Tag Archives: David Whitehead

Kelly Dugan Returns, Again; June 13, 2015

Even though the Threshers played a double header against the Brevard County Manatees, the big story was the return of Kelly Dugan.  He played right field in the first game and was the DH in the night cap.  He went a combined 2-7 with a BB, K, and his first HR of the season.  He hit the ball hard most at bats.  The original plan was for Dugan to play the outfield Friday and Saturday, DH on Sunday, then take stock.  Friday’s rain derailed that plan.  I expect that he’ll play the outfield Sunday.  He could return to Reading not long after that.  He looks ready.

The Threshers lost the opener.  Continue reading Kelly Dugan Returns, Again; June 13, 2015

Threshers Walk Off with Win Against Fort Myers; May 29, 2015

The Threshers played two different games in the span of nine innings.  In the first game they ran out to a 6-0 lead in four innings against the Miracle’s top prospect, RHP Kohl Stewart.  Then they went dormant for four innings as the Miracle mounted a comeback that tied the game.  Dylan Cozens’ walk off single in the ninth finally ended the suspense.

Continue reading Threshers Walk Off with Win Against Fort Myers; May 29, 2015

Threshers Split Double Header with Fort Myers; May 28, 2015

The Threshers played two 7-inning games against the Fort Myers Miracle on Thursday to make up for the game postponed Tuesday night.  Mark Leiter pitched game one, and David Whitehead pitched the night cap.  The Threshers dropped the opener 2-1.  They rallied to win game two, 6-3.

Continue reading Threshers Split Double Header with Fort Myers; May 28, 2015

Ailing Threshers Drop Series Opener to Charlotte; May 12, 2015

The Threshers lost to division-leading Charlotte in the first game of a double header, 8-2.  As I type this, water from a heavy, between games downpour is ponding in foul territory in front of the left field stands.  The start of second game is in doubt.

This is probably not a bad outcome for the Threshers.  Although they outhit the Stone Crabs 11-10, they still looked to be suffering the after affects of a virus that attacked the coaches and players at the end of their recently completed road trip.  Some media outlets had reported that the team had contracted food poisoning, but those stories were incorrect.

Continue reading Ailing Threshers Drop Series Opener to Charlotte; May 12, 2015

Crawford Returns, Leads Threshers to 7-3 Victory; May 6, 2015

J.P. Crawford is an impact player.  There.  If no one has said it, there it is.

The long-awaited return of J.P. Crawford ended today when he strode into the batter’s box to leadoff the home first.  The Phillies’ top prospect had been sidelined with a left oblique strain he suffered during spring training.  During the past few weeks, he had been working out at the Carpenter Complex and recently completed his rehab stint with the XST squads, when he played the field in back-to-back, nine-inning games.  Today, he was the Threshers’ designated hitter and leadoff batter. Continue reading Crawford Returns, Leads Threshers to 7-3 Victory; May 6, 2015

Threshers Win on the Road in Dunedin, 2-0; April 10, 2015

The Threshers rebounded from their season opening home loss against the Dunedin Blue Jays by beating them in their own home opener.  The payback didn’t come easy as the Threshers were no-hit through 5 innings and scored their first run without benefit of a hit.  But fortunaetly they scored enough to reward David Whitehead with a win for the solid effort he produced.  Lee Ridenhour was perfect in a set-up role, and Ulises Joaquin persevered to save the victory.

The game again featured rehabbing major leaguers, Michael Saunders as DH and leadoff hitter for the Blue Jays and RF Domonic Brown batting third and playing 5 innings for the Threshers.  Neither figured in the scoring. Continue reading Threshers Win on the Road in Dunedin, 2-0; April 10, 2015

Florida Instructional League Game #9; 10/2/2014

The Phillies lost 5-2 to the Pirates on Thursday. The line up, box score, and write up – Continue reading Florida Instructional League Game #9; 10/2/2014

Florida Instructional League Game #6; 9/27/2014

The Phillies and Orioles faced off in an Instructional League game this morning. It ended in a 1-1 tie after nine innings. The Orioles managed 2 hits, one an infield single, and scored an unearned run on a hit batsman, error catching a pickoff throw, and another error on a throw to try and get the runner at third. The Phillies amassed 4 hits, one an infield single, and scored their run on an Andrew Knapp ground out after Williams Astudillo singled to right and moved to third on a passed ball and a balk. Continue reading Florida Instructional League Game #6; 9/27/2014

XST; May 26, 2014

This will be my first eXtended Spring Training report in a couple weeks. The Williamsport and Gulf Coast teams seem to be taking shape. With most of the rehabbing players having returned to their assigned teams, I have been watching prospects more than watching games. I have been concentrating on players like Cord Sandberg and Trey Williams. Williams has been playing first base every game but only recently started taking in-game at bats again. He went 1 for 4 today with a double. His defense has consistently improved since the beginning of camp.

Sandberg went 0 for 1, but what a day. He worked an 8-pitch walk in the 1st inning after falling behind 1-2. In the 3rd inning he grounded out to second in a 6-pitch at bat. He saw 7 pitches while working a walk in the 5th inning. He finished with a 5-pitch at bat in the 8th inning when he was he by a pitch and loaded the bases. After a line drive double play left second base open, he stole the base. Continue reading XST; May 26, 2014

XST and Threshers May 8, 2014

I was all set to watch the Williamsport squad with Denton Keys starting when I went over to see Davis Whitehead warm up for the GCL game. He throws a heavy ball with some movement. He’s 6’4, 240 and reminds me of a thin Joe Blanton. I decided to watch him pitch since I hadn’t seen him since his return from TJ surgery last May. Since I went back and forth between the 2 fields, I don’t have a whole game summary for either game, but rather a few observations of individual players.

David Whitehead. The 34th round pick out of Elon University broke the bat of the first batter he faced but the third baseman air mailed the throw over Luis Encarnacion. The second batter broke his bat on a ball he punched into shallow center. Herlis Rodriguez charged and fired home preventing the runner from scoring. Unfortunately, the cut off man couldn’t handle the throw and the batter was able to take second. The third batter hit a line drive that Olvy Marte missed twice at second. He leaped to glove the ball but couldn’t control it. The ball landed on him as he hit the ground, but again he couldn’t get a handle on it. The runners had to hold. So, after breaking two bats and facing three batter the bases were loaded with no outs instead of a runner on first with two outs. The clean-up hitter lofted a double to left center and the Pirates scored 2 unearned runs. Whitehead’s one inning line was 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K. He deserved a better fate. I left to watch the Williamsport squad and hopefully better defense. Continue reading XST and Threshers May 8, 2014