Minor League Games - Wednesday, August 2, 2017

[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"?)

[Austinfan]

Babe Ruth, 'cause I never got to see him play.

[bkox]

Not enough info to answer... Will Willams see a decline? What could we have gotten for Mantle at the deadline? How much will Ruth demand in Arb? Does Bonds' head stilll fit in a regulation helmet?

[scorcher]

Speaking of Babe Ruf. .296/.388/.521 with 18 hrs, for Samsung in the KBO so far this season.

[phillychuck]

I just looked that up, too. Nice year in the KBL, but the competition is probably not even AAA level in the KBL. At least that's what I've read.

[zambonir]

If Nava was going to be out longer I bet they would have considered swapping Perkins for Hoskins but they need to prioritize trading Nava, and playing him.

[schooldoc]

Random minor league pitching thoughts

*Might be nothing, but it seems like 71 pitches through 4 innings is a little early to pull Brandon Leibrandt

*I know I said this about Tyler Viza and he's since pitched better...but I've now had enough of Tommy Bergjans in Reading's rotation. He just isn't good.

*On the night Hellickson throws 7 shutout innings in his O's debut, Garrett Cleavinger makes his Reading debut...and it's not good. Three runs allowed in 2 innings. Probably have to hit the re-set button with him this fall and see what he can do with some time under our coaches.

*Make that two poor debuts in two nights amongst the newly acquired relievers. Seth McGarry took the loss for CLW last night.

*Anybody seen Kevin Gowdy?

(Wait, let me add a positive one or two)

*I can't lie, I'm getting a little excited about Kyle Young. We might have something there.

*Really looking forward to McKenzie Mills' debut tomorrow (I think it's tomorrow) for Clearwater. I said this in other posts, but doggone it we now have a pretty deep group of LHP starting pitching prospects.