Category Archives: 6. Reading

Reading Phillies Weekly Roundup

6. Reading

Much like the big-league club, this year’s Reading Phillies are off to a so-so start. At 4-4, they’re in the middle of the pack in the Eastern League Southern Division. They started off hot, taking three of four from the Altoona Curve to open the season, but have cooled down and lost their last three straight games.

By now, I’m sure most of you have heard about OF Greg Golson hitting the tar out of the ball. After 8 games, Golson’s batting a tidy .323 with three doubles, a triple, and seven steals, all while tying for the team lead in runs scored with five. It looks as if his winter spent with Charlie Manuel has helped Golson up his game. However, before we sing his praises and worship him as the savior of the Phils minor-league chain, it’s important to note that his OBP is only .344, while his K-BB ratio is 8-1 on the young season. Golson’s going to have to get on base more often before he can really display one of his most impressive tools — his speed. His season is certainly one to keep an eye on as he looks to possibly earn a call-up during September.

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Updated Minor League Rosters ST Week 4

2. GCL, 3. Williamsport, 4. Lakewood, 5. Clearwater, 6. Reading, 7. Lehigh Valley, Depth Charts, Spring Training 2008, Transactions

Alright gang, here are this week’s updated minor league rosters. You can compare this to the week 3 roster and week 2 rosterand week 1 roster that I had posted earlier if you would like.

Quite a few cuts all in around in the minors this week, with one more round left to go this week before minor league rosters are finalized next Monday.

I’ll keep on the lookout for each new officially posted roster and keep them updated here as needed.

I don’t know how much of a limb I am going out on to project this, but I have updated my Clearwater Threshers website with this (click here) as my projected 2008 line up. The projection is based on the latest 2008 ST roster mixed in with a little intuition. I’m guessing I’ll have about 20 of the 25 players correct, with a few free agent signings thrown in at the last minute just to mess things up and maybe a few other moves in the mix.

Updated 2008 Minor League Rosters (Workout Groups)

3. Williamsport, 4. Lakewood, 5. Clearwater, 6. Reading, 7. Lehigh Valley, Spring Training 2008, Transactions

I hit the Carpenter Complex to check out the first day of minor league games.  It was the Clearwater (Group 3) team and the Lakewood (Group 4) teams against the Orioles.  Nothing of terrific interest to report except that I did pick up the newly updated minor league rosters.  This version has the guys broken out into five groups not four like the previous version that I had posted a while back. Continue reading Updated 2008 Minor League Rosters (Workout Groups) →

The Andrew Carpenter Interview

* Interviews, 5. Clearwater, 6. Reading, 7. Lehigh Valley, Spring Training 2008

andrewcarpenter.jpg

First and foremost… I’ve always called you Andrew, but I keep seeing you referred to as “Drew” Carpenter around the net.  Which is it…Drew or Andrew?

Andrew

I know from talking with you earlier that you said you’ve been in Clearwater working out since January to try to be in better shape this year than you were last year. What sort of goals have you set for yourself in 2008?  

I think everyone’s goal each year is to get to Philly because I know mine is. Other than that they are to win another championship, to keep my team in every ball game to give them a chance to win, to keep progressing on my changeup and making that better, and now in AA maybe get a couple of hits this year.
 Continue reading The Andrew Carpenter Interview →

An Interview with Jason Donald

* Interviews, 5. Clearwater, 6. Reading, 7. Lehigh Valley, Spring Training 2008

jasondonald.jpg

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Jason Donald during Spring Training and ask him a few baseball questions.

Jason, you started 2007 in Lakewood before finishing in Clearwater. What were the biggest differences between low-A and high-A baseball?

I think the biggest difference between high A and Low A was as with any level you move up, the game is a little bit sharper and quicker. Plus, there are some older pitchers with more experience that know how to pitch a little bit more. Better off speed and they can use that effectively when they were behind in the count.
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2008 Minor League Workout Groups Announced

3. Williamsport, 4. Lakewood, 5. Clearwater, 6. Reading, 7. Lehigh Valley, Other Stuff, Spring Training 2008

Several people have emailed me or messaged me asking about the 2008 workout group assignments. 

I was finally able to get my hands on them today. 

Most of you are aware that these groups by no means indicate what the actual AAA, AA, and other rosters will actually look like in the end.  This is just where the guys are working out now.  There are still going to be many guys sent down from the big league ST roster to take spots away, a lot of players will be cut, and many free agents will be signed to minor league spots after other teams cut players.

That being said … here is a link to the Current Workout Groups in PDF version (sorry, but I didn’t feel like re-typing them from scratch) and for those who also wanted this the 2008 Minor League Spring Training Games Schedule. Continue reading 2008 Minor League Workout Groups Announced →

Reading Report

6. Reading

Reading ended its season at 70-71, in 5th place in the Southern division, 11.5 games out of first with a very bad taste in their mouth after getting destroyed over the weekend by last place Harrisburg. Taking a final look at players among the league leaaders, Greg Jacobs was 5th in batting avergage (.310), first in slugging %(.539), 7th in RBI’s (83), 8th in homers (21)6th in hits (143), and 2nd in doubles (39).  Jason Hill was 9th in batting average (.302).  Mike Costanzo was 10th in slugging % (.490), 9th in hits (137), 2nd in runs (92), 1st in strikeouts (157), 5th in walks (75), 6th in RBI’s (86), and 2nd in homers (27).  Mike Spidale was 6th in triples with 6.  Javon Moran, although only playing in Reading for half of the year was 5th in stolen bases with 24. Chris Key was the only notable in the pitching categories with 18 saves, ranking 6th. Continue reading Reading Report →

Reading Report

6. Reading

The yo-yo that is Reading’s season, now has them at 65-63, in 5th place in the Southern division, 9 games out of first.  In the pitching categories, Chris Key is 6th in the league with 17 saves.  Phils hitters continue among league leaders as Mike Costanzo ranks 3rd in runs (83), 2nd in homers (23), 5th in RBI’s (74) and 2nd in strikeouts(143). Greg Jacobs in 6th in hits (129), 3rd in doubles (34), 7th in homers (19), 4th in RBI’s (75), and 8th in batting average(.309). Jason Hill is 4th in doubles (33) and 4th in batting average (.311).  Mike Spidale is now 6th in league in triples (6).

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Reading Report

6. Reading

Reading has fallen back below .500 at 60-62, mired in 5th place in the Southern division and is 10.5 games out of first place, with about 3 weeks left in the season. Among league leaders is pitcher Chris Key who has 16 saves and is 7th in the league.  Mike Costanzo is leading the league in homers with 23, 3rd in the league in runs (79), 8th in RBI’s (71), and 2nd in the league in strikeouts(140).  Although slumping Greg Jacobs remains 9th in hits (121), 6th in doubles (31), 4th in RBI’s (76), and 10th in average (.303).  Jason Hill continues a very solid year and is not 3rd in the league in doubles (32), and now 3rd in the league in average (.315).

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Reading Report

6. Reading

Heading into the last month of the season, Reading continues fighting mediocrity, amid a slew of lineup changes.  They are currently 59-58 and in 5th place in the Southern division, 8.5 games out of first.  Jason Hill has been climbing among the league leaders now leading the league in doubles (31) and 4th in batting average (.316).  Greg Jacobs is 10th in average (.304), 7th in hits (116), 8th in doubles (29), 6th in homers(18) and 5th in RBI’s (70).  Mike Costanzo continues his run production, now 3rd in runs (75), 1st in homers (22), and 8th in RBI’s (66).  He is also 2nd in the league having struck out 132 times.  After the trade of Matt Maloney, the lone pitcher among the league leaders in Chris Key, who is 6th in the league with 16 saves.

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