Despite having given up just four runs in four games while striking out a league high 34 batters Clearwater Threshers’ starter Antonio Bastardo had earned just one win in his first four tries this year. On Sunday afternoon he would be given his fifth chance to earn a win, and he certainly made the most of his outing. Antonio had his best outing of the year going 8.0 innings and striking out 13 Yankees in the process both season highs for him. Continue reading Bastardo and the Sharks Blank the Yanks
Category Archives: 04. Prospect Features
Tony Bastard makes the team photo
Baseball America’s weekly wrap up of the best performers of the week comes out today, and Antonio Bastardo makes the team photo.
IN THE TEAM PHOTO
White Sox 1B Brandon Allen hit .381/.435/.952 with three homers this week for high Class A Winston-Salem, though he remains strikeout prone and a bit rough at first base . . . Phillies LHP Antonio Bastardo struck out 12 in a seven-inning outing this week for high Class A Clearwater and is among the top five in the minor leagues in strikeouts, with 34 . . .
Hey, not bad. There will be a chat at 2:30 Eastern, so if you want, try and get some Phillies questions answered.
Clearwater Threshers Weekly Report
This week’s Clearwater Threshers report includes a bonus 8 games for the week thanks to a 10:30 am game on Wednesday that I was able to include here. Fortunately it was able to add another win to put them at a still disappointing 3-5 since my last report. As I mentioned last week it continues to be the pitching that is helping Clearwater out while their hitting as a team remains a disappointment to this point in the year.
Despite the poor team record there are some prospects on the team putting up terrific numbers. As I mentioned the pitching is carrying them to this point so I’ll touch on that first. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Weekly Report
Jason Donald/Greg Golson chat hits
I’m working hard this afternoon
JM (DC): Hey Kevin, a few questions about Phillies prospects. Jason Donald was hitting well in Reading before hurting his hand, are scouts starting to come around on him or is he still a utility guy? Also, what do you make of Greg Golson’s fast start? Just a 3 week flash in the pan, or is he turning it around? He’s posting the highest walk rate of his career right now…
Kevin Goldstein: I actually like Donald quite a bit offensively, but defensively, he’s got a little Jed Lowrie in him where he’s playing there, and he’s holding his own, but it’s not really what you want there glove wise. Golson is a total tool shed, and what he’s doing right now is one of the top things to keep your eye in early in the season.
You rarely hear someone called a tool shed in a positive light, but KG pulled it off. If Donald turns into a Jed Lowrie type prospect, that would be pretty ok in my book.
Hey, we also got a Bastardo reference!
Jeff N (Lawyerville FLA): Hey Kevin, what do you know about Antonio Bastardo? Hes striking out like 20 guys per 9 innings right now. Is he just a fastball pitcher abusing weak hitters?
Kevin Goldstein: Well, 34 in 22.2 innings, but still damn good!. Tony the Bastard is a little lefty is good command and a great changeup. Not a lot of projection, but could end up a bullpen piece.
KG not only breaks out a toolshed reference, he goes with the preferred “Tony the Bastard” as well. What a world we live in…
Clearwater Threshers News
The Clearwater Threshers continue to struggle with a record of 4-8 on the season. The pitching has by far been the team’s strength as they have the 4th best ERA in the league at 3.32 and the 3rd most strikeouts with 94. Unfortunately their hitting has kept them from winning very many as they are dead last in the league in hits, and slugging percentage with only 20 extra base hits on the year.
Antonio Bastardo and Joe Savery have lead the way for the starting pitchers each posting impressive 0.90 ERAs on the year while Adrian Cardenas (.347), Matt Spencer (.302) and John Urick (.300) are the only Threshers hitters batting .300 or better with five players languishing at .200 or below.
Threshers’ Pitching Grounds Flying Tigers
Matt Spencer celebrates after what would prove to be the game winning home run.
It’s not the normal night for Threshers news, but the pitching staff threw such a gem tonight, I thought the news was worth sharing.
