Three Stars: Jesse Biddle Maikel Franco, Darin Ruf. Unlike hockey, my three stars don’t include the other team. Also no shaking hands at the end of a series. And hitting a puck with a bat would be really hard. Also throwing strikes seems like it would also be hard. Though catchers’ masks would all be way cool. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/28/2013
Category Archives: 01. Site Features
Box Score Recap – 4/27/2013
As has been pretty obvious to those of us watching the stats every day, Cesar Hernandez is having a fine month at the plate – he added another three hits Saturday, including a triple, and he swiped two bags to get his season total to five in five chances. If he can steal 20-25 bases a year at a higher rate than he’s had the last couple years, (ugh% and eww%, respectively – I’m not doing the math – “ugh” and “eww” sum it up), that would be a huge plus. Cesar’s in his last option year, so he needs to put it all together in 2013. At least in the small sample of the first three weeks, he seems to be doing just that. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/27/2013
Draft Retrospective: “Toolsy” Outfielders
Before really ramping into 2013 draft coverage I am going to look back on some prototypical Phillies draft types. The goal is to find a pattern of success or failure and see if there is a trend in the developmental process. I am going to look at the tools that caused them to be drafted and how amateur scouts saw them, how they looked a year later when professional scouts had a chance to look them over, and then how it all ended up.
One of the most common complaints of Phillies drafts have been their drafting of “toolsy” outfielders, that just don’t know how to play baseball. There have been some disastrous picks such as Greg Golson, which is where this series will begin, with the 2004 draft. Not all of these players were “toolsy” but it should get a larger picture of the type of players drafted and how it turned out.
Greg Golson – 1st round 2004
What Got him Drafted: 70+ speed, 60 hit / 60 power projection, 60 arm, 60 defense
A Year Later: While the other tools remained the hit tool projection took a big step back when his pitch recognition was not where scouts thought it was. He struck out 106 times in 401 PAs.
How’d it end up: The Phillies traded him in 2008 for John Mayberry Jr. He has bounced around organizations since as a AAAA player who can play CF and steal bases. The hit tool never materialized. Continue reading Draft Retrospective: “Toolsy” Outfielders
Box Score Recap – 4/26/2013
Maikel Franco hit 2 HR and a 2B, (just a single short of The Big Wheel), and drove in 7 runs. SEVEN. If you’re curious, that’s a lot. Also for Clearwater, Aaron Altherr hit one out also, plus a double, a fine line from Hoby Milner, (1R, 3H, 1BB and 5K in 5IP), Kelly Dugan made his season debut, and Kyrell Hudson returned from XST.
Box Score Recap – 4/25/2013
Well, I’ve been ignoring it for a while and hoping it would go away, but it hasn’t. Roman Quinn is in a funk. A real, James-Brown-counting-to-eight-but-replacing-the-last-couple-numbers-with-grunting-noises-and-maybe-a-screeching-“woo” funk. He should probably try to get up off of that thing. Perhaps dance ’til he hits better. Ok, now, if you would, please allow me to take it to the bridge. Can I take it to the bridge? Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/25/2013
Box Score Recap – 4/24/2013
Adam Morgan and Nick Hernandez come back to earth, and a nice outing from one of my darkhorses in 2013, Colton Murray. 4K in 2 IP. Throws hard, could move fast if he performs, though he hasn’t much so far in 2013. And Larry Greene had 1 hit, 2 walks, and 2 Ks. The man is physically incapable of grounding out.
A note here – looks like they’re stretching out Hector Neris – 5H 2BB 8K and 2ER on 2HR in 5IP. Worth watching. The Phils have used him as a big league extra man at least once for two springs in a row, so he’s on their radar, but he’s been in the pen for his entire career, (save 1 start in the DSL in 2012). Was a late signing, (20 at the time), and so he’ll need a 40-man spot this off-season. Historically has good K numbers and good BB numbers. We shall see.
Hot or Not
A look at the time period from April 18-24. Quick Thoughts…I had the opportunity to watch Jesse Biddle live for the first time on Monday evening, and having seen thousands of baseball games, his performance ranks right near the top. Keep in mind it is one outing, but a pitcher that has the ability to do what he did, is worth being very excited about….Aaron Altherr has been showing all the tools, and its worth starting to follow him every day…After quick starts, Hewitt and Quinn land on the “Not Hot” list this week….There was a good deal of excitement last year about Tyler Knigge who has struggled out of the gate this year, with another difficult week.
Hot Hitters:Cody Asche (.478); Aaron ALtherr (.444, 6R, 4RBI, 2SB); Carlos Alonso (.417, 5R 5RBI)Jermaine Mitchell (.417, 4R 3RBI, 2SB); Jim Murphy (.400, 4R, HR, 4RBI); Derrick Mitchell (.400); Art Charles (.391, 5RBI) Cesar Hernandez (.391, 3R, SB);Jon Roof (.375); ALbert Cartwright (.360, 6R); Honorable Mention:Mojica, Gillies, Perkins, Numata, Mora Continue reading Hot or Not
Box Score Recap – 4/23/2013
I like that Kevin Brady threw five hittless, scoreless innings and struck out five. I don’t like that he walked five. I like that Larry Greene had a hit and a walk in four trips to the plate. I don’t like that the other two trips he struck out. I like sitting at the beach and walking my dogs and spanish food. I don’t like Delmon Young. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 4/23/2013
Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Lehigh Valley began an eight game road trip against Indianapolis with a rain out last evening and stand at 7-10, 5.5 games behind division leading Buffalo in the Northern Division of the International League. The road trip continues with four in Indianapolis, followed by four in Louisville.
‘Pigs League Leaders:Cesar Hernandez is 4th in hits (22); Darin Ruf is tied for 3rd in doubles (6); Cody Overbeck is tied for 5th in HR (4); Tyler Cloyd is tied for 2nd in losses (3), has the 2nd worst WHIP (1.95); 3rd worst in ERA (7.65), tied for 2nd in HR allowed (3) and is 7th in strikeouts (19); Adam Morgan is 4th in ERA (1.42) and is 8th in WHIP (0.84); Jake Diekman is tied for 2nd in games (8).
‘Pigs Prospects: Cody Asche has hit in 6 consecutive games, hitting .417 (10-24) over that time period. After a slow start, Asche seems to be making the adjustment to AAA pitching. Asche is now at .279/.353/.393 with 1HR and 7 RBI on the year. Additionally, he works very hard, as one of the first one the field each and every day. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
The 40 Man Roster Numbers Game
There has been a lot of talk lately about bringing up Adam Morgan, however he requires a spot on the 40 man roster. This isn’t a deal breaker but it does provide an excuse to reevaluate the 40 man roster as there has been some definite shifts early in the system. Currently the roster stands at 41 players due to Carlos Ruiz’s suspension.
The Locks (22):
Erik Kratz, Carlos Ruiz, Kevin Frandsen, Freddy Galvis, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Michael Young, Domonic Brown, Ben Revere, Darin Ruf, Mike Adams, Phillipe Aumont, Antonio Bastardo, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, John Lannan, Cliff Lee, Ethan Martin, Jonathan Pettibone, Jonathan Papelbon
Likely Locks (9):
Sebastian Valle, Zach Collier, Cesar Hernandez, and Tyson Gillies – Four prospects who have either have value or have the tools/ceiling to have a major league future. None will be difference makers but have too much value to throw to the side. Continue reading The 40 Man Roster Numbers Game
