Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →

Not a whole heck of a lot to talk about behind the dish.  Like most organizations, a scary lack of depth.  The guy most want to talk about is Sebastian Valle, who has been mildly disappointing in the first third of the season.   Look for the next edition of Around the System, looking at starting pitching, sometime next weekend or early the following week after the draft excitement settles a bit.

Lehigh Valley

Paul Hoover, 34, .229/.289/.273 in 83 AB’s.  2HR 9 RBI 0SB; .133 vs. LH, .250 vs. RH; .227 with RISP; 6% bb rate, 27% k rate. 41% CS rate.

Dane Sardinha, 31, .253/.284/.432 in 95 AB’s. 4 HR 14 RBI; .111 vs LH, .321 vs. RH, .292 with RISP, .188 in May. 2% bb rate, 25% k rate. 29% CS rate. Continue reading Around the System–Catcher →

The second trip around the system, looking at the progress or lack thereof, of the OF’s in the system.

Lehigh Valley

John Mayberry, 26, .284/.346/.503 in 183 AB’s. 9HR 32 RBI; 7 SB 0CS; .326 vs. LH, .271 vs. RH, .232 with RISP, .271 in May; 8% bb rate; 23% k rate. 1 assist, 1 error.  Mayberry has been solid all year with his splits looking much better then in years past.  He still strikes out alot and his average with RISP needs improvement but I expect to see him in the majors outside the Phillies organization by this time next year.

Rich Thompson, 31, .276/.333/.366 in 145 AB’s.  1HR 10 RBI; 12SB 1 CS; .125 vs. LH, .306 vs. RH; .286 with RISP; .298 in May; 8% bb rate; 15% k rate. 1 error, 2 assists.  Thompson continues to do everything asked of him and do it well (except hit lefties).  I am admittedly biased on Thompson, as his hustle makes up for his shortcomings.

Chris Duffy, 30, .242/.305/.379 in 182AB’s. 3HR 23 RBI; 6 SB 1 CS; .342 vs. LH, .215 vs. RH, .412 with RISP; .219 in May; 9% bb rate, 21% k rate.  2 assists, 1 error. Duffy slowed down after a concussion kept him out of the lineup for several games, but having watched Duffy, he plays all out.

Willy Taveras, 28. Continue reading Around the System–OF →

Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →

It has been right around a month since our look at the Corners Infielders in the Phillies system, so here it goes again:

Neil Sellers, Age 28, .240/.313/.326 in 129 AB’s.  0HR and 11 RBI. .194 vs. LH, .255 vs. RH; .222 with RISP; 10%BB rate, 16% K rate. .216 in May.  Has played 16 games at 1B and committed 1 error (.993) and 13 games at 3B and committed 1 error (.971). After hitting with a good deal of power over the last two years in AA, Sellers seems to have lost his power without a homer yet for a struggling Lehigh Valley offense.  Sellers has hit the ball harder then his .244 avg. indicates, but his season thus far has had far less success then what was expected. Defensively, he has performed well.

Cody Ransom, Age 34, .235/.299/.470 in 166 AB’s.  10HR 31RBI, 2SB, .212 vs. LH, .241 vs. RH, .319 with RISP; 8% BB rate, 32% k rate. Has played 34 games at 3B and committed 11 errors (.872); 4 games in RF with two errors (.714) and 3 games at SS without an error.  Ransom has provided power and clutch hitting, but his defense has been awful and he strikes out a ton.

Andy Tracy, Age 36, .213/.322/.336 in 122 AB’s. 3HR 11RBI; .280 vs. LH, .196 vs. RH; .200 with RISP. 13% BB rate, 23% K rate. has played 30 games at 1B and committed 2 errors (.992).  8.30 range factor. 2010 has been very disappointing thus far for Tracy, who has missed about two weeks with nagging injuries most specifically his shoulder.  When he has played, he has struggled. Continue reading Around the System–Corner Infield →

A first look at the success or lack of success seen in the systems relief pitching with some comments added.  As always, take these comments as what they are.  Observations based on the first 5 weeks of the minor league season.  Feel free to discuss.

Lehigh Valley

Scott Mathieson, 26–13 games; 2-0 with an 0.54 ERA; 5 saves; 16.2 IP 9H 1 ER 4BB 18K; 0.84 WHIP; .185 vs. LH, .179 vs. RH; .182 with RISP.  Mathieson has been simply dominant coming off two Tommy John surgeries.  WHile Ruben Amaro was recently quoted as saying Mathieson was not major league ready and needed to work on his command, I simply couldn’t disagree more.  He has been consistently in the mid 90’s and is the power pitcher the Phils need in the back of the bullpen right now.

Antonio Bastardo, 24–Has made 5 appearances since being sent down from Philadelphia.  0-0 with a 0.00 ERA. 3.2 IP, 1H 3BB 6K. Has struck out 4 of the six batters he has faced with RISP.  Bastardo who was sent down to make room for JC Romero, is simply the more consistent of the two right now. The Phils need to find a way to make room for Bastardo, who, while having some control issues, gets outs when needed. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitching →

A first look at starting pitching through the system.  Take this for what it is, statistics for the first 5-6 weeks of the season with brief comments attached. Note: Stats are thru 5/9/10.

