All posts by gregg

Around the System, Starters, Lower Half

Around the System

Lakewood

Brody Colvin, 20, 23 starts, 6-7 with a 3.17 ERA; 122IP 109H 39BB 108K, 1.20 GO/AO; .236 opp. avg., .214 vs. LH, .253 vs. RH, .206 with RISP, 1.21 WHIP, 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA since July 1. After a rough April, Colvin has been dominant throughout the rest of the year. His innings are being monitored as he is already at 120+.

Trevor May, 20, Clearwater, 16 games, 5-5 with a 5.01 ERA; 70IP 53H 61BB 90K, 0.76 GO/AO; .212 opp. avg., 1.63 WHIP. Lakewood: 8 starts, 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA; 48IP 34H 18BB 67K, 0.87 GO/AO; .199 opp. avg., 1.08 WHIP. Totals: 24 games, 10-7 with a 3.97 ERA; 118IP 87H 79BB 157K, 0.80 GO/AO, .207 opp. avg. May seems to have gotten both his confidence and his control back in Lakewood.  Hitters have struggled against him at both levels, as May clearly has Low A mastered. Continue reading Around the System, Starters, Lower Half →

Around the System, Starters, Top Half

Around the System

A look at the starting rotations for the Top levels of the Phils Minor League system with a look at the lower levels coming up early next week.

Lehigh Valley

Drew Carpenter, 25, 22 starts, 7-9 with a 3.90 ERA; 122.1 IP 122H 45BB 91K; 1.09 GO/AO; .264 opp. avg., .231 vs. LH, .291 vs. RH, .223 with RISP; 1-3 with a 4.81 ERA since July 1; 1.37 WHIP. Carpenter has not pitched well at all recently.  His spot on the 40 man may be in jeopardy if this continues.

Brandon Duckworth, 34, 21 games (14 starts), 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA; 88.2 IP 75H 37BB 92K, 1.14 GO/AO; .234 opp. avg., .261 vs. LH, .210 vs. RH, .205 with RISP, 3-1 with a 3.65 ERA since July 1; 1.26 WHIP. Duckworth has done all that has been asked of him and done it well. Continue reading Around the System, Starters, Top Half →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

7. Lehigh Valley

It is getting very ugly for Lehigh Valley who went 1-6 since the last report and are in 5th place of the Northern division of the International League, 23 games behind division leading Scranton. On the year, Lehigh Valley stands at 46-72. Most incredibly, they still continue to lead the league in attendance, averaging over 9,500 fans a night.  The next closest team, Columbus, averages just over 8,700.

Leaders: Hitting,Andy Tracy is 2nd in walks (58) and is 5th in OBP (.378). Pitching: Brian Mazone leads the league in losses (12) is 9th in HR allowed (16), is 4th in the league in starts (23) and is 4th in IP (137); Joe Savery is 6th in losses (10); Drew Carpenter is 8th in losses (9) and 7th in walks allowed (45); Nate Bump is 7th in ERA (3.35); Scott Mathieson is 2nd in saves (20). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

5 Crosscutters named All Stars

3. Williamsport

Five Williamsport Crosscutters have been named to the New York Penn League All Star Team, in the game to be held next Tuesday in Staten Island, NY. Outfielder Miguel Alvarez, 2B Cesar Hernandez, P Eric Pettis, P Chase Johnson and Catcher Jeff Lanning were all named to the NL team (Note: Lanning was named as an injury replacement).

Both Johnson (21st round, 09) and Pettis (35th round, 10) were Phillies draft picks, while both Alvarez (2007) and Hernandez (2006) were signed as free agents.  Additionally, Lanning was signed as a free agent this season after being originally drafted by the Twins two years ago.

Ransom to Lehigh Valley, Bump to DL

Transactions

Infielder Cody Ransom has cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Lehigh Valley. Prior to his call up to the Phillies, Ransom was among the league leaders in HR and RBI in the International League and should help the stagnant Lehigh Valley offense. With Ransom, Mayberry, and the rehabbing Shane Victorino in the Lehigh Valley lineup there should be a new dynamic, at least for the next few days in Allentown. 

Making room for Ransom the ‘Pigs placed starting pitcher Nate Bump on the DL.  Bump, who was an International League All Star has struggled to return from Lyme’s disease, going 2 innings and giving up a run on 5 hits in his last start.

