Threshers Recap – 7/8/2019

Box Score Recap

Spencer Howard returned to action last night.  Not much action elsewhere as two teams are on their All Star breaks and two others were not scheduled.

Clearwater (12-9, 48-39)   lost to Palm Beach, 7-2.

Spencer Howard pitched four, one-hit innings with 7 strike outs.  Andrew Brown got a lot of ground balls, but gave up 2 runs on 6 hits in three innings.  Keylan Killgore gave up 4 runs in an inning with 2 strike outs.  The killing blow was a 3-run HR.  Luis Carrasco gave up a run in the ninth inning.  Rodolfo Duran (4) and Jhailyn Ortiz (14) hit solo HRs.  Duran and Daniel Brito had 2 hits each.  The Threshers went down in order the final two innings.

Spencer Howard came off the IL and struck out the side in the first inning on 15 pitches.  He went 3-0 to Nolan Gorman, but came back and got him looking at a curve ball to end the inning.  This was his only 3-ball count.

Howard got two more strike outs and a come backer in a 23-pitch second inning.  A 10-pitch at bat that ended with a single.  The batter fouled off 5 consecutive pitches in the at bat.  He rebounded with 4 consecutive strikes to the next batter, and got him swinging at a 93 mph FB.

Howard retired the Cardinals in order the next two innings on 18 pitches.  He got 2 more strike outs.  He got a ground out, pop up, and 2 fly ball outs.

Howard threw 56 pitches, 40 strikes (71.4%), and 10 of 13 first pitch strikes (76.9%).

The stadium radar gun was out of order, so I missed the first inning.  I went down behind the plate and got readings off the Threshers’ charting gun.  Howard threw 22 FB and 19 off speed in the second thru fourth innings.  His range was 91-96 mph.  He sat 94-96 mph early, but sat 91-93 mph in the final two innings.

  • #1 Alec Bohm (.329) assigned to Reading June 21st
  • #5 Spencer Howard (1-1, 2.25) placed on the 7-day IL on May 5th, shoulder soreness
  • #11 Jhailyn Ortiz (.220)
  • #12 Simon Muzziotti (.281)
  • #17 Kyle Young (1-3, 4.29) placed on the 7-day IL on May 1st, TJ surgery
  • #18 Nick Maton (.285) 
  • #19 Rodolfo Duran (.220)
  • #20 Daniel Brito (.241)

Lehigh Valley (42-44)  All Star break.

  • #3 Adam Haseley (.314)
  • #6 Enyel De Los Santos (3-3, 3.54)
  • #7 JoJo Romero (2-2, 9.64) assigned to Reading on May 18th
  • #10 Ranger Suarez (2-2, 5.68) recalled by Phillies on June 19th
  • #16 Cole Irvin (3-0, 2.35)
  • #22 Kyle Dohy (1-4,  6.83)
  • #28 Edgar Garcia (1-1, 1.65) no longer prospect eligible
  • #30 Deivi Grullon (.306) placed on the 7-day IL on 7/2, fractured toe

Reading (14-7, 53-35)   All Star break.

  • #1 Alec Bohm (.268)
  • #2 Adonis Medina (5-3, 4.02)
  • #3 Adam Haseley (.268) promoted to Lehigh Valley on May 29th
  • #7 JoJo Romero (2-3, 6.38)
  • #9 Mickey Moniak (.266)
  • #13 Arquimedes Gamboa (.171)
  • #15 Mauricio Llovera (3-3, 4.26)
  • #21 David Parkinson (6-4, 3.31)
  • #22 Kyle Dohy (1-0, 0.82) – promoted to Lehigh Valley April 25th
  • #25 Cornelius Randolph (.235)
  • #28 Connor Seabold – placed on the 7-day IL on April 4th

Lakewood (6-11, 35-52)   no game scheduled.

