Minor League Games - Monday, July 22, 2019

[kikutaro]

Lehigh Valley IronPigs - Off

Binghamton Rumble Ponies (51-46) @ Reading Fightin Phils (59-40) 7:10 pm | Gameday
Tommy Wilson (3-4, 5.49) vs. JoJo Romero (4-4, 4.84)

Game Over (Bottom 9)
Binghamton 3, Reading 2

Notable

Josh Stephen 1-1, 2B
Raul Rivas 2-4, 2 K

JoJo Romero (L, 4-4), 6.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 1ER, 2BB, 7K, game score: game_score
Jonathan Hennigan 2.0 IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 2K

Bradenton Marauders (53-45) @ Clearwater Threshers (51-48) game 2 (makeup of 7/18 ppd in bradenton) | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A
(postponed: rain)

Postponed
Bradenton , Clearwater

Bradenton Marauders (53-45) @ Clearwater Threshers (51-48) 5:00 pm | Gameday
Max Kranick (6-7, 3.89) vs. Andrew Brown (2-5, 7.38)

Completed Early: Rain (Top 7)
Bradenton 7, Clearwater 3

Notable

Daniel Brito 1-3, R, RBI, HR, K
Rodolfo Duran 2-2, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Luke Miller 0-3, 2 K
Simon Muzziotti 0-3, 2 K

James McArthur 2.2 IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, game score: game_score
Kyle Arjona (L, 1-2), 2.1 IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 1K

Lakewood BlueClaws - Off

Williamsport Crosscutters (10-26) @ State College Spikes (19-18) 7:05 pm | Gameday
Carlos Francisco (0-1, 8.20) vs. Adrian Mardueno (2-1, 2.49)

Final (Top 9)
State College 9, Williamsport 3

Notable

Corbin Williams 2-3, R, K, SB
Bryson Stott 0-4, 2 K
Juan Aparicio 2-4, K
Logan O'Hoppe 2-4, 2B, K, SB
Johan Rojas 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, HR

Carlos Francisco (L, 0-1), 2.0 IP, 5H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 2K, game score: game_score
Tom Sutera 4.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K

GCL Tigers West (13-8) @ GCL Phillies East (12-9) 12:00 pm | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final (Top 9)
GCL Phillies East 5, GCL Tigers West 2

Notable

Guarner Dipre 0-3, BB, 2 K
Jose Mercado 2-3, 2 R, BB, SB
Vito Friscia 2-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB
Curtis Mead 1-3, RBI, 2B, BB, K
Luis Matos 2-4, R, 2B, K

Luke Leftwich 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K, game score: game_score
Victor Vargas (W, 1-1), 4.0 IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 2K
Waylon Richardson (H, 2), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K
Andy Reyes (H, 1), 0.1 IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 0K
Carlos Francisco (H, 1), 1.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K
Brenden Kudlinski (S, 1), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K

GCL Phillies West (15-6) @ GCL Blue Jays (10-12) 12:00 pm | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final (Top 9)
GCL Blue Jays 7, GCL Phillies West 0

Notable

Tucker Maxwell 0-4, 3 K
Rixon Wingrove 0-4, 2 K
Edgar Made 1-4, K, 2 SB

Brandon Ramey (L, 0-1), 4.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 5K, game score: game_score

DSL Phillies Red - Off

DSL Rangers2 (22-21) @ DSL Phillies White (25-18) 10:30 am | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final (Bottom 9)
DSL Rangers2 6, DSL Phillies White 1

Notable

Leandro Pineda 0-3, 2 K
Raymond Mora 1-1, R, 2B, 2 BB, SB
Juan Mendez 1-4, RBI, 2B
Raulyn Blanc 1-4, 3B, K
Giuseppe Peguero 1-3, SB

Victor Lopez (L, 0-3), 4.0 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K, game score: game_score
Edinso Aleman 3.0 IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 0K
Cristofer Cruz 2.0 IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 1BB, 2K

(click on the start time for box scores)

[Austinfan]

I think it's time to reevaluate Moniak:

Since June 1st:
38g 135 AB 11 5 2 20BB/28K .296/.387/.496
That's a pretty sizeable sample. And no home field split (i.e., these aren't Reading inflated numbers).
Even more encouraging, he's continued to improve month by month, last ten games only 5 Ks.
The improved plate discipline and contact rate bode well.
He just turned 21 in late May, lots of time to grow into his body and develop power.

[bigegypt0417]

We have been for a while now...

[California_Dreamin]

Boy, I completely agree with Big E here. The reality is that Moniak for almost a year now has been hitting and playing very well, save for April/early May this year. And as a Southern Californian like Moniak, I can testify to the fact that playing in the cold of the East Coast in the early season takes so getting used to.

We seem to bemoan the fact that he is not hitting many homers but 22 doubles and 10 triples in a bit over half a season screams power to me and Moniak hasn't even got to hit against the super charged balls being used in AAA and the major leagues.

