Category Archives: From the Desk of Decal

The Lehigh Valley Ironpigs carried a 3-20 record as they returned home to face the Rochester Red Wings on April 26th, 2008.   It was a Saturday night and there was excitement in the air.   Despite the terrible start to their inaugural season, a crowd of 9,537 showed up at Coca-Cola Park to see the Ironpigs that night.   Well maybe it was more to see one particular member of the Ironpigs because on this night the man patrolling center field would be Phillies all-star gold glove outfielder, Shane Victorino who would be making a rehab start in Allentown.   It also happened to be Jimmy Rollins bobblehead doll night for the lucky first 3,000 kids “under” 18 years of age.   Patrolling the outfield alongside Victorino would be Javon Moran in left field and Mike Cervenak in right.  Andy Tracy was at first, Casey Smith at second, Brennan King at third and Chris Woodward at shortstop.  Behind the plate was Jason Jaramillo and the DH was Val Pascucci.  The starting pitcher for the Ironpigs that night was J.D. Durbin.

Things didn’t go too well for the Ironpigs that night as the Red Wings put 5 runs on the board in the top of the first inning and pounded out a total of 20 hits on their way to an easy 10-0 victory.   Sounds pretty bad,  but who remembers the players on the field for Rochester that night?  Leading off in center field was Denard Span, now a mainstay in the Minnesota Twins outfield.   He was 2-5.   Veteran minor league and part-time big league player Jason Pridie was in left field and he had 3 hits.  In right field was Darnell McDonald, a veteran of several big league seasons.  He chipped in with 2 hits.  Batting fourth at DH was Garrett Jones, now a middle of the order big bat for the Pittsburgh Pirates.   Veteran second baseman Howie Clark got the Red Wings off to a good start with a 3 run home run in the first inning.  Following Clark were veteran big league players Randy Ruiz (1B) and Jose Morales (C), each of whom contributed 3 hits.   An International League regular, Matt Macri was at shortstop and Chris Basak was at third.

But most important,  the starting pitcher was a left handed former first round draft pick named Glen Perkins.   Perkins was one of the top prospects in the Twins organization and he proved why on this night.  The first hit he allowed was a 3rd inning single to left field by Shane Victorino.   The next Ironpigs hit didn’t come until the 9th inning when Casey Smith hit a leadoff double.   For the night, Perkins threw a 9 inning complete game,  allowed 2 hits, walked just 1 (Andy Tracy) and struck out 7.   Eleven days later Glen Perkins was promoted to the Minnesota Twins where he finished 2008 going 12-4 in the American League.  The years that followed weren’t too kind to Perkins as he struggled just to stay in the big leagues.   Then, in 2011 he turned things around as a lefty in the Twins bullpen.   He pitched in 65 games for the Twins last year, going 4-4 with a 2.48 ERA.   He struck out 65 batters in 61.2 innings and was named Twins Pitcher of the Year and Twins Comeback Player of the Year.   The Twins rewarded him by signing him to a 3 year $10.3 million contract after the 2011 season.

But that’s not the reason I’m writing this.  I looked up this game because it was the first time Rochester came to Coca-Cola Park and Jason Pridie was on the Red Wings that year.   Pridie was signed to a minor league contract by the Oakland A’s back in November and he was in big league camp trying to earn a spot on the major league roster.  It was announced today that Jason Pridie is facing a 50 game suspension for violating baseball’s drug policy.  Unconfirmed reports indicate the suspension was for a drug abuse issue rather than an issue with performance enhancing drugs.   Pridie played in 101 games for the Mets last year and it will be interesting to see what happens with the Oakland outfield where Michael Taylor and Brandon Moss are also competing for a big league job.   I always liked Pridie and I wish him the best.   He’s still only 28 years old but he could have a difficult time finding a job when he and Manny Ramirez both return from 50 game suspensions around Memorial Day weekend.   Time will tell.

