The ‘Pigs wrapped up their three game series against Pawtucket this afternoon with a 7-2 loss, and are now 2-3 on their seven game home stand which concludes on Friday after two games against Scranton before traveling to Scranton for the weekend.  For the season, the ‘Pigs are 13-12 and in second place, two games behind division leading Syracuse in the Northern Division of the International League.

News and Notes: Pitcher Zach Eflin was scratched today after the rains came just after his warmup.  The game started 1:20 late and the Phils did not want to risk Eflin throwing after that kind of a delay.

–INF Darnell Sweeney had back to back multi hit games to snap a 1-23 slump, however still sits at just .217 on the year.

—Nick Williams is the only ‘Pigs OF with an assist.  He has 2.

—JP Arencibia has thrown out 5 of 9 would be base stealers.

–SS Ryan Jackson leads IL SS in fielding %.

–1B Tommy Joseph is hitting .372 over the last 11 games.

–OF Nick WIlliams is hitting .395 over the last week and a half, including a 2R walk off HR in the 10th inning on Tuesday night.

–Over his last 9 appearances, RP Edward Mujica has a ERA of 1.80 with 7 saves and has not allowed a walk since opening day.

–On Saturday, SP Alec Asher was just one out away from becoming the third pitcher in Lehigh Valley history to throw a one hit shutout.  Asher gave up a 2R HR with 2 outs in the 9th, however his first start since being called up from Reading was outstanding, (8.2IP 2H 2R 0ER0BB 5K).  Before being called up, Asher had a 3.20ERA in 4 starts for Reading.

‘Pigs Prospects: Mark Appel’s last start was last Friday and he looked good once again, taking a shutout into the 6th inning before leaving a one run game.  Appel has allowed runs in just 3 of the 24 innings he has pitched this year and is among league leaders in both wins and ERA (1.64).  Going back to last season, Appel has won his last seven decisions.

Andy Knapp is in a funk after starting very strong.  Over his last 10 games, Knapp is hitting just .158 and is just 1 for his last 16.  On the year Knapp is at .238/.329/44 with 3HR and 12RBI and has thrown out 2 of 12 would be base stealers.

Cam Perkins has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games, hitting .379 over that time period.  Perkins has played all three OF positions this season, although CF has been a bit bumpy at times with Perkins having little experience there.

Next report: Thompson, Eflin, Joseph, Williams

‘Pigs Leaders: Hitting:Tommy Joseph is 8th in doubles (6) and third in HR(5); Cameron Perkins is 5th in triples (2); Tyler Featherston is 9th in SLG (.476) and 6th in AVG (.317)

Pitching:Mark Appel is 2nd in wins(3) and 7th in ERA (1.64); Zach Eflin is 3rd in wins (3) and leads the league in WHIP (0.76); Edward Mujica leads the league in games (11), saves(9)

Probables: Thur: Appel; Fri: Asher; Sat: Buchanan; Sun: Thompson

Transactions: Comings: Alec Asher (Promoted from Reading), Reinier Roibal (Promoted from Reading); Luis Garcia (demoted from Philadelphia), Severino Gonzalez (promoted from Reading)

Goings: Adam Morgan (Promoted to Philadelphia); COlton Murray (Promoted to Philadelphia); Hoby Milner (Re-assigned to Reading)

With a 5-3 win over Pawtucket on Sunday, Lehigh Valley improved to 5-1, two thirds of the way through their nine game road trip.  The road trip continues with a three game series in Scranton, before returning home for a weekend series against Buffalo. At 10-7, the ‘Pigs are in first place of the Northern Division of the International League.  After starting the year 2-5, the ‘Pigs have won 8 of their last 10 games.

News and Notes: Edward Mujica has five consecutive saves, throwing 6.1 innings, without yielding an earned run during that span.

-INF Taylor Featherston has a 13 game hitting streak, during which time he is hitting .438. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report →

Another year begins, this time with the youngest team in Lehigh Valley team history and a number of legitimate prospects to track as the year progresses.  The season started off in a bizarre manner with the ‘Pigs entire first weekend series in Syracuse postponed because of unplayable field conditions.  Lehigh Valley was able to accommodate to some extent, moving two of the four games to Coca Cola Park, but played in bizarre conditions without any spectators in the stands as the stadium was not yet ready to receive fans with their actual opening night not set for another week.

An open and down first week plus for Lehigh Valley, taking five games before they won their first home game but ending the first eight games at 3-5, 2.5 games behind division leading Scranton.  Lehigh Valley remains home thru Tuesday with two more games against Rochester, followed by two against Syracuse before leaving on a 9 game/8 day road trip.

‘Pigs Prospects: We will take a look in alternating weeks at the production of a series of Lehigh Valley prospects.  This week:

Andrew Knapp has started the same way his 2015 finished.  Hot. He has been on base consistently in each of his starts and is currently hitting over .350.  His defense has been somewhat problematic as he has thrown out just 1 of the 6 runners attempting to steal on him and committed two throwing errors.

Mark Appel had a very nice start in his initial outing with the IronPigs.  He went 5.2 scoreless innings, giving up just 5 hits, walking two and striking out five.  He will be on the mound again Monday evening.

Adam Morgan started twice, one good and one poor in the seasons first ten days, leaving him with an 0-1 record and a 4.22ERA.  In his 10.2IP, he has allowed 12 hits, walked 3 and struck out an impressive 14.  The opposition is hitting .273 against him.

