Minor League Report: April

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Despite the team's recent struggles, the Philadelphia Phillies are off to a decent start. Several current Phillies are homegrown, so it is important to keep an eye on some potential future Phillies. Here are the latest updates from the minor leagues:

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs: AAA (7-10, 3rd in International League North)

The IronPigs find themselves three games under .500 despite having a 3.60 team ERA and .274 team batting average, which are better than the league average.

John Mayberry Jr. and Chris Duffy have been the two best hitters for IronPigs. Both have 13 runs batted in. Mayberry is batting .288 with two home runs, but he still continues to strike out at a high pace. Cody Ransom has provided most of the power for the 'Pigs, crushing a team-leading four home runs.

Nate Bump has been the most consistent starter, posting a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings. He has been pitching to contact; he has allowed a lot of hits, and has a low total of strikeouts.

Scott Matheison has done well in 8.2 innings. Opponents are batting just .179 off the right-hander who is returning from Tommy John surgery. On the other hand, Drew Carpenter (7.15 ERA) has been rocked.

Reading Phillies: AA (8-9, 5th in Eastern League)

The Reading Phillies are a game below .500, despite having several of the Phillies' top prospects. Domonic Brown has yet to disappoint though. Brown is batting .325 with a .936 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Phillipe Aumont had his troubles during spring training, but he threw six no-hit innings on Sunday. Overall, Aumont is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA.

Yohan Flande is 0-2, but that is mainly due to a lack of run support. Flande's ERA is 0.96 in 18.2 innings. He has allowed a lot of hits, but he has not walked many batters.

Lakewood Blue Claws: A (9-9, 4th place in Northern South Atlantic League)

The Blue Claws were the 2009 South Atlantic League champions, so they will have some expectations for 2010.

Darin Ruf has opened some eyes this April. The first baseman is batting .328 with a .921 OPS. 2008's first round draft pick, Anthony Hewitt, has two home runs and a .282 average.

Nicholas Hernandez is 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in four starts. Jarred Cosart is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA and has 0.88 walks and hits per innings pitched.

Clearwater Threshers: A+ (11-6, 1st place in Florida State League North)

Record-wise, the Threshers have been the best team of all the Phillies affiliates. Cody Overbeck leads the team in home runs (3) and RBI (11). The third baseman also has a .333 average and .965 OPS.

Anthony Gose has struck out a lot, resulting in a .247 average, but he has six stolen bases to lead the team.

Austin Hyatt is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. Also, he has struck out 27 batters in 22.2 innings. Other pitchers to watch are J.C Ramirez and Trevor May, who have both pitched well so far.

Phils Propsects on "Top Prospects" Lists

With spring training around the corner, it's time for prospect rankings to be released. A few trades have been made, but that didn't stop the Phillies from having multiple top prospects on MLB.com's and AOL Fan House's lists.

ESPN's Keith Law ranked the Phillies farm system 24th in baseball. That's a huge jump from last year, when the Phillies system was in the top 10. As we all know by now, many prospects were traded. However, the following list proves that the Phillies still have top talent in their farm system.

Domonic Brown (OF): Ranked 14th on MLB.com, 19th on Fan House

Brown is currently the best prospect in the Phillies organization. With Jayson Werth's future in jeopardy, Brown could be an every day major-leaguer as early as 2011. He hit .313 last year and has five-tool potential.

Phillipe Aumont (P): Ranked 47th on MLB.com, 29th on Fan House

Aumont has had some injuries issues, but with his hard fastball and great slider, he can be nasty on the mound. The Mariners converted him to a reliever due to injuries, but the Phillies will try to convert him back to a starter.

Anthony Gose (OF): Ranked 46th on Fan House

Many scouting reports are saying that he is still "raw," but he has blazing speed. He can be scary on the base-paths.

Tyson Gillies (OF): Ranked 50th on Fan House

Although known for his speed and defense, Gillies hit .341 last year. His offense continues to progress, and like Gose, can be scary on the base-paths, as he stole 44 bases last year.

Former Phillies prospects: Kyle Drabek ranked 17th on MLB.com and 15th on Fan House. Michael Taylor ranked 35th on MLB.com and 38th on Fan House.

MLB's and AOL's lists are fairly different, but they have something in common: they both notice the potential in these young Phillies prospects. The Phillies also have several players, like Sebastian Valle and Trevor May, who did not make the list, but still have loads of potential.

