Here is a consolidated schedule of all games for the organization’s stateside teams.  In the photo below, the action of every org team is listed for any given date, including the Phillies. The far right column lists the game times and location for Extended Spring games.  In June, the column deftly switches to Gulf Coast League games.  I attached the month of April just for explanation.  All six months are listed below as URLs. Continue reading 2017 Schedules, Observations, and Rumors →

Six more days until opening day for Lehigh Valley and with that, the Phillies have announced the ‘Pigs roster. The roster is as follows:  Players age in (    ). Bold indicates on 40 man roster.  Look for Jake Thompson to get the nod opening day.

Catchers: Jorge Alfaro (23) and Logan Moore(26)

1B: Rhys Hoskins (24); 2B: Jesmuel Valentin (22); SS: JP Crawford (22); 3B: Taylor Featherston (27); INF: Hector Gomez (29); INF: Pedro Florimon (30)

OF: Dylan Cozens (22); Nick Williams (23); Roman Quinn (23); Cameron Perkins(26)

SP: Jake Thompson (23);  Ben Lively (25); Nick Pivetta (23); Mark Appel (25); Ricardo Pinto (23)

RP: Pedro Beato (30); Luis Garcia (30); Mark Leiter (26); Michael Mariot (28); Hoby Milner (26); Wander Perez (32); Cesar Ramos (32); Pat Venditte (31).

Notes: The roster contains 6 of the top 10 prospects in the Phillies system (Baseball America)

–Expect to see Luis Garcia as the closer at the beginning of the season.

–Hector Gomez played in the Korean League in 2016 and hit 21 homers.  He has played in the majors for both the Rockies and Brewers.

–The ‘Pigs play the Reading Fightin Phils in an exhibition game on Tuesday in Allentown before opening the season next Thursday against Pawtucket at 7:05.

Several weeks ago we conducted a poll on Pace of Play.  Around the time that I ran the poll, there was a lot of sentiment both for and against changes that might address the perceived slow pace of play in major league games. Continue reading Pace of Play Editorial →

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced in a press conference today his frustration at the MLBPA’s “lack of cooperation” making any changes aimed at improving the pace of play.  The commissioner’s comments came in the wake of statements by the MLBPA’s Tony Clark.  The Executive Director indicated the association’s unwillingness to incorporate any changes this season.

Since the “presser”, I have seen comments and tweets whose general sentiment is that baseball “purists” are happy with the game as it is.  In fact, if you are in favor of change, you aren’t a true fan.

So, I am curious about the opinion of Phuture Phillies readers.  The poll is simple.  Yes or no to change.  It’s anonymous.  No comments.  So, if you aren’t a “true fan”, no one will know.  I’ll follow this up with the results.  And maybe a follow up poll if necessary.

I have obtained a pre-release of the 2017 Phillies Minor League Spring Training Schedule. This link contains ALL games scheduled for the Tampa Bay Area. Continue reading 2017 Phillies Minor League Spring Training Schedule →

The Arizona Fall League will hold its championship game this Saturday without the Scottsdale Scorpions, our Phillies participants, and Tim Tebow. Continue reading The Tebow Effect →

We are five games into the Arizona Fall League. My recent strong reaction to Tim Tebow’s selection as a participant for this prospect development league has subsided enough to allow me to comment somewhat rationally.  Or maybe not.   Continue reading Sideshow ‘Bow →

MLB Trade Rumors has published their annual Projected Arbitration Salaries article for players who are eligible for this year’s arbitration process.

The Phillies have several players who are arbitration eligible.  MLBTR offered projections for four of them.

• Player                            Service Time    2017 Projection    2016 Salary    Projected Increase
• Jeanmar Gomez       (5.063 yrs)               $4.6MM                   $1.4MM                     $3.2MM
• Freddy Galvis              (4.021 yrs)               $4.4MM                    $2.0MM                    $2.4MM
• Cody Asche                   (3.022 yrs)              $1.3MM                     $525K                        $775K
• Cesar Hernandez       (2.154 yrs)              $2.5MM                     $530K                       $1.97MM

Darin Ruf, Emmanuel Burriss, and Frank Hermann entered the off season as arbitration eligibles.  Burriss and Hermann have already been outrighted.  Ruf will likely be outrighted also.  I heard around the Complex that he has a $4MM offer to play in Japan.  If true, that is significantly more than his 2016 salary of $527K, and more than he could reasonably expect to make through arbitration or free agency.

