Brett Myers made his second rehab start at Reading (AA) on Saturday, with mixed results. Myers allowed one run in two innings. He threw thirty pitches, only sixteen for strikes. He allowed two hits, one of which was a flukish inside-the-park-homer. (The long fly ball hit off the outfield fence, and bounded far away from outfielder DomOnic Brown.)
Myers was expected to throw fifty pitches, but rain forced the game to be suspended.
Myers is expected to pitch on consecutive days, later this week, and then be recalled to Philadelphia. (The appearances are supposed to be for Lehigh Valley (AAA), but I'm officially voting for them to take place for pitching-strapped, playoff-hungry, Reading.)
A positive for the R-Phils was that Myers' start saved them from using one of their starting pitchers, as the game was turned into a Myers + bullpen effort. A rain-wasted start by one of Reading's remaining starting pitchers would have been damaging to their playoff hopes. Reading was very lucky that Myers' unfortunate eye injury (that did NOT happen in a bar) pushed back his rehab schedule, enabling him to pitch for them on Saturday.
The Phillies announced that top prospect Kyle Drabek has been shut down for the remainder of the season. Drabek is not injured, the Phils are merely shutting him down, for precautionary reasons. It is a prudent move, considering that Drabek is coming off TJ surgery, and has pitched 158 innings.
Drabek's final stats at Reading: 8-2, 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .298 BABIP, 7.1 K/9, 2.45 K/BB, 3.83 FIP. One notable red flag: LHB hit .322 against the 21 year-old northpaw.
It's a shame that Drabek's workload wasn't reduced earlier in the season, so that he could perform for the R-Phils during their playoff run, and their inevitable postseason games. But the Phils made the right move, in shutting Drabek down.
So, who's left in the Reading rotation? How are they going to get through a week in which they have ten games scheduled?
The current rotation seems to include Yohan Flande, Mike Stutes, Mike Cisco, Vance Worley, and Alex Concepcion (?). (Concepcion has pitched mostly as a reliever, and would be fortunate to pitch four innings. Considering that doubleheaders in AA are only seven innings long, those games would be the best fit for him, as a starter.)
Flande and Concepcion are scheduled to start Monday's doubleheader, and could both start Saturday's doubleheader, on four days rest.
Mike Cisco has been announced as Tuesday's starter, with Mike Stutes scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
Friday would be Vance Worley's fifth day.
It looks like Reading needs a plan for Thursday.
Who makes the start for Reading on Thursday?
I'd like to see a "rehab game" featuring Brett Myers, Clay Condrey, and Antonio Bastardo. That could really help the R-Phils' playoff hopes. We may see some of the aforementioned rehabbers in Reading this week, but the R-Phils need to find a starting solution for the rest of the season.
They will, likely, need to recall a pitcher from Clearwater (A), one who would be pitching with (at least) four days' rest, on Thursday.
The available candidates are: Drew Naylor, Jon Velasquez, Tyler Cloyd, and Darren Byrd.
Naylor is twenty-three, on the 40-Man Roster, and has pitched the most innings in A (151). Naylor has a K/BB of 3.06, and a FIP of 3.67. If you remove the worst of Naylor's last ten starts, he has a 3.97 ERA, in that timeframe.
Velasquez turns twenty-four in October, has a K/BB of 2.82, and a FIP of 3.83 (64.2 IP).
Velasquez has an ERA of 2.82, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.
Cloyd is twenty-two, has a K/BB of 1.76, and a FIP of 4.02 (71.2 IP).
Cloyd has an ERA of 3.27, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.
Byrd turns twenty-three in October, has a K/BB of 1.66, and a FIP of 3.85 (81 IP).
Byrd has an ERA of 2.58, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.
So, esteemed blogger, who should get the call from Clearwater?
I'd recall Naylor to make the start for Reading, on Wednesday, on six days rest.
I'd recall Velasquez to make the start for Reading, on Thursday, on five days rest.
(The R-Phils never beat the New Britain Rock Cats, so they might as well try some different starters against them, in Naylor and Velasquez.)
Mike Stutes would be pushed back to Friday, facing 1st place Connecticut, on seven days' rest.
Vance Worley, pitching on five days' rest, would split the Saturday doubleheader, with Yohan Flande.
Alex Concepcion would return to the Reading bullpen.
Mike Cisco (6.41 ERA/519 FIP in five AA starts) would return to Clearwater, after making the start for Reading on Tuesday.
Clay Condrey and Antonio Bastardo are scheduled for rehab appearances on Monday, with the GCL Phillies (Rookie). They are getting closer. With no setbacks, and two (or three) more rehab appearances (in AA/AAA?), we might see them with the parent club next week.
