Lehigh Valley beat Rochester, 6-5. Franco? Franco? Well after getting rid of that dead weight, the IronPigs are 1-1 without Franco, 11-24 with. Just sayin’. A lot of guys not named Asche and Brown had multi-hit games – Canzler, McGuiness, Danks, and Phelps. Really, without Franco there’s little reason to check the ‘Pigs box score. J-Rod got the win with a 9 H and 3 R effort in 5.2, H-Ner gave got a hold giving up 2 R in a 2.1, and C-Jim got his first save. Oh, Asche and Brown each went 1-5. Brown not Asche with a fielding error. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/16/2015
Box Score Recap – 5/15/2015
Lehigh Valley lost to Rochester, 5-4. They wasted a fine start by Seve Gonzalez who gave up one run in 6.0 innings. Colton Murray loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Seth Rosin came in an allowed all 3 inherited runners to score without recording an out, but he managed to not affect his own ERA. This is the resume of a reliever who is likely to be released someday soon. Dom Brown went 3-4. Cody Asche went 0-4. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/15/2015
Box Score Recap – 5/14/2015
Lehigh Valley came from behind to tie Rochester and win 6-5 in 11 innings. Adam Morgan got roughed up for all 5 Red Wing runs in 4.1 innings. The bullpen (Berken, Jimenez, Loewen, and Rosin) shut down the Red Wings with 4 hits and a walk over the final 6.2 innings. Maikel Franco went 2-4 with 2 walks and a game-tying RBI single. Cody Asche went 2-6 with an RBI and was thrown out attempting to score from second on a single to left. Chase d’Arnaud went 3-5 and drove in the go-ahead run with a double. Rochester intentionally walked Franco to get to Dom Brown who popped up to end the inning. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/14/2015
Around the System–Corner INF
The “Around the System” series is back as we start with corner infielders. Once or twice a week we will take a look at the players manning certain positions and rotate those positions throughout the year.
Lehigh Valley
Maikel Franco, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2009; .350/.372/.540 in 137 AB’s; 4HR 23RBI; 4%BB/16%K rates; .372 vs. LHP; .340 vs. RHP; .317 with RISP; .415 in last 10 games. 29 games at 3B with 2 errors (.975); 2.66 R/F. Cant get much better than this.
Chris McGuinness, 27, Signed as a free agent in 2015; .250/.355/.313 in 80 AB’s; 0HR 7RBI; 14%BB/12%K rates; .273 vs. LHP; .241 vs. RHP; .143 with RISP; .226 in last 10 games. 18 games at 1B with 1 error (.993); 8.44 R/F; Surprisingly little power thus far but with a high contact rate, things should improve.
Russ Canzler, 29, Re-Signed as a free agent in 2015; .307/.383/.416 in 101 AB’s; 1HR 6RBI; 11%BB/22%K rates; .276 vs. LHP, .319 vs. RHP; .208 with RISP; 15 games at 1B with 2 errors (.984); 3 games at 3B without an error; 2 games in the OF without an error; Canzler continues to be a multi dimensional, AAAA, player who can hit
Reading
Brock Stassi, 25, Phils 33rd round pick in 2011; .319/.390/.473 in 91 AB’s; 3HR 25RBI; 12%BB/12%K rates; .261 vs. LHP; .323 vs. RHP; .378 with RISP. 24 games at 1B without an error; 7.38 R/F. Stassi has been one of, if not the best clutch hitter in the organization through the first month of the season. Continue reading Around the System–Corner INF
Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Lehigh Valley have finally begun playing a bit better, having gone 4-4 over their last 8 games, but still sit in last place of the Northern Division of the International League, at a woeful 10-24 already 10 games behind division leading Pawtucket. The ‘Pigs embark on a 7 game road trip starting Thursday evening in Rochester, continuing against the RedWings over the weekend, before visiting Syracuse early next week.
‘News and Notes: Cody Asche had 5 plate appearances in his first game back at AAA and Columbus couldn’t get him out. He went 2-2, with 3 walks and a run scored and an uneventful night in LF.
–OF Brian Bogusevic was named International League Batter of the Week on Monday. While playing a very good CF, Bogusevic has hit safely in 26 of his last 28 games, hitting .357 with 2HR 11RBI, 20RS and 4SB during that time frame.
–Lehigh Valley is 7-8 is games Chase D’Arnaud starts and 3-16 when he doesn’t start.
—Phillippe Aumont earned his first “quality start” since 2010 with a six inning, 0ER performance last Friday. He followed that up with an eye opening seven inning, 0ER, 0BB outing yesterday. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report
Box Score Recap – 5/13/2015
Lehigh Valley lost to Columbus, 3-2 in 12 innings. Phillippe Aumont pitched a gem for 7.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, walking none, and striking out seven. He left with a 1-0 lead that Tyler Knigge couldn’t protect, blowing his second save of the season in the top of the ninth. Maikel Franco went 2-4 with a walk and a game-tying RBI in the tenth. Dom Brown went 1-5 with an RBI. Cosy Asche went 1-5. Logan Moore threw out 1 of 2 base stealers. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/13/2015
Box Score Recap – 5/12/2015
Lehigh Valley walks off against Columbus, 6-5, on Maikel Franco’s line drive, 2-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. David Buchanan pitched into the seventh – 6.2 IP, 10 H, 5 r, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. Seth Rosin pitched perfect for 1.1 innings. Cesar Jimenez got the win after escaping his bases loaded situation in the ninth. Cody Asche played LF, went 2-2 with 3 walks, and committed no errors. Maikel Franco went 2-4 with a SF and 3 RBI. Dom Brown went 2-4 with a triple and 2 RBI. Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/12/2015
Ailing Threshers Drop Series Opener to Charlotte; May 12, 2015
The Threshers lost to division-leading Charlotte in the first game of a double header, 8-2. As I type this, water from a heavy, between games downpour is ponding in foul territory in front of the left field stands. The start of second game is in doubt.
This is probably not a bad outcome for the Threshers. Although they outhit the Stone Crabs 11-10, they still looked to be suffering the after affects of a virus that attacked the coaches and players at the end of their recently completed road trip. Some media outlets had reported that the team had contracted food poisoning, but those stories were incorrect.
Continue reading Ailing Threshers Drop Series Opener to Charlotte; May 12, 2015
Tommy Joseph to the DL with a Concussion
After missing significant time during the last two seasons with injuries, one being a serious concussion, Lehigh Valley catcher Tommy Joseph has landed back on the DL with another concussion. Joseph, who was acquired in 2012 in the Hunter Pence deal was hitting just .123 in 73 AB’s with Lehigh Valley this season after accruing just 78 AB’s last season with Reading. I would think there is significant concern about his career at this stage. Catcher Logan Moore has been called up from Reading to take Joseph’s place on the ‘Pigs roster.
Asche Optioned to AAA
After Monday night’s game, Cody Asche was informed that he was being optioned to Lehigh Valley to learn how to play left field. No word on a corresponding move to fill the roster spot. Friday would be the earliest that we should expect Maikel Franco to be promoted.
Todd Zolecki broke the story here.