It was August 21, 2010 when a sold out crowd at Coca-Cola Park anxiously awaited the first appearance by Ryan Howard in an Ironpigs uniform.  He had played at Coca-Cola Park before as a member of the Phillies but on this night he would be playing in his final rehab game as a member of the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs.   The Ironpigs would go on to defeat the Rochester Red Wings that night by a 3-1 score but many in the crowd of 10,000 went home disappointed because at the last minute Howard was recalled by the Phillies and he was in Philadelphia facing Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals in Citizen’s Bank Park that night.

In the four year history of the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, the hometown fans have seen rehab appearances by Phillies stars such as Roy Oswalt,  Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, Carlos Ruiz, Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino and others.   But never Ryan Howard.   That could change in 2012.

In early January, Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki wrote that Ryan Howard has been cleared to begin strength and power exercises and would be able to begin baseball activities in approximately 6 weeks.   Many experts feel a conservative estimate for Howard’s return to the Phillies lineup would be approximately May 1st.   If that’s the case, when the Phillies end spring training and head north it is likely Ryan Howard will remain in Florida for extended spring training.   The Phillies appear to have a policy of using players on rehab assignment on the home field of one of their farm teams.  With that in mind,  the Clearwater Threshers are at home April 22 to April 27.   With Howard on extended spring training in Clearwater it is logical for him to play his first games with the Threshers sometime during that homestand.  Meanwhile, thanks to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre playing their home games vs. the Ironpigs at Coca-Cola Park this year, there will be AAA baseball in Allentown for 2 straight weeks, beginning April 23 and ending May 6.   I’d say if the May 1 timetable is accurate, then the chances of Mr. Howard wearing an Ironpigs uniform in 2012 are pretty good.  This time I hope he stays long enough to play at least 1 game.  What better way to have an early season sellout for a weekday game at Coca-Cola Park.   Something to look forward to on a cold January day.

That’s worth a double oink if it happens.

Ryan Howard at Coca-Cola Park, March 30, 2008

I have yet to find anything official regarding the return of Nate Bump but the Baseball America Minor League Free Agent Tracker now shows him with the Phillies for 2012.   If that’s the case, then the 35 year old pitcher may be pitching for the Ironpigs for the third straight year.  Nate was 8-4 3.35 in 2010 but slipped to 5-9 4.97 in 2011.

Looks like Krams Korner got it right when he said John Bowker could end up in Japan.

From mlb trade rumors:

The Phillies released outfielder John Bowker to allow him to pursue an opportunity in Japan, according to a press release.  The team’s 40-man roster count now stands at 39.

Bowker, 28, was acquired by the Phillies from the Pirates in August.  The former third-round pick hit .306/.348/.482 in 451 Triple-A plate appearances last year, his fourth extended stint at the level.

Some Things Are Long Overdue

Kudos to the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs for coming up with another outstanding year of giveaway items.   It isn’t easy to come up with new ideas year after year but the Ironpigs seem to outdo themselves each and every season.   It could have been a coincidence, but I was glad to see a few items that were suggested in previous Noise Nation blogs such as the Rich Thompson bobblehead and Vance Worley eyewear (tip of the cap to Kram) on the list of giveaways for the 2012 season.   It’s nice to know that we’re sometimes on the same page as the Ironpigs decision makers.   So again, congratulations to the Ironpigs for continuing to come up with original promotions.  You’re doing a good job.

There is however, one thing that has always bothered me.   As a lifetime fan of baseball I’ve always loved the history of the game.  No other sport can match the history of baseball and the records we all hold sacred.   Every baseball fan knows that Babe Ruth’s homerun record was broken by Hank Aaron and that Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record, but how many football fans can name the running back who broke Jim Brown’s rushing record?   In baseball, statistics are almost as important to the fans as the game itself.   Baseball fans in general, love history.