J.C. Romero might long toss, at some point in the near future. Starting to look like Eyre and Bastardo will be the (only) lefties in the postseason bullpen.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost to the Syracuse SkyChiefs on Sunday, 3-1. A bunch of non-prospects, playing out the string, and hoping to become Phillies (MLB) on Tuesday.
I find the SkyChiefs' logo to be aesthetically displeasing.
The Reading Phillies lost both games of a doubleheader on Sunday, 1-0 and 5-2, to the Bowie Baysox. Two very disappointing seven-inning losses for the R-Phils.
In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Chance Chapman (3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB/4 K) and Scott Mathieson (2 IP, 4 K) shut down Bowie. But Reading was held to five singles, and the inside-the-park homer allowed by Brett Myers was the game's only run.
The R-Phils were also held to only five hits (all singles) in the second game. Two games, fourteen innings, zero extra-base hits for Reading.
Starter Vance Worley was ineffective, pitching four and two-thirds innings, and allowing four runs (four hits, five walks/four whiffs). His record dropped to 7-11, with a 5.22 ERA. Worley is now 1-5, with a 7.44 ERA, after the All-Star break. In his last ten games, Worley is 2-6, with an 8.15 ERA. Perhaps Worley needs to be shut down also, as he is nearing 150 IP, after pitching 69 in 2008.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Daytona Cubs on Sunday, 4-2. Edgar Garcia got the victory, surrendering only a single run, in six and one-third innings (four hits, one walk/four whiffs). Tyson Brummett pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, reducing his ERA with Clearwater to only 9.00.
Showing posts with label Drew Naylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drew Naylor. Show all posts
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/4)
Brett Myers will pitch in a simulated game on Thursday, in Clearwater. Myers could really help the Phils' bullpen. As Myers is attempting to return as a reliever, will the simulated game be only an inning, or two? I think the simulated game should consist of Myers pitching to Threshers' slugger Steve Susdorf (.393 AVG., .980 OPS) every at bat. That would be a good test for Myers. Afterwards, they can grab a beer, and talk civil engineering.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Rochester Red Wings, yet again, 7-4. Andrew Carpenter surrendered four runs (two earned), in six innings (six hits, one walk/six whiffs, one home run allowed). Carpenter improved to 9-2, with a 2.72 ERA. Michael Taylor was 0 for 5, dropping his AAA average to .243.
The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the Trenton Thunder, 10-0, in a game that wasn't as close as the score would seem to indicate. In the sixth inning, the R-Phils got a walk. In the seventh inning, they got an infield single. That was the extent of their offense for the night. They had two baserunners, and made three errors. Starter Mike Stutes permitted three runs, in five innings (five hits, four walks/three whiffs, one home run allowed). That was much better than reliever Tyson Brummett, who allowed seven runs (five earned) in one inning.
The R-Phils tried to use a strategic double switch to spark a comeback from a ten-run deficit, putting Tim Gradoville into the lineup behind the plate, batting fifth, in the spot vacated by third baseman Neil Sellers. Carlos Leon entered the game at third base, batting in the eighth spot, vacated by catcher Tim Kennelly. An intriguing manuever, but it did not result in any hits, or baserunners, or anything like that.
The R-Phils host the Trenton Thunder again on Wednesday, with Pedro Martinez scheduled to make a rehab start. They don't guarantee that they will score any runs, but the first 2000 fans get a R-Phils Bread box, and a loaf of bread. It will be quite the Tribute to Sliced Bread. So, there's that.
Tim Gradoville is back! Gradoville has been activated as a player/coach for the R-Phils, and will split time behind the plate with Tim Kennelly. Catcher Carlos Guevara needed to be placed on the DL, and with starting catcher Tuffy Gosewisch already DL'd, the R-Phils activated a low-A coach. Gradoville is now the fifth-string catcher in the Phillies' organization.
Gradoville is best remembered for the time that he played a bad guy on a Court TV show, and wore a uniform with the character's name on it, during a real (AAA?) game. At least I'm pretty sure that actually happened...
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-1. Threshers starter Drew Naylor was pitching very well, until the Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth. Naylor pitched seven and two-thirds innings, permitting six runs (four earned), on nine hits (zero walks/seven whiffs, one three-run homer allowed). The Threshers had four hits, and made two errors. (A better ratio than the R-Phils, but still not good.) Steve Susdorf was 0 for 3, dropping his average to a season-low .385.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Rochester Red Wings, yet again, 7-4. Andrew Carpenter surrendered four runs (two earned), in six innings (six hits, one walk/six whiffs, one home run allowed). Carpenter improved to 9-2, with a 2.72 ERA. Michael Taylor was 0 for 5, dropping his AAA average to .243.
