Minor League Games - Wednesday, August 2, 2017

[bigegypt0417]

Pelletier with 3 hits and Muzziotti with 2

2 doubles so far for Moniak.

[andyb]

Fanti has not been as dominant after the no hitter. Wondering if they need to shut him down at some point on an innings limit.

[harrisburghusker]

I must be one of the few who's not worried about Moniak. The SAL is a notoriously difficult league for offense and he's holding his own. I'm also sure that fatigue is playing a role in the numbers we're seeing.

I do understand that with the top overall pick, you'd love to think that you're picking a Mike Trout and his numbers show that he isn't a generational talent...but as a 19 year old playing full season ball, I think he's doing just fine and is putting up better numbers than C Randolph did while playing a premium defensive position.

[Soloman_grundy]

Add to Moniak discussion, kid is from and has entire family on the opposite coast. That plays a bit into the head of a young kid.

[fish]

I must be one of the few who's not worried about Moniak

I'm not worried necessarily about the end result, but I do think it may take him until his mid 20s to get to his strength to be productive enough to be a big league regular. I had Adrian Gonzalez in mind when I was thinking of comparing his development curve, but then I realized AGon had a few early seasons in the minors with some serious productivity before slacking off a bit.

[bigegypt0417]

I must be one of the few who's not worried about Moniak. The SAL is a notoriously difficult league for offense and he's holding his own. I'm also sure that fatigue is playing a role in the numbers we're seeing.

I do understand that with the top overall pick, you'd love to think that you're picking a Mike Trout and his numbers show that he isn't a generational talent...but as a 19 year old playing full season ball, I think he's doing just fine and is putting up better numbers than C Randolph did while playing a premium defensive position.

I am a year or so away from being worried.

[Austinfan]

Alastre is someone to watch, only 20 years old, 6'1 155 when signed, started showing some pop this year which suggests he's filling out.
But has always made good contact, VSL, GCL and now the SAL.

GCL comments: "He is a plus to plus plus runner (though the instincts aren’t great) who can play all three outfield positions. There isn’t a lot of power, but he is worth keeping an eye on because he can play center field and there is some a feel for contact."

[Philsmania]

How many rainouts have the GCL Phillies had? Has this been an unusually wet year in Florida?

[phillychuck]

They seem to always get rained out a ton. Squire and I joke every year that there is a cloud that hangs over Clearwater and rains every day at around noon-1PM just to cancel the GCL games.

[harrisburghusker]

I do wonder if there's any correlation in developmental success between the GCL and AZL...i.e. are all the rainouts that happen every year in the GCL stunting development?

[andyb]

I do wonder if there's any correlation in developmental success between the GCL and AZL...i.e. are all the rainouts that happen every year in the GCL stunting development?

One could probably say the same thing about 110 degree days in Arizona though. GCL should probably use more Sundays when they are off as a makeup game day to speed things along, though there is no solving the basic problem. Spring training complexes have great weather in the Spring. Not so much in the Summer.

[bigegypt0417]

Leonel Aponte, an 18 year old pitcher in the DSL for the Phillies is 6'4 and 144 pounds.

has been pretty good so far...

[phillychuck]

Aponte turned 18 in July, and has been a regular starter for DSL Red. His K-rate is a bit low for a kid with a sub-2 ERA, but DSL umps have the reputation for being reluctant to call third strikes. Amazing to me to try to imagine a 6'4" kid who weighs only 140 lbs. Get him to CLW and work with his nutrition. He has not pitched a single game where he has given up more hits than IP. He was, interestingly, moved to DSL White for his last start (if MILB.com can be believed) and it was his only loss, although both runs he gave up were unearned.

[schooldoc]

I think Phils have had 4 no-hitters in minors this year

Fanti/Bettencourt, Lakewood (Fanti pitched 8.2 ip)
Fanti, Lakewood
Arauz, Clearwater (7 inn.)
Morales/Marcelino, GCL Phils

[andyb]

Amazing to me to try to imagine a 6'4" kid who weighs only 140 lbs

Remember they list the height and weight of when they were signed. He is almost certainly more than that this year.

I think he is an OK prospect. 2 years in the DSL is not fatal for such a projectable arm. It does mean he is not an obvious prospect though. As to the DSL White move, I wonder if they are loading up the White team for the DSL playoffs a bit. Could also be rain messing with rotations also. Noticed they have had some DHs and off days of late. I don't think they schedule the off days so it could be because of unplayable wet fields some days.

[phillychuck]

Rosso left DSL White for GCL earlier this week--I'll bet Aponte is an effort to keep their staff playoff-viable. Andyb has the right idea.

[bkox]

Amazing to me to try to imagine a 6'4" kid who weighs only 140 lbs. Get him to CLW and work with his nutrition

At that weight they should bring him to Philly for a few weeks and have him work with Kruk....

[phillychuck]

Hoskins HR in the first for LV.

[schooldoc]

Let's make it 2 dingers in 2 at-bats for Hoskins.

Who would you rather have DH'ing in Anaheim tonight?

[phillychuck]

Here's the question as a multiple choice:

Who would you rather have DH-ing in Anaheim tonight:

A. Hoskins
B. Bonds (in his juiced-up prime)
C. Mickey Mantle (in his prime, sober
D. Ted Williams at 40
E. Babe Ruth (or is that "Babe Ruf"?)