Phillies Nation

The Phils committed four errors and dropped their Grapefruit League opener against Houston today 8-3.

Positives

Inspite of the loss, the Phils had quite a few brightspots. Cole Hamels dominated for two innings, needing only ten pitches to retire six of seven batters, giving up only one hit. Ben Revere led off the game with a single and stolen base after taking Astros starter Lucas Harrell to a full count. Chase Utley wasted no time scoring Revere from second with a first inning single.

Domonic Brown and Laynce Nix each looked comfortable at the plate and Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-3 with an RBI. Ender Inciarte had a nice at bat in the eighth that led to a walk and Pete Orr hit a solo homer in the eighth as well.

Areas of Opportunity

Defense and the bullpen did the Fightins in. The Phils had four errors which did not include a Michael Young misplay in the first.  The official errors were charged to Erik Kratz, Darin Ruf, Ben Revere, and Michael Martinez.

The bullpen looked like they were focused solely on throwing strikes. However, none of these guys had their best stuff today. Realistically, Jeremy Horst and Justin De Fratus are the most likely to make the club of the non-Hamels pitchers who threw today but each ran into trouble. Non-roster invitee Jermain Mitchell hit a ninth inning triple but took an awkward route around second base, misplayed a ball in the outfield, and tried to tag up from third on a really shallow fly ball and was thrown out.

The Phillies will play the Tigers tomorrow at Lakeland at 1:05 PM.

From the “Lost Tapes” files, I bring you a never-before-released interview with 2012 Phillies draft pick Zach Cooper.  The righty hurler was in the midst of an excellent campaign during his first season in the pro ranks, after the Phils selected him in the 15th round out of Central Michigan University, when I spoke with him in August.

Cooper, who turned 23-years-old this off-season, is aggressive on the mound, as he attacks the strike zone and goes after opposing batters.

As a senior last year with the Chippewas, the 5-foot-10-inch 185-pound Cooper went 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA and was honored with an all-conference nod.

After debuting as a pro, combined at two levels, with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters and the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Cooper posted a 2-3 record with six saves and a 1.30 ERA while holding batters to a .183 batting average in 23 appearances.

Read ahead to check out my full interview with Zach, as he talks about transitioning from college ball to the minors, being selected by the Phillies and plenty more.

- Zach you’re off to a hot start to your pro career.  I just wanted to get some thoughts from you on your early success here.

You know, it’s been something that I kind of just turned in from college.  Just tried to get into a groove and I’ve been able to.  And I’ve had some outstanding plays behind me and stuff like that and great games called by the catcher, so it’s kind of been me, but a team thing too. Continue reading PN Interview: 2012 Draft Pick Cooper Talks Pro Transition

Selected in the 8th round of the 2011 amateur draft, lefty hurler Austin Wright quickly proved to be a fast rising prospect in the Phillies’ organization.  Out of the University of Mississippi, where he posted a 4.73 ERA and an 8.57 K/9 mark through 14 starts that year, Wright never tired, continuing on for another 15 appearances primarily as a starter in the Phils’ system.

After making his pro debut with the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters and posting a 3-1 record along with a 3.38 ERA in eight games (seven starts), Wright was promoted to full season Class A Lakewood, where he continued to look strong, tallying a 1-2 record and a 2.67 ERA in seven starts.  Combined at the two levels, Wright, who grew up idolizing big league stars like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, notched an impressive 11.2 K/9 mark.

In 2012, as a member of the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, the 6-foot-4-inch 235-pounder became an All-Star and was honored as the Florida State League pitcher of the year, as he posted an 11-5 record, a 3.47 ERA and an 8.11 K/9 mark.

