Minor League Games - Thursday, May 31, 2018

kikutaro 2018-05-31 01:35:14 UTC #1

Charlotte Knights (22-31) @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (29-23) 7:05 pm | Gameday
Jordan Stephens (2-1, 2.59) vs. Drew Anderson (1-1, 4.26)

Game Over
Charlotte 6, Lehigh Valley 2

Notable

Dean Anna 3-4, CS
Danny Ortiz 2-4, R, RBI, HR, K
Trevor Plouffe 1-3, R, RBI, HR, BB, K
Nick Rickles 2-3

Drew Anderson (L, 1-1), 5.1 IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 4K, game score: 51
Brandon Leibrandt (BS, 1), 0.1 IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 0K

Reading Fightin Phils (22-29) @ Trenton Thunder (32-21) 7:00 pm | Gameday
Franklyn Kilomé (1-2, 5.06) vs. Dillon Tate (3-2, 3.64)

Final
Reading 5, Trenton 3

Notable

Malquin Canelo 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Damek Tomscha 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR, BB
Deivi Grullon 0-3, BB, 2 K

Franklyn Kilome 6.0 IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 6K, game score: 62
Austin Davis (H, 2), 1.2 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K
Ranfi Casimiro (BS, 1)(W, 2-1), 0.1 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K
Luke Leftwich (S, 3), 1.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K

Fort Myers Miracle (20-29) @ Clearwater Threshers (20-29) 7:00 pm | Gameday
Clark Beeker (1-4, 3.44) vs. Adonis Medina (5-2, 4.97)

Final
Clearwater 5, Fort Myers 1

Notable

Adam Haseley 1-3, R, 2 BB
Austin Listi 2-5, R, 2 RBI
Mickey Moniak 2-4, R, RBI
Raul Rivas 1-3, BB
Luke Williams 1-2, R, BB, SB

Adonis Medina (W, 5-2), 7.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 6K, game score: 77
Felix Paulino 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 4K

Greensboro Grasshoppers (24-27) @ Lakewood BlueClaws (31-22) 6:35 pm | Gameday
Ryan Lillie (4-1, 2.38) vs. Kyle Young (1-2, 2.00)

Completed Early
Greensboro 2, Lakewood 0

Notable

Gregori Rivero 0-2, 2 K

Kyle Young (L, 1-2), 7.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 6K, game score: 64

(click on the start time for box scores)

phillychuck 2018-05-31 12:45:19 UTC #2

In honor of Kyle Young's third start projected for tonight (rain might be a problem....) let's take a look at the best pitching rotation in the minor leagues, the 6 guys now starting for Lakewood:

Will Stewart--20th round draft pick in 2015, Stewart is coming off of a CG, 9-inning shutout win. The lefty is 20, turns 21 in July. He has had an amazingly consistent season, 5-0, 1.23 ERA, never allowing more that 3 runs. Here's a video:

Ramon Rosso--signed after being released by the Dodgers, turns 22 in a week, 1.44 ERA has been helped by a very low BABIP. Also has yielded a high run total of 3, only once. 2-1, 1.44 ERA, Lakewood hasn't scored for him at all. Video from last year:

Damon Jones--the lefty turns 24 after this season, so he's old for the league. A 2017 college senior draftee from Washington State. 3-2, 2.22. started the season with a couple of average outings, but has been very good in his last 5 starts. Very effective vs righties, gets a lot of GB outs. Recent video:

David Parkinson--22-yr-old lefty was drafted in round 12 in 2017 as a college junior. Has 2 bad starts out of 8, has allowed 0 or 1 run in the other 6, pitching 5 innings or more each time. 4-1, 1.58. Here's a video from his 7-inning, 1-hit outing:

Kyle Young--the 6'11" lefty has returned to the mound after a spring elbow injury. 1-1, 1.64 ERA. Drafted in 2016 out of high school; late round, above slot signing. Getting lots of ground balls so far. Spring training video:

Spencer Howard--the highly regarded righty was drafted in the second round in 2017. 3-3, 4.86 ERA is deceptive--his BABIP is .370 which is very unlucky, and his FIP is only 3.08. 12 Ks/9 IP and a nearly 5:1 K:BB ratio shows solid performance. Has 2 awful games and 6 solid ones allowing an average of less than 1 run in those strong outings. Here's a video of a 95 mph heater:

It's a great park and league to pitch in, but these guys are special.

