A first look at the middle infield.  Next up: Corners Infielders, over the weekend.

Lehigh Valley

JP Crawford, 22, Phils 1st round pick in 2013; .155/.279/.182 in 110AB; 0HR 7RBI; 2SB; .170 vs LHP; .143 vs RHP; 15%BB/19%K; .176 over last 10 games; 30 games at SS with 4 errors (.966); 3.77 R/F.  Crawford continues to have one of the best batting “eyes” in all of baseball.  That said, his year has been abysmal.  He has struggled all season at the plate, never approaching the Mendoza line and rarely hitting the ball out of the infield.  His fielding has been at times spectacular, however he is covering significantly less ground than in years passed (Range Factor down 25%).

Pedro Florimon, 30, SIgned as a free agent in 2017; .160/.300/.200 in 25AB; 0HR 1RBI; 8 games at 2B with 1 error; 1 game at SS without an error.  Very limited playing time

Jesmuel Valentin, 23, Acquired from Dodgers in 2013; .228/.283/.293 in 92AB; 1HR 6RBI; 0SB; 6%BB/14%K; .308 vs LHP; .170 vs RHP; .152 last 10 games; 25 games at 2B with 3 errors (.967); 2 games at SS without an error.  After a great SPring Training during which he almost made the big club, production has been limited to Valentin.  Solid in the field.

Reading

Malquin Canelo, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2011; .294/.402/.397 in 68AB; 0HR 8RBI; 4SB; 16%BB/23%K; .273 vs LHP; .304 vs RHP; 21 games at SS with 3 errors (.967). A solid start to the season for Canelo whose OBP is eye opening.

Scott Kingery, 23, Phils 2nd round pick in 2015; .292/.382/.593 in 113AB; 7HR 19RBI; 8SB: 12%BB/22%K; .244 vs LHP; .319 vs RHP; .317 last 10 games; 26 games at 2B without an error;  Put simply, Kingery is doing everything very well. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →

Our first look around the system this year, specifically at outfielders.  Next up will be middle infield.

Lehigh Valley

Dylan Cozens, 22, Phils 2nd round pick in 2012; .172/.257/.354 in 99AB; 5HR 20RBI; 10%BB/39%K; .100 vs LHP; .220 vs RHP; .273 over last 10 games; .219 with RISP; 21 games in the OF without an error and without an assist; The power is clearly still there, but the adjustment to AAA has been just as difficult as many expected for the free swinger.

Cameron Perkins, 26, Phils 6th round pick in 2012; .279/.367/.500 in 86AB; 3HR 9RBI; 11%BB/13%K; .250 vs LHP; .296 vs RHP; .242 last 10 games; .136 with RISP; 19 games in the OF with 2 errors (.941); 2 OF assists; 1 game at 1B without an error.  Perkins has been typically solid, hitting all over the lineup and producing relatively well.

Roman Quinn, 23, Phils 2nd round pick in 2011; .250/.315/.310 in 100AB; 0HR 7RBI; 7/9SB; 9%BB/29%K; .189 vs LHP; .286 vs RHP; .265 last 10 games; .235 with RISP; 26 games in the OF with 2 errors (.964); 1 OF assist; Mediocre start for Quinn who needs to improve his OBP fairly significantly.

Nick WIlliams, 23, Acquired from Texas in 2015; .277/.330/.426 in 94AB; 2HR 8RBI; 3SB; .281 vs LHP; .274 vs RHP; .250 last 10 games; 5%BB/29%K; .200 with RISP; 21 games in the OF with 1 error; 1 OF assist; Marked improvement over the end of last year, however plate discipline continues to need improvement along with the occasional mental error.

Reading

Aaron Brown, 24, Phils 3rd round pick in 2014; .228/.241/.316 in 57AB; 1HR 5RBI; 0%BB/33%K; .091 vs LHP; .261 vs RHP; 15 games in the OF with 1 error; 4 OF assists; Has been playing part time and has had significant struggles at the plate.  Hasnt walked all year.

