Posts Tagged ‘Jesse Biddle’

« Older Entries

Following The 40: Off-season Primer

October 12th, 2015 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Following The 40: Off-season Primer | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB, Phillies

philliesband

As the Phillies off-season begins, the first order of business was to pair down the roster to 40 players including ones that would be coming off of injured status. Earlier last week, the Phillies outrighted Justin De Fratus (who recently elected free agency), Jonathan Pettibone, Adam Loewen, Ken Roberts, Erik Kratz, Jordan Danks, and Chase d’Arnaud. The roster currently stands at forty, but with a strong likelihood that Cliff Lee, Chad Billingsley, Aaron Harang, Jerome Williams, Brian Bogusevic, Jeff Francoeur, and Andres Blanco all head to free agency.

Francoeur and Blanco are expected to be asked to return, but will both certainly be given offers with other clubs. Domonic Brown may have seen his last inning as a Phillie as he has a very strong chance of being non-tendered a contract. Jesse Biddle and David Buchanan are both likely to be outrighted in the near future due to their respective injury statuses. That sets the Phillies at 30 players.

Whoever the next General Manager may be, while they have the resources, there probably won’t be any huge splashes for 2016. In fact, the Phillies acquisitions will most likely be role players and players coming off of injury looking to establish value. The rotation will most likely consist of Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, and Adam Morgan as pitchers three thru five with Alec Asher and Severino Gonzalez given opportunities.

Matt Harrison, whom the Phillies acquired at the trade deadline in the Cole Hamels deal, could also be an option if he is healthy enough to compete. The Phillies could also add from within with Zach Eflin and Ben Lively as potential candidates. My personal targets for the Phillies to add from free agency: Mat Latos or Doug Fister.

(more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rule V Draft: Roster Decisions

November 21st, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Rule V Draft: Roster Decisions | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

As the final roster moves are made, we can begin to prepare for the Rule V Draft on December 11th. In less than three weeks, the Phillies will have the opportunity to select someone who could be a long-term help. Players like Johan Santana, Shane Victorino, and David Ortiz were all examples of how some talent just slips through the system. The Phillies added LHSPs Jesse Biddle and Adam Morgan, and RHRP Nefi Ogando to their 40-man roster to protect them from being lost. Once Jerome Williams is added, the 40-man roster will have two openings.

A trade could still happen, and some teams are facing roster crunches now. The Boston Red Sox, a frequent destination in Cole Hamels trade rumors, has a full roster. They will have to either trade talent or attempt to pass them through waivers if they are to sign free agents linked to them such as Pablo Sandoval and Jon Lester. Updating our list from last night, barring any trades or designation for assignment, the draft to close out MLB’s Winter Meetings looks like this:

  1. Arizona (40)
  2. Colorado (40)
  3. Texas (40)
  4. Houston (39)
  5. Minnesota (40)
  6. Boston (40)
  7. Chicago (AL) (40)
  8. Chicago (NL) (39)

(more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Phillies Sign Williams

October 22nd, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Phillies Sign Williams | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

According to multiple outlets, the Phillies and Jerome Williams have agreed to a deal for 2015. Williams, 33 in December, is guaranteed $2.5M with incentives that would max the deal out at $4M. While it has yet to be verified, the incentives are most likely based on innings pitched. Could it be a sign that A.J. Burnett will decline his option for 2015? Or is Williams just competition for guys like David Buchanan, Jon Pettibone, Adam Morgan, or even possibly Aaron Nola or Jesse Biddle?

Tags: , , , , , ,

Deconstructing The Phillies: Starting Pitching

October 7th, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Deconstructing The Phillies: Starting Pitching | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

After yet another horrendously obvious season, the Phillies finally know that something needs to change. Whether they act on that knowledge is a different story. As we wait to see how the winter unfolds for the Phillies, I thought I’d post some of my own ideas of how to “fix” this team. Along the way, other contributors will throw in their two cents as well. In the first week we’ll address the starting pitching. So for some drastic ideas, read past the jump. (more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Minor League Mondays: Jesse Biddle

October 7th, 2014 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Minor League Mondays: Jesse Biddle | Filed in Baseball, Phillies

