Maikel Franco had a hit and two walks, which nearly doubled his total for the month. Let’s hope July is like May. Greg Smith and the bullpen, led by a three K inning from Hector Neris, shutout Rochester’s lineup on five hits. Aaron Altherr and Pete Lavin took Henry Owens deep – not bad, as the often-dominant Owens had allowed just three bombs in his prior 14 starts on the year.

Roman Quinn and J.P. Crawford had two hits a piece. Crawford added a walk and Quinn a steal. Crawford has hit in five of his last six games, so his stats are beginning to perk up after an 0-8 to start his A+ season. Lee Ridenhour’s put together a nice year thus far, with an FIP that’s much lower than his ERA, 3.30 vs. 4.21. He struck out the side in the ninth to finish off Tampa after MAG couldn’t hold Colin Kleven’s the lead in the eighth.

Cord Sandberg couldn’t extend his hitting streak – I wrote about him with some help from Chris King and Mitch Rupert at Crashburn Alley yesterday. I hope you’ll check it out if you haven’t already.

Also in the short season leagues – Deivi Grullon went 4-4 on the night, and David Whitehead pitched pretty well in his third start of the year. He’ not striking many men out, just 10 in 18.2IP thus far on the year. Joel (I wonder if it’s pronounced Joe-ELL?) Fisher with his first pro home run and Luis Morales pitched well for the GCL. Julsan Kamara still doesn’t have a professional hit, but he walked three times on Thursday in the Dom Rep. And Jesus Alastre was on base twice for the VZL squad – his OBP for the year sits at .444. That’s four out of every nine PAs. Seems pretty solid. You’d have to think he’ll be at instructs in the fall and ticketed for GCL next summer if he handles himself well next spring.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/26/2014 →

Yankees pre-season #9 (per BA) Luis Severino, totally shut down the Clearwater squad – he allowed just one walk and struck out six in six no-hit innings. Mercy. Andrew Pullin had three hits and a walk, and Zach Green two plus a free pass for Lakewood.

Damek Tomscha remains the dominant force (small sample size) you’d expect to get when you put one of the SEC’s top five on-base guys of 2014 into a league with a bunch of recent high school grads and Dominican teenagers on the hill against him. Ok, to be fair, some of those guys are from Venezuela and probably like Panama or Columbia or other places.

And speaking of Dominican teenagers, 17-year-olds Randy Alcantara and Oscar Marcelino both made their pro debuts. Both allowed a couple of base runners and single unearned runs. Welcome to the pros, fellas.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/25/2014 →

Really nice start from Severino Gonzalez – 2R on 1H 1HR 1BB and 7K – he’s only given up four walks in his last six starts, (since a five walk mess on May 22), and has 33K in that same span (36.2IP). For him to have much success, he’ll need to keep that up going forward, and limit the home runs allowed – he’s given up seven over that same time frame. That won’t fly. Also from Reading – don’t get your hopes up just yet, but Zach Collier’s got eight hits in six games since he came off the DL.

Cam Perkins left the Lehigh Valley game after running into a wall on defense in the first inning. No word yet on the extent of his injuries, as far as I’ve seen.

Two hits a piece for Andrews Knapp and Pullin as Mark Leiter and Co. got shelled by Greensboro. Williamsport was on the other end of the cannon as they put up a ten spot on Auburn. Cord Sandberg extended his hitting streak to 13 games, Jiandido Tromp hit two home runs, (again – guy only hits two at a time, apparently), and was a single short of The Big Wheel, Jan Hernandez hit his second bomb of the season, and Aaron Brown had two hits.

In the GCL, Luis Encarnacion’s first pro hit was also his first pro home run, and Damek Tomscha and Jake Sweaney each had two hits. Seranthony Dominguez pitched well in his stateside debut, striking out five in 3.2 innings of work. He took the loss as he couldn’t hold off the Yankees in the tenth. Bryan Martelo was 3-5 in the DSL, his first multi-hit game as a pro.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/24/2014 →

Aaron Nola got his feet wet with a fifty-pitch limit in place – he allowed 5R 4ER on 3H 1 HR 3BB and 3K. He’s not lined up to pitch Saturday on turn because he’s a finalist for the National College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year award, which will be given out on that date. Aaron Brown is in the running for the John Olerud award for two-way players that night as well, so I assume he’ll be out of the lineup for WIL.

I don’t know how poorly Brad Lincoln would have needed to pitch to not get the call-up for Saturday’s double-header in Philly, but he certainly passed in my eyes, as he allowed 2R on 2H 3BB 4K in 7IP. Would have liked to see him throw more strikes – he had just 53/93 or ~57%. Jesse Biddle didn’t fare as well for Reading, and you have to wonder if there’s something physically wrong with him at this point. Might not be, but it would at least help explain the tragically bad June he’s put up – he’s walking more than he’s striking out, he’s allowed six home runs in 15.2 innings, and he hasn’t only gotten out of the fourth inning once in four June starts.

