Fall/Winter ball updates

While the World Series between the Cardinals and Red Sox reaches its apex, the Phillies have had a few of their prospects and up-and-comers in action since the season ended. 

Here's a quick look at how some of the Phillies are doing in Fall and Winter ball action ...

Arizona Fall League

Seven Phillies prospects are playing for the Peoria Javelinas along with prospects from Seattle, San Diego and Houston. However, at 5-11, Peoria has the worst record in the league.

Aaron Altherr - OF

In three games Altherr is 3 for 11 with a double and two RBIs. He has walked once, struck out twice and was caught stealing another time.

Kenny Giles - RHP

Giles has appeared in five games, racking up five innings with a save. However, the reliever has a 10.80 ERA with eight strikeouts and five walks

Mike Nesseth - RHP

Nesseth has also appeared in relief in five games. In seven innings he has four walks and four strikeouts with an 0-1 record and 5.13 ERA.

Cameron Perkins - OF

Perkins is 5 for 21 with a double, triple and an RBI. He has struck out just once and has a .360 on-base percentage in seven games.

Cameron Rupp - C

Suddenly the organization's top catching prospect, Rupp is batting .300 (9 for 30) with a pair of doubles and four RBIs. Rupp has whiffed 10 times in seven games with one walk.

Kyle Simon - RHP

Acquired from Baltimore for Jim Thome, Simon had an up-and-down year for Double-A Reading. In the Arizona Fall League, the righty reliever has allowed one run on three hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings. In four outings, Simon has three strikeouts.

Austin Wright - LHP

The lefty has allowed seven runs (five earned) in six innings and five games. He also has allowed a pair of homers and three walks (with five Ks) and sports a team high 2.33 WHIP.

LIGA DE BEISBOL DOMINICANO

There are plenty of Phillies and ex-Phillies spread out in the six-team league. 

Juan Sosa 

Pitching for Tigres del Licey, Sosa has appeared in two games allowing two hits with three strikeouts in 2 1/3. Playing alongside Sosa for Licey are ex-Phillies Jose Contreras, Wilson Valdez and Tuffy Gosewisch.

Leandro Castro - OF

Castro is off to a good start for Estrellas de Oriente. He's 10 for 34 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs. Lefties Jeremy Horst and Eude Brito are also on the Estrellas roster as is Michael Martinez. Those three have yet to appear in a game.

Maikel Franco - 3B

The big third baseman is still hitting just like he did all year. In eight games, Franco is 12 for 31 with three doubles, four RBIs and a pair of stolen bases. He has eight strikouts, though. 

Ex-Phillie Fabio Castro is also playing for Cibao with Franco.

Hector Nerris - RHP

The Double-A righty has appeared in four games allowing an earned run in 3 2/3 for Toros del Este. His teammate is shortstop Willie Carmona, who spent the summer in Lakewood. Others playing for the Toros are Pedro Feliz and Raul Valdes.

LIGA VENEZUELA BEISBOL

Just like in the Dominican, Venezuela is a good place to get a few ABs or IPs.

Jim Murphy - 1B

Reading's slugger is 15 for 47 in 15 games with two doubles, two homers and 10 RBIs for the Tigres de Aragua.

Justin Friend - RHP

The reliever has had a few rough outings, going 1-1 in six games with a 12.79 ERA from nine runs in 6 1/3 innings. Friend is joined on the Tiburones de La Guaira by Paul Owens Award winner, Severino Gonzalez. The young right-hander started one gmae and pitched two innings where he allowed a run. He appeared in a second game but allowed a pair of runs before recording an out. Seems like they are being cautious with the righty.

Ex-Phillies Sergio Escalona and Tyson Brummlett are also playing for the Tiburones.

Cesar Hernandez - 2B

Hernandez might be having the best fall of any of the Phillies' prospects. In nine games the infielder is 12 for 38 with two doubles, two homers and seven RBIs for the Bravos de Margarita. One drawback is the 11 Ks in the nine games. Reading infielder Edgar Duran is also playing for Margarita. He is 3 for 9 in three games.

Freddy Galvis - SS

Galvis has shown some power, going 6 for 21 with a pair of doubles and a homer in six games for Aguilas del Zulia. He is teammates with Wilmer Oberto, an outfielder who spent last season playing in the Gulf Coast League.

Gabriel Lino - C

The Lakewood catcher is 0 for 2 in limited action for the Cardenales de Lara. However, he has been able to avoid shaving cream pies from ex-Phillie Tomas Perez. The utility infielder is 5 for 26 with a double.

