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Showing posts from September, 2019

PhoulBallz Interview: Jimmy Smith Answers Nine Silly-ass Questions

Jimmy Smith, image- Jay Floyd Jimmy Smith was an outfielder in the Phillies organization during the during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. A Central Washington product, the righty batting Smith wassigned by the Phils as an undrafted free agent. In 65 combined games in the Gulf Coast League and with Class A Lakewood, the 24-year-old notched a .250 average with four home runs and 27 RBI. After dealing with an injury and difficulties improving on offense this year, Smith was released. However, prior to his departure from the Phillies organization, I spent some time with Jimmy talking about hip hop music, television, liking the Eagles and Allen Iverson and some more. This is one of my favorite interviews I have done in a while as Jimmy and I had a good time. I was initially saving this for a different outlet, but I can't hold it back any longer. I have posted this audio as an exclusive for Patreon members.  You can support my work by heading over to Patreon.com/PhoulBallz

PhoulBallz Interview: Nick Maton talks AFL and more

Nick Maton, image- Jay Floyd A few weeks ago I talked with infielder Nick Maton about his 2019 regular season, his assignment to head out and get extra work in the Arizona Fall League and more. The 22-year-old was the Phillies' 7th round draft selection in 2017.  The lefty batting Maton opened the year with Class A Advanced Clearwater.  In 93 games for the Threshers, he notched a .276 batting average with 14 doubles, three triples, five home runs and 45 RBI. Promoted to Double-A Reading in early August, Maton would post a .210 average with three doubles, a pair of round-trippers and six RBI in 21 games for the Fightin Phils. Primarily a shortstop, Maton also saw action at second base and third base this year. For complete audio of my interview with Maton, please head on over the Patreon.com/PhoulBallz and support my work.  Patreon members get exclusive content and early access to other posts.  You won't be disappointed.

PhoulBallz Interview Excerpts: Reading manager Shawn Williams

Arquimedes Gamboa, image- Jay Floyd Prior to the end of the regular season, I spoke with Double-A Reading manager Shawn Williams about several topics including outfielders Cornelius Randolph and Josh Stephen (click each of those individuals' names for those features).  Among other things the team's skipper discussed with me were the assignment of several of his players going to the Arizona Fall League this month, what he saw from infielder Arquimedes Gamboa despite a lackluster offensive stat line as well as the progress of top prospects Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard .  Read ahead for those quotes. -Your team has several guys going to the Arizona Fall League.  I just wanted to get your opinion of how that can help their development. It definitely does.  It's a really competitive league.  You've got all the best players, pretty much, from all the organizations.  I was fortunate enough to be out there two years ago.  I think it's a lot of fun for them

Phillies move on from foursome of developmental coaches

Micucci (right) with Luis Garcia in August, image- Jay Floyd Early on Monday, I tweeted a bit of a teaser about Phillies minor league staffing moves I had learned about from a pair of sources.  Unclear when the personnel had learned of their fates, I did not want to report the news until all parties had time to address the news in their own ways. As has been reported by at least another outlet to this point, I am able to confirm that 2019 Class A Lakewood manager Mike Micucci will not be returning to the organization.  Additionally, base running and bunting coordinator Rob Ducey , Gulf Coast League coach Charlie Hayes and Triple-A pitching coach Steve Schrenk are also done in the Phils system. Micucci was a north Jersey native in his youth and had been hired by the organization less than a year ago.  He worked with Phillies general manager Matt Klentak in Anaheim, which makes his termination even more surprising. Players that saw action for the BlueClaws this year loved M

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading LHP Jonathan Hennigan

HELP SUPPORT CONTENT LIKE THIS AND KEEP IT COMING YEAR ROUND BY BECOMING A PATRON!  Get early access to articles like this, EXCLUSIVE interviews and plenty more- https://www.patreon.com/phoulballz Jonathan Hennigan, image- Jay Floyd It was a solid campaign in 2019 for lefty pitcher Jonathan Hennigan .  He opened the season with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers and earned a promotion to Double-A Reading in May. As Clearwater's closer, Hennigan tallied a 0-1 record with seven saves, a 2.25 ERA and a .178 batting average against in 14 appearances.  After joining the Fightin Phils, the 25-year-old was a key contributor in the bullpen, notching a 3-4 record with two saves, a 4.47 ERA and a .275 batting average against.  Overall, the six-foot-four 190-pounder sported a 9.5 K/9 mark and averaged 4.6 BB/9. Prior to the end of the minor league season, I talked with Hennigan, a 21st round draft pick by the Phillies in 2016, about his season, his goals, his famil

Reading Eagle survey ranks top Phils prospects

Alec Bohm, image- Jay Floyd Mike Drago, who covers the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils for the Reading Eagle, is back with his annual prospect survey. Each August, Mike surveys a collection of writers, broadcasters and media types that cover the Phillies minor league levels closely to collect each person's list of ranked Phillies prospects. Using a point system, awarding points based on rank, he will tally out a complete list of all the organization's best developmental talents. Per Mike, third baseman/first baseman Alec Bohm was listed as the top prospect on two-thirds of the submissions. Here is a sample of the list, the top 10, right from the Reading Eagle piece. 1. Alec Bohm: Batted .367 at Lakewood. Scored a .395 on-base percentage at Clearwater. Slugged .500 at Reading. Pretty good for his first full season as a pro. Charlie Manuel gives him high marks for his approach as a hitter and thinks he could hit 40 bombs in the big leagues some day. What's not

