Threshers Recap – 5/11/2019

Clearwater (16-19) beat Dunedin, 9-3.

The Threshers swept Dunedin, tightened the North Division, and moved to within 3.5 games of first place.  The Threshers exploded for 9 runs and 19 hits on the road at Jack Russell Stadium.  To give you an idea of the potency displayed last night, the Threshers out-scored and out-hit ALL of their brother affiliates (5 runs, 17 hits) who all played in front of their home crowds, and lost. Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/11/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/10/2019

Clearwater (15-19) beat Dunedin, 8-4.

The Threshers won another important game.  I hesitate to say, “must win” in May, but they really couldn’t afford to lose anymore ground to the first place Blue Jays.  Last night’s win came in a critical series for the Threshers.  Dunedin is in first place and still has the only winning record in the division.  Last night’s win pulls the Threshers within 4.5 games of first place.  They will go for a sweep Saturday.  TBD is scheduled to start.  With Howard and Young on the IL, maybe they let Damon Jones go on short rest.  Maybe they activate a Jose Taveras type from XST.  Or, maybe they go with a bull pen game since they have a day off on Sunday (Mothers’ Day). Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/10/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/9/2019

Clearwater (13-19) beat Dunedin, 5-2.

This is an important series for the Threshers.  Dunedin is in first place with the only winning record in the division. Last night’s win pulls the Threshers within 5.5 games of first place.  Continued success this week end will tighten the first half race.

Andrew Brown (2-3, 7.43) rebounded with an extremely solid performance.  Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/9/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/8/2019

Phillies’ Chairman David Montgomery passed away this morning.  The 72-year-old Montgomery lost a five-year battle with cancer.  He began his career with the Phillies in 1971 and worked his way up into the executive offices.  He was instrumental in the construction of Citizens Bank Park and led the organization during the 2007-11 stretch that culminated with their 2008 World Series Championship.  (Phillies release here) Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/8/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/7/2019

Clearwater (12-19) lost to Bradenton, 4-2.

Colton Eastman struggled through 3.2 innings.  He only gave up one run, but threw 81 pitches (42 strikes, 51.9%).  He allowed 7 hits, 4 walks, and struck out three.  He ran seven, 3-ball counts and only 8 of 19 first-pitch strikes.  His FB sat 88-90 mph and touched 91 twice. Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/7/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/6/2019

Clearwater (12-18) lost to Bradenton,1-0.

The Threshers got some very good pitching from a pair of left-handers.  Trouble was, they ran into better pitching from their opponents.  Damen Jones overcame some control issues that had arisen in his earlier starts to stifle the Marauders with six innings of one-run pitching.  He gave up 3 hits, walked none, and struck out seven. Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/6/2019

Threshers Recap – 5/5/2019

Clearwater (12-17) postponed.

After waiting several days since skipping Spencer Howard’s scheduled start on April 30th, the Threshers have placed him on the 7-day injured list.  Interesting to note that the placement is not retroactive to any earlier date.  I have heard nothing, as is usually the case for players on the IL below AAA. Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/5/2019

Open Discussion: Week of May 6, 2019

The Phillies went 3-2 last week.  They opened with an unfortunate split with the Tigers when they ran into a hot pitcher in Spencer Turnbull who had given up one earned run in his previous two starts.  That happens.  The second loss was a particularly brutal loss on Saturday to the Nationals.  Three unearned runs on errors by pitchers (guess they didn’t take spring PFPs seriously enough).  Seven runs by the bullpen.  That happens, too, but it shouldn’t happen to a team with playoff aspirations. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of May 6, 2019

2019 Amateur Draft and J2 Discussion, May 6, 2019

This is the Phuture Phillies forum for discussion of the amateur draft and J2 signing period that are 1-2 months down the road.   I’m providing this space for those who are ready to enter discussion about this year’s crop of prospects.  You can place video, scouting reports, or just comments here.  You can reference these weekly discussions on the menu above. Continue reading 2019 Amateur Draft and J2 Discussion, May 6, 2019

Threshers Recap – 5/4/2019

Clearwater (12-18) beat Daytona, 9-6.

Julian Garcia was spotted a 3-run lead and proved unable to hold it.  He successfully kept the Tortugas off the board through three innings, but finally squandered the lead in a 32-pitch fourth inning.  He issued a lead off walk,  2-run HR, and loaded the bases on three singles before recording an out on a game-tying force out. Continue reading Threshers Recap – 5/4/2019