Meanwhile, the Leones de Caracas has a veritable All-Star team of ex Phillies. Casper Wells is an outfielder for the team and is 5 for 13 with a home run and zero strikeouts in four games. Wells has yet to pitch in a game for Caracas. The Leones DH is Bobby Abreu, who is 11 for 38 with a double and a triple.

Ugueth Urbina, who last pitched in the majors for the Phillies in 2005 before going to prison in Venezuela, has allowed one hit with three strikeouts in three games.

Comments

[steve wilmdel]

do we have any pitchers throwing over 95 mph?

nice to see franco doing well. how is his glove?

[LorecorE]

Altherr has missed the last week or so and likely sitting out the remainder of the AFL due to a hand injury.

[LorecorE]

Giles is +95mph. His AFL ERA will be horrible no matter he does after giving up 7 runs without recording an out last week.

[Willard Preacher]

So, Michael Martinez can't even get into a Dominican League game, but we're supposed to be okay with him racking up innings with our own MLB club? Got it.

[Willard Preacher]

"Galvis has shown some power..."

Better trade him before the inevitable second offense PED test...

[LorecorE]

I admit, I was an advocate for the Urbina trade. Some good reasons to like that trade before/after, but overall can't deny that it turned out pretty terrible.

[Phillibuster]

That trade ended up being a massacre.

[Willard Preacher]

BTW, TTI's right, and it's been overly easy to criticize these thread headers, but I gotta give credit where credit is due - this was a good one and kept my attention all the way through and should stimulate some good discussion. Nice work, finger.

I just hope we get some good insight from posters. I'm a little nervous that they might be too occupied otherwise, all caught up in the hysteria that is all of those zany Greg Maddux stories.

[Willard Preacher]

Not too nitpick, but it's "Tyson Brummett." No "L" in the last name.

[awh™]

From the previous thread:

WP: "However, if I'm being 100% honest, I'd still rather listen to Buck call a baseball game than Tom McCarthy."

THIS.

I'd rather listen to just about anything (fingernails on a chalkboard, a slaughterhouse, orphaned children wailing for their mothers, etc.) than listen to TBag call a baseball game.

[R. A. Morrow, Jr.]

"So, Michael Martinez can't even get into a Dominican League game, but we're supposed to be okay with him racking up innings with our own MLB club? Got it."

WP, STFU!

He's a valuable baseball player.

[LorecorE]

I would be shocked if Martinez doesn't have a statue at the center of every city/town/school in the DR, where all the poverty stricken families can bring their children to pray.

"See son, even you can grow up and get an MLB salary. No really...if he can do it, anyone can."

[Phillibuster]

Eh. I can't say I agree there. TMac isn't great, but at least he displays some personality (in his voice if nothing else) at times. He also tends to know about the players themselves - something you'd think that Buck would have plenty of opportunity to research, given he only has to learn about 2 teams, who've been in a rapidly-shrinking group for half a month by then.

Buck is the ultimate "safe choice," always talking up the players/teams who are already the most popular (often New York teams, since NYC is so big), and rarely acknowledging the things the less-popular organization does. In my mind, he outdoes McCarthy in every category that people complain about with him except homerism, since he genuinely doesn't seem to care about the game (except where such conflicts with the above).

[Willard Preacher]

Sounds like Franco is serious about giving us a 3B controversy. I'm all for it, especially if he continues to show a bit of pop.

A K per game isn't ideal, but for his MiLB career, he's only at .62 K/game. Keep in mind, our beloved Big Piece, who is supposed to bring the power to next year's lineup, is a career 1.19 K/game player.

[LorecorE]

or is it Amaro who has the statue? And those same poverty stricken families gather around random farm animals to recreate the legendary photo in hopes of their own successful trip to the majors.

[Phillibuster]

I really can't agree about Buck>TMac.

Buck outdoes McCarthy in every category that people complain about him for except in-season anecdotes, since Buck just doesn't seem to care (unless one team is significantly more popular than the other - then that's his "home team") and can't be bothered to remember all the way back in September. He's about 50/50 when it comes to pronouncing non-standard names correctly, despite only needing to know about 30 or so for the WS.

I feel like if there was a sliding scale on which TMac was not the endpoint, as far as sportscasting personality, Buck would be.

[Phillibuster]

Oh, sure. Delete my post, act as if it didn't get accepted, then wait until I re-write it in a different manner because I figured I triggered a word filter.

Blargh.

[rocco]

I just dont see this team. contending with amaro calling the shots, the man is horrible. look at the players he has brought in,cant build a bullpen, and lacks any skills in trades,shame with all the money this team could spend, you would think they would go get a experience gm and better scouts.

[awh™]

"Sounds like Franco is serious about giving us a 3B controversy. I'm all for it, especially if he continues to show a bit of pop."

