Minor League Games - Thursday, July 13, 2017

[allentown]

It took a very aware scout to know that Pelletier was even eligible for that draft, let alone recognizing talent. It is said you can't judge LA signings, because they are only 16 -- and some merit to that,

[zambonir]

According to Matt Provence via twitter, Appel will go on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder.

That's too bad. I can't help but think we are still going to read a comeback story about that guy in three or four years, but it's hard to see how the Phillies have the luxury of giving him another season. I hope he is able to come up in September as a reliever (or even spot start), just for the heck of it. Or he's a trade throw-in waiting to happen.

Though (changing topics slightly) I also think the 40-man crunch is overstated because in the end you never lose that many players (sometimes not even one) so they can afford to expose a lot more people than we are ever going to acknowledge (and therefore protect a few more marginal guys).

[schooldoc]

I think the time has come for Tyler Viza to be out of Reading's rotation. Promote Taveras, show me an Elniery Garcia sighting, anything. The ERA is now over 6.

[schooldoc]

Elsewhere...

Lakewood rained out. No surprise since I live close by and we had lots of rain from about 5:30-8:00 PM or so.

Good 5 innings from VV in a Clearwater rehab appearance. Not so good from Garcia after that. No C Randolph tonight, for some reason.

LHV underway with a run in the 1st on back to back doubles by the original Bash Bros.

[Squire]

Crawford with his 7th HR

[Austinfan]

Except Viza had 9 Ks. Maybe just a situation where a young pitcher has stuff but has to work through adversity.

On the other hand, Lively is in AAAA territory, up and down in the majors, but clearly overmatches AAA hitters.
He has to take advantage of his opportunity and work on stuff and ignore statistics, the Phillies know he can pitch, they just want him to refine his stuff.

Meanwhile, Velasquez has a nice rehab start, E Garcia got lit up, then you remember he's only 20!
I suspect Velasquez is probably one more minor league start from a callup, though they may wait for Hellickson to be moved.

[bkox]

Lively is only in AAA tonight to stay on turn most likely. I cant figure out how to post a tweet.. but these two Cooney tweets were in reply to PhuturePhilz on Sunday

Kevin Cooney‏ @KevinCooney Jul 8
Replying to @PhuturePhilz
I think its simply for him to stay on turn.

Kevin Cooney‏ @KevinCooney Jul 8
Replying to @PhuturePhilz
No problem. Pete made it sound like he'll be back for Miami series

And if someone can direct me to instructions for posting tweets please let me know

[zambonir]

Just cut and paste the tweet URL, it's automatic, though sometimes the rendering can be fussy (like if there's any extra code in the URL).

I guess Lively could be back but he also might not be (or not for long).

[bkox]

ahh.. I was looking for a more complicated solution. lol
Thanks!

[Austinfan]

Unless Hellickson is moved soon, Nola, Pivetta, Eickhoff, Velasquez, no room for Lively, unless he starts ahead of Velasquez.
Not that I'm complaining, with Leiter and Eflin blocked out for now.
Starting to build some depth.

[gmwannabe]

not sure what to make of lively. he certainly can get AAA hitters out, but in the majors he can be so hittable. i'm not sure he has enough on the FB to make it. i think he and eshelman are one of the same. it will be interesting to see if either of them can stay for a decent amount of time. viza, i think you can give 2 or 3 more starts to before seeing gif he has to be replaced by a clearwater hurler. viza had a real beauty a few weeks ago but really seems hittable. oh, and count me in on the binghamton hurler. i'd trade letter Jr. for Feiken in a second. i'd even (begrudgingly) throw in casey fien.
gm

[gmwannabe]

oops sorry. i meant Flexen and give up Leiter Jr.

[andyb]

not sure what to make of lively. he certainly can get AAA hitters out, but in the majors he can be so hittable. i'm not sure he has enough on the FB to make it. i think he and eshelman are one of the same. it will be interesting to see if either of them can stay for a decent amount of time. viza, i think you can give 2 or 3 more starts to before seeing gif he has to be replaced by a clearwater hurler. viza had a real beauty a few weeks ago but really seems hittable. oh, and count me in on the binghamton hurler. i'd trade letter Jr. for Feiken in a second. i'd even (begrudgingly) throw in casey fien.
gm

It is kind of the nature of Lively's stuff. He has pretty good deception and that probably helps him keep minor league hitters off balance. Major league hitters have seen all kinds of deception though and are better prepared to deal with it. That does not mean Lively cannot be a productive back of the rotation arm relying mainly on command and deception. Interestingly his other big skill may be in eating innings so while he might be a 4.50 ERA guy in the majors, he avoids the big innings and keeps his pitch counts manageable in a way that he can go 6-7 innings most starts. That can have value.

Eshelman is a little less deception and a little more command. Both are limited by velocity which can be more of a problem without deception. If Eshelman's secondary stuff can progress he has a chance, though again like Lively he looks more like a #5 starter than anything else. Which can be better than a AAAA starter of course.

[Austinfan]

Lively actually has decent velocity and a deceptive FB, his problem is command and secondary pitches, when you pitch to contact, you have to dictate contact by commanding your FB.
None of his secondary pitches are plus pitches right now, which is a problem.
He's not going to be a top of the rotation guy, but like Eickhoff, he can be a solid mid-rotation guy.