Box Score Recap – 5/25/2014

Box Score Recap

Ethan Martin stuck out two in a clean inning of work, his first clean outing in almost two weeks. Aaron Altherr had two hits (and two strikeouts), while Cam Perkins was 1-4 plus a BB. Jesse Biddle was held out of his start after he suffered headaches from being hit in the head with hail during last week’s storm in Reading. No, I am not trying to be funny. This is a thing that occurred. That note was first reported by Mike Drago from The Reading Eagle. Give him a follow on Twitter @mldrago

Perhaps Miguel Gonzalez was also in a hail storm. Not sure. Might explain some things. Adam Loewen pitched well in his return to the hill after a couple years playing the field. Sure, he met some nice hits, but in the end, he decided to come back to his first love, pitching. He and pitching will be married in a civil ceremony in June, and hitting is not invited. Yeah, it didn’t end well.

J.P. Crawford left early for unknown reasons. I will update this item if we hear why. And Jesus Alastre did it again, hitting in his ninth straight game to start his pro career.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/25/2014 →

The APhilliated Podcast

Other Stuff

This season Mark Perlman-Price (Broadcast Assistant for the IronPigs) and Michael Vetola (Radio Broadcaster for the Fightin Phils) have teamed up for a Phillies minor league podcast.  They have interviewed players and coaches as well as had on various beat writers and  broadcasters associated with the major and minor league teams.  In their latest episode they brought me on to talk about Reading park factors, and how it appears from the statistical side, from observation, and how it affects players and managers.

You can download any episode here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-aphilliated-podcast/id854317012?mt=2

And while we are talking podcasts, Jay Floyd of Phoulballz puts out the PhoulBallz podcast which you can find here https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/phoulballz-podcast-jay-tug/id534600778?mt=2

Box Score Recap – 5/24/2014

Box Score Recap

Ken Giles works a six out save for Lehigh Valley – he struck out one a hit a man. Phillippe Aumont also had a nice outing, retiring five of six batters he faced, including two Ks. Cameron Perkins was 2-5 and hosed Francisco Lindor at the plate.

I’m having a hard time talking up Clearwater results lately. Mostly because I go a little dizzy and nauseous when I look at their boxes.  And Saturday they had two boxes. Luckily I took a Dramamine. Lakewood box scores, on the other hand, make me swoon. Also helped by Dramamine. Andrew Pullin was 3-5 with his sixth home run, while Mitch Walding was 4-5 with his first bomb of the year. J.P. Crawford and Samuel Hiciano added multi-hit games. Drew Anderson allowed 4H, 3BB and 7K in six scoreless. That makes three strong starts in a row for the 20-year-old righty.

And finally Jesus Alastre was 2-2 with a double in extending his season-and-pro-career-long hitting streak to eight games. At some point, one of you will figure out what the record is for such a streak. I honestly don’t have a good guess where to look for that.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/24/2014 →

Box Score Recap – 5/23/2014

Box Score Recap

Dylan Cozens went deep twice for Lakewood to up his season total to seven, while Samuel Hiciano hit his fifth and went 3-5. Carlos Tocci, J.P. Crawford and Wilmer Oberto all added multi-hit games as well, but Alejandro Arteaga got beat up pretty good by West Virginia.

Hoby Milner put up a nice line, giving up just 3H, 2BB and 5K in 6.1IP. He threw a solid 71% of his pitches for strikes. Edgar Duran was 4-5 and hit a 12th inning HR to give the RPhils the lead, and after an RBI from Brock Stassi, Nefi Ogando walked four in the bottom of the frame, but struck out two and induced a flyball to pick up what looks, on paper, like the ugliest save of the year. Stassi’s having a nice year at the plate, OPSing .869. Unfortunately, his positional inflexibility will be an issue he’ll have a hard time overcoming without adding more home run power – he’s got just 10 in nearly 900 pro PAs. That won’t play at first base, and it doesn’t seem like he can play anywhere else.

And finally, Cameron Rupp hit his first home run since returning from a month-long DL stint. Good to see that. Justin De Fratus and Ethan Martin each gave up three hits and one run in an inning of work. Sounds like some of their big league counterparts.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/23/2014 →

What to Expect from David Buchanan

Transactions

With Cliff Lee‘s injury, the Phillies will call up RHP David Buchanan.  Buchanan was first drafted by the Mets in the 6th round of the 2009 draft out of Junior College, Buchanan didn’t sign.  The Phillies draft Buchanan in the 7th Round of the 2010 draft and signed him for $125,000.

Minor League Career:

Coming into the draft Buchanan showed a fastball that sat 92-93 that could touch 95, and a slider with good movement.  Buchanan struggled with his control in college and he lacked a changeup to give him a third pitch.

Buchanan moved through A-ball in his first season, spent all of 2012 in Reading (missing half the season with a finger injury), and split 2013 between Reading and Lehigh Valley.  Overall across 5 minor league seasons Buchanan has pitched 502 innings with a 3.98 ERA 2.85 BB/9 and 5.72 K/9. Continue reading What to Expect from David Buchanan →

Draft Board 1.0 (1-20)

2014 Draft

With just under 2 weeks until the draft, I am going to take a stab at a big board for the draft. This is not a mock draft, it does not take team needs into account and it does not factor in any signing bonus considerations. This first board is only going through the first 20 players. The next time it will go through pick 50 to encompass the Phillies 2nd round pick.

1. Brady Aiken
2. Carlos Rodon
The top two players on my board form their own tier. They may not go 1-2, but neither is falling out of the top 3. Continue reading Draft Board 1.0 (1-20) →

Box Score Recap – 5/22/2014

Box Score Recap

Running short on time here, so I’ll just say “LAKEWOOD OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION” and “LAKEWOOD PITCHING IMPLOSION” and let you all have at it. And check out Jason Parks’ article on Brandon Nimmo, who homered against CLR on Thursday. It’s behind the paywall at Baseball Prospectus.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/22/2014 →

Around the System–Relief Pitchers

Other Stuff

Lehigh Valley

Phillippe Aumont, 25, Acquired from Seattle in 2010; 14 games; 0-1 with a 5.60ERA; 17.2IP 15H 19BB 18K; 0.76GO/AO; .246 opp. avg; 1.92WHIP; 9.7BB/9.2K per nine; .200 vs. LHH; .278 vs. RHH; .400 with RISP.  Ten walks per nine innings and getting lit up with RISP.  Not much more to say.

Justin DeFratus, 26, Phils 11th round pick in 2007; 14 games, 0-0 with a 4.20ERA; 3 saves; 15IP 17H 3BB 12K; 1.64 GO/AO; .309 opp. avg; 1.33WHIP; 1.8BB/7.2K per nine; .348 vs. LHH, .281 vs. RHH, .316 with RISP.  DeFratus is still trying to figure it out.  He has been extremely hittable this year and far less overpowering than in years past.

Kenny Giles, 23;Phils 7th round pick in 2011;  18 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 2-0 with a 1.29ERA; 8 saves; 21IP 11H 10BB 31K; 0.71GO/AO; .155 opp. avg; 1.00WHIP; 4.3BB/13.3K per nine;  These are simply overwhelmingly good stats.  The only brief moment of pause is a slightly elevated walk rate, but Giles has been dominant. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers →

Trying to Find Patterns in Phillies Pitching Injuries

Other Stuff

There has been a rash of pitching injuries across baseball from every level from the majors through the minors and amatuer ranks.  For the most part the focus has been on Tommy John injuries, but the Phillies have had larger problems with injuries to all parts of pitchers bodies.  For the most part I am going to focus on the past year and a half, but I will also pull in pitchers who have affected the last few years who were injured in previous seasons.

Cliff Lee – LHP – Age: 35
Pitches: Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Cutter
Injury: Left Elbow Strain
Background: Lee pitched with elbow soreness for over a month.  The Phillies have opted for rest, fastball velocity down to start the year.

Jonathan Pettibone – RHP – Age: 22
Pitches: Fastball, Changeup, Slider
Injury: Torn Labrum
Background:  Pettibone was injured late in 2013 and has opted for rest over surgery. Continue reading Trying to Find Patterns in Phillies Pitching Injuries →

Box Score Recap – 5/21/2014

Box Score Recap

A light schedule Wednesday, with both LV and LKW having scheduled days off. The highlight of the day was Aaron Altherr going deep to help Reading hold off New Hampshire. Usually after a home run I look for a spike in the rate stats – Altherr’s OPS over his last ten games has skyrocketed to .432. He’s got four hits and three walks over that span, and his OBP is .206. He’s been slumping, is what I’m saying.

Andrew Knapp drew two walks and Ethan Stewart allowed seven in his four innings of work for CLR. And Jesus Alastre kept his pro-career-starting hitting streak alive at seven games.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/21/2014 →