Matt Winkelman

Matt is originally from New Jersey, but after a 4 year side track to Cleveland for college he now resides in Madison, WI. His work has appeared on Baseball Prospectus, Crashburn Alley, Phuture Phillies, The Good Phight, and TheDynastyGuru.

Aaron Nola to Make Pro Debut and Other Weekend News

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The big news coming out this weekend is that Phillies first round pick (#7 overall), Aaron Nola will make his pro debut with the Clearwater Threshers today.  On the mound Nola will bring a fastball that sits 91-94 but touches 96 when he needs it.  He has shown the ability to command the fastball around … Read more

GCL Phillies Roster Released

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Today at 12:00pm Eastern, the GCL season begins.  It marks the start of summer and of hope eternal.  So with not much time to spare, lets jump into the roster. Pitchers: Francibel Alejo, Lewis Alezones, Austin Davis, Jacques Degruy, Seranthony Dominguez, Jared Fisher, Scott Harris, Matt Hockenberry, Matt Imhof, Denton Keys, Franklin Kilmone, Brandon Leibrandt, … Read more

Malquin Canelo Takes Crawford’s spot in Lakewood

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On any other team Malquin Canelo starts for their Low-A affiliate in 2014.  However, most organizations don’t have J.P. Crawford, and so Canelo stayed in Florida this spring.  He made a brief cameo in the Florida State League, where he didn’t completely embarrass himself. Canelo isn’t going to replace Crawford for the Blueclaws.  However, his … Read more

The Evolution of Ken Giles

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There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth this year about the Phillies development process, and inability to develop a homegrown reliever.  This past week, the Phillies promoted their best relief prospect in a while to the major leagues in Ken Giles (where he joined fellow homegrown relievers Bastardo, De Fratus, Diekman, and Hollands). … Read more

What to Make of Cam Perkins

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One of the breakout candidates for the first half of the Phillies season has been outfielder Cam Perkins.  On his career Perkins is hitting .305/.358/.438 and he has put up gaudy doubles numbers with 74 doubles across 241 games.  In 2014 he hit 19 doubles in 52 games for the Reading Fightin Phils.  On the first glance these numbers start to create a narrative of a player who should be topping prospect lists.  Lets take a deeper look into a player who has been getting a ton of press.

Lets start with the defense.  In the field Perkins can play RF, LF, and 1B (he did play 11 games at third base in 2012, his college position).  In the outfield he has an average arm, and he is passable on his routes.  He has the athleticism to be playable in both corners, but he fits best in left field long term.  Overall the defense shouldn’t be a liability, but it isn’t going to help him.

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Phillies Call Up Aaron Altherr

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I am sure everyone wishes that Aaron Altherr would make his major league debut under happier circumstances. Howver, with the passing of Tony Gwynn, tyhe Phillies have placed Tony Gwynn Jr. on the bereavment list. Altherr has the distinction of being the only healhthy coutfielder on the roste, Kelly Dugan and Zach Collier are still on the DL and Tyson Gillies was removed from the 40 man roster recently. The other two names were Leandro Castro and Cameron Perkins, neither his on the 40 man rster and neither cshould be a primary centerfielder.

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