  • #1 Alec Bohm (.367) – promoted to Clearwater, 4/29/2019
  • #4 Luis Garcia (.201)
  • #8 Francisco Morales (1-4, 3.60)
  • #14 Rafael Marchan (.263)
  • #23 Dominic Pipkin (3-2, 5.24)
  • #24 Kevin Gowdy (0-3, 3.59)
  • #26 Jhordany Mezquita (2-5, 4.66)
  • #29 Manuel Silva (1-2, 4.97)

Williamsport (5-18)  split with Mohoing Valley, losing 4-0 and winning 3-0.

Game One:  Brett Schulze walked 4 in 1.1 innings and gave way to Jake Kinney who stranded 2 inherited runners.  Kinney gave up 3 unearned runs in 1.1 innings.  He struck out two.  Adam Cox stranded an inherited runner and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings.  Soencder Van Scoyoc gave up an unearned run but struck out three in two innings.  Nicolas Torres had 2 of the team’s 4 hits.  Williamsport committed FIVE errors in a seven inning game.

Game Two:  Junior Tejada pitched four, one-hit innings, striking out five.  Alejandro Made tossed two scoreless innings.  Albertus Barber struck out two in one inning for his 1st save.  The Cutters were shut out for five innings before scoring 3 runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Hunter Markwardt.  A second run scored on a throwing error on the play.  They added a third run on a successful double steal by Markwardt (second) and Corbin Williams (home).

GCL Phillies East (4-5)  no game scheduled.

GCL Phillies West (8-2)  beat Yankees West, 8-7.

Brandon Ramey faced 5 batters in the first inning.  He got two outs, allowed 2 runs and left with a runner on base.  I’ll try and find out any back story tomorrow.  Josh Hendrickson came in and stranded the inherited runner and compiled a line of 2.1 innings pitched with a hit and 3 strike outs.  Austin Crowson gave up 3 runs on 4 hits in 1.2 innings.  Aidan Anderson allowed an inherited runner to score and gave up 2 runs in 1.1 innings.  Connor Hinchliffe pitched two scoreless innings.  And, fireballer Nicoly Pina earned his first save with 2 strike outs in his one inning.

The Phillies scored a run in the first inning on Rixon Wingrove’s RBI single.  They took a brief lead in the top of the fifth on Christian Valero’s RBI single and Johan Rojas’ RBI double.  They went ahead again with four runs in the sixth on a double play, J.C. Smith’s 2-run triple, and Bruce Wang’s RBI single.  They took the lead for good in the seventh on Edgar Made’s RBI single.

Rojas (.341) and Wingrove (.310) had 3 hits each.  Wang had 2 hits.

  • #27 Starlyn Castillo has a blister on his index finger and appears to be close to his first action.  The finger looks to be completely healed.

DSL Phillies Red (20-9)  lost to Rockies, 5-4.

DSL Phillies White (19-13)  lost to Cubs2, 7-4.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

The rosters and lists are up to date as of July 8th.

Today’s Transactions (newest transactions in bold text)
7/8/2019 – RHP Alejandro Requena assigned to Williamsport from Clearwater
7/8/2019 – Clearwater activated RHP Spencer Howard from the 7-day IL
7/8/2019 – Lehigh Valley assigns Brandon Leibrandt to the 60-day IL from the 7-day IL
7/7/2019 – Lehigh Valley released RHP John Curtiss
7/7/2019 – Jakob Hernandez assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
7/7/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Alexis Rivero from the 7-day IL
7/7/2019 – RHP Blake Bennett assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
7/7/2019 – RHP Mark Potter assigned to GCL West from Lakewood
7/6/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Tyler Viza from the TIL
7/6/2019 – 3B Jose Antequera assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
7/6/2019 – Reading released RHP Luis Cedeno
7/6/2019 – Reading sent RHP Connor Seabold on a rehab assignment to GCL East
7/6/2019 – Reading placed 3B Alec Bohm on the TIL
7/6/2019 – RHP Hsin-Chieh Lin assigned to Williamsport from Clearwater
7/6/2019 – RHP Tyler Carr assigned to Clearwater from Williamsport
7/6/2019 – Williamsport released RHP Luis Ramirez
7/6/2019 – LHP Joel Valdez assigned to DSL White
7/5/2019 – Phillies optioned LHP Austin Davis to Lehigh Valley
7/5/2019 – Phillies recalled RHP Yacksel Rios from Lehigh Valley
7/5/2019 – LHP Jhordany Mezquita assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
7/5/2019 – RHP Michael Gomez assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
7/5/2019 – LHP Spencer Van Scoyoc assigned to Williamsport from GCL East
7/5/2019 – RHP Brett Schulze assigned to Williamsport from GCL West
7/5/2019 – C Kevin Escalante assigned to GCL West from GCL East
7/5/2019 – RHP Jose Guaramaco assigned to DSL White from DSL Red
7/5/2019 – RHP Noelis Moreno assigned to DSL Red from DSL White
7/4/2019 – Lakewood placed Jesse Wilkening on the 7-day IL
7/4/2019 – Phillies placed RHP Juan Nicasio on the 10-day IL, strained left groin
7/4/2019 – Phillies signed LHP Erik Miller
7/4/2019 – Phillies recalled LHP Austin Davis from Lehigh Valley
7/4/2019 – Lehigh Valley activated RHP Josh Martin from the 7-day IL
7/4/2019 – LHP Josh Tols assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
7/4/2019 – Reading placed CF Mickey Moniak on the 7-day IL, hamstring
7/4/2019 – LHP Erik Miller assigned to GCL West

