Minor League Games - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

[kikutaro]

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (3-3) @ Scranton/WB RailRiders (1-4) 6:35 pm | Gameday
N/A vs. Chad Green (0-0, -.--)

Notable

Roman Quinn 3-5, 3 R, 2B, SB
J.P. Crawford 1-5, RBI, 3 K
Jorge Alfaro 3-5, R, RBI, 2B
Dylan Cozens 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 3 K
Rhys Hoskins 1-4, BB, K
Nick Williams 1-5, RBI, 2B, 2 K, SB
Cameron Perkins 0-4, BB, 2 K
Taylor Featherston 1-5, 2 K

Zach Eflin 5.0 IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 3BB, 4K, game score: 58
Pat Venditte 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3K
Hoby Milner 2.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K

Reading Fightin Phils (2-3) @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats (1-4) 6:05 pm | Gameday
Brandon Leibrandt (0-0, -.--) vs. Shane Dawson (0-0, -.--)

Notable

Scott Kingery 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, HR, BB, K
Andrew Pullin 2-5, 2 R, RBI, HR, K
Carlos Tocci 3-5, R, RBI
Harold Martinez 4-5, R, RBI
Mitch Walding 1-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, K
Jiandido Tromp 2-5, R, RBI, 2B, 3B
Angelo Mora 1-5, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 K
Joel Fisher 2-4, R, K

Brandon Leibrandt 5.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 0ER, 1BB, 3K, game score: 59
Yacksel Rios 2.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 4K

Lakeland Flying Tigers (3-3) @ Clearwater Threshers (4-2) 7:00 pm | Gameday
Beau Burrows (0-0, 0.00) vs. Blake Quinn (0-0, -.--)

Notable

Zachary Coppola 2-4, RBI, K, CS
Cornelius Randolph 2-4, RBI
Herlis Rodriguez 0-4, 2 K
Jose Pujols 0-4, 3 K
Wilson Garcia 1-3, BB
Deivi Grullon 1-4, R, 2 K
Drew Stankiewicz 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 2B

Blake Quinn 4.2 IP, 6H, 2R, 1ER, 0BB, 4K, game score: 54
Austin Davis 2.1 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3K

Lakewood BlueClaws (4-2) @ Hagerstown Suns (4-2) 6:05 pm | Gameday
Bailey Falter (0-0, -.--) vs. Sterling Sharp (0-0, 36.00)

Notable

Daniel Brito 3-7, R, 2 K
Mickey Moniak 0-7, RBI, 4 K, CS
Alex Wojciechowski 0-7, 2 K
Cord Sandberg 2-6, BB, 2 K, SB
Danny Zardon 1-6, BB, 3 K
Edgar Cabral 2-6, R, K
Carlos Duran 0-4, 2 BB, 2 K

Bailey Falter 5.0 IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 2K, game score: 59
Felix Paulino 3.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 3K
Will Hibbs 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 0K
Trevor Bettencourt 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 5K

(click on the start time for box scores)

[Squire]

Random thoughts:

1. So at least in Clearwater and Lakewood we can kinda see that they are going with 6 man rotations, since this is Game 6 for each and we've got new starters.

2. Its only been five games but really disappointed in the loaded LHV team so far.

3. I think Kyle Martin is going to hit 25 HRs in Reading this year. At least. Andrew Pullin also can really hit.

4. Was glad to see Randolph get a couple of non-homer hits last night. I like the kid but it does seem to me that in an awful lot of games in his history he gets a couple hits early and then gets blanked late. Nice to see Leftwich bounce back last night. He always seemed destined for the bullpen given the depth of starters ahead of him.

5. Brito has been fabulous. Trying not to get too excited but quite the debut from the 19 year old.

[phillychuck]

Random thoughts:

So at least in Clearwater and Lakewood we can kinda see that they are going with 6 man rotations, since this is Game 6 for each and we've got new starters.

I think this is a really good way to control innings for young pitchers.

Its only been five games but really disappointed in the loaded LHV team so far.

I suspected before the season that a AAA team loaded with prospects would only play about .500 ball. I think we underestimate the talent of 30-ish AAAA players who comprise a significant fraction of the rosters of most IL teams.

I think Kyle Martin is going to hit 25 HRs in Reading this year. At least. Andrew Pullin also can really hit.

Agree on Martin; I think Pullin is actually underrated with respect to some of the AAA OF prospects.

Was glad to see Randolph get a couple of non-homer hits last night. I like the kid but it does seem to me that in an awful lot of games in his history he gets a couple hits early and then gets blanked late.

Interesting observation. Seems correct based on my recollection, too. Wonder if it has an addressable cause?

Nice to see Leftwich bounce back last night. He always seemed destined for the bullpen given the depth of starters ahead of him.

And the bullpen haws been a problem across the system so far. Reading's pen has been awful.

Brito has been fabulous. Trying not to get too excited but quite the debut from the 19 year old.

Go ahead, get excited! I'd like to see him show a bit more gap power and keep up the decent walk rate. He's also 3/3 in stolen bases so far, which is in sharp contrast to most of the rest of the guys in the system.

Responses in italics above...

[andyb]

If I recall some of the descriptions on Brito talked about how he was skinny like Tocci and they just needed a couple of years of growth and training to get to the point where his body might match his baseball skills. When they sent him to the DSL placing him behind Gamboa and Arauz I assumed it was because he was a lesser prospect and the better prospects would demand the playing time. That might have been an incorrect assumption though if Brito had more physical development ahead of him compared to the other two.

And let's not forget Gamboa also. Though I still expect something like a 600 OPS this year from him he is playing well and showing tools. Remember that a SS with plus defense, some speed, and a little power is a pretty valuable player. He'll probably make 30-40 errors this year but remember he is just 19.

