The Lehigh Valley game quickly got out of hand when Mike MacDougal came on to pitch the 8th. It took Josh Fields getting the last out to get out of that inning. Lehigh Valley’s playoff hopes are all but dead. Things also got out of hand in Hagerstown, as Lakewood’s Josh Ludy had to get the last out there. Took him five batters to do so. Maikel Franco went deep for Reading – his 31st of the year between 2 levels. Clearwater was shut out again – that makes three in a row. A multi-homer game for Zach Green – one of them just happened to come in June when they started that game – he took over sole possession of the league lead with 12 home runs on the season, while his K rate remains right around 29%.

And GCL closed out the year at .500, after getting blanked on the last day. Tyler Viza had a nice season – 32IP/5R/21H/10BB/20K/1HR. Though you’d like to see him strike more men out, the walk rate is good and you can’t argue with the WHIP. One to watch, likely at WIL next year.

A couple notes – Jeff Schuler of The Morning Call reported that Adam Morgan left last night after a mound visit from manager and trainer, as a precaution due to tightness in his shoulder. Does not sound good, but we shall see. Schuler also mentioned that Cameron Rupp’s glove-hand thumb injury would have held him out of last night’s game, though he was already scheduled for the day off. Does not sound serious. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/29/2013 →

Not a banner night for the full-season teams. They combined for seven runs in five games. Lost all five. Cameron Rupp left the Lehigh Valley game with an apparent thumb injury. Jesse Biddle had another wild performance. Walked seven in three innings, but allowed just one hit and one run, while striking out four. Not sure what to make of his year. Ethan Stewart was not bad for CLR – he’s been not bad for a couple turns now. Exciting, I know. And Alejandro Arteaga had a good start in his FSL debut – 6IP/0R/2H/2BB/4K – after showing nice, if not thrilling number in the GCL most of the year.

In the short season leagues, Yacksel Rios pitched well for WIL again – 5IP/1R/6H/1BB/5K – while Venn Biter was 2-5 with a double and a triple and Trey Williams hit his third homerun of the year for GCL. The GCL season wraps up today, as the Phillies have been eliminated from playoff contention. They are, at least, guaranteed a .500 season, which will probably feel better than a sub-.500 season…I did the math in my head. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/28/2013 →

A big night from Derrick Mitchell helps Devid Buchanan’s cause, as Lehigh Valley beat Buffalo. Buchanan induced three double-play grounders to keep his so-so night from looking like a nightmare. Jim Murphy hit a walk-off two run shot for Reading, (their second walk-off bomb in a row), after Seth Rosin and Hector Neris gave up 6 runs in the top of the ninth. Kelly Dugan was a late scratch, though I haven’t see a reason. Clearwater managed one hit but walked seven times as they best Tampa 3-2, with 2 runs in the bottom of the ninth on 4 walks and a walk-off sac fly from Harold Martinez. Nice line from Severino Gonzalez – 7 IP/1R/4H/3BB/6K. Drew Anderson pitched well, striking out six and allowing just 2 hits in 5 scoreless innings. Mitch Rupert reported that he was hitting 92-93. Here’s Mitch’s game story.

I forgot to mention that the DSL season concluded recently, with the Phillies finishing 3 games over .500, but 8.5 off the wild card pace. There were a couple interesting names there, but in my mind, no standout like Sam Hiciano from 2012. We’ll have to wait and see if we get any positive reports on any of them out of instructs, or beyond that, wait and see which guys make the GCL squad out of spring training next year. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/27/2013 →

AFL rosters will be announced today. I’ll try to post a link and a discussion thread as soon as I have it.

As for Monday’s results – Heroics in Reading, as Maikel Franco ties the game with two outs in the ninth on his 30th HR of the year, and Kelly Dugan walks it off with a solo shot leading off the 10th, his 20th of 2013. Mike Nesseth and Tyler Knigge both pitched well in extended innings on Monday, Nesseth in a DH spot start and Knigge backing up a not-great performance from Bobby Bramhall. Chris Serritella hit his 12th HR of the year, and Ken Giles fell apart again. Dylan Cozens was 3-5 with a double, Andrew Knapp was 4-5 with three of them, and Herlis Rodriquez drove in three runs on three singles as Williamport beat up on a good State College club – all nine starters had hits. And Deivi Grullon went 3-3 plus 2 walks in the GCL. He’s had a fine offensive season for a 17 year old – OPSing over .700 thanks to Monday’s results.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/26/2013 →

Aaron Altherr 2-5 with his 12th HR of the year – his OPS has crept above .800 again. JP Crawford 2-3 plus a walk. – he’s hit in seven straight since an Oh-fer in his Lakewood debut, but he’s been on base in all eight games. Larry Greene Jr. 3-4 with 2 doubles, and Cesar Hernandez, Zach Collier, Chris Serritella, Carlos Tocci, Gabe Lino and Herlis Rodriguez all with multi-hit games as well. Pretty nice line from Miguel Nunez – 3R on 5H, 1BB and 6K in 5IP – his third good start in a row. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/25/2013 →

