A Critical Look at the Phillies Organization and Minor League Baseball
Last Week’s Schedule Lehigh Valley (3-3) vs Durham (3-6): L 10-28, W 3-2, L 6-10, W 9-4, W 6-1, L 9-12 Reading (1-2) vs Portland (0-1): W 9-8, W 5-1, L 0-11, L 2-9*, L 4-5*, L 5-9 Jersey Shore (2-1) @ Hickory (0-3): W 8-1, L 0-1, W 4-0*, L 0-5*, W 13-0, L … Read more
Last Week’s Schedule Lehigh Valley (1-2) @ Rochester (2-1): (Tuesday-Friday postponed, DH Sunday) W 5-4, W 4-3, L 4-7 Reading (0-0) @ Bowie (0-0): W 5-2, L 1-19, L 3-4 Jersey Shore (0-0) vs Aberdeen (0-0): W 3-2, W 7-6, L 1-4 Clearwater (0-0) @ Bradenton (0-0): W 5-2, W 13-2, L 0-4 *All teams … Read more
Top Prospects Justin Crawford – There are valid critiques and worries about Crawford’s long term future, especially when it comes to his swing and contact quality. He needs to elevate the ball more and chase less. He also is a has plus plus speed, is a plus defensive centerfielder, and despite the other swing worries, … Read more
Tonight starts the A-ball playoffs. On Sunday, in the 11th inning the BlueClaws clinched the second half South Atlantic League title with a roster full of players that had led the Threshers to the first half title in the Florida State League. The Threshers were ok in the second half, but even with reinforcements they … Read more
Rodolfo Duran, C 5’9″, 181 lb Born 2/19/98 (Age 20) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Bats/Throws: R/R Signed $75,000 bonus as an international amateur in 2014 Team Played For: Lakewood (South Atlantic League/Low A) Games Seen: 5/24, 6/14, 6/29, 8/2, 8/20, 9/1; (Postseason) 9/7, 9/13, 9/14 Eyewitness Stats (9 games): 11/38 (.289), 3 2B, HR, … Read more
After months of ugly, muggy weather it is finally beginning to feel like fall. And when it’s fall, that can only mean one thing: playoff baseball. The minor league playoffs are underway, and Lakewood would host the White Sox affiliate Kannapolis in Game 2 of the South Atlantic League’s North Division championship. Lakewood won Game … Read more
The minor league playoffs kicked off in earnest yesterday with the Clearwater Threshers winning Game 1 of their series. Today the Lakewood BlueClaws and Lehigh Valley IronPigs get their turn. Lakewood enters the playoffs having gone 87-51 on the year and winning both halves of the season in the SAL North. Much like their friends … Read more
Every draft pick matters. It is a concept that makes sense on paper, but when you start to see picks come off the board on Day 3 of the draft, it is much easier to see the low minors roster depth than actual talent. While teams can give any player picked after the 10th round … Read more
On Friday night, I made my fourth trip to Lakewood this year to watch Spencer Howard for a second time. This would also be coincidentally the third time I’ve gotten to see the Nationals low A affiliate Hagerstown. The mission for the evening was to see two things: to see if Howard could have a … Read more
It’s June 19th, and at least one Phillies affiliate will have it’s season extend past September 3rd, when most of the minor league regular ends. On Sunday, Lakewood played it’s final game of the first half of the season. In the South Atlantic League, the schedule is truly split into two seasons. To reach the … Read more