After an injury plagued 2013, there was much hope that Jesse Biddle would return to form in 2014. That didn’t really end up happening for the former first round draft pick. He started the season in dominant fashion, striking out 64 batters in the first 63 innings. The majority of Biddle’s problems are related to control as his walk rate was yet again in double digits on the season. When Biddle is on, he draws comparisons to former Yankee and Astro great, Andy Petitte. However the last two seasons, Biddle has been walking close to five batters per nine. That is completely unacceptable. It’s unknown if the problem is off the field or between the ears. Biddle’s production was so frustrating at one point in 2014, that the Phillies sent him home for a “mental break”.

Usually, I post the poignant stats from the season to basically break down how the year went. Wins and losses are considered stats of opportunity in my book, but Biddle rarely put himself in the opportunity to win. In the end, it comes down to success. I’m not talking about 20-win seasons at AA or AAA. Or miniscule ERAs, though it would be nice for a change. I’m talking about 160-170+ innings. Give me a walks per nine below three. Give me a strikeouts per nine in the double digits. Show us something to give us faith that the home town boy can make good. Basically for me, and a lot of other Phillies fans, 2015 will be simple: Put up our shut up.

Tags: ,

An Early Look at Phillies Pitching

February 19th, 2014 by AmyMac | Comments Off on An Early Look at Phillies Pitching | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

 By Amy McGinnis

You’d never guess it by stepping outside here in Philadelphia, but spring is right around the corner.  Spring Training is officially underway in Clearwater, and manager Ryne Sandberg held his first team workout today.  Pitchers and catchers reported last week, and there’s a familiar guest instructor at training: Roy Halladay.  It seems like a lifetime ago that Philadelphia’s pitching rotation boasted the likes of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt, and Blanton, doesn’t it?

We’re still graced stuck with Jonathan Papelbon as closer, and Mike Adams (once he’s fully recovered from shoulder surgery) will be 8th inning setup man.  We’ll also most  likely see lefties Antonio Bastardo and Jake Diekman in the bullpen.  Joe Savery was claimed on waivers by the A’s; Philadelphia needed his spot on the roster for newly-acquired A.J. Burnett.  (If you’re wondering, Burnett signed a one-year, $16 million deal.)

Lefty Cole Hamels, who announced that he has had shoulder “discomfort,” is currently scheduled for his first bullpen session at Carpenter Complex next Tuesday.  Also experiencing shoulder issues is RHP Jonathan Pettibone, who is behind schedule with bullpen sessions (yes, it’s the same shoulder that landed him on the disabled list last season).

On the bright side, non-roster invitee Jesse Biddle has been working out in Clearwater.  You may remember the 22-year-old lefty’s name from the first round of the 2010 draft.  The 6’4″ lefty is a Germantown Friends School alum, and he’ll be pitching in Lehigh Valley this season.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he made an appearance or two in Philadelphia.

(more…)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Minor Leaguers Of The Week: 4/23

April 23rd, 2013 by Mike H. | Comments Off on Minor Leaguers Of The Week: 4/23 | Filed in General

Lehigh Valley alumnus Jon Pettibone successfully made his major league debut to the tune of two earned runs on six hits over five and a third innings. He struck out six and walked none. While Pettibone didn’t earn his first win this outing, he’ll have plenty of opportunity until John Lannan is on the disabled list.

Pitcher of the week without a doubt goes to Jesse Biddle. Since the last entry, Biddle is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Biddle’s strikeout to walk ratio was 4:1, but was capped off with a 16 strikeout performance last night. With both Halladay and Kendrick both potentially being free agents at season’s end, it’ll be interesting to see if Biddle gets a shot next spring.

As far as the position player of the week goes, I’m torn between AAA 3B Cody Asche and A+ OF Cameron Perkins. Over his last ten games, Perkins has hit .359/.381/.513 with three doubles and a homer. Asche, in the same time period has a .342/.390/.395 line with two doubles, albeit at a higher level.

Honorable mention goes to Jesse Biddle, who has been in the zone. When he’s not dominating on the mound, he’s been mashing the ball going 3 for 5 (.600) with two doubles.

Tags: , ,

« Older Entries