60 thoughts on “Threshers Recap – 7/8/2019”

  1. I am very happy to see Spencer Howard pitch again, and hopefully after a few starts, the velocity comes back. And I also see that Brandon Leibrandt was transferred to the 60 day IL. It probably means that we have seen the last of him in the Phils organization, being he was a college pitcher drafted in 2014 and has just been unable to stay healthy the last three years.

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    1. Spencer hit 97 a couple times in the first inning. He hit 99 in his last rehab. Velo’s fine.

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    2. Spencer was at 97 a couple times in the 1st inning. He hit 99 in his last rehab. He’s been throwing a lot more off speed this year….

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      1. Wow…didn’t mean to post twice. He also sent me some great video…I’ll try to post.

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        1. Thank you … it’s great to have the first hand knowledge you provide.

          Good Luck to your son!

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  2. Weird….almost exactly two years ago at this time Seranthony was placed on the IL for shoulder soreness the first part of May….and came back exactly two months later…two rehab starts in the GCL and first game back with the Threshers right after mid July….almost close to the same regiment that Spencer Howard just went thru.
    Must be one of the Phillies standard protocols for shoulder issues…

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    1. Shoulder issues are so scary. I truly am heartbroken for Spencer as I believe he was poised to jet through the system and make some starts on the big club this year.

      Discretion is the better part of valor as they say.

      Many forget Hamels only logged 200.3 minor league innings before making his MLB debut at 22. Only 19 of those IP were at AA and 23 were at AAA.

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      1. Yeah….Spencer had college innings (approx 120) under his belt, so they also add into the equation when it comes to total linings for development. So he has close to 300 innings between 18 years old and now.

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          1. Damon Jones has nothing to do with Howard Spencer’s progression plan. Being the top pitching prospect and projected to join the 40-man next year, Spencer will end the year in the high minors (possibly AA), invited to ST and start in AAA before being added in the 40-man.

            Other than being a lefty, I’m not even sure if Damon Jones is a better option than Enyel delos Santos right now. Enyel throws harder and with a better control. Damon Jones is basically a 2-pitch pitcher while Enyel can throw a mix of FB-CB-CU.

            I understand that Enyel is not getting it done. But don’t let a shiny new toy cloud your judgment. Let Damon Jones do what he is doing and the Phillies should let Damon Jones develop a 3rd pitch if they want to see him in the rotation. With Damon Jones command issues, he will become a pen arm without a decent 3rd pitch.

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      2. In 2006, Hamels pitched a high A, AA, AAA and the majors. It would be neat if one of our younger guys (Jones or Howard) were up to that kind of challenge although I doubt they want to do anything to put undue pressure on Howard or his shoulder this year.

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        1. Hamels was a special case. I don’t think it would be going out on a limb to say that none of our pitchers have a 1-2 punch like Hamels’ fastball and change up.