Andrew Pullin, 23, Phils 5th round pick in 2012; .298/.360/.606 in 104AB; 7HR 20RBI; 8%BB/17%K; .194 vs LHP; .353 vs RHP; .189 last 10 games; .259 with RISP: 19 games in the OF with 1 error; 1 OF assist; Sizzling start has settled down recently.  Still an excellent first month.  Defense needs work Continue reading Around the System–Outfielders →

The ‘Pigs have been playing better baseball after struggling out of the gate and are now 11-9, and in 3rd place of the Northern DIvision of the International League, 2.5 games behind division leading Buffalo.  Lehigh Valley continues with three games on the road against Toledo, before returning to Coca Cola Park in Allentown for a quick three game homestand against Scranton.  Going into this weekends series, the ‘Pigs have won four consecutive series.

Probables: Fri: Lively; Sat: Thompson; Sun: Pinto; Tues: Appel

News and Notes: Catcher Jorge Alfaro has hit safely in 4 of his last 5 games and 14 of his 16 games this year, hitting .354 with 3HR and 10RBI

–Switch pitcher Pat Vendittee has been outstanding for the ‘Pigs, having not allowed a run or a hit thru his first 9 innings of work spanning 6 games.

–1B Rhys Hoskins is hitting .414 over his last 8 games (having hit safely in each) and is leading the league in HR with 6.  He has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games.

–After a brief three day stint in the majors, during which he did not pitch, Ben Lively returned to the ‘Pigs rotation with a victory last Saturday yielding a lone ER in 6 innings of work.  Over his last 7 AAA starts, Lively is 6-1 with a 2.25ERA. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report →

The perspective juggernaut has been mediocre at best through the first two weeks of the season with the ‘Pigs sitting with a 5-6 record through 11 games, and in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 2.5 games behind division leading Buffalo.  Lehigh Valley returns home tonight to begin what will be a six game home stand against Columbus and Toledo.

News and Notes: Jorge Alfaro has started the season very hot, getting on base in all 9G he has appeared in (.361, 1HR 5RBI)

–Through the first 11 games of the season, the Lehigh Valley bullpen is getting the job done with a 2.38 ERA and an opponents batting average of .190.

–In his second career AAA appearance, RP Mark Leiter set a ‘Pigs record for strikeouts in an appearance by a relief pitcher with 8.  Leiter has been predominately used as the ‘Pigs long man in the early going.

–Pitchers Dailier Hinojosa and Colten Murray have been placed on the DL to start the season.

–P Nick Pivetta has probably been the ‘Pigs best starter the first two times through the rotation.  Pivetta is 2-0 with an 0.69 ERA.  Most impressively, he has not walked a batter while striking out 13 in his 13IP, while holding the opposition to a .167 avg.

–Jake Thompson has had significant troubles in each of his first two starts, lasting just 2.1 innings in each and yielding 9ER in one start and 6ER in the other.  His control has been poor as well with 6BB in 5.2 innings of work.

–RP Pat Vendittee has been extremely effective in his first 3 ‘Pigs appearances, throwing 5.1 scoreless innings and striking out 7.

–Both Pedro Beato and Michael Mariot have earned saves in the early going and look for the “closer by committee” after losing Luis Garcia to Philadelphia.

–A very successful first 11 games in his AAA career for 1B Rhys Hoskins, who is hitting .324/.452/.676 with 3HR and 5RBI in his first 34 AB.  The other half of the “bash brothers”, Dylan Cozens, sits at .158/.238/.316 in 38AB and has 17 strikeouts in his 42 plate appearances (40%).

–The struggles of JP Crawford have been well documented in the early going.  Crawford is at .086/.200/.143 thru 40 plate appearances.  He has a lone extra base hit and a lone RBI to go along with an “uncrawfordlike” 30% K rate.  Only one error in the early going, however, his range factor has been significantly lower than in previous years thus far.  It is still VERY early.

–INF Jesmuel Valentin has been the offensive catalyst in several of the ‘Pigs victories and is hitting at a .355 clip early on to go along with 5RBI in his 31AB.

–A big, three hit game that included a homer has gotten Nick WIlliams going back in the right direction after bumpy beginnings this season.  WIlliams sits at .265/.297/.412 with 1HR and 3RBI in 34AB.  The OBP is reminiscent of last year and must improve.  He has walked just once in 35AB and is striking out at a 35% clip.

Probables: Tuesday: Thompson; Wednesday: Pinto; Thursday: Lively; Friday: Pivetta; Saturday: Appel

Comings: Adam Morgan (optioned from Philadelphia)

Goings:  Zach Eflin (to Phillies), P Luis Garcia to Phillies,

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 →