The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the Trenton Thunder, 10-0, in a game that wasn't as close as the score would seem to indicate. In the sixth inning, the R-Phils got a walk. In the seventh inning, they got an infield single. That was the extent of their offense for the night. They had two baserunners, and made three errors. Starter Mike Stutes permitted three runs, in five innings (five hits, four walks/three whiffs, one home run allowed). That was much better than reliever Tyson Brummett, who allowed seven runs (five earned) in one inning.
The R-Phils tried to use a strategic double switch to spark a comeback from a ten-run deficit, putting Tim Gradoville into the lineup behind the plate, batting fifth, in the spot vacated by third baseman Neil Sellers. Carlos Leon entered the game at third base, batting in the eighth spot, vacated by catcher Tim Kennelly. An intriguing manuever, but it did not result in any hits, or baserunners, or anything like that.
The R-Phils host the Trenton Thunder again on Wednesday, with Pedro Martinez scheduled to make a rehab start. They don't guarantee that they will score any runs, but the first 2000 fans get a R-Phils Bread box, and a loaf of bread. It will be quite the Tribute to Sliced Bread. So, there's that.
Tim Gradoville is back! Gradoville has been activated as a player/coach for the R-Phils, and will split time behind the plate with Tim Kennelly. Catcher Carlos Guevara needed to be placed on the DL, and with starting catcher Tuffy Gosewisch already DL'd, the R-Phils activated a low-A coach. Gradoville is now the fifth-string catcher in the Phillies' organization.
Gradoville is best remembered for the time that he played a bad guy on a Court TV show, and wore a uniform with the character's name on it, during a real (AAA?) game. At least I'm pretty sure that actually happened...
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-1. Threshers starter Drew Naylor was pitching very well, until the Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth. Naylor pitched seven and two-thirds innings, permitting six runs (four earned), on nine hits (zero walks/seven whiffs, one three-run homer allowed). The Threshers had four hits, and made two errors. (A better ratio than the R-Phils, but still not good.) Steve Susdorf was 0 for 3, dropping his average to a season-low .385.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Bunts and Balks (7/23)
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) avoided a series sweep by the Charlotte Knights, defeating Charlotte, 4-3, on Thursday. Starter Gustavo Chacin surrendered six hits and three walks, over six innings, but allowed only a pair runs. Michael Taylor, in his eighth game at the AAA level, went 3 for 4, with a pair of singles, and a solo homer. Taylor has a .946 OPS, in 28 ABs for the FeHogs.
In a story found only on PhPh, IronPigs reliever Jack Taschner surrendered uniform #33, when Michael Taylor was promoted. Taschner is, currently, wearing #8. This is inconvertible evidence that Taylor will be traded to Toronto, in The Halladay Deal. Taschner is involved in the decision-making process behind each Phillies transaction, and never would have given up #33, if he wasn't aware that the sacrifice would only be a short-term one.
The IronPigs send Carlos Carrasco to the mound on Friday, as they face the Gwinnett Braves on Pigs in Paradise Night. Has there been a "IronPigs in Space" Night? FeFe and Ferrous in spacesuits. An anti-grav Moon Bounce. J.J. Furmaniak and Terry Tiffee constructing a rocket, and attempting to propel Gary Majewski into space. There are infinite possibilities...
The Reading Phillies (AA) were whitewashed by the Altoona Curve on Thursday, 8-0. The R-Phils fell behind 8-0 after four innings, but held the Curve off the scoreboard in their final four at bats. Seven of the runs were scored with two outs. Starter Joe Savery was charged with all eight runs, surviving only four innings, and increasing his ERA by .53, to 4.36. Savery has struggled mightily in July, permitting twenty-three runs (thirty-five hits, eleven walks/sixteen strikeouts) in twenty-two and two-thirds innings. Savery has a 9.13 ERA, in four July starts.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Charlotte Knights, 4-1. Starter Drew Naylor gave up four runs, over six innings (five hits, three walks/six strikeouts), in taking his ninth loss.
Steve Susdorf had one of the four Thresher hits, a double, in his 1 for 4 effort. Susdorf's average dropped to .406.
In a story found only on PhPh, IronPigs reliever Jack Taschner surrendered uniform #33, when Michael Taylor was promoted. Taschner is, currently, wearing #8. This is inconvertible evidence that Taylor will be traded to Toronto, in The Halladay Deal. Taschner is involved in the decision-making process behind each Phillies transaction, and never would have given up #33, if he wasn't aware that the sacrifice would only be a short-term one.
