Lehigh Valley went 3-3 during their first week of the 2011 season which gives some semblance of hope for a winning team after dismal starts in their first three seasons. Generally look for Lehigh Valley weekly reports to come out on Thursday, with a look at league leaders beginning next week. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report 14 April 2011 →

Game Summaries: 4/7–Lehigh Valley moved over .500 (1-0) for the first time in team history with a 7-2 victory over visiting Scranton.  The Ryne Sandberg era began with a bang bringing with it a new brand of baseball in Allentown, with it being made clear early that the team will be aggressive.  Starter Vance Worley was dominant, going six shutout innings, allowing just 4 hits, while walking one and striking out 9.  Lehigh Valley put up a three spot in the first inning on RBI singles by Delwyn Young and Brandon Moss.  The ‘Pigs tacked on three more in the 5th on a solo homer by Delwyn Young and a two run blast by Jeff Larish. Brandon Moss had a big day at the plate, while Mike Stutes was very impressive in relief, striking out three of the four hitters he faced. Continue reading AAA Weekend Update 10 April 2011 →

About a thousand people made it out to the Reading–Lehigh Valley exhibition on a frigid evening in Allentown.  Some notes of interest: 

–The rotation for Lehigh Valley in the first few games: Thursday: Worley; Friday: Bump; Saturday: Bonine.

–The Opening Day starter for Reading is Josh Zeid.  Following Zeid will be Hyatt, Edell, Kissock and JC Ramirez.

–20/24 IronPigs have major league experience. Continue reading Notes from Coca Cola Park →

Courtesy of Jeff Schuler of The Morning Call.  Tagg Bozied, Drew Naylor, and Juan Perez have been placed on the DL with undisclosed injuries.  A reminder that the DL is 7 days in the minor leagues. 

Ronnie Belliard has been added to the Lehigh Valley roster, while pitching coach Rod Nichols announced that Vance Worley would start the season opener on Thursday evening.

So, with that being said, this is where we are at:

Catchers: Kratz and Sardinha

INF: Barfield, Belliard, Frandsen, Larish, Robert Hudson

OF: Miller, Moss, Sullivan, Thompson, Young

SP: Worley, Bump, Feirabend, Bonine, Bass

RP: Mathieson, Stutes, Schwimer, Zagurski, Carpenter, Grilli, Meyer

DL: Naylor, Bozied, Perez

Always on top of the IronPigs news, Allentown Morning Call reporter Jeff Schuler was kind enough to pass along the news that relief pitcher Brian Gordon has re-signed with the Phillies organization where he threw in 40 games in both long relief and as a set up man.  Gordon was among the most reliable Lehigh Valley relievers over the course of the season with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

According to Schuler, who spoke to a Phillies official, Melvin Dorta, Ozzie Chavez, Ehren Wasserman, Brian Mazone, Ty Taubenheim, and Alex Concepcion all will not be coming back to the organization.

And….41 days until Pitchers and Catchers.

The Phillies have hired Hall of Fame Second Baseman Ryne Sandberg as the Manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, their AAA affiliate.  Sandberg who decided not to return to the Cubs organization after losing out on the Cubs job managed AAA Iowa City to a 82-62 record last season and was named Manager of the Year in the Pacific Coast League.  Continue reading Ryne Sandberg Named Lehigh Valley Manager →

Both the Daily News and the Inquirer are reporting that Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has emerged as a candidate for the vacant Managerial position in Lehigh Valley. Sandberg, 51 was the manager of Iowa City, the AAA affiliate of the Cubs last year.  While an early candidate for the Cubs manager position, he decided not to return to the organization after the job was given to Mike Quade. Continue reading Sandberg a Candidate for AAA job →

First, before we get into the last Lehigh Valley report of the season, a huge thank you goes to the front office of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for the access they allow Phuture Phillies.  General Manager Kurt Landes, along with Media Relations Director Matt Provence and Media Relations Manager Jon Schaefer continue to provide access to players and information that helps make this site what it is.  A special thank you goes to Media Relations Assistant Tim Doohan who dealt with all media with great professionalism and humor in what can be a trying environment.  Whenever immediate information was asked for, Tim was there to provide what was needed efficiently, accurately, and with a great attitude.

Scheduling Note: Look for End of the Season reviews on each player in the organization starting with Corner Infielders late this week.  Continue reading Lehigh Valley End of Season Report →

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Dave Huppert, the manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs has been told he will not be back to manage Lehigh Valley in 2011 after three sub par seasons. Although minor league managers are not judged solely on their won-loss record, a cumulative record of over 60 games below .500 in his three years at the helm was difficult to look past.  Huppert will be managing Lehigh Valley in their final game of the season against Scranton on Monday and then will begin his search for work in another organization.