With the trade deadline quickly approaching, its time to clear some space for what most of us hope will be incoming talent when (if) the Phils rid themselves of pieces that can be used by other teams.  A couple of these are no brainers, others not so much…

1. Grady SIzemore to Phils–Absolutely no reason that Sizemore should spend any more time at AAA. He is a major league player and can certainly help the abysmal production from the Phillies OF.  The release of Tony Gwynn, Jr is the likely corresponding move.

2.  Lee Ridenhour to Reading–Ridenhour has pitched very well as the Threshers closer over the last two months.  As a soon to be 25 year old, its time to move him up.

3.  Willians Astudillo to CLearwater–What more do we really need to see of Astudillo at Lakewood?  He mashes Low A pitching. With Knapp catching every day now, the only position at which Astudillo has a legitimate major league shot is filled.  Let him move on and share AB’s with Lino and DH in CLearwater.

4.  Jiandido Tromp to Lakewood–There is talent that needs consistent challenge.  Plenty of Cutters outfielders need AB’s and Tromp has the immediate ability to play above the level of short season ball.

5.  Jason Marquis to the Phils–Coming off Tommy John surgery, Marquis has allowed 1ER in 3 starts spanning 18 innings for Lehigh Valley.  He has struck out 18 in those 18 innings.  Believe it or not, I hear that teams think that Kyle Kendrick could be a useful part down the stretch for a contending team.  Jason Marquis and Kyle Kendrick will provide major league results that are very similar.  Take what you can get for Kendrick (who will be a free agent at seasons end), plug Marquis into the rotation for a team going nowhere and smile that you got a warm body for Kendrick.

Commence the debate and criticism.

Lehigh Valley is 2-4 on their season long 10 day road trip and they currently sit at 43-48 and in 5th place of the International League, 11 games behind division leading Syracuse. They are 8 games behind Rochester in the wild card race.  The road trip continues with one more in Indianapolis before four games against Louisville leading the IronPigs into the All Star break next week.

Note: Due to the All Star Break, look for the next ‘Pigs report 7/21 or 7/22.

News and Notes:Lehigh Valley was shut out both Sunday and Monday, giving them seven shutouts against this season.

–After two games off, Maikel Franco went 13-28 over the next six games. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A look at how outfielders at the upper levels of the organization are performing, Since our last report, two highly talked about under-performers have left the organization through their release, Tyson Gillies and Anthony Hewitt.  Look for the report on Lakewood, Williamsport and GCL outfielders before the end of the week.

Lehigh Valley

Leandro Castro, 25, SIgned as a free agent in 2007; .264/.319/.394 in 292 AB’s; 5 HR 34RBI; 5/11SB; 7%bb/15% k rates; .299 since June 1; .213 vs. LHP; .288 vs. RHP; .270 with RISP.  77 games in the OF with 5 errors (.974); 7 OF assists; Castro has been very good since late May and with all the issues in the Phils outfield should be getting a shot to see what he can do in the majors.

Cameron Perkins, 23, Phils 6th round pick in 2012; .292/.353/.416 in 298 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 5HR 40RBI; 5/10 SB; 8%bb/14% k rates; Hitting .196 in 102 AB’s for Lehigh Valley.  71 games in the OF without an error; 6 assists; Outstanding in Reading and having trouble adjusting thus far in Lehigh Valley.  Still has time and the year that Perkins has had should still be considered a success at this stage.

Grady Sizemore, 31, Signed as a free agent in 2014; .270/.341/.51 in 37 AB’s for Lehigh Valley; 7 games in the OF with 1 error; I expect to see Sizemore in Phillies pinstripes by the weekend. Continue reading Around the System–Outfield, LV, Reading, Clearwater →

Doing things a bit different and extending the hot or not time frame to 10-11 days rather than a week to get a better sample size.This is a look back at June 26–July 5. …Min AB’s to qualify as a hitter is 17…Is there any legitimate reason to not give Leandro Castro a big league cup of coffee at tis stage to see what he may have??Maikel Franco heating up…Very nice to see Kelly Dugan healthy and on the hot list…Cameron Perkins is really struggling over the last several weeks…Mitch Guellar has seemed to have figured things out over the last two weeks…Perci Garner hits the starter and reliever “not hot” list….EThan Martin has been just awful since being sent down to Lehigh Valley.

