Minor League Games - Monday, May 29, 2017

[andyb]

Reading kind of did it the entire season last year, so it is reasonable to think that this LHV team is different and there will be sustained offense unless there are promotions.

[allentown]

Yeah, disappointing to sit 3 starters, especially Crawford and Williams. I would never sit guys while they are on a hot streak.

[rkeden]

Kingery with another big game, including #16. Needs a triple to hit for the cycle. Pullin just scored him with the tie-braking run in the 7th. 52 degrees and a bit windy. I'm glad BR and I chose yesterday!

[harrisburghusker]

The IPs are ridiculous...imagine that lineup with Kingery at 2B

[zambonir]

That's unfortunate for the fans on Memorial Day. But, day game after a night game before a road trip. Seems like most managers put the least amount of thought into that kind of decision - we often see that kind of "Sunday" line-up on the big club too.

[fish]

While the stat line looks ok for Appel, he looked like a mess on the mound. I haven't seen a guy fall off the mound like that since Mitch Williams. Either someone is doing him a huge disservice by not trying to overhaul his delivery, or he isn't taking to coaching.

[phillychuck]

Appel actually pitched pretty well. Probably his best outing of the year.

[Squire]

A really good day.

[bigegypt0417]

brito with a HR and moniak with a triple.

[andyb]

Romero is pretty good again for Lakewood too. None of them are great prospects at this point but it is nice to have a rotation with 4 mostly age appropriate left handed starters do well. With guys that throw 90-92 nothing is certain in development, but there are lots of examples of left-handers having success at that velocity. Romero probably has the best stuff of the bunch at the moment but he is more about his athleticism and repeating his delivery. Suarez and Fanti also clearly miss bats even if they don't throw hard.

[allentown]

True, but I think it risks disrupting a hot streak to 'rest' a hot bat on the bench. These are young players who really don't need a rest, especially since it wasn't at all a hot day. Crawford and Williams didn't start the year well, which is putting it mildly for Crawford, so when they start turning things around, I'd just let them go out every day, while the hot streak continues.

[schooldoc]

I was surprised to see 3 regulars sitting today. But I think they're being careful with Quinn given his injury history. Then with no DH spot, they had to fit Nava in today. And Perkins deserves his share of playing time, too. Assuming all are healthy, I'd expect the 3 sitting today to be back tomorrow night. But no DH in Indy either, so somebody among RQ, DC, NW, CP, or possibly Hoskins has to sit.

If he needs another rehab game, I'd be mildly surprised if they make Nava go out to Indianapolis with the IronPigs. He'll either stay home and play for Reading or re-join the Phils. See ya later, Ty Kelly.

[fish]

Through nearly the same number of at bats Moniak has nearly identical numbers at Lakewood as he did in the GCL. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

[zambonir]

I don't disagree with you, I am just guessing Wathan had already decided on his line-up yesterday, maybe he'd even already told the players who'd be resting/playing today. It's silly to be locked into that if you have reason to change plans but if so I guess we can also surmise that Wathan doesn't believe in hot streaks.

Ty Kelly is probably leaving for the next pitcher (having given that spot to Kendrick for now) so who else goes for Nava, a reliever?

[bigegypt0417]

19 year old on low A...nothing to complain about.

[allentown]

Agreed. Moniak is fine.

[allentown]

What you say makes sense, but... Crawford has been really bad with the bat and now is hitting, there is no vaguely remote prospect-status IFs in today's lineup apart from Hoskins. Whatever Wathan feels he must do with the OFs, Crawford has to be in that game.

[flyers19rw]

Moniak does lead the team in hitting.

[Philsmania]

Fightin' Phils snap a nine game losing streak.

[California_Dreamin]

I will not play pop psychologist here but I will say that I am going to be watching Williams performance "post" day off carefully. In my mind there is NO reason he and Crawford should have had the day off when they were hitting so well, especially in Williams case.

When you are hot you can't wait to get into the batter's box, the ball literally looks like a watermelon. I have had good hitters I knew say they could almost see the seams when they were hitting well. And after what Williams went through last year with all those benchings for what I considered minor infractions, he is the last guy I would dare play mind games with this year.

Because in my way of thinking, Williams is the guy who will ultimately tilt the Hamels scale one way or the other. Eichoff is likely a middle of the rotation workhorse [a valuable thing] and Alfaro seems to be a catcher the Phils will count on for the next 5-6 years [another good thing.] But Harrison and Asher are gone and Thompson looks very pedestrian right now.

Nick Williams looks to be the great decider. And given that he was hitting as well as he has since he joined the organization I think sitting him yesterday was strange. And ill-conceived.