The IronPigs send Carlos Carrasco to the mound on Friday, as they face the Gwinnett Braves on Pigs in Paradise Night. Has there been a "IronPigs in Space" Night? FeFe and Ferrous in spacesuits. An anti-grav Moon Bounce. J.J. Furmaniak and Terry Tiffee constructing a rocket, and attempting to propel Gary Majewski into space. There are infinite possibilities...
The Reading Phillies (AA) were whitewashed by the Altoona Curve on Thursday, 8-0. The R-Phils fell behind 8-0 after four innings, but held the Curve off the scoreboard in their final four at bats. Seven of the runs were scored with two outs. Starter Joe Savery was charged with all eight runs, surviving only four innings, and increasing his ERA by .53, to 4.36. Savery has struggled mightily in July, permitting twenty-three runs (thirty-five hits, eleven walks/sixteen strikeouts) in twenty-two and two-thirds innings. Savery has a 9.13 ERA, in four July starts.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Charlotte Knights, 4-1. Starter Drew Naylor gave up four runs, over six innings (five hits, three walks/six strikeouts), in taking his ninth loss.
Steve Susdorf had one of the four Thresher hits, a double, in his 1 for 4 effort. Susdorf's average dropped to .406.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Bunts and Balks (7/12)
Kyle Drabek (representing the US) and Yohan Flande (representing the non-US portions of the World) each pitched a scoreless inning in Sunday's Futures Game. It was worth waiting through a four-hour rain delay to watch the top prospects play an exciting seven-inning game.
Drabek retired the side in order in the top of the second, on only eleven pitches. Drabek looked awesome, with low 90's velocity, and tremendous command.
Flande followed in the bottom of the frame, allowing a pair of singles, but no runs. Flande also looked good, striking out two, and mixing a low 90s fastball, with a mid-80s change. Hopefully, Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi liked what he saw from Flande, and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro considers Drabek untouchable.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) completed the first half of their season on Sunday, with a 5-3 loss to the Rochester Red Wings.
The FeHogs were tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth, but usually-reliable reliever Cedrick Bowers gave up two runs (on three hits, one walk), while only procuring two outs. Starter Carlos Carrasco pitched adequately, permitting three runs in six and two-thirds innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts, two home runs allowed). Bowers stranded the two runners he inherited from Carrasco in the seventh.
The FeHogs have a 43-47 record, and are nine games out of first place.
The Reading Phillies (AA) were destroyed by the Harrisburg Senators, 10-3.
The Senators scored five times in the second inning, and four more in the sixth. R-Phils starter Vance Worley destroyed his season stat line, permitting nine runs (on eleven hits!) in only five and one-third innings. (Worley's ERA is now 4.33.) The R-Phils were out-hit seventeen to three.
During the R-Phils' internet broadcasts, the uniforms of the the two teams, as well as the ballpark, are often described in great detail.
Usually, this is done in the first inning, in a few quick, fluid, and meticulous sentences. Very helpful for AA neophytes, such as this replacement-level blogger, who are not always familiar with the uniforms and ballparks at that level. Terrific job, R-Phils!
The Clearwater Threshers (A) were dominated by the Daytona Cubs, 12-2.
The Threshers fell behind 10-1, after four innings. (I turned off the internet broadcast at that point. If the Threshers had their own broadcast, and didn't force us to listen to the opposition's announcers, I might have made it longer.)
Threshers' starter Drew Naylor survived only two innings, giving up five runs (four earned), on five hits and five walks (zero strikeouts). After posting sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the past two months, Naylor has an ERA of 6.00 in July (three starts).
Steve Susdorf supplied most of the Threshers' offense, with three of their five hits, including his second homer. Susdorf's BA had dropped below .400, as a result of a 1 for 8 slump, but he is back at .403, after his 3 for 4 on Sunday.
The Threshers play the Cubs again on Monday night. The Threshers' site lists Chris Carpenter as the scheduled starter for Daytona. Carpenter threw six strong innings on Sunday, but the Threshers may have more success on Monday, especially considering that he will be pitching on zero-days' rest. Tune in to the Daytona Cubs' broadcast-game time is 7:05pm.
Drabek retired the side in order in the top of the second, on only eleven pitches. Drabek looked awesome, with low 90's velocity, and tremendous command.
Flande followed in the bottom of the frame, allowing a pair of singles, but no runs. Flande also looked good, striking out two, and mixing a low 90s fastball, with a mid-80s change. Hopefully, Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi liked what he saw from Flande, and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro considers Drabek untouchable.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) completed the first half of their season on Sunday, with a 5-3 loss to the Rochester Red Wings.