The Lehigh Valley has a great baseball history and we love our hometown heroes.   It was fun receiving a free baseball cap honoring the old Allentown Cardinals and a bobblehead of Northampton High School product and current Phillies catcher Brian Schneider with a Jamie Moyer bobblehead being added this year.   But what about the Lehigh Valley oldtimers?  Do we just forget they ever existed?  We’ve seen the likes of Larry Holmes, Mario Andretti and Chuck Bednarik throwing out the first pitch at a ballgame, but where are our baseball players from the past? Our hometown heroes!  Someday there will likely be some sort of Ironpigs Hall of Fame so a Lehigh Valley Professional Baseball Wall of Fame may be asking too much.  But why not a night at the ballpark honoring former major league baseball players from the Lehigh Valley?  Some of those players are already gone but that doesn’t mean they’re forgotten.   Others need to be recognized while they’re still here.  Personally, I’d love to see something at Coca-Cola Park honoring the Lehigh Valley’s greatest just so we can let them know we remember their contributions to America’s past-time.    I’ve probably forgotten a few, but here’s a list of the living and the dead for those too young to remember.   There are also dozens of others who had productive minor league careers but never made it to the bigs.

Curt Simmons, Egypt, PA

Curt Simmons, LHP:  Born 5/19/29 in Egypt, PA, went to high school at Whitehall and played American Legion baseball for Coplay.  He was signed by the Phillies in 1947, went 17-8 for the “Whiz Kids” in 1950 but was called to active duty in the military and missed the 1950 World Series when the Yankees swept the Phillies 4 games to none.  Coming back from an injury in 1959, he pitched 6 games for Williamsport in the Eastern League, going 4-1 2.86.  One of his starts was on his old home turf when he pitched against the Allentown Red Sox in Max Hess Stadium, now the site of the Lehigh Valley Mall.    Curt won a total of 115 games with the Phillies before he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals where he won an additional 69 games and finally got his chance to pitch in a World Series in 1964.  He finished his 20 year big league career with 193 wins and a 3.54 ERA.

Elmer Valo, Palmerton, PA

Elmer Valo, RF:  Elmer was born 3/5/21 in Rybnik, Czechoslovakia and came to the United States with his family when he was 6 years old.  The family eventually settled in Palmerton, PA where Elmer would later graduate from Palmerton High School.   He was signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 and made his major league debut on September 22, 1940.  On May 1, 1949, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Washington Senators, he became the first American League player to hit 2 bases loaded triples in the same game.  He finished that game with 4 hits in 5 at bats and  7 RBIs.  On August 2, 1950 he hit for the cycle against the Chicago White Sox but despite the hitting heroics, perhaps Elmer was best known for his fearless outfield play, never afraid of crashing into a wall to make a play.   In 20 big league seasons with the Athletics, Phillies, Dodgers, Indians, Yankees, Senators and Twins Elmer hit .282 with 58 home runs, 601 RBIs and had an amazing on base percentage of .398.   In over 1,800 big league games, he walked 942 times with a mere 284 strikeouts.  Late in his career he became one of the games best pinch hitters, setting records in numerous pinch hitting categories.  After retiring as an active player he spent many years as a scout for the Phillies.   Elmer died in Palmerton on 7/19/98 at the age of 77.

Me & Elmer sharing a bottle of Horlacher's Beer

Gary Lavelle, Bethlehem, PA

Gary Lavelle, LHP:  Gary was born in Scranton, PA on 1/3/1949 and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, PA.  He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1967 and made his big league debut 7 years later.  He pitched in the major leagues for 13 seasons, almost exclusively in relief, finishing his career with an 80-77 won/lost record and a 2.93 ERA.  He finished with double figure victories 3 times, winning 10 games in 1976 and 1982 and 13 games in 1978.   His 136 career saves still ranks in the top 100 of all-time and he finished in the National League top 10 in saves in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1983.   He was a 2 time National League all-star and pitched 2 scoreless innings in the 1977 All Star Game.

Pat Kelly, Catasauqua, H.S.

