The Clearwater Threshers (18-27) lost to the Palm Beach Cardinals, 7-6.  The Threshers rallied twice.  Once to take an early 4-2 lead, and again in the ninth but fell one run short.

Mauricio Llovera (2-4, 4.41) gave up all 7 runs (5 ER) in 3.2 innings.  He gave up 5 hits and 3 walks.  Felix Paulino (3.86) entered in the fourth with 2 runners on base and let both inherited runners score.  He pitched 2.1 innings and gave up 3 hits and a walk.  Blake Quinn (3.54) and Jeff Singer (3.86) pitched one scoreless inning each. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/24/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (18-26) lost to the St. Lucie Mets, 8-3.

In his second start since coming off the DL, Nick Fanti (0-2, 9.64) was knocked out in the sixth inning.  He gave up 6 runs on 9 hits and a walk.  He entered the sixth having thrown 68 pitches and struck out the lead off batter.  But three consecutive hits, the third a 3-run HR on the first pitch following a mound visit ended his night.   Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/23/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (18-25) swept a double header from St. Lucie, 6-1 and 11-1.  

Game One: Adonis Medina threw five, 3-hit innings.  He allowed one run, walked one, and struck out five.  He threw 79 pitches.  Aaron Brown (3.80) allowed 2 hits and a walk while striking out 3 in two relief innings. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/22/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (16-25) were rained out, again.  This time in St. Lucie.  They are scheduled to play two games tomorrow.  Adonis Medina is the probable for the 4;00 PM start, TBD for the second game.  This is the Threshers only visit to St. Lucie, so I expect them to make every effort to get all three games in.  Nick Fanti is scheduled to make the Wednesday evening start. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/21/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (16-25) were rained out.  They leave Daytona having completed only one of the three scheduled games.  No dates set for the rescheduling of the suspended and postponed games.  

The Threshers head to St. Lucie for a three-game set.  Adonis Medina is scheduled to pitch the opener. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/20/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (16-25) game against the Florida Fire Frogs was suspended in the top of the sixth tied, 0-0.

The game was halted with two out in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third and Mickey Moniak at the plate with a 3-1 count. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/19/2018 →

The Clearwater Threshers (16-25) lost to the Florida Fire Frogs, 1-0.

Sixto Sanchez (2-3, 3.21) allowed just one run, but it was all the Fire Frogs needed to post a win.  Sanchez pitched 6.0 innings and threw 101 pitches (62 strikes).  He allowed 5 hits and a walk, and hit a batter.  He struck out seven.  Jeff Singer (4.11) struck out 2 in 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.

The Threshers amassed 4 hits.  They were retired in order in the first inning.  In the next eight innings, they managed to get at least one runner on base.  Six time with one out, and twice with two out.  Until the ninth, they advanced a runner to second just once on Adam Haseley’s one-out double.  In the ninth, they managed to get two runners on base with one out, and substituted a couple of pinch runners just before an inning-ending double play.

In addition to Haseley’s double, Luke Williams singled.  Austin Listi and Darick Hall both singled in the ninth.  The Threshers other base runners came on 3 walks, a hit batter, and a fielding error.

• #1 Sixto Sanchez (2-3 , 3.21): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
• #2 Adonis Medina (3-2, 6.67):
• #3 Adam Haseley: went 1-4 with a double
• #4 Mickey Moniak: entered as a pinch runner
• #8 Arquimedes Gamboa: went 0-4 
• #17 Jose Gomez: entered as a pinch runner
• #21 McKenzie Mills (0-2, 5.00):
• #28 Connor Seabold (0-3, 4.46):
• Bailey Falter (3-0, 2.28):

In other action –

Lehigh Valley (21-17) beat Syracuse, 2-1.

Ben Lively (0.82) allowed one run on 2 hits in 6.0 innings.  He walked one and struck out five.  Mark Leiter (0.00) pitched a no-hit inning.  Tom Windle (3-2, 3.72) struck out 2 in 1.o inning (and got the win).  Pedro Beato (2.04) picked up his 12th save with a 1-2-4 ninth.

