The Way We Were
Two weeks ago we were seeing Scranton at home for the first time. A recently-scuffling IronPigs squad tied the series 3-3 in a manner that wasn’t always exciting or confidence building–but Scranton was ahead in the standings and it was good not to lose any ground.
Then, the Bacon Bunch shuffled up to Buffalo. Earlier in the month, the Bisons took a series at Coca Cola Park 4-2. This past week, the Pigs returned the favor, with a 4-2 series win in the Bisons’ stadium. The series was significant for:
- A couple extra-innings games, you win some you lose some.
- Felix Reyes continuing to rake
- Gabriel Rincones Jr re-joining the team, with his knees now healthy
- Kieboom’s batting average returning to what his baseball card says it should be–in AAA anyway.
- Rangel working as the “bulk boy” again, but then returning to a starting role at the end of the week
- Hoffman and Johnson working the same night–Hoffman blows the save and loses the game, so Johnson gets the next opportunity. Which means Hoffman is fresh and gets called up when the Phillies need an arm with Nola on paternity. Not always fair, baseball is.
- An IronPigs 3-run ninth inning to win a game
- Mercado with two scoreless for the win, but then blowing one later in the week.
- McIntosh is starting to hit
- Moore and Moore middle infield
- Bryse Wilson with another good outing
- Rutledge with a bad one…and then the IL
- Carlson taking over CF from the promoted Berroa
- The return of Kemp
- Chuck King settling in at the AAA level
- Rehabs ending and the Phillies choosing Lazar over Pop. Options are worth more than cash, sometimes.
- Cusick’s ERA continues to start with a 6, despite his move to bulk relief.
- The arrival of RHP Brian Keller
- But Seth Johnson continues to have the success: He now has 5 saves and a 1.61 ERA
- Peguero hits his first HR of the season. And it’s a grand slam. With two outs, late in the game. And the Pigs win!
The IronPigs are 27-30, 8.0 games behind IL-leading Memphis and Nashville, and 7.5 games behind East-leading Rochester.
Rochester Repeat
Our dislike for the schedule is well-known. But, yes it could be worse. We don’t see any team more than two series at home. However, this is the second time already for Rochester as we barely crack the first third of the season–and, we’ve already been up there once and will return at the end of the month! It’s a lot of Red Wings in the first half. The Pigs are 2-4 at home against Rochester, and went 1-5 when we visited them, so 3-9 overall thus far. As far as their roster, Crews is up with the Nationals, and they’ve been cycling pitching as the Nationals are want to do. They are coming off a home-series-win over Syracuse, 4 games to 2. Rochester is the top team in the IL East, 0.5 games behind IL-leading Memphis and Nashville in the West.
Roster Revolver
(chronological order, with commentary to follow)
- 5/21: RHP Drake Fellows activated for IronPigs
- 5/24: SS Sergio Alcantara released
- 5/25: SS Erick Brito sent to Reading on rehab assignment
- 5/26: RF Gabriel Rincones Jr activated from Injured List
- 5/26: OF Pedro León sent on rehab to FCL/Clearwater
- 5/26: 1B/OF Keaton Anthony sent to Jersey Shore for rehab assignment
- 5/26: RHP Andrew Bechtold sent to Jersey Shore for rehab assignment
- 5/28: OF/INF Otto Kemp optioned from Philadelphia
- 5/28: OF Steward Berroa called up to Philadelphia
- 5/28: C Lou Albrecht activated from Development List
- 5/29: OF Pedro Leon sent to Jersey Shore on rehab assignment
- 5/29: RHP Nolan Hoffman recalled to Philadelphia (Nola to paternity list)
- 5/29: RHP Andrew Bechtold activated from 60-day Injured List
- 5/30: RHP Max Lazar activated from MLB 60-Day Injured List by Philadelphia and optioned to IronPigs
- 5/30: RHP Zach Pop activated from MLB 15-Day Injured List and Designated for Assignment
- 5/30: RHPs Jackson Rutledge and Grant Hollman placed on 7-Day Injured List
- 5/31: RHP Lou Trivino placed on Temporary Inactive List
IronPigs Discussion: Fellows had 33 appearances and 19 starts for AAA Indianapolis (PIT) last season. He has yet to make his MLB debut. He was signed by the Yankees in the off-season, released and had an opportunity in Mexico cut short in order to sign a minors deal with the Phillies. We project he’ll be stretched out and continue to start games for the IronPigs at this juncture. He’s been doing well so far. Alcantara was a nice 1-2 punch at the top of the IronPigs lineup along with Berroa, for a time, while playing a solid shortstop opposite Christian Cairo. However, he was starting to go through it a bit both at the plate and in the field and with some guys getting healthy (Brito, Anthony) it was time for him to go. Rincones’ return helps the lineup a great deal if he’s going good. Watch to see if he’s playing against lefty starters or if he gets platooned late in games. We’re expecting Anthony back this week. Watch to see whether they get him time in LF right away or if it’s just 1B and DH to start. The return of Leon potentially, coming up, is one we hadn’t necessarily counted on. It looked like a pretty severe hamstring when it happened. He’ll add some fielding prowess in the outfield. Phillies had to DFA him when he was on the IL, which isn’t cool, but they re-signed him to minors deal so that he wasn’t unemployed and could rehab properly. That’s the right thing to do. With the Dev List available, as well as perhaps some spots in Reading, we’re not terribly worried about the other end of these upcoming transactions, but we will say that OF Dylan Carlson needs to start hitting better. His fielding has been pretty solid, including a special play or two this past week on the road. The Lazar over Pop decision was clear–you need to not only find 40-man space elsewhere, but 26-man space for Pop in Philadelphia, otherwise. They do owe Pop some money for this season, but they’ll get some off-set help from elsewhere if he leaves, or if he accepts assignment there could be a minors clause in the contract like what Stubbs had. Hollman has been up and down since he signed. We were hopeful for Rutledge but his recent bad outing was likely the start of some health problem and hopefully it’s not too severe. Not sure what’s going on with “Sweet Lou” but hopefully everything is OK. INF Aidan Miller is maybe doing baseball things. Or maybe he had a setback? We wish him well of course, but we won’t get excited until we see video and him playing in games.
