GaryMrMets
07-01-2004, 03:21 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/9051512.htm
Posted on Thu, Jul. 01, 2004
On Minor-League Baseball
Who are they?
Scranton is leading the league without big names.
By Jim Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons are not a team that will excite you with big-name prospects.
But if wins are your thing, the Red Barons are your team.
After last night's 6-5 win at Charlotte, the Phillies' top farm team not only had the best record in the International League, it had the best record in all of triple A: 49-29.
"Nothing really jumps out at you about this team," manager Marc Bombard said. "We're last in the league in home runs, and we don't have any flamethrowers.
"We just have a bunch of unselfish guys who complement each other. We have some experience. But most of all, we have a bunch of gamers who really like to win. They have fun and you have to have fun in this game."
June was particularly fun. The Red Barons were 20-8 in the month.
When the Phillies put this team together over the winter, they went heavy on experience. A number of minor-league free agents, several with big-league experience, were signed. Sometimes, these types of teams blow up. Veterans become disgruntled about not being in the major leagues and lose the team concept.
This team clearly is working, however.
Bombard deserves some credit for that. He always has been an excellent handler of players. He is especially skilled at inspiring veteran players who may be frustrated over being in the minor leagues.
The Red Barons have been led by three players with big-league experience - third baseman Lou Collier, first baseman Jim Rushford and second baseman Pablo Ozuna. Collier was hitting .317 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs entering last night. Rushford was hitting .314 with three homers and 49 RBIs. Ozuna was hitting .274 with five homers and 48 RBIs.
Collier and Rushford, and pitchers Dan Giese and Jim Crowell, will play in the triple-A All-Star Game on July 14.
One key to the Red Barons' success has been pitching. The team has the best earned run average in the league and has walked the fewest batters.
The Red Barons do have some players who are considered prospects. Jorge Padilla (.267, six home runs, 32 RBIs) is having a solid first season in triple A and playing well in right field. Shortstop Anderson Machado was dazzling in the field Tuesday night.
"He played the best game I've ever seen by a shortstop," Bombard said. "I'm telling you, the best ever. He went in the hole, behind the bag, everywhere."
Marlon Byrd, recently demoted by the Phillies, had a four-hit game Tuesday night. Hitting guru Charlie Manuel is with the team to work with Byrd.
The Red Barons added a prospect this week when pitcher Franklin Perez was promoted from double A. The 26-year-old righthander pitched seven walk-free innings Tuesday night, allowing just two runs.
Perez missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has come on lately. In his final three starts at double-A Reading, Perez was 3-0 and had allowed just two runs in 21 innings.
Rising Ruiz. Phillies officials have been raving about the recent play of Reading catcher Carlos Ruiz, a 25-year-old Panamanian. Ruiz has received more playing time recently and has responded, hitting .325 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in June.
"Since he started to play more regularly, he's made huge strides," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "He's shortened his swing and making more contact. He's throwing well. He's playing himself into some sort of a prospect."
Draft update. Scouting director Marti Wolever sounded confident that the team would soon sign 10th-round pick Reece Creswell, a high school catcher from Texas. The Phillies were to meet with Creswell yesterday. "I don't think we're very far apart," Wolever said.
Second-rounders have been slow to sign and the Phils are still in a holding pattern with catcher Jason Jaramillo, their second-round pick. But, he is expected to sign.
The Phillies are monitoring 13th-rounder James Adkins, a lefthanded pitcher who has committed to Tennessee.
Local ties. The Atlanta Braves already have a Philadelphia feel with former Penn quarterback Mark DeRosa at third base. In the near future, the Braves could enhance that local feel, especially if outfielder Bill McCarthy and pitcher Dan Meyer continue to progress.
McCarthy and Meyer, both South Jersey products, were promoted from the Braves' double-A Greenville (S.C.) team to triple-A Richmond this week.
Both McCarthy and Meyer were named to the double-A Southern League all-star team.
McCarthy, a graduate of Washington Township High School, hit .300 with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 67 games before his promotion.
Meyer, a lefty from Kingsway High School, was 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts at Greenville before being moved up.
Former Phillies farmhand Taylor Buchholz continues to put it together for Houston's triple-A New Orleans club.
The Springfield (Delco) graduate, part of the package the Phils sent to Houston for Billy Wagner, pitched a gem against Albuquerque on Monday night. Buchholz worked 81/3 innings and allowed just two hits and a run, on a home run. He walked just one and struck out seven. Buchholz got a no-decision, but New Orleans won the game, 2-1, in 10 innings.
Making the jump from double A, Buchholz, a 22-year-old righthander, struggled at the start of the season, and that's part of the reason for his 5-7 record and 5.68 ERA in 15 starts. However, since May 15, he is 5-2 with two no-decisions in nine starts. In the two no-decisions, he allowed a total of just three runs.
Another local pitcher, David Bush of Devon and Conestoga High School, leads the International League with 88 strikeouts in 16 starts. Bush pitches for Syracuse, Toronto's triple-A club.
