The ‘Pigs have gone 2-5 since we last spoke and are now 16-22 on the year, 7.5 games behind division leading Buffalo in the Northern Division of the International League. Lehigh Valley finishes up their road trip with three more games against Norfolk, before returning home on Saturday for a four game series against Rochester.

‘Pigs Leaders: Cesar Hernandez is 7th in AB’s (148), 8th in runs (23), 5th in SB (10), 5th in hits(48),leads the league in triples (4) Darin Ruf is 6th in doubles (12); and 7th in strikeouts (38) Jermaine Mitchell is 2nd in triples (3); Cody Asche is 8th in strikeouts (37).

Pitchers: Ethan Martin has the 6th worst ERA (5.77), 8th worst WHIP (1.51) and is 5th in walks (23); Tyler Cloyd has the 8th worst ERA (5.40), is 8th in HR allowed (5); Jake Diekman is 4th in walks (23); BJ Rosenberg has the 9th worst WHIP (1.51).

‘Pigs Prospects: Darin Ruf has been very hot, hitting .417 with 1HR and 7RBI over his last 10 games and is now approaching .300 on the year with a line of .296/.370/.496 with 5HR and 22RBI in 136 AB’s.  Ruf has been solid in LF and played 1B once or twice a week. Ruf has consistent splits at .292 vs. LH and .297 vs. RH.  With another 50-75 solid AB’s through May, I think the Phils really need to consider adding him to the mix in the OF. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A first look at how starters are performing around the organization.  Next report will be the catchers, late this week.

Lehigh Valley

Adam Morgan, 23, Phils 3rd round pick in 2011; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA; 38.1IP 37H 12BB 28K; 5HR allowed; 0.75 GO/AO; .253 opp avg.; 2.8BB/6.6K per 9; .212 vs. LH, .265 vs. RH, .243 with RISP; 7.91 ERA in last 4 starts. Morgan started well but has been simply bad in his last four outings.  The home run ball has really hurt him.

Ethan Martin, 23, Acquired from Dodgers in 2012; 7 starts; 3-2 with a 5.77 ERA; 34.1IP 29H 23BB 34K; 1.10 GO/AO; .228 opp. avg., 6.0BB/9.0K per nine; 1.66 WHIP; 3 HR allowed; .310 vs. LH; .159 vs. RH, .281 with RISP.  Martin has looked very good in his last two starts, but he still struggles to throw strikes consistently. My prediction: by this time next year, he will have been moved to the back end of the bullpen. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →

A look at the outfield around the system.  Next up…starting pitching.

Lehigh Valley
Leandro Castro, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2006; .267/.300/419 in 105 AB’s; 3HR 12RBI; 8SB; 5%bb/15% k rates; .381 vs. LHP, .238 vs. RHP, .292 with RISP. 27 games in the OF without an error; 2 OF assists; Castro is the player I have been most impressed with this year with Lehigh Valley. He has gotten his K rate under control which was his biggest issue.  He is simply a clutch player both at bat and in the field.  Needs to work on his consistency.

Darin Ruf, 26, Phils 20th round pick in 2009; .270/.341/.487; 5HR 18 RBI; 10%bb/25% k rates; .188 vs. LHP, .287 vs. RHP, .182 with RISP. 21 games in the OF with 1 error (.976); 1 OF assist; 8 games at 1B without an error;  Ruf’s fielding has been much better than anticipated. With the bat, he has been wildly inconsistent, but his bottom line isnt bad. He does need to step it up to get back to the show Continue reading Around the System–Outfield →

A look back at the time period of May 2-8.  A few talking points…We really need to start talking about Cameron Perkins. He has been consistently wrecking the ball since Day One of the season…Tyson Gillies has continued his Not Hot status right into AA…after a rough start, Hoby Milner has been outstanding as of late…AFter a good start or two, SHane Watson has been really struggling…great to see Mike Sutues back at the top of the Hot Reliever list. If he keeps it up another couple of weeks, the Phils must find a spot for him.

Continue reading Hot or Not →

The topic of much of the season to this point is where does this team go from here.  Most of it centers around the lack of stars in the minor league system.  Not all players can be stars because it takes a level of natural ability already present to be able to reach such lofty status.  Rather than just list off guys I thought I would do this in the style of creating a team of the player with the most star potential at each position on the field.  This is a team to dream on, not a team to count on, but it is an intriguing exercise nonetheless.

Catcher – Gabriel Lino

Big raw power and big arm, but the hit tool and defensive fundamentals are flawed.  Additionally there are makeup questions with Lino and he is very far away from his ceiling with plenty to go wrong.

First Base – Dylan Cozens

A bit of a cheat here as he is still in RF, but I think his long term home is first base (he could still make it to the majors in the OF).  Cozens is a gigantic human being with power to match, he has some clue of what he is doing at the plate and plenty of athleticism right now.  He is only 18 years old and a bit stiff so there are question about how he will hold up long term.  His position won’t matter if he hits though. Continue reading Who actually has Star Potential? Or the All-Projection Team →

The ‘Pigs are 4-2 on their 8 game home stand that began last Thursday and concludes tomorrow morning against Louisville. After 32 games, Lehigh Valley now stand at 14-17 and are  in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 6.5 games behind division leading Buffalo.  The ‘Pigs conclude their home stand with a Thursday morning contest and then go on an 8 game road trip against Durham and Norfolk.

‘Pigs Leaders:Cesar Hernandez is 6th in AB’s (119); 9th in runs (18); 3rd in hits (41); 1st in triples (4); 7th in SB’s (9) and 7th in avg (.345). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

There has been a good deal of chatter about Jesse Biddle’s last start, admittedly disappointing after simply dominating in several starts just prior.  In Biddle’s last outing, he lasted less than an inning, and was removed because of an organizational pitch count.
According to a very good source, Biddle was fighting a respiratory infection that took a considerable amount out of him prior to his start Saturday. I thought this tidbit noteworthy to help calm the “panic” in at least this area,  after a fairly miserable weekend of Philadelphia baseball throughout the organization.

A look at the 2B/SS through the system.  The talking points will surely be Hernandez and Quinn. Next up is the OF, Thursday or Friday next week.

Lehigh Valley

Cesar Hernandez, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2006; .358/.412/.514 in 109 AB’s; 2HR 11RBI; 8/8 SB; 8%bb/15% k rates; .360 vs. LHP; .357 vs. RHP; .333 with RISP. 26 games at 2B with 3 errors .970); 3.69 R/F.  Hernandez simply could not have played better than he did during the seasons first month.  Incredibly consistent, he has been getting on base, stealing bases and very good in the field. Starting to convince me that he can start in the majors as I watch him more and more. 

Pete Orr, 33, Signed as a free agent in 2011; .185/.254/.222 in 54 AB’s; 0HR 1RBI; 1SB; 12 games at SS with 1 error (.981); 3 games at 2B without an error.  A total non factor during the seasons first month.  We have seen much more from Orr at this level in years past. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →