Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/29/2018

Threshers win!  Threshers win!  Threshers win!

The Clearwater Threshers clinched the Florida State League North Division Second Half Championship and qualified for the post season.  Lakeland’s double header was cancelled due to rain, and all the Threshers had to do was win to eliminate the Flying Tigers, which they did.  With the victory, the Threshers will host game one of the three-game semifinal series against Daytona, the first half winner.  Games two and three (if necessary) will be played at Daytona. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/29/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/28/2018

The Clearwater Threshers (74-58) beat Jupiter, 11-3 and lowered their “magic number” to clinch the division to two games.  

David Parkinson (3-0, 1.24) pitched six, four-hit innings allowing one run and striking out nine.  (Game score, 72)  Jonathan Hennigan was tapped for two unearned runs in his one inning.  J.D. Hammer walked two and struck out two in his one inning.  Addison walked one and struck out two in his one inning.

The Threshers built a 5-1 lead in the seventh but the Hammerheads closed to within 5-3 in the bottom of the inning.  The Threshers responded with a six-run ninth to salt the game away.   Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/28/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/27/2018

Dan Connolly of the Athletic tweeted that the Phillies traded Jack Zoellner to the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon for International bonus pool space.  Later this evening, he tweeted that the amount the Phillies will receive is $750K.  Not a bad return for a 2017, ninth round pick who signed for $10K.

The senior out of New Mexico saw limited action in 2017.  He was initially assigned to Lakewood but went on the DL the next day.  When he returned to action, he played 11 games for the GCL Phillies.  He was assigned to the GCL Phillies East squad this season and finished tied for third in the league with 7 HRs.  His 32 walks were tops in the league.  His 42 strikeouts in 195 plate appearances gave him a 21.5 K%.

The Clearwater Threshers (72-57) beat Jupiter, 6-0 and inched a little closer to clinching the division.  Ramon Rosso (6-2, 3.08) pitched six shutout innings.  He scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out nine.  Grant Dyer (5.28) struck out three in two, scoreless innings.  Alberto Tirado (2.40) pitched one, scoreless inning. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/27/2018 →

Open Discussion: Week of August 26, 2018

The Phillies are slowing losing ground in the division and the wild card races.  They still have 32 games left in the season, so there is time to grab a playoff berth. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of August 26, 2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/26/2018

The Clearwater Threshers (71-57) crept closer to clinching the North Division with a double header split with South Division leader, Charlotte, winning 3-2 and losing 3-2 in nine innings.  They go into the final week of the season in pretty good shape.

                              W-L     PCT   GB   ELIM#
Clearwater    40-22    .645     –         –
Lakeland       35-25    .583     4         5
Dunedin        34-28    .548      6         2

 

The Threshers finish the season with a seven game road trip.  Lakeland has 8 games remaining, and Dunedin has 7 games left. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/26/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/25/2018

The Clearwater Threshers and Dunedin Blue Jays were rained out Saturday night. Lakeland won and picked up a half game.  The rain hurt Dunedin more.  They were scheduled to play a double header.  One game can be made up on Sunday, but the other was cancelled. Elimination numbers remain seven and four respectively.

The Clearwater Threshers (71-57) game against Charlotte was postponed by heavy rain and lightning.  They will make up the game as part of a double header Sunday.  The probables are Mauricio Llovera and Bailey Falter.   Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/25/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/24/2018

The Clearwater Threshers have a four game lead over second place Lakeland and a six game lead over third place Dunedin.  Their elimination numbers are seven and four respectively.

The Threshers have nine games remaining, the other two teams have ten each.  Clearwater appears to have the most difficult schedule of the three teams. They play two home games against first place Charlotte and finish the season with seven road games at Jupiter and Fort Myers.  The combined record of their opponents is .545. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/24/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/23/2018

The GCL Phillies West play tomorrow.  The game starts at 11:00 AM.  Kyle Young is scheduled to throw two innings.

A lot of the Phillies development staff has arrived in Clearwater.  I imagine they will be discussing who to invite to Instructs and who should participate in the AFL.  The AFL announcements should be coming in the next week or so.  Look for guys who missed substantial innings to be selected.  Especially among the pitchers.

Clearwater’s  Aaron Fultz, will serve as a pitching coach as part of the Scottsdale Scorpions staff.  The team will include members of the Reds, Astros, Mets, Giants, and Phillies.

Some of the AFL’s roster rules are – Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/23/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/22/2018

The Clearwater Threshers (70-56) walked off against Dunedin, 5-4 on Raul Rivas solo HR. David Parkinson labored through five innings.  He gave up one run on 5 hits and 2 walks.  He struck out two.  Jonathan Hennigan blew the save opportunity with two runs in one inning.  Trevor Bettencourt pitched two scoreless innings.  Addison Russ blew the save but got the win with Rivas’ heroics. Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/22/2018 →

Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/21/2018

So, I’m walking toward the backstop on Ashburn Field and I’m overtaken by Sixto Sanchez. I say, “Hi, Cito!” and he says “How’re you doing, man.” and chucks me on the shoulder. Day made.  I’m very aware of Sanchez’ presence at the Complex.  I watch when he is around to see if I can pick up on anything.  Well today, after talking with his friends among the GCL players, he disappears.  As usual.  I go about watching the game and anything that might be peripherally interesting.  I tweet out things of note.  (I’ll get to those later.)  When what do I see coming out of Spectrum Field.  Sixto Sanchez.  And it looks like he is carrying something.  A glove?  A glove!  A baseball glove! And he’s not carrying it.  He’s wearing it! On his left hand!  And what’s that in his right hand?  A ball.  A baseball!  He veers toward Schmidt Field.  I watch him like a cat.  He veers around the fence into the bullpen area between the fields.  I get ready to change positions.  He continues to the dugout and chats with somebody irrelevant.  Not me.  Not Ray Burris.  He restarts his journey and exits the dugout through the gate.   He has to pass me to get to the club house.  As he approaches, Isay”Great to see a glove and ball in your hands.”  Sixto smiles and says”Yeah, mah” as he chucks me on the shoulder with his glove.  I’m barely audible as I ask, “Wanna have a catch?”  This should have been my lead as I’m sure he didn’t hear me.  He stops to talk to his buddies again as I try to determine where he’s likely to throw.  He’s wearing athletic shoes (sneakers) so the mounds are eliminated.  I suspect that, if he does throw, it’ll be on the back of Roberts Field.  But, it starts raining and the game is halted for about 20 minutes.  Sixto peeks out of the club house once but never comes out again.  I make several sortees to the other side of the Complex building to see if there is anything to see. Nada.  Oh well, there’s always tomorrow.

In other news, I tweeted out the following –  Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Recap – 8/21/2018 →