Category Archives: 01. Site Features

9 Moves to Make

Other Stuff

With the big club historically putrid, lets look at several moves to make to help move the proverbial ball forward, primarily to help gauge what we may have in the future with several “test” projects that we wouldn’t typically allow for in July.

1.  SP Aaron Nola to Philadelphia–Nola is a guy that will gain nothing more from a half dozen minor league starts.  He is a polished pitcher with less than overpowering stuff that will be a very good major league pitcher, hopefully for the next decade.  With the absolute pounding the bullpen is taking, there is no reason not to add stability into a rotation that has been anything but.

2.  RP Nefi Ogando to Philadelphia–Ogando is on the 40 man and performed well this year at Reading and in his first half dozen AAA appearances.  Put simply, what is the downside?  Send Hector Neris down and move Ogando up.

3.  RP Adam Loewen to Philadelphia–If not now, then in September.  Loewen signed a two year minor league contract last season and had a good year last year and has been borderline incredible over the last 6 weeks in Lehigh Valley, as a dominating lefty out of the bullpen.  This prevents another Jason Grilli/RyanVogelsong/Brandon Moss situation by simply giving him a shot in the majors.

4.  OF Aaron Altherr to Philadelphia–He is having an outstanding year, improving in all aspects of his game.  Likely not a long term answer as a starting OF, but also likely better than the AAAA guys thrown out there day after day.

5.  OF Kelly Dugan to Lehigh Valley–Dugan has proven he can hit AA pitching,  He needs to show he can stay on the field and hit with some power.

6.  RP Joe Denato and Matt Hockenberry from Lakewood to Clearwater-Clearwater can use some help in the bullpen and both of these guys are beyond ready.  Both were established  college pitchers who, when healthy, have dominated the competition at this level.  Challenge them.

7.  RP Tyler Gilbert and Anthony Sequeira from Williamsport to Lakewood–Both 2015 draft picks and both have been lights out in the early going.  With too many pitchers and not enough work, allow Gilbert and Sequeira to backfill for Denato and Hockenberry in the Lakewood ‘pen.

 

 

Open Discussion: Week of July 13th

Weekly Discussion

Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.

In honor of the All Star break, and just for fun, here are the records (by winning percentage) of every team in the organization.

  1. GCL Phillies                                   14-4     .778   (1st place in NW)
  2. Williamsport Crosscutters      17-5     .773   (1st place in Pinckney Division)
  3. Clearwater Threshers               50-38   .568   (1st place in North Division)
  4. DSL Phillies                                   21-16   .568   (4.0 GB in 2nd place in SD North)
  5. Reading Fightin’ Phils              48-42   .533   (1.5 GB in 2nd place in Eastern Division)
  6. Lakewood BlueClaws               43-43   .500   (3.0 GB in 2nd place in Northern Division)
  7. Lehigh Valley IronPigs              40-51   .440   (9.0 GB in 4th place in North Division)
  8. VSL Phillies                                    20-28   .417   (11.0 GB in 4th place (of 4))
  9. Philadelphia Phillies                 29-62   .319   (21.0 GB in 5th place in NL East)

The major league Phillies have opened up a 9.5 game lead over Milwaukee and 10.0 game lead over Miami in the race for the #1 pick.

On Sunday, J.P. Crawford started at shortstop and batted second in the Futures Game.  When they weren’t blathering on about other stuff, the announcers actually had some nice comments about Crawford.  But they also droned on about some other topic during J.P.’s third at bat until he struck out.  Crawford played very well defensively.  By my count, he had 3 assists, 2 put outs, and started 2 double plays.  Offensively, he went 1-3 with a single in his second at bat.  It was a nice, defensive swing while behind in the count, and he poked the ball through the middle into center field.  He drove in his team’s first run to tie the game.  He scored on a double by Kyle Schwarber later in the inning.  They went on to win 10-1.  Aaron Nola did not play.

 

Box Score Recap – 7/12/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (40-51) beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 4-0.  Anthony Vasquez threw four-hit shutout ball for 8.0 innings.  Adam Loewen pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save.  Aaron Altherr (.316) went 1-5.  Logan Moore went 2-4 with a HR (1) and 3 RBI.

