Hot or Not

A look at the time period covering games played May 8-14…Random thoughts…In a year where he is repeating a level, Carlos Tocci‘s numbers are quickly becoming problematic….JP Crawford continuing to do what he does…I am about to begin my now yearly crusade of promoting giving Cesar Jiminez a shot in the Phils ‘pen…About as poor a line as you can get from Severino Gonzalez this week…Kenny Giles stays on the hot list, even during a week where he transitions to AAA…Two names I expected alot more from are Kyle SImon and Seth Rosin….After a slow start, STeve Susdorf showing again that he can flat out hit.  Unfortunately, no power and little speed.

Hot Hitters:(Min 12 AB’s) Steve Susdorf (.500, 6R); Ronny Cedeno (.400, 6RBI); Maikel Franco (.357, 7RS HR 6RBI); JP Crawford (.353); Carlos Alonso (.333, 2HR 4RBI); Pete Lavin (.333); Tyson Gillies (.333, 6R)

Not Hot Hitters:Carlos Tocci (.042); Logan Moore (.078);  Edgar Duran (.100); Harold Martinez (.111); Aaron Altherr(.125); Matt Tolbert (.133); Andrew Pullin (.143); Brian Pointer (.154); Samuel Hiciano (.167); Wilmer Oberto (.167); Willie Carmona (.167)

Hot Starting Pitchers: Drew ANderson (6IP 4H 1ER 2BB 6K); Sean O’Sullivan (7IP 5H 2ER 3BB 2K); Hoby Milner (7IP 5H 2ER 3BB 2K); Barry Enright (7IP 7H 2ER 1BB 2K) Honorable Mention: Paulino Continue reading Hot or Not →

Threshers; May 14, 2014

Some sort of campers day at Bright House Field today.  There were over 2,000 school children in attendance.  Oh, what fun.

Jon Prosinski got the 10:30AM start.  He scattered 6 hits and allowed 1 unearned run  thru his first 7 innings before running out of gas in the 8th inning when he gave up a 3-2, wind-aided home run that barely cleared the left field wall into the Hammerhead bull pen.  He was lifted after a ground out and a single.  Continue reading Threshers; May 14, 2014 →

General Discussion – Week of 5-12-2014 – Mike Trout Edition

I forgot to post this Monday. Talk about Mike Trout, folks. He only went 1-5 last night. What a terrible disappointment he is to his family and friends. SHAME!

Discuss.

Box Score Recap – 5/13/2014

Running late today so I’ll skip the write-up today and just get you the graphic, with only a mention that J.P. Crawford‘s 13-game hitting streak ended with an 0-3 day on Tuesday. Enjoy the discussion.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/13/2014 →

Looks Can Be Decieving

Many opinions on the internet about prospects stem from their stats, and especially small sample size stats.  We are all guilty of making snap judgements, but often in that moment we miss out on the bigger picture.  Stats help create an objective look at what is happening in the game, but without context or proper use, they can be deceiving and lead us into opinions that may not be aligning with the truth.  So with all of that being said we are going to play a game of mystery players and look at some trends that may not be showing up in the traditional triple slash lines or the box scores.  Given the small sample size nature of these stat lines they are not meant to be predictive of the future, they are meant to show comparisons and past performance.

So lets start off with Player A and Player B who are showing some interesting trendings from 2013 to 2014. Continue reading Looks Can Be Decieving →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

Lehigh Valley had a very good week, going 5-2, and are now  20-18, 2 games behind division leading Buffalo in the Northern DIvision of the International League.  The ‘Pigs remain home through Friday with three more against Scranton before heading to Buffalo for a four game series.

‘Pigs League Leaders: Maikel Franco is 4th in AB’s (141) and 8th in doubles (10); Tyler Hensen is 9th in runs(23), 9th in SLG (.500) and 4th in SB’s (10)

Pitching: Luis Garcia is 5th in saves (6); Barry Enright is 5th in HR allowed (6).

