Minor League Games - Wednesday, August 9, 2017

[bigegypt0417]

homers for jp and kingery

[fish]

I know part of the idea of drafting Moniak 1/1 was to spread some of the extra bonus money around among a few other guys. Best I can tell, much of that money saved on Moniak went to Kevin Gowdy, Cole Stobbe, and Josh Stephen.

That part is like the knee to the face after the kick to the jimmies- that draft was supposed to be the last haul we needed before starting the ride back up to respectability. Luck is always a part of it, but even when we had to live with gut wrench of JD Drew at least we still got Randy Wolf. If they miss on all four of those bonus babies, well, I can't help but feel like someone should get the axe.

[flyers19rw]

Fourteen months ago Moniak was still in H.S. He's just a kid. Perhaps he should have been in the GCL last season and NY-P this year? He's not excelling but he is holding his own on a team that isn't big with the bats. Now if he is back in Lakewood this time next year with the same numbers, it would be time to be concerned.
The Randolph situation bears examination. The first part of the season, he struggled. Then he started to hit and showed more power than predicted. Again, he's young for his level.
Three weeks ago some people were worrying about Hasely. Since then he's started hitting again. It's tough but patience is needed with these guys.

[fish]

His first season stats as compared to other first overall picks line up with Matt Bush and Tim Beckham. I root for the kid, but low A should not be the first place a #1 overall pick struggles. He's a prospect, but I'd put him in the back part of their top 10, hardly a top 100.

[gmwannabe]

i think rhys is beginning to smell "the show".
gm

[bkox]

Tom Housenick (TomHousenick)

Tom Housenick (TomHousenick)

[schooldoc]

Iron Pigs are taking out some frustrations tonight on old friend Alec Asher and the Norfolk 'pen. It's good to see.

I wouldn't have done it the way the Phillies are doing it right now, but let's get Hoskins to The Show.

[Squire]

Hoskins really deserves to be in the conversation for Minor League Player of the Year

[fish]

Hoskins really deserves to be in the conversation for Minor League Player of the Year

So I say something positive on this thread- I think Hoskins will be productive in the big leagues along the lines that Scott Rolen was. Can't wait to see his career unfold.

[andyb]

Hoskins really deserves to be in the conversation for Minor League Player of the Year

Kingery belongs in that conversation too. 900+ OPS age appropriate level 2B that should get close to a 30/30 season (24 HR/27 SB now).

[bkox]

Clearwater strikes out 25 times in 14 innings...

[harrisburghusker]

Can Cesar and Kingery coexist on the same team?

[phillychuck]

Yes. Cesar can play SS and is a pretty good 3B, probably more range than Maikel with not quite as good an arm. Going forward, either Cesar or Freddy would be a great utility infielder who also can hit a bit. I'd try to get Cesar 400 ABs, sort of like Mariano Duncan when he played the same role two decades ago.

But it will be hard to hold on to Cesar if you get a good trade offer for him...and they won't be able to pay him when he hits FA. He's a 3 WAR regular, and those guys get 15-20 million a year.

Ideal AAA result tonight, Hoskins, Crawford, Pullin, and Kingery homer, and Eschelman bounces back from a bad start.

Lots of close losses at the other levels.

[nycphils]

Don't forget that Cesar played a little OF a few years ago too - I agree that you hold him and play him 2/3 time until the right offer comes along.

[phillychuck]

After tonight (2/5 with a home run) Crawford's OPS for July/August is over 1000, with a 389 OBP and a SLG over 600.

Looks like he got healthy or figured something out, or both. Still just 22 in AAA.

[bkox]

Tom Housenick (TomHousenick)

[tom81]

But it will be hard to hold on to Cesar if you get a good trade offer for him...and they won't be able to pay him when he hits FA. He's a 3 WAR regular, and those guys get 15-20 million a year.

We are a big market team with only one player tied up with a long term contract and that contract is very reasonable. Of course we can afford to pay Cesar when he hits FA if we decide we want to keep him. He has real value and it may be in the clubs best interest to work on a long term contract for him now that buys out a couple of his FA years. We can be a winnng team with Cesar at 2B and maybe one with him at 3B. It may be in our best interest to keep him an look to trade Kingery or Franco.

[Austinfan]

Not sure Cesar has the arm for 3B, Galvis and Crawford do, Kingery doesn't from all reports.
It's one thing to fill in for a game or two, another to start on a regular basis.
Though I'd much rather pay Cesar than waste the money on a 32 year old FA pitcher. Cesar should be a top 5-10 starting 2B for another 3-4 years.

[allentown]

Which is why you have to trade Hernandez. Yes, we certainly can afford to pay him, but why pay that much for a reserve? Better to convert his value to a position of need. Hernandez probably can be a top 10 2B for 3-4 years, but Kingery can be better than that for 5+ years longer and will be the better 2B.

[gmwannabe]

interesting watching hoskins' home run video of last night. he looks like Jim Thome running around the bases. Just looking wise. i am certainly not comparing the 2 but wouldn't it be nice if hoskins would have half the career Thome had?
gm