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Minor Leaguer Fails Physical, But Deal Done

UPDATE (4:00 PM): Nevermind, the deal is done, officially! Press conference at 5:00 PM to introduce Roy Halladay.

The Roy Halladay/Cliff Lee blockbuster is now on hold. Apparently, somebody failed their physical, and it is not Lee or Halladay.

The likely targets are Phillippe Aumont and Kyle Drabek. Both have had a histroy of injury problems, however the latest reports are stating that Aumont passed. Chances are that it is Drabek or even Michael Taylor. Ruben Amaro is confident that a deal will still get done, but talks will likely extend into Thursday.

Blogs of Note: Help get a Harry Kalas Memorial Statue! Also, the We Should be GM's boys created a Phillies Phantastic Phour!

Is it True: Lee for Halladay?

A couple days ago, Ken Rosenthal "had a hunch" that Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee could be traded in the same deal. Either he knew what he was talking about, or he had one lucky guess. Ken Rosenthal's hunch appears to be 100% accurate.

The Phillies are reportedly close to getting Roy Halladay. Cliff Lee would go to the Seattle Mariners for prospects. Those prospects would go to Toronto. The Phillies don't appear to be going anywhere with a Cliff Lee extension; Lee might require $23 million per year, and might want to test the free agency market. On the other hand, Halladay may sign for the Phillies cheaper, due to the chance to contend. Halladay wants around $20 million per year. He would want a contract extension before waving his no-trade clause. The Phillies have been rumored to offer him 3-4 years as of now.

But the deal is not official.

The Phillies may have to give another prospect for the deal to be complete. Michael Taylor seems to be the appropriate choice: major league ready, a great prospect, but not the Phillies top prospect. The Phillies are already losing their ace (granted, they get a better ace in return), but they shouldn't have to give up their best prospect, Drabek, who is now rumored to be involved in the deal.

But if Drabek is dealt, does that mean that Lee still goes? We have yet to find out. There are so many rumors surrounding this trade, that it's almost impossible to keep track of.

Michael Taylor, Travis D'Arnuad, Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek, J.A Happ, Joe Blanton, Cole Hamels, the Phillie Phanatic, a Schmitter, the Liberty Bell, the bat boy, a dead Veterans Stadium jail cell rat, Chase Utley's hair gel, Ruben Amaro himself, a cheese steak, 6 beer men, FIVE World Series rings, Chris Wheeler's toupee, two beat writers to be named later, and a partridge in a pear tree have all been rumored to be in the deal (well, not the last few!).

We'll see what happens, but one thing is official: the Red Sox and John Lackey agree to a five-year deal. Why is this important? Because the Angels have now lost Chone Figgins and Lackey. If the Mariners do land Lee, watch out. They've made some improvements and could be a surprise after finishing last year at the bottom of the American League West.

AFL Update

Eight players in the Phillies organization are playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. Prospects from Philadelphia, Arizona, Colorado, San Francisco and Pittsburgh make up the 10-15 Scorpions. Here are the latest updates on the prospects from the Phillies system:

Domonic Brown (OF): 98 AB/ .276 AVG/ .336 OBP/ .469 SLG/ 2 HR/ 18 RBI

Brown was selected to play in the AFL Rising Star's game. He went 1-for-4 with a walk. During the AFL, Brown has committed five errors in the outfield. He is 0-for-2 in steal attempts. However, 13 of his 27 hits went for extra bases. He is tied with teammate Jose Tabata for most total bases on the Scorpions.

Tuffy Gosewisch (C): 36 AB/ .278 AVG/ .297 OBP/ .278 SLG

The 26-year old batted just .200 with the IronPigs this year. He has had limited at-bats during the AFL.

Troy Hanzawa (SS): 0-for-12, 5 SO, 1 BB, 2 SB

The Hawaiian Hanzawa has received minimal at-bats so far. He spent the 2009 season in Lakewood and batted .267.

Steve Susdorf (OF): 48 AB/ .208 AVG/ .321 OBP/ .375 SLG/ 2 HR/ 1 SB

Susdorf has struggled since his promotion to Double-A Reading this year.

Michael Cisco (P): 0-2, 14.2 IP/ 4.30 ERA/ 1.30 WHIP/ 12 SO

At 22, Cisco spent the 2009 season in Clearwater and Reading. He had a 3.75 ERA split between the two teams. He's also the grandson of former Phillies pitching coach, Galen Cisco.

Edgar Garcia (P): 2-2, 16 IP/ 5.63 ERA/ 1.63 WHIP/ 8 SO

Garcia's problem is contact. In 16 innings, he's given up 22 hits. On the plus side, he hasn't walked many batters (4).

