2016 Top 50 Phillies Prospects: 41-50

Time to kick off the actual list.  The back end of any prospect list is going to be players with some serious flaws.  For some players that is the lack of impact major league tools  For others it is that they are half a decade from the high minors, or it could be specific struggles … Read more

2015 Fightin Phils Preview/Guide

Team Page Overview: Ever since the Phillies completed the trade of Marlon Byrd to Cincinnati for Ben Lively there has been whispers of a stacked Reading rotation.  It turns out those whispers have become truth and the Fightin Phils will roll out a rotation of Aaron Nola, Zach Eflin, Jesse Biddle, Ben Lively, and Tom … Read more

Positional Overview: Corner Outfield

Depth Chart: Age Likely 2015 Level Top 50 Domonic Brown 27 MLB Grady Sizemore 32 MLB Odubel Herrera 23 MLB 28 Kelly Dugan 24 AAA 8 Brian Bugosevic 30 AAA Jeff Francoeur 31 AAA Darin Mastroinni 29 AAA Xavier Paul 30 AAA Cameron Perkins 24 AAA 32 Brian Pointer 23 AA Aaron Brown 22 A+ … Read more

2015 Top 50 Phillies Prospects: 31-40

This group from 31-40 is full of the players I was excited to put in my Top 30, but the Phillies went ahead and, since August, acquired 7 players that are in the Top 30 of this list.  This leaves a group of 10 players with some real talent and major league upside.  Traditionally, because of the … Read more

2014 Lehigh Valley IronPigs Recap: Interview with KRAM

Before we jump into talking about players why don’t you introduce yourself and where people can find your writing?

I write a column called “Kram’s Korner” for the Horn and Bell Blog of the Lehigh Valley Noise Nation.  “Kram” is an old joke–backwards for my real name–which just kind of stuck.  And, it helps keep my baseball life separate from my real life.  The 209 in my twitter handle refers to my section at Coca Cola Park in Allentown.  I’ve been a full-season ticket holder there since the 2009 season.   Web: www.noisenation.wordpress.com  Twitter: @Kram209

It was not a great year for the Ironpigs statistically or in the standings, but we all know that doesn’t tell the whole story in the minor leagues.   Can you quickly sum up the season for everyone out there?

2014 was the “season of change” for the IronPigs.  The AAA roster was subject to 166 roster transactions over our 144 game schedule.  The turnover was most pronounced at home, with our proximity to Philadelphia and Reading.  I believe this was responsible for our league-worst home record.  The away record, however, was among the league-best, as the roster galvanized a bit on the road trips. While there were plenty of home losses, we saw many players play, and the team continued to play hard throughout the season.  I did feel we had a chance to win every night.  There were seasons in the past where that wasn’t the case.  

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2014 Lehigh Valley IronPigs Recap

Team: Lehigh Valley Ironpigs
Record: 66-78
Standings: 6th in the North Division

Top Hitter Stat Lines:

Maikel Franco – 133 G – 16 HR – 3 SB – .257/.299/.428
Tyler Henson – 123 G – 9 HR – 19 SB – .272/.331/.415
Russ Canzler – 112 G – 13 HR – 3 SB – .276/.347/.474

Top Pitcher Stat Lines:

Greg Smith – 157.1 IP – 4.40 ERA – 37 BB – 92 K
Luis Garcia – 46.2 IP – 0.96 ERA – 16 BB – 52 K
David Buchanan – 57.0 IP – 3.95 ERA – 21 BB – 46 K
Cesar Jimenez – 49.2 IP – 1.45 ERA – 15 BB – 46 K

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Phillies Midseason Top 20 Prospects

Most of the draft picks are signed so it is time to revisit the preseason rankings.  It is still a small sample size, and an even smaller one for those newly drafted, so this list may be a bit conservative on any large scale changes.  In general the system is heading in the right direction, … Read more