With their 12-1 win on Tuesday, the ‘Pigs snapped a four game losing streak, and continued on a roll Wednesday with a 5-3 victory and now sit at 8-20 and continue in last place of the Northern Division of the International League, 9.5  games behind division leading Pawtucket.  After a much needed off day on Thursday, Lehigh Valley returns home for three games over the weekend against Gwinnett followed by three more at home against Columbus.

News and Notes: With their 19 hits on Tuesday evening against Louisville, the ‘Pigs set a new franchise high for hits in a game.  Lehigh Valley entered Tuesdays game having hit just 5HR all year, but knocked three homers during Tuesday evening.

—Brian Bogusevic continues to swing a hot bat, and has hit in the last 10 consecutive games hitting .425 over that time period (17-40, 10R, 2HR 7RBI).  He has also hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games, hitting .371 over that span (33-89)

—Jason Berken threw well enough to pick up one of the rare wins for Lehigh Valley starters on Tuesday, allowing just a lone run in 5IP. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

We are approaching a month into the minor league season, so I figured I would throw a quick list out there on those who have put the early season stats up to be considered promotion worthy.  That said, it is generally too early to promote based on performance.  Look for that to occur after another 3-4 weeks.  Some names too get the discussion going:

Carlos Tocci, OF, Lakewood-In his third season in Lakewood, he would be one of those most likely to move up quickly this year and he has played like he deserves to.

Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Lakewood- 23 year old college draftee has begun hitting like he doesn’t belong…which is a good thing!

Matt Hockenberry, RP,Lakewood–At 24, and having finished his college career, Hockenberry is doing what he should at this level. I expect him in Clearwater come June.

Maikel Franco, 3B, Lehigh Valley–Only a matter of time, most likely late May to the Phils.

Jesse Biddle, P, Reading–Biddle has been largely effective and bouncing back well from his disastrous 2014.  I would expect a June call to Lehigh Valley if he stays consistent.

Aaron Nola, P, Reading–Nola could very well end up in Philly come September if he continues pitching in the manner he has.

Brandon Leibrandt, P, Clearwater–Has been outstanding for Clearwater early on, showing both command and the “know how” you want in a young pitcher.

Note: This short list is far from all encompassing as there are several who have been outstanding that have not been included (i.e. Eflin as prime example).  It is my belief that there are many who the Phils will simply want to spend most of the current year at their level for a variety of reasons.

After starting 3-4, the ‘Pigs have lost 12 of their last 16 games and are in last place of the Northern Division of the International League, already 8 games behind division leading Buffalo.  Lehigh Valley has been a very difficult team to watch, as the combination of very poor fielding and little control from the pitching staff have led to the teams 6-16 start.  The ‘Pigs hit the road for a three game weekend series in Indianapolis, followed by three games in Louisville next Monday thru Wednesday.

News and Notes: With his 9 strikeouts on Tuesday evening, Paul Clemens set a Lehigh Valley season high.  Unfortunately, he also allowed 5 walks and threw 90 pitches in 4 innings of work.

–The ‘Pigs have gone 121.2 innings without a home run, and have hit only 4 all season, last in the IL. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

An ugly week for Lehigh Valley who lost five in a row before breaking their losing streak with a win on Tuesday evening, followed by yet another loss on Wednesday to Scranton. The ‘Pigs return home to face Buffalo in a four game series over the weekend followed by four against Durham at home next Monday thru Thursday.  Lehigh Valley is currently 4-10 and in 6th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 5.5 games behind division leading Buffalo.

News and Notes: Maikel Franco had his 9 game hitting streak snapped with an 0-5 on Monday night.  He followed that up with a multi hit game in Tuesday.

–INF RUss Canzler has hit in 8 of his last 9 games, hitting .429 over that period, scoring 7 runs.

–Brian Bogusevic already has 3 OF assists, leading the team in that category.

–Severino Gonzalez became the first Lehigh Valley pitcher to record a victory in Game 13, Tuesday night.

–Brian Bogusevic has hit safely in 9 consecutive games.

–OF Domonic Brown has made five rehab appearances with Lehigh Valley and is 3-20.

‘Pigs prospects: Severino Gonzalez has looked fairly strong in his first three AAA starts, two of them being quality starts.  He is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA and 1.25 WHIP and has been able to consistently compete moving quickly through the system.  In his last outing on Tuesday, Gonzalez got the win, giving up just a lone run on 6 hits.  He didn’t walk a batter and struck out 3.

Adam Morgan has made two fairly mediocre starts, followed by a nice start Wednesday during which he gave up 3 earned in 7 efficient innings of work, without yielding a walk. Morgan, who missed all of last season following surgery is trying to build himself back up and this last start should give him confidence to continue to grow.  On the year, Morgan is 0-2 with a 4.50ERA and a 1.44WHIP.  That said, he has yielded just 4 walks in 16 innings of work, often a recipe for success.

