On the Pharm: April 20th Edition

Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs:

Lehigh Valley is off to a 4-6 start, but they were 4-2 this past week. 32-year old Justin Lehr recorded two wins in two starts. Phils top prospect, Carlos Carrasco, continues to dazzle, but he's yet to record a decision. Kyle Kendrick has also pitched well. No one in the lineup is worth noting though. Lehigh has not been spectacular offensively.

They start off the week finishing a series against Pawtucket. They then travel to Syracuse for 2 games and conclude the week with a 4 game series at home against Pawtucket.

Double-A Reading Phillies:

Reading is 6-3 and has won three straight games. 22-year old Michael Stutes is 2-0 on the season and has been impressive for the Phils. One of the Phillies top prospects, Joe Savery, has pitched one good start and one okay start. Antonio Bastardo is developing into a nice left-handed reliever.

28 year old first baseman, Kevin Mahar, and 3B Neil Sellers have been Reading's best hitters thus far. However, these players will not be with the Phillies anytime soon.

They travel to Altoona this week and close out with Bowie.

Single-A Advanced: Clearwater Threshers

Clearwater is tied for the FSL-North division lead at a 6-4 record. They went 4-3 this week. Kyle Drabek has been exceptional to start the season, but who is Yohan Flonde? Flonde has not allowed a earned run in 12 innings to start the season, resulting in 2 winning decision. Flonde is a 23 year-old lefty from the Dominican Republic.

As mentioned earlier, Drabek has been spectacular. He is 2-0 in 2 starts with a 16/3 K/BB ratio in 12 innings of work. It is nice to see him rebounding well from elbow surgery.

The Threshers travel to Lakeland and Tampa this week.

Single-A Lakewood Blue Claws:

After starting the season off 1-3, Lakewood went 5-2 this week to improve to 6-5. 18-year-old, Jason Knapp has pitched well for Lakewood. Granted he is 0-2, but he's allowed only 2 earned runs in each of his starts. He has a 16/4 K/BB ratio. Knapp has the potential to become one of the steals from last June's draft.

Tyler Cloyd is also posting good numbers for Lakewood. He is 1-1 with a 14/5 K/BB ratio in 17 innings of work.

Offensively, the Blue Claws are lead by 1B Jim Murphy and 3B Travis Mattair. Phillies catching prospect, Travis D'Arnaud is not exactly hitting well, but leads the team with 9 RBIs. Speedy outfielder Anthony Gose has 9 stolen bases in 10 games.

They will host Lake County and Hagerstown this week.

Continuing reading...

On the Pharm: April 12th Edition

Triple-A Lehigh Valley:

The Iron Pigs suffered their third loss of the season because of poor outings from both Andrew Carpenter and Dave Borkowski. Both pitchers allowed 5 earned each in 7 combined innings. Lehigh went on to lose 12-5 against Scranton. Rich Thompson hit a 3-run home run for the Iron Pigs. Jason Donald went 1-5 and his April average sits at .286. John Mayberry, Jr. is having an awful start and after his 0-4 production, his average dropped to .086. Lehigh Valley will try to get their first win of the season today against Scranton-Wilkes Barre. They'll face Yankees' prospect Phillip Hughes.

Double-A Reading:

Twenty-one year old starter Vance Worley threw 5 2/3 innings allowing 5 hits and 2 earned as the Phillies won 3-2 over Harrisburg. He struck out six and walked only two. The Phillies top outfield prospect, Michael Taylor, went 2-3 with a double and RBI-single. Reading improved to 2-1 on the season. They're off today.

Single-A Advanced Clearwater:

The Threshers suffered their first loss of the season after Julian Sampson allowed 7 earned on 8 hits in only 3 1/3 innings. The Phils other top outfield prospect, Dominic Brown went 1-3 and scored twice. Clearwater still pounded out 6 runs on 11 hits, but it was not enough to overcome Dunedin and they lost 10-6. Matthew Rizzoti went 1-4 and his average "sunk" to .538. Clearwater is 2-1 and sits atop tied for the division lead. They are off today.

Single-A Lakewood:

The Blue Claws got their first win of the season after D'Arby Myers hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to win 3-2 over Delmarva. Myers went 3-6 on the day with three singles. Lakewood pitcher Robert Roth threw 5 innings and allowed only 3 hits and 1 earned. He struck out 4, but also walked 4 batters. Lakewood closer Brian Rosenberg blew the save in the ninth, but thankfully the Blue Claws rebounded for the win. They improved to 1-2 on the year and will face off against Delmarva again.

Continuing reading...