Hot Hitters: Willians Astudillo (.423); Leandro Castro (.405, 9R 1HR 6RBI); Derek Campbell (.378, 5rbi); Angelo Mora (.360); Maikel Franco (.355, 1HR 7RBI); Matt SHortall (.348, 3R 4HR 6RBI; Russ Canzler (.344, 9R 3HR 8RBI) Kelly Dugan (.333, 6R 2HR 8RBI); Emmanuel Marrero (.333); Damek Tomscha (.320, 5R); Brock Stassi (.320); Tyler Henson (.320); Roman Quinn (.310, 7R 1HR 5RBI, 2SB); Honorable Mention: Z. Green, Sizemore, Lavin

Not Hot Hitters:Trey Williams (.053); Albert Cartwright (.087); Larry Greene Jr. (.100); Carlos Alonso (.111); Logan Moore (.125); Cameron Perkins (.136);  Sebastian Valle (.148); Mitch Walding (.152); Samuel Hiciano (.160); Gabrial Lino (.176);  Aaron Altherr (.179)

Hot Starting Pitchers: Jason Marquis (13IP 7H 1ER 3BB 12K); Mitch Guellar (12IP 7H 1ER 3BB 9K); David Whitehead (13IP 10H 2ER 2BB 3K); Sean O’Sullivan (6IP 5H 1ER 2BB 7K); Greg Smith (11.1IP 7H 2ER 1BB 11K); Matt Imhof (6IP 3H 1ER 3BB 5K); Aaron Nola (4IP 1H 0ER 0BB 3K); Mark Leiter (6IP 8H 2ER 0BB 6K); Adam Loewen (13.2IP 6H 4ER 4BB 8K)

Not Hot Starters: Ryan Demmin (3IP 7H 10ER 3BB 1K); Jon Prosinksi (8.1IP 16H 11ER 3BB 5K, 2 starts); Julio Reyes(2 starts, 5.1IP 12H 8ER 4BB 2K); Perci Garner (3.1IP 4H 6ER 8BB 2K); Jeb Stefan (2 starts, 8.2IP 18H 12ER 5BB 3K); Ryan O’Sullivan (3.2IP 7H 4ER 2BB 1K); Miguel Nunez (4.2IP 9H 4ER 1BB 4K); Chris Bootcheck (2 starts, 9.2IP 13H 9ER 5bb 8k); Francibal Alejo (3.2IP 3H 5ER 5BB 4K); Ranfi Casimiro (2 starts, 11.2IP 14H 8ER 12BB 5K)

Hot Relievers:Matt Hoffman (5.2IP 3H 0ER 2BB 6K, SV); Will Morris (5.1IP 3H 0ER 0BB 3K); Ulisses Joaquin (5IP 3H 0ER 0BB 5K, SV); Edubray Ramos (3.2IP 2H 0ER 2BB 5K, SV); Brian Sova (3.2IP 4H 0ER 0BB 1K, SV); Keivi Rojas (3.1Ip2H 0ER 0BB 2K); Matt Hockenberry (3.1IP 2H 0ER 1BB 1K, SV); Lee Ridenhour (3IP 2H 0er 2BB 3K); Austin Davis (3ip 3H 0ER 0BB 1K, SV); Scott Harris (6.2IP 2H 1ER 1BB 7K); Honorable Mention: Keys, M. Martinez, Walter, M. Gonzalez

