Philadelphia Phillies Sign Third-Round Pick: Cameron Rupp

The Phillies announced on Thursday that they have reached an agreement with their third-round pick in the First-Year Player Draft: catcher Cameron Rupp.

Rupp, who played his college ball at the University of Texas, has the potential to turn into a legitimate hitter in the majors if his numbers in college are any indication.

This past season, Rupp hit .304 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs in 63 games. He also had a .390 on-base percentage and and .483 slugging percentage. If he can keep that going in the next step of his career, he could fly through the Phillies’ organization.

The Phils currently have some talent in the majors with Carlos Ruiz, Brian Schneider and Dane Sardinha (who hit his first career home run against the Cleveland Indians Thursday night). However, Ruiz is going to be 32 years-old next year, Schneider is playing on borrowed time and Sardinha isn’t getting any younger either. 

Grooming a catcher is clearly a need for this organization and Rupp could find himself shooting through the ranks, as the starters age and the prospects before him continue their careers elsewhere.

Lou Marson and Travis D’Arnaud were being groomed to take over for Ruiz, but were traded away in deals for Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, respectively.

Rupp is now officially a Philly and will immediately become a guy the organization pays close attention to as he makes his way through the minors. Hopefully, they can simply hold onto him and groom him to take over in a few years; but it’s also just as likely that he’s eventually trade bait.

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Up The Middle: The Top 10 Double Play Combos of the 2000’s

What is the value of a double play?

It seems like a simple question at first, but underneath the surface, incalculable defensive factors muddle up the idea that a double play is anything but a complex and intricate pattern of moving parts.

For those who believe glove conquers all, the middle infield is the most important part of a baseball team. How these two perform defensively can directly affect the number of games a team wins. So which dynamic duo was most valuable defensively this past decade? It’s time to find out.

The Guidelines

1.) These rankings are purely measurements of defensive prowess. Offensive ability is not taken into account. Apologizes to Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez.

2.) Gold Gloves, as they can be pretty subjective, do not affect my decisions. However, I will use them to reinforce my point, as opposed to throwing a bunch of decimals rounded to the ten-thousandth place at you.

3.) I’m measuring how both players performed together. So no matter how good of a fielder you believe Derek Jeter is, having to rely on the lead gloves of Alfonso Soriano and Chuck Knoblauch didn’t exactly put Yankees fans at ease.

4.) The actual requirement for consideration was this: The duo had to log multiple seasons in which both played manned the middle infield positions for at least one hundred games. By these standards, 37 pairs were eligible for my rankings.

This saves me the time of sifting through useless stats for combinations such as Marlon Anderson-to-Brent Abernathy.

An example of a durable player who was unfortunately ineligible due to this qualification would be Miguel Tejada. While with the Oakland Athletics, he played out a full 162 game season on three separate occasions. However, Billy Beane’s inability to find a solid second baseman during those years means the A’s have no combos eligible.

Or, take Royce Clayton. A very underrated defender, he amassed 100+ games in seven seasons during the 2000’s, playing superb defense consistently. Unfortunately for Royce, he was never with a team for more than two years, making him an extreme long shot for consideration.

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Walk It Off: Rollins Homer Lifts Phillies Over Tribe 7-6

Philadelphia, PA—Coming back form the DL is a tough thing to do, especially if you’ve spent all but 14 games of the season away from your team.

Jimmy Rollins proved that his almost two months away from the Phillies was an afterthought with a two-run, walk-off home run to vault the Phillies over the Cleveland Indians 7-6, in game two of their three-game set at Citizens Banks Park on Wednesday night.

Rollins made up for his 1-for-5 night with the home run, which is not only his first hit since returning to the club but also the first walk-off homer of his career.

His shot, which was his third of the season, was the climax of a back-and-forth struggle between the Phillies and Indians and the second consecutive game that was decided by one run.

Neither team benefited from good starting pitching as Kyle Kendrick only lasted four innings and allowed five runs—four of them earned—on six hits and one strikeout.

Kendrick got knocked around early as Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo had a two-run homer of his own in the top of the first to put the Indians up early in the first.

Cleveland suffered from the mound as well as starter as Jake Westbrook allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings to get the no decision.

The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the first when Ryan Howard grounded into a double play that scored Placido Polanco. The run was scored because of heads-up baserunning by Chase Utley, who slowed his attempt to second so that Polanco could score from third.

