Phillies Minor League Roundup - June 23, 2014

Columbus 7, Lehigh Valley 4

Brad Lincoln - 7 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, HR, 11 GB, 4 FB
Ethan Martin - 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB
Cesar Jimenez - 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, WP
Leandro Castro - 1 for 4, 2 RBI, K
Maikel Franco - 0 for 4, 2 K
Cam Perkins - 1 for 4, 2B, K
Jim Murphy - 3 for 4, 2 R, 2B, HR, K

Lehigh outhits Columbus 9-8, but fall because of an Ethan Martin implosion in the 8th. Ethan Martin, very well rested, couldn't even make it out of the inning. Dead arm still? He was barely used while on the Phillies and was unceremoniously sent back to Lehigh in favor of BJ Rosenberg. Probably not a coincidence. Jim Murphy mashes his 9th homer of the season. He has more extra base hits than Franco. Cam Perkins finally gets an extra base hit, his first since June 10. Not lost in all this is another great start from Brad Lincoln, who is most assuredly the top option if a starting spot were to open up with the Phillies.

Binghamton 10, Reading 8

Jesse Biddle - 3 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 3 GB, 2 FB (pickoff error)
Seth Rosin - 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, K
Peter Lavin - 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, K
Aaron Altherr - 2 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 3 K
Jake Fox - 3 for 5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, K
Brock Stassi - 1 for 5, RBI
Carlos Alonso - 1 for 5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB
Logan Moore - 2 for 4, 2 2B, K

Just when you think Biddle is turning it around, he has his worst start of the season, crushing our hopeful souls. The regression of Biddle this season is all the more concerning, unless of course there is an injury to tack all this on like last season (or was there? Conspiracy theory!!!!). Biddle's #3 ceiling is getting all the more cloudy. On the bright side? The offense outhit the opponent 12-10 and Peter Lavin falls a single short of the cycle. Aaron Altherr's batting average is back up to .250 and Carlos Alonso steals his 5th base.

Lakeland 5, Clearwater 2

Aaron Nola - 2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, HR, 1 GB, 2 FB
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez - 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K, 2 GB, 2 FB
Jeb Stefan - 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, 5 GB, 1 FB
Roman Quinn - 1 for 3, RBI, BB, K, SB
JP Crawford - 1 for 5, 2 K
KC Serna - 1 for 5
Harold Martinez - 0 for 3, BB, K
Brian Pointer - 2 for 3, R, K, HBP
Gabriel Lino - 0 for 2 (catcher interference error)

Let's all calm down a bit now. SIMMER DOWN, DON'T PANIC. Let's just call this the jitters after a very long layoff from pitching. I know the national experts had Nola possibly appearing with the big club THIS season, but I think we see Nola peak at AAA at best. Nola should be and will be fine from here on out. If the peripherals were a bit better, I'd point to that. MAG looks to have visited TO's hyperbolic chamber and come out renewed. Roman Quinn continues to excel as a CF and at the plate. He picks up his 6th stolen base. Brian Pointer in his last 10 games is batting .455/.526/.606. That isn't a typo. Those are Cord Sandbergian type numbers people.

Greensboro 14, Lakewood 2

Tyler Viza - 3.1 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 7 ER, BB, 2 K, HR, 5 GB, 2 FB, WP
Matt Hockenberry - 1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, BB
Will Morris - 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Samuel Hiciano - 1 for 4, HR, 2 RBI, K
Andrew Pullin - 3 for 5, K (fielding error)
Andrew Knapp - 2 for 4, K
Willians Astudillo - 0 for 4, HBP (missed catch error)
Dylan Cozens - 1 for 2, 2 BB
Zach Green - 0 for 4, 2 K
Larry Greene - 3 for 4, R, 2B
Mitch Walding - 1 for 4
Drew Stankiewicz - 1 for 4

Tyler Viza doesn't appear to be a very good pitcher and the outlook doesn't look great. A move to the bullpen could be in his immediate future to see if his "stuff" plays up any better there. Matt Hockenberry makes his Lakewood debut (2014 9th rounder) and gets roughed up. Hiciano hits his 7th homer of the season and is batting .276/.315/.439 so far. The 'Drews all had very good games last night (with Drew S. making his Lakewood debut). Dylan Cozens with a very odd line for him. Does Larry Greene have a twin?

Williamsport 8, Jamestown 5

Alejandro Arteaga - 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 2 K, 9 GB, 8 FB
Cord Sandberg - 1 for 5, R, K
Jiandido Tromp - 3 for 5, R, K, SB
Aaron Brown - 1 for 5, HR, 2 RBI
Rhys Hoskins - 0 for 4, R, K, HBP
Jan Hernandez - 3 for 4, 2 R, 2B, BB, K, 2 SB
Deivi Grullon - 2 for 5, R, RBI, K
Robinson Torres - 2 for 5, R, 2B, K
Emmanuel Marrero - 2 for 4, RBI, BB (fielding error)

8 game hitting streak for Sandberg! Aaron Brown hits his first professional HR of his career. Jan Hernandez has an excellent day at the plate and on the basepaths. He now has 3 steals on the young season. The Crosscutters offense has been quite impressive thus far.

GCL Yankees1 7, GCL Phillies 3

Yoel Mecias - 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 3 GB, 0 FB
Christopher Oliver - 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, BB, K
Venn Biter - 0 for 3, 2 K
Grenny Cumana - 2 for 3, R, 2B, BB, HBP (fielding and throwing error)
Chase Harris - 1 for 5 (fielding error)
Trey Williams - 2 for 3, R, 2B, 2 BB
Damek Tomascha - 0 for 3, R, BB, K
Jose Pujols - 0 for 3, RBI, K, HBP
Gustavo Martinez - 2 for 4, 2B, RBI
Gregori Rivero - 1 for 3 (2 passed balls)

After sitting out almost all of 2013 from TJS, Mecias makes his 2014 debut. His stuff is highly touted and it will be interesting once he approaches the higher levels of A-ball again. 2014 draftee Christopher Oliver debuts to disappointing results (running theme of today). 5'5, 143 lb SS, Grenny Cumana has done quite well at the plate so far. There are so many cool names on this team I'm not sure who to pick as a favorite. How can you choose between Grenny, Damek or Venn?