Michael Schwimer (P): 0-0, 11.2 IP/ 3.86 ERA/ 1.54 WHIP/ 8 SO

Schwimer has allowed a lot of base runners during the AFL. In 60 innings, he had a 2.85 ERA in Clearwater before being promoted to Reading this year.

Scott Mathieson (P): 0-0, 10.2 IP/ 3.38 ERA/ 1.41 ERA/ 11 SO

Scott Mathieson made his Major League debut in 2006, but suffered from an injury which led to Tommy John surgery. Mathieson continues to battle back from the surgery in his efforts to return to the major leagues. During the AFL, Mathieson has put up impressive strike out totals, striking out about a batter per inning.

Drabek & Taylor Named Paul Owens Winners

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Drabek and outfielder Michael Taylor were named the 2009 Paul Owens Award winners for best pitcher and player in the Phillies organization.

Drabek, arguably the Phillies most prized prospect in the farm system, went 12-3 with a 3.19 ERA in Single-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. The 21 year old struck out 150 batters in 158 innings and opponents batted .239 against him. Drabek was recently shut down for the remainder of the season.

Taylor batted .320 with 20 home runs, 84 runs batted in, and stole 21 bases in Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Taylor, 23, had a .944 on-base plus slugging percentage. He hit for the cycle on August 12.

Drabek Shut Down

Also posted on Phillies Nation.

The Philadelphia Phillies shut down Kyle Drabek for the remainder of the season. Drabek, the Phillies top prospect, has been placed on the inactive list.

Drabek is not injured, but the Phillies decided to shut him down since he pitched 158 innings this season, the most in his professional career. In both Clearwater and Reading, he was 12-3 with a 3.19 ERA. Drabek will not pitch in the Arizona Fall League or Florida Industrial League.

The Phillies made a great decision. Drabek, who recovered from 2007 Tommy John Surgery, had himself a terrific year, but he was starting to tire out. He had a 5.05 ERA in five August starts. This will benefit Drabek’s future, and protect him from injury risk.

The Other Side of the Trade

Many are calling the cops on Ruben Amaro Jr. for stealing. As you know by now, the Indians traded Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies in exchange for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson.

The edge appears to be for the Phillies who got a Cy Young winner, a right handed bat, and saved their best prosepcts in J.A Happ, Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor. While they aren't the highest ranked prospects, the Indians got four decent prospects in return, two who are very close to being Major League ready.

The Indians are set in the catching department with Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach, but Marson is very close to being MLB ready. The 23 year old doesn't have much power, but hits for a high average. His catching abilities are impressive; he blocks the ball well and has a strong arm.

Donald, like Marson, is returning from an injury this year. Donald can also hit for average, but has a little more pop than Marson. Donald is very versatile. Primarily a plays shortstop, he can also play second and third. In the long haul, I think second will be a better option for him because he doesn't have the greatest arm strength. Asdrubal Cabrera is doing okay for the Tribe this year, but Donald could make an impact in 2010.

Jason Knapp has the most potential of the bunch, and he was the centerpiece of this deal. He is a strikeout machine, and he is only 18. He has 111 strikeouts in 85.1 innings, that's 11.7 K/9.

Carlos Carrasco has fallen off the radar, but he once touted as the Phillies best prospect. He has a very good curveball, and people forget how young he is (22). He'll probably be a middle of the rotation starter in the future, but he has always been a top prospect despite a shaky year this season. A change of scenery might help him too. He can turn around his struggles, he is a talented pitcher.

Even though the Indians didn't get the Phillies best prospects, the Indians still received a good amount of talent in return.

Phillies Acquire Lee

Fox Sports reports that the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a deal that sends Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. Both team still have to examine medical records before the deal is official.

The Phillies were able to get the deal done without trading Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, J.A Happ or Dominic Brown, their best prospects.

Knapp has a lot of potential, but Marson and Donald were being blocked anyway, and Carlos Carrasco has been falling off the radar. Carrasco, Donald, and Marson have all been scratched from today's IronPigs lineup.

Ben Francisco is the right-handed bat that the Phillies have been looking for. Francisco is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs.

Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He is the reigning American League Cy Young winner.

Not only do they get a former Cy Young winner, but a bat off the bench.

Bako or Marson?

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Paul Bako's biggest moment as a Phillie came on July 11 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bako's walk-off single capped an 8-7 come from behind win. Lou Marson's biggest Phillies moment came on the last day of the 2008 season. He clubbed his first Major League home run, walking into the dugout only to receive the silent treatment.