Maikel Franco and Kelly Dugan both went deep for Reading. JC Ramirez has been pretty good since going back to AAA. Too many walks for Perci Garner tonight – 6 over 4.1 IP. A nice start from Hoby Milner saved by Dan Child after Ken Giles failed to get it done for the third time in his last five outings. JP Crawford on base twice. He’s had a successful first week at Lakewood. Ditto Mark Leiter – 8H 2BB and 11K in 12 scoreless IP over his first 2 appearances.

In the short-season leagues, Julio Reyes threw six no-hit innings for WIL – Mark Meadors couldn’t keep the no-hitter, or the shutout, alive, and ultimately took the loss. He’d had his fill of shared no-hitters for the week, I guess. And a good line from 2013 pick Tyler Viza – 3H, 1BB, 6K in 5 scoreless IP for the GCL club. He’s had a good time of it thus far, with a (SSS Warning) WHIP at 1.00 and a nice walk rate around 2.8/9IP. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/24/2013 →

Nice line from Jesse Biddle. Home runs from Cozens and Pullin for WIL. And Cameron Rupp stole a base. I imagine there’s a story there.

Not going to get the graphic up today as I have family in from out of town. Enjoy the discussion. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/23/2013 →

David Buchanan pitched well again. Struck out 7 in 6IP, while allowing just 1 R on 4H and 2BB. Maikel Franco and Kelly Dugan both went deep, as did Anthony Hewitt. As he winds down what is easily his best pro season at the plate, I’ll concede that Hewitt is probably a big leaguer somewhere down the line. He’s close to a 20/20 season right now, (16HR, 18SB), so it’s hard to see him not being an option in a injury replacement situation in 2014 and beyond, if he sticks around this organization. And after a very slow start, Jose Pujols suddenly has 6HR in the GCL, and reportedly missed a walk-off for his seventh by about 6 inches, (per @statsking). Should be lots of fun to watch that guy develop. Pujols, that is. Not Chris King.

And for Williamsport, Sam Hiciano hit his 7th HR of the year. That’s a pretty nice number for a guy who struggled with a wrist injury for a couple weeks early on. He’s striking out a little too much, (~24.5%), but it’s not over the top for a guy with power like he’s displaying, plus he’s walked some (~9%). His OPS sits above .800 at the moment, on a low BABIP of .250, so there’s even room to grow on batted balls. He’s 19, but he’s only 2 years into his pro career, after signing later than many DR guys, playing one year there, and skipping the GCL entirely. Very intriguing.  Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/22/2013 →

Maikel Franco with a double and his 27th HR of the year among his three hits, and he added a walk – just his second in his last ten games. Also for Reading, Kelly Dugan went 2-4, and Seth Rosin returned from the DL with a bullpen appearance. ICYMI – Brody Colvin went on the DL with a shoulder issue. Trey Williams had a nice day for GCL – 2-3 with a double and his second professional home run.

Aaron Altherr 2-4 with his 11th HR, but he also struck out twice – His K Rate sits near 28%, though it’s around 25% since the All-Star Break. If 25% is close to his norm, with his decent BB rate, and if he can add a little more pop, he could make it. He’s added 33 ISO points over last year, after adding 50 the prior year – definitely a good trend.

And some thoughts on Williamsport – another clunker on Wednesday for Mitch Gueller – 6R (4 earned) on 10H, 3BB, 0K in 3.1 IP. Four hits for Logan Pierce, and three for Andrew Pullin – you’d have to consider his performance at the plate this year a bit of a disappointment. He obviously gets more time to work it out while he’s working on a new defensive position, but OPSing under .700 is not ideal for someone who’s hit tool is supposed to be his meal ticket. And for as well as he’s pitched in WIL, you’d have to expect Tyler Buckley to be a candidate for a double-jump in the off-season – Ks right around 9/9IP, with walks around 3.5/9, and a WHIP just barely north of 1.00. Pretty good. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/21/2013 →

Mauricio Robles has allowed zero runs, 2 hits and struck out 12 in his last 11 innings. Bad news is he’s allowed 10 walks. So I guess the question has to be: who in their right minds is swinging when he’s on the mound? Just stand there looking like you’re willing to swing and cross your fingers. Speaking of walks, check out Ken Giles’ line – 2 runs on zero hits with 4 walks and 1 K in 2/3 of an inning. He left with the bases loaded after walking them full, allowing a run on a bases-loaded sac fly and then WALKING THE NEXT MAN TO LOAD THE BASES AGAIN. Yikes.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 8/20/2013 →