Phillies Phans: What Now?

So the Phillies sent Joe Blanton packing yesterday. When the Dodgers claimed him off waivers, the Phillies traded him for cash considerations, or a player to be named later. They then went out and lost 4-2, along the way letting Kyle Kendrick get a start, and re-calling B.J. Rosenberg.

With Blanton gone, it's also worth noting that the same Dodgers claimed Cliff Lee yesterday. He's not getting moved though.

So while it sucks that we have to listen to Davey Johnson ramble about us now, this is where it is. My only hope is that the Braves waltz on by the Nats in the last two months, and hopefully two Wild-Card teams do too. The 47-59 Phillies have no realistic shot to make the post-season, but I do have a couple of big league goals for this team-

1. 34-22- Probably not going to happen, but that's an 81-81 season. They'd have to play well, but you hope the kids do that.
2. Get out of last- It's 1.5 games to get Miami, 4.5 to get the Mets. Both are very doable. A winning finish, probably, gets third.
3. Find out about some of the younger talent- Obviously Dom Brown's play tops this list, but he's not alone. I want to see Tyler Cloyd get a solid look at the fifth starter job. Try Freddy Galvis at third. Lindblom should get a real look setting up, and we should call up some of the other young relievers as soon as possible.

Beyond that, I have no real goals, and if they don't reach the first one, I really don't care. It means nothing.

I am concerned about the rosters though, and where this team goes forward. With $68 million to three pitchers alone, and over $48 million in luxury tax space in three infielders, this team isn't going to realistically blow it up right now. They can't. With that said, they have three 40 man spots available, and I think they should use them wisely. Tyler Cloyd should get one, without a doubt. Beyond that, at the end of this year, there's still a laundry list of players who should not be back, lead up by Polanco and Schneider. I hate seeing Mini-Mart take up space on this roster.

Let's be honest though, these games are going to be tough to watch, so where should you look for help? I have some hints for you- in Allentown and Reading. 

The IronPigs obviously have some players on the 40 man- Luna, Savery, Diekman, Justin De Fratus, Phillippe Aumont, and J.C. Ramirez. They also have two new-comers who are on the 40 man: Cesar Hernandez (second baseman, .304 at Reading) and Sebastian Valle (catcher, .261 in Reading). Both were Eastern League All-Stars, are on the 40 man, and now are in AAA. Hernandez is off to a 3-for-7 start, with a double. Valle is 1-for-8. Aumont struggled badly early, fighting back issues, but has recovered nicely, and has a 3.79 ERA with 13 saves, and 48 strikeouts in 35.2 innings. De Fratus also has fought injuries this year, but has seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings, pitching to a 2.35 ERA and two saves. J.C. Ramirez has struggled in AAA, pitching to a 6.46 ERA and one save this season. His strikeout rate is still close to one an inning though, with 22 in 23.2 innings.

I would watch the rotation there though, where two of the best performers in the system have been this year. Tyler Cloyd's season is ridiculous. He's 11-1 as an IronPig after his latest win, and 14-1 overall this season. His combined ERA is 1.91 (1.93 in AAA, 1.80 in AA). He has 96 strikeouts to 30 walks in 141.1 innings, and a WHIP under one. He was 9-4, with a 2.77 ERA a year ago, so he's shown all he can in the minors. The other name for you to watch is 22 year old Jon Pettibone, recently called up from Reading. He threw five innings of two run ball in his debut, after putting up a 9-7, 3.30 ERA in Reading. He has 85 strikeouts in 122.1 innings, also walking 30. Both of these are names to watch.

In Reading, there's equally as much to watch. Currently, only the injured/suspended Tyson Gillies (hamstring/attitude) is on the 40-man from there, however there's lots of talent. Newly acquired prospect (Pence deal) catcher Tommy Joseph is off to a 5-for-10 start as a Reading Phillie. Also Newly acquired pitching prospect (Victorino deal) Ethan Martin is off to a 1-0 start, punching out six over six last night, giving up one. After trading for Kyle Simon in the Thome Deal, they converted him to the bullpen, and now in Reading, he's got two saves and has surrendered just two runs in 20.1 innings, punching out 17.

There's also the "old" prospects who have been there all year. Trevor May threw seven strong, two run innings in a loss to Richmond last time out. Brody Colvin got himself going better in Clearwater after a bad start, and got called up to Reading, where he went five innings of three run ball in his debut. Julio Rodriguez is coming off of a six inning shutout win where he struck out eight, and now has 113 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. Equally worth watching is Lisalverto Bonilla, who got hurt horsing around at the Future's Game, but has a 1.55 ERA between Clearwater and Reading.

There are four other intriguing names to watch. Darin Ruf is hitting .301 with 20 homers, 69 RBI's, and a .937 OPS, mostly at first base, but recently sometimes in left. Leandro Castro is hitting an impressive .292, with a .753 OPS, and is just 23, playing outfield. Jiwan James has struggled more, but has the talent, hitting .251 this year. Cody Asche, a 22 year old third baseman, has struggled in Reading a bit (.234), but hit .349 in Clearwater to get called up.

Oh yeah, and both teams are in contention. The Reading Phillies are .5 games out of the second playoff spot in their division. The IronPigs are 1.5 out of first, and .5 out of the Wild Card in a tight division race.

There certainly are other guys to watch in the system. Kelly Dugan's .284, 10 homers, 48 RBI's, and .844 OPS in Lakewood are not too bad, nor is his team being two games out. Clearwater sits just two games out too, and Jesse Biddle (7-4, 3.23, 111.1 innings, 116 K's, 45 BB's). Adam Morgan (4-10, 3.29, 123 innings, 140 K's, 28 BB's) and Austin Wright (9-4, 3.20, 121 innings, 110 K's, 50 BB's) are worth watching too. While Williamsport is really struggling (15-30), Roman Quinn (.272, 16 SB's, 8 3B's) and Larry Greene (.253, 12 XBH's, .709 OPS), last year's top two picks, have adjusted nicely to the minors in their first season.

My advice- watch the Phillies, take notice of some of the key young guys, hope for a full return to health from Utley, Howard, and Halladay, and hope for some better ball. Watch the minors, and the names listed above, and hope for the best there. Hope for some playoff ball in a couple of the minor league parks, and go watch the games. It'll be a nice recovery before the winter sports.

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