I always have to remind myself that MM is still 21years of age, about the same age as a college junior. Yes, in retrospect I might have preferred Senzel but the reality is that he is almost 3 years older and we really don't know Monak's ceiling yet since he is still growing into his body. What we do know is that he is intelligent, hard working and improving before our very eyes.

I still believe the Phils will be justified in their selection of MM.

[Austinfan]

Except the recent jump in his BB rate is something new, last three seasons, 5.7, 5.5, 4.8, and that improvement really only started in June. That looks to me that they've been extensively coaching him, it took a while for the light to go on, but once he started laying off bad pitches first his BB% shot up, then his K rate has gradually declined.

We've been seeing the same thing with Kingery at the ML level.

Unfortunately, we haven't seen that with Williams, when he went back to AAA, he reverted to the same player he's always been, a free swinger who can hit AAA pitching but gets toyed with in the Show.

[andyb]

Williams at 21 in AA - 6.8% BB rate, 845 OPS
Moniak at 21 in AA - 8.0% BB rate, 780 OPS

The walk rate is slightly higher. The OPS is significantly lower. There is just no evidence that Moniak is a better offensive player at that age now. Not that Williams is better either. What Williams has done (or not done) since then is exactly my point. An 800 OPS in AA is good. It is not special though and lots of players with that end up failing.

[Austinfan]

If you look at Moniak pre and post June, he's had a big jump in his BB%, far greater than the normal variation, big enough that something major has changed in his approach. And his K rate has declined month by month. So that 8% is misleading, 4.2% in April and May, 24.5% K-rate. In June, 12.8%/20.5%, in July, 13.2%/10.5%. Obviously we'll have to see if he can maintain that the rest of the season, but that's a big change.

Like I've said, progress is the thing to watch with prospects, they physically mature at different rates, and they differ in their ability and willingness to respond to coaching. Having a big year in A ball at 20 is meaningless if you can't build on that success as you climb the ladder - the best predictor of ML success to me is the ability to adjust at each level. A successful prospect will often start slow with each promotion and finish strong as they learn what it takes to succeed against tougher competition.

[andyb]

He has had a nice 6 weeks of a decent BB rate. Williams did at times too. You just tend to cherry pick data on players you like versus players you don't. And there is just no way to look at the year Moniak is having and say it is better than Williams at the same age. Williams has more power than Moniak. That is another data point to consider beyond walk rate. Small sample data is not that important. Look at the big picture. He could very well have a lousy August or a great August. All the data counts. Yes he has made some progress. But that just puts him into the conversation as a top 200 prospect most likely. Half the prospects who do what he has done end up failing.

[bigegypt0417]

He has had a nice 6 weeks of a decent BB rate.

actually...if you look at 5/15 through now his BB is about 10% and k's are 17.6%

https://www.fangraphs.com/statsd.aspx?playerid=sa917920&position=OF&type=-2&gds=2019-05-15&gde=2019-07-21&season=

[andyb]

And Williams had a walk rate over 10% in April and May that year (2015). It is just not exceptional to see that level of performance over a period of 6 or 8 weeks. And the point which you guys keep missing, is that half of prospects who do exactly what Moniak has done this year, even looking at the improvement, end up failing. What he has done this year is better. It is not special though. People are not sure he can stay in CF and he may not have enough power for a corner. Those things matter too.

[bigegypt0417]

And Williams had a walk rate over 10% in April and May that year (2015). It is just not exceptional to see that level of performance over a period of 6 or 8 weeks. And the point which you guys keep missing, is that half of prospects who do exactly what Moniak has done this year, even looking at the improvement, end up failing. What he has done this year is better. It is not special though. People are not sure he can stay in CF and he may not have enough power for a corner. Those things matter too.

Who said it was special? I don't understand how we got to the point of special from simply pointing something out while you point to AA performance for a player who fell off a cliff the following year?

I know this is just your "phillie" way but we are actually talking about progression from one point in time to another point in time. Mickey Moniak has shown steady progression across pretty much every offensive facet from a terrible season two years ago. I don't believe anyone has called what he's doing as special or amazing but progress. He's also doing it in a league where he's significantly younger on average than those around him.

[andyb]

Half of prospects who have done what Moniak has done end up failing. Maybe more than that. Half ot top 100 prospects fail. Are you saying Moniak is certain to succeed? Even 90% likely to succeed? Is everybody else wrong about Moniak since they don't consider him a top 100 prospect?

Williams having difficulty the next season IS THE EXACT REASON TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT MONIAK. Prospects who have done more than Moniak fail all the time? Why should we think Moniak has a better chance of success? Maybe Moniak is a little underrated, but there is still nothing in his record to suggest he is a top prospect.

[andyb]

Josh Gessner with a scoreless inning in his pro debut.

[bigegypt0417]

We are not talking about failure...we are talking about progression. We get it...prospects can fail.

[Austinfan]

Romero starting to turn it around: last five starts: 26 IP 19 H 5 BB 26 K 2.08

[phillychuck]

He likes the AA ball...