Mathieson to have 2nd surgery?

The news on Mathieson isn’t good.

He’ll visit Dr. James Andrews for an arthroscopic procedure Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., though there’s a good chance Mathieson will need another ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.

Mathieson said he was told by Andrews that a scope might solve the issue, which would keep him out for a shorter time frame. He’s not ready to concede his season, yet.

“I’ll wake up [Thursday] and I’ll either be out four to six weeks or a year,” Mathieson said by phone.

There really isn’t a lot else to say. Its a shame to see a promising arm struggle with injuries, especially right after he reached the big leagues. We can just hope that he doesn’t need a second TJ, and if he does, that he can recover quickly.

Lakewood BlueClaws Report

Up to this point, this has been an up-and-down season for the Lakewood BlueClaws. Plagued by inconsistencies, both by pitchers and position players, they entered the week with a record of 15-16. Boosted by five solid starts by their rotation, the BlueClaws managed to eclipse the .500 mark this week, and they certainly hope to stay there for the foreseeable future.

Tuesday saw the BlueClaws finishing off a four-game series against the Lexington Legends. Behind a strong showing from Julian Sampson (6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K), the BlueClaws not only won the game 5-1, but the series. The offensive production came from homeruns from two of the BlueClaws’ more intriguing prospects, Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown, Taylor’s driving in three of the five runs on the night.

Continue reading Lakewood BlueClaws Report →

Naylor, Taylor Make Ten Pack

Kevin Goldstein highlights two Phillies prospects in his latest Ten pack;

Drew Naylor, rhp, Low-A Lakewood (Phillies)
Don’t know the name? Maybe you should, because he’s suddenly the new minor league strikeout leader. A 22-year-old Australian, Naylor entered the season a bit of an unknown, but he’s putting himself on the map with six straight quality starts, including an 11-strikeout performance last week, and then his best start of the year on Saturday night–-a complete-game two-hitter with 12 strikeouts against just one walk–-lowering his ERA to 2.04 in 53 innings with 62 strikeouts and just 34 hits allowed. Naylor is an interesting player from a scouting level, as he has no dominant offering, but plenty of good ones. His fastball has average velocity and good movement, his curveball and change are both above average, and all of his pitches play up because of excellent command. His relative baseball inexperience makes him a little old for the level, but he should be in the Florida State League soon.

and

Michael Taylor, OF, Low-A Lakewood (Phillies)
During his high school days at Florida, Taylor was a monster, standing six-foot-six and 250 pounds and featuring plenty of athleticism for his size; only a firm commitment to Stanford prevented him from being drafted. His college career was disappointing, but many in the scouting industry didn’t put the majority of blame on Taylor, they put it on a Stanford program that has a reputation for creating hitting clones, forcing most players into a quick, single-plane hitting mechanic that frankly just doesn’t work for everyone. Still in love with his potential, the Phillies made him a fifth-round pick last year, and allowed him to return to his natural swing. So far that’s more than paying off, as the monstrous right fielder has homered in four straight games to raise his averages to .333/.410/.524 in 33 games for the BlueClaws. When you are looking for sleepers in the minors, you’d be best served by betting on tools, so put some chips down on Taylor.

VSL Season Starts Today

The first of the two Latin American complex leagues starts today with the beginning of the Venezuelan Summer League.  The Phillies are coming off a 36-31 4th place finish in 2007, though may have a very young pitching staff on the 2008 roster.  Ace pitcher Freddy Ballestas is now stateside along with several others from the 2007 team.  The second best pitcher from last season, Juan Colmenarez, is still listed on the VSL roster, though he was present on the minor league Spring Training rosters earlier.  Daniel Lara is definitely back from last year to provide at least some veteran presence on the mound. Continue reading VSL Season Starts Today →

Is Happ ready to step in?

It’s Monday, that means its time for a discussion question. JA Happ is one of the few reasons to check the Lehigh Valley box scores. After a rough 2007, largely marred by injury, Happ has come out in much better fashion this season;

46.1 IP — 2.72 ERA — 34 H — 23 BB — 55 K — 4 HR — 1.35 GO/AO

Happ’s 2.72 ERA is probably a bit low considering the number of base runners allowed coupled with the 4 HR. His biggest problem is still the free pass. He’s walked 12 in his last 25.1 innings over 5 starts, and before that had walked 5 guys in back to back starts. Is it a case of true wildness, or is he just nibbling too much? The swings and misses are still there, that’s evident in the strikeout numbers, but are the walks due to his not having control/command of his pitches, or a case of him trying to be too fine? Last season in his major league debut he was nibbling way too much. Obviously he was fighting nerves that day, but its something he’s going to have to work on to be successful. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he needs to be aggressive and cut down on the walks.

So, at what point will Happ be ready to step into the rotation?

Lehigh Valley Report Card –Quarter Mark

As the ‘Pigs have won only  6  out of 36 games through the first quarter of the season, dont expect this to be pretty.

1B–  Andy Tracy has been improving as of late, trying to undo a very difficult beginning.   He currently had a 11 game hitting streak that was just snapped, and many of those hits have been clutch. His power numbers are picking up, as he now has 6  homers and 19 RBI’s, to go along with a .237 average . He is hitting .346 with runners in scoring position, far better than most ‘Pigs.   Grade: C

2B– A big season was expected from minor league veteran Casey Smith when he was acquired during the off season and Lehigh Valley has got just next to nothing from him.   He is hitting .179 with 2 homers and 9 RBI’s, along with a .216 OBP.   Even more startling is his .111 average with RISP.  Grade D-.

SS– Oscar Robles was just acquired a week or two ago, and it is too early to grade him, although so far it isnt looking pretty(.160).  Grade: Incomplete. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report Card –Quarter Mark →

Happ Dominant

The performance tonight of prospect JA Happ is worthy of special recognition.  Happ started and went seven dominant innings giving up only one run (in the 7th) on 4 hits.  He walked two and struck out thirteen.  He threw 110 pitches, 75 of them for strikes and lowered his ERA to an outstanding 2.72.  He was pinch hit for in the bottom of the 7th and left with a 3-1 lead.  This is the fourth consecutive excellent performance by Happ, and I would hope discussions have begun about the possibility of replacing Adam Eaton, who has drifted back into the same doldrums that have followed him the last several years as a Phillie.

Jason Donald makes the Hot Sheet

Another week, another Phillie makes the grade

Donald has quietly had a productive first full season in the big leagues last year, hitting .310/.409/.447 in 238 plate appearances with low Class A Lakewood and .300/.386/.491 in 336 plate appearances with high Class A Clearwater. The success has carried over into 2008 for Donald, who in 23 games is hitting .337/.444/.470. Donald is a selective hitter with a line-drive swing, but some scouts question whether he will be able to stay at shortstop or whether he has the hitting tools to ever become more than just a utility man. In an organization that boasts Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley in the middle of its big league infield—and with Utley signed through 2013, Rollins through 2010 with a club option for 2011—it’s not quite the ideal situation for Donald, but he is increasing his value with every productive game.

Again with the utility player tag. Sometimes BA underrates until its too late, but we’ll see where Donald ends up at the end of this season.

There will be a chat at BA at 2:30 Eastern.

Clearwater Breaks Out the Offense on Thursday Night

Jake Blalock gets a Home Run Clay Harris gets a Home Run
CLICK ON EACH PHOTO FOR A HIGH RESOLUTION ORIGINAL
Welinson Baez gets a Home Run Tuffy Gosewisch gets a Home Run

The Clearwater Threshers have been rolling lately, and the train just kept on going in Thursday night’s effort versus the Jupiter Hammerheads. The team picked up their fourth consecutive win, and their fifth in the last six games. Coming into the game the team had just eight home runs in the first 33 games of the year, however the club picked up four home runs on the night with Jake Blalock, Welinson Baez, Tuffy Gosewisch and Clay Harris each crushing a long ball all for the first time as a Thresher this season.

Continue reading Clearwater Breaks Out the Offense on Thursday Night →

Iron Pigs– Week 6

Lehigh Valley closed out week six of their season having gone 1-6 on the week, and now at 5-30 on the year, 20 games out of first place in the Northern Division of the IL.  The misery clearly continues with no real end or even break in sight.  Andy Tracy moved into 6th place in the IL in homers (6) and that wraps it up as far as Lehigh Valley hitting leaders.  As far as pitching goes JA Happ is 9th in innings pitched (39.1) and 2nd in strikeouts (42). Brian Mazone is 4th in WIns (4), 2nd in innings (45.2), and third in homers allowed (6).  JD Durbin is 2nd in homers allowed (7) in only 24 innings. Continue reading Iron Pigs– Week 6 →