The Phillies tied things up in the bottom of the second when Jayson Werth had a lead-off homer, his 13th of the year, to tie things up at two apiece.

After Trevor Crowe lead off the third with a double for Cleveland, Carlos Santana scored him from third one out later on a sacrifice fly to center to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.

Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in the fourth inning that scored Werth and Howard.

Choo, fresh off his first innings shot, sent Kendrick to the shower in the fifth with his second two-run homer of the game to put the Indians back up 5-4.

The Phillies bullpen held the game steady as David Herndon and Mike Zagurski both pitched one and one-third innings of scoreless ball and Danys Baez closed out the seventh innings for the Phillies.

The Phillies added another run in the bottom of the seventh when catcher Brian Schneider hit his first home run of the season off Frank Herrmann to tie the game at five. That shot gave Herrmann his first blown save of the season.

Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless eighth inning but faced only one batter in the ninth after sustaining a right leg injury following an Anderson Hernandez lead-off single.

J.C. Romero (1-0) finished the top of the ninth, only allowing one hit and a walk. The one hit scored Trevor Crowe when Jimmy Rollins over threw second base on a fielder’s choice. The error gave the Indians a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

After a Brian Schneider lead-off walk, pinch-hitter Ben Francisco advanced him to second on a groundout, which brought Rollins to the plate.

Rollins’ walk-off home run to right field gave the Phillies a guaranteed series win, which they haven’t had in interleague play in over a month and put Cleveland at 4-10 in interleague play this season.

The two teams will finish off the three-game set tonight as the Phillies will pitch Joe Blanton (2-5) against Fausto Carmona (6-5).

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Chad Durbin Likely Headed to Disabled List for Philadelphia Phillies

Chad Durbin left the Phillies’ 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the ninth inning due to an apparent hamstring injury.

It didn’t look too terribly serious, but Charlie Manuel killed any optimism immediately after the game.

“He blew out a hammy,” Manuel told the media after Jimmy Rollins’ walk-off home run. “I would say it’s pretty serious. He definitely popped it.”

Great. Another pitcher down for an extended period of time, leaving it to guys who will either be incredibly overworked or leaving them with no choice other than to call someone up or look to a rather shallow free agent pool.

But then the optimism came back as Durbin seemed to shoot down Manuel’s bleak diagnosis.

“It’s a little better than what Charlie said,” Durbin said. “That scared me. He was just in the dramatic mood because of the home run.”

Durbin said he’s expecting a stint on the DL but that it’s only a Grade 1 sprain and should only take between 10 to 14 days to heal. It could, however, take up to three weeks.

So while it’s not nearly as bad as Manuel made it sound, it’s still not good news.

The bullpen has been an Achilles’ heel of this team as of late, and it can’t afford to get any thinner. Ryan Madson and Antonio Bastardo are already on the DL, Brad Lidge still might be working through some things, and the other guys in the ‘pen aren’t going to be able to handle a huge workload.

Durbin landing on the DL does open up a spot, however, and it could mean the return of Scott Mathieson to the active roster. Whether or not he gets used outside of a pinch situation has yet to be seen, but it’s possible he’s the guy they turn to for depth.

Greg Dobbs Accepts Assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley

In some semi-good news, Greg Dobbs has decided he’s going to stay in the Phillies’ system and head down to Triple-A rather than becoming a free agent after passing through waivers.

With some consistent at-bats and some time in the field, Dobbs might be able to find his stride once again and find his way back on the active roster before the season is over.

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Jimmy Rollins Lifts Phillies Past Indians in Ninth Inning

Jimmy Rollins had a slow start, coming off the DL Tuesday going 0-for-4 and not really contributing to the Phillies’ 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Wednesday, however, was a different story—kind of.

Rollins was more of a liability than anything through the first eight and a half innings. He was once again 0-for-4 at the plate, and even had a throwing error to his credit (rare for Rollins) that allowed the Tribe to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning.

But when Jimmy messes something like that up, he usually comes back and makes up for it in a big way—which is exactly what he did in the bottom of the final inning.

With a 1-1 count, one out, and a man on second, Rollins blasted a pitch right down the middle, just this side of fair, down the right field line, for his very first walk-off homerun of his career.

That’s right, for all the years Rollins has been around, that’s the first time he’s ever hit a walk-off homerun.

