Second trip around for the corner infielders….Next up will be Middle Infielders, early next week.

Lehigh Valley

Cody Overbeck, 26, Phils 9th round pick in 2008; .279/.318/.452 in 208 AB’s; 6HR 30 RBI; 6%bb/20% k rates; .269 vs. LH, .284 vs. RH, .296 with RISP; .256 with 4 HR and 16 RBI since May 1. 58 games at 1B without an error; 7.83 R/F. Overbeck continues to hit, showing good power the other way and is doing a nice job at first base but with limited range. Has also played 2 games at 3B without an error. Continue reading Around the System, Corner Infield →

Another week, another edition of Hot or Not.

–Excellent week for hitters throughout the organization with Dom Brown having perhaps one of the best offensive weeks in the system this year.  Another three weeks of solid production and the Phils will have a decision to make, as he continues to improve his OF route running.

–The whispers are beginning about when/if to move Jesse Biddle up to Reading based on his recent dominance. I would give it at least another 6 or 7 starts at High A with similar results to what we have seen lately.

–There has been some debate about whether concern about Trevor May’s recent performance is “too early”.  Its not based upon him having to be sent back to Low A less than a year and a half ago to get himself straight.

–Interesting week for Ethan Stewart who may have set a Phuture Phillies record by appearing on the Not Hot list for both starters and relievers. Stewart got back on track last night with a nice outing for Lakewood.

—Brody Colvin appears to be gaining some confidence in the bullpen.  How log do the Phils keep him there?

–Watching Steve Susdorf, he is a player that simply knows how to hit.  He came out of a major college program and has translated his success there to the upper minor league level nicely.

Hot Starters:Jesse Biddle (7IP 4IP 0ER 1BB 12K); Mario Hollands (W, 5IP 0H 0ER 1BB 5K); Tom Cochran (8ip 5H 2ER 3BB 8K) Continue reading Hot or Not →

This is your place to talk about it….

The ‘Pigs were 3-3 over the last week, and are currently 31-26 and in 3rd place in the Northern Division of the International League, 4.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. After their rainout on Monday, the ‘Pigs continue their homestand Tuesday with four games against Gwinnett.

Probables: Tuesday: Cochran; Wednesday: Cloyd; Thursday: TBA Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Pitchers Jesse Biddle, Adam Morgan, Austin Wright, along with Catcher Cameron Rupp were all named to the FLorida State League All Star Team representing the North Division in the game to be played June 16th.  No time to add much commentary other than to say that the Rupp pick surprises me.  More later.

With both Roy Halladay and now Jose Contreras looking at long term stints on the DL, the Phils are awfully thin on the mound considering who is on the DL already (Stutes, Herndon, DeFratus). With no pitcher near ready to come off the DL, the Phils will have to take a look at the Lehigh Valley roster for help.

The possibilities: The Phils are going to need a long man, presuming Worley comes off the DL to take Halladay’s spot in the rotation.  The most likely candidate for promotion appears to be Dave Bush. Bush has been very consistent for Lehigh Valley, going 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts. He has walked just 8 in 58.2 innings of work and held the opposition to a .186 average with RISP.  Bush had an out clause in his contract set for yesterday.  With how well he has pitched, I presume there has been some discussion with him about a call up, as he apparently chosen not to exercise his option.

Scott Elarton, who had been outstanding early on, has struggled more recently, most likely removing him from the short term radar screen.  Darkhorse is Tyler Cloyd who has been consistently good this tear.

If Worley is not quite ready yet, I would think that the Phils send Erik Kratz back down (they are carrying 3 catchers), have Bush take Halladay’s rotation spot in the short term and bring up a second pitcher from Lehigh Valley bullpen.  The most likely candidate at this stage appears to be Michael Schwimer.  Schwimer has struggled pitching for the Phils and recently had one of his very few poor AAA outings, however he is on the 40 man roster and if Worley is not ready, the Phils will have to make at least one move opening a spot on the 40, and maybe hesitant to make two.  Phillipe Aumont is not currently an option as he is one mediocre appearance removed from the DL himself.  A darkhorse candidate for the bullpen is BJ Rosenberg (Would require a 40 man roster move). Rosenberg has not yet gotten his major league shot, and has pitched extremely well for Lehigh Valley as of late, going 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA over his last 10 games.  Rosenberg, a 13th round pick out of Louisville in 2008 has help opponents to a .091 average with RISP during his tenure in AAA this year.

With the draft upcoming beginning on June 4th, and the many changes facing the scouting department of every MLB organization, it seems time to throw around what has changed and what effect it could have on the Phillies. The Phils are without a first round pick this year because of the signing of Jonathan Papelbon, however sit with both the 40th and the 54th pick in the Supplemental Round (broadcast live on June 4 by MLB Network). The first notable change is the fact that the length of the draft has changed from 50 rounds in prior years, to 40 rounds this year.  Rounds 2-40 will be streamed live on MLB.com. Continue reading The Draft →

A look back at the time period of 5/23 thru 5/29. Quick points:

–I watched David Buchanan throw an impressive CG shutout Monday in Harrisburg where he kept the Senators extremely off balance.

–Another week where it is a good thing to be named “Cody”.

—Leandro Castro has really been hitting over the last several weeks, while Tyson Gillies’ week was limited by his wrist injury.

—I have to give some “pub” to Troy Hanzawa. He has come out of nowhere this year and has hit as consistently as just about anyone in the organization, while continuing to show the slick fielding he has in the past.

–Another “out of nowehere” name is Tyson Brummett, who was named Phils Minor League Pitcher of the Week last week.  He is putting up huge strikeout numbers at AAA this year after several years appearing extremely pedestrian.

–Hot Hitters: Tyson Gillies (.500, 3R 1HR 5RBI); Leandro Castro (.458, 5R 1HR 2RBI); Troy Hanzawa (.389, 5R); Cody Asche (.381); Anthony Hewitt (.368); Cody Overbeck (.360, 3R 1HR 5 RBI); Kelly Dugan (.321, 5R 2HR 4 RBI); Darin Ruf (.304, 5R 2HR 4RBI) Continue reading Hot or Not →

A miserable week for Lehigh Valley who have fallen to 28-23, after a 1-5 week and are now in 4th place of the Northern DIvision of the International League, 3.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. The week culminated with the ‘Pigs coughing up a 7 run lead when Michael Schwimer gave up 6 in the ninth to Gwinnett yesterday. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

I didn’t really know what else to title this, so I came up with some sort of boring title like you see above. In some ways, I think this is going to feel like some stream of consciousness writing at some points about baseball, prospects, trade deadlines, and a bunch of other stuff. Who knows when I will stop.

Continue reading Domonic Brown: A Discussion →