Archive for the ‘Antonio Bastardo’ Category
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
One of the intriguing sub-plots of Phillies Spring Training is replacing retired lefty releiver Scott Eyre, and three former BlueClaws are in the mix to do just that.
You’d have to consider Antonio Bastardo (2007) to be the favorite. He was on the post-season roster and even got a key strikeout of Jason Giambi against the Rockies. Bastardo, 24, dominated the SAL here in 2007, going 9-0, 1.87 over 15 starts with the BlueClaws. He made his big league debut in 2009.
He was here for parts of two years, but last summer Sergio Escalona (2007-2008) jumped straight from Double-A Reading to the big leagues, where he gave up seven runs in 13.2 innings. Escalona was a starter in 2007 but went 5-1, 3.43 out of the pen in 2008 before a promotion. Funny stuff from how Escalona was told of his promotion (by Reading manager Steve Roadcap):
Sergio Escalona (BlueClaws 2007-2008) was called to FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading early in the morning where Steve Roadcap was waiting.
“He said, ‘What were you doing last night? I heard the police had to go to the stadium,’” Escalona said. “I said, ‘No, I was home, watching TV, a movie, with my family.’
“He said, ‘I don’t know — the police are coming.’”
Roady was kidding of course, as Escalona was called up to the big leagues, where he got his first win on Sunday.
Last, but not least, Mike Zagurski (2006). A key reliever on the 2006 champion BlueClaws, Zagurski made his big league debut on May 25th, 2007, just months after wrapping up his season in Low-A (he has made the fastest jump ever from Lakewood to Philadelphia, and received a bobblehead doll in 2008). But he missed 2008 with an elbow injury and made it up to Reading in 2009.
Good luck to all three.
Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Mike Zagurski, Phillies, Spring Training | No Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Below, the list of all of the former BlueClaws (16 in total) that will participate in big league spring training with the Phillies beginning next week (pitchers and catchers report on February 17th.
Non-roster invitees
- RHP BJ Rosenberg (2009): the closer for the majority of the 2009 season, he was promoted straight to Double-A Reading in August
- C Tuffy Gosewisch (2007): a catcher for the majority of 2007, Gosewisch ended 2009 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will have a chance to make his big league debut in 2010
- SS Freddy Galvis (2008): one of the best defensive players in all of Minor League Baseball, Galvis was promoted to Reading to end the 2009 season. He is ranked as the 13th best player in the system according to Baseball America
- OF Domonic Brown (2008): the top ranked prospect in the system and one of the top ranked prospects in all of baseball. He finished 2009 with Double-A Reading
On the 40-man roster
- LHP Antonio Bastardo (2007): went 9-0 with the BlueClaws in 2007 and was on the Phillies roster in all three rounds of the 2009 post-season
- LHP Sergio Escalona (2007-08): spent parts of two seasons in Lakewood and made the jump from Reading to the big leagues in 2009
- LHP Cole Hamels (2003): had a 0.84 ERA with the BlueClaws in 2003 and won the MVP of the 2008 World Series
- LHP JA Happ (2005): Won 12 games in his rookie season last year in being named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year
- RHP Kyle Kendrick (2004-06): spent parts of three years with the BlueClaws before breaking through and into the big leagues during the 2007 season. He is 24-14 over three years with the Phillies
- Scott Mathieson (2004): trying to make team after having third major surgery including two Tommy John surgeries in recent years. Pitched in the 2009 Arizona Fall League
- RHP Drew Naylor (2008): spent 2008 in Lakewood and 2009 in Clearwater, where he went 8-11
- RHP Jesus Sanchez (2009): converted catcher went 10-6 as a pitcher for the BlueClaws during the 2009 championship season
- LHP Mike Zagurski (2006): popular member of the 2006 championship team in Lakewood, he is recovering from Tommy John surgery and pitched for Reading last year
- C Carlos Ruiz (2001): an original BlueClaw, he is the only player left from the 2001 BlueClaws still with the Phillies. Has been the starting catcher on two World Series teams
- 1B Ryan Howard (2002): hit 19 home runs for the 2002 BlueClaws, won Rookie of the Year in 2005 and NL MVP in 2006. He was the first former BlueClaw to appear in the Major Leagues
