All posts by jimpeyton19

2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 15th

Spring Training 2015

Finally.  We’ve reached the intrasquad games.  No more batting practice off coaches.  No more pitching machines.  No more wondering what the pitchers are doing on the hidden mounds.  Well, they’ll still do that stuff in the morning.  But today, live pitching to live hitters during a live game with real umpires.

I was almost lured over to the game on Robin Roberts Field where a young Phillies team played the 18 and under team from Puerto Rico.  Saturday, aa young Phillies team shut out the Canadian team in St. Pete.  Today, a more age appropriate team faced the amateur team.  Most of the guys who beat the team from Canada were over on Ashburn Field.  There would be 40 players and about 25 pitchers making up the 4 teams playing on Schmidt and Ashburn Fields.  My plan was to focus on the pitchers on those 2 fields. Continue reading 2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 15th →

2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 10th

Spring Training 2015

I got to  the Carpenter Compex just before 10:00AM.  Once again, they had started early and were just completing their long toss on Carlton Field, the coaches were beginning to run PFPs, on Roberts and Schmidt, the major league team was running drills in Ashburn’s left field, and Chad Billingsley was throwing pitches off the mound on Ashburn Field.  Continue reading 2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 10th →

2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 9th

Spring Training 2015

Today was photo day. The photographer arrived at 6:00AM. He must have run ahead of schedule because when I arrived just before 10:00AM, the kids had been on the field for about an hour. They were just finishing up their long toss.

Not only were they active on all 4 fields at the Carpenter Complex, but they had a large contingent working out across the street on Joe DiMaggio Field. Continue reading 2015 MiLB Spring Training: March 9th →

Open Discussion: Week of March 9th

Weekly Discussion

I’m still tired of the Cole Hamels discussion.  However, if that is what you want to discuss, go ahead.  But first …

Whether you are a long time follower of Phuture Phillies or a new visitor, please take a look at “Are there rules for commenting on an article?” under FAQ on the menu above or the link provided.    Or just read it here, Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of March 9th →

2015 MiLB Training Groups

Spring Training 2015

Here’s the early list of work groups for the Phillies’ minor leaguers at the Carpenter Complex.  Later on there will be 5 groups as non roster invitees leave the major league camp and force the downward movement of players to lower groups.

2015 Phillies MiLB Workgroups

Things of note – Continue reading 2015 MiLB Training Groups →

My Top Prospect List

2015 Reader Top 30

My top prospect list will be a little different from most others for the following reasons –

  • First, when possible, I prefer ranking players I have seen over those I haven’t. So, I won’t be including any recent additions to the organization, like – Zach Eflin, Tom Windle, Ben Lively, Joely Rodriguez, Elvis Araujo, Victor Arano.
  • I won’t have a player like Miguel Gonzalez on my list since he exceeded his rookie limits with 122 days of MLB service during 2014 per Baseball Reference.
  • I won’t include the Rule 5 Draft selections Odubel Herrera and Andy Oliver – unless there is another intervening transaction, the 2 most likely outcomes are that they make the Phillies’ 25-man roster or are returned to their former teams.
  • I’m also not prepared to include 16-year old kids like the 4 Latin American signees who I saw in Instructs – Arquimedes Gamboa, Jonathan Arauz, Daniel Brito, and Lenin Rodriguez.
  • Or any of the Latin Ammerican Academy players who I didn’t see until Instructs.

So, after eliminating all those players from consideration, here’s what I have – Continue reading My Top Prospect List →

Spring Training, March 1st Thru March 6th

Spring Training 2015

March 1st, the Phillies became the talk of the sports world when they lost 6-2 to Division II, Tampa University.   Aaron Altherr had a nice game as did Elvis Araujo.  I attended the game and covered it in an earlier story.

Mike Nesseth and Seth Rosin were added to Spring training as non-roster invitees (NRI).  Nesseth was also added to the 40-man roster, brining the total number of players on the roster to 41, where it still stands as of Friday.

Continue reading Spring Training, March 1st Thru March 6th →

Open Discussion: Week of March 2nd

Weekly Discussion

Grapefruit League games start Tuesday against the New York Yankees.  The afternoon game is going to be shown as a replay on MLB that night.

I’m a little tired of the Cole Hamels discussion.  Let’s try this. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of March 2nd →

Full Squad, Day Six; the University of Tampa Game

Spring Training 2015

Day five was rained out on Saturday.  I’m sure a lot of work was accomplished indoors, but a steady and sometimes heavy rain made going to the Complex unappealing.  Today’s early morning overcast burned off and the sun came out.  The return to warmth overcame me and I decided to attend the Phillies’ game against the University of Tampa.  The pitchers scheduled to make appearances further swayed my decision as well as a first look at Odubel Herrera in a game setting. Continue reading Full Squad, Day Six; the University of Tampa Game →

Observations on the 2015 Reader Top 30

2015 Reader Top 30

This year, we extended the Reader Top 30 out to 50 positions.  There has been some discussion among commenters whether the organization was strong enough to provide 50 prospects to such a list.  I would suggest that even though some of the players who made the top 50 are at best questionable that there are some talented, young players who didn’t make the list because we just aren’t familiar enough with the lowest levels within the organization.  I would further suggest that an older player designated a prospect in the 30-50 range is less of a prospect than a considerably younger player who didn’t make the list.  Players in their age 25 or age 26 season are really at the outer edge of being a prospect.  They should be much higher on the list to be considered a true prospect. That said, here are some observations about the Reader Top 30 (and, in keeping with previous year’s,  I’m only going to consider the Top 30). Continue reading Observations on the 2015 Reader Top 30 →