2021 General Minor League Discussion

nycphils 2021-04-20 14:56:35 UTC #81

The abysmal state of the minors for this team is really unbelievable given we recently went through a 7-8 year rebuild. I know that is captain obvious, but the failures of the MacPhail/Klentak regime are really shocking every time I think about it.

Philsmania 2021-04-20 16:28:21 UTC #82

See also the early '90's when despite a painful rebuild we ended up with a very weak farm system though we did have Lieberthal and Rolen on the way.

zambonir 2021-04-20 16:51:06 UTC #83

Well, the problem is they also didn't really go through a 7-8 year rebuild. They started it too late (2015 was when they traded Hamels) and ended it too early (we would have been much better off with a 70-win team in 2018 but they signed big free agents and tried to make the playoffs at mid-season too). Really only three years where they drafted high on purpose.

And, then yes, Nola aside, very little good happened even when they had good picks, on purpose or not. And they kept the same scouting director too. And international remains equally glaring (if not more so).

andyb 2021-04-20 17:05:39 UTC #84

More bodies at LHV. Suarez was finally activated and they signed LH reliever Rob Kaminsky today. Local kid who was a failed number one pick of the Cardinals.

Squire 2021-04-21 01:51:39 UTC #85

Failed number one picks is our wheelhouse.

andyb 2021-04-22 16:13:03 UTC #86

Clearwater staff. Milver Reyes promoted from GCL West manager to Clearwater. Cody Asche as we learned earlier will be the hitting coach. 12 days to actual minor league baseball.

Austinfan 2021-04-22 17:28:58 UTC #87

I like GCL and low A in Clearwater, allows you to let young players test a higher level early in their careers without having to make them find a new place to live, etc. They have enough on their minds at 18-20 years old. And it eliminates the need for a high rookie league, let college kids start in the GCL to get acclimated, then when ready move across the facility to the low A ball team.

100 or so minor league slots is more than sufficient, how often do we have more than 70 credible prospects, including GCL and even DSL teams?

andyb 2021-04-22 17:39:10 UTC #88

Nick Maton would not have been near our top 50 prospects the first year or two after he was drafted. Sometimes it takes time to sort out who is a prospect and who is not.

I do like Clearwater as the first full season level for the reasons you suggest. It also allows them to work up to playing in front of big crowds while delaying the cold weather intro for the Latin American players. I also hope GCL becomes close to a full season league also. No reason it shouldn't since it is not geared towards current year draft players anyway. They don't need to play 140 games like the other levels, but maybe 80-100 with a first half before the draft and a second half after would be good.

andyb 2021-04-22 20:23:46 UTC #89

Greg Garcia signed to alternate site. Segura/Kingery insurance I imagine. He walks a lot. Average defense at 2B and 3B. Has not played much SS lately.

zambonir 2021-04-22 22:34:15 UTC #90

I'm a fan of his television writing.

Austinfan 2021-04-23 00:39:28 UTC #91

100 slots on four minor league teams, plus XST, means you can review 120+ prospects any year to sort out the ones worth keeping around for another year or two - and someone like Maton would easily make the cut. There's always a dozen on IR, etc. Guys who can't make the cut after a couple years are better off in an Independent league where other teams can take a chance on them.

LoneStarPhan 2021-04-23 02:38:23 UTC #92

Garcia is another left handed hitting infielder and he has an opt out date of May 2.

zambonir 2021-04-23 02:53:43 UTC #93

Given that is just 10 days away, that suggests they intend to swap him for Kingery (and/or Maton) if Segura is out long.

But I suppose that's also the day he'd have to actually report to AAA, rather than being on the alternate site roster, so maybe it's just standard right now.

andyb 2021-04-24 18:11:46 UTC #94

Abel debut with an 8-pitch inning. Nice impression of Corey Phelan too. He was the other undrafted high school pitcher we signed for $20K last year, the latest in our line of Long Island signings.

andyb 2021-04-25 18:36:01 UTC #95

James McArthur was one of the rising prospects noticed at instructional league last fall. Looks like the velocity increase is real (95-97). As an experienced, older arm, it is not inconceivable he could be in the bullpen mix by the end of the year.

Also, Stephen and Luis Garcia added to the alternate site. Stephen probably belongs in AAA. Guessing with Garcia that he just does not need the minor league games and could benefit from the higher level reps at the alternate site.

https://twitter.com/_jchipman/status/1385704262932512768

Squire 2021-04-25 18:43:40 UTC #96

Josh Stephen had a very good pop-up type year in 2019 . He's one of the guys I'm interested in seeing this year at the upper levels.

andyb 2021-04-25 18:47:14 UTC #97

I am curious too. I think he is a tweener without the defense for CF and the ideal power for the corner, but that does not mean he could not be a productive 4th outfielder that could fill the Matt Joyce role inexpensively with some hope for additional power as he matures.

Squire 2021-04-25 19:50:34 UTC #98

That's probably his ceiling/role going forward. Though I also note that our current starting LF is batting .161 with a .554 OPS so the bar would be pretty low on improving that.

andyb 2021-04-25 20:04:10 UTC #99

Yesterday's report. Fanti's back. Appel has a so-so inning (2 BB, 2K). Mike Adams looks pretty good.

andyb 2021-04-26 16:51:36 UTC #100

Alternate site over the weekend. Suarez back with 3 rusty innings including 3 BBs. Morales had the most interesting outing that started triple, triple, single - then he dominated getting 11 of 12. 8 Ks in 3.2 IP.

Morales might be a really high upside player who is closer to the majors than we think. I assume he is going to start at AA (jumping from low A Lakewood 2 years ago). I suppose it is possible he'll just stay at LHV too if he is pitching well.