Lehigh Valley

Andrew Carpenter, 24, 5 starts; 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA. 22.1IP 24H 11BB 11K; 1.56 WHIP; .186 vs. LH; .385 vs. RH; .192 with RISP. Carpenter started very slow but has picked it up over his last several starts. 

Nate Bump, 33, 6 starts, 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA. 36IP 39 H 9BB 14K; 1.33 WHIP; .274 vs. LH; .288 vs. RH; .262 with RISP.  Has looked good and knows how to pitch.  Far from overpowering however.

Brian Mazone, 33, 6 starts; 2-3 with a 5.63 ERA. 32IP 37H 5BB 22K; 1.31 WHIP; .300 vs. LH; .284 vs. RH; .261 with RIS; 5 HR allowed. Has either looked very good, or very bad and the last two starts have been very bad.  Good control but very hittable, and when he gets hit, the hits come in buckets.

Ryan Vogelsong, 32, 6 starts, 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA. 31IP 28H 22BB 33K; 1.61 WHIP; .224 vs. LH, .259 vs. RH; .273 with RISP.  Has probably the best “stuff” on the Lehigh Valley staff, but there are times he doesnt know where it is going.  Significant command issues have hampered him, drawing many deep counts and walks.

Joe Savery, 24, 5 starts, 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA. 27IP 34H 12BB 16 K; 1.70 WHIP; .383 vs. LH, .282 vs. RH; .370 with bases empty, .211 with RISP. 4 homers allowed.  Savery is an enigma.  See specifically the splits with bases empty and RISP.  He simply runs into too much trouble to be effective in the long term. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →

A look around the system at catcher, a position that is surely worrisome for the Phils after the loss of several prospects (Marson, Jaramillo, D’Arnaud) over the last two years.

Lehigh Valley

Paul Hoover, 34, .269/.338/.403; 1HR 8 RBI; 7% BB rate, 26% k rate; .143 vs. LHP, .302 vs. RHP; .290 with RISP. 43% CS Rate.  Hoover has given all that can be asked of him and then some, however he is what is he is, which is a 34 year old stop gap if necessary.

Dane Sardinha, 31, .333/.368/.556 in 36 AB’s; 2 HR 8 RBI; .091 vs. LHP; .440 vs. RHP; .545 with RISP (7-11). 27% CS rate. See comments on Hoover. Continue reading Around the System–C →

Just too much going on in the OF to summarize in a paragraph, so look for brief comments attached to each player.

Lehigh Valley

John Mayberry, 26–.300/.387/.511;  3HR 16 RBI, 2 SB; 11BB 20K ; 20% K rate; .320 vs. LHP, .292 vs. RHP, .276 with RISP. Mayberry has looked very good, and is performing capably in CF.  The Phils hope is probably to increase his trade value which he appears to be doing thus far.

Chris Duffy, 30– .273/.348/.416; 1HR 15 RBI, 3 SB; 10BB 13K; 15% k rate; .381 vs. LHP, .232 vs. RHP; .471 with RISP (8–17). I have been very impressed with Duffy who came here with a bad reputation, but has played and acted like a complete professional.  He has played good defense, has attempted to kick start the offense and has shown good jump.  He is very capable should an injury occur in Philly to fill in short term.

DeWayne Wise, 32– .268/.318/.524; 3HR 11 RBI, 2 SB; 5BB 17K, 20% k rate; .167 vs. LHP, .297 vs. RHP, .269 with RISP.  Wise has given Lehigh Valley what they expected thus far.  Good defense, and decent power.  He has missed about a week with a groin injury.  Again, capable 25th man in Philly if needed.

Rich Thompson, 31– .327/.387/.382; 0HR 9 RBI; 4 SB, 6BB 8K; 13% K rate; .273 vs. LHP, .341 vs. RHP, .462 with RISP. My infatuation with THompson’s play has been well documented here over the years, having seen him day in and day out.  He hustles, always hustles and is a complete player.  Unfortunately, it is a complete AAAA player. Continue reading Around the System–Outfield →

A first look up the middle where again prospects are limited but the Phils needs are limited to a back up middle infielder next year and the possibility that the SS position opens up for the 2012 season.  Some observations:  The Good:  Freddy Galvis is making contact and his fielding has been just as advertised, excellent.While hitting just .227, a 7% K Rate is reason for hope.  Fidel Hernandez has been playing a solid 2B and hitting relatively well in CLearwater, while Jeremy Barnes has been raking it in Lakewood.  Villar at just 19 deserves an honorable mention. The Bad: Troy Hanzawa, after playing in the Arizona Fall League, has been struggling at the plate to start the year, with glovework that has been average. The Ugly: Brian Bocock. See below the fold. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →