After a one week hiatus (hey if Chase Utley can take a week off so can I), its time for the Weekly Awards again. It's been a rough week as the Phillies have managed to lose 3 straight series against good competition and the offense has played a disappearing act at times while also putting up 20 runs on other days. SP Brett Myers continues to confound even the most optimistic of his supporters with his pathetic performance so far this year. He was publicly blasted in the Philadelphia Inquirer today by columnist Jim Salisbury. Salisbury is merely echoing the thoughts that several other Phillies fans (including this blogger) have been expressing for weeks now as Brett continues to struggle.
Benson Update: SP Kris Benson was knocked out early in his latest rehab start in Clearwater and he looks to be a very long way from the Majors right now. Benson lasted just 2 innings, allowing 5 ERs on 3 hits (all HRs). He did manage to strike 3 batters as the sole silver lining for the outing.
Injury Update: OF Greg Golson was placed on the 15 day DL with a sore wrist earlier in the week. Golson had been slumping for 10 games prior to the DL trip in which he hit well below the Mendoza Line posting a .132 avg with just 5 hits in 38 ABs. Hopefully the slump was injury related and not a sign of him reverting to his previous seasons' form.
And now time for the Weekly Awards:
Player of the Week - 1B Ryan Howard: Howard has redefined the phrase "feast or famine" with last week's performance. He led the team in almost every offensive category posting a very impressive line of: 10 of 26 (.385), 7 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 25 TB, 14 RBI, .448 OBP, .962 SLG, 1.410 OPS. However he did strike out 11 times in 6 games including a grisly 4 K performance Wednesday against the Red Sox. He is still on pace to shatter his own single season SO record with 223 projected Ks this year.
Pitcher of the Week - SP Cole Hamels: Hamels made pitching look easy with his dominating performance against the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox. He pitched 7 strong inning allowing just 2 runs both on solo HRs and struck out 5 in his only appearance. He proved that the Phillies can hang with the best team in baseball as long as they have their Ace on the mound. His record improved to 7-4 with the victory.
Honorary Mention - Phillies Bullpen: The Phillies have had the best bullpen in baseball all season and last week was no exception to this rule. Their combined line for the week: 19 IP, 15 H, 3 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 23 K, 1.42 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Goat of the Week - SP Brett Myers: This could very easily have been Chase Utley (who is in the midst of a career high 0-20 slump) but a team can win without one hitter but they cannot win when their starting pitcher doesn't give them at least a shot at a game. Brett failed to do that on Sunday and because of that he earns top billing this week as the Goat. His line was a pathetic 6 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 9.00 ERA.
Showing posts with label Greg Golson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greg Golson. Show all posts
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Minor League Awards
It's time for the monthly awards again starting with the Phillies minor league system. Its been an up and down month for the Phillies farm system. The IronPigs have turned it around and are now playing like a respectable ball club. Another good month like this last one and they'll likely be out of last place. Several top prospects have stumbled including SP Andrew Carpenter who was just demoted from AA Reading down to A+ Clearwater. SP Antonio Bastardo (AA) has been so-so since his promotion to Reading and he no longer appears to be the uber-prospect he seemed in Clearwater. To anyone who knows his stuff, this is not a surprise. Still, there is hope that he will make something of himself and become a contributor at the Major League level in the next few years. At the AAA level, C Jason Jaramillo has turned it around and he is now sporting a much more respectable .240's batting average after a dreadful start. Due to his age, 28 this year, he appears to be trade bait to a team needing a good backup this summer. That said, its time for the awards:
Monthly Awards:
Minor League Player of the Month - C Lou Marson: Marson may have solidified his spot as the top position prospect in the Phillies organization with a truly awesome performance this month. He batted .394 (37 of 94) for the month with 24 RBIs and 2o runs scored. He picked up 10 extra-base hits (8 2Bs, 2 HR) in the process and walked more than he struck out (20BBs vs. 17 SOs). Most impressively, he posted a .500 OBP for the month along with a 1.043 OPS. He is also finally getting national attention appearing on Baseball Prospectus' Hot Sheet this month. At this point, Marson looks to be the catcher of the future for the Phillies and he could turn into a real star.