Wright has a repertoire that features a low-90′s fastball (regularly clocked at 91-92 MPH, but can reach higher), a tough curve ball that can leave batters looking foolish, a solid slider and a change up.  As Wright climbs higher in the developmental ranks, that menu could be refined, but, for now, he’s sticking with the four-pitch selection. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #15 LHP Austin Wright

Last year’s top Phillies draft choice righty pitcher Shane Watson did not see much action during his initial pro stint.  Many in the organization and around baseball are extremely high on the 6-foot-4-inch 195-pounder, as he possesses skills that earned him considerable regard and made him the 40th overall pick.

Pitching for Lakewood High School, located in the suburbs of Los Angeles, CA, last year, Watson posted a 4-3 record with a 1.19 ERA in 11 games. In 53 innings of work, he allowed just 36 hits while striking out 79 batters.

Watson wasn’t the first player who attended Lakewood High School taken by the Phillies in the opening round of the MLB amateur draft.  Travis d’Arnaud, who played with Shane’s older brother, Scott, was the Phillies’ 1st round selection (37th overall) in 2007 out of Lakewood as well.

Although he was committed to pitch for USC, Watson signed his first pro contract, reportedly worth $1.3 Million, and later debuted with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in August.  Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #17 RHP Shane Watson

Right-hander Tyler Knigge (pronounced kuh-NIG-ee) proved himself to be a fast rising pitching prospect last year, as he dominated with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers and later earned a promotion to Double-A Reading.

Selected in the 12th round of the 2010 draft out of Lewis-Clark State College, Knigge made his pro debut that year, pitching with the Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, sporting a 0-4 record along with a 5.28 ERA in 11 outings (four starts). He would pitch in the Florida Instructional League that year as well. The following season, Knigge was a strong performer with Class A Lakewood, pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, where he looked tougher on opposing batters, tallying a 4-3 record, four saves and a 3.32 ERA.

In an effort to increase his own stamina, Knigge lost approximately 15 pounds over the 2011-2012 off-season. With improved conditioning, Knigge was amazing with Clearwater last year, posting a 0.60 ERA along with a 4-1 record and nine saves in 34 relief outings, and was recognized as a Florida State League All-Star.

In early July, the 6-foot-3-inch 225-pounder was promoted to Reading and would post strong numbers there as well, with no decisions, two saves and a 2.92 ERA in 21 appearances. If not for an oddity of an outing on July 20 in Trenton, in which he was charged with three earned runs without recording an out, Knigge’s ERA at the Double-A level would have been 1.82.

Knigge saw his batting average against go from .243 in 2011 to a much improved .204 in 2012, as he jumped two levels. Additionally, Knigge’s K/9 of 9.09 during the 2012 regular season was a nice improvement over the previous season’s 7.48 mark as well.
Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #20 RHP Tyler Knigge

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Simon was acquired last June by the Phillies in the trade that sent Jim Thome to the Baltimore Orioles.  His side-angled delivery, sweet mustache and excellent numbers made him stand out after joining the Phils organization.

The 22-year-old sports a repertoire that features a low-90′s fastball with sinking movement, a split and a plus slider. Simon is as automatic of a ground ball out in key situations as the Phillies have in their developmental ranks.

Simon, who stands 6-foot-5 and is listed at 225 pounds, was moved to the bullpen upon joining the Phillies organization, tallying a 3-0 record with a 1.26 ERA in seven outings for Class A Advanced Clearwater.  Soon after, he was promoted to Double-A Reading, where he went 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 13 regular season outings.

Overall with the Threshers and R-Phils, Simon held opponents to a .165 batting average against.  Additionally, Simon starred in a playoff outing for Reading in September, retiring all eight batters he faced, to help the club lock down a win against division rival Trenton.
Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #24 RHP Kyle Simon

Bastardo had his ups and downs in 2012.

The Phillies and Antonio Bastardo came to an agreement on a one-year, $1.4 million deal, avoiding arbitration. He was the last remaining player on the roster that was arbitration eligible. It was Bastardo’s first year eligible.

The 27-year old had a rough year in 2012, even though he struck out 81 batters in 52 innings. His 4.33 ERA in 65 appearances last season was well above his 2.64 ERA from 2011, when he burst onto the scene as one of the best relievers in all of baseball in the first half.

