Clearwater Threshers (15-21) postponed, rain.  Jerad Eickhoff was supposed to pitch followed by Connor Seabold.  With the game rescheduled as part of a double header Tuesday, the probables are Adonis Medina and Seabold.  These are 7-inning games. Wednesday morning’s 10:30 AM start is listed as TBD (would have been McKenzie Mills) and Thursday’s probable is Mauricio Llovera.  Eickhoff may get the Wednesday start. Don’t be surprised if Nick Fanti pops up somewhere in the rotation with a starter going to the bullpen.  I know there has been a lot of speculation that Llovera will end up in the pen.  Don’t be surprised if it is another starter at this time.  BTW, the weather is pretty bad, this is Palm Beach’s only visit this season, and the team will want to get these four games in.  They probably could have played as scheduled Monday night. Hindsight is always 20/20.  They probably won’t be as quick to postpone a game the rest of the week.  Maybe get the first game in, reschedule the second game as part of a next day double header.  Should be a fun week.  Could conceivably play the entire series as seven inning games. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/14/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers (15-21) did not play Sunday.  The entire FSL was scheduled off for Mother’s Day.  Jerad Eickhoff is set to make a rehab start Monday. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 5/13/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers(15-21) beat the Daytona Tortugas, 7-1, and took the series from the division’s first place team.  The Threshers received great pitching again tonight.  This time Bailey Falter held the turtles at bay.  

Falter throws a fastball, change up, and curve ball.  His curve is his out pitch.  It is very good.  It is his favorite pitch.  Tonight, he used all of his pitches effectively, keeping the Daytona batters off balance, and striking out a career high 11 batters. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/12/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers(14-21) beat the Daytona Tortugas, 7-2.  Sixto Sanchez looked every bit the top prospect that he is. 

Sanchez popped the catcher’s mitt at 99 mph on the game’s first pitch and the duel between the young righty and the turtles was on.  He threw 94 pitches in 6.2 innings before being lifted for a reliever.  Along the way, his fastball which he threw on 59 pitches, ran 93-100 mph.  It sat 97-99 mph on 36 of those pitches.  He touched 100 mph twice, once punctuating his first strike out to end the first inning.

Sanchez scattered 5 hits during his appearance.  He walked one, and struck out seven.  He also knicked a batter on a 1-2 fastball at 97 mph.  Good thing the pitch didn’t hit flush as it rode in high and tight.  He threw 16 first pitch strikes to 28 batters.  He also ran four 3-ball counts with three of them ending in ground outs.

Sanchez threw 68 strikes.  None more important than those he threw in the fifth after loading the bases with nobody out.  The Tortugas opened the inning with the aforementioned hit batter.  Then, loaded the bases with back to back singles.  The second single was their best chance to score up to that point.  It was a ball launched into the right center field gap.  CF Mickey Moniak and RF Jose Pujols closed in and just missed the catch, but the runner on second had retreated to tag and move up on a catch (I guess).  The ball landed between the outfielders and Moniak speared it and hit the relay man so quickly that the runner could only reach third on his base running gaffe.

Having received a reprieve, Sanchez bore down on the next three batters.  He retired the first batter on a 3-pitch strike out, getting him swinging at a 99 mph fastball.  The next batter was more of a challenge, taking an 0-2 change yup for a ball before whiffing at another 99 mph fastball.  The next and final batter of the inning fell behind 0-2 and took 2 balls to even the count.  The second ball was Sanchez other 100 mph pitch and rode high out of the strike zone.  He then froze the batter with a low and in fastball at 98 mph for a called strike three.  Twelve pitches, 3 strike outs.  Not bad.

Sanchez came out to pitch the seventh having thrown 86 pitches up to that point.  I was a little surprised, but happy to have the hurler return for another inning.  His first pitch was a 93 mph fastball, lined to Pujols.  The right fielder drifted to his right and inexplicably missed the ball.  He was charged with a missed catch error.  A second 93 mph fastball was lofted to right for the first out.  The runner moved to third after the catch.  He scored on a ground out to Arquimedes Gamboa at short.  A two-out double down the left field line ended Sanchez’ night.

Sanchez had thrown only eight pitches in his shortened seventh inning.  But four of them were fastballs, and three were the slowest fastballs he threw all night at 93 mph.  The double on his last pitch came on a 95 mph fastball.

We all know about Sanchez’ fastball.  It is the development of his other pitches that will determine how quickly he moves to the next level.  It seemed apparent that he was “practicing” his change up and curve ball during the game.  (He is also working on a slider, but isn’t using it much yet this season.)  He would get ahead in the count and then throw a couple off speed pitches.  If they worked fine.  If not, back to the fastball.  When comfortable enough to start an at bat with an off speed pitch, he always had his fastball to fall back on if he needed it.

Sanchez left the game, and Blake Quinn came on to get the third out in the seventh on a ground ball to Darick Hall at first, stranding the inherited runner.  He returned to pitch a 1-2-3 eighth inning, retiring the Tortugas on three strike outs – swinging, looking, and swinging.