The FeHogs were tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth, but usually-reliable reliever Cedrick Bowers gave up two runs (on three hits, one walk), while only procuring two outs. Starter Carlos Carrasco pitched adequately, permitting three runs in six and two-thirds innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts, two home runs allowed). Bowers stranded the two runners he inherited from Carrasco in the seventh.
The FeHogs have a 43-47 record, and are nine games out of first place.
The Reading Phillies (AA) were destroyed by the Harrisburg Senators, 10-3.
The Senators scored five times in the second inning, and four more in the sixth. R-Phils starter Vance Worley destroyed his season stat line, permitting nine runs (on eleven hits!) in only five and one-third innings. (Worley's ERA is now 4.33.) The R-Phils were out-hit seventeen to three.
During the R-Phils' internet broadcasts, the uniforms of the the two teams, as well as the ballpark, are often described in great detail.
Usually, this is done in the first inning, in a few quick, fluid, and meticulous sentences. Very helpful for AA neophytes, such as this replacement-level blogger, who are not always familiar with the uniforms and ballparks at that level. Terrific job, R-Phils!
The Clearwater Threshers (A) were dominated by the Daytona Cubs, 12-2.
The Threshers fell behind 10-1, after four innings. (I turned off the internet broadcast at that point. If the Threshers had their own broadcast, and didn't force us to listen to the opposition's announcers, I might have made it longer.)
Threshers' starter Drew Naylor survived only two innings, giving up five runs (four earned), on five hits and five walks (zero strikeouts). After posting sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the past two months, Naylor has an ERA of 6.00 in July (three starts).
Steve Susdorf supplied most of the Threshers' offense, with three of their five hits, including his second homer. Susdorf's BA had dropped below .400, as a result of a 1 for 8 slump, but he is back at .403, after his 3 for 4 on Sunday.
The Threshers play the Cubs again on Monday night. The Threshers' site lists Chris Carpenter as the scheduled starter for Daytona. Carpenter threw six strong innings on Sunday, but the Threshers may have more success on Monday, especially considering that he will be pitching on zero-days' rest. Tune in to the Daytona Cubs' broadcast-game time is 7:05pm.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Bunts and Balks (7/6)
The Toronto Blue Jays are now, reportedly, "open to offers" for ace Roy Halladay. Halladay would be an excellent #3 starter, behind J.A. Happ and Cole Hamels, making the Phils even more formidable in the playoffs. With the possible exceptions of Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor, the Phillies should consider dealing any of their prospects. Carlos Carrasco? Andrew Carpenter? Julian Sampson? Lou Marson? Dominic Brown? Michael Taylor? Yohan Flande? Jack Taschner? Steve Susdorf? Vance Worley? The Phillies have the available prospects to get this done.
(Prediction: Halladay goes to the Yankees, who eat the salary of overpaid/underperforming Jays' outfielder Vernon Wells, to get the deal done. Hopefully, the Jays won't want to trade Halladay within their own division/league...)
Jack is back! Jack Taschner was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA), after the DFA Plan failed to expunge him from the organization. Taschner is a sunk cost at this point, might as well have him in AAA, eating an occasional partial inning. If the parent club needs a pitcher to appear once a month, with negligible effectiveness, Taschner would be the top recall option. (Had hoped to retire the "Jack Taschner" tag, but, alas, that day has not yet come.)
Raul Ibanez (finally) made a rehab start, for Reading (AA). The All-Star outfielder batted three times, going 0 for 2, with a walk. His injured groin is showing improvement, and he expects to play a few games with Lehigh Valley, before a possible weekend return for the P-Phils.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were trounced by the Syracuse SkyChiefs, 9-3, on Monday. The game wasn't really that close- the FeHogs scored two of their runs in garbage time (ninth inning, trailing by eight runs). LV had eleven hits, but only three were for extra bases (all doubles), and left ten men on base. Starter Brian Mazone was removed after fifty-three pitches, allowing three runs (one earned), in two and two-thirds mediocre innings.
The Reading Phillies (AA) wasted a strong performance by untouchable prospect Kyle Drabek, in a 4-3 loss to the Connecticut Defenders. Drabek permitted two runs in seven innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts), leaving with the score tied at two. Deposed starter Tyson Brummett, who lost his rotation spot to Yohan Flande, gave up two runs in the eighth, and took the loss. Pitching in relief has not been working out for Brummett (5.33 relief innings, 5 earned runs allowed.) Brian Stavisky went 3 for 4, accumulating half of the R-Phils' hits. Connecticut is now a ridiculous 30-12 on the road.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 12-0. Definitely one of the Flying Tigers' most successful missions. Drew Naylor took the loss, in a six-inning/five-run outing. Naylor was knocked around for nine hits and a walk (three strikeouts).