With Chris Coste gone and Carlos Ruiz as the everyday catcher, Paul Bako has found himself a home as the Phillies backup catcher. However, is Lou Marson a better option?

Marson could find himself dealt by the trade deadline. Keeping him in Triple-A may keep his value higher in case he struggles in the bigs, but Marson is very close to being, if not already, Major League material. In addition, the Phillies might want him to get playing time instead of sitting next to John Mayberry Jr.

Marson does not hit for power, but his average is a solid .295 after returning from an injury. His on-base-percentage is an impressive .384, and he has shown his patience during his cup of coffee, drawing three walks in 17 at-bats (one which led to Shane Victorino's grand slam against the Marlins).

Bako hasn't done much at the dish. He is batting .195, and in 24 more at-bats than Marson had with the Phillies, Bako has the same amount of walks (3). Bako has not homered and has a total of four runs batted in. Bako isn't there for his bat; he is there mainly for his defense.

Bako has called a good game; his catcher's ERA is 3.74, but that stat is mostly dependent on the pitchers. Bako hasn't done anything eye-popping which has stood out. He has made one error and threw out one runner in seven chances, but he doesn't come close to Chooch behind the plate.

Don't take away from Marson's catching abilities. It's not easy for a catcher to come up and learn a whole new set of pitchers, but Marson's defense is impressive. In limited Major League playing time, Marson has already thrown out three runners attempting to steal. That may have to do with runners being unfamiliar with him, but he has a cannon. He has thrown out 18 runners with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

It isn't like Marson is a stranger to the Phillies. Marson was found in the middle of the NLDS clincher celebration, in the bullpen catching various pitchers during the postseason, and in the World Series parade despite not being on the playoff roster. He knows what a playoff atmosphere is like, despite not playing in one. He also played in the Olympics, where he batted .308 against some of the world's finest.

At 37, Bako has the experience over the 23 year old Marson. It has been a vicious cycle that the Phillies upper positional prospects are blocked and don't make an impact until their mid-to-late 20's (see Chase Utley being blocked by Placido Polanco). Is it time for the Phillies to go with a young guy? Who should the Phillies rely on as their backup catcher, Paul Bako, or Lou Marson?

Happ Pitching Over His Head

Originally featured on Phillies Nation.

With the struggles of Cole Hamels, J.A Happ has been the Phillies ace this season. He has been the most consistent starter and his numbers open eyes.

The value of Happ is much larger than it was in spring training when it was uncertain whether he would make the roster. Now, Happ has made himself a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate. In 100 innings pitched, he is 7-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and opponents are batting .222 against him.

Happ finally came back to Earth last night after allowing five earned runs in six innings. Last night's performance was either a fluke, or the real J.A. Either way, Happ has been pitching way over his head.

Happ was never considered a top prospect like the Kyle Drabek's of today. In a way, he came out of no where, much like Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick had a decent rookie year, going 10-4 and posted a 3.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. The following season, Kendrick suffered the hated sophomore slump and never returned to form while in the majors. Happ and Kendrick are similar in that they are not big strikeout pitchers. Happ has 71 strikeouts, but Kendrick got into trouble by relying on contact to make outs. Happ is much better than Kendrick, but will he suffer from a sophomore slump next season once hitters figure him out?

Even though Happ is having a tremendous season, his future is not as an ace. Down the road, he will likely be a number three or four starter, at best. He is not overpowering and does not have a big strikeout pitch. Having a middle of the rotation guy is important, however having multiple aces is better.

Trade rumors haven't seemed to affect Happ. Happ isn't going to solely replace Drabek in a deal because Drabek has a higher ceiling. Even though Happ has been successful in the majors, Drabek is projected as an ace once he reaches the big show. There is always a possibility that Drabek could fall off the radar, but since he is ranked as one of the best prospects in all of baseball, his value is larger than Happ's. In order to replace Drabek in a deal, the Phillies would have to throw in Happ and one or two other smaller prospects, in addition to Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown and then some. Luckily, Happ's value is high enough that the Phillies could save a couple prospects if he was in a deal.

Because of his terrific season, the Phillies would like to keep Happ, however, it might not be a terrible idea to throw him in a deal while his value is high. After all, if the Phillies get one of the best, proven pitcher in today's game, it would be worth it.