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          1. I love Aaron Nola since he was drafted (despite of the criticism of low ceiling type) become of Cole Hamels. Nola has the same demeanor as Hamels in the mound.

            Also, the FB-CB-CU repertoire of both Hamels and Nola are equally fatal – CB and CU are plus and FB is above average. Nola 3/4 slot give his FB more movement which even make it better than Hamels.

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            1. Both are really good pitchers, but they are quite different in their styles of pitching and one is a Greg Maddux style righty and the other is a lefty with a good FB and a killer change-up. I mean, they are both super pitchers and I like them a lot, but they are not similar really in any way as pitchers.

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            2. @catch – while mentioning Aaron Nola in the likes of Greg Maddux is an awesome thing, I don’t think both pitchers are the same like you mentioned. And here’s why

              Maddux

              – Better mechanics – help his avoid injuries and keep his command
              – Better command – Maddux made his living in umpires calling “borderline strikes” in his favor
              – Better preparation – he is Doc like in this that he is known to study and keep a record of the batters he will face
              – More of ground ball machine. Maddux career K/9 is 6. That is low for a TOR

              Nola

              – Better overall stuff. Maddux command is above Nola but all of Nola’s stuff are probably graded better than Maddux
              – Can miss bats – Nola can miss bats in all of his pitches. Nola average at least 1 K per IP
              – Mechanics – 3/4 slot generates more movement but prone to injury and may not be sustainable
              – Make up – Nola has good make up and I hope he develops the Doc/Maddux approach pitching every game.

              Both pitchers are known as command pitchers that’s where the comparison starts. But Maddux is the better command pitcher while the Nola has the better pitches.

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            3. It’s an interesting comparison. By the way, to be clear, I never said he was as good as Maddux (although he probably was last year), or that he’ll have the career Maddux had (top 10-15 all-time), just that he was a Maddux style pitcher, which he is. He probably throws a little harder than Maddux (although not that much harder than Maddux threw at his peak), but they are both heady righties with tremendous moving stuff, multiple pitches, and impeccable command. He is that style of pitcher.

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            4. I think the Maddux comp is actually fair with Nola, and I hate when people comp guys to Maddux, usually.

              Catch said it but both guys rely on control and movement more than velo. Both guys have underrated raw stuff because people are so preoccupied with their command. Maddux had a lower k% partially due to pitching in a different era. Hitters strike out way more now.

              I don’t think ground ball data exists for most of Maddux’s career but from what we do have, it’s almost the same as Nola’s. Nola might have a different pitching motion but as far as what comes out of his hand and the effect it has on hitters, definitely similar.

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            5. @Handzus – Maddux lower K/9 is because of his pitching strategy. Even if he pitch in any era, the result will be the same. Maddux used mostly with his Sinkers to induce weak contact, thus, ground balls. CU is used to expand the strike zone and make batters chase. If I remember it correctly, most of Maddux K’s are looking because is in close to the corners.

              Unlike Nola, his CB and CU are legit swing and miss. With improved velocity, the high FB starting to become a swing and miss pitch as well.

              When Nola started his MLB career, he is a pure command pitcher with a good CB — the development of the CU is really what moved Nola from a MOR to TOR. Maddux longevity (most attribute to his clean mechanics) helped his career — 23 years!!

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          2. Very true – he’s an outlier. I only mention it to note that, in a special case, something like this can happen.

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        2. In 2006, Hamels pitched 4 games in Clearwater (high A), 3-games in Scranton (AAA), and then 1 game in Lakewood (full A) before his call up to the Phillies. He did not pitch in Reading that year.

          In 2005, he pitched 3 games in Clearwater and 3 games in Reading.

          In 2004, he made 4 starts for Clearwater.

          In 2003, he made 18 starts in Lakewood and 5 starts in Clearwater.

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          1. Oh damn, I misread the stats for 2006. I swore he had pitched in Reading, but you’re completely right. I do remember clearly, however, that he toyed with all minor league hitters that spring.

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          2. The Lakewood game in 2006 was not actually before his call up. That Lakewood start was an injury rehab appearance on June 1. (Hamels made his major league debut on May 12, 2006.) So he actually pitched for only Reading and SWB that year before his call up.

