Back again with another Reading Report after 4 weeks. I’ll try to make this a bit more regular for the rest of the summer now that work has settled down.
Reading has been on an unreal offensive run this month. They’ve played 26 games. They’ve scored seven or more runs in 15 of those games. They did, however, manage to lose three of those games, scoring 26 runs in those three losses.
It’s that time of year again. The draft has ended and the short-season leagues in Williamsport and Clearwater have started. The Crosscutters and GCL Phils are giving us our first looks at some new prospects. After the first week plus of games, both teams sit tied for the lead in their respective divisions.
A look at the Lehigh Valley weekend, along with some news and notes.
Friday–The new Lehigh Valley lineup performed like the old Lehigh Valley lineup in their 2-1 loss to Durham on Friday evening. The ‘Pigs had just 4 hits in their failure to support starter Nate Bump (6-4) who pitched well once again, going 7 innings and giving up just two runs. After a two run Durham first inning, Lehigh Valley scored their lone run in the 5th when Paul Hoover scored on an error. The ‘Pigs were 0-8 with RISP during the debut of Domonic Brown and Greg Dobbs. Dobbs was 0-4 with 2 K’s, while Brown went 1-4. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update
Matt Rizzotti has been a popular topic of conversation on this site this season. First it was Cody Overbeck who was being “disrespected” by me, and then it was Rizzotti. Well, while I wasn’t the biggest believer in Overbeck, I’m starting to believe in Rizzoitti’s bat a bit. I believe there are still a number of issues he needs to work on, and a number of hurdles he has to overcome, but I’m interested, and when I get interested, I go and look a bit closer. Check below for my thoughts on Matt Rizzotti going forward.
Its been a month since the last look, so here it goes…WIlliamsport and Gulf Coast stats are too early to even consider, so for now, its names without stats.
Lehigh Valley
Andy Tracy, 36, 211 AB’s, .275/.401/.498; 10 HR 37 RBI; 18% bb rate, 20% k rate; .333 vs. LH, .263 vs. RH; .266 with RISP; .338 in June. 43 games at 1B, 5 errors (.986), 8.35 RF. With his impressive June, Tracy is back where he normally is…getting on base and hitting for power at the minor league level. Continue reading Around the System–Corner Infield
A myriad of roster moves by Lehigh Valley, most importantly, the promotion of OF Domonic Brown to Lehigh Valley. The 22 year old was hitting .318/.391/602 with 15 HR 47 RBI and 12 SB’s for Reading so far this season, and hitting .345 during the month of June. Outfielder Rich Thompson who was hitting .287 for Lehigh Valley and was among the league leaders in stolen bases was sent down to Reading, as Reading OF Tyson Gillies was placed back on the DL with his ongoing hamstring issue. Gillies came off the DL to play a few games but was quite obviously still injured, and needs more time.
As Greg Dobbs is joining Lehigh Valley this evening, 1B/3B Neil Sellers has been sent down to Reading. Sellers, 28, was hitting .268 with 1 HR and 17 RBI’s for Lehigh Valley. After two years approaching 20 HR in Reading, Sellers lost his power game in Lehigh Valley. Although hitting fairly consistently, he simply was not driving in the runs expected from a corner guy. This move will obviously allow Dobbs regular at bats.
Infielder Luis Maza was sent to the Houston organization without the exchange of compensation. Maza started the year as the starting 2B in Lehigh Valley, but struggled mightily recently and the 2B job has been taken over by Melvin Dorta. Acquired by Lehigh Valley from the Toronto organization was OF Chris Aguila, 31. Aguila was playing at the Toronto AAA affiliate in Las Vegas and was hitting .275 with 4 HR and 21 RBI in 160 AB’s. He was a 3rd round pick in the 1997 draft by the Florida Marlins and saw some major league time with Florida. He figures to be a 4th OF in the Lehigh Valley mix.
Lehigh Valley is now 29-43, and in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 12 games behind division leading Syracuse. The ‘Pigs are 5-5 over their last 10 games.
Leaders: Hitting: Cody Ransom is 8th in AB’s (264), 2nd in runs (44),3rd in HR (16), 4th in RBI’s (51) and 3rd in K’s (79), John Mayberry is 8th in runs (40); Andy Tracy is 2nd in walks (44) and 3rd in OBP (.406); Rich Thompson is 7th in stolen bases (16).
Pitching: Nate Bump is tied for 8th in Wins (6), 7th in ERA (2.62) and 9th in IP (82.1); Andrew Carpenter is tied for 8th in Wins (6); Brian Mazone is tied for the league lead in starts (15) and is 7th in IP (86); Scott Mathieson is 5th in saves (15); Joe Savery is 5th in walks allowed (34); Ryan Vogelsong is 7th in walks allowed (33) and 9th in K’s (67). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
As first reported by Jeff Schuler, the IronPigs beat writer for the Morning Call, former first round draft pick Joe Savery has been relgated to the bullpen by Lehigh Valley, with Brandon Duckworth to take his spot in the rotation. Savery has made four relief appearances in his professional career and each of the four have come on the heels of early inning rehabs by Phils on the DL.
Savery has had a major problem in the first inning of almost every appearance this year, with an ERA now topping 9.00 in the opening frame. In fact, as Schuler notes, Savery has an ERA over 9.00 in the first two innings of his 13 starts, with an atrocious WHIP of 2.16. The hope is the work in the bullpen will help resolve the issues in the first few innings of games.
UAS roster is here, the world roster is here.
Jarred Cosart Low Class A Lakewood (SAL)
Noted as a two-way player as an amateur, Cosart has blossomed since
focusing on the mound and now dials his fastball up to 96 mph. He’s
just 20 and in his first full season, but Cosart could move quickly.Domonic Brown, of Double-A Reading (EL)
Brown’s tools put him among the best prospects in the minors, with his ability to hit for average and speed rating as his best tools. He should be ready for the Philadelphia outfield by next season.
According to Todd Zolecki. Who doesn’t normally make up nonsense.
Unless the Phillies have a trade lined up for him, and the team just wanted to make sure he was healthy (hence, him pitching last night), this move makes absolutely no sense at all.
Thanks for the memories Scott, we wish you well.
Update —>; If this is truly a 40 man roster issue, wouldnt you rather risk losing Drew Carpenter, at best a fringe swingman, instead of a guy who throws 96? And why not move Ryan Madson to the 60 day DL?
This makes no sense at all.
Update #2 –> Here is the explanation. Weird.
Phuture Phillies 