Other Options for Halladay

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Left and right, fans are making fantasy trade proposals for Blue Jays' ace, Roy Halladay. Who to give up, who to keep, are the popular questions. We hear about digging deep into the farm system trading away some of the most promising talent. Popular names include Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and J.A Happ. The fact is, nobody wants to get rid of these rising young stars, but in order to get Halladay, at least one of them has to be packaged.

Halladay has been one of the best, if not the best, pitchers in baseball. No matter the cost, getting Halladay would be worth it. Nobody can predict the future, but there may be a Cy Young in Drabek's future, or a MVP award in Taylor's.

The Phillies will scrutinize all options, which may be at the Major League level. Happ, yes, but the Phillies would prefer to keep him. Right now, Happ is the ace of the staff. Will he face a sophomore slump? Time will tell. Happ may not be an ace down the road, but could find himself as the number two or three starter. Having a middle of the rotation guy like Happ is important. There is other Major League talent that could be explored. Not many people have mentioned him, nor thought about trading him. How about Shane Victorino?

Nobody wants to see Victorino go, but he is a trade alternative. The Blue Jays would like to dump outfielder Vernon Wells and put him in a trade with Halladay. With the move, Jayson Werth could move to centerfield, and Wells in right. Wells is batting .263 with nine home runs, however a change of scenery may do him good. Citizens Bank Park would be a nice fit for Wells, who has hit for power in the past. Or the Phillies could do the same deal, only Werth instead of Victorino.

The deal would mean that at least one top prospect would stay, meaning Drabek or Taylor. The Phillies would get the best pitcher in baseball, plus hold on to a potential Cy Young or MVP winner. One prospect that will not stay is Jason Donald. The Blue Jays want a shortstop, and the Jays scouted him in the past, liking what they saw.

I am not saying the Phillies should make this deal. I am simply exploring all trade possibilities and this is something to consider. Would you be willing to trade Victorino/Werth for Halladay?

Taylor Promoted, Knapp DL'd

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Top prospect Michael Taylor has been promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 23 year old batted .333 with 15 home runs and 65 runs batted in with Double-A Reading. In addition, he had an on-base plus slugging percentage of .977.

In other minor league transactions, Jason Knapp has been placed on the seven-day disabled list with shoulder fatigue. Knapp is 2-7 with a 4.01 ERA. He is eligible to come off the disabled this weekend, but will likely miss another week.

World Futures Beat the US

After a long rain delay, Kyle Drabek and Yohan Flande were able to get into some action during the 2009 Futures Game.

Drabek pitched a 1-2-3 second inning against the World Futures. He struck out one batter. His fastball clocked as high as 96 mph and his curveball was impressive. He threw 10 pitches, 7 for strikes.

Flande got two easy outs on a strikeout and ground-out to start the second inning. Then, he allowed two straight singles, but escaped the jam by striking out Danny Espinosa.

The World Futures rallied in the final inning to win, 7-5. Rene Tosoni, a product of the Twins, was named MVP after a go-ahead double.

The US trailed 3-0. Pedro Alvarez's infield single made it 3-2. In the fifth inning, the US rallied with two outs. Jason Castro's three run home run put the US ahead, 5-3. However, Trevor Reckling could not hold the lead in the seventh and final inning.

The World team has now won 6 of 11 Futures Games.

Call of the Day: Saturday wasn't the only time Ryan Howard tied the game in the 9th.

"This is well hit to left field! This ball is off the fence!
Two runs are going to score! This game is tied, as Ryan Howard slides into
second base! So the Phillies have comeback, as Turnbow blows only his
second save all year. It is tied at 5."

BA's Top 25 Prospects

Baseball America released their mid-season top 25 prospects today. The list features three Phillies:

17. Dominic Brown, OF
(Season with A+: .299 AVG/.379 OBP/.540 SLG/.919 OPS/9 HR/38 RBI/14 SB)

23. Michael Taylor, OF
(Season with AA: .340 AVG/.405 OBP/.583 SLG/ .989 OPS/ 15 HR/ 64 RBI/ 17 SB)

24. Kyle Drabek, RHP
(Season with A+ and AA: 9-1/108.1 IP/2.58 ERA/110 SO/ 136 BB)

In addition, Jason Knapp was listed in the top 50.
(Season with A: 2-6/84.2 IP/ 3.40 ERA/ 1.13 WHIP/ 111 SO/ 36 BB)

Jason Heyward, an outfielder in the Braves system was ranked number one. With A+ and AA, he is batting .300 with 10 HR. His OPS is .911.