Not Hot Relievers:Hector Neris (6IP 10H 10ER 2BB 10K); Ethan Martin (5.1ip 7h 6er 7bb 5k); Nefi Ogando (2.1IP 8H 5ER 3BB 3K); Perci Garner (1.2IP 2H 3ER 4BB 1K); Seranthony Dominguez (4IP 6H 5ER 4BB 3K); Chris Oliver (1.2IP 3H 3ER 2BB 3K); Lino Martinez (4IP 6H 5ER 3BB 4K); Dan Child (3.2IP 6H 5ER 1BB 3K); Aaron Baker (4IP 10H 4ER 0BB 5K); Lewis Alezones (4IP 6H 4ER 1BB 2K)

AFter wins the last two evenings, Lehigh Valley has lost 7 of their last 10 games, and have gone 12-19 since May 30th.  The ‘Pigs are 41-44 and in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League; 10 games behind division leading Syracuse. They are 6 games behind Rochester for a wildcard spot.  Lehigh Valley returns home for a quick two game series against Syracuse before leaving on a long 10 game road trip that will take them into the all star break in mid July.

‘Pigs League Leaders, Hitting:Maikel Franco is 7th in AB’s (302); Tyler Henson is 5th in strikeouts (84) and 5th in SB’s (16).

Leaders, Pitching: Barry Enright is 4th in losses (8); leads the league in HR allowed (16); has the 6th worst WHIP (1.54) has the 7th worst ERA (5.20); is tied for 4th in starts (16); Luis Garcia is 3rd in saves (15); Greg SMith is 9th in IP (94.2)

‘Pigs Prospects: Maikel Franco’s struggles continue and he has been out of the lineup over the last two days.  Franco had 105 June AB’s and hit .162/.196/.238 with 1HR and 11RBI.  Franco’s year has been a roller coaster with April and June being very poor, with a good May sandwiched in the middle.  On the year, .209/.267/.318 with 5HR 31RBI. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

It aint real pretty…

AB’s: Maikel Franco, 302; Dylan Cozens 301; KC Serna 300; Peter Lavin 294; Carlos Tocci 286; Andrew Pullin 284; Carlos Alonso 276; Cameron Perkins 274; JP Crawford 272; Aaron Altherr 269

Hits: Cameron Perkins 85; Peter Lavin 85; Willians Astudillo 84; KC Serna 83; JP Crawford 78; Andrew Pullin 78; Carlos Alonso 77; Steve Susdorf 72; Leandro Castro 69; Tyler Henson 69

2B; Cameron Perkins 21; Willians Astudillo 19;  Peter Lavin 18; KC Serna 18; Art Charles 18; Steve Susdorf 17; JP Crawford 17;  Leandro castro 16; Tyler Henson 16; Maikel Franco 16; Aaron Altherr 16

3B: Peter Lavin 5; Carlos Tocci 4; Leandro Castro 3; Cameron Perkins 3; Aaron Altherr 3; KC Serna 3; Art Charles 3; Brian Pointer 3; Dylan Cozens 3

HR: Jim Murphy 10; Peter Lavin 10; Dylan Cozens 9; Samuel Hiciano 7; Art Charles 7; Carlos Alonso 7; Jake Fox 6; Aaron Altherr 6; Brock Stassi Continue reading Minor League Organizational Leaders →

A busy night with the big news being Jesse Biddle being given what Ruben Amaro is calling a “mental break”, with his placement on Reading’s temporary inactive list. Biddle’s recent troubles have been well documented including his 10ER outing just last Tuesday.  This break can only help, as Biddle has been unable to pitch through the recent issues.

In Allentown, Sean O’Sullivan was told that he will be the Phillies starter in Game Two of their doubleheader Saturday.  The speculation had been Brad Lincoln, however it seems Lincoln may be nursing a minor leg injury. While far from overpowering, O’Sullivan has been slightly better than decent for the ‘Pigs this year, going 3-6 with a 4.31ERA in 15 starts this year for the ‘Pigs.  Opponents hit .278 against him and O’Sullivan is carrying a WHIP of 1.36.  O’Sullivan will not overwhelm and has just as good a chance as any in Lehigh Valley to do a competent job.

In Allentown, Jason Marquis will be on the hill tomorrow evening with Grady Sizemore likely to get his first start in the Phils organization tomorrow as well.