Next week: Nick Williams, Jake Thompson, Darnell Sweeney, Zach Eflin

News and Notes: Catcher JP Arencibia has thrown out 3 of the five runners trying to steal on him this year.

–INF Ryan Jackson has reached base in 6 of his last 7 games, including three hits last night.

–C Andrew Knapp has reached base in 12 of his last 17 plate appearances.

–Prior to this season, OF Will Venable had not played in the minors in five years.

–The average age of the Lehigh Valley opening day roster (26 years, 9 days) is the youngest in team history.  The roster has seven players that were drafted by the Phillies.

–In their first trip through the rotation, Lehigh Valley starters went 2-1 with a 2.05ERA.

Probables: Sunday: Eflin; Monday: Appel; Tuesday: Buchanan; Wednesday: Thompson

‘Pigs league leaders: Darnell Sweeney is 3rd in triples (2); Ryan Jackson is 4th in OBP (.478); Adam Morgan is 4th in strikeouts (14)

Transactions: Placed on the DL to begin the season were RP Jimmy Cordero, RP Frank Hermann and RP Yoervis Medina. With the suspension to Daniel Stumpf in Philadelphia, RP Elvis Arajuo was called up to Philadelphia on Thursday. Prior to Friday’s game, INF Carlos Alonso broke his jaw after he was struck by a line drive in batters practice.  He was placed on the DL and his roster spot was taken by P Severino Gonzalez who was called up from Reading.

10 days in and there is plenty to be excited about in the Phils minor league system to go along with areas of moderate early areas of concern.  The numbers below are not enough to form an opinion but are enough to have a reaction.

So, with that said, here is a look at how the Phils top prospects have started. The rankings below are based on the Phuture Phillies reader pre season rankings.

1.  JP Crawford, SS, Reading–.342/.419/.500 in 43 plate appearances.  1HR 3RBI, 1SB, 10%BB/10%K rates.  Crawford has been very solid thus far.
2. Nick Williams, OF, Lehigh Valley–.174/.222/.261 in 27 plate appearances; 0HR 4RBI; 1SB; 7%BB/21%K rates.  Multiple games lost to rain out have led to a very small sample size.
3. Jake Thompson, P, Lehigh Valley; 2 starts, 0-2 with a 6.75ERA, 1.63WHIP, 5.6BB/11.2K per 9; One good start and one very poor start thus far for Thompson.
4. Mark Appel, P, Lehigh Valley; Just one start by Appel so far and it was excellent.  He threw 5.2 scoreless striking out five last week vs. Rochester.  Next scheduled to go on Monday.
5. Cornelius Randolph, OF, Lakewood, .121/.237/.182 in 37 plate appearances; 0HR 2RBI; 3SB; 11%BB/27%K rates.  Started extremely slow but has had a good last few games.
6. Roman Quinn, OF, Reading, .229/.308/.314 in 37 plate appearances, 0HR 1RBI; 4SB; 5%BB/22%K rates; Leading the organization in SB right out of the gate
7. Jorge Alfaro, C, Reading; .464/482/.571 in 29 PA; 0HR 5RBI; 3%BB/17%K rates; Alfaro has multiple hit games in his last five consecutive starts and has played very well behind the plate.
8. Franklyn Kilome, P, Lakewood, 2 starts, 0-2 with a 14.85ERA; 3.15WHIP; .433 opp avg; walking over a hitter an inning.  One bad start followed by a horrific start.
9. Andy Knapp, C, Lehigh Valley, Hitting .417 with a HR and 2RBI in 12AB.  Has hit in 3 of his 4 starts for the ‘Pigs thus far.
10. Zach Eflin, SP, Lehigh Valley, Allowed one ER in 6 innings pitched in his first start of the year, picking up the win.  Scheduled to throw on Sunday.

I occasionally receive and respond to survey requests.  My location in Clearwater, my ability to attend a lot of baseball activities from February thru November, and my continued involvement with Phuture Phillies provides me with the opportunity to actually see the players in person whom I write about.

Recently I received a request Continue reading And the Survey Says … (March 2016) →

A quick update on the transactions and announcements that came out of the complex today:

–Vincent Veslasquez has been named the Phils #5 starter, meaning Adam Morgan, who has been very well in Spring Training has been optioned to AAA Lehigh Valley.

–RP Elvis Arajuo and Luis Garcia both of whom spent the large majority of last season with the Phils have been optioned to AAA Lehigh Valley

–Darnell Sweeney was optioned to Lehigh Valley, while C Logan Moore, INF Angelys Nina, RP Bobby LaFromboise, RP Reinier Roibal and P Chris Leroux were all re-assigned to minor league camp

–OF Will Venable was signed to a minor league deal and is expected to compete with Cedric Hunter and David Lough for the final OF position on the roster.

How often during a sporting event, do you hear that?  I was having a beer with a friend last week at the Lagerhaus Brewery in Palm Harbor when our stammtisch discussion swung toward the worst calls in sports. Continue reading Worst Call Ever …? →

The Phillies acquired RHP Charlie Morton from the Pirates for Clearwater RHP David Whitehead per MLBTR, http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/12/phillies-acquire-charlie-morton-from-pirates.html.  Morton has avearged between 5-6 IP per game in 69 starts over the past 3 seasons.  The Phillies designated recently claimed right-handed reliever A.J. Achter to make room for Morton.  If he clears waivers, he’ll likely be assigned to LHV.