Pat Kelly, 2B:  Pat was born in Philadelphia on 10/16/67 and played high school baseball for the Catasauqua Rough Riders.  He went to college at West Chester University where he played shortstop.   The New York Yankees drafted him in 1988 and by 1991 he was playing for the Bronx Bombers.  Pat’s best big league season came with the Yankees in 1993 when he hit .273 with 7 homers and 51 RBIs.  He also stole 14 bases that year.   He remained a Yankee until the end of the 1997 season and finished his career with a partial season in St. Louis (1998) and Toronto (1999).  During his brief time in St. Louis he was fortunate to be part of the on-field celebration when his good friend Mark McGwire hit home run number 62.    He finished his big league career with a .249 lifetime average and 36 home runs.  Most recently he has been working in the front office of a professional baseball team in Australia.

Brian Schneider, Northampton H.S.

  Brian Schneider, C:  “Hoops” was born 11/26/76 in Jacksonville, FL and graduated from Northampton High School in 1995.  While playing for the Konkrete Kids, he was named Lehigh Valley baseball player of the year in 1994 and 1995.  He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in round 5 of the 1995 amateur draft.   He made his big league debut in 2000 and is currently on the 40 man roster of the Phillies.   He played for the Expos/Nationals through the 2007 season but on November 30th he was traded to the New York Mets.  After 2 years in New York he became a free agent and was signed by the Phillies where he has played ever since.  His best season came in 2005 as a member of the Washington Nationals when he hit .268 with 10 HRs.  He currently has a lifetime average of .247 with 65 career home runs.  He played 3 games for the Ironpigs in 2010 while on a rehab assignment.

Dave Schneck, Whitehall H.S.

Dave Schneck, OF:   Born 6/18/49 in Allentown, PA and graduated from Whitehall H.S.   He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1967 and made his major league debut in 1972.   He hit 8 home runs in 413 career at bats with all 8 of his homers hit on the road.   He hit 34 home runs in the minors in 1971 and had 122 career minor league homers.  On 12/3/74 the Mets traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Don Hahn and Tug McGraw in exchange for John Stearns, Mac Scarce and Del Unser.   The Phillies later traded Schneck to Cincinnati in exchange for John Vukovich.

Jimmie Schaffer, C:  Born 4/5/36 in Limeport, PA and attended the former Coopersburg High School.  He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955 and made his major league debut in 1961.  He played major league baseball in parts of 8 different seasons with 6 different teams including 2 years with the Phillies (’66, ’67).  He was a minor league manager throughout the 1970’s in the Baltimore Orioles organization and was a coach for the 1980 A.L. champion Kansas City Royals as well as the Royals’ 1985 World Series Championship team.

Jeff Mutis, Allentown, PA

Jeff Mutis, LHP:  Jeff was born 12/20/66 in Allentown, PA and graduated from Allentown Central Catholic.  He played American Legion baseball for Mountainville and college ball at Lafayette College in Easton, PA.  He was selected in the 1st round by the Cleveland Indians in the 1988 amateur player draft.  He made his major league debut on June 15, 1991 after going 11-5 1.80 in AA ball.  Despite winning just 4 major league games, he did throw a complete game shutout on 7/17/93 against the California Angels.  Jeff pitched for the Florida Marlins in 1994 and earned his only National League victory on June 28th in a relief appearance against the Phillies.

Bob Heffner, Allentown, PA

Bob Heffner, RHP:  Bob was born  9/13/38 in Allentown, PA and graduated from Allentown (William Allen) High School.  He was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1958 and pitched for the Allentown Red Sox in 1959 and 1960, going a combined 19-9.  He made his big league debut with the Bosox in 1963 starting 19 games and going 4-9 4.26.  He was 7-9 4.08 for the Red Sox in 1964 and 0-2 in 1965. He finished his career after a season with the Cleveland Indians and California Angels.  He won 11 big league games, including complete game shutouts of the Washington Senators in 1963  and New York Yankees on 8/21/64, striking out Mickey Mantle twice.  He also earned 6 saves in his big league career.

Johnny Bucha, Allentown, PA

Johnny Bucha, C:  Johnny was born 1/22/25 in Allentown, PA and graduated from Allentown Central Catholic in 1942 where he lettered in 4 sports.  He made his professional baseball debut playing for the Allentown Fleetwings, and eventually made it to the major leagues in 1948 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals.  He again played part-time for the Cardinals in 1953 and then played in 60 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1953.   His only major league home run came on 9/9/53 against the Philadelphia Athletics.  He died of mesothelioma in St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill on 4/28/96.

