Category Archives: Lehigh Valley IronPigs

I don’t have many “burning” issues but have a few “Not so-burning” thoughts.

Congratulations!

1. The Noise Nation would like to congratulate our friend Stephen Gross on his taking over as the Morning Call’s Phillies beat writer!

Check out the Phillies Files here.

Stephen wrote one of the earliest articles about the Noise Nation. Click here to read.

Predictions!
2. That anticipation of finding out who will be on the 2014 IronPig’s Opening day roster. The Phillies dictate this to us and we wonder, we speculate, we make predictions.. some are correct.. some are outright ridiculous but we have fun doing so. Just trying to get a head start on the season even if there is 3 feet of snow still on the field.

A Real Burning Issue
3. Shouldn’t have used so much hot sauce on the corned beef hash this morning.. just shouldn’t have.

The Iron Rail Series!
4. The SWB Railriders have upped the anty in the Iron Rail competition with the IronPigs with a “Friends don’t let friends be IronPig fans” tshirt. I am waiting for the IronPig’s response. I think we all are…

The Weather!
5. That Groundhog out in Punxsutawney predicted an extended winter and the past couple of months have all but proved it true. With all the snow and cold weather could we see a miserable month of baseball in April? Who remembers how cold it was when the Phillies came to town to open Coca Cola Park in 2008? I was there and it was cold. It was cold 2 weeks later for that Opening day as well. It usually is pretty cool through mid-May. Will the weather come through for us or will we see ear flap caps and ski masks out on the diamond?

All in fun, it should be an interesting spring and we’ll do our best to keep you updated and Kram will give his best roster predictions (his are usually a lot more accurate than mine) and it’ll be a good time with good friends regardless.

OinK!

The Phillies released their 2014 Spring Training roster this morning. How many 2014 IronPigs do you see on this list?

Enjoy!

Pitchers

Mike Adams
Height: 6′ 5″ Weight: 190 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: July 29, 1978 (age 35), Corpus Christi, Texas
College: Texas A&M-Kingsville
Draft: 2001 by the Milwaukee Brewers
Salary: $5,000,000

Phillippe Aumont
Height: 6′ 7″ Weight: 255 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: January 7, 1989 (age 25), Gatineau, Quebec
Draft: 2007 1st round (11th pick) by the Seattle Mariners
Salary: $490,000

Antonio Bastardo
Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 193 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Left
Position Played: RP
Born: September 21, 1985 (age 28), Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic
Draft: 2005 by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $1,400,000

Jesse Biddle
Height” 6′ 4″ Weight 215 pounds.
Bats and throws: Left
Born: October 22, 1991 (age 22), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

David Buchanan
College: Georgia State
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 190
Bats: R Throws: R
Born: 05/11/1989, Atlanta, GA

Shawn Camp
Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 205 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: November 18, 1975 (age 38), Fairfax, Virginia
College: George Mason
Draft: 1997 16th round by the San Diego Padres
Salary: $1,350,000

Justin DeFratus
Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Switch-Hitter Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: October 21, 1987 (age 26), Oxnard, California
College: Ventura (CA) CC
Draft: 2007 11th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $490,000

Luis Garcia
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 212 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: January 30, 1987 (age 27), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Salary: $490,000

Ken Giles
Height: 6′ 2″, Weight: 190 lb
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: September 20, 1990 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, US (Age 23)

Miguel Gonzalez
No data available

Cole Hamels
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 192 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: SP
Born: December 27, 1983 (age 30), San Diego, California
Draft: 2002 1st round (17th pick) by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $20,500,000

Roberto Hernandez
Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 230 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SP
Born: August 30, 1980 (age 33), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Draft: 2000 by the Cleveland Indians
Salary: $3,250,000

Mario Hollands
Height: 6′ 5″, Weight: 205 lb
Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Born: August 26, 1988 in El Cerrito, California, US (Age 25)

Jeremy Horst
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 217 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: RP
Born: October 1, 1985 (age 28), Cheyenne, Wyoming
College: Armstrong Atlantic
Draft: 2007 21st round by the Cincinnati Reds
Salary: $497,000

Cesar Jimenez
Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: RP
Born: November 12, 1984 (age 29), Cumana, Venezuela
Draft: 2001 by the Seattle Mariners
Salary: $490,000

Kyle Kendrick
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 213 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SP, PR
Born: August 26, 1984 (age 29), Houston, Texas
Draft: 2003 7th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $4,500,000

Cliff Lee
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 190 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: SP
Born: August 30, 1978 (age 35), Benton, Arkansas
College: Arkansas
Draft: 2000 4th round by the Washington Nationals
Salary: $25,000,000

Brad Lincoln
Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 218 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: RP, SP
Born: May 25, 1985 (age 28), Lake Jackson, Texas
College: Houston
Draft: 2006 1st round (4th pick) by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Salary: $490,000

