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Countdown 2010: BlueClaws Moments in the Bigs

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Welcome back to Countdown 2010, a weekly look at some of the greatest parts of BlueClaws history through the lens of a top ten list. This week, we look at some of the best moments by former BlueClaws in the big leagues. (Click here for list of former ‘Claws that made the majors)

Previously: Photos, Entertainers, Concerts/Events, Bobblehead Dolls, Celebrity Guests

Without further adieu…

10. A BlueClaw Makes the World Series…But it wasn’t Ryan Howard or Cole Hamels. It was Ezequiel Astacio. The right-handed pitcher was here in 2002 (with Howard and Gavin Floyd), and was sent to Houston in the Billy Wagner trade and pitched for Houston in the 2005 World Series. He gave up the game-winning home run to Geoff Blum in game three.

9. Zagurski’s Debut…While relatively uneventful in the big picture, Mike Zagurski reaching the big leagues as fast as he did goes into the list. Remember, he was a BlueClaws pitcher (in Lo-A) when the 2006 season ended. Then on May 25th, 2007 (basically two months of baseball later), he’s in the big leagues. I would guess that we will never see a player go from Lakewood to Philadelphia faster than Mike did.

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Posted in Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, Countdown 2010, Gavin Floyd, Josh Outman, Matt Maloney, Michael Bourn, Mike Zagurski, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Ryan Howard | 1 Comment »

Former BlueClaws to Spring Training

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

10springtrainingBelow, 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 »

Five Former ‘Claws on World Series Roster

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 »

Carlos Ruiz: An Original BlueClaw

Friday, October 16th, 2009

NLCS Phillies Dodgers BaseballHe didn’t play in the first BlueClaws game, April 5, 2001 at Kannapolis, but he played in the second. In light of his big three-run home run last night in game one of the NLCS, let’s look back at Carlos Ruiz, an original Lakewood BlueClaw.

  • Ruiz hit .261 as a 22-year old in 2001 with Lakewood, and worked his way up the system, spending two years with Reading and two more with then AAA-Scranton before debuting with the Phillies in 2006.
  • Also did not play in the first game at what was then called GPU Energy Park, but went 2-4 with 4 RBIs in a seven-inning game on April 12th. The 4 RBIs was a team record until broken in 2002.
  • The first game at GPU Energy Park was suspended on 4/11/01 and resumed on 4/12 before they played the regularly-scheduled game, and 11-1 BlueClaws win over Hickory.
  • In that game, he caught the first (of three) BlueClaws no hitters, as Keith Bucktrot allowed an unearned run in the seventh inning.
  • Bucktrot was perfect into the 6th (Lakewood made an error then) and he did not walk anyone or hit anyone as part of that no-hitter. Then-GM Ed Wade and about 30 other Phillies front office employees were in attendance.
  • The 2001 BlueClaws, managed by Greg Legg, had four players reach the big leagues: Ruiz, Taylor Buchholz, Robinson Tejeda, and Yoel Hernandez.

As for his home run last night, “He got up in the count, 3 and 1,” Phils manager Charlie Manuel said. “That’s what hitting is.”

(AP photo)

Other baseball players from Panama include Mariano Rivera, Carlos Lee, Manny Corpas, Roberto Kelly, Carlos Maldonado, Ramiro Mendoza and Bruce Chen (yes, that Bruce Chen, he was born there).

Posted in Carlos Ruiz, Past BlueClaws, Phillies | No Comments »

Six ‘Claws on Phils Post-Season Roster

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 »

Phillies Injury Update

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Over the past season the Phillies organization has seen some of their top prospects and players get injured and then come back into the fold. Here is a look at some of the guys the Phillies have had go down, and their results from their return (In no order):

Dominic Brown (Broken finger): Out 6/8 - 7/16 - Since return: 5-for-12, 3 RBI
Lou Marson (Bruised right foot): Out 6/12 - 6/18 - Since return: Marson has see his average jump from .232 to .302.
Freddy Galvis (Broken Hand): Out 5/7 - 7/17 - Since return: 3-for-9, 2b
Mike Zagurski (Tommy John Surgery): Out 4/2008 - 4/2009 - Since return: 35 IP, 2.83 ERA with A+ and AA
Scott Mathieson (Tommy John Surgery) Out 9/2/2006 - 6/2009 - Since return:  2-0, 9IP, 0 ER, 10k with GCL and A+
Jason Donald (Knee Surgery) Out since 6/11 - Played four games with GCL Phillies, but has had setback.
Kyle Drabek (Tommy John Surgery) Out 2008 - Start 2009 - Since return: 9-2, 2.83 ERA with A+ and AA
Antonio Bastardo (Left shoulder strain) Out 6/27 - Present
Jason Knapp (Shoulder fatigue) Out 7/11 - Return expected soon
Tuffy Gosewisch (Broken hand) Out 7/16 - Present
Brett Myers (Hip Surgery) Out 5/28 - Present
Raul Ibanez (Groin strain) Out 6/18 - 7/10 - Since return: 7-for-19, 3 2b, 2HR
Brad Lidge (Right knee) Out 6/6 - 6/26 - Since return: 7.1, 5ER, 6 Saves, 1 loss
Carlos Ruiz (Oblique) Out 4/11 - 5/2  - Since return: 37-for-166, back with Phillies

Overall, the guys who have been injured have been strong in return. Here’s to a healthy future.

