to develop a pitch, and it is not there yet, and you can lose because a guy gets pushed a level and he needs time to develop in the new league, but winning should always be important, and teams can do both.

    1. I predicted Bohm would be in CLW for the series against Daytona May 2. We’ll see how close I am.

      I don’t consider it a fast track I simply consider it progression but he will finish the year at AA.

    2. matt13….Bohm probably will get the call up soon to CLW……and may even get a August call up to Reading.
      If that would have to occur, then he would be right ‘on track’.

  9. Will Stewart is pitching very well for the Miami A+ team. He has a 1.47 ERA and a .927 WHIP. He has 18 Ks in 18 IP. He’s the one I hated to lose in the Realmuto trade. Sixto had to be the 1st piece of that trade but Will was one of the secondary pieces. I’m not down on the trade at all because you have to give something to get something. I’m just lamenting the loss of Stewart.

  10. I was thinking about Lakewood, have you ever seen such a young Lakewood team, just so many 18/19 year olds. I wondered if they put Bohm there to play with Garcia as a future SS/3rd combo but also to help with having someone older that can help the younger kids and the team as without him the offense would be ugly as they are already the worst team in the league but without him it could be a good bit worse then the league worst .316 win %.

  11. *Deep breaths*….they’re not hitting in AA….*Deep breaths*…it’s only April…

  12. Clearwater playing morning game today. They somehow started 8 players with sub 200 batting averages, with only Muzziotti over 200. Ever see that before? Of course, Reading and Lakewood lineups’ batting averages are very low also but not 8/9 below 200.

  13. As April comes to a close, this is the way it looks to me:

    Disappointing (no likely promotions) — Moniak, Haseley, Listi, L. Garcia, Pivetta, Pipkin

    Encouraging (likely promotions) — Howard, Bohm, Hall, Santos, Irvin, and Marchan

    1. Moniak K’d his 1st 3 ABs today, then lined a 3-0 pitch to CF to single home a run. Not a good day but a good last AB as a consolation.

        1. I have been on record saying that I am giving Moniak a mulligan on the first half of the season. I want to see what he does in the second half and will completely ignore the first half stats if he puts up good second half stats.

          that said, i have been openly concerned about both his career K rate and walk rate. seeing his k rate balloon in AA is concerning. he has time to bring it down, but it is going in the wrong direction. and his walk rate, despite a really good start, is coming down to his career walk rates, which are not good for someone who relies upon his hit tool.

          IMO, K rate, walk rate and HR rate are the most important stats to look at for a position prospect. far, far more important than Batting Average or even OB% that can easily show false success (or false failure) based on BABIP and infield singles. But those three stats can not be manipulated. you either make contact or you don’t. you either draw walks or you don’t. same with homers. even ISO can be manipulated based on weak hit doubles that are more a function of minor league defenses.

          I don’t know why his K rate is exploding like it is, but after 65 PAs he has a 35% k rate. that is absurdly high. and must come down soon. obviously advanced pitchers have found a weakness for him. the book is out on him. if anyone watches the games and can shed light…is he struggling to recognize spin? is he getting blown away on fastballs? what is he striking out on?

    2. Based on 3 weeks of baseball, yes. But I think they will base promotions on larger sample sizes, Rob.

    3. I’m not too worried about Garcia just yet, I think once he gets more comfortable at the plate he’ll do a good bit better as he’s looked at a number of strikes but has put some good swings on balls. Haven’t seen all the games but it seems like more of his errors have come at 2B then SS.

      Santos is 18 so would be surprised if he’s promoted, he needs to work on his command.

      I can’t speak about Clearwater since I haven’t seen any games but in the 3 other levels in the games i’ve seen or their stats,

      LV – Impressed – Grullon, Hernandez, Canelo, Garcia, EDLS, Davis, Arano (I know he was called up)

      Disappointing – Cozens, Walding, Romero, Suarez, Windle

      Reading – Impressed – Stephen, Cumana, Lartigue, Rosso, Dohy, Leftwich, Hernandez, Parkinson, Llovera, Hammer

      Disappointing – Haseley, Monaik, Listi, Gamboa, Bossart, Eshelman

      Lakewood – Impressed – Bohm, Gutierrez, Marchan, Troya, Santos

      Disappointing – Holmes, Matos, Smith, Pelletier, Stobbe, Mezquita, Pipkin, McKay

      1. Guess again on Garcia. 4 errors at each position, 14 more innings and 2 more chances at second base. Try looking things up before making an incorrect assessment.

        FWIW, his 4 errors at SS came in 2 games, 2 throwing and 2 fielding. His 4 errors at 2B came in 3 games – all 4 fielding.

  14. Who can tell me about 2b/3b Ali Castillo who is currently batting .400 with Reading? All I know is he turns 30 in June. Drove home a run today with his 5th double. Could he be useful as a bench player later with the big club?

    1. Doesn’t the phrase “he turns 30” tell you about 96% of what you need to know?

        1. Sorry 8mark he is late for church, not late bloomer. My stephens is holding his own

          1. rocco….think the Phillies should go after third baseman Arenado?

            That is Jonah Arenado, Nolan’s younger,but bigger, brother….playing third for the Richmond Squirrels.

  15. Hats off to our old friend Brock Stassi, now with AA Richmond who just made the last out vs Reading.

  17. I want to know how hard Spencer Howard was throwing last night. Does anyone here know?

    1. Reached 99…sat 94-97
      Ks per inning:…third strike velo
      1st inning…..1.-76…2-97
      2nd inn………3.-99…4-87
      3rd inn……….5-77….6-97
      4th inn………..7-94….8-85
      5th inn………..9-87….10-94…..11-95

      2. To Reading by June. To Lehigh Valley by August for post season play. To CBP by July/Aug 2020. Reasonable?

        1. 8mark….yes that is reasonable.
          Look at Nola……drafted in June ’14 and started first game at CBP July ’15.
          I know he is an anomaly of sorts, but like you said with Howard (drafted in ’17)….that would be very reasonable IMO.

          1. Yes, Romus. Howard kind of crept into our collective consciousness while Nola was a 1st rounder who naturally wasn’t going to fly under the radar.

          2. I would love to see him pitch but i dont drive, Romus let me know when your going, now that you retired, we can do a weekday game. i will take off from work., I need to put in notice two weeks before. I have a important job now. head chef at CHE Mc Donalds

  18. I think in the case of pitchers and i am not a expert, You can move a kid like Howard with the electric stuff he has, challenge him. Dody is the one who is i love to see play, he is another Mitch Williams. three walks, then three strikeouts. Can we take that again?

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