- OF Quintin Berry (2007): speedster has stolen over 150 bases the last three years and was added to the 40-man roster in November
Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Around the Farm, BJ Rosenberg, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, Domonic Brown, Freddy Galvis, JA Happ, Kyle Kendrick, Mike Zagurski, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Quintin Berry, Ryan Howard, Sergio Escalona, Spring Training, Tuffy Gosewisch | 2 Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Baseball America has released their top ten Phillies prospect list, and John Manuel has done a bang-up job. Pretty much saw it as we did (here). Click here for an overview with information on bonuses, top prospects of the decade, and a projected 2013 lineup. The list below…
Rank, position, name, club(s) in 2009, with LAK)
- 01. OF Domonic Brown (CLE, REA, w/ LAK 2008)
- 02. RHP Kyle Drabek (CLE, REA, w/ LAK 2007)
- 03. OF Michael Taylor (REA, LHV, w/ LAK 2008)
- 04. C Travis d’Arnaud (LAK, 2009)
- 05. RHP Trevor May (LAK, 2009)
- 06. OF Anthony Gose (LAK, 2009)
- 07. C Sebastian Valle (WPT, LAK, 2009)
- 08. RHP Jarred Cosart (GCL)
- 09. LHP Antonio Bastardo (REA, LHV, PHI, w/ LAK 2007)
- 10. OF Domingo Santana (GCL)
Quick thoughts…
- Four of the top seven were members of the 2009 SAL Champion BlueClaws, and that doesn’t include All-Star 2B Harold Garcia, RHP Justin De Fratus, RHP BJ Rosenberg. No wonder the BlueClaws had a good year.
- Cosart and Santana, especially Cosart, could be with Lakewood in 2010. Cosart was teh 4th ranked prospect in the GCL this year. Santana is just 17.
- Interesting that they project Valle as the Phillies 2013 third baseman.
- No real surprises here. I imagine Brody Colvin is in the top 12 or 13.
More notes on each of the top ten below the fold.
(more…)
Posted in Anthony Gose, Antonio Bastardo, Around the Farm, Baseball America, Domingo Santana, Domonic Brown, Jarred Cosart, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, Past BlueClaws, Sebastian Valle, Travis d'Arnaud, Trevor May | 4 Comments »
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
We’re going to take a shot at projecting the Phillies top ten prospects as ranked by Baseball America, who will unveil their Phillies rankings on Monday. First, a few quick notes on guys that were in the top ten last year that will not be there this year:
- Four of the top ten (Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, Jason Donald) were traded to the Indians in the Cliff Lee deal in July. So obviously they’re out.
- JA Happ was eligible as a prospect last year but is no longer eligible this year after going 12-4. He’s a front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year.
- Last year: 1. Domonic Brown, 2. Carlos Carrasco, 3. Marson, 4. Donald, 5. Kyle Drabek, 6. Michael Taylor, 7. Travis d’Arnaud, 8. Zach Collier, 9. Happ, 10. Knapp, full top 30
So, who are the big movers this year?
- Anthony Gose led all of MiLB in steals and was voted the most exciting prospect in the SAL at age 18 (until August 10th).
- Trevor May was a 4th round pick last year who missed some time in the spring with a back injury. He allowed three earned runs in his last 37 innings with Lakewood and was virtually unhittable at the end of the sesason.
- Sebastian Valle didn’t hit that well first go-around with Lakewood, but was 18, catching two days a week, and mostly DHing. When he went to Williamsport, he was outstanding.
- BJ Rosenberg wasn’t even ranked in the top 30 last year but pitched to an ERA just north of 1 between Lakewood and Reading. One of the rare ones to double-jump and skip Hi-A.
- See a trend? All were key factors on the 2009 SAL Championship BlueClaws club.
- Also should mention Drabek, who was outstanding in his first year after Tommy John Surgery.
Other notes…
- On a media/broadcaster survey done by the Reading Eagle, Brown, Taylor, and Drabek were 1-2-3 in some order on all ballots. It is impossible to forecast anyone else in the top three when the list comes out tomorrow.
- This system was ranked 12th last year by Baseball America…should be higher this year (the top three are all arguably top 30 prospects). And that’s despite trading away four of their better prospects for Cliff Lee.
Onto the projections (this is how we think Baseball America will rank them)…
- Domonic Brown: missed some time with a finger injury this year, but hit about .285 between Clearwater and Reading at 21 (turned 22 on 9/3). He topped the list last year, no reason to think he won’t again this year.
- Kyle Drabek: Putting a premium on high level starting pitching. There are only so many potential aces in this game and they’re so valuable. Drabek produced at Clearwater and at Reading and will be 22 on Opening Day.
- Michael Taylor: Hard to believe he hit .227 in his rookie campaign with Williamsport (2007). All logic says that he will be in the big leagues at some point in 2010 after hitting 20 home runs between Reading and Lehigh Valley.
- Travis d’Arnaud: Just 20, he didn’t let a .200 first half get to him, had 29 doubles in the second half and got stronger as the year went on playing a demanding position. Trade of Marson confirms him as catcher of the future in the organization and has power to all fields.
- Trevor May: Again, a premium on pitchers. Big, strong 6-5 righty will have to cut down on his walks but a lot of that was early in the year and he fanned 11 per nine at 19 in the Sally. Takes Knapp’s place as the system’s next big pitching prospect.
- Anthony Gose: 76 stolen bases speak for themselves. But I thought the best thing that anyone said about Gose was Dusty Wathan’s comment that after the game “You don’t know if he went 0-4 or 4-4.” He’s incredibly poised and already a great defensive player.
- Sebastian Valle: Might be a little bit of a stretch but realize his early struggles in Lakewood came when he was catching two days a week and primarily the DH. He hit .315 catching every day at Williamsport and just learned the position a few years ago. He’s 19 and will likely be Lakewood’s Opening Day catcher this year.
- Brody Colvin: Baseball America had him in their top 50 among draft picks last year. The Phillies took him in the 7th round and signed him away from LSU. I’ve never seen him. He’s only thrown one game as a pro. Have heard good things…Note that he’s here because I think Baseball America will put him here. Looking forward to possibly seeing him in Lakewood this season.
- Antonio Bastardo: 24 year old went 2-2, 1.75 with Reading, his primary spot, but was called up and to Philly and was on the playoff roster for all three rounds this year. Still a little green as he was with Lakewood in 2007, when he went 9-0.
- Yohan Flande: Lefty went 4-4 with Reading and his strikeouts dropped 7.4 - 6.4 from his time at Clearwater. But he made the Futures Game in his second year in this country. Is just 23. Still upside here.
- BJ Rosenberg: Bonus pick, was him or Flande. Rosenberg fanned 11 per nine w/ Lakewood and 7 per w/ Reading. But he was basically unhittable with the BlueClaws. Have to figure that he could be in AAA this year and in the bigs not too much after that. He’s 24.
There you go.
Posted in Anthony Gose, Antonio Bastardo, Around the Farm, BJ Rosenberg, Baseball America, Brody Colvin, Carlos Carrasco, JA Happ, Jason Donald, Jason Knapp, Kyle Drabek, Lou Marson, Michael Taylor, Past BlueClaws, Sebastian Valle, Travis d'Arnaud, Trevor May, Yohan Flande | 2 Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
It’s that time of year, prospect season. Baseball America releases their top ten Phillies prospects on Monday and we’ll have everything covered right here on BlueClaws Blog. Later this weekend, we will give you our picks, but first, let’s look back at a survey the Reading Eagle did at the end of the minor league season.
They asked members of the media and team broadcasters who cover the organization’s minor league clubs to rank, 1-20, members of the Phillies pharm system.
Here’s how the rankings came out (our comments)
- 1. Kyle Drabek, P, off TJ surgery, jumped from Clearwater to Reading easily
- 2. Michael Taylor, OF, has hit at four different levels since Lakewood early 08
- 3. Domonic Brown, OF, just turned 22, playing well in AFL
- 4. Anthony Gose, OF, speedster led MiLB in stolen bases w/ 76
- 5. Travis d’Arnaud, C, had great 2nd half after struggling in first half, top catcher in system after trade of Lou Marson
- 6. Mike Stutes, P, he and Worley first in 10 years to open first full season in Reading
- 7. Freddy Galvis, SS, slick fielder got taste of Double-A at end of season
- 8. Antonio Bastardo, P, became 30th former BlueClaw to reach bigs this year, active for all three rounds of playoffs
- 9. BJ Rosenberg, P, unknown at beginning of the year, he double-jumped to Reading
- 10. Joe Savery, P, former 1st round pick won 15 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley
- (continued below)
(more…)
Posted in 2009 BlueClaws, Anthony Gose, Antonio Bastardo, Arizona Fall League, Around the Farm, Clearwater Threshers, Domonic Brown, Freddy Galvis, Kyle Drabek, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Michael Stutes, Michael Taylor, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Quintin Berry, Reading Phillies, Sebastian Valle, Sergio Escalona, Travis d'Arnaud, Trevor May, Vance Worley | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
When the Phillies get introduced at about 7:40 before game one of the World Series, there will be five former BlueClaws that get the call, and two will be in the starting lineup tonight.
