Skip to main content

Weekly Minor League Wrap Up, 5/20/12

Once again, the weekly minor league wrap up is back, taking a look at each of the Phillies' four full season minor league clubs.  This time around, we'll take a look at the hot and cold lists from each team.

Class A Lakewood BlueClaws 15-25, 6th place out of 7 (14.5 GB) in South Atlantic League Northern Division.

Who’s hot-

1st baseman/3rd baseman Harold Martinez (pictured left), through action on Saturday, has strung together a stretch of 7 games where he has gone 10-for-24 (.417 avg) to boost his season batting average 58 points. Martinez, 22, was the Phillies’ 2nd round draft selection out of the University of Miami last year.

Right-handed reliever Matt Campbell has been a solid contributor out of the Lakewood bullpen. Since joining the club in late April, the 24th round draft pick from last season has a 1-1 record with 2 saves and a 1.46 ERA while striking out 12 batters in 12 1/3 innings pitched. Campbell has thrown more than 1 inning in 5 of 6 of his outings. Additionally, the Florida native has held opponents to a .163 batting average.

Who’s not-

Infielder Stephen Malcolm, has gone 2-for-18 (.111 avg) through his first 7 games of Class A ball since joining the BlueClaws last weekend. The 22-year-old missed all of last season due to disciplinary issues. Malcolm was an 8th round draft choice in 2010.

Outfielder Brian Pointer, who was among the Phillies’ top minor league performers in April, with a .295 batting average, 5 HR, 19 RBI and a .964 OPS, has really struggled in May. The lefty hitting 20-year-old has posted a .140 batting average with 0 HR and just 1 RBI and a .479 OPS in 15 May games.


Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, 21-19, tied for 2nd place (5 GB) in the Florida State League’s North Division.


Who’s hot-

Cody Asche has been on fire for the Threshers. Through action on Friday, the third baseman has posted a .394 batting average with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR and 11 RBI in 16 May games. The left-handed hitting Asche was selected by the Phillies in the 4th round of the 2011 amateur draft. The University of Nebraska product is 21 years old.

University of Delaware product Carlos Alonso (pictured, right) was sporting a .373 batting average with 3 doubles, 2 HR and 10 RBI in 14 May games. Alonso, 24, is a versatile multi-positional infielder for the Threshers.

LHP Jesse Biddle has been sharp lately for Clearwater. The 20-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA with a .179 batting average against in 4 May starts. Biddle, a Philadelphia native, was the Phillies’ 1st round draft pick in 2010.

Who’s not-

Righty starting pitcher Perci Garner has had a tough month, posting an 0-2 record with a 6.63 ERA in 4 May starts. Garner is the Phillies' 2nd round draft pick from 2010.



Double-A Reading Phillies,23-17, 2nd place (1.5 GB) in the Eastern League's Eastern Division.

Who’s hot-

RHP Julio Rodriguez has been the ace of the R-Phils’ staff. In 4 May starts, Rodriguez has not allowed an earned run. His ERA on the season sits at 1.88 through 7 starts. For all his dominance, Rodriguez has just 3 wins, but has not lost this season.  The 21-year-old Puerto Rico native led the Florida State League in wins last season with 16.


Second baseman Cesar Hernandez (pictured, left) has had an exceptional month as well, sporting a .382 batting average in 17 May games. The switch-hitting Venezuela native has fairly even splits vs. lefty and righty pitchers, as he has tallied a .327 average against left-handers and a .319 mark against right-handers through Friday's game.  Hernandez will celebrate his 22nd birthday this Wednesday.

Who’s not-

Infielder Jeremy Barnes is 1-for-10 (.100 avg) in 3 games with Reading since being activated from the disabled list.  Overall this season, in time split with Clearwater and Reading, the 25-year-old Notre Dame product has posted a .138 batting average with just 1 extra base hit, a double, in 18 games.


Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 25-17, 3rd place (1 GB) in the International League's North Division.

Who's hot-

RHP Tyler Cloyd has posted a 4-0 record with a 0.69 ERA in 4 starts this season with the IronPigs.  The 25-year-old has not lost this season and has a 7-0 record, a 1.24 ERA and a .194 batting average against in 8 combined starts at Reading and Lehigh Valley.  At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Cloyd gets a shot with the big club.

Who's not-

Cody Overbeck has had a weak May, posting a .161 batting average in 18 games this month.  The 25-year-old righty hitting first baseman had a strong enough April that his season batting average is still a respectable .252.

Outifelder Domonic Brown has not played in a game since May 7th, as he tries to recover from a left hamstring ailment.

________________________________________________________________


You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What the hell else was I going to write about...?

It will be too late for many people's liking, but it's really about time to NEVER USE BRAD LIDGE IN A SAVE SITUATION ON THE ROAD AGAIN. Lidge in 2009 road games- 0-6, 8.10 ERA, 15 saves, 10 blown saves. One of my favorite statistics that I regularly update here on PhoulBallz is the percentage of games that Brad Lidge has allowed earned runs in this season, compared to the 18% he allowed in 2008. This year, Lidge has allowed earned runs in 43% of his outings. And, as a reminder, in 2007 Brett Myers allowed earned runs in just 21% of his relief appearances. Considering Lidge's season-long struggles, what is the solution when Brett Myers is ailing with a back muscle/shoulder injury, when Chan Ho Park has an injured hamstring, when Ryan Madson looks just as inept in the 9th inning as Brad Lidge seems and when JC Romero is still unavailable to pitch due to a forearm injury? Well, on Wednesday night, with Hanley Ramirez batting with two outs and the tying run on 3rd base, your an...

Watch Out For the Bat Boy

Stop ice grillin' the Phillies players, bat boy. I am watching YOU. I don't know what is on your mind, bat boy, but don't even think about doing something slick. You might wear the Phillies' uniform, but it is clear that you are a Yankees fan. It's all over your pale little "I wanna grow up to be like the Robert De Niro character in The Fan " face. The World Champs should be cautious around this kid. He could be dangerous. ------------------------------------------- Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE !

Greatest Comeback I've Ever Witnessed

I was lucky enough to be in the building for the Phillies' game 4 NLCS walk off victory. I would like to write about it as though I'm reporting on it. I'd love to be able to jot down a story and go off to bed, like I did after game 3, but I don't think that is possible. I feel like I did last year following game 5.2 of the World Series. I was up all night, unable to come down off of that Phillies high. I have the same feeling right now. You all know what happened. I don't need to tell you all a story about the game. It's very likely you've got the image of Jimmy Rollins lacing that double off Jonathan Broxton burned in you brain, frame by frame already. I know I do. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, my lady began to collect her things, strapping her purse on across herself. I shot her a quick look as though to convey, "What are you doing?" She shot back, "I'm getting ready to go." I replied, "I'm getting ready to...