Tommy Bergjans pitched the ninth and was greeted with a blast to right for Daytona’s only earned run of the game.  He would give up two more singes, the second an infield base hit, before retiring the final out.

The Threshers provided Sanchez with plenty of support tonight.  Previously they had given him sparring run support, under three runs per game on the nights of his starts.  They corrected that in the first inning with four runs.  Gamboa had singled to start the frame and Austin Listin reached on a walk.  With two out, Mickey Moniak got the party started with a line drive, RBI single to right.  Edgar Cabral followed with another two-out, RBI single that didn’t leave the infield.  Moniak broke for second taking he second baseman with him.  Cabral poked a soft liner to the vacated spot.  The second baseman reacted quickly, retreated to retrieve the ball, and seeing he had no shot at first, wheeled and fired to third just missing a sliding Moniak.  Jose Pujols followed with a 2-run double to complete the scoring for the inning.

The Threshers put up another crooked number in the fourth.  They scored three runs after Pujols and Gamboa set the table with singles.  With two out, Adam Haseley ripped a ball up the middle that the pitcher deflected for an RBI infield single.  Then, Austin Listi crushed a two-run double over the centerfielder’s head.

Note that All seven runs were driven in with two outs; on clutch hits by Moniak, Cabral, Pujols, Haseley, and Listi.

The Threshers had 12 hits – Jose Pujols (.284} had a 4-4 night.  Gamboa (.272) had 3 hits.

With his .384 batting average, Austin Listi trails the league leader by .001.

• #1 Sixto Sanchez (2-2 , 3.58): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
• #3 Adonis Medina (3-2, 4.55):
• #4 Mickey Moniak: went 1-4 with a run scored, RBI
• #5 Adam Haseley: went 1-4 with a run scored, RBI, BB
• #9 Arquimedes Gamboa: went 3-5 with 2 runs scored, double
• #18 Jose Gomez: went 1-4
• #22 McKenzie Mills (0-2, 5.00):
• #30 Connor Seabold (4.73):
• Bailey Falter (3-0, 2.28):

In other action –

First place Lehigh Valley (19-14) shutout Buffalo, 3-0, on a one-hitter authored by Ben Lively (1-0, 0.00) and Johns Waguespack (5.82).

LIvely pitched the first five innings   He gave up a two-out double in the first inning to Darnell Sweeney, and a two-out walk in the second.  He retired the final 10 batters he faced and struck out three.  Waguespack walked two batters in four innings but allowed no hits and struck out four.

Collin Cowgill provided all the offense that was needed with a 3-run HR (2) in the third inning.  The IronPigs only managed three hits.  Cowgill had two and Trevor Plouffe had one.

• #11 Seranthony Dominguez (1-0, 0.00): promoted to Philadelphia 5/7/2018
• #13 Enyel De Los Santos (4-0, 0.84):
• #14 Tom Eshelman (1-3, 6.87):
• #15 Roman Quinn (.289): DNP
• #17 Dylan Cozens (.250): went 0-4
• #23 Drew Anderson: 7-day DL, right forearm strain
• #24 Cole Irvin (2-1, 3.86):

Reading (12-19) blew two leads and rallied from a 3-run deficit to beat Altoona, 9-8.

Elniery Garcia (5.57) turned in a respectable six innings.  He allowed 3 runs on seven hits and two walks.  He struck out five.  Seth McGarry (2.35) pitched the seventh inning and put the Phils in an 7-4 hole.  He gave up four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two.  Alexis Rivero (0.00) pitched a perfect eighth and was eventually awarded the win.  Tim Berry (27.00) started the ninth with a two run lead and allowed a double.  He was quickly removed in favor of Edgar Garcia (0.46) who earned his second save,  He allowed the inherited runner to score, gave up an infield hit and a walk, and struck out two.

Reading scored twice in the first and took an early lead on Zach Green’s 2-run HR (7).  They retook the lead with two runs in the fourth on Deivi Grullon’s RBI single and an RBI ground out by Emmanuel Marrero.  They rallied again in the eight with 5 runs on a 4-base error by the left fielder on a one-out flu ball off the bat of Malquin Canelo, and Deivi Grullon’s two-out grand slam (5).

Canelo, Kyle Martin (2 doubles, 2 runs scored), and Grullon had 2 hits each.  Grullon had 5 RBI.

Elniery Garcia picked a runner off first base.

• #7 JoJo Romero (0-4, 6.68):
• #8 Franklyn Kilome (1-1, 5.74):
• #10 Ranger Suarez (1-1, 4.25):
• #12 Seranthony Dominguez (1-2, 2.08): promoted to Lehigh Valley
• #16 Cornelius Randolph (.191): went 0-2 with 2 BB

Lakewood (19-15) beat the Charlestown RiverDogs, 1-0 behind Damon Jones (2-1, 2.10) one-hitter over six innings.  He walked two and struck out nine.  Three relievers continued to shutdown the RiverDogs. Zach Warren (3.06) walked one and struck out one in his one inning of work.  Kyle Dohy (0.96) allowed a single and struck out two in his inning of work. And, Addison Russ (1.02) picked I[ his fifth save allowing a lead off single, double play and game-ending strike out. 