Posted on Thu, Jul. 01, 2004
On Minor-League Baseball
Who are they?
Scranton is leading the league without big names.
By Jim Salisbury
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons are not a team that will excite you with big-name prospects.
But if wins are your thing, the Red Barons are your team.
After last night's 6-5 win at Charlotte, the Phillies' top farm team not only had the best record in the International League, it had the best record in all of triple A: 49-29.
"Nothing really jumps out at you about this team," manager Marc Bombard said. "We're last in the league in home runs, and we don't have any flamethrowers.
"We just have a bunch of unselfish guys who complement each other. We have some experience. But most of all, we have a bunch of gamers who really like to win. They have fun and you have to have fun in this game."
June was particularly fun. The Red Barons were 20-8 in the month.
When the Phillies put this team together over the winter, they went heavy on experience. A number of minor-league free agents, several with big-league experience, were signed. Sometimes, these types of teams blow up. Veterans become disgruntled about not being in the major leagues and lose the team concept.
This team clearly is working, however.
Bombard deserves some credit for that. He always has been an excellent handler of players. He is especially skilled at inspiring veteran players who may be frustrated over being in the minor leagues.
The Red Barons have been led by three players with big-league experience - third baseman Lou Collier, first baseman Jim Rushford and second baseman Pablo Ozuna. Collier was hitting .317 with 12 home runs and 56 RBIs entering last night. Rushford was hitting .314 with three homers and 49 RBIs. Ozuna was hitting .274 with five homers and 48 RBIs.
Collier and Rushford, and pitchers Dan Giese and Jim Crowell, will play in the triple-A All-Star Game on July 14.
One key to the Red Barons' success has been pitching. The team has the best earned run average in the league and has walked the fewest batters.
The Red Barons do have some players who are considered prospects. Jorge Padilla (.267, six home runs, 32 RBIs) is having a solid first season in triple A and playing well in right field. Shortstop Anderson Machado was dazzling in the field Tuesday night.
"He played the best game I've ever seen by a shortstop," Bombard said. "I'm telling you, the best ever. He went in the hole, behind the bag, everywhere."
Marlon Byrd, recently demoted by the Phillies, had a four-hit game Tuesday night. Hitting guru Charlie Manuel is with the team to work with Byrd.
The Red Barons added a prospect this week when pitcher Franklin Perez was promoted from double A. The 26-year-old righthander pitched seven walk-free innings Tuesday night, allowing just two runs.
Perez missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has come on lately. In his final three starts at double-A Reading, Perez was 3-0 and had allowed just two runs in 21 innings.
Rising Ruiz. Phillies officials have been raving about the recent play of Reading catcher Carlos Ruiz, a 25-year-old Panamanian. Ruiz has received more playing time recently and has responded, hitting .325 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in June.
"Since he started to play more regularly, he's made huge strides," assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said. "He's shortened his swing and making more contact. He's throwing well. He's playing himself into some sort of a prospect."
Draft update. Scouting director Marti Wolever sounded confident that the team would soon sign 10th-round pick Reece Creswell, a high school catcher from Texas. The Phillies were to meet with Creswell yesterday. "I don't think we're very far apart," Wolever said.
Second-rounders have been slow to sign and the Phils are still in a holding pattern with catcher Jason Jaramillo, their second-round pick. But, he is expected to sign.
The Phillies are monitoring 13th-rounder James Adkins, a lefthanded pitcher who has committed to Tennessee.
Local ties. The Atlanta Braves already have a Philadelphia feel with former Penn quarterback Mark DeRosa at third base. In the near future, the Braves could enhance that local feel, especially if outfielder Bill McCarthy and pitcher Dan Meyer continue to progress.
McCarthy and Meyer, both South Jersey products, were promoted from the Braves' double-A Greenville (S.C.) team to triple-A Richmond this week.
Both McCarthy and Meyer were named to the double-A Southern League all-star team.
McCarthy, a graduate of Washington Township High School, hit .300 with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 67 games before his promotion.
Meyer, a lefty from Kingsway High School, was 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA in 13 starts at Greenville before being moved up.
Former Phillies farmhand Taylor Buchholz continues to put it together for Houston's triple-A New Orleans club.
The Springfield (Delco) graduate, part of the package the Phils sent to Houston for Billy Wagner, pitched a gem against Albuquerque on Monday night. Buchholz worked 81/3 innings and allowed just two hits and a run, on a home run. He walked just one and struck out seven. Buchholz got a no-decision, but New Orleans won the game, 2-1, in 10 innings.
Making the jump from double A, Buchholz, a 22-year-old righthander, struggled at the start of the season, and that's part of the reason for his 5-7 record and 5.68 ERA in 15 starts. However, since May 15, he is 5-2 with two no-decisions in nine starts. In the two no-decisions, he allowed a total of just three runs.
Another local pitcher, David Bush of Devon and Conestoga High School, leads the International League with 88 strikeouts in 16 starts. Bush pitches for Syracuse, Toronto's triple-A club.