WP, he's also a RHB.

[PLM]

So what would his K rate translate to once he reaches Las Grandes Ligas WP? Starting to think Wright might be a wash. Isnt he the last of the supposed baby aces. I think we got stuck with the wrong baby ace.

[LorecorE]

baby aces:

Jared Cosart(gone)
Trevor May(gone)
Julio Rodriguez(gone and sucks)
Brody Colvin(sucks)
Jonathan Pettibone(5th starter)

[LorecorE]

obviously someone of prominence came up with the moniker of 'Baby Aces' since it was well spread.

Whoever it is should be removed from that prominence immediately and reprimanded to the highest degree possible.

[awh™]

"And those same poverty stricken families gather around random farm animals to recreate the legendary photo in hopes of their own successful trip to the majors."

Lore, r00b is really in trouble if someone in the DR has Photoshop.

I can imagine him getting a letter saying:

"Sr. Amaro,

Pensamos como un recuerdo de su viaje a la República Dominicana hace varios años. Es una foto de tu visita a nuestra granja cuando has venido a explorar a nuestro hijo durante la temporada de la Liga invernal Dominicana.
¿Entendemos que nuestro hijo ha sido en el sistema de granja Phillies hace algunos años, pero ya nos dijo que estaba garantizado para hacer las grandes ligas, y es por eso que él firmó con los Filis, nos preguntábamos cuándo iba a ser llamado a Filadelfia?
De todos modos, esperamos que te guste la foto de usted con nuestro burro, Gustavo. Marcamos el secreto carta "personal y confidencial" sólo así podríamos guardar nuestro pequeño.
Atentamente,

Translation:

Mr. Amaro,

We thought you'd like a memento of your trip to the Dominican Republic several years ago. It's a picture of you visiting our farm when you came by to scout our son during the Dominican Winter League season.
We understand our son has been in the Phillies farm system a few years now, but since you told us he was guaranteed to make the major leagues, ans that is why he signed with the Phillies, we were wondering when he was going to be called up to Philadelphia?
Anyway, we hope you like the picture of you with our donkey, Gustavo. We marked the letter "personal and confidential" just so we could keep our little secret.
Sincerely,

[Willard Preacher]

'buster, I've actually been withholding posting again on the TBag/Buck point, because I feel so strongly about TBag being among the worst in his field to do his job that I may even be clouded by my own disdain.

I've been waiting to see if anyone else feels as I do, to either corroborate or debunk the loathing I feel every time I hear his voice. It's gotten to the point that I reflexively "mentally compare" to Tbag virtually every single sportscaster I hear even going out of my way to hear notorious "homers" and bad broadcasters. To date, I'm yet to find anyone nearly as grating as our TV play-by-play guy.

Again, I'm trying not to beat a dead horse, and can't help but feel like my bias now supersedes my ability to be subjective, but I'm officially at the point where I'm ready to claim that only one human being on the planet is worse at his job, and coincidentally, he also has been employed by the Phillies without any real rationale as to why (and I'm resigning myself to the fact that he likely will be again).

But, yeah, Buck's bad too.

[PLM]

Lol...Thanks Lore...Not sure why Colvin was tagged with that Moniker his early #s suggest anything but Ace #s

[Phillibuster]

WP: Familiarity breeds contempt, it is said.

[gobaystars]

Can we please find a spot in the Phillies lineup this year? I don't want to wait until he's 25 to see what he can do with 500 ABs.

[MG]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/The_Red_Sox-Phillies_myth.html

Even Murphy is running out of things to right related to the Phils.

He forgot to add:

'11. Amaro makes a Faustian bargain with Mephistopheles'

'12. Locusts descend upon Braves field the first week of the season and they are plagued by maladies all season'

'13. Werth is secretly a deep mole with the Nats and secretly works to sabotage the Nats' season in several ways'

Mets and Fish are the Mets and the Fish.

[MG]

I will say this for Murphy's column:

If the Phils did sign a legit FA starter to pencil in as a #3-#4 and a corner RH OF bat with legit power who is above average offensively, it would go a long way making them competitive next year.

Still don't see any way they win over 90+ games though given the available FAs and that they realistically can sign one decent FA signing given their payroll flexibility.

[Willard Preacher]

MG, I agree that a legit starter and this elusive RH OF bat with power/offense would absolutely help their 2014 chances. I don't think many would take issue with that.

My concern is that I don't see either of those descriptions satisfied by any of the names I've seen available in Free Agency.

