All posts by gregg

Around the System–Corner Infield

Its been a month since the last look, so here it goes…WIlliamsport and Gulf Coast stats are too early to even consider, so for now, its names without stats. 

Lehigh Valley

Andy Tracy, 36, 211 AB’s, .275/.401/.498; 10 HR 37 RBI; 18% bb rate, 20% k rate; .333 vs. LH, .263 vs. RH; .266 with RISP; .338 in June. 43 games at 1B, 5 errors (.986), 8.35 RF. With his impressive June, Tracy is back where he normally is…getting on base and hitting for power at the minor league level. Continue reading Around the System–Corner Infield

Domonic Brown to Lehigh Valley, Gillies Back to DL

A myriad of roster moves by Lehigh Valley, most importantly, the promotion of OF Domonic Brown to Lehigh Valley. The 22 year old was hitting .318/.391/602 with 15 HR 47 RBI and 12 SB’s for Reading so far this season, and hitting .345 during the month of June. Outfielder Rich Thompson who was hitting .287 for Lehigh Valley and was among the league leaders in stolen bases was sent down to Reading, as Reading OF Tyson Gillies was placed back on the DL with his ongoing hamstring issue.  Gillies came off the DL to play a few games but was quite obviously still injured, and needs more time.

As Greg Dobbs is joining Lehigh Valley this evening, 1B/3B Neil Sellers has been sent down to Reading.  Sellers, 28, was hitting .268 with 1 HR and 17 RBI’s for Lehigh Valley.  After two years approaching 20 HR in Reading, Sellers lost his power game in Lehigh Valley.  Although hitting fairly consistently, he simply was not driving in the runs expected from a corner guy.  This move will obviously allow Dobbs regular at bats.

Infielder Luis Maza was sent to the Houston organization without the exchange of compensation.  Maza started the year as the starting 2B in Lehigh Valley, but struggled mightily recently and the 2B job has been taken over by Melvin Dorta. Acquired by Lehigh Valley from the Toronto organization was OF Chris Aguila, 31. Aguila was playing at the Toronto AAA affiliate in Las Vegas and was hitting .275 with 4 HR and 21 RBI in 160 AB’s. He was a 3rd round pick in the 1997 draft by the Florida Marlins and saw some major league time with Florida.  He figures to be a 4th OF in the Lehigh Valley mix.

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

Lehigh Valley is now 29-43, and in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 12 games behind division leading Syracuse.  The ‘Pigs are 5-5 over their last 10 games.

Leaders: Hitting: Cody Ransom is 8th in AB’s (264), 2nd in runs (44),3rd in HR (16), 4th in RBI’s (51) and 3rd in K’s (79),  John Mayberry is 8th in runs (40); Andy Tracy is 2nd in walks (44) and 3rd in OBP (.406); Rich Thompson is 7th in stolen bases (16).

Pitching: Nate Bump is tied for 8th in Wins (6), 7th in ERA (2.62) and 9th in IP (82.1); Andrew Carpenter is tied for 8th in Wins (6); Brian Mazone is tied for the league lead in starts (15) and is 7th in IP (86); Scott Mathieson is 5th in saves (15); Joe Savery is 5th in walks allowed (34); Ryan Vogelsong is 7th in walks allowed (33) and 9th in K’s (67). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

Reading Roster Moves

A couple of quick Reading roster notes….Pitcher Josh Fogg was released today.  Fogg, 33,  did not pitch well in his 2 starts with Reading, going 0-2 with a ERA of 11.32   Additionally, catcher Kevin Nelson was placed on the temporary inactive list.  Taking his place as the backup catcher on the Reading roster is Torre Langley, who was called up from Lakewood.

One other note of potential Phillies minor league relevance is that Greg Dobbs has cleared waivers.  It is unclear at this time whether he will be accepting his assignment to Lehigh Valley.  I would expect he would, as if he refused assignment, he would become a free agent however lose his salary worth over $1,000,000 this year.

Savery Moved to the Bullpen

As first reported by Jeff Schuler, the IronPigs beat writer for the Morning Call, former first round draft pick Joe Savery has been relgated to the bullpen by Lehigh Valley, with Brandon Duckworth to take his spot in the rotation.  Savery has made four relief appearances in his professional career and each of the four have come on the heels of early inning rehabs by Phils on the DL. 

Savery has had a major problem in the first inning of almost every appearance this year, with an ERA now topping 9.00 in the opening frame.  In fact, as Schuler notes, Savery has an ERA over 9.00 in the first two innings of his 13 starts, with an atrocious WHIP of 2.16.  The hope is the work in the bullpen will help resolve the issues in the first few innings of games.