Still others include:
Jim Honochick, Umpire.  8/19/17 Oneida, PA.  Died 3/10/94 in Allentown, PA.  Began his career as a minor league baseball player for Baltimore in the early 1940’s but an injury forced him to retire.  He became a umpire and worked in the American League for 25 years.   In his career he worked 4 all-star games, 6 World Series and was behind the plate for 3 no-hitters.  After retiring he teamed with former Orioles 1st baseman Boog Powell in a series of classic tv commercials for Miller Lite.
Frank Pulli, Umpire.   3/22/35 Easton, PA.  He was a National League umpire from 1972 to 1999.   In his career he worked the NLDS 4 times, the NLCS 6 times and the World Series 4 times.  He was also the first base umpire on the night Hank Aaron broke the home run record of Babe Ruth.
Andy Tomasic, RHP.  12/10/17 Hokendauqua, PA, Whitehall H.S., Temple Univ. Died 11/27/2008.  Pitched 2 games for the 1949 NY Giants.  84 wins in 8 minor league seasons.  Also played 2 years in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Joe Antolick, C.  4/11/16, Hokendauqua, PA.  Died 6/25/2002 in Catasauqua, PA.  Played in 4 games with the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies getting 2 hits in 6 at bats.  Hit .280 in 12 minor league seasons which included a year with the Allentown Dukes in 1939.  He was also a minor league manager from 1946 to 1951.
Dale Matthewson, RHP.  5/15/23 Catasauqua, PA.  Died 2/20/84 in Georgia. Pitched 28 games in 2 seasons for the Phillies during World War II going 0-3 4.34.  16 minor league seasons winning 134 games with a 3.07 ERA.
Frank Sigafoos, IF.  3/21/1904, Easton PA.  Attended Purdue University and died 4/12/68 in Indianapolis, IN.   Utility infielder for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1926, the Tigers & White Sox in 1929 and the Reds in 1931.  Had just 134 big league at bats and a .201 lifetime average.   In 14 minor league seasons he had a career batting average of .313 with his best year in 1930 with Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League where he hit .305 with 19 HR.
Frank Grube, C.  Born 1/7/05, Easton, PA and attended Lafayette College.   Died 7/2/45 at the age of 40 when he was shot to death outside his apartment in New York.  Played parts of 7 big league seasons with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns and had a career average of .244.  He had a .281 average in 8 minor league seasons.
Harry Keener, RHP.  Aug. 1871 Easton, PA  Died 3/25/1912 in Easton.  Won 3 and Lost 11 for the 1896 Philadelphia Phillies.  Went 52-31 in 4 minor league season including 7-6 for the Allentown Peanuts in 1899.
Bill Parks, OF/P.  6/4/1849 Easton, PA.  Died 10/10/11 in Easton.  Went 4-8 with the Washington Nationals in 1875 and also played outfield for Washington, Philadelphia and Boston in 1875/1876.   He was also player/manager for the Nationals during part of the 1875 season.
Joe Connell, PH.  1/16/1902 Bethlehem, PA.  Attended Villanova Univ.  Died 9/21/77 in Trexlertown, PA.   Played in 2 major league games with the New York Giants in 1926, pinch hitting in one and pinch running and scoring a run in the other.
Chris Jelic,  OF.  12/16/63 Bethlehem, PA.   Attended the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1985.   He was traded to the NY Mets in 1987 in the deal that also sent David Cone to New York.  He played 9 seasons in the minor but only managed to get 11 at bats with the Mets at the end of the 1990 season.
Bill Kern, LF.  2/28/33 Coplay, PA.   Attended Muhlenberg College.  Went 4-16 .250 with 1 HR for the 1962 Kansas City Athletics.  His homerun came in his final big league game off Jim Bunning.  In 11 minor league seasons he hit .282 with 144 homeruns and 400 RBIs.
George Lees, C.  2/2/1895, Bethlehem, PA.  Attended Lehigh University.  Died 1/2/80 in Mechanicsburg, PA.  Played in 20 games for the 1921 Chicago White Sox, hitting .214 (9-42).
George Hennessey, RHP.  10/28/07 Slatington, PA  Died 1/15/88 in Princeton, NJ.  Pitched 5 games for the St. Louis Browns in 1937, 5 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1942 and 2 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1945.   He also pitched 13 seasons in the minors, going 119-88 including a 14-7 record for the 1939 Allentown Dukes.
Bert Kuczynski, RHP.  1/8/20 Philadelphia, PA.  Died 1/19/97 in Allentown, PA.   Pitched in 6 games for the 1943 Philadelphia A’s and also played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions that same year, thus becoming one of the very few athletes to play their rookie years in MLB and the NFL in the same year.  After serving in the Navy during World War II, he returned and played football for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1946.  He was a history teacher at Catasauqua High School for 27 years and coached football for the Rough Riders from 1953 to 1964 and baseball from 1961 to 1972.
George Diehl, RHP.  2/25/18, Emmaus, PA.  Died 8/24/86 Kingsport, TN.  Pitched in 1 game for the Boston Braves in 1942 and again in 1943.   He had no record and a 3.52 career ERA.  He also won 118 games in 13 minor league seasons.
Davey Dunkle, RHP.  8/30/1872 Phillipsburg, NJ.  Died 11/19/41 in Lock Haven, PA.  Pitched for Philadelphia, the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators from 1897 to 1904.   His career record was 17-30 with a 5.02 ERA.  He also won 143 games in 9 minor league seasons.  Most notable, he was 27-13 with Providence in 1900, 26-13 with Providence in 1901 and 30-10 (373 innings pitched) for the Louisville Colonels in 1902.
Slim Emmerich, RHP.  9/29/19 Allentown, PA.  Died 9/17/98 in Allentown.   Was 4-4 4.86 for the New York Giants in 1945 and also pitched briefly for the Giants in 1946.  He was 77-87 in 10 minor league seasons which included a 13-21 season with the Allentown Wings in 1943.

