Not really THAT big of a shock really. The Phillies needed to clear a spot on the 40 man roster for Russell Branyan, so someone had to go. Geary was optioned to Ottawa again, another non-shock. Segovia was always kind of a fringe guy, and it was tough to figure out if he could get by with a lack of velocity and true out pitches, and we found out the answer this season. When a player is designated for assignment, a team has 72 hours to trade or release him. Best of luck to him wherever he ends up.
Clearwater Threshers Update
The Clearwater Threshers have continued to experience success this season, and we’ve gotten to see some solid talent in the Clearwater lineup for the first time in what seems like forever. The team is currently in third place in their division 3.5 games behind the Tampa Yankees with 28 games remaining on the team’s schedule for 2007.
Since my last Clearwater update center fielder Greg Golson has been promoted to Reading along with left handed pitcher Josh Outman. Meanwhile Alex Concepcion, Andrew Cruse and Ben Pfinsgraff have been added to the Threshers rotation from Lakewood.
Q/A with Bryan Smith of Baseball Prospectus
I was lucky enough to get in contact with prospect guru Bryan Smith at Baseball Prospectus and he was kind enough to answer some questions regarding Phillies prospects. Before joining the prospect coverage at Baseball Prospectus, Bryan wrote about the minor leagues for SI.com, Baseball Analysts and the Hardball Times. To read all of his work, click on over here. Full interview below the fold
Continue reading Q/A with Bryan Smith of Baseball Prospectus
Reading Report
Heading into the last month of the season, Reading continues fighting mediocrity, amid a slew of lineup changes. They are currently 59-58 and in 5th place in the Southern division, 8.5 games out of first. Jason Hill has been climbing among the league leaders now leading the league in doubles (31) and 4th in batting average (.316). Greg Jacobs is 10th in average (.304), 7th in hits (116), 8th in doubles (29), 6th in homers(18) and 5th in RBI’s (70). Mike Costanzo continues his run production, now 3rd in runs (75), 1st in homers (22), and 8th in RBI’s (66). He is also 2nd in the league having struck out 132 times. After the trade of Matt Maloney, the lone pitcher among the league leaders in Chris Key, who is 6th in the league with 16 saves.
2007 Clearwater Threshers Awards
Every year for the past five years I’ve given out fan nominated and voted awards to the most deserving player on the Clearwater Threshers roster for that year through my Clearwater Threshers Blog. I’ve taken nominations for the last two weeks, and now it is time to vote for the winners in each category.
Those of you who are fans of the Phillies and their minor league players have your chance to vote now for the winners.
http://www.jeffcrupper.com/baseball/awardvoting.html
Please visit the link provided and vote for the players you think deserve to win in each category. Also, please feel free to pass the link on to anyone you know who could help determine a deserving winner.
Possible September call ups?
Which players do you think will get the call this September? List your choices and give your reasoning. I’m planning a Q/A with Bryan Smith, a writer from Baseball Prospectus, and should have that in a few days, so check back for that.
How do you rate this draft?
The dust has settled a bit, there are a few big unknowns remaining. How would you rate or grade this draft? You can give two assessments;
1. We sign no one else
2. We sign either Workman, Sampson, Moncrief, etc etc, or we sign a combination of them.
Feel free to explain your answers. It’s impossible to really know how things will shake out for 3 or 4 years, but we can assess what we know so far.
Where should Savery start next year?
Where should The Savior start in 2008? Lakewood? Clearwater? Reading? Philadelphia? The Phillies have hinted he could start at either Clearwater or Reading, who knows. What do you think?
Joe Savery sighting
The Savior made his professional debut tonight, going 3 innings for Williamsport.
3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K, 0 BB
Call him up.
Ottawa Lynx Week Seventeen
Ottawa began week seventeen exactly as they ended the previous week-losing to Richmond, getting swept by Richmond, and extending their losing streak to seven games. Again, the starting pitching gave up a big inning early, (seven run third), Ottawa lost 9-4 and Matt Childers, (5-2), picked up a loss for only the first time in seven starts. Childers gave up fourteen hits in only four innings and while the bullpen allowed only one Richmond run the rest of the way, the damage was done. Doug Clark hit a three run home run in the third effectively putting the game out of reach as Richmond totalled nine hits in the inning. Although Ottawa scored three times in the next inning, they would manage only one more run. Newcomer Michael Garciapara went 2-3 for the Lynx with a walk and an RBI as Ottawa managed eight hits but seven were singles.
