If not for Jesse Biddle’s really nice outing, the entire write-up for today may have been “If Wilmer Oberto isn’t the player of the week, we all know the fix is in” or “O My Berto” or “Wilmer is Spanish for Grand and Oberto is Spanish for Slam”. Or something. But alas, quite the performance from Mr. Biddle. Too good to not mention.

He picked up his first win since the beginning of May or something, (though he did have that career altering Futures Game W), while going 7 innings, allowing 2 runs (1 earned), on 3H 2BB with 7K. Threw 66% strikes. Very nice.

And while I’ve spoiled my week-long Wilmer Oberto love fest with other results, I may as well mention a decent game for Ethan Martin, (though he still didn’t throw enough strikes to work at the big league level), 3-5 from Maikel Franco, (though he did have an error in the field), and 2 HR for Sebastian Valle, (though he remains Sebastian Valle). Every GCL Phillie reached base, and only debuting Venn Biter did not have a hit (in 2 PAs). And do not stare directly at Mitch Gueller’s line. I REPEAT – DO NOT LOOK AT MITCH GUELLER’S LINE WITHOUT PROPER EYE PROTECTION. Not even one out. Let’s hope Mitch himself doesn’t look at that one too much. Better forgotten.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/18/2013 →

One of the better games of Zach Collier’s season, 3-4, a HR short of the cycle, and a steal. Jim Murphy with 2 HR…a friendly reminder that he turns 28 in 2 months. Severino Gonzalez back in CLR and his start went…poorly. After throwing 6 no-hit innings last time out, Jeb Stefan only goes 3 innings. He allowed 1R on 4H 2BB and 3K. Curious why he was pulled so early. Gabriel Lino 2-4 with 2 doubles.

A nice line from Adam Morgan rehabbing at GCL – 3H and 5K in 4 scoreless innings. I imagine he’ll work some more down there, maybe with CLR, and hopefully he’s back in AAA in August.

And Wilmer Oberto, with whom we all got a little acquainted yesterday after his 2HR game on Tuesday, added his 3rd HR in 2 days. I told Matt I have been pronouncing his name like Mr. Ed says, “Wilbur”. Also worth trying – yelling it like Fred Flintstone yells “Wilma”. Good times…yes…indeed…good times.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/17/2013 →

So, on a light day, I guess we’ll talk about Wilmer Oberto. A 20-yr old, LHB, Oberto is listed at 5’11”, 185 lbs, which may or may not reflect his current size, as opposed to his size at signing. He comes to the states after 3 years in the VSL, in which he was decent, then bad, then good, respectively, and played all three outfield spots – mostly RF – and some first base. He OPSed .884 last year as a 19-yr old on his third turn through the league, though to be fair, the first two years only netted him about as many PAs as the third. He walked a good bit last year, and did not strike out all that much – 31bb and 38K in around 250 PAs. On Tuesday, he hit his first and second stateside homeruns. As such, his 2013 OPS is through the roof.

I have no guess as to whether this guy should be consider a prospect. His career trajectory would suggest not. I asked Chris King (@statsking) from Baseball Prospectus, who covers GCL and FSL, if he has an opinion. He says the bat is “intriguing”, and that he’ll be watching for Oberto today when he’s scouting the Phils’ double header with the Astros squad. FYI – Chris is a good Twitter follow for, (oddly enough), GCL and FSL stuff. Give him a try. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/16/2013 →

Kelly Dugan hit his first AA homerun. Kenny Giles struck out the side in order in his inning of work. A good sign for him. I’d guess he’s a candidate for Arizona in the fall, or possibly for winter ball in Venezuela or the DR, since his workload was extremely limited by injury this year. Lakewood managed only as many singles as errors, 4, either of which would have spoiled a pretty nice outing from Nic Hanson – 8H 0BB 4K in 6IP. He’s been respectable as a starter, save the couple games before he hit the DL in late May. And 2012 draftee Ricky Bielski is throwing some good stuff out of the bullpen in the GCL – 6H 1BB and 8K in 7.1 scoreless innings on the year. Wouldn’t be surprised to se him moved up to WIL, or into the rotation, if he keeps it up.

Speaking of the Crosscutters, be sure to read our pal Mitch Rupert’s Mid-season Top 15 prospects. Dude loves him some Cody Ashce, folks. http://www.sungazette.com/page/blogs.detail/display/1206/Mid-season-Phillies-Top-15-prospects-list.html 

And hey, while you’re at it, read some of Mitch’s other recent stuff, too – here’s a search to get you started: http://www.sungazette.com/page/search.results?nav=-1&keywords=mitch+rupert&btnSiteSearch=Search&StartDate=&EndDate=

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/15/2013 →