Since falling to 22-42 on June 13th, the Iron Pigs are 18-9 and have won 11 of their last 14 games.

Reading (48-42) beat the Akron RubberDucks 7-2.  Hoby Milner gave up 1 run in 4.0 innings.  He threw 88 pitches, gave up 4 hits, issued 4 walks, and picked off a runner.  Joely Rodriguez got the win.  Edubray Ramos allowed an inherited runner to score.  Ryan O’Sullivan pitched a perfect ninth.  Kelly Dugan (.327) went 2-4 with a double and a walk.  Brock Stassi (.308) went 2-4 with a HR (8), 2 RBI, and a walk.  Andrew Knapp (.327) went 2-5 with a double and 2 RBI.

Clearwater (50-38) beat the Fort Myers Miracle 4-1.  Brandon Leibrandt pitched six, one-run innings – 6 hits, 0 walks, 3 Ks, and picked off a runner.  Miguel Nunez struck out 4 in 2.0 innings.  Ulises Joaquin struck out 2 while collecting his 10th save.  Carlos Tocci (.256) went 2-5 with an RBI.  Rhys Hoskins (269) went 2-5.  Chace Numata (.293) went 1-4.  Mitch Walding drew 3 walks.  Malquin Canelo and Derek Campbell each stole a base and had an RBI.  All ten of the Threshers hits were singles.

Lakewood (43-43)  beat the Hickory Crawdads 7-4.  Jerome Williams got rocked by A level hitters, so, yeah, he’s ready to go back to the Phillies.  Will Morris pitched the final 5.0 innings of shutout ball to earn the win.  Kyle Martin (.358) went 3-4 with an RBI. Cord Sandberg went 3-4 with a double and 3 RBI.  Deivi Grullon went 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI.  Herlis Rodriguez had an outfield assist.

Williamsport (17-5) beat the Connecticutt Tigers 3-2.  Luke Leftwich pitched 3.0 shutout innings.  Tyler Gilbert allowed 1 unearned run in 4.0 innings.  Juan Figueroa blew the save but got the win.  Robert Tasin picked up his 5th save.  Jan Hernandez went 1-4 with a HR (4) and 2 RBI.  Jose Pujols (.351) went 2-3 with an RBI..

GCL Phillies (13-4) no game scheduled.

DSL Phillies (21-16) no game scheduled.

VSL Phillies (20-28) no game scheduled.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

Extra Innings –

  • Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Jerome Williams on a rehab assignment to Lakewood BlueClaws. (And they won anyway.)

The blueprint to rebuild the Phillies

Other Stuff

Hello, its me. Since we last chatted, a lot has happened. The draft has come and gone, Andy McPhail has arrived, and the Phillies have lost a ton of baseball games. Today is the Futures Game, which means we’ll see JP Crawford (for a while) and Aaron Nola (probably not at all) and we’ll dream about what could be in the future. In the spirit of thinking about the future, I’m going to provide the blueprint for rebuilding the Phillies. I had originally intended to put this into a Powerpoint presentation which would have been part of my application for the Phillies GM job, but I just don’t think I can leave my current job. So, my loss is the Phillies gain, as I’m giving away the blueprint for free. You’re welcome, Andy. Details below the fold

Continue reading The blueprint to rebuild the Phillies →

Box Score Recap – 7/11/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (39-51) lost to the Pawtucket Red Sox 7-2.  Jason Berken gave up 3 runs on 10 hits in 6 innings and left trailing by one run.  Seth Rosin pitched the Pigs in a deeper hole and the offense could not make up the deficit.  Aaron Altherr (.324) went 2-4 with an RBI and stolen base.  Russ Canzler and Ethan Chapman each had 2 hits.  Gabriel Lino (.274) went 1-4. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/11/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 7/10/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (39-50) beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 4-2.  Aaron Nola gave up 2 runs in the first then he and the bullpen held the Sox scoreless the rest of the way.  Juan Gutierrez gets the win, Adam Loewen his 4th save.  Aaron Altherr (.313) went 2-5.  Russ Canzler had 2 hits, a HR (7), and 2 RBI.  Four different Sox stole 5 bases off Gabriel Lino. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/10/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 7/9/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (38-50) The final game of the series with the Pawtucket Red Sox was rained out.  Nola Night will be held against the Sox in Pawtucket on Friday.