The Clearwater Threshers came out on Friday night after being shut out for the first time this season on Thursday looking for some retribution. Antonio Bastardo took the hill for the team, and for five innings he held the Lakeland Flying Tigers on the runway never able to take off. He picked up ten Ks and allowed just three hits and three walks over that period.
Clearwater Threshers Weekly Roundup
We’re now six games into this young season with the Threshers off to a slow start at 2-4 on the year. Five players: Adrian Cardenas, Quintin Berry, Gus Milner, Matt Spencer, and John Urick have played in every game, while six different pitchers: Joe Savery, Carlos Monasterio, Antonio Bastardo, Darren Byrd, Edgar Garcia and Dan Brauer have been handed the ball to start a game.
So far Adrian Cardenas has stolen the show for the team as he has hit safely in all but one of the games including a 3-4 and a 4-5 effort. He is currently hitting .417 with 3 doubles, a stolen base and a team best 4 runs scored. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Weekly Roundup
Blue Claws Announce 2008 Roster
BlueClaws announce Opening Day roster
Phillies send 25 players to Lakewood
LAKEWOOD, N.J. – The Philadelphia Phillies have announced the Opening Day roster for their Class A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws.
Of the 25 players that will be on the Opening Day roster, 18 played in Williamsport in 2007 under current BlueClaws hitting coach Greg Legg.
The roster also features seven players named in the top 30 Phillies prospects by Baseball America: outfielder Dominic Brown (No. 6), shortstop Freddy Galvis (No. 13), infielder Travis Mattair (No. 18), pitcher Julian Sampson (No. 19), outfielder D’Arby Myers (No. 21), and pitcher Drew Naylor (No. 29). Infielder Tyler Mach (No. 25) is also on the roster, but will open the season on the disabled list. Continue reading Blue Claws Announce 2008 Roster
Spring training pitching order
The Wilmington News Journal has released the order for pitchers in the first handful of exhibition games.
Tuesday vs. FSU: Joe Savery, J.A. Happ, Josh Outman, Carlos Carrasco, Joe Bisenius
Wednesday vs. Reds: Jamie Moyer, Travis Blackley, Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson
Thursday vs. Pirates: Kyle Kendrick, Francisco Rosario, Lincoln Holdzkom
Friday at Pirates: J.D. Durbin, Shane Youman, John Ennis, Bisenius (Brett Myers will pitch B-game)
Saturday vs. Yankees: Adam Eaton, Chad Durbin, Madson, Condrey, Tom Gordon
Sunday at Yankees: Cole Hamels, Fabio Castro, Carrasco, Holdzkom
Monday vs. Pittsburgh: Savery, Outman, J.C. Romero, Bisenius (Moyer will pitch B-game)
Also, here’s a nice article on Joe Savery and his spring training experience so far.
Kevin Goldstein’s Top 100
Another friend of the blog, Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus put out his Top 100 prospects list today. Carlos Carrasco checked in at #68, while Joe Savery slipped in at #96. You can check out the full list here, and you can ask Goldstein a question in his BP chat today at 1PM eastern.
JM (MD): Everyone seems down on Carlos Carrasco. The fact that he was only 20 last year and reached AA has to count for something, doesn’t it? Will his flaws be ironed out with more innings, or do you see his upside as being limited?
Kevin Goldstein: It does count for something, but so does his stuff and production. He just doesn’t miss a ton of bats, nor have to stuff to project as a big time star. Very good prospect, don’t get me wrong — But I think he’s a No. 3, borderline No. 2 in a perfect world.
Justin (Brno (Czech Republic)): How good will Adrian Cardenas be in the big leagues? Do you think his power will develop into a middle of the order type of bat?
Kevin Goldstein: I think he’ll be an above-average offensive second baseman, but I don’t see his power ceiling going past the 15-20 home runs a year range. Little guy, line-drive bat.
Phuture Phillies 