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Showing posts from October, 2015

Crawford injured, replaced in Arizona Fall League by Stankiewicz

Top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford will miss the remainder of the Arizona Fall League season after suffering a small tear in his left thumb, as first reported by CSN's Jim Salisbury . Crawford, who was the Phillies top draft selection in 2013 (16th overall), had gone 3-for-20 (.150 average) in five games with Glendale in the AFL this month. The 20-year-old shortstop missed time early in the 2015 season with an oblique strain. In a season split between Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading, the lefty batting Crawford sported a combined .288 batting average with a .793 OPS in 107 regular season games. He was also named a mid-season All-Star in the Eastern League with Reading and competed in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. The ailment for Crawford does not require surgery and he is expected to be healthy for spring training. Drew Stankiewicz, image- Jay Floyd Replacing Crawford with the Glendale Desert Dogs will be infielder Drew Stankiewicz , who was an 11t

Dylan Cozens Interview Excerpts

Dylan Cozens, image- Jay Floyd Recently, I spoke with Phillies outfield prospect Dylan Cozens about an injury keeping him from playing in the highly regarded Arizona Fall League (read that feature by clicking here ). Below are some bonus quotes from my telephone interview with Cozens about his progress, his 2015 season, spending time last winter playing baseball in Australia and more. - The 21-year-old talked about transitioning from the Class A Advanced Florida State League to the Double A Eastern League late in the season this year... I felt like it was easy for me (in Double A). I felt like it was a lot easier up there to get a plan, make a plan against the pitcher. You kind of have an idea of how they are going to attack you. In High A, you don't really see that as much. Everybody's just kind of doing their own thing. I definitely felt like it was easier to get a plan. More pitchers were around the plate, which was good. Umpires were better, made it easier

Poll: What Should I Name My Son

In the coming weeks my wife and I are expecting our first child, a boy. We're just about ready for his arrival, but we haven't locked in a name for him yet. Recently, I've talked with some well-known individuals to ask for some name ideas. Phillies outfield prospect Nick Williams , fresh off being acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, suggested the name Braden. Comedian, actor and TV host Hal Sparks recommended Logan. Phils lefty pitcher Mario Hollands thinks Mario is a swell option. Lastly, outfield prospect Dylan Cozens offered the name Christian as his top choice. With those choices, it's time for you, readers and friends, to weigh in on what the world's newest baseball fan should be called.  Vote in the poll below. What should I name my son? Braden Logan Mario Christian Other Please Specify: Quiz Maker

Reports: Klentak to be new Phillies general manager

News broke on Saturday that the Phillies have decided on their next general manager with Matt Klentak in line to take on the role. First to report the decision was the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo on Twitter. Many considered Klentak as a front runner for the gig as he has previous ties to current team president Andy MacPhail while both were with Baltimore.  Klentak held the title of director of baseball operations with the Orioles and most recently was the assistant GM with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Klentak played baseball in college for Dartmouth University where he was a shortstop and the team's captain as a senior.  Out of college, Klentak worked for the Colorado Rockies in their baseball operations department and later spent four years working for MLB's labor relations department. Varied reports have Klentak as either 34 or 35 years old.  Either way, he's a young man in an evolving pro baseball world, which can certainly play in the Phill

Promising OF prospect Cozens missing Fall League with arm injury

Dylan Cozens, image- Tug Haines An attempt to show off in front of various team coaches and front office personnel seems to have cost Phillies outfield prospect Dylan Cozens a chance to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. A week prior to heading out to take part in the highly regarded autumn exhibition league that features many of baseball's top minor league talents, the skilled slugger hurt his arm during routine drills in Clearwater, FL, at the organization's spring training facilities. "My first throw I went to make from right field I went to throw it and I was trying to throw it pretty hard, and I was trying to show off a little bit, like maybe show off the arm, and it just like grabbed on me and tightened up real bad," Cozens confessed in a phone interview on Friday. "And then, I overthrew the guy a little bit and they made me do another throw and I went to throw that one and it hurt pretty bad and I was like, 'I'm shutting it down.

Phillies off-season league updates

Off-season leagues are underway for many Phillies players including some stateside in the Arizona Fall League, but with several players taking the diamond abroad. Read ahead for a complete rundown of how your Phils are doing across the globe. Stats listed are current through Saturday's games. Arizona Fall League- JP Crawford, image- Jay Floyd In two games, shortstop J.P. Crawford is 1-for-8 (.125 avg) with a walk and a strike out. The 20-year-old was the Phillies' first round draft selection in 2013. In 86 games with Double-A Reading this year, Crawford posted a .265 average with five home runs and 34 RBI. Catcher Andrew Knapp is 1-for-3 with a double and a walk in one game played as a designated hitter. The 23-year-old was the Phils' second round draft selection in 2013. With Reading this year, Knapp sported a .360 average with 11 homers and 56 RBI in 55 games. Edubray Ramos allowed an earned run in 1 1/3 innings while allowing a hit and striking out

Winter Leagues under way with Tocci, Lino and more

Carlos Tocci, image- Jay Floyd Just as the big league postseason is heating up, minor league players have gotten action rolling in the international off-season leagues, with top outfield prospect Carlos Tocci and promising backstop Gabriel Lino leading the way in the Venezuelan Winter League. With Aragua on Wednesday, the 20-year-old Tocci went 3-for-6 with a stolen base. All of his hits were singles. Tocci, widely ranked among the Phillies' top 10 prospects, posted a .287/.339/.363 combined slash line in 127 games with Class A Lakewood and Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2015. Also for Aragua in the VWL, outfielder Herlis Rodriguez went 1-for-1 with two RBI as a pinch hitter and later played right field. The 21-year-old lefty batter tallied a .284 average with 10 home runs, 61 RBI and 16 steals in 120 games for Lakewood this season. Lino, who was acquired from Baltimore in 2012 for Jim Thome, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strike out for Lara in the VWL on Wednesday

LHP Prospect Biddle to have Tommy John surgery

Jesse Biddle, image- Jay Floyd The Phillies announced on Sunday that lefty pitching prospect Jesse Biddle will require Tommy John surgery after suffering damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. The 23-year-old has been plagued with injuries in recent seasons after missing considerable time with a concussion last year with Double-A Reading, he was shut down with elbow soreness during the off-season while playing in Puerto Rico and was shelved with what was said to be a shoulder strain this year while with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In split time with Reading and Lehigh Valley this season, Biddle tallied a 9-6 record with a 4.95 ERA and a 6.4 K/9 mark over 24 starts. The Philadelphia native was the Phillies' top draft selection (27th overall) in 2010. He'll turn 24 years old later this month. Another Phillies left-hander underwent UCL reconstruction this year. Reliever Mario Hollands is progressing well after going under the knife in April. Reh

Phils clinch worst record in MLB, lock down top draft pick

Getting swept in a double header at home has likely never had such a positive spin as it did for the Phillies on Saturday as they lost a pair of contests against the division rival Marlins. In the opening game of the twin bill, the Phils would lose for the first time this season when leading after eight innings as flame throwing closer Kenny Giles blew just his second save opportunity since taking over the duties at the back end of the bullpen after the trade of Jonathan Papelbon . In the night cap, rookie hurler Alec Asher , acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels deal, surrendered three earned runs in two innings of work to fall to 0-6 on the season in the big leagues. The Marlins were victors by scores of 7-6 and 5-2. The Phillies solidified their worst record since 1969 with their 99th loss of the season. With one game remaining this season, the century mark isn't out of the question in the loss column. They've not lost 100 or more games since 1961 when the club dro