Play Ball!

The Phillies signed veteran third baseman Hector Luna to a minor league contract today.   In 2011 Hector played third base for the Pawtucket Red Sox and hit a very respectable .283 with 14 homeruns and 58 RBIs.  In 2010 he played for New Orleans in the PCL and hit .294 with 16 HR.   Hector will turn 32 before the start of the 2012 season.   He’s listed at 6’1″ 225 and has a lifetime major league batting average of .265 with 13 HR in 732 career big league at bats.   He will most likely be the starting third baseman for the Ironpigs but will also provide some nice insurance at third base for the Phillies.  Here’s a picture of Luna playing in the AAA allstar game at Coca-Cola Park on July 14, 2010 and a picture of him playing against the Ironpigs in July, 2011 for the PawSox.

The Phillies also signed outfield Luis Montanez to a minor league contract today.   The 30 year old right handed hitter is listed at 6’1″ 195.  He had 54 at bats with the Chicago Cubs in 2011 and hit .222 with 1 HR and 9 RBI.  He hit .321 with 7 HR and 69 RBI with Iowa in the PCL.

In another transaction, to make room  for Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies removed Carlos Rivero from the 40 man roster.  Rivero was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.

Finally, left handed pitcher, and 2011 Ironpigs member  Juan Perez, signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers and former Ironpigs reliever R.J. Swindle signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals.

Looking at the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team today made me realize just how lucky we are to have AAA minor league baseball in the Lehigh Valley.   Not only do we have our own team to cheer for but we also have an opportunity to see the major league stars of tomorrow in our own backward.

All but 2 of the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie team have played baseball in Coca-Cola Park.  Here’s the all rookie team and when they appeared in our ballpark.  Maybe next year we’ll have a few of our own on the all rookie team.

Catcher:  J.P. Arencibia, Blue Jays (.219-23-78). Represented Las Vegas in the 7/14/10 AAA all-star game at CCP.

