Box Score Recap – 5/13/2013

Box Score Recap

The VSL started on Monday, but it’s a five team league this year, and the Phils were off. Stateside, good pitching performances from David Buchanan, (2R, 5H, 4K in 7IP), and Nic Hanson (1 R, 2H, 1BB, 4K in 7IP – retired the first 16 men he faced).

At the plate, 3 singles from Cameron Perkins – 2 hits, including a 2B, from Chace Numata – 2 including a triple from Maikel Franco – and 2 including a HR from Kelly Dugan.  And a double from Tyson Gillies means he’s hit in four straight. Maybe his swing has finally settled into its new “groove”. If so, he’ll be back in AAA shortly, I’d imagine.

And then there’s this – The Durham Bulls have a guy in their bullpen named “Steve Geltz” – I have to imagine it’s pronounced like “Steve Jeltz”. If so, I’m pretty sure Rube should trade for that guy. Just because.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/13/2013 →

General Discussion – Week of 5-13-2013 – Jet Lag Edition

Other Stuff
I don’t know about you, but I am bushed from a week of late night games. The weekend did nothing to rejuvenate me. And unlike those spoiled ballplayers, I had to work today. I will be expecting an apology from someone on that team later this week.

Box Score Recap – 5/12/2013

Box Score Recap

Nice line from Yoel Mecias, three hits from Tyson Gillies, two from Roman Quinn, and a second consecutive day without a K from Larry Greene.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/12/2013 →

Box Score Recap – 5/11/2013

Box Score Recap

That’s a good one from Ethan Martin – 2R on 4H 2BB and 7K in 6IP. Just 3BB over 12 innings in his last two starts. That kind of control will keep him in line to be a starter in the big leagues. Can he sustain it for long stretches of a season? Also did you know his middle name is Cash? 1 year ago we had…never mind.

Larry Greene goes 3-4 to pull the old average above the Mendoza Line.  His OBP sits at .388, and he’s been on base by hit or walk in 17 of his 19 games this season. And he hasn’t struck out in, hang on, I have it right here…one game. Seems less impressive when you phrase it like it’s some kind of a streak. Better than “has struck out in 18 games in a row”, which was true 24 hours ago.

Elsewhere, Cody Asche hit a grand slam. Cameron Rupp hit his third HR in as many days, (that’ll help your season stats), Cameron Perkins had 2 doubles – and his OPS is approcahing 1.000 for the year – and Nick Hernandez got knocked around a little.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/11/2013 →

Around the System–Starting Pitching

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A first look at how starters are performing around the organization.  Next report will be the catchers, late this week.

Lehigh Valley

Adam Morgan, 23, Phils 3rd round pick in 2011; 7 starts; 1-3 with a 4.70 ERA; 38.1IP 37H 12BB 28K; 5HR allowed; 0.75 GO/AO; .253 opp avg.; 2.8BB/6.6K per 9; .212 vs. LH, .265 vs. RH, .243 with RISP; 7.91 ERA in last 4 starts. Morgan started well but has been simply bad in his last four outings.  The home run ball has really hurt him.

Ethan Martin, 23, Acquired from Dodgers in 2012; 7 starts; 3-2 with a 5.77 ERA; 34.1IP 29H 23BB 34K; 1.10 GO/AO; .228 opp. avg., 6.0BB/9.0K per nine; 1.66 WHIP; 3 HR allowed; .310 vs. LH; .159 vs. RH, .281 with RISP.  Martin has looked very good in his last two starts, but he still struggles to throw strikes consistently. My prediction: by this time next year, he will have been moved to the back end of the bullpen. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →

So You Want a College Pitcher

2013 Draft

Due to the developmental differences between hitters and pitchers many more pitchers blossom in college baseball.  This means that there is a depth of pitching available in the draft that is not greatly inferior talent wise to the high school pitching available.  In the later rounds the quantity of good college pitching decreases but in the first two rounds there are plenty of college arms that have legitimate major league starting pitches.

Off the Board:

Mark Appel, Jonathan Gray, Braden Shipley – Grey and Appel are the consensus #1 and #2 picks in the draft, both offering arsenals of at least #2 starters and both should get there within a year.  Shipley is the 3rd best college pitcher in the draft and should be off the board not long after the Top 5 picks.

