The emergence of Brody Colvin

Colvin, Brody

My time is short during the week, but I really had to point out Brody Colvin’s breakout. Back in April I said not to really worry about early struggles. The jump to full season ball for high school pitchers can be tough. Learning to throw every 5 days, dealing with the common arm soreness from a pro routine, bigger crowds and ball parks, tough lineups, its a learning process. Colvin’s splits, by month

April: 15.1 IP – 11.15 ERA – 23 H – 9 BB – 9 K – 0.85 GO/AO
May: 33.2 IP – 3.21 ERA – 28 H – 10 BB – 31 K – 0.94 GO/AO
June: 20.1 IP – 1.77 ERA – 16 H – 5 BB – 21 K – 2.08 GO/AO

Last 10 appearances: 59 IP – 3.05 ERA – 49 H – 19 BB – 55 K – 1.35 GO/AO

And that includes a horrendous 1.2 IP – 5 ER game on May 12th. Since that appearance he has 6 starts

39.1 IP – 1.61 ERA – 28 H – 9 BB – 39 K – 0 HR

And the scouting report matches. His fastball has been 93-94 and he’s hit 96 on occasion with improving command. I think if Jarred Cosart is 1-A in terms of pitching prospects, Colvin is 1-B. It will be interesting to see if Cosart is promoted in the next few weeks. I’d personally like to see both guys stay at Lakewood all season, and then move up the ladder at the same time. I think you’ll see a friendly rivalry develop there, and that could be beneficial for both of them.

Around the System–Relief Pitchers

Around the System

A second look at Relief Pitchers. See below for stats and comments.

Lehigh Valley

Scott Mathieson, 26, 25 games, 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA, 12 saves, 29.2IP 20H 12BB 34K, 3 hr allowed, 0.68 GO/AO; 1.08 WHIP; .194 opp. avg., .222 vs. LH, .172 vs. RH, .273 with RISP. Slight bumps lately for Mathieson but he remains right at the top of the radar screen for a Phils call up.

Mike Zagurski, 27, 27 games, 0-2 with a 2.48 ERA, 29 IP 22H 13BB 43K , 1 hr allowed, 1.21 WHIP, 1.33 GO/AO, .206 opp. avg., .229 vs. LH, .186 vs. RH, .205 with RISP. Has not given up an earned run since April 30.  Zagurski has been outstanding of late as the lefty stopper in the ‘Pigs bullpen.  Good command and has been striking out hitters at a very impressive rate. Continue reading Around the System–Relief Pitchers →

Lehigh Valley Weekly Report

7. Lehigh Valley

Lehigh Valley is now 25-40, and in last place of the Northern Division of the International League, 13 games behind division leading Syracuse.  ‘Pigs leaders thru 6/15 include: Hitting: Cody Ransom, 8th in AB’s (243), 7th in runs (40), 3rd in HR’s (15), 6th in RBI’s (46), 3rd in strikeouts (77); Andy Tracy is 2nd in Walks (43) and 3rd in OBP (.405); Rich Thompson is tied for 6th in SB’s (14). Pitching: Andrew Carpenter is tied for 5th in Wins (6); Nate Bump is tied for 5th in Wins (6), 6th in ERA (2.73), tied for 3rd in starts (13) and 4th in IP (79); Brian Mazone is tied for 3rd in starts (13) and 7th in IP (75); Scott Mathieson is 5th in saves (12); Joe Savery is tied for 7th in HR allowed (10) and 6th in walks (32). Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Site Design Changes/Help

Maintenance

Quick update here.

Over the next couple days/weeks, you’re going to see some changes to the site. I’ve started to grow unhappy with the way the site looks. I get lots of compliments (and I appreciate all of them) on the content of the site, but I want the site to be more visually inviting. While I’m not ready to splash out $500+ on a custom designed WordPress theme, which will involve even more than just the money, I am going to go about cleaning up the display here. That means that the layout of the site is going to change, some stuff will be moved, some stuff won’t be displayed anymore, and things might just look all out of sorts. But hang with me, it will be worth the hassle. If you are looking for anything specific and can’t find it when stuff starts to get moved around, you can always use the SEARCH box at the top right of the site, I’ll make sure to leave that there.

I’m also going to ask for help on two fronts.

1. If you’d like to help (well, you’ll have to do most of it) design the new header for the site, and you have experience with photoshop, please send me an email at phuturephillies at gmail dot com.

2. I’m also looking for someone to help me with a simpler (but more time consuming) task in terms of getting some of the content here properly organized. Again, if you’d like to help, send me an email to the same address right above.

Thanks.

June 15th open thread

Box Score Recap

I supply last night’s box scores, you supply the commentary

Lakewood wins 5-3.
Clearwater wins 3-2.
Reading loses 7-2.
Lehigh Valley loses 7-6.

Lakewood Weekly Report (6/7-6/13)

4. Lakewood

Recap:  The ‘Claws are surging going into the final week of the SAL first half, going 4-1 and moving ahead of Hickory and into first place in the SAL North. Sebastian Valle led the way with a monster power week, while the starting pitching was consistently good across the board.  Their record has improved to 37-26.  They close out the first half with seven games at home, including three with Lexington then four with Kannapolis.

Continue reading Lakewood Weekly Report (6/7-6/13) →

Overbeck Promoted

Other Stuff

Just a very quick note that Cody Overbeck was promoted from Clearwater to Reading the Reading Phillies announced today. Overbeck, 24, was hitting .302/.380/.553 with 11 HR and 41 RBI in 215 AB’s with Clearwater and is coming off a Florida State League All Star appearance.

2010 Draft Review

2010 Draft

I’m going to start off my annual 2010 draft review with a quick note. I’m not one for self-editing. When I sit down to write something, I normally do it in one shot. I’ve written some very very long pieces in the history of this site, and off the top of my head, I think all of them were written in one sitting. Its the way I work. When I want to write something, I generally sit down and either it happens or it doesn’t. I have ideas, I want to talk about them, then I move on. But in writing this draft recap, I did a lot of self-editing. I started writing last night and ended up writing 5,500 words which I’ve since scrapped, or more accurately put, shelved until a later date. I started writing and realized my draft recap barely even talked about the 2010 draft, it was more of a philosophical writeup on the draft mechanics as a whole. Which I want to save for a later date, because I think they are still valid, but they’ll require me doing more work. And right now, all it seems anyone wants is my take on the draft. I’m going to pull a few small parts from that previous writeup, and its still going to be somewhat philosophical, but I’m going to focus more on the 2010 picks, and I’ll polish up that other piece for a rainy day while we wait for the signing deadline in August. So, for what is sure to still be a really long piece, check below…

Continue reading 2010 Draft Review →

‘Pigs Weekend Update

7. Lehigh Valley, Transactions

The weekend summary for Lehigh Valley along with some notes and a transaction.

Friday–The Lehigh Valley streak of not having won a series all season remains intact after their 8-4 loss to Toledo on Friday evening.  The four game series was split.  Toledo scored two in the first inning off of starter Brian Mazone, however the ‘Pigs bounced back with a run in the 2nd on a Willy Taveras RBI single.  Toledo scored single runs in the 3d and 4th, making it 4-1.  Again, the ‘Pigs stayed in the game with a Dane Sardinha Sac Fly in the 4th and an RBI double by Cody Ransom is the 5th that made the game 4-3.  Mazone left after six, with no decision (6IP 9H 4R 3ER 0BB 5K). An RBi single by Ransom tied the game, but Lehigh Valley relief pitchers had a rough night with Ryan Vogelsong (2-4) taking the loss after giving up a run in the 8th.  Toledo added three in the ninth off of Oscar Villarreal. Big nights offensively for Willy Taveras (2-4,r,rbi, sb), Cody Ransom (3-5, 2b, 2rbi), Dane Sardina (2-3,r,rbi), Brian Bocock (3 hits) and Neil Sellers (2 hits). Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Update →