Reading (46-40) lost to the Portland Sea Dogs 9-1.  Mark Leiter opened the game by hitting the lead off batter.  Over the first two innngs he gave up eight singles and six runs.  He remained in the game however, and held Portland to a single and walk over the next four innings.  Reading was unable to mount a comeback and the bullpen turned in a horrid performance.  Joely Rodriguez allowed a run in his two innings on 2 hits and 3 walks.  Ethan Stewart submitted a “Stewart Special”.  He struck out the side, but allowed 2 runs on a leadoff single and four walks.

The top of the Phils line up went a collective 0-16.  Rene Garcia and Brian Pointer each went 2-4.  Art Charles went 1-4 with a double and their lone RBI.  Brodie Greene got the only other hit.  KC Serna had to leave during the second inning with an apparent arm injury.  Pointer had two outfield assists. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/9/2015 →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

Other Stuff

Lehigh Valley has been playing well at long last having won 9 of their last 11 games and are 17-9 over their last 25 games.  Unfortunately, the recent hot streak is not enough to overcome an abysmal start and Lehigh Valley currently sits at 38-50 and in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 9 games behind division leading Rochester.  Lehigh Valley completes a three game series at home against Pawtucket tonight before heading to Pawtucket for three over the weekend.  The International League All Star Game is next week, creating a three day break for the ‘Pigs next Monday thru Wednesday.

News and Notes: Lehigh Valley has double digit hits in 10 of their last 11 games.

–Over the last month, INF Russ Canzler is hitting .312 with 4HR 20RBI, 16RS and 10 doubles. (34-114)

–INF Chase D’Arnaud has a team leading 24 multi hit games,  including four consecutive multi hit games this past week.  Since becoming a regular in mid May, D’Arnaud leads the league in runs scored.

—Jesse Biddle made his AAA debut last night and it was not pretty.  He last just 2.1 innings and gave up 7 runs on 5 hits, walking six and striking out a lone batter.  He threw 73 pitches, just 33 for strikes.  In 15 starts in Reading, Biddle was 7-2 with a 4.23ERA and 1.54 WHIP.  Biddle’s command and confidence remain the two major issues that must be addressed for long term success. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Box Score Recap – 7/8/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (38-50) beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 9-8.  Jesse Biddle made his long-awaited debut in AAA.  He got smacked around in 2.1 innings – 5 hits, 6 walks, and 7 runs.  Cesar Jimenez came in and allowed 2 inherited runners to score before allowing one of his own on a solo HR.  Chris Leroux, Adam Loewen, and Nefi Ogando pitched four shutout innings while the IronPigs rallied to tie then win in a walkoff.

Aaron Altherr (.306) went 1-6 with a double and 2 RBI.  Logan Moore went 2-4 with 2 RBI.  Chase d’Arnaud, Tyler Henson, Cord Phelps, and Chris McGuiness had 2 hits each.  Jordan Danks went 4-5 with 3 doubles and 3 RBI.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/8/2015 →

Box Score Recap – 7/7/2015

Box Score Recap

Lehigh Valley (37-50) beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 9-6.  They scored 5 runs in the first inning and tacked on runs when the Sox pulled within one at 5-4 and 6-5.  Nobody pitched particularly well, but David Buchanan started and pitched three innings.  Nineteen of his 40 pitches were balls.  Aaron Altherr (.321) went 1-3 with a walk and stolen base (3).  Logan Moore went 2-4 with 2 RBI.  Chase d’Arnaud had 2 doubles and an RBI.  Russ Canzler had 3 hits, a double, HR, and 3 RBI.  Edgar Duran had 3 hits.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/7/2015 →