Skip to main content

Biddle Coming on Strong


LAKEWOOD, NJ- The Phillies' 2010 first round draft pick Jesse Biddle had a difficult opening stretch in his first full season as a professional this year, but has since bounced back and learned how to cope with the rigors of professional baseball.

Following a period in which he struggled with his command and seemed to repeatedly let up one big inning to his opponents, Biddle has adapted to the new full season environment and produced effectively for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League.

After beginning the season with a 1-5 record and a 5.57 ERA through his first 7 starts, the left-handed Biddle has gotten himself on the right track, posting a 2-1 record and a 2.60 ERA in his last 6 outings. Biddle feels that a confidence in his own pitching abilities, despite some concerns and doubts about those skills, is what has helped him to improve.

"I think earlier I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and kind of just second guessing my stuff and why (the Phillies) drafted me," Biddle said. "You have questions like that when you're struggling and you start doubting who you are. But I just gotta remember that I'm one of the youngest guys in the league, and one of the youngest guys in this clubhouse, and there's a reason why the Phillies picked me (in the 1st round) and I just need to go out there and prove it. I just need to throw the ball, throw strikes and get guys out."

Biddle feels that his up and down performances will serve as somewhat of a series of lessons, going forward. With some weak performances weighing on his mind early in the season, Biddle's now got a string of solid outings to build on, which have enabled him to bask in some success and get away from drowning in an ocean of regrets.

"When you walk 5 guys and give up 6 runs in 3 innings, it's a whirlwind of, like, you can't really focus on one pitch," Biddle said. "You just let everything bother you.

"It's pretty amazing how baseball works. One outing, you're good. One outing, you're bad. And then a bunch- you're in the middle. So it's really a matter of finding that in between. That's something that I've been working on and kind of trying to keep a level head.

The matured mentality that has helped Biddle make improvements this season with the BlueClaws is the sort of advice the 19-year-old would pass along toward this year's draftees coming straight out of high school.

"It's all about trusting yourself and remembering that this is the same game you played in high school. And yes, the game's faster and you're playing with different guys, but I'm still pitching 60-feet-6-inches, the plate's the same size. It's all about trusting yourself and knowing that you got drafted for a reason. The Phillies have faith in you and it's just a matter of having faith in yourself."

In his most recent start, a no decision against the Hagerstown Suns (Nationals affiliate) on Tuesday, Biddle got touched up early, giving up a homerun following a walk in the 1st inning, which put the BlueClaws in a 2-0 hole. A quick word of encouragement from his pitching coach Steve Schrenk helped Biddle to refocus and allow only one more hit through the remaining 5 innings of his outing, en route to a season high 9 strike outs.

"He told me, 'That's all they're gonna get!' and that's all he really had to say, that's all I needed to hear. And that's how I felt. It's all about holding them and giving my team a chance to win." Biddle said.

During that start, Biddle's parents, his girlfriend and his 3rd grade teacher were in attendance at Lakewood's FirstEnergy Park to cheer him on. Biddle, a Philadelphia native who grew up as a Phillies fan, enjoys playing close to home. According to 6-foot-4-inch 225-pounder, a close support system really helps him focus.

"It's nice to have those people around at all times," Biddle stated. "They're going to be there, no matter how I do and that means a lot to me. It really does."

Regardless of the outcome, Biddle knows his family will stand by him and that they'll still take him out to dinner afterward, which is one of the few things Biddle knew about his future prior to signing his first professional contract with the Phillies. The rest, he is learning as he goes.

________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Q&A with Tim Gradoville

Tim Gradoville is a career minor league catcher, who once, as a September call up, was up with the big club for the proverbial cup of coffee. Slated to be the Phillies bullpen catcher, at a later date, Gradoville is currently assigned as a special instructor with the Lakewood BlueClaws. I had the opportunity to speak with Tim and here's how that went down... What's the atmosphere with the BlueClaws like so far this season? Well, I think we have a good mix of players. We have some veteran guys, and some young guys too, so it makes for an interesting mix. I think the guys like to have a good time, and they're pretty loose and that translates into winning games. They have a good time. With a young team, you never know what you're gonna get, sometimes, but they seem to gel pretty well together, so that helps to build team unity, helps guys get along. They're having fun, they're enjoying baseball. This game can be a grind sometimes, if you're not having fun. What...

Mike McGuire Living a Dream With Favorite Team

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Every young ballplayer grows up wishing he could play for his favorite team. Mike McGuire has an opportunity to do just that after signing with the Phillies organization in July. McGuire was a 43rd round draft pick taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 amateur draft out of the University of Delaware. Early scouting reports liked McGuire's abilities, despite some arm trouble. He advanced as far as High A Level Kinston last season. While there, he posted an 0-3 record with a 5.46 ERA in 9 games, 8 of which were starts. The Indians weren't happy with McGuire's efforts this spring and released him. McGuire caught on with the Sussex Skyhawks of the independent Can-Am League, where he stayed in shape and pitched against other formerly affiliated minor leaguers. As a starter with the Skyhawks, McGuire went 3-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 8 outings. From there, just as all players in those independent leagues hope for, the 24-year-old McGuire got noticed. The Phillies wer...