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            1. Sorry — I meant Clearwater and SWB prior to his 2006 call up. Hamels did not pitch for Reading in 2006.

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  3. I have never seen either pitch but to me Howard is our stand alone #1 pitcher in the minors and Medina is a distant 2nd. Results are not the end all be all, but Medina just does not K enough people for me. To be a top half of the rotation arm you need to miss bats.

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    1. That is an accurate statement Eagleeye…

      I saw Medina pitch a few times once live just a few weeks ago and on that night I sat 1st row directly behind home plate. He had really good FB command that night he had 4Ks but probably should of had 7-8 that ump was missing calls left and right.

      Contact against him was weak so the swing and miss isn’t there yet but he does tend to stay off the fat part of the barrell. Like most right handed pitchers who throw hard he will need to find a pitch to mitigate lefties.

      the slider is decent but a change up would really put him in the spotlight. I just didn’t see any semblance of one that night.

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    2. Agreed. Howard is well ahead of Medina in my opinio. I think Medina may be vastly overrated on this site. I am more excited about Morales in Lakewood than I am about Medina. Truth be told, the farm system is sort of thin overall, and particularly thin on pitching (thanks for all the soft tossing control pitchers Johnny!). Not a good outcome when the major league rotation has one ace, another generally solid guy (Eflin) and is otherwise in disarray. This team has serious pitching issues.

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      1. Next draft I like to see the Phillies go round 1 thru 10 with all pitchers (except probably round 2 again which I assume will be forfeited with another big FA signing)…a mix between college arms and HS arms.
        The hitters are all already in place thru the system…

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        1. I think drafting for need, especially in the MLB draft, is always a risky policy. I like what they did in this last draft. They added a college bat in the first round and then added a lot of high upside pitchers in subsequent rounds, but were focused pretty much on the BPA in each round. Assets are assets. If they get some great hitters, they can always trade excess hitting for pitching.

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          1. I bet there’s a good chance that Hamels returns to the Phillies next year on a 2 or 3 year contract to begin the last phase of his career. Oh my goodness what a difference he would have made on the current team.

            FYI, Hamels is now approaching 60 WAR and if he has another 2 very good years after this year, he starts to enter HOF discussions.

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        2. @romus – Johnny A. will have to go if the Phillies wants to find a stack of powered arms. Johnny A. is allergic to power arms like Elton Brand is allergic to a point guard. Johnny A. said it before that he will not draft a pitcher in the Day 1 (Rd 1 in particular) unless he thinks that the prospect is a TOR. The problem is, Johnny A. gold standard in pitching is the Cal State Fullerton – a program known to develop command artists than power arms. So Johnny A. doesn’t have the “eye” for power arms.

          I think most of us noticed the change in the draft strategy in the last Rule 4 and come to believe that the FO might have something to do with it.

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          1. This draft was good, but very odd. I don’t believe Johnny was behind most of the pitching picks, suggesting he was overruled or told to do something different than what he would otherwise have done, so we will see if he lasts until next year. He’s a Ruben Amaro hire, so he has nobody there to protect him. He stays or goes entirely on his own merits.

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          2. Yes….he does some to lean hitter.
            And he may be inclined to evolve to a differing philosophy, for a year anyways.
            He did it more or less this year with all the college high velo relief arms.
            But I like to think Klentak can add additional picks and the slot$$$ that goes with it, by trying to acquire some Round A or B CBA picks. That means giving up close to MLB ready assets.

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            1. Trading for Comp Picks is something that Klentak never really took advantage that most of us are suggesting here. The Phillies has a stack of MLB -eady cost controlled players that can interest teams with CBA. Enyel is a good example, a healthy Eickhoff is another and a combo of Ranger + Ramos can be appealing to low budget teams with weak farms.

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  4. During the futures game Callis told a tidbit about Charlie Manuel and Alec Bohm. Charlie scouted him at a showcase when Bohm was just 14 and called him an MLB hitter…

    I’m sure he’s said that more than a handful of times and it didn’t pan out but as Thome also said during that futures game Charlie was instrumental for many of the great hitters that came out of the Cleveland system.

