The Clearwater Threshers (77-60) opened their 2018 playoffs with an exciting 7-6 win over the Daytona Tortugas. Adonis Medina started and had an uneven start that matched his 2018 season. He showed flashes of brilliance like when he struck out Ibandel Isabel, the FSL HR leader with 35, on 3 consecutive change ups. But, he also had lapses like when he served up fastballs for big hits like Courtney Hawkins 2-run HR. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/4/2018
Around the System–Catcher, FInal Grades
Lehigh Valley
Logan Moore, 28, Phils 9th round pick in 2011; .188/.289/.262 in 264PA; 3HR 14RBI; 11%BB/23%K; .176 vs RHP; .250 vs LHP; 75 games caught with 3 errors and 5 passed balls; 23/53 CS (43%); Moore continued as a plus receiver but was non existent with the bat. With 8 full years in the organization, I expect the Phils to part ways with Moore. Grade: D+
Nick Rickles, 28, Acquired from Washington in 2017; .245/.271/.394 in 199PA; 7HR 26RBI; 4%BB/22%K; .267 vs RHP; .217 vs LHP; 48 games caught with 1 error and 1 passed ball; 5/23 CS (22%); Rickles did a good job receiving and was adequate with the bat but mediocre throwing runners out. Grade: C+; 2019: May be back for depth, but likely elsewhere.
Matt McBride, 33, Signed as a free agent in 2018; .242/.333/.479 in 223PA; 10HR 26RBI; 12%BB/19%K; 23 games caught with 3 errors and 2 passed balls; 5/23 CS (22%); 21 games at 1B with 1 error; McBride came home to likely finish his career and added some punch to the ‘Pigs lineup. Grade: C
Reading
Deivi Grullon, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .273/.310/.515; 21HR 59RBI; 5%BB/23%K; .313 vs LHP; .260 vs RHP; .250 post all star; .229 with RISP; 87 games caught with 12 errors and 10 passed balls; 28/85 CS(33%); Grullon really came into his own this season and was a EL All Star, showing both significant power with the bat and a very good arm. Grade: A-; 2019: Lehigh Valley and added to the 40 man
Austin Bossart, 25, Phils 14th round pick in 2015; .273/.323/.438 in 176AB; 7HR 29RBI; 6%BB/20%K; .340 vs LHP; .244 vs RHP; .196 post all star break; .370 with RISP; 51 games caught with 2 errors and 7 passed balls; 23/71 CS(32%); Solid season as a backup plus for Reading. The Bossart/Grullon combo put up 28HR 88RBI and threw out 33% of would be base stealers. Grade: B+; 2019: Backup in Lehigh Valley Continue reading Around the System–Catcher, FInal Grades
Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/3/2018
The Clearwater Threshers (77-60) open their playoff run tonight with Adonis Medina on the mound. Alejandro Requena is scheduled to start game two in Daytona. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/3/2018
Around the System–Starting Pitching, LV, REA, CW–Final Grades
Lehigh Valley
Tom Eshelman, 24, Acquired from Houston in 2015; 27 games (26 starts); 2-13 with a 5.84ERA; 1.67WHIP; 2.9BB/6.7Kper 9; 140IP;.281 vs RHH, .365 vs LHH,0-4 with a 6.68ERA since Aug 1; Eshleman had just an abysmal year after multiple very good seasons in the organization. Pre-season, I thought he had a chance of seeing time with the Phillies. He simply couldn’t get anyone out and lost his pinpoint command; Grade: F; 2019: Back to Lehigh Valley
Cole Irvin, 24, Phils 5th round pick in 2016; 26 games (25 starts); 14-4 with a 2.57ERA; 161IP; 1.05WHIP; 2.0BB/7.3K per 9; .230 vs RHH, .217 vs LHH; 5-1 with a 1.41ERA since Aug 1; Irvin was perhaps the best starter in the IL and got better as the season went along. He has progressed each year in the system and with the Phils in need of a left handed starter, he will get the first shot in ’19. Grade: A
Enyel De Los Santos, 22, Acquired from San Diego in 2017; 22 starts; 10-5 with a 2.63ERA: 127IP; 1.16WHIP; 3.1BB/7.8K per 9;.249 vs RHH, .216 vs LHH; 1-1 with a 3.00ERA in 5 starts since August 1; De Los Santos put himself on the map this season with an excellent 2018 where he was consistently very good. Grade: A-; 2019: Likely will bounce back and forth between Lehigh Valley and Philly challenging for a rotation spot.