‘Pigs Prospects:Jon Pettibone has been solid but has been unable to go more than 5.1 innings in any start but one this year.  In 5 starts, Pettibone is 2-0 with a 3.42 ERA and a WHIP that sits at 1.06.  Opponents are hitting just .224 against him and he is walking just 2.1 per nine innings.  Overall excellent results but needs to stretch himself out a bit more after missing some time in SPring Training. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Threshers; May 13, 2014

Brody Colvin started his third game since joining the Threshers.   He struggled with his control all night.  Most of his pitches looked like they were high.   Even his strikes looked like they were up in the zone as he threw 39 strikes and 36 balls.   He pitched from behind on most batters, only throwing 4 first-pitch strikes.

Colvin lasted 3.2 innings giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks.   His 1 strike out came on the third out of the first inning with 2 runners on base as he ended a Hammerhead threat. Continue reading Threshers; May 13, 2014 →

American Athletic Conference Prospects

As part of my Threshers’ season ticket package, I received tickets to the American Athletic Cconference Tournament from May 21 thru May 25 at Clearwater’s Bright House Field.  The AAC includes #10 Louisville, #16 Houston, RPI #48 UCF, Rutgers, USF, Temple, UCONN, Memphis, and Cincinnati.  Baseball America #28 prospect, Nick Burdi is a closer for Louisville.

I would like to ask the Phillies Phutures community it here are any other prospects or suspects who bear watching?  Thank you in advance for any guidance you provide.

Box Score Recap – 5/12/2014

Very strong day from the Lehigh Valley bullpen. They worked four scoreless innings, with Ken Giles allowing the group’s only hit, Phillippe Aumont surrendering their only walk, and Ethan Martin and Justin De Fratus working clean innings. Maikel Franco drew two walks in that contest, as Cam Perkins did for Reading, as that squad got past New Hampshire. Hoby Milner didn’t throw a ton of strikes, (around 60%), and he surrendered his eighth home run in his last four, but he got the W. Value that “W” as you will.

Colin Kleven induced 12 ground ball outs, but struck out just one, and let up eight hits and three runs in seven innings in Clearwater’s loss. Andrew Knapp had two hits for the Threshers. Meanwhile, the Lakewood lineup was school by Hunter Harvey, Orioles 2013 1st Round Pick and son of former Angels and Marlins closer Bryan Harvey. he struck out 10 in seven scoreless. Only Sam Hiciano managed a hit off Harvey, while J.P. Crawford extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double off of Jimmy Yacabonis, who is not necessarily significant except his last name is pretty rad and he went to St. Joe’s. Drew Anderson was the hard-luck loser there, allowing 1R on 4H, 2BB, 6K over 6IP.

The VSL season kicked off with the Phils club taking out Chicago. There’s a couple familiar names, mostly because we saw them there last year. That’s generally not a good sign for their prospect status. You all should read Matt’s VSL Roster Intro from yesterday for a better idea who to be watching in the VSL boxes. Hint: It’s mostly teenagers you have likely never heard of.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/12/2014 →

Around the System–Middle Infield

This was one of the more depressing exercises in my recent existance with JP Crawford saving me from a complete malaise.  Next up will be catchers.

Lehigh Valley

Ronny Cedeno, 31, Acquired as a free agent in 2014; .198/.244/.247 in 81 AB’s; 0HR 8RBI; 6%bb/19%K rates; .148 vs. LH; .222 vs. RHP. 20 games at SS with 3 errors (.963);  2 games at 2B without an error; Cedeno has been a small step above awful thus far

Freddy Galvis, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2006; Went 1-7 before going down with a broken collarbone in Saturdays game.  Expected to miss 6-8 weeks.

Matt Tolbert, 32, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .220/.292/.237 in 59 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 0HR 1RBI; 1SB; 8%bb/11%k rates.  6 games at 2B with 1 error (.933); 6 games at 3B without an error; 4 games in the OF without an error; Has been adequate in limited playing time.

DL: Andreas Blanco

Reading

Carlos Alonso, 25, Phils 32nd round pick in 2010; .283/.369/.372 in 113 AB’s; 1HR 9RBI; 3SB; 11%bb/17%k rates; .229 vs. LHP; .311 vs. RHP; .275 in May. 17 games at 2B with 2 errors (.977);  12 games at 3B with 3 errors (.857); Alonso has been solid and dependable playing nearly every day for the Fightins. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →