Phillies Nation

We’re back with another edition of the weekly off-season league rundown.  Check it out, as we take a tour around the globe for a look at Phillies talents participating in various autumn and winter league action.

Venezuelan League-

With La Guaira, right-handed hurler J.C. Ramirez (pictured, left) has posted a 2-1 record with a 10.80 ERA through 10 outings, while walking seven and striking out six in 6 2/3 innings.  The 24-year-old, who was acquired as part of the 2009 Cliff Lee trade with Seattle, pitched exclusively as a reliever in the Phillies’ system in 2012, sporting a 3-4 record with a 4.01 ERA and a .230 batting average against in 45 games at Double-A and Triple-A.

Freddy Galvis is batting .291 with six doubles, two triples and five homers in 40 games with Zulia.  Galvis, a 23-year-old shortstop, batted .226 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 58 games with the big league Phillies in 2012.

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez has posted a .286 average with a home run, nine RBI and a league leading 13 stolen bases in 28 games for Margarita.  Hernandez was an All-Star with Double-A Reading this year, prior to earning a promotion to Triple-A. Continue reading Weekly Off-season League Updates, 12/2/12

Phils hurler Tyler Cloyd is one of many players that rely on superstitions

Baseball players are known for being some of the quirkiest of all athletes and, as such, they typically seem to be the most superstitious.

Many people feel that superstitions and sports go hand in hand. The habits and things players believe can bring good luck or serve up bad luck are embedded deeply in the game of baseball.

Some of the best known player activities based on bringing a positive vibe include kooky actions like Turk Wendell‘s oral habits, which involved the former Cubs, Mets, Phillies and Rockies hurler chewing black licorice while he pitched and brushing his teeth between innings. Some players are big believers in physical routines, like the manner in which Mike Sweeney would enter the batter’s box, touching his helmet and face multiple times, or how Nomar Garciaparra would unfasten and readjust his batting gloves between each pitch.

The superstitions that are widely known are those that belong to big leaguers, but there are surely guys in the developmental ranks that have rituals which are just as remarkable. Continue reading Superstitions in the Minors: Prominent and Prolific

Some noteworthy bits of news popped up today, topped by the revelation that the Phillies’ Double-A club in Reading, which recently announced an upcoming name change, will reportedly be known as the Fightin’s.  Rumors circulated online, early Tuesday, and a post by Chris Creamer of SportsLogos.net confirmed that the Reading team registered some telling domain names, which included ReadingFightins.com, FightinsBaseball.com and ReadingFightinPhillies.com.

This proposed new name is not bad, especially since, in recent days, fans seemed greatly displeased over the team doing away with the Phillies name after using it for 46 years.  Simply using a different form of the previous nickname allows the club to avoid getting too far away from something that so many baseball fans throughout region have grown up with as well as the heritage that local fans love and appreciate.

Using “The Fightin’s” does seem silly, however, as Reading’s main focus in changing the nickname of the team was to develop their own identity.  Going with a variation of the name and brand they’ve been affiliated with for nearly five decades does not accomplish such a feat.

Additionally, BaseballAmerica released their list of minor league free agents on Tuesday.  The tabulation of Phillies minor league free agents includes just one player drafted by the organization, namely outfielder D’Arby Myers (pictured) a 4th round selection in 2006.  Myers, who helped Reading reach the Eastern League playoffs in 2012, is a cousin of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.  Another pair of free agents, infielder Harold Garcia and right-handed hurler Drew Naylor, were foreign-born amateur signees by the Phillies in 2004.

The remaining list of free agents largely includes players that were veteran minor league free agent signings at a previous time.  Key names among those no longer under contract with the Phillies include infielders Tug Hulett and Miguel Abreu, catcher John Suomi, pitcher Scott Elarton and outfielder Michael Spidale. Continue reading Odds & Ends: Reading’s Rumored Name, MiLB Free Agents

Through six relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League righty hurler Colby Shreve has posted a 1..35 ERA while holding opponents to a .167 average.

At three levels during the 2012 regular season, the 24-year-old College of Southern Nevada product tallied a 6-3 record with a 3.69 ERA and a 7.38 K/9 mark.  A slight adjustment to his arm angle this year helped the 6-foot-5 210-pounder to upgrade his velocity, which was steadily clocked at 95 MPH in 2012.

The Phillies’ 6th round draft selection in 2008, Shreve had Tommy John surgery and missed his first full season following signing a professional contract, as he recovered.

Recently, Colby took some time to offer his thoughts on the AFL and what he’s working on while there.  Read ahead for that interview.

-How did you find out you’d be competing in the Arizona Fall Lg and what was your reaction?

I found out I was coming to the fall league about 10 days before our regular season ended. I was excited to come to the fall league, just as I was last year. It is a great opportunity to compete against the best competition in the minor leagues and showcase yourself in front of every MLB team. Continue reading PN Interview: Colby Shreve, Fall League Edition

As the Phillies roll deeper into their off-season, the organization has taken to clearing room on their 40-man roster.

On Thursday, the team announced that infielder Pete Orr and catcher Steven Lerud were outrighted to Triple-A.  The 33-year-old Orr batted .315 in 35 games with the Phillies in 2012, but played the majority of his season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  Lerud, a 28-year-old who was signed as a minor league free agent last off-season, sported a .200 average in three big league games after being called up in August.

Additionally, righty hurler Tyson Brummett, who made his big league debut on the final day of the regular season, was claimed off waivers by Toronto on Thursday.  Brummett was a 7th round draft pick by the Phillies in 2007 out of UCLA.  The 28-year-old will likely serve as organizational depth for the Blue Jays in 2013.