The IronPigs scored an unearned run in the sixth inning on Danny Ortiz’ RBI single.  Joey Meneses hit a two-out HR (6) in the ninth to provide the eventual winning run.

Dean Anna and Joey Meneses (.358) had 2 hits each.

• #12 Enyel De Los Santos (4-0, 0.84):
• #13 Tom Eshelman (1-3, 6.48):
• #14 Roman Quinn (.289): 7-day DL, right middle finger strain
• #16 Dylan Cozens (.225): went 0-4
• #22 Drew Anderson (0-0, 5.79):
• #23 Cole Irvin (3-1, 3.21):

Reading (14-23) lost to Erie, 2-1 twelve innings.

Harold Arauz gave up a run in the third inning and blew his best chance at winning the game on a night when the Phils’ offense was practically non-existent.  Arauz (3.89) held the SeaWolves to 4 hits in 6.2 innings.  He walked 3 and struck out three.  Tyler Gilbert (3.38) struck out 3 in 1.1 innings.  Edgar Garcia (0.38) struck out 3 in 2.0 innings.  Tyler Viza (0-2, 4.70) survived the overtime runner in the eleventh inning, but faced one batter before allowing the runner to score in the twelfth.

The Phils scored their run in the second inning.  Zach Green doubled, moved to third on Deivi Grullon’s single, and scored on Jan Hernandez’ sacrifice fly.  Green later singled. the only other hit for the Phils in the game.

Zach Green (.294) had 2 of Reading’s 3 hits.

Cornelius Randolph had an outfield assist.

• #6 JoJo Romero (0-4, 6.38):
• #7 Franklyn Kilome (1-1, 5.87):
• #9 Ranger Suarez (1-1, 4.25): 7-day DL, right hamstring strain
• #15 Cornelius Randolph (.198): went 0-4 with a BB

Lakewood (21-17) postponed, rain.

• #5 Jhailyn Ortiz (.158): 7-day DL (shoulder, in Clearwater)
• #11 Daniel Brito (.200):
• #20 Spencer Howard (3-2, 2.89):
• #27 Simon Muzziotti (.293): 7-day DL (hand injury, in Clearwater)
• #30 Nick Maton (.287):

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

One prospect is in Philadelphia.

• #10 Seranthony Dominguez: 4.0 of 50 IP, 10 of 45 days with Phillies (6/20)

And these guys are still in Clearwater.

• #18 Kyle Young: XST
• #19 Francisco Morales: XST
• #24 Luis Garcia: XST
• #25 J.D. Hammer: XST
• #26 Kevin Gowdy: not expected to pitch this season
• #29 Jonathan Guzman: XST

XST

Ethan Lindow started the Williamsport game.  He looked very sharp.  He had Braves’ prospects swinging over a nasty cutter that I thought was a slider.  He along with Josh Tols and Oscar Marcelino held the Braves to one run and three hits.

Jhailyn Ortiz played again in right.  He played the whole game.  He showed good range in the outfield.  He looked like he was going to lay out to catch a ball in the gap.  Thankfully, he held up and protected that shoulder.  He had a single through the right side on a well-executed hit-and-run.  He was also thrown out at second on an ill-fated double steal that saw a promising first inning rally end on the rare attempted-double-steal-double-play.

The youngsters ran into a lot of outs on the base paths.  At one point, in spite of out-hitting and out-walking their opponents, they had only batted one batter over the minimum.

They finally went ahead with two runs set up by Braves’ errors on steals, pickoffs, and a balk.

2018 XST Roster

2018 Phillies XST schedule.

Phillies GCL schedule.

