This season should be an especially interesting one for the Phillies low-A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws, as the team has a good number of interesting prospects to keep an eye on. They also have one of the youngest teams in the SAL, fielding three 18-year-0lds – 2008 draft picks OFs Anthony Gose and Zach Collier, and C Sebastian Valle, a 2006 international free-agent signing – and featuring a fourth 18-year old, Jason Knapp, as the second pitcher in the BlueClaws rotation.

After a four-game series at home against the Delmarva Shorebirds in which the BlueClaws’ offense seemed to be asleep, they suddenly awakened in Monday’s game – the first of a three-game series at the Lake County Captains. Right now, their record stands at 2-3, good for 6th overall in the SAL Northern division, but only two games back of Delmarva.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Weekly Report (4/9-4/13) →

At this point, you know the drill, so lets not waste any time.

Michael Taylor, OF: .361/.441/.554

Taylor’s exploits have been well covered this season, and for good reason. Taylor couples a good walk rate (10.8%) with a fairly low K rate (14.9%) for a slugger, and then you add in the .193 ISO and the .345 SecA and you have the best prospect at Lakewood, and one of the better statistical seasons in the SAL. The big caveat for Taylor was his age, but he took some of that sting out by continuing to rake at Clearwater, where he was closer to age appropriate.

Continue reading Affiliate Review: Lakewood →

After allowing a combined twenty runs in losing the first three games of the week, the BlueClaws needed to step it up a notch and get strong performances from their starting pitchers if they wanted to keep up with the West Virginia Power in the second-half SAL standings. Behind two extremely strong debuts from rookie pitchers Michael Stutes and Michael Cisco, Lakewood evened the week’s record out to 3-3 and stayed in the hunt for the SAL Northern lead, at 24-13 two games behind the Power.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Report (6/22-6/28) →

After a somewhat disappointing first half of the season for the BlueClaws, they have bounced back in the second half of the season so far. After a strong week, where they went 5-2, the BlueClaws are only three games back of the West Virginia Power for the Northen Division lead in the SAL.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Report (7/8-7/14) →

As they head into the All-Star break, the Lakewood BlueClaws have finished the first half tied for third place in the SAL Northern. In a week that began by dropping both games of a Tuesday double-header, the Lakewood BlueClaws sent four players to Tuesday’s All-Star game and Michael Taylor took home honors for Player of the Month for the month of May.

Continue reading Lakewood Report 6/10-6/15 →

After a disappointing week in which the BlueClaws went 2-5, the team rebounded with an extremely impressive 6-1 record this last week. In a week in which they eclipsed the Hickory Crawdads to take a two-way tie for fourth place in the SAL Northern division, the ‘Claws found themselves dropping their first game of the week before picking up the pace in their current six-game winning streak. Once again, the key to the week was pitching, as the starters posted a combined 2.65 ERA for the week.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Report (5/20-5/26) →

Up to this point, this has been an up-and-down season for the Lakewood BlueClaws. Plagued by inconsistencies, both by pitchers and position players, they entered the week with a record of 15-16. Boosted by five solid starts by their rotation, the BlueClaws managed to eclipse the .500 mark this week, and they certainly hope to stay there for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday saw the BlueClaws finishing off a four-game series against the Lexington Legends. Behind a strong showing from Julian Sampson (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K), the BlueClaws not only won the game 5-1, but the series. The offensive production came from homeruns from two of the BlueClaws’ more intriguing prospects, Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown, Taylor’s driving in three of the five runs on the night.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Report →

Very busy week for me, sorry this is late. Busy getting our Little League going. This is short and sweet.

The Blue Claws went 4-3 this week; even the losses were very close games.Last Wednesday, The Blue Claws beat Hagerstown 6-5 behind Mike Durant’s 4-4 day with a double and home run. Lakewood scored three runs in the bottom of the 6^th with 4 straight two out hits. Taylor, Durant and Mattair all singled before Joel Naughton cleared the bases with a double. Tyson Brummett pitched well going 6ip, just 3hs and 1ER. Simon go the first of his 3 lucky wins this week. Thursday night the Blue Claws rapped out 11 hits to back Julian Sampson’s 5ip,6h, 2r, 2bb 4k effort. The Blue Claws won 7-5. Rizzotti, Taylor, Bolt, and Winn each had two hits. Simon got this second win in a row in relief. Friday, Lakewood’s bats went ice cold, only getting 3 hits in a 3-1 loss at Delmarva. Diekman pitched well, 6ip, 4 hits just one run with 3bb & 4ks. Saturday Delmarva won again, 2-1. Joel Naughton had 2 doubles and Chance Chapman went just 4 ip giving up 5 hits and one run. Rocchio got the loss in relief. On Sunday, the bats came back to life behind the solid effort of Drew Naylor, 7ip, 2r, 8k & just one bb. Naughton went 2 for 2 after pinch hitting; Kyle Bolt had 2 doubles to pace Lakewood. Yesterday, the Blue Claws were at Lake County, losing 5-4. Tyson Brummett went 6 innings, giving up 5h, 4 earned runs with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts. Michael Taylor had two hits including a home run.And earlier today Lakewood finished up their road trip with a 5-3 win. Julian Sampson went 7ip, givng up just 2 runs. Durant and Taylor kept going with their hot hitting with 2 hits a piece, Taylor’s were both doubles.

Who’s Hot ( through Monday)

Mike Taylor.364 with 4doubles
Mike Durant .325, 4 HR 8 RBI
Drew Naylor 3.18 era, 17ip 20k 3bb
Tyson Brummett 3.18, 17ip, 21k, 7bb

Who’s Not
Freddy Galvis .163
D’Arby Myers .162
Travis Mattair .143
Derrick Mitchell .118

Who’s Lucky
Jared Simon 3 wins in relief

From the Jersey Shore,
Bob Everett