With the AAC championships tying up the fields at the Carpenter Complex, all of the Phillies XST games were on the road last week. The following reports and photos were forwarded to me courtesy of Mark Wylie. Thank you Mark. Continue reading XST Update: May 25th, 26th, 27th
Open Discussion: Week of May 29th
The Phillies completed their 7-game home stand with 2 wins. They have the worst record in baseball. They are 17-31 with a .354 winning percentage.
They managed to win a game against Colorado without scoring more than 2 runs in any of the four games. They scored 10 runs in 3 games against the Reds and lost two of them.
In an unusual turn of events, starters suffered all 5 losses, relievers earned the 2 victories.
I’ve got nothing else. Here’s the open discussion thread for Phillies’ talk and other topics. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of May 29th
Box Score Recap – 5/28/2017
Lehigh Valley cruised to another lop-sided victory, 14-2 behind 2 Nick Williams home runs.
Reading lost its 9th consecutive game, 5-4.
Clearwater and Franklyn Kilome shut out the St. Lucie Mets.
Lakewood and Nick Fanti beat Delmarva. Mickey Moniak was back in the line up.
Box Score Recap – 5/27/2017
Lehigh Valley cruised to a lop-sided victory, 13-1 behind Ben Lively and 5 home runs.
Reading lost its 8th consecutive game, 4-1. Scott Kingery hit his 15th home run.
Clearwater saw the lead seesaw back and forth late before losing in ten innings..
Lakewood scored only one run in a loss.
Updates on injuries to Mickey Moniak and Jhailyn Ortiz.
Jonathan Hennigan Interview – 2017
This is the third in a series of interviews conducted by Steve Potter.
Minor League Spot Light : Jonathan Hennigan
Box Score Recap – 5/26/2017
Lehigh Valley won as Nick Williams continued his recent power surge with his 4th HR in the past week.
Reading lost but Tyler Viza pitched well in a no decision.
Clearwater fell behind in another bullpen game and couldn’t recover.
Lakewood lost the “fog” game but thrashed Delmarva in the night cap behind a superb game by Bailey Falter.
Box Score Recap – 5/25/2017
Lehigh Valley was outscored early.
Reading was undone by their defense.
Clearwater swept a double header by identical 8-1 scores.
Lakewood was suspended by fog, but only after the umpires allowed the fog to be a factor on the last play.
Box Score Recap – 5/24/2017
Lehigh Valley battled from behind to forge a victory.
Reading was shut out.
Clearwater was rained out.
Lakewood posted a shut out victory.
Box Score Recap – 5/23/2017
Lehigh Valley won behind Nick Pivetta’s strong pitching and Dylan Cozens’ home run.
Reading lost in spite of Andrew Pullin’s 2-RBI night.
Clearwater split a pait of games.
Lakewood walked off for the second night in a row.
Around the System–Starting Pitching
Lehigh Valley
Mark Appel, 25, Acquired from Houston in 2015; 8 starts, 2-2 with a 6.69ERA; 37.2IP 44H 19BB 26K; 8HR allowed; .291 opp avg; 1.67WHIP; 4.6BB/6.2K per 9; .338 vs LHH, .253 vs RHH, .284 opp avg in May; Among the league leaders in homers allowed and walks tells the story for Appel. It has been an ugly season coming off his 2016 injury. Gave up 7ER in 3.1IP in his last start.
Tom Eshelman, 22, Acquired from Houston in 2015; 8 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 5-0 with a 2.08ERA; 52IP 42H 8BB 34K; .225 opp avg; 0.96 WHIP; 1.4BB/5.9K per 9; Has had quality starts in all 3 LV starts, going 3-0 with a 0.78ERA; .183 opp avg. Eshelman has been outstanding all season, actually throwing better after his call up to AAA.
Ben Lively, 25, Acquired from Cinncinnati in 2014; 8 starts, 5-1 with a 2.79ERA; 48.1IP 41H 5BB 38K; 1HR allowed; .225 opp avg; 0.95WHIP; 0.9BB/7.2K per 9; .321 vs LHH, .154 vs RHH; I simply dont know what Lively has to do to get a major league start. In 27 AAA starts spanning two seasons, he is 16-6 with an ERA of 2.97. Lively to the Phils rotation, Velasquez to the Phils bullpen and Leiter or Garcia to the ‘Pigs is what should happen.
Ricardo Pinto, 23, SIgned as a free agent in 2011; 8 starts with a 5.85ERA; 40IP 51H 16BB 25K; .311 opp avg; 1.68 WHIP; 3.6BB/5.6K per 9; .306 vs LHH, .315 vs RHH, .393 opp avg in May; After a good first three starts, Pinto has been awful since. Very hittable, too many walks and too few strikeouts.
Nick Pivetta, 24, Acquired from Washington in 2015; 3 starts, 3-0 with a 0.95ERA; 19IP 12H 2BB 24K; .174 opp avg; 0.74 WHIP; 0.9BB/11.4K per 9; Pivetta was outstanding in APril and got the call to Philly to replace Aaron Nola in the Phils rotation. For Philadelphia, Pivetta was inconsistent in his 4 starts, going 0-2 with a 5.12ERA. He walked too many hitters and the opposition hit him at a .325 clip in the majors. With Nola’s return, Pivetta rejoins the ‘Pigs for some refinement.
Jake Thompson, 23, Acquired from Texas in 2015; 7 starts, 2-3 with a 4.91ERA; 33IP 32H 14BB 32K; .260 opp avg; 1.39WHIP; 3.8BB/8.7K per 9; .218 vs LHH, .294 vs RHH, .229 in May; Thompson has overcome just an awful start to throw well in his last several starts. Since allowing 15ER in his first two starts, spanning 4.2 innings, he has allowed just 3 ER in his next 4 starts, spanning 28.1IP.
Reading
Drew Anderson, 23, Phils 21st round pick in 2012; 8 starts; 3-1 with a 5.26ERA; 37.2IP 36H 9BB 32K; .250 opp avg; 1.19WHIP; .265 vs LHH, .237 vs RHH, .190 opp avg in May; 2.2BB/7.6K per 9; Anderson’s “stuff” is as good as any Phils starting pitcher at times, however he has been extremely inconsistent this season. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching
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