- Ryan Howard (2002): Coming off his NLCS MVP, Howard enters the World Series with a .355 post-season batting average and 14 RBIs in the nine playoff games.
- Carlos Ruiz (2001): One of the first BlueClaws catchers, Ruiz hit a big home run in game one of the NLCS and has made a big impact in each of his first two post-seasons.
- Cole Hamels (2003): It hasn’t been the best post-season, or season, for the lefty, but he did win the World Series MVP last year and is certainly capable. He’s on track to start game six or game seven should this go that far.
- JA Happ (2005): The lefty went 12-4 this year and was named, by his peers, NL Rookie of the Year in a Sporting News survey. Should the Phillies use four starters (and since Pedro is unlikely to throw on three days rest, they probably will), Happ figures to be that guy. But in games one and two, he’s a late-inning lefty for Hideki Matsui or Johnny Damon.
- Antonio Bastardo (2007): He went 9-0 with the BlueClaws in 2007 and was pitching in Instructs a week before the playoffs began. He’s only faced two hitters in the post-season, striking out Jason Giambi in the DS and allowing a double to James Loney in the CS.
Other Phillies that BlueClaws fans have seen at FirstEnergy Park:
- Pedro Martinez: threw a bullpen session here in August
- Brett Myers: threw a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance in August, the same day the BlueClaws hit 4-million fans
- Greg Dobbs: Went 1-3 in game one of the SAL Championship Series on a rehab appearance with Lakewood.
- Shane Victorino: Rehabbed in Lakewood in August, 2007.
Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, JA Happ, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Ryan Howard | 3 Comments »
Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Two years ago he was a Lakewood BlueClaw. Two weeks ago he was in Florida pitching in the Instructional League. Today, he was on the mound in the 8th inning of a two-run playoff game facing a former MVP in Jason Giambi with the bases loaded. Such is the whirlwind career of lefty Antonio Bastardo. But he handled today just fine, striking out Giambi to hold Colorado in the inning, though the Phillies would fall 5-4. It’s a 1-1 series as they head to Colorado.
Bastardo is a great story. Nobody knew what the Phillies had in the lefty, who had a few injuries when he joined the BlueClaws early in 2007. All he did was go 9-0, 1.87 before a deserved promotion to Clearwater. This year, mostly with Reading, he had a 1.75 ERA over 11 appearances, five starts. He even, briefly, was a starter with the Phils before an injury sent him to the bullpen.
Considered the longest of long shots to make the team, he’s probably only active for this series due to the high number of lefties the Rockies have. But sometimes you just have to take advantage of the chances you get.
And that’s what Antonio Bastardo has done for the last three years.
Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Past BlueClaws, Phillies | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009
Six former BlueClaws on the Phillies Division Series roster (see the roster here). By position…
- C Carlos Ruiz (2001)…Lakewood’s first catcher is the starter on the Phitins’ heading into the playoffs
- 1B Ryan Howard (2002)…2005 ROY and 2006 MVP hit three home runs in the five-game World Series win last year
- LHP Cole Hamels (2003)…went 3-0 in game ones last year but starts game two here
- LHP JA Happ (2005)…perhaps the most consistent starter on the team is a ROY candidate after going 12-4, 2.93
- LHP Antonio Bastardo (2007)…long-man here is on roster in case he’s needed as a lefty
- RHP Kyle Kendrick (2004-2006)…went 3-0 in September to earn a spot
Game one is Wednesday, 2:37 pm on TBS. Cliff Lee for the Phils and Ubaldo Jimenez for the Rockies. Hamels will pitch game two and TBA in game three. It might well be Happ as long as he is not needed in relief in games one or two. The Phillies have only Scott Eyre and Antonio Bastardo in their pen from the left side besides Happ, and the Rockies are very left-handed heavy in their lineup.
Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, General Baseball, JA Happ, Kyle Kendrick, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Ryan Howard | 1 Comment »