Hot or Not

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A look back at the time period of May 15-21…Looks like our #1 Not Hot Starter, David Buchanan, may be on his way to Philly to replace Cliff Lee in the rotation…I have to admit, Andrew Knapp is starting to worry me…With Willians Astudillo starting to catch more regularly, the fact that he continues to scald the ball becomes more intriguing…The transition to AAA for Kenny Giles seems to have been a smooth one from his early numbers…Just when some thought Justin DeFratus was fixed, he ends up taking a step backwards….The Reading bullpen was outstanding this week (Knigge, Murray, O’Sullivan, Ogando)

Hot Hitters: Min 12 AB’s: Willians Astudillo (.476, 8RBI); Albert Cartwright (.400, 9R, HR 2RBI, SB); Art Charles (.400, 5R); Anthony Phillips (.385); Samuel Hiciano (.375); Andrew Pullin (.364, 5R 1HR 5RBI); Wilmer Oberto (.350, 4R 3RBI); Ronny Cedeno (.333); Jiandido Tromp (.333, 4R 4RBI); Honorable Mention: Susdorf

Not Hot Hitters: Chris Serritella (.067);  Nick Ferdinand (.067); Andrew Knapp (.148); Gabrial Lino (.167); Aaron Altherr (.167); Carlos Alonso (.167); Tyler Henson (.174); Malquin Canelo (.188); Mitch Walding (.190) Continue reading Hot or Not →

Box Score Recap – 5/20/2014

Box Score Recap

Jim Murphy‘s three-run home run held up, as Ken Giles got the six out save for Lehigh Valley, including two Ks and two BBs. Barry Enright and Cesar Jimenez pitched well in that game as well, and Darin Ruf was 2-3 with two doubles and a walk. Wonder if he’ll get the call-up to replace Cliff Lee and then they’ll make a pitching move before Saturday’s game.

Jesse Biddle gave up 2R on 8H, 1HR, 2BB and 3K in six innings. He threw about 57% of his pitches for strikes. Feels like I say something similar fairly often after he starts. It’s a problem, to be sure. Cam Perkins was 2-5 with a double, and Brock Stassi 3-5 with a walk-off two-run homer and a walk.

Roman Quinn was 3-5 with a CS for Clearwater, while Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez was…well…bad. “Bad”‘s the word I’m looking for, right? 5R, 2ER on 4H, 5BB, 1K in 2.1IP. “Bad” pretty much sums that up, I think. Feel free to suggest other terms for that, but until then, I’ll go with “bad”. So, so bad.

J.P. Crawford, Willians Astudillo and Andrew Pullin were each on base three times, while Dylan Cozens hit a walk-off two-run bomb for Lakewood. Cody Forsythe did well to mop up Ulises Joaquin‘s mess in the eighth, stranding two, and then worked a scoreless ninth. The 23-year-old Forsythe has handled himself well this year – after being relegated to the GCL instead of sent to Williamsport last year with many other college draftees, I wasn’t expecting much from him, but he’s showing a good K rate and low walk rate thus far. If you missed it, Eric @Longenhagen wrote him up briefly at Crashburn Alley a few weeks ago.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/20/2014 →

What Good Prospects Look Like

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I had a whole long post in my mind about what good prospects look like statistically in the minor leagues.  Unfortunately the day didn’t break right and that article will never be written.  Instead here is something quick to remember when you are looking at guys in the minor leagues and saying they are so much better than a random major leaguer.  Here is what the Phillies Starting Lineup looked like during their best minor league seasons.

Position Player Age Year PA 2B 3B HR SB BB K AVG OBP SLG
C Carlos Ruiz 27 2006 (AAA) 423 25 0 16 4 42 56 0.307 0.389 0.505
1B Ryan Howard 24 2004 (AA-AAA) 560 28 1 46 1 60 166 0.291 0.380 0.637
2B Chase Utley 24 2003 (AAA) 490 26 2 18 10 41 75 0.323 0.390 0.512
SS Jimmy Rollins 21 2000 (AAA) 533 28 11 12 24 49 55 0.274 0.341 0.457
3B Cody Asche 22 2012 (A+ – AA) 559 33 6 12 11 34 93 0.324 0.369 0.481
LF Domonic Brown 22 2010 (AA-AAA) 389 22 4 20 17 37 74 0.327 0.391 0.589
CF Ben Revere 20 2008(A-) 517 17 10 1 44 27 31 0.379 0.433 0.497
RF Marlon Byrd 23 2001 (AA) 582 22 8 28 32 52 93 0.316 0.386 0.555
Average 23 507 25 5 19 18 43 80 0.318 0.385 0.529

Continue reading What Good Prospects Look Like →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

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Lehigh Valley went 4-3 on the week and are now 24-21 on the year and in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, just 0.5 game behind division leading Buffalo.  The ‘Pigs are off on Wednesday before spending Memorial Day weekend home against Toledo and then depart for a 9 hame/8 day road trip against Norfolk and Durham. The ‘Pigs have won 7 of their last 10 games and hold the IL’s best record in May (13-7)

‘Pigs League Leaders (min 12 ab’s)Hitting: Maikel Franco is 7th in AB’s (162); Tyler Henson is 8th in runs(25), 5th in strikeouts(47) and 3rd in SB’s(11); Jim Murphy is 7th in RBI’s(25);

Pitching:David Buchanan is 2nd in wins(5) and has the 7th worst WHIP (1.57); Luis Garcia is 5th in saves (6); Barry Enright is 10th in IP (50.1) and tied for 3rd in HR allowed (7)

‘Pigs Prospects: David Buchanan had a very rough outings in his last start on Sunday, going just 1IP and allowing 4 runs on five hits.  With the loss Sunday, he fell short of becoming the first IronPigs player to win five straight.  In his four previous starts (all wins), he threw a combined 22.2 inning, allowing 9 earned runs (3.57ERA). With RISP, the opposition is hitting just .143 against him. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Box Score Recap – 5/19/2014 – The Fall And Rise Of Roman Quinn & Aaron Altherr’s Batting Average

Box Score Recap

Roman Quinn was 0-4 in his return from a ruptured Achilles Tendon. He played all 12 innings and stole a base. I’ll take both facts as good signs. Brian Pointer went deep in that game, and Gabriel Lino was 2-5 plus a walk. 22-year-old Miguel Nunez is back from a trip to XST – he gave up two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings of relief. It will be interesting to see if they keep him in the pen or try to stretch him out again.

Aaron Altherr picked up two hits in the nightcap of Reading’s DH with New Hampshire to pull his average back about the Mendoza line, where it had dipped after an 0-2 in the early game. That’s called resiliency. I guess. Dude probably didn’t even realize. Cameron Perkins was 2-3 with a double and a walk in the second game as well.

Darin Ruf and Maikel Franco went deep in back-to -back at bats in the top of the sixth to draw Lehigh Valley to within a run of Buffalo, but someone pulled the thread and Justin De Fratus came undone in the bottom of the inning, allowing two hits, a walk, a HBP and a wild pitch for three runs.

J.P. Crawford, Wilmer Oberto and Willians Astudillo all put up two hits in a losing effort for Lakewood. Delvi Francisco has allowed just one hit and struck out five over his last four innings. The former position player’s been effective in limited use thus far in 2014.

And finally, Jesus Alastre has yet to be held hitless in his six-game professional career. So that’s nice. Small sample size caveats apply, but Alastre is the best player in the history of the game and should be called up immediately.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/19/2014 – The Fall And Rise Of Roman Quinn & Aaron Altherr’s Batting Average →

Around the System–Starting Pitchers

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A first look at at how starting pitchers are faring around the organization.  Next up is a look at relief pitchers.

Lehigh Valley

David Buchanan, 25, Phils 7th round pick in 2010 draft; 9 starts; 5-1 with a 3.98 ERA; 40.2IP 47H 13BB 31K; 3 HR allowed; 1.48 WHIP; 1.08 GO/AO; .301 opp. avg.; 2.9BB/6.9K per nine; .297 vs. LHH, .305 vs. RHH, .217 with RISP; 2-1 with a 5.25 ERA in 3 May starts.  Buchanan started the year very strong but has hit somewhat of a wall as of late.  Too early to pan ic, but a raised eyebrow.

Barry Enright, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2014; 8 starts; 1-2 with a 3.97ERA; 1CG; 45.1IP 45H 13BB 28K; 7HR allowed; 0.84 GO/AO; .256 opp. avg; 1.27WHIP; 2.6BB/5.6K per 9; .207 vs. LHH; .298 vs. RHH; .235 with RISP; 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA in 3 May starts; Enright started slowly but has really come around in May, culminating with a masterful CG in his last start.

Sean O’Sullivan, 26, Signed as a free agent in 2014; 8 starts; 1-3 with a 3.75ERA; 48IP 52H 15BB 21K; 3HR allowed; 0.78 GO/AO; .277 opp. avg; 1.40 WHIP; .330 LHH; .227 vs. RHH; .354 with RISP; O’Sullivan is far from overpowering but has done a decent job “pitching to contact” and has put the ‘Pigs in a place where they can be competitive in games he starts. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitchers →

Reading Report: 5/12-5/18

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Last Sunday saw the week for the Fightins end with Severino Gonzalez’s strange game and a 15-0 loss in Trenton. This week was a bit better, with a 4-3 Reading win against Bowie, giving the club a 5-1 week.

It was an interesting week for Hoby Milner, who went seven innings last Monday in New Hampshire, allowing five hits and two runs, to go along with three walks and a couple strikeouts. Continue reading Reading Report: 5/12-5/18 →

Roman Quinn is Back!!!!!

Quinn, Roman, Transactions

Not sure if anything else is needed.  Crawford is ailing in Lakewood, but expected back tonight, when he is ready for Clearwater the Phillies will figure something out.

2014 MLB Draft: Looking at #7

2014 Draft

With the Phillies picking at #7 in the 2014 draft it doesn’t make much sense to put out a big board or first round mock draft as everyone will tune out by pick 15.  Though Brad and I will be doing a mock draft all the way to #50 to include the Phillies second round pick, though that is a bit in the future.  For now lets just focus on what is happening at #7 in the 2014 draft and who could be there and what kind of decisions can be made there.

Off the Board:  There is no scenario I can see where either Brady Aiken or Carlos Rodon are on the board for the Phillies pick.  They may not go 1-2 in the draft, but neither is making it past 4.  The lefties could move quickly and be a the top of major league rotations soon. Continue reading 2014 MLB Draft: Looking at #7 →

General Discussion – Week of 5-19-2014 – Very Realistic Trades Edition

Weekly Discussion

Marlins and Dodgers this week, starting Tuesday. The Phillies should probably trade for Yasiel Puig or Giancarlo Stanton. Or both, right? Howard for Puig because The Dodgers have plenty of money to pay Howard, and Brown for Stanton because, uh, Brown will be cheaper in the next couple years and The Marlins don’t have any money to pay players. They need to save their money to make free agent deals with weak no-trade clauses.

Discuss.