2017-2018 Winter Leagues

[andyb]

I know there was a thread for instructional league and the Arizona League a while back, but I figured a single topic for winter league play might be easier. The MLB web site page has not been updated yet but the first leagues start next week with I think both the Arizona League and the Venezuelan League starting on Tuesday the 10th.

Matt Winkleman has started a page on Winter League assignments:

2017 Fall and Winter League Assignments

The ones that interest me the most are:
Elneiry Garcia in Arizona - can he get back on track against good competition?
Cornelius Randoph in Arizona - Can he keep up his second half improvement even though he'll be really young for the league.

Dominican
Roman Quinn - healthy would be nice, but I'd love to see him put together a solid 20 games and come into Spring Training competing for a job.
Eleizer Alvarez - the prospect we kind of stole from the Cardinals for Nicasio. Mediocre season after a double jump, but it was a double jump.

Venezuela
Daniel Brito - A really advanced league for him. Will he earn playing time?
Jiandido Tromp - Can't remember if he has ever played winter ball, but it might be a time for him to put up some numbers in a HR friendly league.

Colombia
Luke Williams and Arquimedes Gamboa - should be a good test for both

Puerto Rico
Jesmuel Valentin - If he is healthy he will certainly play in PR. Hope the stadiums are OK after Maria but I think the league does not start for 3-4 weeks. Caguas really got hit hard in the hurricane.

[phillychuck]

Is Venezuela actually having a league this winter with the political climate the way it is? Is it safe for our guys to be there?

[andyb]

Arizona started yesterday. Phillies are on the Glendale team.

Randolph 0-3 with a BB. Garcia gave up 2 ER in 3 IP.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2017_10_10_gddwin_perwin_1&t=g_box&sid=l119

MLB site not working yet but organization stats will be here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=phi

Venezuela did also start. Wilson Garcia had a HR. Tromp went 3-5 with a number of others in action (Raul Rivas, Carlos Duran, Daniel Brito (2-4), Herlis Rodriguez. Henderson Alvarez started also but did not pitch especially well (8 hits in 3+ IP).

https://www.lvbp.com/

[andyb]

Adding 2017 to the team offseason link brought up the stats.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=phi&y=2017

Some new stuff. Mexican league has started also and both Stassi and Walding are playing there. Walding had a great first game with a HR and 3 BBs. Zach Green also homered in Arizona.

Remember playing quality varies considerably. In quality it probably goes Domincan, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico (if they even play this year) and then Colombia/Australia. I could see Mexico improving in quality if some stateside players avoid Venezuela. The Phillies still work with all the leagues (like Tromp in Venezuela though that is very close to his home country geographically). Walding and Stassi to Mexico is a little bit larger presence there than in most years.

One note on Puerto Rico. It looks like they have severely shortened the season to 21 games this winter starting January 6th followed by a quick playoff. Not sure if this is going to change Jesmuel Valentin's plans because if healthy he likely would have gotten 150+ AB there this winter. On PhuturePhillies they noted Aaron Brown had been planning on going to Puerto Rico but is now the first alternate for Arizona (which might be a really tough league for him to pitch in at the moment).

Caneros de los Mochis putting together a murder's row batting order of Phillies minor leagues past and present.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&sid=l132&cid=675&y=2017

Valle, Walding, and Castro were a combined 5-6 with 3 HRs and 5 BBs yesterday. Of course they lost 7-6.

[andyb]

A 17-inning "classic" for Zulia yesterday (the team the Phillies have always had the strongest relationship with from the Amaros).

https://www.lvbp.com/gameday.php?game=535726

Brito is batting 9th because he is really young for the league. 3-6 with a 3B, BB, and 4 RBI yesterday. Garcia 2-7, Herlis 0-4, Tromp 0-4 with 3 BBs.

21 pitchers and an agonizing 6:30 game time. Crowd of 4,841 so it is not like people are avoiding the Venezuelan leagues.

[andyb]

The last of the major winter leagues has now started (Dominican). Puerto Rico will have a short season in January and Colombia will start shortly (first week of November last year).

Roman Quinn (2-9 over the weekend) is playing in the Dominican. Others include Cameron Perkins, Angelo Mora, Tom Windle, and Eleizer Alvarez.

Brito is the MVP so far (8-16) playing in an advanced league for his age.

[andyb]

Elneiry Garcia was better in his second AFL start:

Phillies' Elniery Garcia thrives in AFL start

Only sitting 89-92 so the fastball is not back to where it was 2 years ago.

[gmwannabe]

nice to see the strong start. maybe juice related on the speed?
gm

[nycphils]

Hope not or he's lost a lot of value

[andyb]

I think his spot on the 40-man is safe, but I imagine the Phillies wanted to see him some in Arizona before making that final decision. It is somewhat rare for a Dominican player to play in the Arizona League as there is an agreement with MLB to not allow it without a waiver for a specific reason (like Garcia missing 80 games this year).

