Minor League Games - May 8th, 2024

[Squire]

AAA: Syracuse at Lehigh Valley (RHP Michael Mercado) - 6:45PM
AA: Hartford at Reading (RHP Efrain Contreras) - 6:45PM
High A: Wilmington at Jersey Shore (LHP Samuel Aldegheri) - 11:05AM
Low A: Clearwater (RHP Luke Russo) at Tampa - 6:30PM
Rookie: Off

Rolling Scores Here - https://www.milb.com/scores/2024-05-08/all/all/phillies

Rolling Boxes Here - https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats/affiliates?teamId=143&date=05/08/2024

[andyb]

I thought they are supposed to do these lists after the season, but Caba ranks second on MLB Pipeline's complex pre-season list (combined FL and AZ).

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-pipeline-top-10-prospects-in-complex-leagues-2024?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

[phillychuck]

I'm a little worried about Tait, who is off to a slow start facing many of the same pitchers he tattooed in the DSL last year. I know it's a SSS, but he's hitting around .100 after four games. Let's hope he has a breakout day soon!

A positive note I've read elsewhere (in a couple of places) is that Miller's defense at SS has been much better than anticipated...can't hurt to have him stay at SS for a while!

[Austinfan]

I don't get excited until 100 PA. Even then, I look at the K rate as much as anything else (and exit velo when available). A high K rate is not good b/c it means a young hitter is getting fooled/beat on a regular basis.

[phillychuck]

I know, I just wanted to see him get off to a .400/.500/.600 start and put everyone on notice that he's real. He's also been DHing a lot, but I assume he's getting lots of reps catching outside of games. He only has 1 K in 11 PAs so far, with one walk, so that looks good on the K-rate metric.

It's a good sign the Phils are batting him third in a pretty good lineup.

[andyb]

It's a good sign the Phils are batting him third in a pretty good lineup.

Lineup placement has always been a good clue about how the team thinks regarding a player. I am not worried at all about Tait. 1 K in 11 plate appearances suggests some negative BABIP luck too.

There have only been 3 games so far and the list of players playing all 3 is probably the list of the 4 best offensive prospects on the team: Caba, Tait, Rosario, Escobar.

[allentown]

1 K in 11 plate appearances suggests some negative BABIP luck too.

Certainly BABIP could be a key factor in such a SSS, but, on the whole, I think BABIP more closely related to exit velocity and line drive percentage.

[Matt_Winkelman]

He looks fine, has hit the ball hard and found some gloves, mashed all spring off the same type of pitchers. Really you are talking about 1-2 balls in playing going the other way and it looks like he is mashing.

[phillychuck]

Glad to hear! Matt, do you know anything further about the Rincones and Klassen injuries?

[andyb]

Miller 4-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI. Pretty good day.

[Austinfan]

P-G also had a good day, seems to be fully back.

Both he and Miller may be at JS come June.

[rkeden]

How about the year Mercado is having?

[phillychuck]

So far, so good, but his peripheral stats don't come close to matching his ERA...seems like he's having lots of BABIP luck. Getting a few more ground balls, and boy do the IPs need pitching...

[Matt_Winkelman]

Klassen I heard and it has been reported that it is mostly precautionary and they aren't worried. They did not put him on the IL this week and with it only being a 7 day they have not been afraid to use it to skip a start. Now there isn't much to call up, but I would take it as optimistic that he is currently at worse day to day, but could make his start this week.

Rincones I don't have confirmation and there isn't anything out there publicly, but what I have heard would indicate it will not be a quick return.