4/24/09– The ‘Pigs opened their homestand in a big way on Friday evening with a 13-3 drubbing of the visiting Red Sox. After the Sox took an early 2-0 lead off starter Justin Lehr (3-0), a seven run third inning put the game away early for Lehigh Valley. Mike Cervenak started it all with a long two run homer (2), which was followed later in the inning by a two run double by John Mayberry. Jason Donald and Paul Hoover added RBI doubles in the inning as well. Andy Tracy added a solo homer in the fourth (3). A second RBI Double by John Mayberry scored two in the sixth, making it 11-3, and the ‘Pigs added yet another two runs in the seventh to give them their thirteen run total. In a game where many broke out offensively, Donald (3-5, 2 doubles, 2 runs, RBI), Mayberry (3-4, 2 doubles, run, 4 RBI’s), and Pablo Ozuna (3-5, run, double) were the most notable. Lehr put in a workmanlike effort on the hill, getting a quality start, going 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 8 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 2. Continue reading ‘Pigs Weekend Game Report
Another Big Night for Phillies Starters
No, it wasn’t quite the banner day that last Tuesday was, but Saturday night was still an impressive night for 3 of the 4 minor league pitchers who took the bump in the Phillies organization.
Reading: Antonio Bastardo (5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K)
Clearwater: Yohan Flande (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K)
Lakewood: Tyler Cloyd (7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K)
Moved back to the rotation from the bullpen, Bastardo responded with 5 frames of no hit ball before being lifted, presumably for reaching his pitch count. The 23-year old Flande, meanwhile, ran his scoreless streak to 18 innings after jumping straight to the FSL from the GCL, and Cloyd turned in perhaps his finest outing as a professional in the BlueClaws’ 1-0 win.
Obviously this trio isn’t nearly the caliber of prospect as the Carrasco/Drabek/Knapp group, but they certainly have a future if they continue the path they’re on this year. Now if only those bats would warm up a bit…
Lehigh Valley Report
Lehigh Valley went 3-3 this week, and are returning home with a record of 5-8, in 5th place in the Northern Division of the International League. Lehigh Valley actually has no one among the league leaders in any hitting category, not an easy feat. I have a bit more to say looking at the pitching categories. Justin Lehr is 10th in ERA (1.59) and 10th in WHIP (0.88); Gary Majewski is tied for 3rd in saves (2); Carlos Carrasco is 2nd in the league in innings (19), is third in strikeouts (20), and is 4th in WHIP (0.79). In a troubling category, Drew Carpenter is tied for 2nd in homers allowed (4).
Top 30 Update, volume 1
I’m going to try to update the stats for all of the guys on my Top 30 list periodically, maybe once every 3 weeks or so. I figured now was as good a time as any to update. Check below the fold, as its a rather large image.
Clearwater Threshers Week 2 Report: (4/15-4/22)
Week one for the Threshers was all about the offense as they lead the league after four games with 26 runs, but week two for the team was all about the pitching. The team was 4-3 on the week, and still remains on top of the Florida Sate League Northern Division with a record of 7-4. Each of the four wins this week included a pitching gem from their starters. Kyle Drabek had two wins going 13.2 innings with 19 strikeouts to go with the 8 from his first outing to now lead the FSL with 27 Ks overall. Carlos Monasterios threw a complete game shut out in his first start of the season in a seven inning affair as part of a double header, while Yohan Flande threw 7.0 innings on Sunday to improve his record to 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA on the year.
Continue reading Clearwater Threshers Week 2 Report: (4/15-4/22)
Lakewood BlueClaws Weekly Report (4/14 – 4/19)
A week after being shown up by Delmarva at home in their opening series, the Lakewood BlueClaws took their show on the road with something to prove. And prove it they did, winning both their series against Lake County Captains and the Hagerstown Suns, going 4-2 on the week, and 5-2 on the roadtrip. The ‘Claws now sit at 6-5, third overall in the SAL Northern division, and two games back of the first-place Kannapolis Intimidators.
Monday was scheduled to have been the first game of their second series at home, facing the Captains again, however, Mother Nature decided to take pity on the BlueClaws and give them an unscheduled day off rather than making them play the full seventeen straight days their schedule had previously planned for them.
Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Weekly Report (4/14 – 4/19)
A Closer Look: Chance Chapman
We move on to our second installment of A Closer Look, but we don’t move very far, staying in Clearwater to take a look at Threshers pitcher Chance Chapman.
Chapman was the Phillies’ 8th Round Pick in 2007 out of Oral Roberts, and he signed almost immediately for a $20K bonus. BA had this to say about him when he was taken…
Chapman’s strikeout pitch is a big league slider, and he also has an 88-91 mph fastball with life. When he commands his fastball, he’s tough to hit. Chapman’s age works against him, as he’s 23 after spending three years at Cuesta (Calif.) Junior College and missing all of 2004 with an injury.
Now in his third season of pro ball, I think it’s fair to assess what Chapman has achieved so far, and project where his career might be headed. Check below the jump as we tackle the numbers.
Reading Phillies Weekly Report (4/13 – 4/19)
The Reading Phillies continued their good start to the ’09 season with a 4-2 week. The tremendous pitching from week 1 has deteriorated into mediocre pitching, but the offense stepped it up this week allowing the Phillies to escape with some close victories. Lets take a closer look at the games.
Continue reading Reading Phillies Weekly Report (4/13 – 4/19)
Lehigh Valley Weekend Report
Weekend In Review–
4/17/09–The ‘Pigs opened a series against the Red Sox in Pawtucket and picked up their first win in McCoy Stadium, 4-3 over the ‘Sox. A 2 run homer by Andy Tracy was the decisive blow, while Rich THompson continued his role as a spark plug of the ‘Pig offense with an RBI double and run scored. Andrew Carpenter (1-0) started and went six innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits. He didnt walk a batter and struck out 7, throwing 92 pitches, 56 for strikes. Two home run balls were problematic for Carpenter. Gary Majewski picked up his first save of the year, pitching a scoreless ninth. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekend Report
Labrum Surgery for Kyle Slate?
This was actually posted Thursday by a commenter, but I didn’t see it until now, and I think it bears mentioning.
Shoulder Surgery Likely for Kyle Slate
…an MRI has revealed a tear in his right labrum.
“Surgery looks likely,” said the 6-foot-5, 200 pound right-hander. He said the surgery would sideline him 7-10 months.
A really tough break for a kid who missed parts of last year with mononucleosis, but who has been very effective when he’s been able to pitch. He’s been mentioned before on this site as a sleeper, but he’s only managed to log 29.2 IP over the past 2 years. Here’s wishing Kyle the best in his recovery.