J.P. Arencibia, Home Run Derby

First Base:  Mark Trumbo, Angels (.254-29-87). Represented Salt Lake City in the 7/14/10 AAA all-star game.

Mark Trumbo, PCL All-Star

Second Base:  Danny Espinosa, Nationals (.236-21-66).  August, 2010 with Syracuse Chiefs.

Third Base:  Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays (.293-9-25) N/A

Shortstop:  Dee Gordon, Dodgers (.304-0-11-24 SB) N/A

OF:  Josh Reddick, Red Sox (.280-7-28)  July, 2010 & April 2011 with Pawtucket Red Sox.

Josh Reddick, Pawtucket Red Sox

OF:  Desmond Jennings: Rays  (.259-10-25).  July, 2010 & June 2011 with Durham Bulls.

Desmond Jennings, Durham Bulls

OF:  Ben Revere:  Twins (.267-0-30).  May, 2011 with Rochester Red Wings.

Ben Revere, Rochester Red Wings

SP:  Jeremy Hellickson, Rays (13-10 2.95). Starting pitcher for Durham Bulls on 7/29/10. Made major league debut 4 days later.  2011 American League Rookie of the Year.

Jeremy Hellickson, Durham Bulls

RP:  Craig Kimbrel, Braves (4-3 2.10 46 Saves).  2 Saves for Gwinnett on 8/6/10 & 8/8/10.  2011 National League Rookie of the Year.

Per  CSNPhilly.com:

Lehigh Valley (AAA)
Ryne Sandberg (Manager)
Sal Rende (coach)
Rod Nichols (pitching coach)

Reading (AA)
Dusty Wathan (Manager)
Frank Cacciatore (coach)
Bob Milacki (pitching coach)

Clearwater (High-A)
Chris Truby (Manager)
John Mizerock (coach)
Dave Lundquist (pitching coach)

Lakewood (A)
Mickey Morandini (Manager)
Greg Legg (coach)
Les Lancaster (pitching coach)

Williamsport (Low-A)
Andy Tracy (Manager)
Aaron Fultz (pitching coach)
another coach TBA

Gulf Coast (Rookie)
Roly deArmas (Manager)
Kevin Jordan (coach)
Steve Schrenk (pitching coach)

Full article here:

http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/landing_philliestalk?blockID=598226

The following is from the Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green, Ohio, the home town of Andy Tracy.  The date on the article is 10/18/2011.

http://www.sent-trib.com/other-sports/tracy-considering-end-of-baseball-career-10-18-11