Jeff Manship
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 211 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SP, RP
Born: January 16, 1985 (age 29), San Antonio, Texas
College: Notre Dame
Draft: 2006 14th round by the Minnesota Twins
Salary: $491,000

Ethan Martin
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 195 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SP
Born: June 6, 1989 (age 24), Toccoa, Georgia
Draft: 2008 1st round (15th pick) by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Salary: $490,000

Kevin Munson
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 215 lb.
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: January 3, 1989 in Roanoke, Virginia, US (Age 25)

Sean O’Sullivan
Height: 6′ 2″ Weight: 230 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SP
Born: September 1, 1987 (age 26), San Diego, California
College: Grossmont (CA) JC
Draft: 2005 3rd round by the Los Angeles Angels
Salary: $505,500

Jonathan Papelbon
Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 225 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RP, CL
Born: November 23, 1980 (age 33), Baton Rouge, Louisiana
College: Mississippi State
Draft: 2003 4th round by the Boston Red Sox
Salary: $13,000,000

Jonathan Pettibone
Height: 6′ 6″ Weight: 225 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: SP
Born: July 19, 1990 (age 23), Placentia, California
Draft: 2008 3rd round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $490,000

BJ Rosenberg
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RP
Born: September 17, 1985 (age 28), Newport News, Virginia
College: Louisville
Draft: 2008 13th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $490,000

Joe Savery
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 215 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: RP
Born: November 4, 1985 (age 28), Houston, Texas
College: Rice
Draft: 2007 1st round (19th pick) by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $490,000

Mike Stutes
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 185 lb
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: September 4, 1986 in Metairie, LA (Age 27)

Catchers

Tommy Joseph
Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: C, 1B
Born: July 16, 1991 (age 22), Phoenix, Arizona
Draft: 2009 2nd round by the San Francisco Giants

Lou Marson
Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 200 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: C
Born: June 26, 1986 (age 27), Scottsdale, Arizona
Draft: 2004 4th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $1,000,000

Wil Nieves
Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 190 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: C
Born: September 25, 1977 (age 36), San Juan, Puerto Rico
Draft: 1995 47th round by the San Diego Padres
Salary: $800,000

Carlos Ruiz
Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 216 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: C
Born: January 22, 1979 (age 35), David, Panama
Draft: 1998 by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $5,000,000

Cameron Rupp
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 240 lb
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: September 28, 1988 in Plano, TX (Age 25)

Sebastian Valle
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 205 lb.
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: July 24, 1990 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, MX (Age 23)

Infielders

Cody Asche
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 180 lb.
Bats: Left, Throws: Right
Born: June 30, 1990 in St. Charles, MO (Age 23)

Andres Blanco
Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 190 lb.
Bats: Switch-Hitter Throws: Right
Position Played: SS, 2B, 3B, RF
Born: April 11, 1984 (age 29), Urama, Carabobo
Draft: 2000 by the Kansas City Royals

Reid Brignac
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 195 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: SS, 3B, 2B, LF
Born: January 16, 1986 (age 28), Saint Amant, Louisiana
Draft: 2004 2nd round by the Tampa Bay Rays
Salary: $499,000

Ronny Cedeno
Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 190 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: SS, 3B, 1B
Born: February 2, 1983 (age 31), Puerto Cabello, Venezuela
Draft: 1999 by the Chicago Cubs
Salary: $1,150,000

Maikel Franco
Height: 6′ 1″, Weight: 180 lb.
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: August 26, 1992 in Azua, Azua, DO (Age 21)

Kevin Frandsen
Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 185 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: 2B, 1B, 3B
Born: May 24, 1982 (age 31), San Jose, California
College: San Jose State
Draft: 2004 12nd round by the San Francisco Giants
Salary: $850,000

Freddy Galvis
Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 170 lb.
Bats: Switch-Hitter Throws: Right
Position Played: 2B, 3B, SS, LF
Born: November 14, 1989 (age 24), Punto Fijo, Venezuela
Salary: $490,000

Cesar Hernandez
Height: 5′ 10″ Weight: 175 lb.
Bats: Switch-Hitter Throws: Right
Position Played: 2B, CF
Born: May 23, 1990 (age 23), Valencia, Venezuela
Salary: $490,000

Ryan Howard
Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 255 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: 1B
Born: November 19, 1979 (age 34), St. Louis, Missouri
College: Missouri State
Draft: 2001 5th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $20,000,000

Jimmy Rollins
Height: 5′ 8″ Weight: 170 lb.
Bats: Switch-Hitter Throws: Right
Position Played: SS
Born: November 27, 1978 (age 35), Oakland, California
Draft: 1996 2nd round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $11,000,000

