End of Season Review–Catcher

Around the System

A look at the production (or lack thereof) from the Catcher position in the Phils organization in 2010 with predictions on where players will end up next year. Next up: The Outfield on Friday or Saturday.

Lehigh Valley

Paul Hoover, 34, 255 AB’s; .247/.326/.345 with 2HR and 21 RBI; .300 vs. LH, .231 vs. RH, .246 with RISP, .288 Post All STar; 9% bb rate, 23% k rate.  24/81 (30%) CS; 7 errors (.986), 6 passed balls in 67 games. Hoover did not play as well in 2010 as he did in 2009 and the years may be catching up with him.  Still serviceable as a AAA catcher but the Phils may want to look elsewhere for depth. Continue reading End of Season Review–Catcher →

Lakewood SAL Championship, Game 1 Wrap

Game Recaps

Lakewood dropped Game 1 of the SAL Championship series 3-1 in Greenville tonight.  Trevor May had another good start, but a lack of offense and some very suspect baserunning were too much for the BlueClaws to overcome.   Continue reading Lakewood SAL Championship, Game 1 Wrap →

Lakewood Playoff Recap / Preview

4. Lakewood

The BlueClaws won the best of three first-round series against Hickory in impressive fashion on Saturday night.  Jonathan Pettibone struck out a career high nine in seven innings, alowing just one hit (with two outs in the sixth).  Sebastian Valle got the ‘Claws on the board in the first with a two-run homer.  Lakewood tacked on an additional run in the first on a Jeremy Barnes RBI single, then added another in the 4th and two more in the 7th.  Luke Wertz pitched the final two innings to complete the 6-0 shutout.

The Championship series gets underway tonight at 7:05 at Greenville (Red Sox).  It’s a rematch of last year’s championship series.  Trevor May and Julio Rodriguez get the call for the first two games on the road.  The series will return to Lakewood on Thursday for Game 3 and, if necessary, Games 4 and 5 on Friday and Saturday.  Lakewood’s roatation through the rest of the series will feature Brody Colvin in Game 3, followed by Pettibone in Game 4, and May coming back for Game 5.

Phils Call Up Bocock

Transactions

The recent injury to Jimmy Rollins turned into an opportunity for Lehigh Valley SS Brian Bocock as he was called by the Phils today to add some insurance up the middle.  Bocock, 25, is known for his defense which is among the best I have seen up the middle.  While he is still less than adequate with the bat, he has improved greatly throughout the season (and with the help of Greg Gross) and finished the year in the neighborhood of .240 having been on base in 26 of the ‘Pigs final 29 games. Look for him to act simply as an insurance policy should Rollins/Valdez fall prey to continued injury woes.

A review of my Top 30 prospects for 2010

** My Top 30 Prospects

Instead of waiting to look back at my Top 30 until next season’s top 30, I figured I’d devote some substantial words to my list. My goal is to try and figure out where I was right on guys, where I was wrong, and identify if my philosophies as a whole have a blind spot, or if things were simply unforeseeable last winter. I’m going to refrain from making too many 2011 slanting comments, I’m not doing a preliminary top 30 now, this is just to look back at my rankings and figure out how good/bad they were. Check below for more.

Continue reading A review of my Top 30 prospects for 2010 →

End of Season Review–Middle Infield

Around the System

A last look at the Middle Infield in 2010, how they fared and what to expect.  Next up: Catchers on Monday.

Lehigh Valley

Brian Bocock, 25, 380 AB’s; .226/.313/.303 with 4 HR and 31 RBI’s; 13/19 SB; .277 vs. LH, .212 vs. RH, .224 with RISP; .288 Post All Star; 11% bb rate, 21% k rate. 12 Errors in 119 games at SS (.977); 4.23 R/F. During the beginning of the season, Bocock looked completely lost at the plate.  He has improved dramatically throughout the season.  While I can’t imagine he is going to hit any more than.240 at any time, his defense is phenomenal and saves a ton of runs up the middle.  Mid season I could never could have imagined saying this, but I hope to see Bocock back in 2011. Continue reading End of Season Review–Middle Infield →

Lakewood Playoff Report (9/10): Game 3 Tomorrow Night

4. Lakewood, Game Recaps

Holy moly, what a ball game.  Before the largest playoff crowd in BlueClaws history, Lakewood and Hickory swapped runs in the top of the first, then shut each other out through the next 8 innings.  Finally, Hickory poked through with a run in the 10th.  Despite getting two runners on in the bottom of the 10th, the BlueClaws could not score, and we’re back for Game 3 on the shoulders of Jonathan Pettibone tomorrow night at 7:05. Continue reading Lakewood Playoff Report (9/10): Game 3 Tomorrow Night →

Phils Add Cesar Carillo

Transactions

The Phils claimed 26 year old RHP Cesar Carillo out of the Padres organization off of waivers yesterday and added him to their 40 man roster. The 26 year old was a 1st round pick by the Padres in the 2005 draft out of the University of Miami.  Once very highly touted (Padres #1 prospect in their system according to Scout.som in 2007), Carillo’s stock fell after Tommy John surgery in 2007 and has struggled to regain his form.  He was 5-14 this season with a 5.60 ERA for the Padres AAA club in Portland, to go along with a WHIP of 1.48 in just over 150 innings of work.

Lakewood Takes 1-0 Lead

4. Lakewood

Trevor May was completely dominant in Game One of the BlueClaws series against Hickory as Lakewood took Game One 7-0. May went 6.2 shutout innings, allowing just four hits and a walk, while striking out 13. Lakewood got onto the board in the third inning when Jeremy Barnes scored on a wild pitch, which was followed by a Jiwan James sac fly which made the score 2-0. A Sebastian Valle solo blast extended the lead to 3-0 in the 4th, while two more homers, a three run shot by Alan Schoenberger and a solo homer by Jonathan Singleton led to a four spot on the board in the 5th. Eric Pettis, called up from Williamsport and Josh Zeid pitched the final 2.1 finishing off the shutout. Both Jeremy Barnes and Keoni Ruth has multi hit games for the BlueClaws.  The best two out of three series continues Friday in Lakewood with Brody Colvin on the hill.

End of Season Review–Corner Infield

Around the System

A look at the Corners Infielders in the Phils system in 2010, what they did, and what we can expect in 2011. Next up: Middle Infield most likely over the weekend.

Lehigh Valley

Andy Tracy, 36, 425 AB’s; .275/.373/.492 with 21 HR and 80 RBI; 2/3 SB; .286 vs. LH, .272 vs. RH, .247 post all star break; .263 with RISP. 14% bb rate, 23% k rate. 6 errors in 87 games at 1B (.992), 8.38 R/F.  Tracy has been a mainstay in Allentown since the inception of the Lehigh Valley franchise, however the combination of injuries and the emergence of Matt Rizzotti most likely will lead to Tracy’s off season departure.  Even with a banged up shoulder for most of the season, Tracy put up very good numbers, continues to give you a very good at bat, and can only help a team with his attitude. Continue reading End of Season Review–Corner Infield →