A second look at the OF around the system.  The good: Castro, Altherr, Dugan, Perkins, Susdorf.  The bad: Collier, Mitchell, Hudson. The ugly: Greene. 

Lehigh Valley

Jermaine Mitchell, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .256/.368/.447 in 129 AB’s; 3HR 13 RBI; 9/12 SB; .214 vs. LHP, .267 vs. RHP, .143 with RISP, 15%bb/25%k rates; Hit .238 in May.  37 games in the OF with 1 error (.985); 1 OF assist. Mitchell is always hustling and has a great attitude but is your prototypical AAAA player. His work against lefties holds him back, however an outstanding walk rate has helped a more than adquate OBP.

Darin Ruf, 26, Phils 20th round pick in 2009; .254/.326/.409 in 193 AB’s; 5HR 25RBI; 1/2 SB; .244 vs. LHP, .257 vs. RHP, .158 with RISP; 9%bb/26%k rates; .242 in May. 36 games in the OF with 1 error (.983); 1 OF assist; Has also played 12 games at 1B without an error. Mediocre at best through the first 200 plate appearances for Ruf. He is not producing runs at anywhere near the rate that will get him back up to the majors and has looked somewhat lost of late at the plate. His defense in left is the leats of the issues right now. Continue reading Around the System–OF →

Increasing concern from the Phils about Adam Morgan’s left shoulder led to an MRI last week, and the MRI revealed some troubling results. Morgan has a small tear in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder that will result in Morgan having to receive an injection in the shoulder over the next few days. Luckily, surgery has not been mentioned as of yet, but the news is extremely concerning nonetheless.

Morgan will not throw for the next three weeks, and will more than likely miss another month or more.

A second look at the middle infield around the system. It is frankly a bit frightening with Cesar Hernandez not included as he is in Philadelphia. The real bright spot is Carlos Alonso who is a 25 year old, 32nd round draft pick, playing High A. Roman Quinn continues to gives inconsistent rays of hope with the bat, but is currently on a pace for 60 errors this year.

Lehigh Valley

Troy Hanzawa, 27, Phils 16th round pick in 2008; .357/.379/.464 in 84 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 1HR 9RBI; 1/2SB; 3%bb/13%k rates; Hitting .435 in 23 AB’s since getting called up to Lehigh Valley. 15 games at SS with 2 errors (.964); 3.53 R/F. 9 games at 2B with 2 errors (.957); Hanzawa was called up to compensate for the loss of Martinez and Hernandez and has done a good job.  He is a slap hitter, weighing 150 at best, but has done that well and played a solid SS. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →

A look at the time period of May 23-29.  Some random thoughts…It is time to start paying some significant attention to Seth Rosin…17 year old Carlos Tocci has begun really holding his own in Lakewood….Can Josh Fields help the Phils?….Larry Greene continues to be unproductive at best…David Buchanan with two encouraging starts after struggling battling back from injury….Yoel Mecias is a name worth watching in Lakewood (just 19 and has a very live arm)…Severino Gonzalez(20 years old) has not allowed an earned run in his first 12.2IP for Clearwater, spanning 5 outings.

Hot Hitters:Jon Roof (.462, 4R 3RBI), Cameron Rupp (.417); Justin Dallas (.417); Josh Fields (.379, 7R, HR 3RBI, 2SB); Carlos Tocci (.381);Leandro Castro (.357, 5R HR 7RBI, 3SB); Tommy Medonca (.333);  Chris Serritella (.316) Honorable Mention:Perkins, Hanzawa, Susdorf, Hewitt Continue reading Hot or Not →

A good week for Lehigh Valley who went 4-1,after their game against Rochester was suspended with Lehigh Valley ahead 6-5 in the fifth inning last night. The ‘Pigs now stand at 24-26 and in 3rd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 6.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket.  The ‘Pigs short road trip continues with two more in Rochester on Wednesday and Thursday before returning home over the weekend for four games against Gwinnett.

‘Pigs Leaders:(Hitting):Cesar Hernandez is 9th in AB’s (185), 6th in hits (57); 6th in stolen bases (15) and 1st in triples (6);Jermaine Mitchell is 2nd in triples (4); Cody Asche is tied for third in triples (3) and is 10th in RBI’s (31).

Pitching:Ethan Martin is tied for 2nd in wins(5) and is 5th in walks (27); Jake Diekman is tied for 7th in saves (7); Tyler CLoyd is 3rd in HR allowed (9) Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A second look at the corner infield with the obvious focus on Asche and Franco.  How much longer does Harold Martinez have with the organization?

Lehigh Valley

Josh Fields, 30, SIgned as a free agent in 2012; .310/.367/.491 in 116 AB’s; 3HR 15RBI; 6SB; .333 vs. LHP, .299 vs. RHP, .379 with RISP, .306 in May; 9%bb/30%k rate. 10 games at 1B with 3 errors (.968); 4 games at 3B without an error; 3 games in the OF without an error. Fields has been playing extremely well, as one of the most consistent hitters on the Lehigh Valley team.  Also, stealing some bases.

Cody Overbeck, 27, Phils 9th round pick in 2008; .229/.299/.486 in 140 AB’s; 9HR 22 RBI; 1SB; 8%bb/24% k rates; .342 vs. LHP, .186 vs. RHP, .188 with RISP, .211 in May. 29 games at 1B with 1 error (.996); 9.17 R/F. Overbeck is crushing lefties but mediocre at best in several other offensive categories.  He is hitting for good power, and has turned himself into a decent 1B.  Continue reading Around the System–Corner Infield →

Who is hot, and who is not for the time period of May 16 through May 22….Some ramblings…the concern for Austin Wright grows as he comes off the DL with another troubling performance…Mitch Walding is heating up but needs to hit with some power to be considered a legit 3B prospect….Darin Ruf has been struggling and his average is down into the .260’s with alot of strikeouts….Good to see names like Rosin, Hernandez and Garner in the hot starter list…Again, why can Durbin/Aumont/Rosenberg do that Mike Stutes can’t. The Phils bullpen only becomes stronger with him in it.

Hot Hitters: Pete Orr (.500, 7R 2HR 8RBI, SB), Zach Collier (.412); Mitch Walding (.368, 4R 6RBI); Art Charles (.364, 6R); Jim Murphy (.348, 4R 2HR 5RBI); Willie Carmona (.333, 8R 1HR 4RBI); Maikel Franco (.333, 2HR); Josh Fields (316, 6R). Honorable Mention: Asche, Hewitt, Dugan Continue reading Hot or Not →

A 4-3 week for Lehigh Valley, who now stand at 20-25 and in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 6.5 games behind division leading Buffalo.  After an off day on Wednesday, the ‘Pigs play four at home against Norfolk, before hitting the road for four games in Rochester.

‘Pigs Leaders (Hitting): Cesar Hernandez is 9th in AB’s (169), 7th in SB (12), 4th in hits (54), leads the league in triples (6); Jermaine Mitchell is 2nd in triples (4); Cody Asche is 3rd in triples (3) and 8th in RBI’s (29); COdy Overbeck in 5th in HR (9); Darin Ruf is 6th in strikeouts (48). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

We complete the first trip around the system with a look at the Relievers. Likely promotion material over the next month to six weeks: Stutes, Robles, Murray, O’Sullivan, Inch/Broussard. We will take our next trip around the system in June.

Lehigh Valley

Mike Stutes, 26, Phils 11th round pick in 2008; 17 games; 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA; 1 save; 23.1IP 20H 10BB 22K; 1.27 GO/AO; .225 opp. avg., 1.28 WHIP; 3.9BB/8.5K per nine; .214 vs. LH, .230 vs. RH, .226 with RISP. In his last 10 outings, Stutes has a 1.93 ERA and the opposition is hitting .196 against him.  He clearly is the next call up for the Phils when they decide to release someone (Durbin) or an injury to a RHP. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers →

A look at the catchers around the organization with plenty of disappointing numbers during the early going.

Lehigh Valley

Tommy Joseph, 21, Acquired in 2012 from San Francisco; .209/.264/.358 in 67 AB’s; 3HR 14RBI; .167 vs. LH, .218 vs. RH, .438 with RISP; 6%bb/21% k rates. 21 games with 1 error (.993); 9 passed balls; 5 of 23 baserunners CS (22%);  After a very rough start to the season, Joseph was beginning to come around before going down with a concussion last week.  He is currently on the DL. Notable production with RISP.

Steven Lerud, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .260/.362/.420 in 50 AB’s; 2HR 7RBI; 12%bb/26% k rates. 15 games caught with 3 errors (.971); 2 passed balls; 4 of 17 baserunners CS (24%); Lerud has done a good job in his role, adding a bit of offense to very good receiving skills. Continue reading Around the System–Catchers →