The BlueClaws scored a second inning run and Jones and company made it stand up.  Nick Maton doubled to lead off the second.  He moved to third on Danny Mayer’s ground out to first.  He scored on Josh Stephen’s line drive, RBI single to right.  And that was it.

Maton (.292) and Dalton Guthrie (.213) each had two hits.  Stephen and Kevin Markham had the only other Lakewood hits.  Maton’s double was the only extra base hit.  Jake Scheiner worked their only walk and stole his second base of the season.

Jones picked a runner off first base.

• #6 Jhailyn Ortiz (.158): is on the 7-day DL (shoulder, in Clearwater)
• #12 Daniel Brito (.190): went 0-3 with a HBP
• #21 Spencer Howard (3-2, 2.89):
• #29 Simon Muzziotti (.293): is on the 7-day DL (hand injury, in Clearwater)

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

These prospects are in Philadelphia.

• #2 Scott Kingery: 116 of 130 career AB, 2f 46 days with Phillies (May 13th)
• #26 Victor Arano: 22.2 of 50 innings, 42 of 46 days (currently on the 10-day DL)
• #11 Seranthony Dominguez: 3.0 of 50 IP, 500 of 45 days with Phillies (6/20)

And these guys are still in Clearwater.

• #19 Kyle Young: XST
• #20 Francisco Morales: XST
• #25 Luis Garcia: XST
• #27 J.D. Hammer: XST
• #28 Kevin Gowdy: not expected to pitch this season

XST

There are over 90 players at the Complex.  The Phillies have provided a roster that includes 80 players in extended spring training.

2018 XST Roster

2018 XST League Schedule and link to Phillies XST schedule.

Link to Phillies GCL schedule.

Transactions

5/11/18–RHP Randy Alcantara assigned to Williamsport from Lakewood
5/11/18–Lakewood activated LHP Damon Jones from the temporarily inactive list
5/11/18–LHP Joey DeNato assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
5/10/18–Phillies activated Ben Lively from the 10-day DL
5/10/18–Phillies optioned RHP Ben Lively to Lehigh Valley
5/10/18–Phillies optioned LHP Zac Curtis to Lehigh Valley
5/10/18–Phillies recalled RHP Jake Thompson from Lehigh
5/10/18–Sutter McLaughlin retired from Williamsport
5/10/18–RHP Ranfi Casimiro assigned to Lehigh Valley from Reading
5/9/18–RHP Tommy Bergjans assigned to Clearwater
5/9/18–Reading placed RHP Trevor Bettencourt on the 7-day DL retroactive to 5/8/18
5/9/18–RHP Alexis Rivero assigned to Reading from Clearwater
5/9/18–RHP Ranfi Casimiro assigned to Reading from Lehigh Valley
5/9/18–LHP Joey DeNato assigned to Lehigh Valley
5/8/18–INF Guarner Dipre signed as an international FA; assigned to DSL Phillies Red
5/8/18–INF Wilfredo Flores signed as an international FA; assigned to DSL Phillies Red
5/7/18–Phillies placed LHP Adam Morgan on the 10-day DL, back strain
5/7/18–Phillies recalled RHP Seranthony Dominguez from Lehigh Valley
5/7/18–Lehigh Valley activated 2B Alexi Amarista from the 7-day DL
5/6/18–Phillies sent RHP Mark Leiter Jr. on a rehab assignment to Clearwater
5/6/18–David Parkinson assigned to Lakewood from Williamsport
5/6/18–Lakewood placed LHP Damon Jones on the temporarily inactive list
5/5/18–Erick Heredia released from DSL Phililies Red
5/5/18–Jorbin Romero released from DSL Phililies Red
5/5/18–Melvin Nunez released from DSL Phillies White
5/5/18–Ramiro Soto released from DSL Phillies White

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 5/1  I’ve got 325 players in the organization.

• The organization’s rosters 
• The organization’s injury list 
• The organization’s Rule 5 eligibility list 

Clearwater (13-21)  lost to Lakeland, 5-3 in ten innings.

Clearwater’s Mauricio Llovera pitched two different games tonight.  For the first three innings, he kept the Daytona Tortugas off balance with a mid-nineties fastball and an unhittable slider.  His only base runner reached on an infield bleeder in the no man’s land between the mound and first base that he failed to field cleanly.

Llovera had six strike outs in the first three inning, no hits, no walks.  The three outs not recorded via strike out were two ground outs and a pop up to shallow right field. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/10/2018 →

Some more solid pitching from Enyel De Los Santos and Will Stewart in wins for Lehigh Valley and Lakewood.  Nick Rickles (2 solo shots) and Quincy Nieporte (solo) hit home runs for their teams.

Romero pitched well for Reading but an early 3-run inning was too much for the Phils to overcome.

Clearwater was buried early and fell short in their come back bid.

Mark Leiter pitched again and got 5 outs on 5 K.

And, there’s a Roman Quinn update.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/9/2018 →