Both the Daily News and the Inquirer are reporting that Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has emerged as a candidate for the vacant Managerial position in Lehigh Valley. Sandberg, 51 was the manager of Iowa City, the AAA affiliate of the Cubs last year. While an early candidate for the Cubs manager position, he decided not to return to the organization after the job was given to Mike Quade. Continue reading Sandberg a Candidate for AAA job
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AFL Update
Matt Rizzotti went 1-3 on Thursday, knocking in 2 runs on a single. In 42 AB’s, Rizzotti is at .405/.509/.452 with 0HR and 9 RBI’s. While walking twice as much as he has struck out in the AFL (10/5), Rizzotti has now gone over 100 plate appearances without a homer including his late season time in Lehigh Valley.
Justin DeFratus had a bumpy inning earning the save on Thursday giving up a single and a walk, but he got the job done and still has not allowed a run in 6 AFL games, striking out 10 in 6 innings. Continue reading AFL Update
Zeid, DeFratus named AFL Rising Stars, AFL update
Matt Rizzotti continues to swing a very hot bat, going a combined 5-10 in games Monday and Tuesday, with 2 doubles and 4 RBI’s. In 39 Fall League AB’s, Rizzotti is at .410/.531/.462 with 0 HR and 7 RBI. He has walked 10 times and struck out only 4 times.
Tim Kennelly has been opening eyes in his limited action going 2-3 with 2 runs and a double in the 15-1 Mesa win Monday. Kennelly was behind the plate with 5 hurlers from the Phils organization on the hill. Kennelly is now at .429/.500/.619 in his 21 AB’s, with 0HR and 2 RBI’s. Continue reading Zeid, DeFratus named AFL Rising Stars, AFL update
Fall League Roundup
Matt Rizzotti–Continued swinging a hot bat, going 2-5 on Thursday and 1-2 with 2 walks on Friday. Rizzotti is now at .379/.526/.369 in 29 Fall League at bats, with 7 walks and 3 strikeouts. The only complaint is that all 11 of Rizzotti’s hits, most out of the cleanup spot have been singles. That being said, .379 is .379.
Tim Kennelly–Started in LF on Saturday and had a big day, going 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored. .389/.421/.556 in 18 Fall League AB’s with 2 RBI’s. Continue reading Fall League Roundup
Fall League Update
A bit of a new format that will hopefully be more user-friendly as far as looking at the prospects this week.
Tim Kennelly–Played in all three games, Monday thru Wednesday going 0-1 on Monday as a pinch hitter, 0-2 Tuesday in Left Field, and 2-3 with a run scored, a double and an RBI on Wednesday. .357/.400/.429 in 14 AB’s with 0 HR and 2 RBI. 3 k’s.
BJ Rosenberg–Pitched in the 5th inning of the game on Monday, throwing a scoreless inning. He did allow a hit, walked one, and struck out two. Control remains an issue as just 11 of his 22 pitches were strikes. Has made 4 appearances, 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA. 5.2 IP 8H 3BB 4K. Continue reading Fall League Update
Singleton to LF
Reports from the Phillies indicate that they have been extremely impressed with the work of Jonathan Singleton in the OF, and as a result, they expect him to begin next year playing LF in Clearwater.
Ready, set, discuss.
Fall League Update
Thursday–Mesa were 4-2 victors over Scottsdale without any Phils in their lineup. Two Phillie relievers saw work in relief with both BJ ROsenberg (6th inning) and Chris Kissock (7th) throwing scoreless innings. Each allowed a hit, with Kissock striking out a batter.
Friday–Mesa took it on the chin 6-2 Friday evening, losing to Peo Sagueros. Again, no Phillies in the lineup with just Tyson Brummett seeing action out of the bullpen.Brummett pitched the 3rd and 4th innings and gave up a run on 2 hits in his 2 innings of work. 13 of his 23 pitches were thrown for strikes. Continue reading Fall League Update
The Return of Travis Mattair
3B Travis Mattair, the Phillies 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft has made a decision to return to the baseball diamond after a one year “retirement”. Excellent work over at http://www.phoulballz.com in picking up the story and interviewing Mattair. Mattair, who is soon to be 22, spent both 2008 and 2009 in Lakewood and hit .236/.326/.333 in a disappointing 2009 campaign. In 450 AB’s, Mattair had 3 HR and 39 RBI to go along with 12 SB.
Mattair has placed himself behind the eight ball underperforming in 2009 and then with his self-imposed exile (trying to earn some minutes on the Boise State basketball team) last year, however, with that being said, he is a player who the Phils put a good deal of stock into at one point. It should be interesting to see what Mattair can do to earn a minor league roster spot in 2011 after a full year away from the game.
Arizona Fall League Update
Monday–Mesa suffered a 4-2, ten inning loss to Peo Javelinas , with Matt Rizzotti losing his cool a bit, getting tossed from the game after striking out in the 9th inning. Prior to his ejection, Rizzotti was 1-4 with two strikeouts. He also committed an error at first base. BJ Rosenberg threw two scoreless innings (the 6th and 7th), allowing just one baserunner on a double. While not allowing a walk, his control was an issue as he threw 31 pitches, just 16 for strikes. Continue reading Arizona Fall League Update
Fall League Update
Mesa took an 8-7, eleven inning slugfest against Surprise on Friday with Mets farmhand Eric Niesen picking up the win in relief. Matt Rizzotti again got the start at 1B for the Solar Sox, hitting cleanup and continued his early season success with another 2-4 outing, including a run scored and an RBI. RIzzotti also drew a walk. Tyson Brummett after a rocky outing opening day was lights out in the 6th and 7th inning, allowing just a hit, while striking out 2.
On Saturday, Mesa romped over Pao Sagueros 10-1, with a six run fourth inning being the difference maker. Matt Rizzotti was 0-4 with a run scored and a walk in the cleanup spot. Tim Kennelly saw an at bat as a pinch hitter and singled. Reading Pitcher Chris Kissock saw his first action of the Fall on the hill and pitched perfect 8th inning.
Notes: No word on why OF John Mayberry left the game early on opening day. He has not played since.
–1B Matt Rizzotti is hitting .375 (6-16) through the seasons first week.
–Mesa is off on Sunday and resumes their schedule on Monday.
–Other Winter Leaguers: Freddy Galvis is hitting .250 during the early going in Venezuela (16 at bats), while Harold Garcia is hitless in his first 9 plate appearances, including 5 k’s.
Phuture Phillies 