Minor League Games - Wednesday, July 17, 2019

[fish]

If it turns out Australia is a good source of baseball talent we are very well-positioned. We have perhaps the largest MLB presence in that region.

They were 10 years ago too. Surprising that after all these years only a handful of Aussies have ever made an impact in the majors.

[Jeff05]

Without a serious signing-on bonus or parental support, why would be we want to work overseas for a subsistence wage? We can do that here!

[bkox]

Probably too big to stay behind the plate. I don't think there has ever been a catcher much over 6'2".

Tigers' Grayson Greiner is 6'6"
Joe Mauer, Sandy Alomar Jr and Matt Wieters are all 6'5"
Ben Davis 6'4"

[phillychuck]

Tigers' Grayson Greiner is 6'6"
Joe Mauer, Sandy Alomar Jr and Matt Wieters are all 6'5"
Ben Davis 6'4"

OK, good counter-examples.

Greiner is below replacement level, though. Mauer had to move off of C to 1B/DH, but he was more than solid when he was behind the plate. Alomar, Jr. listed at 6'3" where I looked. Wieters was really good when young, but dropped off quickly, probably due to his size and the wear and tear of catching. Ben Davis was basically replacement-level. Still, way more modern guys than I thought.

[bkox]

Mauer had to move off of C to 1B/DH

To be fair, this was because of concussions and not height

[bkox]

I forgot turkey bacon! Erik Kratz is 6-4

[phillychuck]

Kratz!!

Our Aussie friend is also 260, which is, again by memory only, pretty big for a catcher.

[andyb]

It is pretty big for anyone. I am guessing they signed him because he can hit and has a legit power tool. Big question of course is whether he can be acceptable defensively anywhere on the diamond including first base. At 19 and from Australia makes it OK to repeat GCL and be a prospect. He is not a catcher though. Has not played it professionally here and in Australia over the winter. Mainly a 1B at GCL with 1 game in LF.

He is interesting as a prospect because of the bat. Curtis Mead is a little more interesting to me among the Aussie offensive prospects. Still 18 and OPS over 800 while playing 2B, 3B, and SS. He is not small at 6'2" and 171, so he probably profiles more in the corner infield, but if he could stay at 2B his offense could be plus.

[kmc1019]

A few thoughts:
1) If Bohm needs to get better at 3B, why does he play 1B at all right now? Barring a Hoskins injury, hard to see him ever playing there
2) It's time to give LH reliever Jeff Singer a shot at AAA. His Reading numbers - 2.20 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 11.8K/9 - would sure look good in South Philly, and his is a feel-good story (Philly kid, undrafted free agent) to boot.
3) Unless Wingrove is a butcher in the field and maybe even if he is, time to challenge him with a promotion to Williamsport.
4) Based on the Phillies collection of mediocre fielders who play or profile at corner positions - in the majors (Hoskins, Franco, Harper, Bruce, and including Haseley and McCutchen because they are not CFs) and the minors (Bohm, Listi, J Ortiz, throwing in Wingrove because of his size), the ML team should absolutely be leading the charge to bring the DH to the National League and ASAP.