The Phillies’ roster now stands at 37 players, along with four players on the 60-day disabled list.  Teams must add any eligible players to their 40-man roster by November 20th to protect them from December’s Rule 5 draft.

__________________________________________________

Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

A failed attempt by Team Israel to qualify for next year’s World Baseball Classic was disappointing for former Phillies prospect Josh Zeid, but the experience is one that he is proud of and the Tulane University product is confident that the sport is headed in the right direction for the country that has limited experiences with America’s national pastime.

The righty hurler, Zeid, described his time representing Israel as a true highlight, not only in his career but in his life as a whole. Additionally, he stressed his level of enjoyment playing along side players with such similar backgrounds.

“Playing with 27 teammates, who all are very similar to myself, religiously and socially, was a tremendous and very unique experience,” Zeid said.  “I’ve had Jewish teammates before, but to have a whole team of Jewish men, really brought a cohesiveness that I’ve never quite felt in the locker room before. It was as if we had been teammates for a whole year or years. It was the most fun I’ve had on the mound in a long time and it was also the hardest loss I’ve ever had to deal with in my career.”

Zied, who was part of a package of prospects dealt by the Phillies to Houston for All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence last season, was a stud on the mound for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws team that won the South Atlantic League championship in 2010.  Continue reading Zeid Exudes Jewish Pride with Israel in WBC Qualifiers

A pair of honors came the way of the Phillies organization on Tuesday with much talked about prospects Austin Wright and Tyler Cloyd each receiving recognition as top performers in their respective leagues.

Wright, a left-handed starter, was named as the Florida State League’s pitcher of the year. The 6-foot-3-inch 220-pounder has posted a 10-5 record with a 3.42 ERA while averaging 8.37 strike outs per nine innings in 26 games with the Threshers this season.

Regarding the recognition, the 22-year-old Wright, an 8th round draft pick of the Phillies last year, was excited and appreciative, but has his full focus on continuing his progress upward in professional baseball.

“This season has been a lot of fun. I’ve learned a lot, but I know I still have a long way to go,” Wright stated. “The Florida State League is loaded with talented pitchers and to be named the pitcher of the year is an incredible honor. I know there are many deserving players and I really appreciate the recognition from the coaches throughout the league.” Continue reading Duo of Pitching Prospects Honored

It’s certainly been an unusual summer for local baseball fans. In recent years, the Phillies have displayed divisional dominance, and, while doing so, they have swapped top rated minor leaguers to beef up the big league roster for the impending postseason drive. This year’s struggles, during which the Phillies have only recently dug themselves out of last place, have presented an opportunity for the team to not only hang onto their more highly regarded minor league talents, but to deal away some established major league players and add to the organization’s collection of promising youngsters.

This month Mike Drago of The Reading Eagle conducted his annual survey of fifteen organizational minor league experts, made up of writers and other media members, designed to rank the top prospects in the Phillies’ developmental system. The prospect that was ranked at the top of the list was lefty hurler Jesse Biddle, who has had a strong season for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers in the Florida State League.

Flattered by the honor, the 6-foot-4-inch 225-pound Philadelphia native was clear in stating that he isn’t fully pleased with such rankings. Biddle has his eyes set on getting better each time out and on the ultimate goal of reaching the major leagues.

“Having seen the talent throughout this system, top to bottom, it is an honor to be considered in the same category as these players,” Biddle said. “But, I also understand that being a prospect only gets you so far in the game between the lines, because (the field) is the only place that counts.”
Continue reading Biddle Ranked Top Prospect by Reading Eagle Survey

After three straight solid outings, Rosenberg is struggling once again. Photo: AP

Vance Worley‘s struggles continued last night, as the Vanimal allowed 4 earned in just 4.1 IP. Worley has a 5.92 since July with opposing hitters hitting .342/.407/.490 off of the bespectacled hurler. This story could very easily be “Worley isBeing Hit Hard” but instead focuses on his 6’3″ teammate from Newport News, VA, B.J. Rosenberg. Unfortunately for Rosenberg, he is currently on the wrong side of a record setting pace.

Following the Phillies ‘pen is usually my favorite part of the season. Even in good years, the carousel of names makes things exciting, leading to a few “Who is that”s or “I saw him in Allentown”s each year. For instance, I’ll never forget Les Walrond‘s 2 IP, 4 K performance late in the 2008 season against the Nationals or the Marlins putting a three-spot on Mike Zagurski late in 2010. For 2012? I won’t forget Rosenberg’s unfortunate early June against Baltimore (an Adam Jones walk-off) and Minnesota (Trevor Plouffe with a damaging double).

Rosenberg was of particular interest of mine to follow because he wasn’t expected to be a Phillie. Rosenberg started the year in Double-A as a non-roster invitee with a number of right-handed options in front of him on the depth chart. At 26, it appeared he may stay in the minors for the foreseeable future. After a fast start to his career, injuries limited him to just 20 appearances in 2010. Rosenberg struggled in Double-A in 2010 and 2011 after showing signs of future dominance in a brief 10-game 2009 call-up but seemed to turn the corner in 2012. Equipped with a fastball, slider, and change-up, Rosenberg went 3 for 3 in save opportunities as Reading’s closer to start 2012 with a 1.12 ERA in 8 appearances and has struck-out 63 Triple-A hitters in 54 Triple-A innings as both a starter and a reliever. This should have been Rosenberg’s year.

Continue reading Rosenberg On Record Pace