Category Archives: 02. Org Reports

Fall League Update

8. Arizona Fall League

Mesa took an 8-7, eleven inning slugfest against Surprise on Friday with Mets farmhand Eric Niesen picking up the win in relief.  Matt Rizzotti again got the start at 1B for the Solar Sox, hitting cleanup and continued his early season success with another 2-4 outing, including a run scored and an RBI.  RIzzotti also drew a walk. Tyson Brummett after a rocky outing opening day was lights out in the 6th and 7th inning, allowing just a hit, while striking out 2.

On Saturday, Mesa romped over Pao Sagueros 10-1, with a six run fourth inning being the difference maker. Matt Rizzotti was 0-4 with a run scored and a walk in the cleanup spot.  Tim Kennelly saw an at bat as a pinch hitter and singled.  Reading Pitcher Chris Kissock saw his first action of the Fall on the hill and pitched perfect 8th inning.

Notes: No word on why OF John Mayberry left the game early on opening day.  He has not played since.

–1B Matt Rizzotti is hitting .375 (6-16) through the seasons first week.

–Mesa is off on Sunday and resumes their schedule on Monday.

–Other Winter Leaguers: Freddy Galvis is hitting .250 during the early going in Venezuela (16 at bats), while Harold Garcia is hitless in his first 9 plate appearances, including 5 k’s.

AFL Update

8. Arizona Fall League

The Mesa Solar Sox season kicked off on Tuesday with an 8-3 victory over Phoenix.  John Mayberry started in RF and hit cleanup, going 0-2 before being replaced.  Matt Rizotti hit in the five hole and played first base, going 2-4 with a run scored and a walk. On the hill Tyson Brummett got roughed up, going 2 innings and yielding 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits.  He didn’t walk a batter and struck out 5.  Notably, former Phillie prospect Michael Taylor launched a homer off of Brummett.

Wednesday saw Mesa take one on the chin 6-3 to Phoenix with Michael Taylor crushing his second homer in as many days. He was 3-4 on the day with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s.  The lone Phillie prospect to see action was Tim Kennelly who was behind the plate and went 1-3 with a run scored and an RBI. He also threw out Dodgers prospect Jerry Sands attempting to steal. Continue reading AFL Update →

Arizona Fall League Begins

8. Arizona Fall League

Minor League baseball is back, at least for the next month or so as the Arizona Fall League begins their schedule today. The Mesa Solar Sox, the team that the Phils are affiliated with start their schedule with a 2:35 first pitch today.  John Mayberry Jr, is hitting cleanup, playing right field, while Matt Rizzotti is hitting right behind Mayberry and playing first base.  Look for twice a week updates on the Fall League starting this week.

Mayberry to Arizona Fall League

8. Arizona Fall League

OF John Mayberry will head off to Arizona as a late addition to the Mesa Solar Sox Fall League roster after a very good final week of the Major League season during which he knocked out two homers.  Both SS Brian Bocock as well as Pitcher Vance Worley will be off to Florida to stay sharp in the Instructional League in case of a Phillies injury emergency.

Roadcap out in Reading, Landes Executive of the Year

6. Reading

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today that 2010 Reading Manager Steve Roadcap has been told that he will not return to the RPhils in 2011, but will remain in the organization with a job at the Single A level.  With Lehigh Valley Manager Dave Huppert having been fired at the end of the 2010 season, both of the top two levels of the organization will have new managers at the helm at the start of the 2011 season.

Although not a note relating to a Phillies prospect, I would be remiss not congratulating Lehigh Valley IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes on being named the International League Executive of the Year. Lehigh Valley led all 160 minor league teams in attendance last year, a truly amazing feat considering the fact that Lehigh Valley is 27th out of 30 teams in AAA baseball as far as market size. Even with an abysmal team on the field, the Lehigh Valley staff led by Landes continued providing an entertaining night out for familes in the Lehigh Valley. Congrats on a job very well done.

Instructional League Participants

0. Instructional League

Nice work over at Beerleaguer.com today in tracking down the participants in the Florida Instructional League for the Phils.  They are as follows:

Pitchers: Gabrial Arias, Phillippe Aumont, Jesse Biddle, Lisalberto Bonilla, Jake Borup, David Buchanan, Garrett CLaypool, Jared Cosart, Jacob Diekman, Sergio Escalona, Craig Fritsch, Percy Garner, Nick Hernandez, Mario Hollands, Steven Inch, Colin Kleven, Tyler Knigge, Derrick Loop, Mike McGuire, Marek Minarik, Brian Morgado, Jon Musser, Hector Neris, Miguel Nunez, JC Ramirez, Juan Sosa, Ethan Stewart and Kevin Walter. Continue reading Instructional League Participants →

Lakewood SAL Championship, Game 4 Wrap

4. Lakewood

Back-to-back, baby!  Lakewood finished off an historic season with a 4-2 win over Greenville to win their second straight SAL title while becoming the first SAL team to win a league title after winning their division in both halves of the season.  Sebastian Valle’s three-run jack in the fifth was the difference.  Jonathan Pettibone got the win and Josh Zeid (11 up, 12 down) picked up the save.  I’ll be back later in the week with a year-end wrap.

Boxscore

MILB.com Game Story

Asbury Park Press Game Story

Lakewood SAL Championship, Game 3 Wrap

4. Lakewood

Lakewood won a thrilling Game 3 on a walk-off single by Jeremy Barnes.  An excellent start by Brody Colvin who held Greenville in check on a run on three hits over five innings.  Kudos to a big-time clutch outing by Kyle Carr who came into a second and third, one-out jam in the seventh and struck out the two batters he faced.  Game 4 this afternoon at 4:05 with Jonathan Pettibone on the hill.  In the event Lakewood loses, another game will follow with Trevor May pitching.

Boxscore

Game Story

Lakewood SAL Championship, Game 2 Wrap

4. Lakewood

Lakewood defeated Greenville last night 6-1 to even the best of 5 SAL Championship series at a game apiece.  Good pitching by Julio Rodriguez and Josh Zeid and a 3-4 night by Jiwan James paced the ‘Claws.  And there was a bench-clearing brawl.  Game 3 Thursday night in Lakewood with Brody Colvin on the hill.  Links to the boxscore and a couple game stories:

Boxscore

milb.com Game Story

Asbury Park Press Game Story

Lakewood Playoff Recap / Preview

4. Lakewood

The BlueClaws won the best of three first-round series against Hickory in impressive fashion on Saturday night.  Jonathan Pettibone struck out a career high nine in seven innings, alowing just one hit (with two outs in the sixth).  Sebastian Valle got the ‘Claws on the board in the first with a two-run homer.  Lakewood tacked on an additional run in the first on a Jeremy Barnes RBI single, then added another in the 4th and two more in the 7th.  Luke Wertz pitched the final two innings to complete the 6-0 shutout.

The Championship series gets underway tonight at 7:05 at Greenville (Red Sox).  It’s a rematch of last year’s championship series.  Trevor May and Julio Rodriguez get the call for the first two games on the road.  The series will return to Lakewood on Thursday for Game 3 and, if necessary, Games 4 and 5 on Friday and Saturday.  Lakewood’s roatation through the rest of the series will feature Brody Colvin in Game 3, followed by Pettibone in Game 4, and May coming back for Game 5.