[Austinfan]

Valentin watch: down to .563, his ML career is in jeopardy!

Hoskins ahead of Cozens. Which I expected, I'm skeptical about Cozens off his horrid splits last year. Lehigh will be the test.

Randolph showing early power is good, Pujols with 4Ks in 5 PA, uh oh.

Pullin is going to cause problems, at some point you have to promote him if he keeps hitting, but where?

Moniak doesn't look overmatched so far in A ball.

[andyb]

Not sure how one can say so definitively that Hoskins is ahead of Cozens even in this small sample size. It is all BABIP. Each has one HR. Cozens has 3 BBs and 3 Ks while Hoskins has 2 BBs and 4 Ks. Cozens is a year younger and has more defensive value. There is just nothing in the data to say Hoskins is better so far other than he had more luck in his few at bats.

In general let's not overreact to small samples. Crawford was awful on opening day but that happens. Valentin has been lucky to have 9 singles fall through the gaps. Nothing has fundamentally changed till we see more data. Crawford is still likely the starter in Philly mid-season and Valentin still profiles as a likely backup/utility guy. There is nothing wrong with that. If he can be Andres Blanco with a little more speed that is a good thing.

[rkeden]

It is becoming clear that our weakest position in the system is 3rd base. Am I wrong? Is there potential in the system that I'm not watching?

[Squire]

Cole Stobbe in EXT is probably our best 3B prospect.
Then again, we're signing Manny Machado after the 2018 season in any event.

[rkeden]

Using that logic, Mike Trout will be in the outfield in no time at all.

I still thin that Franco is going to be an above average player. It seems to me that he is trying to change his approach, cut down on (some) swings and use the whole field. He seems to be taking more pitches too. I think that both he and Stassi are feeling the pressure of getting off to a slow start. That angst tends to compound itself.

[schooldoc]

Montgomery is pitching for the Yankees on Wednesday, so tonight's starters for both teams are TBD. I'm going to guess it's Mark Leiter for LHV.

[donaldorc]

Using that logic, Mike Trout will be in the outfield in no time at all.

I thought it was to be Bryce Harper!

[schooldoc]

Eflin activated off the DL and optioned to LHV. Since he pitched Thursday at CLW, he'd be in line to start tonight for the IronPigs.

[zambonir]

I suspected before the season that a AAA team loaded with prospects would only play about .500 ball. I think we underestimate the talent of 30-ish AAAA players who comprise a significant fraction of the rosters of most IL teams.

So do you think the Phillies made a mistake not putting a few minor league vets on the team? Basically, what Mackanin demanded in the majors (rightly or wrongly). W-L certainly doesn't matter but 'I feel like individual performances could be affected if it becomes a losing atmosphere (realizing it's early. Very early. New manager too).

[Austinfan]

No room.
I mean there's a serious prospect at every position, and Pullin and Kingery are promotion prospects, along with a couple other Reading players.
The SP is full, they could add a veteran RP but they already have Garcia, and Murray has some time in the show.

So who's PT are you going to cut?

Given the talent at Lehigh, they should be competitive or our scouts screwed up.

[andyb]

Reading won last year with most of this group and Lehigh Valley should win this year. Yes there is a higher class of minor league veteran on most AAA franchises, but that does not mean that LHV should not be a good team. Plus, winning is not the top (or even secondary or tertiary) goal here. Developing players is. They are 2-3 with one uncharacteristic bad start from Thompson in games with uncertain weather. It is not like they started 0-5 with all the prospects tanking.

[zambonir]

On the one hand it's a good problem to have. On the other hand it's not a problem they necessarily expected to have (in that four or five of those LV players were expected to be out of AAA by now, including a few SPs who already were). It's not a big deal, and they do have a few journeymen on the bench. They could have gone out and signed a better 3B or squeezed in another OF/DH if they wanted to. I agree, they will ultimately come around (and then ideally it will not be fun to be an Iron Pigs fan in August, even w/ the AA call-ups).

[Philsmania]

Let's not get hysterical about the Pigs yet. Sometimes good teams get off to bad starts. The '77 Phillies started out 1-7 yet won 101 games in the end.

[bigegypt0417]

Hoskins ahead of Cozens. Which I expected, I'm skeptical about Cozens off his horrid splits last year. Lehigh will be the test.

You expected this after less than 20 at bats?

Cozens has K'd 3 times and walked 3 times.

Less than 20 at bats.

[Squire]

I really don't care about their record (I don't think anybody cares about their record tbh)

I'm not even using the word "concerned" yet.

I'm just disappointed that Nick Williams (who seemed to hit really really well in the Spring games and had a bunch of new maturity articles) and JP Crawford (who had a ton of "I just trying to do too much but now I understand that " articles) have started the season a combined 4-33 with 1BB and 12Ks

[Philsmania]

I really don't care about their record (I don't think anybody cares about their record tbh)

I'm not even using the word "concerned" yet.

I'm just disappointed that Nick Williams (who seemed to hit really really well in the Spring games and had a bunch of new maturity articles) and JP Crawford (who had a ton of "I just trying to do too much but now I understand that " articles) have started the season a combined 4-33 with 1BB and 12Ks

I would have to agree though that the slow starts by Williams and Crawford are disconcerting. After good spring trainings for each, it seemed as though both were primed to put their 2016 struggles behind them. Of course, it's still early, change in weather from Florida to the Northeast, etc.. But still, we were hoping for more reassurance right away. And, I hate to be a cynic but one can't help but wonder if they were just spouting off time-honored cliches they were instructed to spout off in those articles.