Phillies Discussion: With no one in Philadelphia hitting, at all, they need to lean into their pitching and defense. Kemp and Reyes both had an opportunity with the big club, but neither flourished with limited playing time. And, with the Phillies spot in the standings right now there’s no time to dedicate to playing through it. Thus, the Berroa call up. He’ll be a better outfielder than Kemp or Reyes or even Soto for that matter. He was on the 40-man after getting DFA’d by Milwaukee. He was with Toronto when Mattingly was there, so there’s some familiarity, too. He’s a switch hitter, who will give you some right-side platoon when you need it–and we don’t know how much worse it can be compared with Aroldis Garcia right now–although Garcia’s fielding has been really good. Berroa was our favorite player around here when he was an IronPig. It’s good to see him get the opportunity, plus he can help the Phillies and we get Reyes and Kemp every night. Bryan De La Cruz admits that he hates playing in the cold. If he gets hot with the weather, he’s probably the next to get an opportunity with the big club in the outfield–especially as a right-hander. He’ll need a 40-spot, though. We think RHP Seth Johnson is due for another shot in the Show, the minute the Phillies need a right-handed reliever.
Reading Discussion: With the arrival of #2 prospect and 2025 first-rounder RHP Gage Wood, the R-Phils are the team to watch right now for prospects. They have guys like Dylan Campbell, Dante Nori and Raylin Heredia in the outfield, Escobar, Rincon, and DeMartini (IL) on the infield and Catcher Keyden Hettinger. Of that group, Rincon is the one pushing the hardest towards Triple-A, which makes the loss of Alcantara much less problematic position-wise. As far as Triple-A help: INF Alex Binelas has AAA experience with Worcester, OF Austin Murr is playing really well. LHP Adam Seminaris and RHP Kyle Brnovich have experience. RHP Braydon Tucker his having a heck of a year. And we expect hot-shot reliever RHP Alex McFarlane to be called up to Triple-A momentarily. We think Wood will be in AA for a while, but this Phillies season is so odd, you never know!
At The Park This Week
6:45PM Starts this week at the park, 6:35PM on Saturday and 1:15PM on Sunday
5:15PM Gates Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday for Club, 5:30PM for Main and Center Field
5:00PM All Gates on Thursday
5:00PM Club Gates Saturday, 5:15PM Main/CF
11:45AM Club Gates Sunday, 12:00PM Main/CF
Tuesday: Dollar Dogs, Tail Waggin’ Bring The Doggos, “Where’s Hambone?”
Wednesday: Tacos and Tallboys promotion; Aidan Miller Bobblehead Giveaway
Thursday: Happy Hour 5PM-7PM; Ice Cream Night*; Cap Giveaway (Kids)
Friday: Faith Night; Fireworks
Saturday: Squonk Night*; Rally Towel Giveaway; Fireworks
Sunday: “Caturday” make-up game; Lint Roller giveaway; Prince and Princess Day; post-game kids run bases
* – No jersey auctions have been announced, but jerseys, hats and other gear available in the clubhouse store
Weather Report
Looks like a good week for baseball. Some hot weather. Chance of thunderstorms on the weekend.
Notebook, Rumors And Opinions
- This Hambone thing is cool. Adds some interest. I hope it’s not a letdown. Or worse, a sponsorship.
- As above, we’re expecting Keaton Anthony back on Tuesday as well as a call to AAA for Alex McFarlane. But, those are just rumors and guesses.
- We’re thinking maybe the weekend or next week for Pedro Leon. We’re thinking a couple more weeks and if Bryan Rincon is still going good they might challenge him with AAA.
- We could hit 90 this week, and if so you will be able to bring sealed water bottles. Watch social media for update.
- Season Member batting practice has been Tuesdays, but it can get cancelled. Watch your email.
- Colonel Honey-Mustard in the Library with a Rotisserie. That’s our guess.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
Updated: Pop could have a minors clause in his MLB deal which would pay him a different amount if he accepts assignment. We are not aware of the details of his contract, just that his MLB deal was not a minimum amount. Stubbs had this and we think Kingery did as well.
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