All posts by gregg

AFL Update

8. Arizona Fall League

The Mesa Solar Sox season kicked off on Tuesday with an 8-3 victory over Phoenix.  John Mayberry started in RF and hit cleanup, going 0-2 before being replaced.  Matt Rizotti hit in the five hole and played first base, going 2-4 with a run scored and a walk. On the hill Tyson Brummett got roughed up, going 2 innings and yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits.  He didn’t walk a batter and struck out 5.  Notably, former Phillie prospect Michael Taylor launched a homer off of Brummett.

Wednesday saw Mesa take one on the chin 6-3 to Phoenix with Michael Taylor crushing his second homer in as many days. He was 3-4 on the day with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.  The lone Phillie prospect to see action was Tim Kennelly who was behind the plate and went 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He also threw out Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands attempting to steal. Continue reading AFL Update →

Arizona Fall League Begins

8. Arizona Fall League

Minor League baseball is back, at least for the next month or so as the Arizona Fall League begins their schedule today. The Mesa Solar Sox, the team that the Phils are affiliated with start their schedule with a 2:35 first pitch today.  John Mayberry Jr, is hitting cleanup, playing right field, while Matt Rizzotti is hitting right behind Mayberry and playing first base.  Look for twice a week updates on the Fall League starting this week.

Michael Schwimer Interview

Other Stuff

Lehigh Valley reliever Michael Schwimer gave me an opportunity to ask him several questions which he has graciously answered.  We at Phuture Phillies, thank him for the interview.  As we have documented, Schwimer had an excellent year, first in Reading and then following his mid-year promotion, in Lehigh Valley. After successfully closing games in Reading, Schwimer was used along with Mike Stutes as the primary set up men for Scott Mathieson in Lehigh Valley.  Schwimer, who will be 25 entering Spring Training, was the Phillies 14th round draft pick out of the University of Virginia in the 2008 draft. In 2010 he was a combined 7-5 with a 2.85 ERA and 11 saves in his 48 appearances between Reading and Lehigh Valley.  Most impressively, he walked an average of just 3.2/9 innings while striking out 11.4/9. Opponents hit just .221 against him in AAA. Continue reading Michael Schwimer Interview →

Mayberry to Arizona Fall League

8. Arizona Fall League

OF John Mayberry will head off to Arizona as a late addition to the Mesa Solar Sox Fall League roster after a very good final week of the Major League season during which he knocked out two homers.  Both SS Brian Bocock as well as Pitcher Vance Worley will be off to Florida to stay sharp in the Instructional League in case of a Phillies injury emergency.

Roadcap out in Reading, Landes Executive of the Year

6. Reading

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today that 2010 Reading Manager Steve Roadcap has been told that he will not return to the RPhils in 2011, but will remain in the organization with a job at the Single A level.  With Lehigh Valley Manager Dave Huppert having been fired at the end of the 2010 season, both of the top two levels of the organization will have new managers at the helm at the start of the 2011 season.

Although not a note relating to a Phillies prospect, I would be remiss not congratulating Lehigh Valley IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes on being named the International League Executive of the Year. Lehigh Valley led all 160 minor league teams in attendance last year, a truly amazing feat considering the fact that Lehigh Valley is 27th out of 30 teams in AAA baseball as far as market size. Even with an abysmal team on the field, the Lehigh Valley staff led by Landes continued providing an entertaining night out for familes in the Lehigh Valley. Congrats on a job very well done.

Eric Pettis Interview

* Interviews

Eric Pettis, a 2010 Phils Draft Pick was kind enough to give Phuture Phillies a few minutes of his time to answer questions. Pettis is a 6’2 RHP out of University of California-Irvine and had an excellent start to his professional career in WIlliampsort going 8-0 with a 1.37 ERA in 20 appearances. After being immediately placed into the WIlliamsport rotation after the drafty and having quite a bit of success, Pettis transitioned to the bullpen at the end of the year and matched his success as a starter with 7 late season saves.  Pettis was called up to Lakewood in the playoffs, making his SAL debut with another scoreless outing.

Question: After a lot of success as a closer at UC Irvine, you were placed into the
starting rotation right out of the gate in Williamsport, how difficult was that
transition after being primarily a closer for several years? Continue reading Eric Pettis Interview →

End of Year Report, Bullpen, Bottom Half

Around the System

The last of the End of the Year reports, which takes a look at the bullpen in the bottom half of the organization.

Lakewood

Justin Beal, 24, 24 games, 3-4 with a 2.77 ERA; 39IP 44H 15BB 24K, 1HR allowed, 1.77 GO/AO, .303 opp. avg., .333 vs. LH, .270 vs. RH, .171 with RISP, 1.51 WHIP. ALthough a nice ERA, Beal was hit fairly hard this year, but with limited damage thanks to effectiveness with RISP. Beal was the Phils 28th round pick in 2009, and probably should be in CLearwater to sink or swim. Continue reading End of Year Report, Bullpen, Bottom Half →

Instructional League Participants

0. Instructional League

Nice work over at Beerleaguer.com today in tracking down the participants in the Florida Instructional League for the Phils.  They are as follows:

Pitchers: Gabrial Arias, Phillippe Aumont, Jesse Biddle, Lisalberto Bonilla, Jake Borup, David Buchanan, Garrett CLaypool, Jared Cosart, Jacob Diekman, Sergio Escalona, Craig Fritsch, Percy Garner, Nick Hernandez, Mario Hollands, Steven Inch, Colin Kleven, Tyler Knigge, Derrick Loop, Mike McGuire, Marek Minarik, Brian Morgado, Jon Musser, Hector Neris, Miguel Nunez, JC Ramirez, Juan Sosa, Ethan Stewart and Kevin Walter. Continue reading Instructional League Participants →

End of the Season Report–Bullpen–Top Half

Around the System

A last look at the bullpen for Lehigh Valley, Reading, and Clearwater.  A good amount of talent, and unlike most other areas in the organization, some potential for big league movement come 2011 with the impending free agency of several Phils relievers (Durbin, Contreras, Romero), along with the possibility that David Herndon begins next season in Allentown.  Look for the final roster report of the season, the bullpen (Lakewood, Williamsport, and GCL) on Tuesday. Continue reading End of the Season Report–Bullpen–Top Half →

Mathieson to the FIL

Other Stuff

Just a quick hit that Scott Mathieson left the Phillies today for Florida, to participate in the Florida Instructional League.  Mathieson who has been on the DL, will be rehabbing from his lower back strain as well as continuing his work on the splitter.