Brian Schneider and Jayson Werth both had key homeruns to keep the Phillies in the game as Kyle Kendrick got knocked around early and couldn’t even make it through five innings. He’s been a pleasant surprise this season, but he’s got to make sure he rebounds in his next start or Ruben Amaro, Jr. might have to put Pedro Martinez on speed dial.

Either that or pray J.A. Happ ever comes off the Mark Prior list.

For weeks, we’ve been looking for something to get this team jump-started. They’ve been playing on auto-pilot for so long and, unless something wakes them up very soon, it’s going to start getting very, very ugly.

I’m not sure if this walk-off shot will be enough to get the team energized, rally around one another, and start putting a stretch together, but it’s certainly nice to enjoy it for the time-being.

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June 23, 2010: What a Day in Sports

Analyzing a truly amazing day in the world of sports

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MLB Trade Rumors: Will the Philadelphia Phillies Re-Acquire Cliff Lee?

Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro has a decision to make, and Phillies fans can only hope he makes the right one despite recent history.

The Philadelphia Phillies need to get Cliff Lee back.

In seeking to acquire a certain pitcher at the trading deadline whom he also acquired last season at the trade deadline, Amaro has only negative history in the recent past to guide him.

In 2003, the Chicago White Sox traded away three little-known players to acquire Roberto Alomar from the New York Mets.  The Sox intended to have Alomar help them make a playoff push, but it did not go as planned.  Alomar played terribly, Chicago missed the playoffs, and in the off-season Alomar signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In 2004, the White Sox again needed help making a playoff push, and they again acquired Roberto Alomar.  The White Sox again missed the playoffs, and Alomar signed in the off-season with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and then retired.

The lesson here would appear to be straightforward: do not acquire the same player at the trade deadline two years in row because it will make you look foolish.

Hogwash.

In truth, the Chicago White Sox-Roberto Alomar situation is different in every respect from the Philadelphia Phillies-Cliff Lee situation.  Unlike the 2003-2004 White Sox, the 2010 Phillies are a legitimate playoff contender.  Unlike Roberto Alomar circa 2003-2004, Cliff Lee circa 2010 is a dominant major league ballplayer.

And unlike the White Sox consecutive-season snatch-up of Alomar, re-aquiring Cliff Lee for the remainder of the 2010 season is the right move to make.

As of tonight, Cliff Lee is now 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 76-to-4 strikeout to walk ratio in 86.2 innings pitched.  Keep in mind he has done this pitching in the American League for a losing team (though with four starters with ERAs under 3.40, it has hardly been the pitching or defense that is costing this team games).

The reasons the Phillies must re-acquire Cliff Lee are simple: they know he can succeed in the National League; they know he is a perfect fit in the clubhouse; and (and perhaps the most important) the Mets or Braves may also be in position to acquire him.

The more relevant question is: Can the Philadelphia Phillies afford to acquire Cliff Lee?

This is a two-pronged question.

From the Seattle Mariners perspective, the team won’t simply take back the players they traded to get Lee.  Lee’s value is certainly higher now than it was in the off-season, but more importantly, the three players they sent the Phillies have been terrible this season.

Tyson Gilles is currently hitting .238 with a .619 OPS in Double-A.  Phillippe Aumont is 1-6 with a 7.22 ERA combined at Single-A+ and Double-A.  J.C. Ramirez, the best of the three, is 5-3 with a 4.22 ERA at A+ and Double-A combined.

These are not three players that will get Cliff Lee back to the Phillies Cliff Lee.

But who will?

At this point, it is clear to all comers that the Phillies’ success in the postseason, and for that matter their success in even getting to the postseason, is going to depend far more upon their ability to match dominant National League pitching than it is going to depend upon, say, inconsistent power-hitting from a home-field hero right fielder.

Like Cliff Lee, Jayson Werth is in a contract year but, unlike Cliff Lee, Werth is hardly putting up the types of numbers that merit a big contract at the end of the year.  Since May 19th, Werth is hitting .187 with a .643 OPS and four home runs, 13 RBI, and 9 runs scored.

But you know what?  Werth would make a great American League hitter.

At some point, and probably soon, the Seattle Mariners are going to announce that they have a deal in place to seen Cliff Lee to a National League East team.  For the sake of the Philadelphia Phillies, general manager Ruben Amaro, and Philadelphia area sports fans, that NL East team needs to be the Phillies.

Never mind the fact that the Phillies acquired him last year.  Never mind the fact that when the Chicago White Sox acquired the same player two years in a row it was a debacle.  The Phillies aren’t the White Sox, and Cliff Lee isn’t Roberto Alomar.