In other words, what we need to quickly help this team doesn't exist in a "quick fix" solution. And even if it did, we're still relying on a hope and a prayer relating to an aging lineup and a returning 1B who may or may not be some semblance of his former self that we 100% require...

[GBrettfan]

I thought the point of Murphy's column was that the chance of the Phillies pulling off a Red Sox-like turnaround was slim.

[PLM]

We all know how this goes. Phils trade Asche in favor of Franco. Asche becomes a solid MLB player Franco either bombs or becomes injured.

[GBrettfan]

Pedroia and Big Papi!

[Mick O]

Rube is salivating over the offer he will make Ortiz when Howard's contract finally runs its course.

[GBrettfan]

This is fun: 10 weirder ways to end a WS game.

http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/10/28/5037424/world-series-2013-obstruction-ending-pickoff

[Fatalotti]

So Mike Matheny has decided tonight to bat Shane Robinson second, giving him more PAs than both Matt Holliday and Carlos Beltran.

He also bunted with Pete Kozma, giving up and out, with Pete Kozma followed by Adam Wainwright, guaranteeing 1st with no outs into 2nd with 2 outs.

Watching Mike Matheny manage is giving me stomach ulcers.

[GBrettfan]

I will grant that NL pitchers at the plate have the advantage, over AL pitchers, of being used to trying to sacrifice a runner over.

[GBrettfan]

Fata - He really did that, had Kozma bunt with Wainwright up next? I wasn't paying attention. That does seem dumb.

[GBrettfan]

Q: I know that Beltran has a great arm, but when Bogarts was on 1st and the fly ball went deep, I feel like Bogart should have held up to tag up and advance to 2B. Too risky?

[Fatalotti]

Yeah, he really did that GBrett. It was bewildering.

[Iceman]

This World Series is a great example of how you don't need a manager with a IQ above 90 if you've got a roster stacked with talent.

Mistake after mistake in the late innings. Like, really obvious mistakes.

[awh™]

Iceman, Charlie is a veritable genius next to these two guys.

[MG]

Iceman - Yup although the double switch that Farrell just blatantly screwed up in Game 3 has most egregious mistake so far.

It has been an interesting series so far because the games have been close but it hasn't been a particularly well-played series.

[MG]

b00b Analysis

LaRussa >> Matheny

[NEPP]

Farrell and Matheny are two of the dumbest managers I've ever seen.

[NEPP]

Matheny's crowning decision...the game is on the line in the later innings: Should he pinch-hit for Kozma or leave him in there against Lester?

He smartly leaves one of the worst hitters in the game in against Jon Lester. I dont care that Kozma is RH and their entire bench is LH...there has to be a better bench option.

Then Matt Adams PHs for the pitcher and promptly grounds out to end the threat and pretty much seal up the win for the Red Sox.

Game 5 of the WS and it was all on Pete Freaking Kozma. That's up there with Rube having Mini Mart on a roster for smartness.

[Nonamephame (Founder of the Cody Asche fan club, no scout-lovers allowed)]

Can't wait to watch Puig strike out because he doesn't take his position in the batter's box next year...

[Richard Weber]

you would think somebody in the Phillies brain trust would think--how can we salvage 25 million for next year, How about sending Howard to Fl. Feb 1 and throwing him 100 hooks and sliders from a left handed pitchers every day till April 1---Richweb

[LorecorE]

The way Howard has been going, he's bound to get injured for another year before he even gets to 100 swings.

[LorecorE]

I'm curious for a list of managers that aren't considered below average.

Not saying I agree with the moves that were made last nite, but how can every manager be one of the worst. There are 30 of them, with about 10 or so already rotating every other year due to incapability.

[Phillibuster]

Guys, I hear we won the 30-YEAR WAR WITH SCOTT BORAS. Ryan Madson just switched agencies.

[aksmith]

There are a number of things that go into evaluating managers. The biggest problem with that evaluation is that we never really know who is available. The bullpen situation may seem like it's being hopelessly mismanaged, but as fans, we don't know if three guys told Charlie before the game that they just can't go. Or that a pitcher couldn't get loose in the pen.

Yes, Charlie did make a lot of maddening decisions. However, he also outmanaged LaRussa a whole bunch of times in the regular season, and Torre in the playoffs. Hard to believe it, but he really did look like a genius before the last playoff series against St. Louis, and a lot of that perception was simply a Cliff Lee blown lead and a 1-0 loss between two aces at the top of their games.

I don't think Charlie was the guy to manage a patchwork, untalented, heavily younger team. But he certainly did have his moments and we never once saw him grinding his teeth to dust like Bowa.

[Iceman]

I never said either of the managers are some of the worst. They have just made some really dumb decisions on a nightly basis in this series.

