Minor League Games - Tuesday, July 4, 2017

[phillychuck]

Zach Eflin 4 rehab innings this morning for GCL, allowed 1 run.

Interesting handling of Kevin Markham, the RF for GCL. He was hitting 0/10 going into the game, yet every game has batted 5th or 4th in the GCL lineup. He's hitting 4th again today, and has a hit. The Phils must be pretty high on him. Has 4 walks to go with his 0/10...

Phils leading 4-2 in the 6th.

[harrisburghusker]

And 2 more walks

[andyb]

I think the opposite on Markham. He is the veteran bat there to prop up the kids and likely a non prospect. Age 23.

[schooldoc]

With Haseley and Green now gone, I think this GCL team is going to struggle to hit outside of maybe 2-3 guys. This isn't last year's lineup by any stretch.

[andyb]

With Haseley and Green now gone, I think this GCL team is going to struggle to hit outside of maybe 2-3 guys. This isn't last year's lineup by any stretch.

There are no highly drafted HS offensive players this year like last year and from the DSL there is nobody as good as Ortiz. There are some good second tier young players like Guzman, Muzziotti, Gonzalez, Bocio, and Pelletier. They will take their lumps though which is why I think they will make a point of keeping a few 21+ age players around. Our average age for GCL hitters is 19.7 vs league average of 19.4. While we had some rehab outings in that stat, it is just apparent that our really young players are not quite as good as last year (age 18.8 average) and need a little more help in the lineup.

[BostonRoss]

Why are the Crosscutters playing a day game? Don't they want the extra fans that having fireworks would provide?

[zambonir]

City probably has its own fireworks thing, would be un-civic to compete.

[allentown]

Why are the Crosscutters playing a day game? Don't they want the extra fans that having fireworks would provide

Fireworks cost money. Reading has them when a company sponsors them.

[andyb]

Ortiz with yet another HBP (number 5 in 11 games). Not sure what it means but it is interesting nonetheless. 7 last year which was also a little above average.

[Austinfan]

Probably means he crowds the plate and isn't afraid of getting hit, which makes it hard to move him off the plate by throwing inside, he'll just take the HBP.

[phillychuck]

Nice come-from-behind win for WMPT, Haseley with two key singles and SBs both times, Josh Stephen with a big 2-run double. Ortiz also had two hits in the rallies.

[schooldoc]

Good rehab outing for Jerad Eickhoff at Trenton: 5 ip 2 h 1 r/er 1 bb 5 k, 1 HR. He must really feel like he's back already because he has 0 runs of support. It's 1-0 Trenton in the 6th.

Reading's juggernaut from last year did okay at Trenton (I think .500 or so), but otherwise the Fightins seem to have a lot of trouble winning at Trenton.

[bigegypt0417]

cozens and JP Crawford with homers...

[schooldoc]

OK, I had to look it up.

Reading was 6-3 in 2015 at Trenton, including a 3-game sweep by scores of 7-1, 11-1 and 8-1 right after they got Jake Thompson and Nick Williams in the Hamels trade. I was there for Williams' first game, it was pretty fun. Chase Utley rehabbed in that game too, IIRC.

Reading was 6-8 in 2016 at Trenton, including 0-2 in the EL playoffs.

This year they're 0-4 going into tonight.

[bigegypt0417]

make that 2 hr' s for Crawford.

[allentown]

It's good to see these two getting back on track.

[allentown]

Crazy season for Cord Sandberg: demoted to Lakewood, does well in 65 AB after finally returned to CLW where he played in 2916, now he's in Reading. Can he end the season in Allentown? He's 1 for 3 tonight, so far.

[schooldoc]

Tom Terrific (sorry, Mr. Seaver) dealing again in addition to the offensive show.

[Austinfan]

Crawford on a tear recently, makes you think they've reworked his swing and it took some time to get comfortable.
With his size and bat speed, he should be hitting HRs on a regular basis without trying, much like Kingery but stronger.
Not that they should be competing with the bash brothers, but good gap power translates to 15-20 HRs a year.

[Lucky_Beagle]

Yes, the city of Williamsport has a fire works show tonight and every July 4th.