The Phillies added some depth to their spring roster by signing veteran right-handed reliever Juan Cruz to a minor-league contract, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Championship.

Cruz, 34, had a 2.78 ERA last year but was wild and when he refused to accept a demotion to Triple-A, the Pirates released him.

He’s pitched for seven teams in 12 years. He has a 4.05 career ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and has struck out four more batters than innings pitched. He has a mid-90s fastball, and also uses a cutter, slider and changeup.

Cruz’s best year was 2008 with the Diamondbacks, when he pitched to a 2.61 ERA in 51.2 innings, with 71 strikeouts.

He’s also made 10 postseason appearances and finished two games. When the Phillies were swept in the 2007 NLDS by the Rockies, Cruz — pitching for Arizona — held Colorado hitless with eight strikeouts in four appearances in the next round.

The only other notable thing to add is that Cruz was part of the package the Athletics sent to the Braves in December 2004 for Tim Hudson. It was Cruz, reliever Dan Meyer and outfield Charles Thomas for Hudson. Thomas had upside but never realized it.

Really points out how long Hudson has been with the Braves. Can you believe he’s made 50 more appearances for Atlanta than Oakland?

It’s another edition of our weekly off-season league review. Read ahead, as we take a tour around the globe for a look at Phillies talents including Antonio Bastardo, Raul Valdes and plenty of others, who are participating in various winter league action.

Venezuelan League-

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez (pictured, left) ended his VWL regular season batting .226 with a home run, 16 RBI and 14 steals in 44 games for Margarita, as his team did not advance to the semi-final round.  The 22-year-old switch-hitter batted a combined .291 with two homers and 57 RBI in 133 games for Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley during the 2012 regular season.

Shortstop Edgar Duran, also with Margarita, batted .240 with a home run and nine RBI in 36 games.  In 121 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2012, Duran, 21, sported a .253/.310/.357 line.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis wrapped up his regular season with a 10-game hitting streak, during which he posted .349 batting average with three doubles and seven RBI.  Galvis batted .300 in 58 games for Zulia and has missed the early games of the semi-final round robin for undisclosed reasons, but has stated on his Twitter account that he expects to return to the team in January.

Catcher Humberto Quintero has posted a .333 average along with five doubles, a homer and 10 RBI in 26 games for Zulia.  The 33-year-old was signed by the Phillies last month after playing in 43 games with the Royals in 2012. Continue reading Weekly Off-season League Updates: 12/30/12

Last week, Bill Baer wrote up a terrific idea he had at Crashburn Alley: the Phillies should play Freddy Galvis at third base whenever John Lannan starts. The thought makes perfect sense and represents the type of minor adjustment that could benefit the team and maximize the utilities of different rostered players.

As Baer outlined, about 78% Lannan’s batters faced put the ball in play, 53% of those balls in play are grounders, and over half of those grounders are pulled. Having shaky defense at shortstop and third base would hurt the Phillies run prevention with Lannan on the mound. Jimmy Rollins remains an elite defensive shortstop but the Phils are set to start Michael Young at the hot corner. Young hasn’t played third base regularly since 2010 and was a poor defender even then.

Young’s acquisition also leaves Galvis without a clear role. The Phillies could insert him at second base to give Chase Utley a rest and play him alongside Ryan Howard. They could also move Utley to first and play both he and Galvis on the right side of the infield. Rollins might need a day off every now and then as well. Where Galvis could really help the team in a more consistent manner is, as Baer suggested, by playing third base whenever Lannan starts.

I want to take that idea one step further. Not only should Galvis start at third base whenever Lannan pitches, but when Lannan is opposed by a fellow southpaw starter, the Phillies should sit Ryan Howard and play Young at first base. This alignment improves the offense by using Young against the lefties he crushes instead of Howard, who is quite poor against same-handed pitching, and clearly improves the infield defense.

Continue reading Effectively Using Young, Galvis & Howard