One more pre-trade deadline look at the performance of the catchers throughout the Phillies minor league system.
Lehigh Valley
Lou Marson, Age 23, .295/384/.372; 1 HR 24 RBI, 3 SB, .267 with RISP, 21% CS rate, 6 errors, .985 fielding %, 2 PB
Paul Hoover, Age 33, .274/.340/.375. 1 HR 21 RBI, .349 with RISP, 3 errors, 5 passed balls, .991 fielding %., 19% CS rate
Jason Donald was activated and is starting at SS for Lehigh Valley tonight. OF Mike Spidale, who has played well in his time with the ‘Pigs was sent down to Reading to make room. Donald, who hit 2nd all year for Lehigh Valley will be hitting ninth tonight. More to come from Coca Cola Park including news on Pedro Martinez bullpen session (if there is such a thing as news on a bullpen session).
Martinez threw about 50 pitches in the bullpen under the supervision of Lehigh Valley pitching coach Rod Nichols. He worked on a couple mechanical issues and seemed to throw the ball well in the session which lasted about 25 minutes.
A Blue Jays scout is at Coca Cola Park tonight.
In his last 3 starts, Vance Worley is 0-3, with a 18.00 ERA (26 ER in 13 IP) You have to wonder if the long minor league season is starting to get to Worley of if he is injured. While Worley is struggling, Mike Stutes is bouncing back from recent struggles in Reading and he has gone 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his last three starts. After some mid year bumps in the road, Stutes is at 8-5 with a 3.71 ERA on the year.
Reliever Chance Chapman has not allowed an earned run in his last 10 outings for Reading.
7/24/09–Control was the issue of the day for Carlos Carrasco (6-9) as Lehigh Valley opened a three game series against Gwinnett with a 7-5 loss. A three run third inning off of Carrasco opened the scoring with 2 lead off walks coming around to score. The ‘Pigs picked up two runs in the 5th, behind a Terry Tiffee RBI single, but walks hurt Carrasco again in the 3 run Gwinnett sixth inning, with another walk coming around to score. Carrasco left having gone 6 innings and given up 6 runs on 4 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 5. Lehigh Valley scored one in the 7th on a David Newhan sac fly and 2 more in the ninth to make the game close. Terry Tiffee has 2 hits for Lehigh Valley, while Michael Taylor was 1-3 with a stolen base (2). Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update
The Phillies bullpen is suddenly paper thin as Clay Condrey joined both JC ROmero and Chad Durbin on the DL. Sent back down to Lehigh Valley was Drew Carpenter, who had consecutive rough outings and pitched back to back nights, thus giving the Phils the necessity for another bullpen arm. Kyle Kendrick and STeven Register were recalled from AAA Lehigh Valley.
Kendrick, 24, is 6-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 20 stars, has been very consistent for Lehigh Valley. It is his second trip up to Philly this year and likely will pitch in long relief. He last threw for the ‘Pigs Wednesday, and today would be his normal day to throw on the side, so he more than likely would be available to throw an inning or two if necessary. Register, 26, was acquired out of the COlorado organization and had been used by the ‘Pigs during the late innings closing, at times. I would suspect he will be a mid-inning, mop up type guy for the Phils. Register is 1-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 appearances for Lehigh Valley with 5 saves. The opponent is hitting .255 against him and he has a WHIP of 1.36. He pitched in 10 games with the Rockies last year with a 9.00 ERA.
Lehigh Valley, after a 4-3 week is at 48-50, in 4th place of the Northern Division of the IL, 8 games behind division leading Scranton with under 50 games to play. They are 6.5 games out of the wild card spot. ‘Pig league leaders include Andy Tracy who is 6th in runs (52), 5th in homers (15), 3rd in RBI’s (57), and 2nd in walks (48). Rich Thompson is 8th in stolen bases (18). On the mound, Andrew Carpenter is tied for 3rd in winds (8), 9th in ERA (2.75) 10 th in WHIP (1.19), 10th in strikeouts (84) and 8th in innings (108). Kyle Kendrick leads the league in starts (20) and IP (118), Carlos Carrasco is 3rd in the league in starts (19), 6th in IP (108.2), and leads the league in strikeouts (107). Carrasco is 7th in homers allowed (13), while Carpenter is 9th (12). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Two Phils relievers went down today to injury, JC Romero with a left forearm strain and Chad Durbin with an arm strain as well, both were placed on the 15 day disabled list.
Called up were from Lehigh Valley were Tyler Walker, who may not have even arrived in Charlotte to play for Lehigh Valley prior to his recall back to the big club and Andrew Carpenter. Carpenter , 24, should take the role of long reliever as he is obviously stretched out and has pitched very well in Lehigh Valley, going 8-2 with a 2.75 ERA in his 17 starts at AAA. Interesting to speculate about who may come up to Lehigh Valley to fill Carpenter’s rotation spot as it appears he will miss several trips through the rotation with his recall.
A few tidbits to get it going:
Jason Knapp has begun a throwing program in Lakewood, in hopes of returning over the next couple of weeks. He last pitched July 11, before being placed on the disabled list.
Kyle Drabek, coming back from one of his few bad starts, was a small notch below dominant last night, going 8 innings and giving up just 2 runs on 6 hits. He walked one and struck out 7. Neil Sellers continued raking for Reading, hitting his 10th homer of the year, while raising his average to .322 with another multi hit game. Continue reading Daily Discussion
After rain washed out the game Friday night, a doubleheader was scheduled on Saturday with Gustavo Chacin getting the call in Game One, and falling behind early 3-0, giving up runs almost every time he fell behind in the count. The ‘Pigs couldn’t get their offense going until the fourth, and when they did, the floodgates opened. The six run fourth included a Miguel Cairo RBI single, 3 run double by JJ Furmaniak and a two run homer by Jason Ellison (4)off of Rochester starter Phil Humber. Rochester bounced back with two more runs off of Chacin (4-3), in the sixth, who departed having gone 5.1 innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 1. With the score 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Mike Cervenak ripped an RBI triple, which gave Lehigh Valley the all important insurance run in the shortened 7 inning game. Jack Taschner came in and pitched a scoreless 7th to pick up his first save of the year. David Newhan continued scorching the ball against Rochester with 3 hits, while Cervenak added two of his own. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update
A second look at the outfielders in the Phils system, prior to the trading deadline.
Lehigh Valley
Jason Ellison, Age 31, 81 games in the OF–.241/.324/.328; 4 HR 23 RBI , 7 SB, .219 with RISP, 9 outfield assists, 1 error
Rich Thompson, Age 30, 74 games in the OF, .249/.313/.349; 2 HR 27 RBI, 18 SB, .295 with RISP, .162 vs. LHP, 7 OF assists, 1 error
Mike Spidale, Age 27, 49 games in the OF, .296/.336/.422; 3 HR 23 RBI, 8 SB, 3 assists, 1 error (combined Reading/Lehigh Valley)
David Newhan, Age 35, 22 games in the OF, 12 at DH, 2 at SS, 5 at 3B, 15 at SS. .274/.339/.429. 6 HR 32 RBI, 1 SB. .291 with RISP. .405 vs. LHP.
Michael Taylor, AGe 23, 79 games in the OF, 20 at DH. .329/.405/.567. 16 HR 67 RBI, 19 SB, 6 OF assists, 1 error. (combined stats) Continue reading Around the System (Outfield)
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