(Prediction: Halladay goes to the Yankees, who eat the salary of overpaid/underperforming Jays' outfielder Vernon Wells, to get the deal done. Hopefully, the Jays won't want to trade Halladay within their own division/league...)
Jack is back! Jack Taschner was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA), after the DFA Plan failed to expunge him from the organization. Taschner is a sunk cost at this point, might as well have him in AAA, eating an occasional partial inning. If the parent club needs a pitcher to appear once a month, with negligible effectiveness, Taschner would be the top recall option. (Had hoped to retire the "Jack Taschner" tag, but, alas, that day has not yet come.)
Raul Ibanez (finally) made a rehab start, for Reading (AA). The All-Star outfielder batted three times, going 0 for 2, with a walk. His injured groin is showing improvement, and he expects to play a few games with Lehigh Valley, before a possible weekend return for the P-Phils.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were trounced by the Syracuse SkyChiefs, 9-3, on Monday. The game wasn't really that close- the FeHogs scored two of their runs in garbage time (ninth inning, trailing by eight runs). LV had eleven hits, but only three were for extra bases (all doubles), and left ten men on base. Starter Brian Mazone was removed after fifty-three pitches, allowing three runs (one earned), in two and two-thirds mediocre innings.
The Reading Phillies (AA) wasted a strong performance by untouchable prospect Kyle Drabek, in a 4-3 loss to the Connecticut Defenders. Drabek permitted two runs in seven innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts), leaving with the score tied at two. Deposed starter Tyson Brummett, who lost his rotation spot to Yohan Flande, gave up two runs in the eighth, and took the loss. Pitching in relief has not been working out for Brummett (5.33 relief innings, 5 earned runs allowed.) Brian Stavisky went 3 for 4, accumulating half of the R-Phils' hits. Connecticut is now a ridiculous 30-12 on the road.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 12-0. Definitely one of the Flying Tigers' most successful missions. Drew Naylor took the loss, in a six-inning/five-run outing. Naylor was knocked around for nine hits and a walk (three strikeouts).
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Bunts and Balks (7/1)
The Phillies announced that Lehigh Valley (AAA) starting pitcher Rodrigo Lopez will be recalled for Friday night's start against the New York Mets. The Phillies chose "experience" over "skill", at least for Friday's start. Lopez has pitched well recently, and the Phillies wanted to see how the 33 year old veteran northpaw would do at the MLB level. Before TJ surgery in 2007, Lopez had a 4.42 ERA/1.31 WHIP with Colorado. Lopez would have to pass waivers to return to AAA, so he'll likely be given a few starts for the P-Phils, before they decide whether he is rotation-worthy. (He may be able to stick as a reliever, also.)
Carlos Carrasco certainly has more upside, and the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but the Phils opted not to recall him. Yet. Perhaps they wanted to protect his delicate psyche? Perhaps they wanted to protect his trade value, which could decrease with some struggles at the MLB level? Perhaps they want to give him more AAA time, to work on his slider?
I think Carrasco should have been given the start. (Lopez could be promoted as a long reliever/spot starter to get some MLB time, at the expense of the roster spot of Jack Taschner (or Paul Bako).
It has not been announced who will lose their P-Phils roster spot to Lopez.
Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 3 Wednesday, decreasing his average to .205. Going 0 for 27 tends to have an adverse effect on batting averages. Going 6 for 55, isn't helpful, either. Still better than Bruntlett...
Paul Bako started behind the plate on Wednesday night. Charlie Manuel said something to the extent of "he's on the roster, I have to use him", when asked about Bako's inclusion in the starting lineup. I'm sure Phillies' starter Cole Hamels appreciated that logic.
Scott Eyre pitched for Reading (AA) in a rehab appearance on Wednesday night. Eyre, on a pitch limit of 25, allowed a home run to the first batter he faced. When he departed, having hit his pitch count, the bases were loaded, with two out. Kyle Drabek got out of the jam, and Eyre was only charged with one run, on two hits and a walk.
Raul Ibanez was expected to make a rehab appearance for Reading, but did not. Ibanez took batting practice, and is expected to play Thursday. Looks like he will be out for the entirety of the Mets' series...
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) did not have a game scheduled for Wednesday.
The FeHogs face the Syracuse Chiefs on Thursday night, with Carlos Carrasco slated to start.