Also in Reading, Pete Lavin was a single short of the cycle, which may be a bit of a letdown, but that’s a heck of a night anyway. Logan Moore connected for two doubles. It’s still a small sample there, but his hitting is something to watch. Roman Quinn was on base twice and stole his sixth bag of the year in his 26th game. It’s about half the pace he had the last two years, but that would be about 30 steals for a full-season. Coming off his Achilles’  injury, I’ll take that as a good sign. Also for CLR, Brian Pointer stays hot – he’s hit in seven straight, and is OPSing .926 for the month of June.

Sam Hiciano went deep (7) and Aaron Brown did as well, his first as a pro. Cord Sandberg continued his hitting streak – it’s at 12 if you include last year’s finale. And Yoel Mecias returned from TJ with good results, while 4th rounder Chris Oliver made his pro debut with results that were not so good. I imagine they’ll give him a couple more chances before they give up on him.

And now in the interest of me not rambling too badly, (too late, I think), I’ll let you all scour the rest.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/23/2014 →

Luis Garcia gave up an earned run *audible gasp*, and BJ Rosenberg struck out two before being called up to take Ethan Martin’s spot in the big league bullpen. Ryan Demmin struck out eight in eight scoreless innings for Clearwater. He’s struck out 27 and walked two in 28 innings in CLR. Impressive line, though he’s not more than an org arm right now.

Samuel Hiciano was 3-5 with a double, Andrew Knapp was 2-4 with a walk and Larry Greene was 2-4 with two doubles, but it wasn’t enough to push Lakewood to victory. Jan Hernandez hit his first home run of the year, and Cord Sandberg remains hotter than whichever attractive lady (or gentleman) you prefer to reference in such cases. No matter the lady or gentleman, he’s hotter. Sorry, Betty White.

And Mitch Gueller gave up six runs on seven hits and five walks in four+ innings. Ricky Bielski hit two of the three men he faced, which emptied the benches and got him and his manager tossed.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/22/2014 →

Not a whole lot of note in AAA or AA, so I’ll start with JP Crawford getting his first extra base hit and his first multi-hit game at Hi-A. USA Today’s man in Lakewood Steven Falk reports that Yacksel Rios has taken Drew Anderson’s spot in the rotation while Anderson is out with an elbow injury. Sounds great. Just super. Rios went three innings, allowing five hits and five runs, though only one was earned. Larry Greene walked twice and walked-off in the tenth with a single in his return to Lakewood following a one=game rehab assignment at GCL. Andrew Knapp went deep in that one.

Cord Sandberg kept his season-long hitting streak alive with a 2-3 night, and he added a walk. He’s OPSing .994 in nine games. Damek Tomscha was 3-3, and Jake Sweaney stole two bags for GCL. Jason Marquis started his rehab assignment there today, and Jim reports that after his appearance, he got himself a couple simulated innings to get to 90 pitches. May not be long until he’s pushing for a big league spot, if he’s showing good stuff and getting some guys out when he gets to the higher levels.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/21/2014 →

Cam Perkins went 2-4 with 2Ks. He’s been scuffling since his call up, OPSing just .558 at AAA. Hector Neris and Jose Garcia pitched three scoreless innings to close out the Pigs win. Aaron Altherr was 2-5 with a double for Reading. Kelly Dugan left that game after a play down the right field line that Carlos Alonso fielded. Not sure what happened as I wasn’t watching the game. Anyone see it?

Roman Quinn and JP Crawford each walked twice, and Quinn stole two bases and had an outfield assist. Art Charles and Brian Pointer went deep – Pointer’s on a nice stream right now, OPSing .955 over his last ten games. He’s been known to be streaky, so we’ll see how cool he gets after the hotness wears off. MAG pitched an inning out of the CLR bullpen tonight, which makes you wonder if that’s what they’re plan is for him the rest of the year. Could be.

Malquin Canelo was 4-4 for Lakewood, and Jesen Therrien pitched three scoreless innings out of the pen. Cord Sandberg hit in his eight straight game dating back to the last game of 2013. He’s got a pair of home runs on the year now after hitting just two all year last summer in GCL. David Whitehead pitched well in the follow-up to his remarkable pro debut last weekend.

And the GCL season kicked off, with Damek Tomscha hitting his first pro home run and Olvy Marte getting on base three times. Larry Greene was 1-4 with 3ks on his rehab assignment, I think it was Jay Floyd who first reported Greene was going to have surgery, but I guess that didn’t happen. Matt Hockenberry and Brandon Liebrandt worked 5.2 scoreless innings and struck out seven. College starters throwing strikes.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/20/2014 →

Jim had a nice write-up of JP Crawford’s not-amazing Clearwater debut – give it a look. He talked a good bit about Roman Quinn’s defense as well, which sounded really encouraging.

Seth Rosin’s been good at AA – too bad he’s repeating that level after not making it at AAA, (and MLB, though you can’t blame him for that). Hopefully this success is a precursor to him going back to AAA and hopefully turning into a useful bullpen arm that he seemed on track to be before The Phils acquired him and tried him in the rotation.