The Kozma thing was bad, but I thought leaving Wainwright in that game was worse. He's out there throwing curve after curve, no longer missing bats or commanding the pitch. He should've been yanked after the Drew walk. It's not hindsight- it was very obvious at the time. But I'll grant Matheny that maybe he wanted to give his ace some leeway to clean up his own mess. Ok, even though you're not optimizing your chances to win the game, I guess I can understand that.

Someone explain to me, though, why wainwright was left in for Ellsbury with a LHP warmed and ready? Cost his team a run. Call it "Charlie like," call it whatever you want. It was stupid and obviously stupid to anyone watching the game.

[clout]

I remember when Aaron Altherr was the flavor of the month on Beerleaguer.

[Sil]

Ryan Madson just switched agencies.

Assuming he's still able to pitch effectively after all the problems he has had - wouldn't be opposed to having him back if the price was right...

[Dickie Thong]

> Ryan Madson just switched agencies.

Is he taking up modeling or acting? I don't think he can pitch anymore.

[Phillibuster]

Doing a quick search of All Bases Covered Sports Management informs me that they have a massive 13 likes on their Facebook page.

[LorecorE]

aksmith: "I don't think Charlie was the guy to manage a patchwork, untalented, heavily younger team. But he certainly did have his moments and we never once saw him grinding his teeth to dust like Bowa."

Agreed. Although I wish our 'heavily younger' team was a whole lot younger than what they actually are.

[Phillibuster]

There are 7 guys over the age of 30 on the team (assuming we re-sign Ruiz). 2 of them are in the BP.

That's more heavily-young than most teams in the league.

[Phillibuster]

Also assuming Kratz isn't the backup anymore.

[aksmith]

I think Rupp is the backup next year and maybe more.

Is anyone else concerned about the way Ruiz' defense completely disappeared this season? Blocking balls especially. It was once his strongest asset behind the plate and this season he was one of the worst at it.

[GBrettfan]

Great tweet. Still love Stairs.

mstairs12 ‏@mstairs12 13m
5 years ago today World Series Champs, feels like yesterday. Moment I will never forget. Thanks Philly.

[Shane]

Have you guys seen Koji Uehara's stats this year? Can barely believe it seeing how slow he throws. Good pitch movement and control is about it.

[Phillibuster]

He's obviously of the Moyer School.

[NEPP]

Its almost as if Chooch simply cant focus on the task at hand...if only there was something he could take to help him with that.

[NEPP]

***I remember when Aaron Altherr was the flavor of the month on Beerleaguer.***

I dont

[awh™]

"Game 5 of the WS and it was all on Pete Freaking Kozma. That's up there with Rube having Mini Mart on a roster for smartness.

Posted by: NEPP | Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 07:39 AM"

NEPP, it's worse that THAT! Pete Freking Kozma has... reverse splits.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=kozmape01&year=Career&t=b

[awh™]

"The Kozma thing was bad, but I thought leaving Wainwright in that game was worse. He's out there throwing curve after curve, no longer missing bats or commanding the pitch. He should've been yanked after the Drew walk. It's not hindsight- it was very obvious at the time. But I'll grant Matheny that maybe he wanted to give his ace some leeway to clean up his own mess. Ok, even though you're not optimizing your chances to win the game, I guess I can understand that."

Iceman, Wainright's best "OPS against" splits come after he's thrown 100 pitches, though your point was that he didn't pass the eyeball test
is a valid one.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=wainwad01&year=Career&t=p#pitco

[Bedrosian's Beard]

I remember when Kyle Kendrick was the flavor of the month for some(one)on BL.

[Jdt]

These things happened for the Red Sox this year:

Shane Victorino, who's 32, posted the highest WAR of his career *despite* moving from CF to RF and missing 40 games.

Mike Napoli, who's 32, posted the second highest WAR of his career *despite* moving from catcher to 1B, and apparently having chronic hips.

Daniel Nava, who couldn't make his college baseball team, suddenly because a 2.9 WAR player at age 30 (You know, better than Dom Brown)

David Ortiz, who's 38, posted his best WAR in 6 years.

John Lackey, who's 34, had by far his best season since 2008.

Craig Breslow, who's 33, accumulated more WAR in 2013 than his previous three seasons combined.

Koji Uehara, who's 38, suddenly became a better version of Mariano Rivera (Granted he's always been good, but nothing like this, and there had always been questions about his durability that he certainly answered.)

The point is you really don't know what's going to happen coming into the next season. At least 15 teams *could* be the 2014 Red Sox. And if you don't think the Phillies *could* be one of them, you're staring at your favorite team too hard.

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Fall/Winter ball updates - Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits

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