Okay, one more thing.  I’ve got nothing against the guy, but I just don’t see how a slash of .213/.284/.360/.635 in 71 games (218 PA/197 AB) with 4 HR and 18 RBI should project Asche for a raise of about 147%.  He joined the MLB team on June 2nd this season and was optioned to Lehigh Valley on August 12th.  I wish I got raises like this when I worked in the private sector.

Oh, one more “one more thing”, Jimmy Paredes and Patrick Schuster have elected to declare free agency.

Final report card of the year looking at relief pitchers at the upper parts of the organization.

Lehigh Valley

Luis Garcia, 29, Signed as a free agent in 2013; 48G; 6-3 with a 2.14ERA; 13SV; 54.2IP 38H 24BB 53K; .203 opp avg; 1.13 WHIP; 2.09 GO/AO; 4.0BB/8.7K per 9; .203 vs LHH, .203 vs RHH; After throwing in 72 games for the Phillies in 2015, I was surprised to see Garcia start the season in Lehigh Valley and I was even more surprised that with the lack of bullpen depth in Philly, he didnt receive more of an opportunity with the big club before September.  He pitched well for Lehigh Valley and is out of options next season.  Grade: C+; 2017: ELsewhere, based on the lack of big league opportunity this season.

James Russell, 30, Signed as a free agent in 2016; 29G (13 starts) for Lehigh Valley; 3-5 with a 4.29ERA; 79.2IP 88H 19BB 49K; 11HR allowed; .272 opp avg; 1.34 WHIP; 0.74 GO/AO; 2.1BB/5.5K per 9; .176 vs LHH, .301 vs RHH, .346 last 30 days; Russell started the year in Philly and was sent down to Lehigh Valley after several awful outings.  He pitched well for Lehigh Valley in multiple roles in the seasons final month where he really ran out of gas.  Grade: C; 2017: Elsewhere

Dailier Hinojosa, 30, Acquired off of waivers from Boston in 2015; 22 games; 1-3 with a 2.96ERA; 24.1IP 25H 14BB 23K; .281 opp avg; 1.60 WHIP; 0.64 GO/AO; 5.2BB/8.5K per 9; Hinojosa was expected to be a key member of the Phils bullpen.  That didnt happen.  First, he was ineffective for the Phils, then was injured and after he came off the DL was very inconistent for Lehigh Valley.  Grade: C-; 2017: I would be surprised if he were back

Colton Murray, 26, Phils 13th round pick in 2011; 27G; 2-2 with a 2.95ERA; 36.2IP 31H 15BB 36K; .230 opp avg; 1.25 WHIP; 0.97 GO/AO; 3.7BB/8.9K per 9; .242 vs LHH,. .259 vs RHH; Murray pitched well for Lehigh Valley but has struggled during multiple stints with the Phillies; I would expect him to spend another year as pitcher #14-15 in the organization, bouncing back and forth to Philly when (if) injuries occur.  Grade: C+

Elvis Arajuo, 25, SIgned as a free agent in 2014; 18G, 1-0 with a 2.18ERA; 20.2IP 15H 6BB 19K; .195 opp avg; 1.02WHIP; 0.87 GO/AO; 2.6BB/8.3K per 9; .148 opp avg last 30 days; Arajuo pitched very poorly for the Phils in 32 games this season, struggling with his control and simply getting hit around.  To his credit, he came down to AAA and threw well, but the Phils saw enough of Arajuo to not call him back up in September, leaving you wondering what his future with the organization may be.