The Reading Phillies (AA) trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the second, but came back to beat the Altoona Curve, 8-6. Reading scored six runs in the bottom of the second, two on a Michael Taylor home run. Taylor was 2 for 4, improving his average to .350.
1B Kevin Mahar (.312) had two hits, as did C Tuffy Gosewisch (.244).
Pitcher Kyle Drabek went 3 for 3, improving his batting average to .625. Drabek also kept his winning percentage at 1.000, with his fifth win. Drabek, pitching in relief of the rehabbing Eyre, pitched six and one-third innings, surrendering three runs (seven hits, three walks/four strikeouts). All three of the runs came in the second inning, perhaps not starting adversely affected his routine?
Tyson Brummett pitched in relief, again. It appears that he has lost his rotation spot to Yohan Flande.
The R-Phils had four players chosen to appear in the All-Star game. LHP Joe Savery, RHP Vance Worley, 3B Neil Sellers, and OF Michael Taylor will all travel to historic Trenton, N.J. for the Mid-Summer Classic on July 15th. Kyle Drabek's performance at the AA level might have made him worthy of inclusion, but he has only pitched 40 innings for Reading.
Drabek's next All-Star appearance will likely be in 2010, for Lehigh Valley.
The Clearwater Threshers swept a doubleheader from the Palm Beach Cardinals, winning 2-1 (seven innings), and 7-1 (six innings). Drew Naylor pitched seven strong innings in the opener, permitting a run on only four hits (zero walks/six strikeouts). Michael Galen Cisco surrendered only an unearned run in the second game, pitching five innings (four hits, one walk/three strikeouts).
Carlos Carrasco certainly has more upside, and the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter, but the Phils opted not to recall him. Yet. Perhaps they wanted to protect his delicate psyche? Perhaps they wanted to protect his trade value, which could decrease with some struggles at the MLB level? Perhaps they want to give him more AAA time, to work on his slider?
I think Carrasco should have been given the start. (Lopez could be promoted as a long reliever/spot starter to get some MLB time, at the expense of the roster spot of Jack Taschner (or Paul Bako).
It has not been announced who will lose their P-Phils roster spot to Lopez.
Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 3 Wednesday, decreasing his average to .205. Going 0 for 27 tends to have an adverse effect on batting averages. Going 6 for 55, isn't helpful, either. Still better than Bruntlett...
Paul Bako started behind the plate on Wednesday night. Charlie Manuel said something to the extent of "he's on the roster, I have to use him", when asked about Bako's inclusion in the starting lineup. I'm sure Phillies' starter Cole Hamels appreciated that logic.
Scott Eyre pitched for Reading (AA) in a rehab appearance on Wednesday night. Eyre, on a pitch limit of 25, allowed a home run to the first batter he faced. When he departed, having hit his pitch count, the bases were loaded, with two out. Kyle Drabek got out of the jam, and Eyre was only charged with one run, on two hits and a walk.
Raul Ibanez was expected to make a rehab appearance for Reading, but did not. Ibanez took batting practice, and is expected to play Thursday. Looks like he will be out for the entirety of the Mets' series...
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) did not have a game scheduled for Wednesday.
The FeHogs face the Syracuse Chiefs on Thursday night, with Carlos Carrasco slated to start.
The Reading Phillies (AA) trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the second, but came back to beat the Altoona Curve, 8-6. Reading scored six runs in the bottom of the second, two on a Michael Taylor home run. Taylor was 2 for 4, improving his average to .350.
1B Kevin Mahar (.312) had two hits, as did C Tuffy Gosewisch (.244).
Pitcher Kyle Drabek went 3 for 3, improving his batting average to .625. Drabek also kept his winning percentage at 1.000, with his fifth win. Drabek, pitching in relief of the rehabbing Eyre, pitched six and one-third innings, surrendering three runs (seven hits, three walks/four strikeouts). All three of the runs came in the second inning, perhaps not starting adversely affected his routine?
Tyson Brummett pitched in relief, again. It appears that he has lost his rotation spot to Yohan Flande.
The R-Phils had four players chosen to appear in the All-Star game. LHP Joe Savery, RHP Vance Worley, 3B Neil Sellers, and OF Michael Taylor will all travel to historic Trenton, N.J. for the Mid-Summer Classic on July 15th. Kyle Drabek's performance at the AA level might have made him worthy of inclusion, but he has only pitched 40 innings for Reading.
Drabek's next All-Star appearance will likely be in 2010, for Lehigh Valley.