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  5. I’m not a big Manfred fan as I’ve posted before but I’m glad it sounds like he’s going to push for better pay/ benefits for minor league players. This is one development that will set the game in a better direction when players are paid closer to what they’re worth instead of what they’ve already accomplished despite their natural decline in performance.

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    1. The pay of most minor leaguers is deplorable and embarrassing. The fact that they don’t make a true living wage is outrageous. Completely outrageous. Yes, they are sort of living a dream, but, at the same time, they are living in indentured servitude as the price of living that dream and it’s just not right. The market allows teams to mistreat them and that’s where someone above market forces – namely, the commissioner – needs to step in and make some changes.

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      1. Catch, I agree with your post and I have not attended any baseball game(minor or MLB) this year because of this. Perhaps the season ticket holders can put pressure on the MLB team owners and the other fans should avoid going to the games. By using our financial power we can make sure these changes get done..

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      1. Should finish the summer with Clearwater. Maybe starts 2020 in Reading? Exciting possibility. I would think he’ll get an invite to ST, no?

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      2. Here’s the video courtesy of Jim Peyton (sorry I originally posted it in the wrong day’s thread).

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        1. That was a pretty swing. More bat wiggle than I personally like, but if it works for him…

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  7. These were also posted in the wrong thread. I’ll re-post them here.

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  8. … also … Rixon Wingrove (best name in the Phillies system) is having quite the start to the 2019 season. The Aussie 6’5″, 260 lb, 19 YO 1Bman went 3 for 5 (including a HR) today. He’s slashing .340/.396/.596 3 HR’s in 47 AB’s.

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    1. He has also improved greatly as a first baseman. Last year, any ball hit or thrown to him was 50-50 whether he’d catch it. He has improved both his foot and glove work.

      He also owns the best quite of the season, so far. As his team took the field in the ninth inning of the combined no-hitter earlier this season, he told the reliever entering the game, “Don’t f#ck this up”.

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  9. Medina and Gamboa are highly regarded on this website, agree with Medina in part because of stuff but his 5 years viewed why has he not been promoted? Watched for 5 years, potential there but what am I missing. Prospect is loaded with Latin influence but performance is ? Remember most of e have been academy since 15,16 YO, so they are equivalent to some college experience.

    Question Please:
    Why and what criteria are prospects no longer prospect? Seem MLB experience s/b criteria for non-prospect status ie; Irwin, Santos, Suarez.

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    1. I think I’ve mentioned this before but age matters. If the player is 23 and tearing up Clearwater, it’s not the same if the player is 20 and doing the same thing. In general, when the player hits 24, they better be at AAA. That’s more or less the cutoff age for prospect status.

      Once they get some MLB experience, you can more or less see who is legit by their performances.

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    2. Harvey…..Gamboa is highly regarded on this website!
      You may have misread that somewhere.
      His defense and athleticism perhaps…his bat far from it….1500PAs with a slash of 215/.295/.295 does not constitute a almost 22-year old prospect with a high ceiling at this point.

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      1. Harvey has an axe to grind regarding Gamboa who he thinks is lazy and complacent because he is from Latin America. His comments show a racial bias that I have warned him against, He’s on the verge of being black listed. No need to pay any attention to him.

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          1. It’s not that Gamboa is a prospect who is above reproach. He’s on the 40 man roster, but hasn’t hit at the last two levels. It’s the way you have implied that he is happy to have made it to AA and is coasting because of a racial stereotype that you tried to create and apply to him.

            No ball player Latin or otherwise is content to have reached any level short of the majors. Ball players can’t live on minor league pay, especially Latin players who send most of their pay home to support parents and siblings.

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  10. Guess I did not communicate effectively. My comment is and can be perceived racial and I apologize to all.
    My hope is that all players live there Dream, Enjoy these moments and create long lasting memories. Once again my Apologies to Mr Gamboa and perception on racial bias

    Thank You Jim for awakening I wish no harm or disdain to ANY Player. Thank you for awakening me about this.

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