Andy Tracy has been a professional baseball nomad for the last 16 years.
After getting his start at old Pee Wee Park off Mercer Road in Bowling Green, Tracy was a three-sport standout at Bowling Green High School, and a four-year letterman in two sports at Bowling Green State University. He would go on to play professionally with three different Major League teams and 11 different minor league teams.
Now 38-years-old, Tracy is considering retiring as an active player.
“That’s what I’ve decided unless something really, really weird happens,” Tracy said in a recent telephone interview from his home in Columbus. He is married and has two children, ages 4 and 2.
“I just know I’m getting old. I know I can still play, but you get to the age where you understand how the game works. It’s tough to find jobs every year,” Tracy added. “You ultimately play to play in the big leagues and that didn’t happen the last couple of  years.”
Tracy spent parts of five different seasons in the Major Leagues, playing in 149 games.
In 2000, he played in 83 games for the Montreal Expos and hit 11 of his 13 career MLB home runs. He hit .260 that season and drove in 32 runs. Tracy also spent part of 2001 with the Expos, playing in 28 games.
In 2004 he played in 15 games for Colorado.
Then in 2008 and 2009 he was with Philadelphia, playing in a total of 13 games, including nine in 2009. He received a World Series ring during his time with the Phillies.
“It was good. Nobody can ever take that away from me,” Tracy said about his 149 MLB games. “I feel really proud of what I’ve done when I was playing.”
Of his 13 career MLB home runs, he hit two each off Jose Lima and Reid Cornelius. He also went deep off Tom Glavine, Mark Wohlers, John Burkett and Ryan Dempster, among others.
His final MLB homer came on April 27, 2001 at Milwaukee against Allen Levrault. It was a pinch-hit home run for the Montreal Expos and came on a 3 ball, 1 strike count.
Tracy had a 16-year minor league career, including 11 seasons in Class AAA, which is one step below the majors. In his minor league career, Tracy hit 296 home runs and drove in 1,064 runs while batting .268.
This past season he battled some injuries with Reno in the Pacific Coast League. He played in 85 games and hit .288 with 18 homers and 51 RBI.
“I always felt that my numbers would dictate when I need to retire. I had another good year this year with limited at-bats,” Tracy said. “But when you get to the age I am, there are not many 38-year-olds in the minor leagues. And then not getting a chance to make a big-league team; you just kind of make the decision and get on with the next part of your life.”
And even though Tracy plans to retire, that doesn’t mean he’s done with baseball.
He has made contact with several MLB organizations, including Cleveland, the New York Mets, Philadelphia and Arizona about becoming a minor league manager.
“We’re just trying to find the best option on where to go, and just trying to find the fastest way or the best organization to be with, maybe to get back in the big leagues,” Tracy said.
Tracy has used the same agent during his entire pro career, but now Tracy is doing a lot of the legwork trying to find a job.
“It’s better to call people that you know instead of having that middle person involved,” Tracy said.
“I ultimately want to be a manager. That’s what I’ve been interviewing for with different organizations. I know I can be a hitting coach, that would not phase me at all. But managing is a whole different animal,” he continued. “I just know I can pass on the knowledge of getting prepared and establishing yourself as a hard worker, getting ready for a game, and letting the results dictate who you are. All you can do is prepare to be good and then you play the game and see what happens. If you prepare right, good things are going to happen for you.’
Finding a job as a manager can be difficult.
“It’s hard to find a manager job right out of the gate. A lot of guys do it with a lot of big league time. Those guys get the opportunity more than a guy like me,” Tracy said. “They want to start you a lot of times as a hitting coach, then move you into a managerial position. It’s the protocol in baseball, it’s just how it’s been for years. It’s hard to break it.”
And of course, Tracy could still have a few at-bats in him. He has played winter baseball in the past and if opportunity calls, he may give it another shot.
“I don’t know if I’ll go. If somebody calls me out of the blue, maybe I’ll pop down there and play,” Tracy said. “It’s always nice to go down to winter ball, play down there and do some stuff. I haven’t made that decision to go down there yet.”
And if his playing career is over, Tracy has no regrets.
“My dreams were always to play in the big leagues, playing pro ball,” Tracy said. “You never think about that as a kid, you just kind of show up and play and see what happens. That’s what I do every year, show up and play, be competitive and try to be the best player on the field and go from there.
“I’m proud with what I’ve done and nobody can take that away from me; my numbers speak for themselves. I’m very happy and very proud with what I’ve done with my life and my career.”

It was a bit of a surprise when Chuck LeMar resigned from his position of Assistant GM with the Phillies in September.  His replacement was announced today when the Phillies introduced Joe Jordan as their new Director of Player Development.   In that role, Jordan will oversee the Phillies farm system from top to bottom.  The 49 year old Jordan worked in scouting for the Expos and Marlins before joining the Baltimore Orioles organization in 2004 as the Director of Amateur Scouting.  Under his leadership the Orioles drafted top prospects such as Matt Wieters, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta and Zach Britton.

Jordan was drafted as a catcher by the San Francisco Giants in 1985 but was injured in 1986 and released at the end of spring training.  He returned to the University of Oklahoma, received his degree in 1987 and became an assistant baseball coach for the Sooners from 1988 to 1990.  He then went into the financial investment business before joining the Expos organization in 1997.

We’ll probably be seeing Joe around Coca-Cola Park from time to time next season.   I’m sure we all wish him well in his new position as his success will ultimately translate into our success.   Welcome aboard Joe.