The Clearwater Threshers swept a doubleheader from the Palm Beach Cardinals, winning 2-1 (seven innings), and 7-1 (six innings). Drew Naylor pitched seven strong innings in the opener, permitting a run on only four hits (zero walks/six strikeouts). Michael Galen Cisco surrendered only an unearned run in the second game, pitching five innings (four hits, one walk/three strikeouts).
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/11)
The Phillies agreed to terms with their top selection in the 2009 First-Year Player draft, centerfielder Kelly Dugan. The switch-hitting Dugan opted for the Phillies, over Pepperdine University. He should be ready to succeed Shane Victorino by 2014. Perhaps Dugan's father, the brilliant directing mind who brought us "Don't Mess with the Zohan", can find a movie role for Muffin?
The Phillies selected 3B Robert Amaro, the nephew of General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. with the 1217th pick. The Phillies definitely reached with this 40th round draft choice, who will likely attend the University of Virginia.
We may have found out why utility man/three-hole hitter Pablo Ozuna has been out of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lineup. It was announced Thursday that Ozuna will be suspended for fifty games, as a result of a performance-enhancing substance violation. The pressure of carrying the IronPigs' offense may have lead Ozuna to make a bad choice.
Despite the absence of Ozuna, the IronPigs defeated the Charlotte Knights, 2-1. Andrew Carpenter pitched well, surrendering only a single run, in seven innings (six hits, zero walks/four strikeouts, ninety-seven pitches). Carpenter's 5-0 record (and 2.75 ERA) must look good to potential trade partners.
Veteran IF/OF Mike Cervenak returned to the lineup, after missing almost a month, and had a pair of singles. The right-handed batting Cervenak might be a good fit for the parent club's bench. The 32-year old Cervenak really isn't a prospect at this point, but could be a useful (i.e. better than Eric Bruntlett) pinch-hitter for the P-Phils, and allow John Mayberry, Jr. to continue to play every day in AAA. Perhaps if Cervenak had been healthy last week, he would be on the P-Phils roster, rather than catcher Paul Bako.
The Reading Phillies (AA) beat the Trenton Thunder 6-3, sweeping the series on a walk-off grand slam by Jeremy Slayden. Yep. The same Jeremy Slayden who was an IronPig yesterday. (He swapped levels with Michael Spidale.) Vance Worley, the R-Phils ace, at least during the pre-Drabek era, pitched six effective innings (two runs, four hits, three walks/three strikeouts).
The Clearwater Threshers (A) crushed the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-3. Drew Naylor got the win, throwing six and two-thirds innings (three runs, nine hits, zero walks/three strikeouts).
It was a good day for the Phillies' minor league teams, and the Phillies, who saw many of their prospects' trade values increase.
The Phillies selected 3B Robert Amaro, the nephew of General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. with the 1217th pick. The Phillies definitely reached with this 40th round draft choice, who will likely attend the University of Virginia.
We may have found out why utility man/three-hole hitter Pablo Ozuna has been out of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lineup. It was announced Thursday that Ozuna will be suspended for fifty games, as a result of a performance-enhancing substance violation. The pressure of carrying the IronPigs' offense may have lead Ozuna to make a bad choice.
Despite the absence of Ozuna, the IronPigs defeated the Charlotte Knights, 2-1. Andrew Carpenter pitched well, surrendering only a single run, in seven innings (six hits, zero walks/four strikeouts, ninety-seven pitches). Carpenter's 5-0 record (and 2.75 ERA) must look good to potential trade partners.
Veteran IF/OF Mike Cervenak returned to the lineup, after missing almost a month, and had a pair of singles. The right-handed batting Cervenak might be a good fit for the parent club's bench. The 32-year old Cervenak really isn't a prospect at this point, but could be a useful (i.e. better than Eric Bruntlett) pinch-hitter for the P-Phils, and allow John Mayberry, Jr. to continue to play every day in AAA. Perhaps if Cervenak had been healthy last week, he would be on the P-Phils roster, rather than catcher Paul Bako.
The Reading Phillies (AA) beat the Trenton Thunder 6-3, sweeping the series on a walk-off grand slam by Jeremy Slayden. Yep. The same Jeremy Slayden who was an IronPig yesterday. (He swapped levels with Michael Spidale.) Vance Worley, the R-Phils ace, at least during the pre-Drabek era, pitched six effective innings (two runs, four hits, three walks/three strikeouts).
The Clearwater Threshers (A) crushed the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-3. Drew Naylor got the win, throwing six and two-thirds innings (three runs, nine hits, zero walks/three strikeouts).
It was a good day for the Phillies' minor league teams, and the Phillies, who saw many of their prospects' trade values increase.
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