The Phillies need to have a conversation with Seattle, and the conversation needs to start with Jayson Werth.

 

Asher B. Chancey lives in Philadelphia, PA, and is a co-founder of BaseballEvolution.com .

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Ageless Wonder: Jamie Moyer Leads Philadelphia To 2-1 Win over Cleveland

(6/22/10)

(Philadelphia, PA) – Jamie Moyer went eight innings and only allowed one run on two hits to clinch his eighth win of the season as the Phillies topped the Cleveland Indians 2-1 in game one of their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Moyer (8-6) did break a non-flattering record in the process as Russell Branyan sent a two-out solo home run in the top of the second to put Moyer of the top off the all time home runs allowed list in the MLB.

Branyon’s shot allowed Moyer to pass Phillies legend Robin Roberts and put his career home runs allowed total to an astonishing 505.

Both teams got their scoring early as Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth both knocked in a run in the bottom of the first. Howard’s came on a one-out single that scored Placido Polanco and Werth’s on a sacrifice fly that scored Chase Utley.

The Indians halved the lead with Branyan’s solo shot in the second.

In his first game back from the DL Jimmy Rollins went 0-4 with two fly outs and two ground outs.

Mitch Talbot (7-6) took the loss for Cleveland but pitched well allowing only two runs on four hits in seven innings of work.

Despite the pitching duel there was some drama as Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was tossed in between the fourth and fifth innings for arguing a runner’s interference call with umpire Sam Holbrook.

Raul Ibanez was called out when Shane Victorino grounded into what would be a double play to end the inning after he slid into Cleveland shortstop Anderson Hernandez..

The Phils and Indians will play game two of their three-game set tomorrow as the Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick (4-2) to the mound, he will face Jake Westbrook (4-4).

Game Notes: Before today’s game the Philles designated Greg Dobbs for assignment and placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the 15-day DL (concussion)… they also sent pitcher Scott Mathieson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and called up pitcher Mike Zagurski… The win was Moyer’s 266th which puts him at 35th all time.

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The Philadelphia Feud: Jamie and Asher Debate the Phillies and More

Asher Chancey and I are both Featured Columnists covering the Philadelphia Phillies for Bleacher Report.

As we quickly learned upon meeting one another and becoming acquainted with each other’s perspectives on the Phillies and sports in general, there is very little we agree on.

From Ryan Howard to the Phillie Phanatic, to Mike Schmidt to Richie Ashburn, ask these two guys a question, and chances are we’ll disagree.

In honor of our bipolar views on the world of sports, we present the second installment of The Philadelphia Feud, a weekly feature in which we face off to debate hot topics from the Phillies, the NL East, Major League Baseball, and the world of sports.

Away we go.

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Philadelphia Phillies Should Option Juan Castro, Keep Wilson Valdez

With Jimmy Rollins set to come off the DL and return to the lineup on Tuesday, the Phillies will face a decision on which of their backup shortstops they want to keep on the bench, and which one they want to send down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

For me, the decision would appear to be an easy one.

Over the past few games Wilson Valdez has been clutch. Whether it’s coming up with a key hit to get a rally started—or keep a rally going—or being a wall in the infield, Valdez has shown more than enough to warrant a spot on the bench.

Valdez is only a .229 career hitter, but he’s hitting .250 this year with two homeruns, 12 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple, and two stolen bases.

His competition, Juan Castro, just doesn’t stack up.

Castro is hitting .222 with zero homeruns, 12 RBIs, five doubles, zero triples, and zero stolen bases. Castro also has three errors in 32 games, whereas Valdez doesn’t have an error to his name in five more games.

The numbers seem to speak for themselves. Valdez is outperforming Castro in every category, and also has the speed and awareness to fit that Eric Bruntlett-type utility role the Phillies seem to have been missing while guys are dropping like flies.

Not only that, but from an overall roster management standpoint, it makes a lot more sense to keep Valdez and option Castro —mainly because Valdez is out of options, and Castro isn’t.

Valdez would have to once again clear waivers, but after the way he’s played over the past week or so, there is no way he makes it through. There is at least one of the other 29 teams that could use a guy like Valdez.

Castro, however, could be sent down outright to Lehigh Valley. He could start down there, get some at-bats, and be ready if something were to happen to Rollins again.

But for now, Valdez has done more than enough to warrant a spot as the backup infielder for the remainder of the season.

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