Jason Donald was activated and is starting at SS for Lehigh Valley tonight.  OF Mike Spidale, who has played well in his time with the ‘Pigs was sent down to Reading to make room.  Donald, who hit 2nd all year for Lehigh Valley will be hitting ninth tonight.  More to come from Coca Cola Park including news on Pedro Martinez bullpen session (if there is such a thing as news on a bullpen session).

Martinez threw about 50 pitches in the bullpen under the supervision of Lehigh Valley pitching coach Rod Nichols.  He worked on a couple mechanical issues and seemed to throw the ball well in the session which lasted about 25 minutes. 

A Blue Jays scout is at Coca Cola Park tonight.

2PM (in like 2 minutes) on ESPN2.

Kyle Drabek and Yohan Flande represent the Phillies. Tune in.

Update, 7PM: Drabek with a nice inning. The tv gun was way off. Velo readings

96, 96
82, 94, 84, 95
95, 82, 95

Just a few odds and ends

* Anthony Hewitt is 8 for his last 15, with two triples and a HR. The BB/K numbers are still ugly, but I’ll take it for now.

* Domingo Santana has 7 XBH (4 2B, 3 HR) in 28 AB. That’s quite a way to kick off your US debut

* With all of the talk about Roy Halladay, I’ve started to kind of figure out what I think it will take to get a deal done. And I think about how its going to take a big chunk out of the Phillies farm system. But then I look at the first 20 or so guys on the prospect list, and realize that even if the team trades 4 or 5 guys, there are still going to be a bunch of guys that will merit watching. And that doesn’t count two power arms who still haven’t thrown a ball in Cosart and Shreve. I’ll continue this below…

Continue reading Friday discussion items →

You asked and Travis Mattair answered…a big thank you goes to Lakewood Media Relations Manager Greg Giombarrese for putting this together on the Lakewood end.  This is a Part One of the interview conducted.  Please go to http://blog.blueclaws.com/ for the full audio version.

Ron in Allentown, PA: “Does the organization stress working the count when you are the the plate or do they want you to be aggressive.”?

Mattair: They want you to be aggressive and seek the fastball early, but working the count comes with good pitching.  When you are seeing the fastballs early though, you have to go after it. Continue reading Mattair Q and A (Part One) →

Kevin Goldstein published a column today at BP featuring positive comments from scouts on various prospects. He quotes a scout on Drabek;

One scout who recently saw him there walked away impressed, observing, “He’s significantly smoother now, and I really like him; he’s going 95-96 mph in the first inning, and that curveball is a big-time hammer with a great arm stroke.” Drabek’s smallish frame and injury history contribute to the trouble many have figuring out exactly which direction his path will take him, but the scout saw him succeeding in a variety of roles. “He really could be anything,” the scout surmised, “I could see him starting, I could see him relieving… he could have a lot of different careers, but they’re all good ones.”

Also, as noted in the comments of the draft picks discussion, Aroldis Chapman, the best prospect in Cuba, has defected. Its a million to one shot that the Phillies would sign him, but he’d be worth every penny.

Also, I guess you can use this space to post all of your random comments that don’t belong in other places.

Andrew Carpenter is trying to bounce back from two of his more difficult starts in what has been an extremely consistent year for him.  His opponent tonight, Norfolk, is the same team he faced last week when he gave up 3 runs on 9 hits over six innings.  It should be interesting to see how Carpenter responds to what could a competition for the July 4 start for the Phils.  Carrasco acquitted himself quite well last night and has now had quality starts in 6 of his last 8 outings.  Check back often for an inning by inning recap of the goings on at Coca Cola Park.

First Inning–strike out, walk (stolen base), strikeout, strikeout.  Fastball at 87-89. 23 pitches, 14 for strikes.  Alot of deep counts, but struck out the side.  Big first inning for the ‘Pigs, 4-0. (RBI single Andy Tracy, Sac Fly Tiffee, 2 run single by Marson)It’s notable that there are about a dozen scouts in Allentown tonight. Continue reading Carpenter Live Blog →

Just a quick note that may be of some interest….Former Phillie Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle is taking in the Iron Pigs games tonight and tomorrow with Carlos Carrasco and Andrew Carpenter on the hill for Lehigh Valley respectively.  Arbuckle is now working as a Senior Advisor to the Royals GM, Dayton Moore.  Consider this name from the Royals rotation….Brian Bannister.

After a rain delay of just over an hour, Carrasco has thrown 14 pitches, 10 for strikes through an inning.  He is throwing his fastball at 94-95.  The inning went flyout, single, strikeout, long flyout to the warning track.  4-0 ‘Pigs through one (HR Rich Thompson, RBI double, Cairo, 2 run homer Tiffee). Continue reading Arbuckle at Coca Cola Park, Carrasco Game Log →

Just looking at some box scores, just some random thoughts, in bulleted format.

* Marson had a .679 OPS in May, and wasn’t much better in the beginning of June, but he’s hitting .371 over his last 10 games, with 10 RBI and 4 BB. He only has 2 extra base hits (both doubles), so the power still hasn’t come, but he’s at least starting to put it together.

* Anthony Gose is 44/52 in SB. His plate discipline is obviously lacking at this point, and he hasn’t hit for much power, but that speed sure is something. As a reference point, Michael Bourn stole 58 out of 64 in his age 21 season at Lakewood. Gose has a real chance to end up with 65-70 SB, though his success rate might not be quite as good.

More below….

Continue reading Random thoughts →

BA has the full rosters.

No surprise on Drabek, but Flande is a bit of a surprise. He wasn’t really on the radar entering this year, but has been great in the FSL, despite being old for the level. His stuff is fringy, but he apparently has solid control and command, so he could be a back end type.

Kyle Drabek (3-0)threw eight shutout innings, giving up just four hits in the 4-0 Reading victory Friday night.  He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five, lowering his AA ERA to 2.08.

On another topic, see below the fold for some comments by Steve Shrenk, Reading Pitching Coach on the recent performance  of a few Reading pitchers:  (Source: Reading Phillies.com Interview with Anthony Opperman)

Continue reading Drabek Throws 8 Shutout Innings →