Transactions

5/18/18–Lehigh Valley released LHP Tim Berry
5/18/18–LHP David Parkinson assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
5/18/18–LHP Kyle Young assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/17/18–Phillies activated LHP Adam Morgan from the 10-day DL
5/17/18–Phillies sent RHP Victor Arano on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley
5/17/18–C Nerluis Martinez assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/16/18–LHP Cole Irvin assigned to Williamsport from Lehigh Valley
5/16/18–LHP Tim Berry assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/16/18–RHP Tommy Bergjans assigned to Reading from Williamsport
5/16/18–Clearwater Threshers activated LHP Nick Fanti from the 7-day DL
5/16/18–Phillies optioned Mark Leiter Jr. to Lehigh Valley
5/15/18–RHP Luis Ramirez assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
5/15/18–Mark Leiter Jr. activated from 10-day DL
5/15/18–Phillies sent RHP Jerad Eickhoff on a rehab assignment to Reading
5/15/18–Lehigh Valley placed CF Roman Quinn on the 7-day DL retro to 5/13/18. Right middle finger sprain
5/15/18–Reading placed 1B Kyle Martin on the 7-day DL
5/15/18–3B Bradley Haslam assigned to GCL Phillies East
5/14/18–Santy Prada signed to a minor league contract; assigned to DSL Phillies White
5/14/18–Phillies sent RHP Victor Arano on a rehab assignment to Reading
5/14/18–Phillies optioned RHP Jake Thompson to Lehigh Valley
5/14/18–RHP Ranfi Casimiro assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
5/14/18–RHP Jacob Waguespack assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/14/18–RHP Randy Alcantara assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/14/18–Lakewood placed C Colby Fitch on the 7-day DL retro to 5/10/2018
5/14/18–Phillies signed NDFA Bradley Haslam and assigned him to Williamsport
5/14/18–Bailey Falter transferred from Clearwater to Williamsport
5/13/18–Lehigh Valley activated Drew Anderson from the 7-day DL
5/13/18–Lehigh Valley placed Matt McBride on the 7-day DL retro to 5/11. Left shin contusion

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 5/18.  I’ve got 326 players in the organization.

• The organization’s rosters 
• The organization’s injury list 
• The organization’s Rule 5 eligibility list 

Clearwater Threshers (16-24) 

Mauricio Llovera (2-3, 3.48) lasted 3.2 innings and gave up 5 runs in the fourth inning.  He allowed 7 hits, a hit batter, and a walk.  Jake Hernandez (3.80) gave up his first 2 runs in 7 appearances (dating back to April 14th) in 2.1 innings, striking out three.  And, Alberto Tirado (1.80) mopped up the final 3.0 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits, but no walks.

The Threshers closed to within 5-3 with a run in the fourth on Darick Hall’s 11th HR and 2 runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Adam Haseley and Austin Listi.

Haseley and Jose Antequera had 2 hits each.

Haseley picked up an outfield assist at second base.

• #1 Sixto Sanchez (2-2 , 3.58): 
• #2 Adonis Medina (3-2, 6.67):
• #3 Adam Haseley: went 2-4 with an RBI
• #4 Mickey Moniak: went 0-4 
• #8 Arquimedes Gamboa: went 1-4 with a run scored
• #17 Jose Gomez: went 1-4
• #21 McKenzie Mills (0-2, 5.00):
• #28 Connor Seabold (0-3, 4.46):
• Bailey Falter (3-0, 2.28):

In other action –

Lehigh Valley (20-17) lost to Scranton in eleven innings, 5-4.

Tom Eshelman pitched 5.0 innings, giving up 2 runs on 6 hits.  Hoby Milner (1.80) pitched a hitless inning.  Victro Arano (0.00) pitched a rehab inning.  Jake Thompson (8.44) pitched to one batter and gave up a single.  Austin Davis (3.10) allowed the inherited runner to score as well as the game-tying run on a 2-run HR.  Pedro Beato (2.16) pitched a 2-hit inning.  And, Jake Waguespack (0-4, 5.30) gave up an unearned run during baseball’s equivalent of a “shootout”.

The IronPigs built a 3-run lead with a run in the first on Dean Anna’s lead off triple and Danny Ortiz’ RBI ground out; a run in the second on Joey Meneses’ double and Alexi Amarista’s RBI single; and a run in the fourth on a Joey Meneses HR (5).  They padded a one run lead in the eighth on Ortiz’ RBI single.

