Studs and Duds: Philadelphia Phillies Organizational Wrap Up 5/15

This will probably be my last post of the week barring any trade or situation which may arise. I wanted to encompass not only the Phillies but the farm system as well. Let's start from the bottom and work our way up. The Venezuelan and Dominican Summer Leagues, the Gulf Coast League, and the New York Penn League have yet to start up. The next couple of wrap ups will probably be short until then. On to Class A Lakewood.

The Lakewood BlueClaws went 3-3 since last weekend, winning 3 of 4 against Hickory and losing both games against Kannapolis. Highly touted rookie pitcher Jason Knapp pitched twice against Kannapolis. Lakewood lost both games but Knapp had a Jekyl and Hyde like set of starts. In the first game, Knapp only last 3.0 innings, giving up 6 earned runs off of 7 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Knapp faced virtually the same lineup 5 days later, with drastically different results. Although he only lasted five innings, Knapp scattered 3 hits, walked one, hit one, and struck out 9. The most impressive thing about the nine strikeouts is that five of the nine were the first five batters of the game.

Another 2008 Draft pick had an outstanding performance this past week in Lakewood. Zach Collier hit .294 with a double, two runs scored, and four stolen bases. Anthony Gose struggled at the plate hitting .210 and striking out 7 times in 19 at bats, but made it worth everyones while when he did get on base.  Gose knocked in 3 runs and scored 4 on his own. He also so showed some speed swiping 7 bags.

The second place FSL North Clearwater Threshers finished the week going 4-1. Highly touted prospect Kyle Drabek had a decent performance. He struggled through five innings putting runners on in each frame. He worked his way out of jams, only giving up one run. Although he did walk three batters, he did set down five. He was inline for the win until Jered Simon blew it in the ninth. Top prospect, depending on who you ask, Dominic Brown continued an impressive season by hitting .368. In the past week, Brown scored 6 runs and knocked in 7. Chance Chapman also threw in two nice relief appearances, going 3.2 IP. He struck out 4, gave up a hit, and walked one.

Double A Reading unfortunately went 2-4 this past week. Joe Savery did pick up his third win of the year against Harrisburg in a rain shortened 4.5 inning affair. Savery pitched all five innings for the R-Phils, striking out four and giving up two hits and walks each.  Popular prospects Michael Stutes and Vance Worley both submitted fine performances. Stutes had a quality start going six innings, giving 3 runs on a solo HR, and RBI triple, and a sac fly. Although he did walk two he struck out 3 in his first loss on the year. Worley had an exceptional game also picking up his 3rd win on the year. He scattered 3 hits and a walk over 8 innings. The only run he gave up was a solo homerun and sat down 6 via the strikeout. A personal favorite of mine the last couple of years, Antonio Bastardo, had probably the best outing of the week in Reading. Bastardo only went six innings in his lone start of the week. He allowed 3 base runners over the course of those six innings, one via hit and the other two were walks. He had no earned runs and struck out 10.

Offensively, Michael Taylor is how Reading wins. Taylor has been the best offensive player so far this season and he continued this week by hitting .333 with three homers, one of which was a grand slam, He knocked in 8 and stole a base as well. Quintin Berry really stepped up his game this past week. He was on fire most of the week, hitting .391 with a HR. The Eastern League really is showing where all the top talent is in the organization.

The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs brought home the worst perfomance of the week in the minors, posting a 1-5 record which included a double header sweep. Top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco struggled yet again giving seven runs, all earned, on 11 hits over 4 plus innings. There were reports of an inflammation in Carrasco's pitching arm a few weeks ago. I think that Carrasco's struggles are related to that injury. The Iron Pigs are really struggling as a team this season so far. Not one player under the age of 30 has an ERA under 3.50.  Not one position player under the age of 30 had a batting average over .300.

Finally the Big Boys. Our phightin' Phils managed to only get one win in the last five games. Hamels was outstanding. Moyer got rocked. Park was great. Myers was pulled to early. Blanton was steady.  The Phillies offense was the main problem. Averaging just under 2.5 runs per game. They really need to get this ship on course. Hopefully this is just last years bump in the road.