The Phils ended the week far better than they began, on a 5 game winning streak, bringing their record to 20-17, 1.5 games behind front running Akron in the Southern division. Javon Moran is 2nd in the league in runs (31), leading the league in hits (44) and stolen bases (16), and 6th in the league in average (.319). Jesus Merchan continues to lead the league in average at .381, is second in on base percentage (.440) and 10th in the league in hits (27). Mike Costanzo is second in the league in homers (8) and leads in the league in strikeouts (49). Kyle Kendrick leads the league with 53 innings pitched and Landon Jacobsen is 5th in the league with 4 wins.
What’s up with Carlos Carrasco?
I’ve gotten that question in my inbox from about 10 people in the last 12 hours…..I have no idea. I sent out a few e-mails to try and get some info, nothing as of now. If I do find out why he left last night’s game after 3 batters, I’ll be sure and share it in this space, so keep an eye out. You won’t find hearsay or wild speculation here, if I have anything to pass on, it will be from a reliable source. Let’s just hope it’s nothing major.
UPDATE: Now we know. Sounds like nothing major.
Random thoughts….
Just some musings to think about…
* Adrian Cardenas has kicked it into high gear. Check out his splits from April and May
April: 85 AB (91 PA), 4.4% BB, 18.7% K, 26.1% XBH
May: 39 AB (45 PA), 8.9% BB, 8.9% K, 36.4% XBH
That’s more like it…
What will become of Jeremy Slayden?
Jeremy Slayden, currently mashing in the Florida State League, has been a popular topic of discussion of late. I plan on writing a profile on Slayden later this week and giving my thoughts, but before I do, I wanted to get YOUR opinion and see what you think. So, here’s how you can do your part…
VSL Opening Day
May 14th is day one for the Venezuelan Summer League where the Phillies are defending champs. The initial roster for the season has been posted at the minor league baseball web site:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=661
Scott Mathieson Update
People have been asking, so I did some searching, and this is what I’ve found on Scott. From Delewareonline.com
Right-hander Scott Mathieson, who underwent elbow ligament transplant surgery Sept. 30, threw 20 four-seam fastballs Saturday in his first bullpen session under pitching coach Rich Dubee’s watch.
“Dubee threatened to pull me off the mound if I threw any two-seamers,” Mathieson said with a smile.
Doesn’t say whether or not he threw off the mound, I’m guessing he did. I’m not an expert on throwing patterns or rehab assignments, so I really can’t be sure when he’ll actually be pitching again, and I won’t post hearsay or make a wild guess. He was instructed to only throw 4 seam fastballs, a pitch that isn’t particularly taxing on his arm. He didn’t report any ill effects from the session, so it’s a positive step forward. He’s probably at least a month away from throwing an extended session with all of his pitches, and then at that point, he will probably need 6 weeks or so of minor league rehab, maybe more. The thing is, control/command is the last aspect of pitching to return after TJ surgery, and his command wasn’t pinpoint before the injury. The best case scenario, I suppose, is him being in a position to help in the bullpen sometime in August or September, but we probably won’t see him at his best until 2008. I’ll try to keep digging a bit on this as we get into the summer and provide more regular updates when I have them.
Monday Morning 6 Pack
Some interesting developments this week, including a nice start from Carlos Carrasco, Zagurski’s promotion, Slayden’s dominance of the FSL and more. Also, some disappointments, and as always, a weird batting line…
Stock UP:
Jeremy Slayden: 7/17, .389 (7BB, .560 OB%) — 1 HR — 2 RBI — 3 R
Greg Golson: 7/21, .333 (5BB, .462 OB%) — 6 R — 1 2B — 1 SB
Gus Milner: 10/26, .385 (2BB, .429 OB%) — 5 2B — 1 HR — 4 RBI
Stock DOWN:
Jason Jaramillo: 1/18, .056 (2BB, .150 OB%)
James Happ: 10 IP, 8 ER (7.20 ERA) — 11 H — 10 BB — 11 K
Brad Harman: 2/17, .118 (1BB, .167 OB%)
Honorable Mention:
Javon Moran: 10/24, .417 (4BB, .500 OB%) — 7 R — 3 SB
Dishonorable Mention:
Welinson Baez: 3/20, .150 (2BB, .227 OB%)
Notes:
* Jarrod Freeman is really struggling, giving up 13 H in 4.2 IP in his last start
* Kyle Drabek rebounded with a great start, 7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
* Ben Pfinsgraff is on the 7 day DL. Anyone know why? He’s been outstanding this season.
Mike Zagurski promoted to Reading
In case you haven’t checked the box scores yet, Zagurski made his AA debut today, pitching 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 2. Mike appears to be on the fast track at this point, and with a solid 3 months under his belt, could even get a look in September when the rosters expand.
Clearwater Threshers Game “Smoked” Out
The Clearwater Threshers game scheduled for Friday night against the Vero Beach Devil Rays was cancelled due to smoke in the air. The smoke has been in the area for more than a week with a tropical storm off of the east coast carrying winds and smoke down to Clearwater from a series of wild fires burning in Georgia and north Florida. Most days the wind pattern has changed in the late afternoon as the gulf winds move inland when the weather cools later in the day.
On Friday night the winds never changed and with health concerns for the players the game was cancelled and will be made up as part of a double header on Saturday shceduled to begin at 5:00 weather/smoke permitting.
The Threshers have split the first two games in this series winning in an afternoon game on Wednesday 3-1 thanks to back-to-back eighth inning home runs from Jeremy Slayden and John Urick. Carlos Carrasco took the mound for the Threshers throwing eight excellent innings giving up just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks to lower his ERA to 4.05 and pick up his fourth win of the year to move his record to 4-1 on the season.
The Threshers got a 1-0 lead in the third when Matt Thayer walked and scored on a Greg Golson double, but the V-Rays tied things in the seventh with a solo home run off of Carrasco. The Threshers answered in the eighth inning with back-to-back home runs from Jeremy Slayden and John Urick to take a 3-1 lead in the game, with closer Mike Zagurski shutting down any hope of a Rays rally in the ninth by fanning all three batters he faced to secure the 3-1 victory.
The team lost on Thursday 8-6 with starter Dan Brauer having his first bad outing of the year. Brauer was only able to make it 2.2 innings in the game giving up six runs on five hits with six walks and three strikeouts. With the loss the Threshers dropped to second place one game behind the Sarasota Reds.
Ottawa Lynx Report Week Five
Ottawa Lynx Week Five
It was a week that saw our top starting pitcher leave to play in South Korea, a week where we hit two home runs, and a week of road games with no breaks. Eleven games in ten days with no day off for travel beginning with an all night bus ride to Rochester immediately after the game Friday. Ottawa had to play two games on the afternoon of the day they arrived in Rochester. Granted, as originally scheduled, the series in Rochester was to be a two game set, (one game Saturday and one Sunday), but with the bad weather in week one it was decided that there would be a makeup game May 5, forcing the Lynx to play three games in two days. Then it would be off to Louisville and then Indianapolis, four games each then back home. No off days for travel coming back home-nineteen games, (counting our next home stand). The starters would have to keep up those quality starts or the Ottawa bullpen will soon be overworked and in shambles. Road trips are tough enough for any team but surely the IL can do better than this. You’re having a good season if you can play near .500 on the road and .667 at home and these types of road trips don’t make it any easier.