Minor League Pitcher of the Month - LHP R.J. Swindle: Despite not having a 90 MPH fastball, Swindle continues to post very impressive numbers at every level of the minors and this month was no exception. In 9 appearances, Swindle pitched 12 1/3 innings giving up 1 earned run for a 0.73 ERA. He has allowed just 6 hits for the month and exhibited his trademark of excellent control with 13 Ks and just 1 BB. Despite his unorthodox stuff, the Phillies are running out of excuses of why not to promote Swindle to the Show.
Honorable Mention:
OF Greg Golson (AA): Golson had another strong month in Reading and it appears his projected power is starting to appear. After hitting just 2 HRs in all of April, he hit 5 for the month of May. He also had another strong month with a .336 avg and 8 SBs. He still needs a lot of work on his plate discipline (35 SOs vs. 5 BBs) however and he is not ready for the Show yet. Still, he is showing some very positive signs.
2B Adrian Cardenas (A+): Cardenas had a strong month back from an early season injury. He went 21 of 65 (.323) at the plate along with 10 extra-base hits (3 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 4 HRs). He also showed great plate discipline (11 BBs vs. 9 SOs) and he appears to be another great position prospect in the Phillies system.
SP Drew Naylor (A): The Phillies top Aussie prospect posted another strong month for the Lakewood BlueClaws (A) going 3-0 with a 3.11 ERA. He struck out 39 in 37 1/3 innings pitched. He also exhibited good control walking just 8 batters on the month. Naylor will likely be promoted to Clearwater shortly after the upcoming amateur draft.
Monthly Awards:
Minor League Player of the Month - C Lou Marson: Marson may have solidified his spot as the top position prospect in the Phillies organization with a truly awesome performance this month. He batted .394 (37 of 94) for the month with 24 RBIs and 2o runs scored. He picked up 10 extra-base hits (8 2Bs, 2 HR) in the process and walked more than he struck out (20BBs vs. 17 SOs). Most impressively, he posted a .500 OBP for the month along with a 1.043 OPS. He is also finally getting national attention appearing on Baseball Prospectus' Hot Sheet this month. At this point, Marson looks to be the catcher of the future for the Phillies and he could turn into a real star.
Minor League Pitcher of the Month - LHP R.J. Swindle: Despite not having a 90 MPH fastball, Swindle continues to post very impressive numbers at every level of the minors and this month was no exception. In 9 appearances, Swindle pitched 12 1/3 innings giving up 1 earned run for a 0.73 ERA. He has allowed just 6 hits for the month and exhibited his trademark of excellent control with 13 Ks and just 1 BB. Despite his unorthodox stuff, the Phillies are running out of excuses of why not to promote Swindle to the Show.
Honorable Mention:
OF Greg Golson (AA): Golson had another strong month in Reading and it appears his projected power is starting to appear. After hitting just 2 HRs in all of April, he hit 5 for the month of May. He also had another strong month with a .336 avg and 8 SBs. He still needs a lot of work on his plate discipline (35 SOs vs. 5 BBs) however and he is not ready for the Show yet. Still, he is showing some very positive signs.
2B Adrian Cardenas (A+): Cardenas had a strong month back from an early season injury. He went 21 of 65 (.323) at the plate along with 10 extra-base hits (3 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 4 HRs). He also showed great plate discipline (11 BBs vs. 9 SOs) and he appears to be another great position prospect in the Phillies system.
SP Drew Naylor (A): The Phillies top Aussie prospect posted another strong month for the Lakewood BlueClaws (A) going 3-0 with a 3.11 ERA. He struck out 39 in 37 1/3 innings pitched. He also exhibited good control walking just 8 batters on the month. Naylor will likely be promoted to Clearwater shortly after the upcoming amateur draft.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Minor League Monthly Awards
Well it was an eventful month for the Phillies minor league system:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs: The AAA IronPigs started their first season in Allentown by posting by far the worst record in the International League at 3-24. With it, they are a whopping 15 games back after the first month. The IronPigs are a tribute of the complete lack of talent in the upper reaches of the Phillies farm system.
Reading Phillies: The AA Reading Phillies were more impressive posting a 13-12 record. Reading is also the home to most of the top Phillies prospects including SP Carlos Carrasco, SP Josh Outman, SP Andrew Carpenter, SP Fabio Castro (still just 23 years old), OF Greg Golson and C Lou Marson.