‘Pigs Weekend Update

7. Lehigh Valley

Yet another lost weekend in Lehigh Valley, as they lost all three games to Gwinnett and have now lost an abysmal 12 out of 13.  They are currently at their low water mark of the year, 25 games below .500.

Friday–Another in a long line of one run losses, this time 2-1 to Gwinnett at home on Friday evening.  Gwinnett scored early on ‘Pigs starter Nate Bump who left after two innings after being on a pitch count, as he returned to the mound after suffering from Lyme’s disease. In his 2 innings, he gave up a run on five hits.  Lehigh Valley tied the score in the 3rd when a Rich Thompson sac fly scored Brian Bocock.  Gwinnett regained the lead in the 5th off of reliever Joe Savery (1-10) on consecutive doubles by Freddie Freeman and Joe Thurston. Savery went 4 innings giving up a run on 4 hits.  Lehigh Valley was unable to advance a runner past first base after the 3rd inning.  Melvin Dorta was the only player to speak of offensively with 2 hits, while on the mound Antonio Bastardo has another scoreless, hitless performance, striking out 2 in his 1.1 innings of work. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update →

Mayberry Going Down

Other Stuff

Multiple sources are reporting that John Mayberry has been sent back to Lehigh Valley after just 2 at bats with the big club.  Though not confirmed, the same sources are speculating that it will be a pitcher called up to take his spot on the Phillies roster.  If so, the obvious candidates are Scott Mathieson and Antonio Bastardo, with Bastardo being the more likely candidate because of his success and the struggles of JC Romero.

Around The System–Catcher

Around the System

Thin at catcher throughout the organization as you have to go down to Single A Lakewood before seeing a name that has starting catcher potential at the major league level.

Lehigh Valley

Paul Hoover, 34, 208 AB’s; .231/.310/.308 with 2 HR and 16 RBI’s; .313 vs. LH, .206 vs. RH, .233 with RISP, .250 since July 1.  10% bb rate, 23% k rate. 53 games at catcher, 6 errors (.985), 6 passed balls.  Thrown out 20/63 (32%). Hoover has struggled at the plate even at AAA this year, but is the best the Phils have for a September call-up Does a decent job defensively.

Dane Sardinha, 31, 176 AB’s; .227/.270/.330 with 4 HR and 22 RBI; .162 vs LH, .245 vs. RH, .310 with RISP, .160 since July 1; 4% bb rate, 28% k rate. 2 errors (.995) in 50 games at C.  7 passed balls. Thrown out 13/51 (25%). Adequate AAA backup.

Reading

Tuffy Gosewisch, soon to be 27, 244 AB’s; .238/.343/.381 with 5 HR and 22 RBI; .264 vs. LH, .230 vs. RH, .220 with RISP; .303 since July 1.  12% bb rate, 17% k rate. 2 errors in 74 games (.996), 2 passed balls; Thrown out 19/68 (29%). Gosewisch continued to do a nice job defensively and has been hitting over the last six weeks. Continue reading Around The System–Catcher →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

7. Lehigh Valley

An ugly 1-5 week for Lehigh Valley, a team that continues to be decimated because of call ups to the Big Club (that being said, they were not very good even before the decimation). The ‘Pigs are now 45-66, in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 20 games behind division leading Scranton. 

‘Pigs leaders (include only members on active roster) Hitting: Andy Tracy is 2nd in walks (58), 5th in OBP (.389), and 8th in SLG (.486); Pitching: Nate Bump is 6th in ERA (3.33); Brian Mazone leads the league with 22 starts, is 8th in WHIP (1.17), 8th in HR allowed (16)  and is 3rd in IP (130.2); Scott Mathieson is 2nd in saves (20) . Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Jiwan James Q and A

James, Jiwan

You asked and Jiwan James answered with the help of Greg Giombarrese at the http://blog.blueclaws.com/.  See below for the deatils.

Have you used insights as a pitcher to help you hit? Not really. It’s just two totally different worlds. As a pitcher you’re trying to keep the hitter off balance. As a hitter, we’re just looking fastball and reacting. It doesn’t really help that much.

You had the long hitting streak but went 0-9 in the 18-inning game at Delmarva. Then you bounced back from that. What’s the key to responding mentally to tough nights over a long season? You just have to do it. You can’t do anything about yesterday. You have to take your confidence back to the plate and look forward to what’s coming ahead. Continue reading Jiwan James Q and A →