Joely Rodriguez, 24, Acquired from Pittsburgh in 2014; 53G; 7-0 with a 2.35ERA across 3 levels; 5SV; 76.2IP 65H 23BB 69K; .237 opp avg; 1.15 WHIP; 2.06 GO/AO; 2.7BB/8.1K per 9; For LV: 13G, 0-0 with a 2.79ERA; 19.1IP 16H 6BB 18K; .232 opp avg; 1.14 WHIP; 2.8BB/8.4K per 9; Rodriguez left 2015 as a failed starting pitcher and was removed from the 40 man roster.  He successfully reinvented himself as a left handed high leverage reliever and did an excellent job. One of his primary issues in ’15 was his control, which was much improved this season.  With his call up to Philly in September, much rides on his performance as the role of LOOGY at the highest level is open for the taking.  Grade: A- Continue reading Post Season Report Card–Relief Pitchers, Top Half of Organization →

A look at the Outfield throughout the organization.  Next up: Relief Pitchers, Wed or Thur

Lehigh Valley

Nick WIlliams, 23, Acquired from Texas in 2015; .258/.287/.427 in 497AB; 13HR 64RBI; 6/10SB; 4%BB/26%K; .231 vs LHP; .273 vs RHP; .152 last 30 days; Since Aug 1, Williams hit .172 with a 1%BB/37%K rate; 122 games in the OF with 3 errors (.989); 6 OF assists; My pre-season expectation for WIlliams was hitting around .285-.290 with 10-12HR and 15SB prior to a July call to Philly.  What actually happened is that WIlliams was benched on three separate occasions prior to August for disciplinary reasons and he went on to finish the season with a borderline unprecedented BB/K rate over the seasons final month plus.  His ability would come out for a few weeks and he would then retreat into some combination of a baseball purists nightmare.  Grade: C-; 2017: Lehigh Valley

Cam Perkins, Soon to be 26, Phils 7th round pick in 2012; .292/.329/.419 in 408AB; 8HR 47RBI; 11/15SB; .316 vs LHP; .274 vs RHP; .314 last 30 days; 5%BB/14%K; 103 games in the OF with 7 errors (.972); 3 OF assists;  The numbers are decent for Perkins but not good enough to warrant a look at the big league level.  The walk rate needs to go up, and Perkins needs to be more of a run producer to get that major league look.  Surprisingly, Perkins went from 2 errors and 15 OF assists in ’15 to 7 errors and just 3 OF assists this year.  Grade: B-; 2017: I expect Perkins to be left Rule 5 unprotected and expect him to go undrafted and back to Lehigh Valley

Cedric Hunter, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2016; .294/.324/.433 in 330AB with Lehigh Valley; 10HR 53RBI; 6/9SB; 4%BB/16%K; .313 vs LHP; .284 vs RHP; .286 last 30 days; 75 games in the OF without an error; 1 OF assist; Hunter started the year with Phils and was sent fairly quickly when people got healthy as he wasn’t performing.  For Lehigh Valley, he was the most consistent outfielder all year, hitting the ball hard and playing a good OF.  Hunter is a AAAA player who many organizations will be glad to have around.  Grade: B+; 2017: Likely another organization with all the young talent below, although would love to see him back.  He is fun to watch.

Cody Asche, 26, Phils 4th round pick in 2011; .279/.350/.514 in 111AB for Lehigh Valley; 6HR 15RBI; 1SB; 9%BB/21%K; .229 vs LHP; .303 vs RHP; .302 last 30 days; 16 games in the OF with 1 error (.973); 7 games at 3B with 1 error (.923); 3 games at 1B without an error; Asche was optioned to Lehigh Valley after hitting .213/.281/.362 in 174AB with the Phils this year, to go along with a 23% K rate.  Pre season, I expected Asche to be a productive member of the Phils OF.  Between his injury in SPring Training and then his performance once off the DL, 2016 was a major disappointment for Asche.  That said, kudos to Asche for not sulking when sent down and performing well at multiple positions for Lehigh Valley late in the season.  I expect to see Asche back with the Phils in 2017 with Altherr, Bourjos and Goeddel all question marks for the ’17 roster.

Reading

Dylan Cozens, 22, Phils 2nd round pick in 2012; .276/.350/.591 in 521AB; 40HR 125RBI; 21SB;  10%BB/32%K; .197 vs LHP; .302 vs RHP; .234 last 30 days; .295/.374/.744 with 29HR 83RBI at home; .259/.325/.441 with 11HR 42RBI on the road; 128 games in the OF with 5 errors (.982); 12 OF assists; The overall stats, before you dig in are mind blowing.  Team records for HR and RBI to go along with a 20+ SB season and double digits in OF assists.  Then comes the negative.  The very average player Cozens becomes on the road and his .197 average with a 42% K rate against left handed pitching.  Grade: A-; 2017: Lehigh Valley Continue reading Post Season Report Card–Outfield →