This is your place to talk about it….

The ‘Pigs were 3-3 over the last week, and are currently 31-26 and in 3rd place in the Northern Division of the International League, 4.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. After their rainout on Monday, the ‘Pigs continue their homestand Tuesday with four games against Gwinnett.

Probables: Tuesday: Cochran; Wednesday: Cloyd; Thursday: TBA Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Pitchers Jesse Biddle, Adam Morgan, Austin Wright, along with Catcher Cameron Rupp were all named to the FLorida State League All Star Team representing the North Division in the game to be played June 16th.  No time to add much commentary other than to say that the Rupp pick surprises me.  More later.

With both Roy Halladay and now Jose Contreras looking at long term stints on the DL, the Phils are awfully thin on the mound considering who is on the DL already (Stutes, Herndon, DeFratus). With no pitcher near ready to come off the DL, the Phils will have to take a look at the Lehigh Valley roster for help.

The possibilities: The Phils are going to need a long man, presuming Worley comes off the DL to take Halladay’s spot in the rotation.  The most likely candidate for promotion appears to be Dave Bush. Bush has been very consistent for Lehigh Valley, going 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts. He has walked just 8 in 58.2 innings of work and held the opposition to a .186 average with RISP.  Bush had an out clause in his contract set for yesterday.  With how well he has pitched, I presume there has been some discussion with him about a call up, as he apparently chosen not to exercise his option.

Scott Elarton, who had been outstanding early on, has struggled more recently, most likely removing him from the short term radar screen.  Darkhorse is Tyler Cloyd who has been consistently good this tear.

If Worley is not quite ready yet, I would think that the Phils send Erik Kratz back down (they are carrying 3 catchers), have Bush take Halladay’s rotation spot in the short term and bring up a second pitcher from Lehigh Valley bullpen.  The most likely candidate at this stage appears to be Michael Schwimer.  Schwimer has struggled pitching for the Phils and recently had one of his very few poor AAA outings, however he is on the 40 man roster and if Worley is not ready, the Phils will have to make at least one move opening a spot on the 40, and maybe hesitant to make two.  Phillipe Aumont is not currently an option as he is one mediocre appearance removed from the DL himself.  A darkhorse candidate for the bullpen is BJ Rosenberg (Would require a 40 man roster move). Rosenberg has not yet gotten his major league shot, and has pitched extremely well for Lehigh Valley as of late, going 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA over his last 10 games.  Rosenberg, a 13th round pick out of Louisville in 2008 has help opponents to a .091 average with RISP during his tenure in AAA this year.

With the draft upcoming beginning on June 4th, and the many changes facing the scouting department of every MLB organization, it seems time to throw around what has changed and what effect it could have on the Phillies. The Phils are without a first round pick this year because of the signing of Jonathan Papelbon, however sit with both the 40th and the 54th pick in the Supplemental Round (broadcast live on June 4 by MLB Network). The first notable change is the fact that the length of the draft has changed from 50 rounds in prior years, to 40 rounds this year.  Rounds 2-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com. Continue reading The Draft →

A look back at the time period of 5/23 thru 5/29. Quick points:

–I watched David Buchanan throw an impressive CG shutout Monday in Harrisburg where he kept the Senators extremely off balance.

–Another week where it is a good thing to be named “Cody”.

—Leandro Castro has really been hitting over the last several weeks, while Tyson Gillies’ week was limited by his wrist injury.

—I have to give some “pub” to Troy Hanzawa. He has come out of nowhere this year and has hit as consistently as just about anyone in the organization, while continuing to show the slick fielding he has in the past.

–Another “out of nowehere” name is Tyson Brummett, who was named Phils Minor League Pitcher of the Week last week.  He is putting up huge strikeout numbers at AAA this year after several years appearing extremely pedestrian.

–Hot Hitters: Tyson Gillies (.500, 3R 1HR 5RBI); Leandro Castro (.458, 5R 1HR 2RBI); Troy Hanzawa (.389, 5R); Cody Asche (.381); Anthony Hewitt (.368); Cody Overbeck (.360, 3R 1HR 5 RBI); Kelly Dugan (.321, 5R 2HR 4 RBI); Darin Ruf (.304, 5R 2HR 4RBI) Continue reading Hot or Not →

A miserable week for Lehigh Valley who have fallen to 28-23, after a 1-5 week and are now in 4th place of the Northern DIvision of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. The week culminated with the ‘Pigs coughing up a 7 run lead when Michael Schwimer gave up 6 in the ninth to Gwinnett yesterday. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Just some quick hits from over the weekend:

Tyson Gillies was removed from the Reading game Saturday evening in Harrisburg after a collision.  He is day to day with a wrist contusion.

Brody Colvin worked in relief after being scheduled to start the Clearwater game on Saturday night.

Austin Hyatt is suffering the same short term fate as Colvin.  Hyatt is being removed from the Lehigh Valley rotation in favor of Tom Cochran.  I suspect it is short term and simply to give Hyatt a psychological breather.  Continue reading Monday Musings →