Roster Shuffling, Zagurski Up, Mathieson Down

Lots of goings on today at CBP, with Jimmy Rollins activated, Carlos Ruiz placed on the DL, Greg Dobbs designated for assignment,  Mike Zagurski called up from Lehigh Valley, and Scott Mathieson clearing waivers paving his way back to Lehigh Valley.

Ruiz was placed on the DL with what is most likely a minor concussion retroactive to Saturday June 19, 2010.  He will be eligible to come off the DL on Saturday July 3rd.  Dane Sardinha currently is the backup catcher after his recall from Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

Since the designation of Scott Mathieson for assignment on Saturday, the Phils had been going with 11 pitchers, which changed today with the recall of LHP Mike Zagurski from AAA Lehigh Valley. Zagurski has been outstanding as of late, having not allowed an earned run since April 30th (19 appearances) and is leading the International League in K/9. After undergoing Tommy John surgery is ’08, and working his way back through the system last year, Zagurski has an impressive ERA of 2.35 and WHIP of 1.14. Mathieson did, in fact, clear waivers today and he was optioned back to Lehigh Valley.

The struggling Greg Dobbs was also designated for assignment after hitting just .152 this year and 1-25 in his pinch hitting specialty.  With his designation, the Phils have 10 days to trade, release, or waive Dobbs.

‘Pigs Weekend Update

A good weekend for the IronPigs, a statement that has not been made often.  See below for game reviews, notes and transactions.

Thursday–Brian Mazone (4-6), Oscar Villarreal, and Mike Zagurski combined on a 3 hit shutout as Lehigh Valley blanked Scranton 2-0, opening a four game series Thursday evening.  Mazone went six very strong innings, giving up just two hits, and Zagurski earned his first save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth, striking out 2. The ‘Pigs runs came in the third when the red hot Andy Tracy (10) smashed a 2 run homer. John Mayberry was 3-4 with a run scored, while Melvin Dorta added 2 hits and a stolen base. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update

Roster Moves

Reading reliever Mike Stutes, 23, was called up to AAA Lehigh Valley, taking the roster spot of Scott Mathieson who was called up to Philadelphia yesterday.  Stutes has been effective in the mid to late innings for Reading going 3-0 with a 3.79 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games. In his 35.2 innings of work he has walked 21 and struck out 37. Opponents are hitting just .217 against him (1.92 with RISP).  He will likely be placed in that same mid to late inning role in the Lehigh Valley bullpen.

STarter JC Ramirez was called up to Reading from Single A Clearwater.  Ramirez, 21, is 4-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 11 starts for the Threshers this year.  In his 64.2 innings he has given up 63 hits, walked 17 and struck out 55.  Ramirez has a WHIP of 1.23 and the opposition is hitting .259 against him.  Acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, Ramirez will immediately step into the Reading rotation.

Activated from the DL and assigned to CLearwater is starting pitcher Mike Cisco.  Cisco, 23, has been on the DL since the end of April.  I would imagine this to be a short-term stint in CLearwater, as he regains his arm strength. Cisco threw fairly well in his four Reading starts prior to going on the DL, and was 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA in those outings, with the opposition hitting just .220 against him.

Mathieson Called Up

The long awaited 2010 Phillies debut of Scott Mathieson is here as he was called up today when lefty Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL with left elbow  “ulnar neuritis”.  Mathieson has been lights out in his position as the Lehigh Valley closer except for his most recent outing during which he gave up a game winning grand slam to Fernando Martinez. In his 25 outings, Mathieson  was 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 12 saves (5th in the IL). Opponents are hitting just .194 against him. Mathieson, coming off two Tommy John surgeries, throws very hard, with his fastball hitting 100 mph on the Lehigh Valley radar gun at times. In addition to the fastball, Mathieson has been throwing both his curveball and change in key situations.

Around the System–Relief Pitchers

A second look at Relief Pitchers. See below for stats and comments.

Lehigh Valley

Scott Mathieson, 26, 25 games, 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA, 12 saves, 29.2IP 20H 12BB 34K, 3 hr allowed, 0.68 GO/AO; 1.08 WHIP; .194 opp. avg., .222 vs. LH, .172 vs. RH, .273 with RISP. Slight bumps lately for Mathieson but he remains right at the top of the radar screen for a Phils call up.

Mike Zagurski, 27, 27 games, 0-2 with a 2.48 ERA, 29 IP 22H 13BB 43K , 1 hr allowed, 1.21 WHIP, 1.33 GO/AO, .206 opp. avg., .229 vs. LH, .186 vs. RH, .205 with RISP. Has not given up an earned run since April 30.  Zagurski has been outstanding of late as the lefty stopper in the ‘Pigs bullpen.  Good command and has been striking out hitters at a very impressive rate. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers