The AAC playoffs; May 21-25, 2014

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Here are a few random observations from the tournament.  I watched 90 innings of baseball during the American Athletic Conference tournament.  They refer to themselves as The American.  No comment.  Would have watched 27 more innings if I didn’t have something else planned on Thursday. (Missing Thursday meant I missed 12-2 Kyle Funkhouser.)  The 8 teams played round-robin within their respective pools Wednesday thru Saturday.  The pool winners advanced to the championship game on Sunday. Houston was the tournament champion, beating Louisville handily, 10-4.

The only Baseball America, top 100 prospect in the tournament was Louisville’s Nick Burdi. Continue reading The AAC playoffs; May 21-25, 2014 →

XST; May 26, 2014

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This will be my first eXtended Spring Training report in a couple weeks. The Williamsport and Gulf Coast teams seem to be taking shape. With most of the rehabbing players having returned to their assigned teams, I have been watching prospects more than watching games. I have been concentrating on players like Cord Sandberg and Trey Williams. Williams has been playing first base every game but only recently started taking in-game at bats again. He went 1 for 4 today with a double. His defense has consistently improved since the beginning of camp.

Sandberg went 0 for 1, but what a day. He worked an 8-pitch walk in the 1st inning after falling behind 1-2. In the 3rd inning he grounded out to second in a 6-pitch at bat. He saw 7 pitches while working a walk in the 5th inning. He finished with a 5-pitch at bat in the 8th inning when he was he by a pitch and loaded the bases. After a line drive double play left second base open, he stole the base. Continue reading XST; May 26, 2014 →

It Isn’t Time for Maikel Franco, Yet

Franco, Maikel

This weekend the Phillies put Cody Asche on the disabled list retroactive to Friday with a hamstring injury, publicly the Phillies have said the move is precautionary and Asche should be back in the minimum amount of time.  This has led to a ton of speculation surrounding the Phillies pre-season #1 prospect, Maikel Franco.

It is easy to see why the push for Franco in the big leagues.  He is exciting and new, the team is old and not very good.  Franco offers the sexiest of offensive potential with towering HRs from a right handed batter.  The fanbase wants someone like Franco to come up and save this season, or at least provide hope leading into next year.  It is entirely understandable, but now is not the time. Continue reading It Isn’t Time for Maikel Franco, Yet →

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

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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

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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 →