2018 Phils Minors/Prospects Regular Season News

[fish]

I live in MA and always look forward to Williamsport's visit to Lowell every other year. This year the two teams don't even play each other. How is it possible that two teams don't face each other at all in the New York Penn league?

[andyb]

I live in MA and always look forward to Williamsport's visit to Lowell every other year. This year the two teams don't even play each other. How is it possible that two teams don't face each other at all in the New York Penn league?

Weird schedule. Look at the standings last year and see the number of in-division games:

Standings | New York-Penn League Standings

Looks like the 6-team division plays all but 10 games in their division. The 4-team divisions play each other a lot, but not the 6-team division. Seems like something could be done to give each team at least 1 3-game series against the other divisions even in a short schedule.

[zambonir]

Budgets must be just that tight, huh?

[andyb]

One name that I did see got a quick promotion was Andrew Brown who was a mainstay in the Williamsport rotation at age 19 last year.

Note I had the wrong A. Brown here. It is Aaron at Clearwater. So add Andrew Brown to the missing list. Thought the team was higher on him than Stewart. Guess that might not be correct.

[Purduke]

Was looking for Greg Pickett. Did I miss something (quite possible). Ex Spring Training for some reason. I thought he finished decently last year.

[Austinfan]

Do you have him confused with Aaron Brown, the converted OF?

Opps. Missed the post.

I think college pitches at Lakewood to start may become the norm, because of the logjam further up the system. Not a bad problem to have.

[BostonRoss]

I live in MA and always look forward to Williamsport's visit to Lowell every other year. This year the two teams don't even play each other. How is it possible that two teams don't face each other at all in the New York Penn league?

Yes, this disappoints me, too. The Crosscutters seem to come about every other year. I think Reading is coming to New Hampshire three times, though.

[Squire]

OF Jhailyn Ortiz has opened the season 0-14, 0BB, 6K

[allentown]

Not great, but slumps happen.

[andyb]

First colder weather games (even in NC) for the kid. Part of the reason why a full season league can be a challenge.

[phillychuck]

The following players were/are among the missing...we have answers on two of them--I'm speculating that the other two are in extended. I believe Cord was seen playing in an extended game last week.::

RHP Kyle Young--sore shoulder
LHP Nick Fanti--innings control
OF Cord Sandberg--extended? Reading
INF Drew Stankiewicz--extended?

[Squire]

Cord Sandberg is in Reading. The Phillies are doing roster manipulation tricks by moving guys back and forth but he's in Reading and went 2-4 with a double in his only game action.

[andyb]

Cord Sandberg is in Reading. The Phillies are doing roster manipulation tricks by moving guys back and forth but he's in Reading and went 2-4 with a double in his only game action.

If it is like last year I think we have the equivalent of close to 30-man rosters and do lots of cycling starting pitchers to inactive lists.

With fewer days offs, 6-man rotations with modest pitch limits it is just common sense to have larger minor league rosters even if they are not officially that off.

[julio]

PC - tweaked your strikethru. Gotta use angle brackets instead of square brackets in this environment.

[Austinfan]

Has anyone studied how LA players due in April in cold climate cities?
I'd think that's a heck of an adjustment, also for LA and for S Cal and Florida players (and Southern Texas), but not quite as drastic.
And for prospects it would be much worse, since many have never experienced a cold April until they get to A ball.

[Squire]

Sixto Sanchez is starting for Clearwater on Sunday 4/15

[phillychuck]

WooHoo!!

Hope LV hits well again tonight; that was a fun boxscore to read.

[schooldoc]

Although the mercenaries (McBride & D.Ortiz) had the big RBI nights, the prospects (Quinn, Walding, Cozens, Valentin) contributed to the Pigs' rout too.

[julio]

Not good news. We can hope that this isn't another case of the Phillies "whistling past the graveyard," denying the seriousness of an injury for weeks, in the hope that it will "get better." We'll see.

Todd Zolecki (ToddZolecki)

[Philsmania]

Not good news. We can hope that this isn't another case of the Phillies "whistling past the graveyard," denying the seriousness of an injury for weeks, in the hope that it will "get better." We'll see.

Todd Zolecki (ToddZolecki)

Well, Nola's achy elbow got better with rest and conservative treatment a couple of years back, so perhaps there is hope. But, there is plenty of reason for dread too, though. And, I guess that will probably the kibosh on him making it to Reading this season.