Austinfan 2018-05-31 17:31:23 UTC #3

Actually, the Phillies have pitching up and down the system, just look at tonight's starters, everyone worth checking out.
Buy bats and grow pitchers - I agree with that philosophy.

nycphils 2018-05-31 23:23:32 UTC #4

moniak up to .242 with a .560 OPS...and 4 BB in 177AB.

bigegypt0417 2018-05-31 23:59:37 UTC #5

Andrew Pullin is stepping away from baseball per salisbury.

schooldoc 2018-06-01 00:11:10 UTC #6

This is the 2nd time for Pullin. It would be irresponsible to speculate on specifics, but I hope he is all right and that the time brings whatever healing, support, or assistance he needs.

schooldoc 2018-06-01 00:33:46 UTC #7

Another very good night on the mound for the starting pitchers. I don't think there's any question that starting pitching depth is the organizational strength right now--which is a good strength to have.

phillychuck 2018-06-01 00:59:23 UTC #8

Medina looking like Medina again!

Jeff05 2018-06-01 02:42:31 UTC #9

Moniak's BA up to .249 after two hits, today. I don't think his walk rate will increase significantly unless his evidences more power and pitchers start pitching out of the zone to him. Great to see the young fella gradually improving!

Squire 2018-06-01 12:15:23 UTC #10

Moniak is hitting .353 over the past 10 games and yet his season OPS is still .570

julio 2018-06-01 12:43:47 UTC #11

What is his OPS over the past 10 games?

bigegypt0417 2018-06-01 12:53:45 UTC #12

Fangraphs seems to be not working correctly. You cant see advanced metrics on their game log option right now.

On a different topic...Haseley has walked 5 times and k'ed 5 times over the last 10 games which is a positive sign.

Squire 2018-06-01 12:56:16 UTC #13

I am definitely more optimistic on Haseley

bigegypt0417 2018-06-01 13:01:53 UTC #14

The only think I hold on to with moniak is he is almost 2 full years younger than Haseley and playing at the same level. I don't know why the Phillies have been as aggressive with him as they have been but he could repeat Clearwater next year and still be youngish.

andyb 2018-06-01 13:09:07 UTC #15

With 1 BB and 9 K in his last 10 I think Moniak is just seeing some normalization of bad BABIP luck. His K rate is not too bad (25%) so his average was bound to rise some (now the BABIP is normal at .323).

Now with near zero power and supposedly a good hit tool, one would expect Moniak to have a high average and a lower K rate than 25%. Nice to see more offense the last week or two, but it is really not anything to change one's opinion at the moment. Haseley is showing a little more power or patience, though of course both are still below what one would want from a college number one pick who projected at least mid-level power. He has not shown the range of skills yet where one can project him as more than a below average starter at this point.

Phils2020 2018-06-01 13:15:23 UTC #16

Went to the Trenton Thunder vs. Reading last night and was impressed with Jan Hernandez defense. He threw a guy out at 3rd, from right field with a bullet of a throw. Then he ended the with a sliding catch. He is hitting .315 as well. I hope to see this kid grow every year. He looks like a good player.

Squire 2018-06-01 14:25:21 UTC #17

I am also really glad that Romero, Medina and to a lesser extent Kilome seem to be "back"

bkeich 2018-06-01 17:55:11 UTC #18

Really like the new format Kikutaro. Well done.

California_Dreamin 2018-06-01 19:05:03 UTC #19

Just an observation, but I believe the numbers would show this to be true...Moniak started to hit better when he was taken out of the leadoff spot and put into the #5 slot. This may seem irrelevant but it really isn't. A #5 hitter needs to be less patient, likely gets more fastballs since a #4 hitter is more likely to be on base than a #9 hitter, and its probable that Moniak was a middle of the order hitter in HS [though admittedly he has always had the feel of a top of the order hitter.

And if Moniak is as studious as he is reported to be, he has a longer opportunity to study a pitcher from the #5 hole than as a leadoff hitter. Again, individually they may seem like small items but cumulatively they can make a difference.

bkeich 2018-06-01 20:06:59 UTC #20

But with no power at all, he isnt a #5 hitter. He is either a leadoff hitter or a #8 type. If he needs the extra fastball associated with hitting after our high OBP players he is even less useful because he probably is not going to be a guy that drives alot of runners in.

Honestly, if your argument is correct than it is a problem not an improvement.