Newly-signed Aaron Brown led the way for WIL with three hits and a steal as the Cutters knocked off former Phils farmhand Marek Minarek. Cord Sandberg continued his hitting streak – it’s eight games if you include the last game of 2013. Which I’m willing to do because no one has told me I can’t. I may have been willing anyway. I’m a rebel like that.

Carlos Tocci had two singles and Zach Green was 2-3 with a walk, a double and his first 2014 home run, but The Blueclaws couldn’t get anything else on the board in support of a fine start from Mark Leiter Jr. He’s had two pretty dominant starts in a row, setting down 16 by strikeout while allowing just nine hits in 14.1 innings. Andrew Knapp left that game in the bottom of the sixth – it’s unclear why from the recap, but you just hope it isn’t related to the surgically repaired elbow he’s just starting to use at full speed again. He was involved in a game-speed throw in the fifth that pegged a runner at second after a late throw home. Maybe that or when he was caught stealing in the fourth. Hopefully we’ll get more info on that later today.

Speaking of later today – The Gulf Coast League kicks off at noon today. @statsking says he’s been asked to embargo the roster until 11am, so we’ll have to wait until then. The glut of college draftees is really going to clutter up the GCL this year, I fear. Not sure I’m happy about that – could lead to a lot of guys too often sitting on their hands until Instructs.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/19/2014 →

Cameron Rupp went 2-4 with two doubles and Cody Asche was 2-3 with a home run for Lehigh Valley. Rupp could have really stood to string together a couple multi-hit games in a row for the betterment of his offensive game, but he may be derailed from that for a bit. I imagine he won’t argue with a call-up – his brother sent him Twitter congrats last night for going back to the bigs. I guess that’s a pretty good source, even though it sounded late last night like Wil Nieves was planning to reevaluate today. I suppose Rupp could be on his way to St. Louis and get turned around if Nieves is actually ok. We should know in a few hours.

All nine R-Phils were on base, eight by hit and Logan Moore drew a walk. Zach Collier hit his first home run of the year, and Jesse Biddle worked through early trouble to put up a decent start – he threw 63% for strikes, which is almost halfway between really not good (<60%) and good (>2/3), so I’ll call it “meh”. Marginally ok. He allowed two home runs among the four hits and three walks he served up, while striking out five in seven innings.

J.P. Crawford’s A+ debut was rained out, and Lakewood was on the last day of their All-Star Break, while Williamsport needed 11 innings to beat Jamestown. Aaron Brown debuted with a 1-4, Cord Sandberg continued his season-long hitting streak and Jia Tromp went 4-5 with a double. He’s outclassing the league. Maybe someone can move up to A+ from Lakewood to get him time on the field there, but who that would be remains a question. I’d say pushing either Cozens or Tocci seems unwise right now, but Hiciano has probably proven himself enough at the plate, so maybe that would work. I’d guess they won’t do that for a couple weeks now that they’ve sent Tromp to WIL, but they could push it whenever if they really want to.

And in all the Jesus Alastre talk, I’ve kind of ignored Luis Mendoza, but the 17-year-old outfielder is OPSing .844 in nine June games and close to .700 on the year now. You’ll see below that I included a stat view of Manny Chavez, Phillies guy on loan to the Mexican League. Keeping in mind he’s never pitched stateside, and he’s facing lineups that include guys like Jake Fox, Chris Roberson and many former high-level minor leaguers and mostly-cup-of-coffee major leaguers, (plus Willy Taveras), this assignment is a huge test for him. Seeing how he handles himself after a couple bad outings like he’s had recently could tell us a lot about where he stands right now. I’ll try to remember to check back in a few weeks.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/18/2014 →

Cody Asche was 3-3 with a double on his rehab assignment, and Leandro Castro hit his fourth home run of the year as Lehigh Valley came from behind to beat Charlotte. Cesar Jimenez, B.J. Rosenberg and Luis Garcia each tossed scoreless innings of relief. Logan Moore hit his first AA home run, and Jake Fox hit two to give him three in four games for Reading thus far. Kelly Dugan and Zach Collier returned from the DL; Collier had two hits and stole a base. Nefi Ogando got hit around for four runs on four hits and two walks.

Art Charles had two triples as Clearwater blanked Lakeland. Jeb Stefan allowed nine baserunners in six scoreless innings, striking out five. Jia Tromp had three XBH including two home runs, and Cord Sandberg and Rhys Hoskins each had two XBH, Sandberg including his first bomb of the year. He’s got nine hits in five games. Mitch Gueller allowed two hits and three walks and struck out three in four scoreless innings. And Bryan Martelo had his first professional hit in the Dom Rep. Only took him 20 PAs. Let’s hope the next one comes a little sooner.

I included the SAL All-Star Game box – all three Lakewood hitters were on base, though J.P. Crawford struck out three times and both he and Samuel Hiciano were charged with errors. Cody Forsythe worked a perfect inning for the North Division. The game ended in a tie after the South scored twice in the top of the 10th, then Crawford walked, Hiciano hit a double to move J.P. to third, and both would later score. WIllians Astudillo had a chance to win the game with a man in scoring position but he grounded out to end the game.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/17/2014 →