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Weekly Minors Recap: Iron Pigs Are Slop

Sure the farm system isn’t full of winners (read AAA’s horrible start), but there are good players throughout. Good performances came from a lot of the top prospects this week:

AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (0-9)
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Iron Pigs didn’t win a game this season. They went 0-6 for the week. Here’s a list of player batting averages â€” .115, .190, .111, .154, .192, .143, .188, .138, .208, .148, .217. Only Brandon Watson â€” at .263 â€” is at a somewhat respectable position. Jason Jaramillo has hit two solo home runs. They’ve scored 11 runs in nine games. Yes, 11 in nine. 31-year-old Ron Chiavacci â€” and maybe two other pitchers â€” is the only bright spot on this roster â€” he has a 0.79 ERA through 11 innings. Let’s just stop now.
Player to Watch: Ron Chiavacci – 11.1 IP, 0-0, 0.79 ERA

AA Reading Phillies (4-4)
After beginning the season 3-0, the Phils have slid back to mediocrity, but don’t go all Iron Pig on them. They had a couple close losses, including the home opener, where Jason Delaney went 3 for 3 with a homer. Greg Golson, who sat out a game with a bruised left foot, has continued to hit well, now at .323 with five runs and seven steals. However, he has struck out eight times â€” not a good sign for him. Jason Donald, out with a lacerated finger, is hitting .350 after five games. Carlos Carrasco had a nice first start, striking out seven in five innings. Andrew Carpenter got roughed up for five earned in his second start. Meanwhile, Fabio Castro has struck out three and walked three in five frames.
Player to Watch: Greg Golson – 10/31, 7 SB, 5 R

A+ Clearwater Threshers (3-6)
Adrian Cardenas continues to rake in Clearwater, now hitting .417 with four runs scored. 24-year-old outfielder Matt Spencer is hitting .313 with four ribbies. Then there’s Antonio Bastardo, the 22-year-old Dominican lefty is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings. He’s walked five, but struck out 17. Very nice. Joe Savery is suffering with his ratio at nine Ks to seven BBs, but has a 1.50 ERA in 12 frames.
Player to Watch:

Antonio Bastardo – 10 IP, 1-0, 0.90 ERA, 17 K

A Lakewood Blue Claws (3-5)
Hanging around near the cellar of the South Atlantic League is Lakewood, but not without thrills. OF Michael Taylor is at a nice .367 clip, while OF Dominic Brown is at .324 with two runs scored. 23-year-old Tyson Brummett has 13 Ks through 11 innings and a nice 1.64 ERA. Pitching prospect Drew Naylor has a 3.60 ERA, striking out 12 through 10.
Player to Watch: Michael Taylor – 11/30, 5 R

Prospect Watch
1. SP Carlos Carrasco (AA) – Looking good after one start.
2. 2B Adrian Cardenas (A+) – The top hitter on Clearwater, striking doubles with ease.
3. SP Joe Savery (A+) – Needs to work on control but looks OK.
4. SP Josh Outman (AA) – Through two starts he’s been good. 13 Ks after 11 innings.
5. SP Kyle Drabek (A) – Recovering from Tommy John surgery.

SP Andrew Carpenter (AA) – Had bad second outing; will face road bumps.
C Lou Marson (AA) – Hitting .304 so far; not too bad.
C Jason Jaramillo (AAA) – Bad start offensively.
SS Jason Donald (AA) – Hitting well until hit by pitch put him on shelf. Should be back soon.
OF Dominic Brown (A) – Well enough and hitting fine.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.