PhoulBallz Interview: LHP Zach Warren talks 2019 campaign, AFL, Phillies fandom

HELP SUPPORT CONTENT LIKE THIS AND KEEP IT COMING YEAR ROUND BY BECOMING A PATRON!  Get early access to articles like this, EXCLUSIVE interviews and plenty more- https://www.patreon.com/phoulballz Warren w/ Lakewood in 2018, image- J. Floyd Lefty pitcher Zach Warren is fresh off another solid season in the Phillies' developmental ranks and is headed to the prestigious Arizona Fall League this off-season to work on his craft. In 40 contests this year with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, Warren had a 1-3 record with seven saves, a 3.30 ERA and a 12.0 K/9 mark.  Last year he was a force at Class A Lakewood where he notched a 3-2 record with 15 saves, a 1.91 ERA and a 15.9 K/9 mark. Warren, a Vineland, NJ native, was selected by the Phillies in the 14th round of the 2017 draft out of Tennessee. Last week I chatted on the phone with Zach about his 2019 season, his pitch repertoire, his anticipation for AFL action, growing up as a Phillies fan and plenty

PhoulBallz Interview: Josh Stephen answers Nine Silly-ass Questions

Josh Stephen, image- Jay Floyd Last week I sat down with Double-A Reading outfielder Josh Stephen to have some fun.  Right in the visiting dugout at Trenton's ARM & HAMMER Park, the 21-year-old lefty batter took on the topics of music, his favorite thing about New Jersey, career mementos, his coolest teammate and plenty more. To hear the complete interview with Stephen, head on over to Patreon.com/PhoulBallz to support my work, become a patron and gain access to a whole lot of exclusive content plus gain early access to other articles as well.  The post there will feature a bit of news about Josh that hasn't been announced elsewhere.  You can be among the first to know. Also, recently, I wrote a feature on Josh's contributions to Reading's success this season.  You can read that separate piece by clicking this link .

Randolph taking strides toward the big leagues

C. Randolph, image- Jay Floyd HELP SUPPORT CONTENT LIKE THIS AND KEEP IT COMING ALL SEASON LONG BY BECOMING A PATRON!  Get early access to articles like this, EXCLUSIVE interviews and more- https://www.patreon.com/phoulballz Cornelius Randolph doesn't need prospect rankings, fans' attention or media buzz to do his job. The 22-year-old entered the season as part of a Reading Fightin' Phils' outfield that was made up of three different Phillies top draft picks.  Plenty of excitement, focus and photo opportunities came along with the start of the players' Double-A season. None of those things mattered to Randolph, who goes simply by the nickname "C". "Me, Haseley and Mickey, we just wanted to come out here and play, enjoy the game and have fun," said Randolph outside the visitors locker room in Trenton. Randolph was selected 10th overall in the 2015 draft while Mickey Moniak was the number one overall pick in 2016 and Adam

OF Stephen a surprise contributor for Reading playoff club

Josh Stephen, image- Jay Floyd Josh Stephen has capitalized on unexpected opportunities all season long. A surprise to open the 2019 campaign at the Double-A level with Reading, the 21-year-old outfielder completely skipped the Class A Advanced Florida State League after spending last season with Class A Lakewood. An 11th round draft selection by the Phillies in 2016, Stephen contributed steadily last year as a predominantly part-time player for the BlueClaws team that won their division in both halves of the season. Stephen would notch a .242 batting average with 17 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBI in 99 games for Lakewood in 2018. Projected to be a fourth outfielder this year on a team that opened the season with three first round picks set to man the outfield spots, Stephen impressed enough in the spring exhibition season to earn an assignment to Reading behind Adam Haseley, Mickey Moniak and Cornelius Randolph. "I jumped two levels and I wasn'

Former Phillies catching prospect Chace Numata passes away

Gone too soon; Chace Numata (left) w/ the late Roy Halladay, image- Jay Floyd In extremely sad news, catcher Chace Numata succumbed on Monday to injuries sustained in an apparent skateboarding accident last week. Numata, a switch-hitting Hawaii native, was originally a 14th round draft selection by the Phillies in 2010.  He was named an All-Star with Class A Lakewood in 2013 and with Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2016.  He would play in the Phils organization through the 2017 and left to free agency, later playing in the Yankees system and then this year with the Tigers organization. In 77 combined games this season at Triple-A and Double-A, the 27-year-old has tallied a .244 average with four home runs and 28 RBI. Per a release from the Erie Seawolves , Numata's family issued the following statement: It is with deep sorrow that the Numata Ohana announces that Chace Kekoa Kenji Numata, our beloved son, brother, and a friend to all, has passed away on September 2nd,