Tim Beckham, the Rays first round pick in the 2008 draft, was ranked 20th.

Pharm Phriday: All Star Edition

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have three players headed to the All Star Game. Andrew Carpenter, Mike Cervenak and Andy Tracy were selected to represent the International League All Stars.

Carpenter is 7-1 with a 2.75 earned run average in 14 games. Carpenter earned his first Major League win when he was called up earlier this season to start against the Washington Nationals.

Cervenak is batting .311 with 10 home runs and 66 runs batted in. Cervenak, 33, was selected to be an All Star last season, but did not play due to his promotion to the Major Leagues. Tracy is tied for second in the International League in home runs with 14.

IRONPIGPEN gives the complete I.L Roster.

The Reading Phillies have four players selected for the Eastern League: Joe Savery, Neil Sellers, Michael Taylor, and Vance Worley.

Savery and Taylor were selected by the fans. Savery leads the Eastern League with 10 wins. He also has a 3.08 ERA Taylor leads the league with a .348 batting average. Taylor is second in the league with a 1.009 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Sellers is batting .300 with 8 home runs and 44 RBI.

Worley is 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA. As always, Phoul Ballz gives a great interview with his most recent being with Worley.

Both All Star games will be held on July 15.

Organizational Moves

Antonio Bastardo has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain. Left-handed relief pitcher Sergio Escalona is recalled.

Starting pitcher Yohan Flande was promoted from Single-A Clearwater to Double-A Reading yesterday. He will make his first start with the Reading Phillies tonight.

In Clearwater, Flande was 7-1 with a 2.52 earned run average.

The move could indicate a promotion for two other players in the farm system. The Phillies need a starter, so a player will be called up from Triple-A or Double-A. There could also be a Double-A to Triple-A promotion.

However, after Flande was promoted, the Phillies acquired Brian Mazone from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mazone, a former Phillies farm hand, is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in Triple-A this season.

The move could fill a hole in Lehigh Valley’s rotation after somebody is promoted to the majors. It can also prevent a Double-A player from being promoted to Triple-A.

In addition, J.A Happ will start on Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. A pitcher that has yet to be announced will pitch on Friday against the New York Mets. Originally, the call-up was slated for Thursday.

Drabek & Flande To Represent Phillies

Seen on Phillies Nation.

Kyle Drabek and Yohan Flande will represent the Phillies in the Futures Game in St. Louis during the All Star Break.

Drabek, the Phillies first round pick in 2006, will represent team USA. In Class A Clearwater, Drabek struck out 74 batters in 61.2 innings. He was 4-1 with a 2.48 ERA before being promoted to Double-A. In four starts with Reading, Drabek is 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Drabek has rebounded nicely from 2007 Tommy John surgery.

Flande will represent the World team. Flande was never considered a high prospect, however he has been impressive this season with Clearwater. He is 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.

LSU Wins College World Series

Third seeded Louisiana State University beat the number one seeded Texas Longhorns in Game 3 of the College World Series, clinching a national championship.

LSU and Texas split the first two games of the best of three series. LSU won 7-6 in 11 innings in game one. LSU was down to their last out in the ninth, however tied the game, and eventually won. In game two, Taylor Jungmann pitched a complete game for the Longhorns who won 5-1.

In game three, outfielder and first round draft pick Jared Mitchell provided LSU with an early lead with a three run home run. Texas tied the game at four, however Mikie Mathtook's RBI double broke the tie putting the Tigers ahead. LSU didn't look back as they won 11-4.

The championship is the sixth in LSU history, and first since 2000.

Drabek Continues To Dominate

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Kyle Drabek was lights out in Single-A this season. Now he is lights out in Double-A.

In his fourth start with the Reading Phillies, Drabek threw eight shutout innings in the Phillies 4-0 win over the Harrisburg Senators. He allowed only four hits, struck out five, and did not walk a batter. Drabek shut down a sizzling offense that scored 19 runs in the last two games.

He threw 96 pitches; 69 strikes. He retired the last sixteen batters he faced. Drabek improved to 3-0 and lowered his earned run average to 2.08.

Call of the Day: Ryan Madson struck out out B.J. Upton in a key situation during Game 4 of the World Series.

"Fans are on their feet while rally towels are being waved... Here's the stretch
by Madson. 3-2 pitch... Swing and a miss! He struck him out with a changeup!"

"Big strikeout by Madson with his great change of his. Down go the Rays.
No runs, a hit, they leave two. Stretch time, we go to the bottom of the
seventh. Phillies lead, 6-2."