Quite a week looking back at Jun 19-25 with interesting names showing up on both sides of the ledger…Starting pitching was brutal this week with Jesse Biddle leading the way and prominent names like Guellar and Nola not far behind…Start paying alot of attention to Andrew Pullin, who as a 2B should be rising up the prospect rankings…Good to see Brian Pointer getting on track…Brad Lincoln really seems to be the only choice for the start the Phils need on Saturday.  He has been throwing very well as a starter….Larry Greene Jr came off the DL on fire…how long will that last?

Hot Hitters: (Min 12 AB’s): Damek Tomscha (.500, 5R, 3RBI); Brian Pointer (.476);  Andrew Pullin (.444, 4RBI); Andreas Blanco (.450); Matt SHortall (.417); Larry Greene (.400, 5R); Emmanuel Marrero (.368);  Grenny Cumana (.364); Cord Sandberg (.346, 5R HR, 4RBI, 2SB); Honorable Mention: Henson, Susdorf, Lino, Alonso, Fox, Knapp, J. Hernanderz

Not Hot Hitters: Chris Serritella (.000, 0-13); Luis Encarnacion (.063); Derek Campbell (.100);  Rhys Hoskins (.118); Carlos Tocci (.125); Dylan Cozens (.130); Willians Astudillo (.154); Leandro Castro (.167); Art Charles (.167); Maikel Franco (.174) Continue reading Hot or Not →

Mediocrity continues for the ‘Pigs who went 3-4 this week, including a 4-3 loss tonight, and now sit at 38-41 and in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 10.5 games behind division leading Syracuse.   After completing a short two day (3 game) road trip to Syracuse on Wednesday, Lehigh Valley returns home for 4 games (Rochester, Scranton) over the weekend.

‘Pigs league Leaders, Hitting: Maikel Franco is 3rd in AB’s(288); Tyler Henson is 4th in K’s(78) and 5th in SB’s(16)

Pitching: Barry Enright is 3rd in losses (7);2nd in HR allowed (15);  has the 7th worst ERA (5.20); is tied for 2nd in starts(15)and has the 8th worst WHIP (1.50); Luis Garcia is 4th in saves (12); Sean O’Sullivan is 4th in IP (87.2) Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

The Phillies, looking for anything to help their OF depth, are taking a shot that 31 year old Grady Sizemore is their man.  Sizemore spent the majority of his career with the Cleveland Indians, having several excellent seasons during which he put up 20-30 Homers with 30+ stolen bases.  That said, Sizemore hasn’t hit above .248 since 2008, and has spent the last two seasons struggling through a myriad of injuries before a fairly miserable 2014 with Boston.  His line with the Red Sox prior to his release was .216/.288/.325 in 185 AB’s with 2HR 15RBI and 5SB.

Sizemore is a three time all star and two time gold glove winner.  He will report to AAA Lehigh Valley on Thursday.  My guess is Tony Gwynn’s time with the Phillies is limited…

A look at relief pitching at the upper reaches of the system; Over the weekend we will look at relief pitching through the rest of the syste,

Lehigh Valley

Phillippe Aumont, 25, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; 22 games, 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA; 31.1IP 26H 22BB 34K; 1.25 GO/AO; .236 opp. avg; 1.53WHIP; 6.3BB/9.8K per 9; .170 vs. LHH, .286 vs. RHH, .294 with RISP; Pretty much the same old story for Aumont who still struggles to throw the ball over the plate consistently. His cup of coffee with the Phillies was a disaster and he hasn’t pitched in 10 days due to a sore arm.

Shawn Camp, 38, Signed as a free agent in 2014; 12 games, 0-1 with a 4.50ERA; 14IP 20H 5BB 9K; 2.44 GO/AO; .345 opp. avg; 1.79WHIP; 3.2BB/5.7K per 9; Camp has been ineffective since changing his motion to that of a side armer. At 38, his days may be numbered when everyone gets healthy. Continue reading Around the System–Relievers (AAA, AA) →

A look at starting pitching around the system.  Some good, more bad, a few ugly.  Next up, relievers.

Lehigh Valley
Chris Bootcheck, 35, Signed as a free agent in 2014; 6 starts; 2-3 with a 4.09ERA; 33IP 31H 14BB 19K; 4HR allowed; 0.79 GO/AO; .252 opp. avg; 1.36WHIP; 3.8BB/5.1K per nine; .179 vs. LHH; .313 vs. RHH; .111 with RISP. Bootcheck has been pitched fairly well since coming off the DL in late June.  He is a capable innings eater that knows how to pitch.

Barry Enright, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2014; 14 starts; 3-6 with a 4.77ERA; 77.1IP 88H 22BB 45K; 15HR allowed; 0.80 GO/AO; .283 opp avg; 1.42WHIP; 2.6BB/5.2K per 9; .252 vs. LHH; .318 vs. RHH, .288 with RISP.  Enright throws strikes but they are often hit for homers.  Simply has to allow far fewer gopher balls.

Brad Lincoln, 29, Acquired from Toronto in 2013; 14 games (9 starts); 4-3 with a 4.24 ERA; 51IP 50H 21BB 47K; 4 HR allowed; 0.76 GO/AO; .254 opp. avg; 1.39WHIP; 3.7BB/8.3K per nine; .302 vs. LHH, .208 vs. RHH, .270 with RISP; 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 4 June starts.  Lincoln just came off three starts where he did not allow an earned run and has been throwing very well as of late.  WIth the lack of depth the Phils currently have, I would put Lincoln as the first call up if there were an injury to a Phillies starter at this stage. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitchers →

Rosters out…first game is today.  Still looking for Aaron Nola(expect him on Clearwater’s roster by July 1).  Quite a few pitchers who should eat up the GCL and expect Jake Sweaney in CF, converted from his catching position.

Catchers: Joel Fisher, Gregori Rivero; Jake Sweaney

Infield: William Cuicas; Grenny CUmana; Luis Encarnacion; Olvy Marte, Jesus Posso; Damek Tomscha, Trey WIlliams, Tim Zier

Outfield: Gustavo Martinez; Carlos Duran, Chase Harris, Jose Pujols

Pitchers: Francibel Alejo; Lewis Alezones; Austin Davis; Jacques Du Gruy; Seranthony Dominguez; Jared Fisher; Scott Harris; Matt Hockenberry; Matt Imhof; Denton Keys; Brandon Leibrandt; Franklyn Kilome; Sam McWilliams; ANgel Mejia; Luis Morales; Chris Oliver; Edubray Ramos; Matt Southard; Gregorio Santos

Even with their 5-4 win last night, Lehigh Valley has been really struggling and now sit at 35-37 in the Northern Division of the International League, 6.5 games behind division leading  Syracuse at the virtual half way point of the season.  The ‘Pigs continue their 8 game homestand with 6 more against Charlotte (2) followed by four against Columbus.

‘Pigs League Leaders, Hitting: Maikel Franco is 4th in AB’s(263); Tyler Henson is 5th in strikeouts (75) and 8th in SB’s(13)

Pitching: Barry Enright has the 8th worst ERA (4.77), is tied for 2nd in starts(14 and leads the league in HR allowed (15)); Luis Garcia is 4th in saves (10); Sean O’Sullivan is 5th in IP (83)

‘Pigs Prospects: Maikel Franco continues to struggle, hitting just .154 over the last 10 games with no homers and just a lone RBI.  His 20% K rate of that time period is not problematic but certainly the lack of production is.  In June, Franco is at .152/.176/.258 in 66 AB’s with 1HR and 6 RBI.  For the year, the line is .213/.274/.335 with 5HR 26RBI and a 16% strikeout rate.  Concerning.

Tyler Knigge has thrown well after two lousy outings to start his time in AAA.  Over his last three games, Knigge has thrown 4 scoreless, hitless innings, struck out 4 and didnt yield a walk. Between Reading and Lehigh Valley this year, Knigge is 3-0 with a 2.43 ERA and 3 saves.  Opponents are hitting .217 against him (.208 in AAA) and his WHIP sits right at 1.00.

Cameron Perkins has gone 0-7 over his last two games after a hot start in AAA, hitting in 8 of his first 9 contests.  Concerning are the two lonely extra base hits in 52 AB’s for Lehigh Valley. In his 14 games for the ‘Pigs Perkins is at .231/.298/.288 with 0HR and 3RBI.  The consummate doubles hitter at AA, it will be interesting to see how Perkins progresses after 150-200 AAA AB’s.

Nest Week: Rupp, Lincoln, Gillies

News and Notes: Lehigh Valley continues to have the second worst home record in the league at 15-22.

–Over their last 16 games, Lehigh Valley is a miserable 5-12 with a .211 batting average.

–RP Luis Garcia still has not allowed an earned run in 2014, a time period now spanning 17 games and 19.2IP.

–The ‘Pigs are just 6-12 when playing against a Left handed starter.

–RP Shawn Camp completed his transition into a side arming reliever on 6/3 and has yet to yield an ER in his 5 appearances since.

–RP Cesar Jiminez has not given up an ER in his last 17 games, spanning 20IP.

–SP Brad Lincoln won his third consecutive start on Sunday and his scoreless streak has reached 18IP.

–SS Freddy Galvis (clavicle) and OF CLete Thomas (ribs) remain out indefinitely, while Darin Ruf (wrist) appears to be on a 2-3 timetable for a return.

Probables: Wed: Lincoln; Thur: Bootcheck; Fri: Smith

Transactions: A rare quiet week.  Tyler Henson was activated from the “paternity list” after returning from the birth of his son.  With Henson’s return, SS Edgar Duran was sent down to AA Reading