Austin Wright to the Bullpen and Converting Starters to Relievers

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Today Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle reported that the Phillies will be converting Austin Wright to a full time reliever (Brody Colvin back to the rotation).  The move is one that I thought would come eventually but did not expect right now.  More interesting to the move is what Joe Jordan said which piqued my interest.

Philles are converting Reading’s Austin Wright to the bullpen. He’s 5-5, 6.09 in 16 starts; pitching better lately after DL stint #phillies

Joe Jordan on Austin Wright: “We really feel he’s got a couple pitches that have a chance to play really good out of the bullpen.” #phillies Continue reading Austin Wright to the Bullpen and Converting Starters to Relievers →

Phillies call up Ethan Martin

Martin, Ethan

The Phillies are calling up Ethan Martin to make his major league debut on Friday.  The reports are Cliff Lee will not be ready to go and Martin represents the best option in the minors.

Martin was acquired for Shane Victorino at the 2012 trade deadline and was the 15th pick in the 2008 draft.  So far this year in AAA he is 11-5 with a 4.12 ERA with 67 BBs and 107 Ks over 115.2 IP.  He has pitched much better of late but walks are still an issue.

Martin will bring a fastball that sits plus velocity (93-95) but he can show plus plus when needed.  The curveball has been a plus pitch in the past and can flash plus plus.  The slider is an average pitch with potential.  At this point the changeup is a dream and not a usable pitch.  Martin has the stuff to dominate if he can keep the ball in the zone.  If he loses feel for his secondary offerings he has the tendency to overthrow the fastball and lose his delivery.

Box Score Recap – 7/31/2013

Box Score Recap

Franco, Dugan and Hewitt all hit bombs for Reading. Hewitt, in fact, hit 2. If he hits 20 more in August, we may have something there. Mario Hollands scatterred 9 hits over 6 innings, allowing just one run. Larry Greene hitting out of the two hole, his natural spot, of course 😉 Ricky Bielski continues to hold the GCL at bay – he’s allowed just 9 hits and 3 walks in 14 innings, while striking out 12.

And Zach Green hit his sixth HR of the year. He’s striking out a ton, though. 13 in his last 10 games, (38PAs), and his rate for the year is near 29%. He’s walked a good amount, but his 2012 Ks are what led me to keep him out of my top 30 this off-season, and it seems like they’re continuing as an issue.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/31/2013 →

Hot or Not

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A look back at the time period of 7/25 thru 7/31. Quick thoughts…What is the level of concern with Jesse Biddle who has led the Not Hot list for two weeks with significant control issues?  I expect Nick Hernandez to land on the DL soon…something is not right again…Maikel Franco now has 24HR’s in just over 100 games….Larry Greene and Zach Collier are back slumping again…At the lower levels, Drew Anderson and Shane Martin have gotten us to notice.

Hot Hitters: Art Charles (.448, 8RBI’s); Tyler Henson (.411, 3HR); Alejandro Vilalobos (.391); Jia Tromp (.389, 3SB); Maikel Franco (.385, 5R 3HR 6RBI); Harold Martinez (.381, 6RBI); Herlis Rodriguez (.370, 6R 7RBI); Dylan Cozens (.368, 6R); Derrick Mitchell (.350);Wilmer Oberto (.350); Nick Ferdinand (.350);  Honorable Mention: Numata, Crawford, J. Hernandez, Parr, Dugan, Perkins, Alonso Continue reading Hot or Not →

Box Score Recap – 7/30/2013

Box Score Recap

Colt Murray struck out 3 and walked 1 in the ninth to earn his 10th save of the year for CLR. He could use a few more of those after a pretty brutal stretch here in the last couple weeks. In all, though, he’s pitched better than his 5.58 ERA suggests this year, with an FIP of 3.34. Walks are up over last year’s near-brilliant FSL stint, but Ks are good at 9.9/9IP. He’s guy that reportedly throws pretty hard, and I imagine he’ll be moving up to AA next year with a chance for a 40-man spot after the season.

HMart continues to rake – 3-4 with a double. Logan Moore went 3-3 with a walk, a double and his third HR. Jan Hernandez was 3-5 with a triple and a homer. And Mark Leiter Jr. has 23 Ks in 16 GCL innings. Yes, he’s a college guy striking out high school kids. Still.