Garcia definitely had a bit of a velocity bump 2 years ago. No idea if it was PED related. I recall he built up the velocity through the year starting in the 89-92 range and ending more 92-94. That could easily be him maturing over the course of a year too, so no jump to conclusions. I will say that he is left-handed and 89-92 starting is plenty for a lefthander with 3 pitches. Given the lack of quality lefties in our system he will get every chance to stay on the 40.

[gmwannabe]

i would agree with that also. hopefully, he continues the good outings.
gm

[andyb]

Instructional League ends.

2017 Florida Instructs Update, thru 10/12/2017 and the End

Some early sightings of a couple of the newly signed pitchers. Alfonso Puello ("throws hard") and Victor Vargas. Both have a chance to debut in GCL though of course we could have little room on the roster if we do not add a second GCL squad.

[Squire]

I guess we're not mentioning Cornelius Randolph's 1-17 start in the AFL

[andyb]

I guess we're not mentioning Cornelius Randolph's 1-17 start in the AFL

Not good on the surface though he has only K'd 4 times so there is likely bad luck involved. Most of the AFL is older than Randolph, so I had low expectations for this stint anyway.

Walding with his 2nd HR. I'd almost have rather seen him in Arizona as I am starting to get intrigued as to whether he could be an effective bench piece that could play decent defense at the 4 corner positions and give us some power off the bench (and a LH option to Franco).

Update from the Dominican yesterday. Kilome is pitching in the league there for the first extended time. Started and went 3 IP yesterday. Gave up a HR but that was the only baserunner against 3 Ks. Perkins (6-15) is also off to a strong start there though he is a little old/advanced for it to mean much.

[Austinfan]

Perkins has speed and a little power, he had a good year in AAA then lost his plate discipline when he came up.
If he could just tweak those aspects of his game, he's got a shot at a 4th/5th OF spot, most of our young OFs are a year or two away.
So I see some marginal prospects like Perkins fighitng it out with low cost FAs in ST for bench spots this year.

Winter ball is a good way to advertise that you're ready (or reveal that it's time to consider a new professsion).

[andyb]

Not sure Perkins has more than 40 speed. I have no problem with him coming in and competing for a job as there is a tiny bit of inexpensive upside there. But the reality is that he is an outfielder who is nothing special on defense that has below average power and he has not hit enough for that "professional hitter" type of pinch hitting role.

Quinn is hopefully the 4th outfielder and there is an opening for a 5th, though I am guessing they will bring several Nava types in that would be ahead of Perkins initially. A guy like Floriman could also bring more defensive speed and flexibility to the table if we wanted to carry an extra infielder beyond one middle infield reserve which could be Galvis next season.

[Austinfan]

Unless Quinn tears up the winter league, he's not going to make the team out of ST.
He just doesn't have enough minor league ABs and has some flaws, strikes out way too much for a player with average power and great speed.
You don't want Hoskins to put the ball on the ground, conversely, you don't want Quinn wasting his talent with Ks and flyballs to the warning track.
And he's too talented to stick on the bench and play once every couple weeks.

If Florimon is healthy, he has a good shot at the Blanco role.
I can see 2 catchers, Florimon and 2 OFs on the bench.
Of course, it depends on trades, but if Kingery starts in AAA, they can bring him up at any time in case of injury.

[zambonir]

I think Quinn probably will make the team if he doesn't break, but he also doesn't have to make the team. I still think the Phillies will sign a 4th OF on a guaranteed deal.

[andyb]

To me Quinn has already shown he is ready for the big leagues. And the bonus is that he is productive as a defensive replacement and pinch runner even if he struggles with the bat.

The ideal bench for me is probably Knapp, Galvis, an infielder that can play 3B, Quinn, and a 5th OF that has some power. Floriman is just a depth name in reality and they are not going to keep 3 catchers. Rupp and Knapp have options I believe if they are unable to trade a catcher. Neither are good enough offensively or defensively to be a difference-maker on the roster as a 3rd catcher.

There is no reason to hold Quinn back. He has had enough at bats even if it has been sporadic. If he is healthy the bottom line is that he helps the team and a part time role might keep him healthier. It might also give the team some interesting future options if he does well. He also would not be wasted at all on the bench. Start him twice a week. Pinch hit him every other game with some double switches getting him more at bats. He'll end up with 300 AB and be a late inning weapon stealing bases late in a game. We have a bunch of slow guys in the lineup where he could run if a Franco or Hoskins gets on base in the 8th or 9th inning.

There is just no benefit to keeping Quinn in the minors. Every prospect does not have to play every day. If he plays well he earns more time. If he struggles with the bat he still contributes on defense. Seems like a perfect role to me.

[California_Dreamin]

My gosh, Quinn better make the team, if he gets hurt again [and he probably will] I want it to be in Philadelphia and not LHV.