‘Pigs Weekend Update

7. Lehigh Valley

A good weekend for the IronPigs, a statement that has not been made often.  See below for game reviews, notes and transactions.

Thursday–Brian Mazone (4-6), Oscar Villarreal, and Mike Zagurski combined on a 3 hit shutout as Lehigh Valley blanked Scranton 2-0, opening a four game series Thursday evening.  Mazone went six very strong innings, giving up just two hits, and Zagurski earned his first save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth, striking out 2. The ‘Pigs runs came in the third when the red hot Andy Tracy (10) smashed a 2 run homer. John Mayberry was 3-4 with a run scored, while Melvin Dorta added 2 hits and a stolen base. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update →

Midseason Review: My Top 30 prospects

** My Top 30 Prospects

As we’ve just crossed the mid way point of June, we’re about 10 weeks into the season, with another 10 weeks to go. Position players who have been in a full season league all season have around 200+ AB, pitchers have 65+ innings, so we can start to draw some preliminary conclusions. As I’ve pointed out a number of times this season, when looking at prospects, you really have to be careful of making judgments based on small sample sizes, both positive and negative. While the developmental curve is just that, a curve, and serves a general purpose, there are always guys who will develop more quickly or more slowly than the “average” guy, so its foolish to write a guy off early, and also foolish to assume Player X is the next stud based on 50 AB or 20 IP. That said, we’re halfway through the season, so I figured I’d share some thoughts on my top 30, and how my opinion may have shifted based on a half season of data. Check below…

Continue reading Midseason Review: My Top 30 prospects →

Scott Mathieson designated for assignment

Other Stuff

According to Todd Zolecki. Who doesn’t normally make up nonsense.

Unless the Phillies have a trade lined up for him, and the team just wanted to make sure he was healthy (hence, him pitching last night), this move makes absolutely no sense at all.

Thanks for the memories Scott, we wish you well.

Update —>; If this is truly a 40 man roster issue, wouldnt you rather risk losing Drew Carpenter, at best a fringe swingman, instead of a guy who throws 96? And why not move Ryan Madson to the 60 day DL?

This makes no sense at all.

Update #2 –> Here is the explanation. Weird.

June 18th Recap

Box Score Recap

A special Friday night update in honor of the beginning of Williamsport’s season

Williamsport wins 5-3.
Lakewood wins 4-2.
Clearwater wins 9-4.
Reading won 9-8.
Lehigh Valley lost 4-1.

Domingo Santana handled the demotion ok. 3/3, 2B, 2 HR. Not bad.

Zach Collier done for the season

Collier, Zach

Collier, as you know, has been dealing with a hand/wrist injury for the last few months, and according to this article, he is now being ruled out for the season. Collier came out strong after being selected in the compensation round in 2008, but he struggled last season, and 2010 now goes down as a lost season. Collier doesn’t turn 20 until September, so time is still on his side, but he needs at bats, and losing an entire season is a big blow. Provided he comes back fully healthy in 2011, he’ll be back at Lakewood at age 20, which is just fine, but he desperately needs to log 500+ PA in 2011 to get back on the developmental track.

A thank you is in order

Site Info

I meant to make this post right after the draft, but life kind of got in the way. Well, better late than never. A few days ago we went over 4 million hits since the inception of the site. I realize a lot of that is people hitting refresh, but every hit counts! In all seriousness, its been a really wild ride over the last 3.5 years, and most all of it has been positive. As I mentioned previously, I’m planning some redesign stuff for the site, but I really like where the content of the site has gone. Over the last 6 months, I’ve received quite a few offers to have ads placed on the site for a fee, and I’ve also received an offer (somewhat sizable too) for the domain name itself. But as I’ve stated in the past, I will never put ads on the site, and I have no plans on selling the domain name or content. The handful of donations I received, and more importantly, the consistently positive direction of the site is enough to keep me happy and motivated. This site would be nothing without the help of my fellow writers, notably Gregg and Todd, who manages all of the transactions and rosters on the pages at the top. Another thanks goes to all of the affiliate writers and those who have written guest articles, as well as those who have helped with the nuts and bolts of the site. And most importantly, a big thank you is in order for all the people who continue to come here, read the stuff we write, engage in solid discussion, and share this site with their friends. Next stop, 5 million!

Roster Moves

Transactions

Reading reliever Mike Stutes, 23, was called up to AAA Lehigh Valley, taking the roster spot of Scott Mathieson who was called up to Philadelphia yesterday.  Stutes has been effective in the mid to late innings for Reading going 3-0 with a 3.79 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games. In his 35.2 innings of work he has walked 21 and struck out 37. Opponents are hitting just .217 against him (1.92 with RISP).  He will likely be placed in that same mid to late inning role in the Lehigh Valley bullpen.

STarter JC Ramirez was called up to Reading from Single A Clearwater.  Ramirez, 21, is 4-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 11 starts for the Threshers this year.  In his 64.2 innings he has given up 63 hits, walked 17 and struck out 55.  Ramirez has a WHIP of 1.23 and the opposition is hitting .259 against him.  Acquired in the Cliff Lee deal, Ramirez will immediately step into the Reading rotation.

Activated from the DL and assigned to CLearwater is starting pitcher Mike Cisco.  Cisco, 23, has been on the DL since the end of April.  I would imagine this to be a short-term stint in CLearwater, as he regains his arm strength. Cisco threw fairly well in his four Reading starts prior to going on the DL, and was 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA in those outings, with the opposition hitting just .220 against him.

June 18th Discussion

Box Score Recap

Last night’s scoreboard shows the following results

Lakewood wins 4-1.
Clearwater loses 4-2.
Reading wins 6-4.
Lehigh Valley wins 2-0.

Valle with #9. On fire.

Mathieson Called Up

Transactions

The long awaited 2010 Phillies debut of Scott Mathieson is here as he was called up today when lefty Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL with left elbow  “ulnar neuritis”.  Mathieson has been lights out in his position as the Lehigh Valley closer except for his most recent outing during which he gave up a game winning grand slam to Fernando Martinez. In his 25 outings, Mathieson  was 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 12 saves (5th in the IL). Opponents are hitting just .194 against him. Mathieson, coming off two Tommy John surgeries, throws very hard, with his fastball hitting 100 mph on the Lehigh Valley radar gun at times. In addition to the fastball, Mathieson has been throwing both his curveball and change in key situations.

June 17th Open Discussion

Box Score Recap

Keep the personal attacks, derogatory language and childish antics to a minimum*

Last night’s games

Lakewood loses 9-2
Clearwater wins 2-1.
Reading loses 11-9.

Singleton takes an 0/4, Hewitt goes 3/4. Mass hysteria ensues.

* NONE AT ALL. Please don’t make me play comments police. Just stop. There’s no need to discuss it, or anything else. Just don’t engage in it.