Collin Cowgill, Joey Meneses (.349), and Amarista (.289) had 2 hits each.  Cowgill added an outfield assist.  And, Milner picked a runner off first base.

• #12 Enyel De Los Santos (4-0, 0.84):
• #13 Tom Eshelman (1-3, 6.48): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• #14 Roman Quinn (.289): 7-day DL, right middle finger strain
• #16 Dylan Cozens (.232): went 0-5
• #22 Drew Anderson (0-0, 5.79):
• #23 Cole Irvin (3-1, 3.21):

Reading (14-22) no game scheduled.

• #6 JoJo Romero (0-4, 6.38):
• #7 Franklyn Kilome (1-1, 5.87):
• #9 Ranger Suarez (1-1, 4.25): 7-day DL, right hamstring strain
• #15 Cornelius Randolph (.206):

Lakewood (21-17) beat Greensboro, 4-1.

Will Stewart pitched another gem – 6.0 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, (0 ER), 1 BB, 7 K.  Jonathan Hennigan (1.46) , Julian Garcia (1-1, 4.80), and Addison Russ (0.87) each tossed a shutout inning in relief.  Hennigan picked a runner off first base, Garcia struck out the side (and got the win), and Russ picked up his seventh save.

The BlueClaws gave up an unearned run in the first then were held of the board until a 4-run ninth – Gregori Rivero’s RBI triple, Nick Maton’s RBI single, Dalton Guthrie’s two-out RBI single, and Jake Scheiner’s RBI single.

Rivero (.271), Maton (.287), and Guthrie (.252) had 2 hits each.

The BlueClaws survived a lot of mistakes – 2 caught stealing, 2 errors, a passed ball, and 2 hit batters.

• #5 Jhailyn Ortiz (.158): 7-day DL (shoulder, in Clearwater)
• #11 Daniel Brito (.200): went 0-5
• #20 Spencer Howard (3-2, 2.89):
• #27 Simon Muzziotti (.293): 7-day DL (hand injury, in Clearwater)
• #30 Nick Maton (.287): went 2-4 with a run scored, RBI

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

One prospect is in Philadelphia.

• #10 Seranthony Dominguez: 4.0 of 50 IP, 10 of 45 days with Phillies (6/20)

And these guys are still in Clearwater.

• #18 Kyle Young: XST
• #19 Francisco Morales: XST
• #24 Luis Garcia: XST
• #25 J.D. Hammer: XST
• #26 Kevin Gowdy: not expected to pitch this season
• #29 Jonathan Guzman: XST

XST

Francisco Morales started the “Williamsport” game this afternoon.  He looked as good as I’ve seen him.  He pitched under control and had good control of a secondary pitch.  He struck out four in 3.0 innings before rain caused a delay.  He had guys swinging over his off speed pitch.  A level of control I didn’t see last year.  I’m not going to get too excited, but I can’t wait to see his next outing.

2018 XST Roster

2018 Phillies XST schedule.

Phillies GCL schedule.

Transactions

5/17/18–Phillies activated LHP Adam Morgan from the 10-day DL
5/17/18–Phillies sent RHP Victor Arano on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley
5/17/18–C Nerluis Martinez assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/16/18–LHP Cole Irvin assigned to Williamsport from Lehigh Valley
5/16/18–LHP Tim Berry assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/16/18–RHP Tommy Bergjans assigned to Reading from Williamsport
5/16/18–Clearwater Threshers activated LHP Nick Fanti from the 7-day DL
5/16/18–Phillies optioned Mark Leiter Jr. to Lehigh Valley
5/15/18–RHP Luis Ramirez assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
5/15/18–Mark Leiter Jr. activated from 10-day DL
5/15/18–Phillies sent RHP Jerad Eickhoff on a rehab assignment to Reading
5/15/18–Lehigh Valley placed CF Roman Quinn on the 7-day DL retro to 5/13/18. Right middle finger sprain
5/15/18–Reading placed 1B Kyle Martin on the 7-day DL
5/15/18–3B Bradley Haslam assigned to GCL Phillies East
5/14/18–Santy Prada signed to a minor league contract; assigned to DSL Phillies White
5/14/18–Phillies sent RHP Victor Arano on a rehab assignment to Reading
5/14/18–Phillies optioned RHP Jake Thompson to Lehigh Valley
5/14/18–RHP Ranfi Casimiro assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
5/14/18–RHP Jacob Waguespack assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/14/18–RHP Randy Alcantara assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/14/18–Lakewood placed C Colby Fitch on the 7-day DL retro to 5/10/2018
5/14/18–Phillies signed NDFA Bradley Haslam and assigned him to Williamsport
5/14/18–Bailey Falter transferred from Clearwater to Williamsport
5/13/18–Lehigh Valley activated Drew Anderson from the 7-day DL
5/13/18–Lehigh Valley placed Matt McBride on the 7-day DL retro to 5/11. Left shin contusion

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 5/17.  I’ve got 327 players in the organization.

• The organization’s rosters 
• The organization’s injury list 
• The organization’s Rule 5 eligibility list 

So, apparently I forgot to hit “Publish” the other night.  Unfortunate, but that’s not the first time I’ve had that brain fart.  I hope I didn’t cause any angst, especially for the grandparents of one of the players that I met at the Carpenter Complex Wednesday afternoon.  Hope I didn’t ruin your morning coffee.

Wednesday at the Complex was Nick Fanti’s first start.  He pitched 4.0 innings and threw 67 pitches (43 strikes, 64.2%).  He walked the first batter he faced on four pitches.  That runner eventually scored on a sac fly.  Fanti’s fastball ran higher than I remember, especially in the first two innings.  He had better success getting the ball down in the zone after the second, and retired the Cardinals in order in the fourth.

Fanti gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, no walks after the first batter, but gave up 2 HR.  His FB ranged 86-90 mph, and sat 87-88 mph.  He got 6 of his 8 swings and misses on fastballs. Four of the six hits came on off speed pitches, but the 2 HR came on elevated fastballs.

I’m sure that he will have more success when he spots his pitches more efficiently.

McKenzie Mills relieved (piggybacked?) and seemed to pitch angry.  He struck out the first batter on pitches that ranged 94-96 mph.  Then he settled in around 91-92 mph as he went deeper into the game.

I decided to give up.  I will allow comments on everything I post.  But, since I do get upset by some of the comments, I’m no longer going to read them.  I stopped reading the discussion comments a week or more ago.  I had continued to check the author’s of comments to verify authenticity, but the heck with that.  That’s beyond my pay grade.  You got a problem, get in touch with me.

Clearwater Threshers (16-22) earned an unlikely spli of a double header with Palm Beach, losing 2-1 and winning 11-10.

Game One: Connor Seabold deserved better.  He tossed 6.0 innings, gave up 2 runs on 6 hits, walked one, and struck out four.  Jeff Singer (4.73) pitched a scoreless seventh.   Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/15/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers (15-21) postponed, rain.  Jerad Eickhoff was supposed to pitch followed by Connor Seabold.  With the game rescheduled as part of a double header Tuesday, the probables are Adonis Medina and Seabold.  These are 7-inning games. Wednesday morning’s 10:30 AM start is listed as TBD (would have been McKenzie Mills) and Thursday’s probable is Mauricio Llovera.  Eickhoff may get the Wednesday start. Don’t be surprised if Nick Fanti pops up somewhere in the rotation with a starter going to the bullpen.  I know there has been a lot of speculation that Llovera will end up in the pen.  Don’t be surprised if it is another starter at this time.  BTW, the weather is pretty bad, this is Palm Beach’s only visit this season, and the team will want to get these four games in.  They probably could have played as scheduled Monday night. Hindsight is always 20/20.  They probably won’t be as quick to postpone a game the rest of the week.  Maybe get the first game in, reschedule the second game as part of a next day double header.  Should be a fun week.  Could conceivably play the entire series as seven inning games. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/14/2018 →