Today I wanted to very briefly discuss the three young starters in the system I think have the highest upside. That’s two 2012 draftees, Mitch Gueller and Shane Watson, and recent international signing Franklyn Vargas.
Category Archives: Other Stuff
Head to Head – Advanced Level Outfielders
Just a couple days away from the crowning of the Reader #1. I have a guess who it might be…(cough Biddle cough cough)…Jesse Biddle. Sorry for the coughing. I’ve been sick.
So today, I’m going to take a brief look at Kelly Dugan, Zach Collier and Tyson Gillies, and where they appear on my top 30.
John Sickels Phillies Top 20 Prospects
Its the season of lists, there are a lot of interesting names and orders on John’s list so it should spark good discussion.
- Biddle
- Morgan
- Quinn
- Joseph
- Pettibone
- Asche
- Ruf
- Martin
- Franco
- Watson Continue reading John Sickels Phillies Top 20 Prospects
Head to Head – Recent College Starting Pitchers
We move on to a group of guys that were 2011-2012 draftees out of big college programs and have thus far been starting pitchers in the Phils organization. I could include Adam Morgan in the group, but there’s not much to debate with him. He’s a top 5 prospect easily after his incredible season and the concensus of the scouting community seems to project him as a mid-rotation starter in the relatively short term.
So who does that leave? I have 3 guys in or near my top 30: Austin Wright at 17, Kevin Brady at 24, and Hoby Milner at 32.
Continue reading Head to Head – Recent College Starting Pitchers
Head To Head – Low-Level Outfielders
In the run up to the Reader Top 30 Poll, I’m going to start a couple conversations about similar players who appear in clusters on my personal, (and still not settled) Top 50. I hope this will help get everyone geared up for voting in the first full week of January.
In the next couple weeks, I’ll take a look at some recent college draftees who’ve stayed as starting pitchers, a couple upper-level outfielders, and lower-level infielders and starting pitchers. But first up: low-level outfielders. Carlos Tocci, Larry Greene Jr., and Dylan Cozens.
General Discussion – Holiday Edition
Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays! (or Halladays as Murray as said) Here is your thread for the news over the holidays. The Reader Top 30 will begin Monday January 7 and we will go 5 a week Mon-Fri followed by the Top 30s of the various writers here as well as a format for all of you to display your personal Top 30s. Then we will be at Spring Training, and time to preview the season and make bold predictions of sleepers and breakout prospects.
Everyone have a safe and happy holidays and hope for a better year in 2013 for the Phillies both on the major league team and especially on the farm! (also whatever player you would like waiting in your stocking for the Phillies this year)
The Bullpen
A bit of clarity was added over the weekend with addition of set up man Mike Adams into the mix as the key 8th inning bridge to Papelbon. Beyond Adams and Papelbon, the bullpen is filled with questions marks. It seems the only relievers assured of Phillies roster spots are Papelbon, Adams, and Antonio Bastardo, who was less than solid last year. After that, questions abound.
From the left side, Jeremy Horst is a front runner to land in back of Bastardo. Horst was impressive during his second half call up to the Phils, throwing in 32 games and going 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. Horst struck out 40 in 31.1 innings of work.
The health of Mike Stutes is the first question mark from the right side. Recovering from significant surgery, Stutes may need some time in AAA before he reaches the level at which he pitched during the 2011 season for the Phils. The rest of the pack consists of Justin DeFratus, Phillippe Aumont, Michael Schwimer, BJ Rosenberg, Raul Valdes, and Jacob Diekman. Continue reading The Bullpen
General Discussion – Week of December 17 – “The Future Is Now” Edition
Remember in 1994, Upper Deck came up with a “The Future is Now Twenty-X Years Old” collection. It was like Mike Piazza Future is Now 24 Years Old or Ken Griffey Jr. Future is Now 23 Years Old or whatever. And it was just extra filler cards of nice young MLBers that you waded through in the hopes of getting a Michael Jordan? This is kind of like that, except The Future Is Now us talking about stuff we would have talked about anyway and the title of the post is December 17, which is in THE FUTURE!!! And what you’re really hoping for is the BA Org Top Ten on Monday and a reasonable contract for Nick Swisher.
Enjoy!
Phils Sign Zach Miner
2013’s version of Scott Elarton is….Zach Miner. The Phillies signed Miner today to a minor league contract where he is expected to land in the Lehigh Valley after two likely IronPigs candidates Trevor May and Lisalverto Bonilla were traded away over the last week.
Miner, 30, was originally a 4th round draft pick of the Braves and last pitched in the majors during the 2009 season when he went 7-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 51 games for the Tigers. Miner threw in 23 games for Toledo, the Tigers AAA affiliate last season going 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in 36 innings of work.
Miner, a big righty, underwent Tommy John surgery during the 2010 season and has struggled to regain his pre-injury form.
General Discussion – Week of December 3 “Why Are They Called The Winter Meetings When It’s Still Fall” Edition
Here is your weekly general discussion. I think Matt has a Rule 5 preview coming up, also, but here’s a fresh thread for the Winter Meetings conversation and beyond.
Phuture Phillies 