Drew Anderson, 24, Phils 21st pick in 2012; 9-4 with a 3.87ERA in 19 starts with Lehigh Valley; 111IP; 1.15WHIP; 2.5BB/7.2K per 9; .250 vs RHH, .221 vs LHH; 3.63ERA in 6 starts since Aug 1; Anderson’s season got started about 6 weeks late after coming back from injury. He was solid, yet not overpowering this season. Got a cup of coffee on multiple occasions with the Phils and struggled. Grade: B-; 2019: Lehigh Valley Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching, LV, REA, CW–Final Grades
Open Discussion: Week of September 3, 2018
The Phillies continued their slide out of playoff contention. A week ago they were 3.0 games behind the Braves in the division race and 2.0 games behind the second wild card with the Rockies in front of them. Now they are 4.0 games behind the Braves and 3.5 games out of the second wild card with two teams in between, the Rockies and Diamondbacks.
The Phillies still have 26 games remaining, 22 against teams in their own division and 4 against the Rockies. Unfortunately, the Phillies have a losing record within their own division. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of September 3, 2018
Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/2/2018
Roman Quinn was finally removed from the prospect list. He had been ranked 15th in the organization. Everyone below #15 moved up one and Simon Muzziotti made the list at #30.
The Clearwater Threshers (77-60) closed out their 2018 regular season with a 2-1 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle. Ramon Rosso (2.91) threw three, shutout innings. Probably s he could be available earlier during the playoffs. He allowed 5 hits, walked none, and struck out three. He threw 44 pitches, 33 strikes (75%).
Four relievers got some pre-playoff work in. J.D. Hammer (1-2, 2.79) suffered the loss striking out 3 in his one inning, but being charged with 2 unearned runs. Alberto Tirado (2.18) struck out 3 in two innings. Grant Dyer (4.78) pitched a perfect inning. Addison Russ (1.69) pitched a scoreless inning. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/2/2018
Reading Eagle End of Season Prospect Poll, 2018
Sunday, Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle published his yearly prospect survey. Mike requested input from about two dozen industry people who watch or cover a fair amount of games and players among the Phillies’ affiliates. He received 16 responses and used a weighted scoring system to determine a player’s perceived value (first-place votes earning 30 points, second place 29 points, etc.). I was one of the 16 respondents. Continue reading Reading Eagle End of Season Prospect Poll, 2018
Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/1/2018
The Clearwater Threshers (77-59) beat Fort Myers, 5-2 in ten innings. Bailey Falter (2.69) provided an old fashioned quality start. He allowed two runs in seven innings on 5 hits and a walk. He struck out three and had a 66.3% strike-rate. Treveor Bettencourt (0.53) earned the win with two scoreless innings. Jake (Jakob with 3 Ks) Hernandez (2.80) earned his fifth save by striking out the side in the ninth.
The Threshers collected 12 hits. They tied the game with 2 runs in the sixth inning on Edgar Cabral’s 2-run HR 6). They struck for 3 runs in the tenth on RBI singles by Henri Lartigue (.251), Mickey Moniak, and Cabral. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 9/1/2018
Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/31/2018
The Clearwater Threshers (76-59) beat Fort Myers, 10-2. Mauricio Llovera (8-7, 3.72) pitched six innings allowing one earned run on five hits and 2 walks. He struck out nine. Jonathan Hennigan (1.53) pitched two scoreless innings. J.D. Hammer (3.12) pitched a scoreless inning.
The Threshers provided all kinds of support. The mashed 19 hits including six, multi-hit games. They collected 2 doubles, 2 HR, 3 walks, a hit batter, and only struck out five times. They were 6 for 16 with RISP.
Mickey Moniak (.269) returned to the line up Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/31/2018
Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/30/2018
The Phillies’ participants in the Arizona Fall League were announced Thursday. Five players were selected from Reading – RHP Tyler Viza, RHP Luke Leftwich, RHP Seth McGarry, 1B Darick Hall, and RF Austin Listi; and three players from Clearwater – RHP Sixto Sanchez, SS Arquimedes Gamboa, and 3B Luke Williams.
Each of five organizations that make up the Scottsdale Scorpions (Phillies, Reds, Astros, Mets, and Giants) is required to send a minimum of seven players including a minimum of four pitchers (preferably one capable of starting and three relievers) and three position players. Additional position players can be assigned to a team’s “taxi squad” and can play no more than two games a week. An international players is eligible only if that player is not on the reserve list of a Winter League club from the player’s home country. I assume the Phillies have worked something out with the Cardenales de Lara regarding Gamboa. Players are paid for this additional baseball season (out of a separate fund managed by the MLB). The Threshers’ pitching coach Aaron Fultz is assigned to the team. I’m glad of that with Sixto coming off a long stint on the DL to participate. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/30/2018