Should be off the Board or will be a hard sign:

Sean Manaea (Indiana State) – Manaea a left hander came into the year in the conversation for the first overall pick, but has struggled over the year.  The fastball is down to the hi-80s after touching 96 last summer, but he also has a breaking ball and changeup that profile as average to plus.  Manaea is a Boras client who could go back to school if he doesn’t like where he is picked.

Ryne Stanek (Arkansas) – Stanek has a plus to plus plus fastball as well as a pair of breaking balls that are at least average going forward.  The changeup is far behind and concerns that he might be a reliever long term might drop him.  Stanek will likely need to be compensated like a Top 15 pick but he won’t be unsignable if he falls. Continue reading So You Want a College Pitcher →

Box Score Recap – 5/10/2013

Box Score Recap

Chase Numata with a grand slam, and Quinn, Pointer and Zach Taylor all went deep as well for Lakewood. Cam Rupp with his 4th bomb for Reading, his second in as many days, and one for Harold Martinez for Clearwater, his first of the year. On the mound, a nice line from Seth Rosin again, and a really fine line from Gabriel Arias. Not so fine from Adam Morgan or anyone in the LV bullpen, nor from Shane Watson.

And, possibly most importantly, 1h and 1k in a scoreless inning for the stateside debut of Severino Gonzalez, 20 year-old righty from Panama, who has a totally boss first name.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/10/2013 →

Box Score Recap – 5/9/2013

Box Score Recap

Not really prospect talk, but Humberto Quintero threw out Billy Hamilton stealing second. As impressive as almost anything else you’re going to see in there. As reported firsthand by @BaseballBetsy on Twitter, we know that Aaron Altherr was involved in a collision with shortstop Jose Mojica. Altherr left the game under his own power. No update beyond that that I am aware of. Hopefully it’s not serious

Altherr’s exit did bring Cameron Perkins into the game on his day off, and he failed to extend his hitting streak in 1 PA. I don’t care, though. I’m not counting that one.  The streak stands at 13. So watch out, Joe Wilhoit.

Continue reading Box Score Recap – 5/9/2013 →

Around the System–Outfield

Other Stuff

A look at the outfield around the system.  Next up…starting pitching.

Lehigh Valley
Leandro Castro, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2006; .267/.300/419 in 105 AB’s; 3HR 12RBI; 8SB; 5%bb/15% k rates; .381 vs. LHP, .238 vs. RHP, .292 with RISP. 27 games in the OF without an error; 2 OF assists; Castro is the player I have been most impressed with this year with Lehigh Valley. He has gotten his K rate under control which was his biggest issue.  He is simply a clutch player both at bat and in the field.  Needs to work on his consistency.

Darin Ruf, 26, Phils 20th round pick in 2009; .270/.341/.487; 5HR 18 RBI; 10%bb/25% k rates; .188 vs. LHP, .287 vs. RHP, .182 with RISP. 21 games in the OF with 1 error (.976); 1 OF assist; 8 games at 1B without an error;  Ruf’s fielding has been much better than anticipated. With the bat, he has been wildly inconsistent, but his bottom line isnt bad. He does need to step it up to get back to the show Continue reading Around the System–Outfield →

So You Want a College Hitter

2013 Draft

Now that we are into May it is time to look at specific players and groups of players.  We are going to kick off this series with the thinnest position which is college hitters.  For the most part this is going to stick to players available for the 1st and 2nd round pick.  I don’t have the information base nor time to do a full breakdown of later picks so those will be limited to mostly rumors of the Phillies being connected to a certain player.  Additionally the MLB draft can be extremely unpredictable since teams don’t have “needs” to fill and it is much better to do predictions in the moment.

1st Round:

DJ Peterson (1B/3B) – New Meixco – Peterson is one of the best pure college bats in the draft showing good power and contact abilities.  The problem is that he is likely heading to first base long term where the bat is very good but not as impactful.

Hunter Renfroe (RF) – Mississippi St. – Renfroe has raw tools seldom seen in a college player.  It is plus tools across the board and a likely RF profile.  The downside is he hadn’t done much before midway through this college season. Continue reading So You Want a College Hitter →