And another strong start from Drew Anderson – he gave up two hits and walked two in six scoreless, and struck out the side in order in the sixth. For a guy Mitch Rupert mentioned has had trouble in the later innings, he sure did take out the top of that Brooklyn lineup, (ncluding struggling 2012 1st round pick and high-level Mets prospect Gavin Cecchini), the third time through – all three Ks were swinging.

Enjoy your deadline day!

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/30/2013 →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

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Lehigh Valley returned home last night from an eight game road trip with a 5-4  loss to Rochester and now sit at 55-56 on the year, in 4th place of the Northern Division of the International League, 5.5 games behind division leading Rochester and 4 games behind Pawtucket in the wildcard race.

‘Pigs Prospects: Adam Morgan has made two starts for Lehigh Valley since his return from the disabled list and while he has not given up an earned run, he threw close to 140 pitches in less than seven innings of work in those two starts. Bottom line, he was less than sharp which is to be expected after missing two months injured.  On the year, Morgan is 1-5 with a 4.44 ERA in his 10 starts. He has thrown 48.2 innings, given up 55 hits, walked 17 and struck out 34 while opponents are hitting .269 against him. It will be interesting to check in on Morgan in two weeks with another 2-3 starts under his belt. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Cody to the Showdy (Cody Asche Called Up To Majors)

Asche, Cody

Reports are that the Phillies have called up AAA 3B Cody Asche.  A Michael Young trade seems imminent and would give Asche 2 months of playing time to finish out the season.

Asche is nothing special at the plate or in the field.  What he is a very solid player with very few weaknesses who should be able to man 3B until a better player arrives.  Asche may struggle against LHP and the defense is average (which is like 3 grades above Young).

Asche has come a long way since a disastrous start in Williamsport in 2011.  He was hitting .295/.352/.485 in Lehigh Valley with 15HRs and 11 SB.  He is first 2011 draftee to reach the majors for the Phillies.

Box Score Recap – 7/29/2013

Box Score Recap

Harold Martinez with 2 more hits. Same from Cameron Perkins. Dan Child works an inning for CLR after spending time in the GCL thus far. Brian Pointer goes deep – his sixth. He’s been slumping pretty badly, though he has drawn 5 walks in his last 10 games. Man can take his walks. Speaking of…Dylan Cozens hit his 5th HR of the year. He’s also keeping up a good pace for his bases on balls, 11+%, while limiting his Ks to around 22%. It’s a 2:1 ratio there, 34K, 17BB, and with ISO near .200, you’d have to call his first half of this short season a success.

At the lower levels, Deivi Grullon threw out two would-be base-stealers and picked off another, while JPC stole his 7th and 8th bags, added a triple, drove in and scored 2runs. And 19 yr-old mini second sacker Lucas Rojo (listed at 5’6″, 153 lbs), hit his 7th VSL homer. He’s got 19 XBH in around 170 PAs. That’s some pop from a small frame. Another guy to look for in instructs in the fall and the minor league camp in the spring.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 7/29/2013 →

Around the System–Starting Pitching, Top Half

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Lehigh Valley

Tyler Cloyd, 26, Phils 18th round pick in 2008 draft; 14 starts, 2-8 with a 6.19ERA; 75.2IP 95H 19BB 66K; 1.03GO/AO; .303 opp. avg., 2.2BB/7.8K per nine; 16 HR allowed; .267 vs. LH, .333 vs. RH, .400 with RISP; 1-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 4 July starts. Not a pretty body of work for Cloyd who has been very hittable and one of the league leaders in HR allowed.  On the bright side, he has been much better in July.

Ethan Martin, 24, Acquired from Dodgers in 2012; 21 starts; 11-5 with a 4.12 ERA; 115.2IP 94H 67BB 107K; 11HR allowed; 0.86 GO/AO; .229 opp. avg., 5.2BB/8.3K per nine; 1.39WHIP; .249 vs. LH, .211 vs. RH, .215 with RISP; 6-3 with a 3.14 ERA in 11 starts since June 1. Martin’s control was awful at the beginning of the year but has drastically improved and with it, have come very good results.  He has been excellent over the last two months and with a strong August he will likely find himself in Philly come 2014. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching, Top Half →