A look at rotation in the lower parts of the organization.  Note with Williamsport and GCL, the rotations are often changing these days with innings limitations and the like.  I tried to put out there those who have been consistently starting or those who have just moved into the rotation.

Lakewood

Gabrial Arias, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2007; 34 games (5 starts); 4-7 with a 3.81 ERA; 85IP 93H 23BB 86K; 0.89 GO/AO; .276 opp. avg., 2.4BB/9.0K per nine; .264 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .318 with RISP; 2-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 10 games (5 starts) since July 1.  Arias has really come around as of late and should see time in CLearwater next year. Continue reading Around the System, Starting Pitching, Lower Half →

Winding down the season, this looks at the time period from 8/10 thru 8/16.  Minimum of 11 AB’s.

–Why waste more superlatives.  I am going to simply say….Cody Asche and Darin Ruf.

–After a very rough week one in Triple A, Sebastian Valle bounced back with a vengence this week, with two crucial HR’s. and 9 hits.

–Jon Pettibone with two very impressive outings (and wins) for the IronPigs, where he was keeping the opposition extremely off balance which resulted in a boatload of ground ball outs.

–Under the radar screen, Austin Wright now has double digit wins for CLearwater and an ERA sitting right around 3.

–Brody Colvin continues to be an enigma that doesn’t belong in AA.

–D’Arby Myers with 5 hits on Thursday evening is forcing people to notice.

–Michael Nesseth continues to be my “sleeper”. Keep an eye on him.

Hot Hitters: D’Arby Myers (.615, 3SB); Cameron Perkins (.500); Sebastian Valle (.474, 2HR 7RBI); Cody Asche (.448, 6R 10RBI); Gabrial Lino (.438, 2HR 4RBI); Miguel ABreu (.417, 7RBI); Brock Stassi (.375); Alejandro Vilalobos (.368); Harold Martinez (.364); Cameron Rupp (.364); Darin Ruf (.333, 7R 6HR 11 RBI);  Honorable Mention: Franco, Austudillo, Cozens, Green, Duffy, Lavin, Quinn, Cartwright, Dugan Continue reading Hot or Not →

The Phillies have announced that Ryan O’Sullivan is the “player to be named later” in the Joe Blanton deal, and that O’Sullivan will report to Class A Clearwater.  O’Sullivan, 21, is a RHP that was drafted in the 4th round by the Dodgers in the 2011 draft.  O’Sullivan is a combined 8-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 29 games (9 starts), across both A (Great Lakes) and High A (Rancho Cucamonga) in the Dodgers organization. He walked 31 and struck out 55 in 88.2 IP.

Continued mediocrity for Lehigh Valley is taking its toll on the standings as the ‘Pigs have now fallen to  66-58, after a 3-3 week and are in 3rd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Scranton and 2 games behind Pawtucket for a wild card berth. Lehigh Valley concluded a home stand last night and now go on the road for four games against Buffalo before returning home for four games against Toledo.

Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A look at the starting pitching in the top half of the organization with Lakewood, Williamsport and the GCL to come late in the week.

Lehigh Valley

Tyler Cloyd, 25, Phils 18th round pick in 2008; 23 starts; 14-1 with a 2.07 ERA; 148IP 112H 34BB 104K; 1.03 GO/AO; .213 opp. avg., .254 vs. LH, .164 vs. RH, .189 with RISP. 0.99 WHIP; 2.0BB/6.3K per nine; 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 7 starts since July 1.  Frankly the pitching line that Cloyd has put up this year could not be better.  The critics say he doesn’t throw hard enough.  If you know how to pitch, that can make up for 5MPH and then some. I bought in last year before the hype and believe now he should have been in Philly at least a month ago.  What is the downside of giving him a shot? Continue reading Around the System, Starting Pitching, Top Half →

Stats are from the time period of 8/3 thru 8/9. Minimum of 11 AB’s.

Quick Points before we look at the bottom line:  Is there any legitimate reason that Darin Ruf is not in Lehigh Valley at this point?  I can’t think of one.

–D’Arby Myers performance of late in Reading is notable.  He is sitting at around .290 after close to 100 AB’s. Doesnt make up for several poor years, but just sayin.

–Troubling names on the “Not Hot” hitters list include Sebastian Valle, who has struggled early in his AAA transtion…Mitch Walding who has not hit at all as of late…..and Dylan Couzens who has been struggling as well.

–Ethan Martin has shown in his first two starts why the Phils wanted him, while Hoby Milner has looked very good in Lakewood over his last several starts.

–A rough outing for Jesse Biddle as his IP start to reach last years proportions.

–Julio Rodriguez seems to finally have plummetted to the land of medicority that many expected of him long ago.

–Perci Garner and Brody Colvin did what has been expected plus after battling most of the year. Continue reading Hot or Not →

With a patchwork lineup, the ‘Pigs have been the picture of mediocrity over the last several weeks, going 5-5 in their last 10 ten games, and now stand at 63-55, 2.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket in the Northern Division of the International League.  Scranton is leading the wild card race, with Lehigh Valley one game back. After a day off on Tuesday, the ‘Pigs open a six game home stand against Buffalo against whom they play two, followed by two each versus Syracuse and Rochester. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Suddenly, a new mindset as we look at the catchers throughout the system.  We now have three legit prospects (AAA, AA, High A) and two with legit potential to be outstanding in the majors.  I am also intrigued by the Austudillo fellow in the GCL.  Check out his numbers.

Lehigh Valley

Sebastian Valle, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2006; .258/.277/.428 in 318 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 13 HR 47 RBI; 3%bb/26%k rates. 81 games caught with 1 error (.998); 9 passed balls; 26/91(29%)CS.  Has played well this year and should spend most of 2013 in AAA with maybe a September call up if the progression continues. Continue reading Around the System–Catchers →

A look back at the past week from July 27–August 2. Minimum of 11 AB’s.

Quick hits before we get started: Cody Ascheseems to have adjusted to AA and is starting to put up numbers ,while 16 year old Carlos Tocci makes the hot list for the first time.

–Rough week for Larry Greene, who took an 0-6 last night.

–Hoby Milner and Kevin Brady make their initial appearances on the hot starter list, while Cloyd and Morgan continue making their near weekly appearances.

–Outstanding week from the CLearwater bullpen (Neris, Murray, Nesseth, GIles), while Kyle Simon, who was promoted to Reading this week continues to throw very well out of the ‘pen.

–Aumont seems to be back on track and it is very nice to see Justin DeFratus on the hot reliever list.  He could be very useful for the Phils next year.

Hot Hitters: Cesar Hernandez (.500, 5R 1HR 6RBI); Tug Hulett (.474, 6R 1HR 4RBI); Willans Astudillo (.444, 9RBI)Carlos Tocci (.412, 5R 3SB);Sebastian Valle (.389, 6RBI);  Leandro Castro (.381, 4R 1HR 10RBI); Andreas Blanco (.375, HR 4RBI)Zack Green (.375, 2HR 6RBI); Cody Asche (.345, 7R): Honorable mention: James, Myers, Hanzawa, Carver, Franco, Pointer, Spidale, Hudson, Suomi,Quinn, Serritella Continue reading Hot or Not →