Category Archives: Other Stuff

Long-Time Phillies Staffer Dead at 65

01. Site Features, Other Stuff

Larry Rojas was a regular figure around Clearwater, and despite a heart transplant in 1985 and a stroke a few years ago, he remained VERY active in Clearwater with player development and helped create many Phuture Phillies throughout his career.   My wife and I made it a point to say hi to him at every Clearwater game and took a few minutes to chat with him. He would often bring my wife little presents from his trips to Philly, and was a terrific man. He will be missed by us and the many players and people he touched throughout his life.

Larry had been with the Phillies since 1970, and earlier this year he was presented with the Phillies Latino Legends award in a ceremony at CBP in a ceremony prior to the game on September 7th.

We’ll miss you Larry!

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Nice article on Josh Outman

Other Stuff

This is certainly the most in depth piece I’ve ever seen on Outman, and details his unorthodox delivery in college, how he altered it, and the impact it’s had. Very good stuff for a change from the official web site.

Hat tip to frequent reader/commenter dajafi, who posted this over at TGP.

Phillies hire Chuck LaMar

Other Stuff

Last week, the Phillies announced that they had hired Chuck LaMar and installed him as the director of pro scouting. My first reaction? WHY???? And that’s partly when I didn’t mention this earlier, because I needed some time to assess the situation, assess LaMar fully, and then try and figure out the ramifications of the entire ordeal. My negative first reaction is based simply on his inability to handle major league talent and make proper moves for his franchise. Then I began to think that maybe his job here would simply allow him to evaluate talent and advise Gillick, and that was the role they had for him. Then I remembered that Gillick is likely going to walk away from the team after 2008. When he does, we’ll need a new GM. Most people who tend to have a pessimistic outlook on the Phillies general decision making process assume (rightly or wrongly) that Ruben Amaro is the man to take over the job. Some people (like myself), hope that they look outside the organization, maybe to a guy who believes in 21st century baseball. But now, Chuck LaMar adds another twist to this impending situation, and with that, we’ll take a look at his ledger.

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Q/A with Joe Savery

* Interviews, Other Stuff

Phillies first round pick Joe Savery, currently playing in the Arizona Fall League, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me. Joe, for those who don’t know, was taken in the first round out of Rice in the June draft, pitched 26 innings at Williamsport, and has now thrown 5 innings in Arizona. While in Arizona, Joe is one of a number of prospects keeping a weekly diary of his experiences, and you can read his entries here. Check below the fold for the Q/A

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Scouts say “Don’t give up on Golson”

Other Stuff

From Baseball America today

“He’s improved so much,” the scout said. “I know that’s hard to believe given the amount of strikeouts he’s had, but I’m a believer and I know I’m far from the only one.

“I didn’t think he’d ever have the tools to play when I saw him as an amateur–he was just real rough at the plate and I didn’t think he’d have enough instincts, but his tools are very, very good.

“It doesn’t surprise me he led the minors in strikeouts because he’s still a is a top-hand, layout guy that’s knobbed up right away so the low pitch–wherever it is in the zone–is going to kill him.

“But he’s an 80 arm with 80 speed . . . those guys with those kind of tools . . . if he figures it out . . . wow. He could be a late bloomer.

“This is one of those guys that you don’t ever want to give up on despite what the numbers say. You fall in love with him. It’s hard not to. And this is a smart kid who just turned 22. If he leaves his brain in the clubhouse and just goes out there and reacts, he’s one of the best prospects in the game. I know that can be a pretty big if with some guys, but you can’t just throw this guy away.”

Link

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Pat Overholt update; not good

Other Stuff

Here’s a snippet from a Baseball America AFL report today

Numbers aside, Overholt is a reliever. His stuff tended to flatten out, often after just three innings in Double-A in a starting role. And while his slider is viewed by many in the organization to be the best in the system, it wasn’t impressive Tuesday.

“I didn’t see enough of it today to say it was a good slider,” said one scout from a National League club. “He didn’t throw it enough to really say if it was good or bad, but the ones he did throw were fringy.

“I wound up comparing him to (Nationals closer) Chad Cordero after seeing him today as not being a real velocity guy, but a guy who has a heavy ball with some arm side sink that comes right at you. But I didn’t see a guy who would be a go-to guy coming out of your bullpen. He’s not that kind of a Cordero, but his ball is really heavy. I didn’t see that kind of stuff from him with the breaking ball, but he’s got good sink (with the fastball) at times.”

A 2005 22nd-round pick out of Santa Clara, Overholt had never started in pro ball until this season.

“It seems like he could be good in short spurts with a two-pitch mix,” said another NL scout. “But he shouldn’t mess with more than that.”

I liked Overholt heading into last season as a reliever, the Phillies chose to start him, and it looks like it may have set his ETA back a year. I noted his great groundball tendencies when he was on top of his game, and that is confirmed by the scout who noted the “heavy ball” he throws. Overholt is a possible 6/7th inning guy at this point, but probably not until mid 2008 or later.

Winter League Update

Other Stuff

Just a little update on our players in the AFL and Hawaiian Winter League

AFL

Greg Golson: 20 AB — .250/.238/.400 — 0 BB — 3 K — 3 XBH
Mike Costanzo: 17 AB — .059/.200/.235 – 3 BB – 10K — 1 XBH (HR)
Tuffy Gosewich: 6 AB — .333/.333/.333

Josh Outman: 2 IP — 2 ER — 2 H — 1 BB — 2 K — 1 HR
Joe Savery: 2 IP — 0 ER — 1 H — 1 BB — 2 K
Joe Bisenius: 4 IP — 0 ER — 1 H — 1 BB — 4 K
Pat Overholt: 2.2 IP — 2 ER — 2 H — 1 BB — 2 K

HWL

Ronald Hill: 9.1 IP — 9 ER —  14 H — 6 BB — 9 K
Andrew Cruse: 11.0 IP — 4 ER — 10 H — 4 BB — 6 K

Hawaii Winter League has started

Other Stuff

I’ll try and post updates every few days. The Phillies have Andrew Cruse and Ronald Hill pitching for North Shore Honu.

Two Phillies make NYPL Top 20

Other Stuff, Top Prospect Lists

Baseball America is in the process of naming their top 20 prospects for each league, and two Phillies represent the New York Penn League list, the first Phillies to show up this year after getting shut out on the GCL list.

#2, Joe Savery

Savery had a decorated collegiate career at Rice, winning Baseball America’s Freshman of the Year award in 2005 and first-team All-America honors as a two-way star this spring. The Phillies might never have gotten the chance to draft him at No. 19 had he not been slowed by offseason surgery to shave down a bone growth in his shoulder, and they monitored his workload carefully this summer.

Savery looked good in limited action, running his fastball up to 92 mph and showing an above-average downer curveball and solid changeup. He’s very polished, with command of all his offerings and a smooth, repeatable delivery.

#15, Dominic Brown

An exceptional athlete, Brown was recruited by Miami as a wide receiver but he chose instead to sign as a 20th-round pick in 2006. The ball jumps off his bat, though his swing can get long and has some holes that can be exploited. His wiry-strong build evokes Darryl Strawberry, and he can hit the ball a long way when he connects.

A long strider with above-average speed, Brown plays a shallow center field. He occasionally takes some bad routes, but he’s athletic enough to compensate and has a strong arm.

“He’s got a ton of tools,” Hudson Valley manager Matt Quatraro said. “His body, if it fills out, he could be a monster. His swing’s long at times, but when he gets on top of the ball, he’s got some juice.”

Drew Naylor was also given honorable mention. You can check it out here.