Skip to main content

Mecias is Farm's Lone Bright Spot on Miserable Monday

Despite a hefty amount of bad results out of the Phillies' minor league hurlers on Monday, it was 2013's most impressive hurler who made a return to the mound and picked up right where he left off last year.

On a night when this year's top draft pick Aaron Nola made his pro debut and looked quite mortal, top pitching prospect Jesse Biddle didn't look deserving of that type of hype as he struggled mightily and recently demoted reliever Ethan Martin was touched up while another young standout in Tyler Viza had a weak effort, it was lefty Yoel Mecias' return from Tommy John surgery that should make it all seem better.

Aaron Nola's pro debut, Image- @BaseballBetsy
Nola, the 7th overall selection in this month's MLB amatuer draft, made his first professional start as a member of the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers. On the mound against the Lakeland Tigers, the 21-year-old right-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits in 2 1/3 innings, while striking out three and walking three. Nola took the loss, only his second of the year, as he went 11-1 as a junior with LSU, en route to being named a First Team All-American.

Biddle continued his ugly June, as he failed to pitch more than 3 1/3 innings for the third time in four outings. The 22-year-old lefty was tagged for 10 earned runs on eight hits over three innings, as Reading was dropped by Binghamton. Biddle entered this month with a 3.14 ERA, but it has shot up to 5.03 in recent weeks.

Martin, pitching for the first time in more than two weeks, relinquished a 4-2 IronPigs lead, allowing five earned runs in 2/3 inning to Columbus, taking the loss. The 25-year-old right-hander now has a 5.56 ERA in nine games at Triple-A this year.

For Class A Clearwater, typically reliable starter Tyler Viza coughed up eight runs (seven earned) in 3 1/3 innings in a loss to Greensboro. The 19-year-old righty sported a 3.88 ERA through nine starts this season, but has tallied an 8.86 mark over his previous five appearance. Viza was the Phils' 32nd round draft pick last year.

Leave it to lefty Yoel Mecias, a Class-A All-Star last year when he posted a 4-3 record with one save, a 3.79 ERA and an 11.05 K/9 mark, to surprise and make a splash. Making his return to the mound after missing a year following Tommy John surgery last summer, the 20-year-old Venezuelan allowed an earned run in three innings while striking out five and walking none in a loss for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. This is a great sign for the promising youngster, who was ranked as the Phillies' number 15 prospect by Phillies Nation prior to this season, and a definite positive from a night when every other widely known Phils pitching prospect disappointed.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...