Clearwater Threshers: Despite having a decent number of solid prospects, the Clearwater Phillies (A+) got off to a dismal 9-17 start. You will find a couple of top Phillies prospects in Clearwater including SP Joe Savery out of Rice and 2B Adrian Cardenas. In addition to those two, they have several borderline prospects including SP Antonio Bastardo (off to a terrific start), SP Edgar Garcia and OF Matt Spencer.
Personally, I don't keep track of anything below A+ ball despite having a shortseason A team practically in my backyard. Until a player does something at least at the A+ level, I don't care how much "future" he has in him. That being said, here are the Player Awards for the Phillies system for April.
Player of the Month - OF Greg Golson: Golson had an outstanding first month in Reading and he appears to be continuing his pattern of having an awesome second year at each level of the minor leagues. He is a 5-tool player who appears to be on the verge of turning the corner on his tremendous athletic ability and turning into a true ballplayer. He went 32 for 100 in April while collecting 10 Extra base hits, 15 RBI, 17 Runs, 8 SB, 8 BB, and a slightly troubing 30 SOs. He had a .370 OBP and a .850 OPS for the month.
Pitcher of the Month - SP Antonio Bastardo: Scouts aren't that high on Bastardo and they have good reasons. He is short (only 5'11" tall) and has only 2 pitches at the moment. He is however a lefty and his 2 pitches are good ones. If and when he develops a legitimate 3rd pitch, he could easily be a legit starter in the majors. If not, he will likely end up as a LOOGY out of the 'Pen. He has average to above average velocity for a lefty (87-92) and his release point deceives hitters...at least at the A+ level. In 5 starts, he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.17 ERA with 47 Ks in just 30 2/3 IP. He did walk 10 batters but overall he had an outstanding month. Look for him to be promoted to Reading as soon as the weather really warms up, probably in early June.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs: The AAA IronPigs started their first season in Allentown by posting by far the worst record in the International League at 3-24. With it, they are a whopping 15 games back after the first month. The IronPigs are a tribute of the complete lack of talent in the upper reaches of the Phillies farm system.
Reading Phillies: The AA Reading Phillies were more impressive posting a 13-12 record. Reading is also the home to most of the top Phillies prospects including SP Carlos Carrasco, SP Josh Outman, SP Andrew Carpenter, SP Fabio Castro (still just 23 years old), OF Greg Golson and C Lou Marson.
Clearwater Threshers: Despite having a decent number of solid prospects, the Clearwater Phillies (A+) got off to a dismal 9-17 start. You will find a couple of top Phillies prospects in Clearwater including SP Joe Savery out of Rice and 2B Adrian Cardenas. In addition to those two, they have several borderline prospects including SP Antonio Bastardo (off to a terrific start), SP Edgar Garcia and OF Matt Spencer.
Personally, I don't keep track of anything below A+ ball despite having a shortseason A team practically in my backyard. Until a player does something at least at the A+ level, I don't care how much "future" he has in him. That being said, here are the Player Awards for the Phillies system for April.
Player of the Month - OF Greg Golson: Golson had an outstanding first month in Reading and he appears to be continuing his pattern of having an awesome second year at each level of the minor leagues. He is a 5-tool player who appears to be on the verge of turning the corner on his tremendous athletic ability and turning into a true ballplayer. He went 32 for 100 in April while collecting 10 Extra base hits, 15 RBI, 17 Runs, 8 SB, 8 BB, and a slightly troubing 30 SOs. He had a .370 OBP and a .850 OPS for the month.
Pitcher of the Month - SP Antonio Bastardo: Scouts aren't that high on Bastardo and they have good reasons. He is short (only 5'11" tall) and has only 2 pitches at the moment. He is however a lefty and his 2 pitches are good ones. If and when he develops a legitimate 3rd pitch, he could easily be a legit starter in the majors. If not, he will likely end up as a LOOGY out of the 'Pen. He has average to above average velocity for a lefty (87-92) and his release point deceives hitters...at least at the A+ level. In 5 starts, he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.17 ERA with 47 Ks in just 30 2/3 IP. He did walk 10 batters but overall he had an outstanding month. Look for him to be promoted to Reading as soon as the weather really warms up, probably in early June.
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