Next week: Franco, Murray, Joseph

‘Pigs League Leaders: Maikel Franco is 2nd in AB’s(58), 4th in slg (.569)leads the league in hits(20),leads the league in doubles(8), and is 5th in RBI’s (9); Russ Canzler is 8th in hits(16) and 10th in avg. (.356); Brian Bogusevic is 6th in SB(4).  Phillippe Aumont is 8th in ERA (1.50) and is 6th in walks allowed (8); Jason Berken has the 2nd worst ERA (8.74); Severino Gonzalez is 5th in IP (17.2); Adam Loewen has allowed the 3rd most walks (10)

Probables: Thur: Clemens; Fri: Rodriguez; Sat: Billingsley

Transactions: On Wednesday, RP Hector Neris was called up to Philadelphia.

The Clearwater Threshers added RHP Victor Arano to their roster from extended spring training.

RHP Yacksel Rios was added to 7-Day DL as of April 21.

The Threshers rotation is in doubt.  It is listed as TBD for the next few days.  I would have expected Nunez tonight, Kleven tomorrow, and Rios in Imhof’s slot again on Friday.  With this news, it looks like Arano may join the rotation.

Hello, it’s me. I have a few brief thoughts on the first few weeks of the season and of course the upcoming MLB draft. My hope is that I will be able to start writing more frequently. Work and other obligations have kept me very busy recently, and I have quite a bit of upcoming travel, so it may be tough, but I am going to do my best.

Continue reading Sunday notes, 19 April 2015 →

A lot of us have been curious about Jake Sweaney’s absence in Florida.  I received the following embedded in a comment thread and thought it best to share with you as a report so that all can see.  Thank you, Mr. Sweaney, for providing this information.

“Jim, Jake just had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Dr Elattrache performed the surgery at the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic and said everything went well. We’ll see!!!! He suffered a partial tear last year and they tried to just let it rest over the winter. It fully tore in spring training on a triple hit to the right field wall when he picked it up and threw in to the cutoff man. Keep up the great articles. I look forward to reading them every day, and I can’t wait to start reading them when Jake is playing again. Thanks Andy Sweaney”

I know we all wish Jake a speedy recovery.

Hot off the presses!  The long-awaited roster for this season’s eXtended Spring Training (XST) is attached.

2015 XST Roster

The weekly report will be back as a regular Wednesday/Thursday feature throughout the year.  If there is anything additional that you all are looking for beyond what I am reporting, always feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts!

The first week of the ‘Pigs season has had some good, some bad and some ugly after a 3-4 week which included multiple extra inning affairs, one ending with two position players on the mound.  The week ended on the upswing with consecutive victories over Syracuse, including an 8-5 win in this mornings game.  A week in, Lehigh Valley is in 3rd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 2 games behind division leading Pawtucket.  Lehigh Valley hits the road for the first time this year with their next four games in Buffalo followed by three in Scranton.

News and Notes: OF Jordan Danks has hit safely in his first five games to start the year.

–The average age of the Lehigh Valley opening day roster is just under 27.

–Pitchers Ethan Martin and Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez have both started the season on the DL with right shoulder inflammation

–There has been speculation about Phillippe Aumont moving into the role of a starter or long reliever after several years of mediocrity or worse out of the bullpen.

–Its scary that–Only three players on the Lehigh Valley 25 man roster were originally drafted by the Phils (Morgan, Knigge, Murray)

‘Pigs Prospects: Each week we will take a deeper dive into the details of three or four players.  Those players will alternate weekly among those most likely to see time with the big club as true prospects.  For this week:

Maikel Franco–The low light of the week for Franco was his one game benching after his admiration for a ball he hit off the wall on Saturday, a shot he turned into a single with his slow trot for 90 feet down the first base line, presumably thinking he had hit a HR.  That said, Franco has come out of the gate stronger than in years passed and is hitting .296 with 1HR and 7RBI through the first week of the season.  He has been solid at third and noticeably more patient at the plate, walking several times.

Tommy Joseph–A very slow start for Joseph, who is trying to bounce back from a lost year last year.  Through 18 AB’s, Joseph is hitting .167 and albeit with a very small sample size, has struck out in 39% of his plate appearances, without walking.  Joseph has thrown out 2 of the 6 runners attempting to steal on him thus far.

Colton Murray has looked very good with three scoreless outings, spanning 5.1 innings to start the season.  Control has been a bit of an issue as he has yielded walks in each of his three appearances and that will catch up to him in time.  Murray has yielded just 2 hits and struck out 3 while earning his first AAA save in his 3rd appearance.

Next week: Severino Gonzalez and Adam Morgan

Transactions: Sean O’Sullivan was called up to Philadelphia last Sunday.  RP Cesar Jiminez was outrighted to Lehigh Valley in the corresponding roster move.  On Monday, largely because of an overworked bullpen, RP Mike Nesseth was promoted to Lehigh Valley and Phllippe Aumont was (at least on paper) sent to Reading.  Aumont in actuality remained in Allentown and was unavailable to pitch for several days because of an extended four inning outing. Prior to the game on Wednesday, Nesseth was returned to Reading and Aumont was “promoted” back to Lehigh Valley.

‘Pigs League Leaders:  This feature will begin next week after a sufficient statistical sample from around the league is gained.

Probables: Thur: S. Gonzalez; Fri: Morgan; Sat: Clemens; Sun: Rodriguez

Domonic Brown has been assigned to the Clearwater Threshers to begin a rehab assignment.

I reported last week that Brown looked hobbled in a DH role in a couple of minor league spring training games.  In the Threshers/GCL game Wednesday night, he was running much better, and was able to play right field.