Lehigh Valley (34-49) lost to the Rochester Red Wings 6-5 in 16 innings. Seve Gonzalez allowed 5 runs on 5 hits including 2 home runs in seven innings. Adam Loewen and Hector Neris pitched five innngs of perfect relief. Juan Gutierrez threw three shutout innings. Chris Leroux gave up the go-ahead run in the 16th inning. Aaron Altherr (.310) went 0-6 with 2 walks. Gabriel Lino (.293) went 2-7. Tyler Henson went 4-8 with 3 doubles and 2 RBI. Brian Bogusevic went 1-7 with a walk and an RBI. The Red Wings’ pitchers struck out 23 IronPigs. Every ‘Pig who got into the game struck out at least once. Lino led the way with five.
Box Score Recap – 7/2/2015
Lehigh Valley (34-48) beat the Rochester Red Wings 7-1. David Buchanan pitched into the seventh inning. Nefi Ogando stranded 3 inherited runners and finished the game for his first save. Aaron Altherr (.361) went 1-3 with a triple. Gabriel Lino went 1-3 with an RBI. Chase d’Arnaud had 2 hits, a double, and 3 RBI. Brian Bogusevic went 2-4 with an RBI.
Box Score Recap – 7/1/2015
Lehigh Valley (33-48) beat the Scranton RailRiders 3-2 in 10 innings. Seth Rosin, Cesar Jimenez, and Juan Gutierrez combined to throw six shutout innings as the IronPigs came from behind to win in a walkoff on Tyler Henson’s triple and Russ Canzler’s RBI single. Aaron Altherr went 1-3 with a walk.
Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
The ‘Pigs are in the midst of an eight game home stand that concludes Friday and they are currently 4-2 on the home stand and 33-48 on the year, still in 5th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 11 games behind division leading Rochester. Lehigh Valley visits Rochester for three games Saturday thru Monday before returning home for three against Pawtucket.
News and Notes: Many thought that OF Brian Bogusevic would exercise his July 1 opt out option, however, he has chosen to remain in the Phillies organization. While details of discussions were not given, my “educated?” guess is that Bogusevic was given a guarantee of sorts that if his production remained consistent he would come up to Philly come September 1, if not sooner.
—Cord Phelps has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games (.383, and is now above .255 for the first time this year. Notably, he has 14 RBI in his last 11 games after an Asche like 9RBI in his first 58 games. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Box Score Recap – 6/30/2015
Lehigh Valley (32-48) beat the Scranton RailRiders 12-8. Anthony Vasquez gave up 7 runs in the first 3 of his 5 innings, but benefitted from the IronPigs 17-hit attack. Hector Neris came in for a couple innings and gave up a run. Adam Loewen struck out four in his two, one-hit innings and picked up his second save. Aaron Altherr (.367) went 3-5 with 2 RBI. Gabriel Lino (.292) went 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Brian Bogusevic (.305) went 2-4 with a walk in what could have been his last game for Lehigh Valley since he has an opt out clause that goes into effect July 1st. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/30/2015
Box Score Recap – 6/29/2015
Lehigh Valley (31-48) beat the Scranton RailRiders 8-1. Aaron Nola pitched five innings and left with a 7-0 lead. His line was – 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 90 pitches, 54 strikes. Nefi Ogando and Adam Loewen pitched three shutout innings. Cesar Jimenez gave up the ‘Riders only run. Aaron Altherr (.320) went 1-4 with a double, walk, and an RBI. Gabriel Lino went 2-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/29/2015
Welcome, Andy MacPhail!
John Middleton, plurality ownership partner of the Philiadelphia Phillies, announced this afternoon the hiring of Andy MacPhail to succeed Pat Gillick as club President.
MacPhail will serve as Special Assistant to Gillick until the end of the 2015 season. He will use the time to observe the organization. Middleton said during the press conference that MacPhail’s primary focus will be on baseball operations.
MacPhail served as the general manager of the Minnesota Twins when they won the 1987 and 1991 World Series. He was president of the Chicago Cubs from 1994-2006, helping them reach the postseason twice. He was president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles from 2007-2011 when he made some of the trades that helped return the team to the postseason.
MacPhail noted that this was the first time the Phillies have gone outside the organization to fill an executive position in … oh, forever?
Around the System–Catchers
A look at how catchers around the system are performing.
Lehigh Valley
Gabriel Lino, 22, Acquired from Baltimore in 2012; .266/.319/.387 in 173 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 3HR 22RBI; 7%BB/23%K rates; .266/.294/.313 in 64 AB’s for Lehigh Valley; 50 games caught with 3 errors (.992); 5 passed balls; 23/49 caught stealing (47%). Lino has done an outstanding job defensively and has more than competent with the bat, raising his stock to the point where a 2016 major league debut in if not likely, than certainly possible.
Logan Moore, 24, Phils 9th round pick in 2011; .219/.282/.314 in 137 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 2HR 15RBI; 8%BB/18%K rates; Hitting .214 in 42 AB’s for Lehigh Valley; 39 games caught with 5 errors (.982); 4 passed balls; 18/35 caught stealing (51%). Moore continues to excel defensively with very little to show with the stick.
Blake Forsythe, 25, Acquired from Oakland in 2015; Hitting .244 with 1HR 4RBI in 41AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 13 games caught with 2 errors (.976); 1 passed ball; Thrown out 5/10(50%) base stealers. Very limited playing time in his role as 3rd catcher.
Reading
Andy Knapp, 23, Phils 2nd round pick in 2013; .261/.354/.364 in 253 AB’s between CLearwater and Reading; 2HR 29RBI; 11%BB/24%K rates; .216 vs LHP; .288 vs RHP; .243 with RISP; .239 in June; 48 games caught with 6 errors (.984); 3 passed balls; 16/45 (36%) CS. Decent progression from Knapp who professional career started slowly after Tommy John surgery. Need to see a bit more from him with the bat. Continue reading Around the System–Catchers
Open Discussion: Week of June 29th
Here’s an open discussion thread so the minor league posts don’t get cluttered with Phillies’ talk and other topics.
We now know the bonuses of the top 10 picks. The 2015 Draft Tracker has been updated.
Some random stuff to light a fire –
- Andy McPhail
- Ryne Sandberg
- The Phillies begin a crucial 4-game series at home against Milwaukee. You know why it’s crucial.
- Maikel Franco is leading the Phillies with his .304 BA. He is second in HR and RBI with 10 and 32 to Ryan Howard’s 13 and 36. He has a mere 25 K in 172 PA (14.5%). He has only walked 9 times (5.2%). That should maybe go up when pitchers stop challanging him. Sound about right?
Box Score Recap – 6/28/2015
Lehigh Valley (30-48) split a pair of seven inning games with the Louisville Bats, losing 6-1 and winning 8-3. In game one, Jason Berken went 6.0 innings and gave up 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K. Seth Rosin put the game out of reach with 4 R on 3 H and 2 BB in the 7th inning. Probably didn’t matter since the Bats pitchers held the ‘Pigs to 2 hits. Aaron Altherr went 1-2 with a walk and his 1st AAA HR. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 6/28/2015