Posted in Antonio Bastardo, Carlos Ruiz, Domonic Brown, Freddy Galvis, Jason Donald, Jason Knapp, Kyle Drabek, Lou Marson, Mike Zagurski | No Comments »

Sweet Lou Heating Up

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

The Philadelphia Phillies organization is full of strong catching prospects, but it seems like they can’t get anyone to the majors soon enough. Adding to the equation is the recent hot hitting of Lou Marson, the catcher on the BlueClaws 2006 SAL title team. Let’s first take a look at Marson’s season and his before and after recovering from a foot injury:

Before the injury: .232 Avg., .321 OBP, .333 SLG

Since coming off the DL: Marson is 20-for-52 = .384….280 Avg., .359 OBP, .354 SLG.
He is also 14-for-34 in his last 10 games for an average of .417.

Now lets take a look at the other catchers in the organization (Below the fold):

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Posted in 2009 BlueClaws, Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Ruiz, Clearwater Threshers, Domonic Brown, Jason Donald, Lakewood BlueClaws, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Lou Marson, Reading Phillies, Sebastian Valle, Travis d'Arnaud, Williamsport Crosscutters | No Comments »

Pharm Notes

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

The season is a week old today, so things are in full swing for all the long-season Phillies affiliates and even the big club…here are some news and statistics from around the system.

MLB - Philadelphia Phillies (4-3, 3rd NL East 2.5 GB)  - After their typical slow start, the Phillies used a 3-game set with the Colorado Rockies and Nationals to right their ship in defense of their 2008 World Series Title. The team has won three games in a row.

Ryan Howard - The 2002 BlueClaw began the season with a .188 average in the first four but has since put together three straight multi-hit games. He is up to .345 with just one home run and seven RBI.

Cole Hamels - The 2003 BlueClaw struggled in his first start of the season as he battles arm problems. He only lasted into the fourth inning in his first start, but insists his arm feels fine. Hamels is set to take the mound Friday against the San Diego Padres.

Carlos Ruiz - An original BlueClaw in 2001, Ruiz began the season 3-for-11 before going on the DL with a strained right oblique. Former BlueClaws catcher in 2006 Lou Marson has been called up in his place.

JA Happ - A BlueClaw in 2005, Happ has allowed 2 runs in 4 1/3 innings. He looks like the Phillies long reliever and will have an opportunity to start games if Chan Ho Park struggles or someone gets injured.

AAA - Lehigh Valley IronPigs (2-4, 3rd North, 2.5 GB) - The IronPigs have a number of veteran arms in their pitching staff that should have their record looking better in no time. Guys like former BlueClaws Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco headline a strong group of starters that should benefit the team later in the season. Despite the slow start, it’s much better than they began in their first season of play in the Lehigh Valley.

Kyle Kendrick - A BlueClaw in three separate years, Kendrick has had two very strong performances this season. He has thrown 11 innings and allowed just two runs. By seasons end, Kendrick has a good shot to be in the majors again.

Carlos Carrasco - Carrasco spent two seasons with the BlueClaws and continues to show why he is a top prospect within the organization. In his first outing, Carrasco went six innings without yielding a run. It is likely that, down the line, Carrasco may make a spot start for the Phillies. He has yet to appear in the major leagues.

AA - Reading Phillies (3-2, 2nd Southern, 1.5 GB) - Typically a strong squad, the Reading Phillies are off to another good start and former BlueClaws are all over the lineup. This team has a large percentage of the top players in the Phillies http://www.crosscutters.com/2008_images/photo-6-23-4.jpgorganization and that should bode well for a team that will challenge to win the Eastern League.

Vance Worley (Right) - A BlueClaw just last season, Worley made the jump to Reading and had success in his first start of the season. He didn’t receive a decision, but Worley went 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs while striking out six. He even went 1-for-2 at the plate.

Michael Taylor - Taylor spent the first half of last season in Lakewood and hit .361, being named to the mid-season All-Star team. He is now a regular in the Reading lineup and is hitting .294 to start the season with two stolen bases in as many attempts. Keep an eye on Taylor, if he can continue to produce, he could become a top 100 prospect within the MLB.

A+ - Clearwater Threshers (4-1, 1st FSL North) - Off to a great start, the Threshers lineup has ‘Claws at almost every position. The team has seen a number of dynamic pitching performances so far and is sure to contend for the FSL title. They are 1.5 games up in the division with no signs of looking back.http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/zozone/drabek.jpg

Kyle Drabek (Right) - Despite dealing with injuries, Drabek is now looking like the player the Phillies drafted in the first round and the BlueClaws saw dominate in 2007. So far in 2009, Drabek is 2-0 and in 12 innings has allowed just two runs and struck out 16 batters. A few more starts like the one he had last night (7ip, 0r, 9ks) and Drabek could be in Reading once the temperatures warm up.

Matt Rizzotti -  A BlueClaw last season, Rizzotti is off to a blistering start this season. In four games, he is 9-for-15 (.600) with four doubles and six RBIs. Patience at the plate has also been a virtue for Rizzotti, he has 3 walks and has yet to strike out.

A- - Williamsport Crosscutters (June 19th Opening Day)

Rookie - GCL Phillies (June 19th Opening Day)

Posted in Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Ruiz, Clearwater Threshers, Cole Hamels, Kyle Drabek, Kyle Kendrick, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Michael Taylor, Past BlueClaws, Phillies, Reading Phillies, Vance Worley | No Comments »

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