Chase Utley
Height: 6′ 1″ Weight: 192 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: 2B
Born: December 17, 1978 (age 35), Pasadena, California
College: UCLA
Draft: 2000 1st round (15th pick) by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $15,285,714

Outfielders

Bobby Abreu
Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: LF, RF
Born: March 11, 1974 (age 39), Aragua, Venezuela
Draft: 1990 by the Houston Astros

Aaron Altherr
Height: 6′ 5″, Weight: 190 lb
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: January 14, 1991 in Buckeye, Arizona, US (Age 23)

Domonic Brown
Height: 6′ 5″ Weight: 200 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Position Played: LF, RF
Born: September 3, 1987 (age 26), Lithonia, Georgia
Draft: 2006 20th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $500,000

Marlon Byrd
Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 245 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RF, CF, LF
Born: August 30, 1977 (age 36), Boynton Beach, Florida
College: Georgia Perimeter JC
Draft: 1999 10th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $700,000

Leandro Castro
Height: 5′ 11″, Weight: 175 lb
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: June 15, 1989 in La Romana, La Romana, DO (Age 24)

Zach Collier
Height: 6′ 2″, Weight: 185 lb
Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Born: September 8, 1990 in Long Beach, California, US (Age 23)

Kelly Dugan
Height: 6′ 3″, Weight: 195 lb
Bats: Left, Throws: Right
Born: September 18, 1990 in Encino, California, US (Age 23)

Tyson Gillies
Height: 6′ 2″, Weight: 205 lb
Bats: Left, Throws: Right
Born: October 31, 1988 in Vancouver, British Columbia, CA (Age 25)

Tony Gwynn Jr.
Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 193 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: LF, CF, RF
Born: October 4, 1982 (age 31), Long Beach, California
College: San Diego State
Draft: 2003 2nd round by the Milwaukee Brewers

John Mayberry Jr.
Height: 6′ 6″, Weight: 225 lb.
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Born: December 21, 1983 in Kansas City, Missouri, US (Age 30)

Ben Revere
Height: 5′ 9″ Weight: 170 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: CF, RF
Born: May 3, 1988 (age 25), Atlanta, Georgia
Draft: 2007 1st round (28th pick) by the Minnesota Twins
Salary: $515,000

Darin Ruf
Height: 6′ 3″ Weight: 220 lb.
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Position Played: RF, 1B, LF
Born: July 28, 1986 (age 27), Omaha, Nebraska
College: Creighton
Draft: 2009 20th round by the Philadelphia Phillies
Salary: $490,000

Clete Thomas
Height: 5′ 11″ Weight: 195 lb.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Position Played: CF, LF, RF
Born: November 14, 1983 (age 30), Jacksonville, Florida
College: Auburn
Draft: 2005 6th round by the Detroit Tigers
Salary: $505,000

The Phillies announced this morning that pitcher Chad Gaudin was released after failing a physical. No details on why the physical was failed but I imagine physical failing can get you fired from the Phillies.

Gaudin has played for 11 different MLB teams, (not including the Phillies), and won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009… against the Phillies.

I had him as being in the IronPig’s starting rotation to start the year so it shakes our snowy world up a bit. The Phillies signing AJ Burnett also potentially pushes another starting pitched down to us in the Lehigh Valley.

Jeff Schuler of the Hog Blog had some interesting thoughts on that subject. Read his story here.

A skydiver drops their camera and it survives the fall only to meet up with a pig.

Due credit within Youtube video link.

Former IronPig Zach Miner has signed with the Mariners.

Not much else to say.

Thanks to Decal for the update!

The winter Olympics. I like one event. Curling. What can I say…

What never fails is from 6:00am to 11:59pm each broadcast day all I see is Figure Skating and X games stuff. Not for me. The curling events that I enjoy so much usually end up on ESPN the Ocho at 3:00am. I like curling as it is a scored event. Rules, regulations.. nothing subjective. Your stone is either closer to the middle or it’s not. Many Olympic events are “judged.”

Could you imagine if baseball was scored with judges rather than by the current rules?

Base hits would be given an associated stat value considering strength, technique, distance. The old adage, “They’re all line drives in the scorebook,” would no longer apply.

Runners could be ordered back to a previous base for improper baserunning.

Home runs would only score as many runs as the batter’s performance would allow. Line drive vs. Fly ball, Power alley vs. Pull side vs. Opposite field. Just clears the wall vs. Smashes through Ed’s Corvette windshield in the upper parking lot.

Pitchers could attain extra points for improved mechanics and form. Did he dip his elbow? Extra points for a sidearm toss. Swinging strike or Looking? Those backwards K’s could be counted twice.

Celebrations would come into consideration as a new stat category. Dance’s would be timed and judged on content, theme, music and execution.

Final scores would be assessed by a panel of judges.

Using judges to score contests make it subjective and when it comes to an event where countries compete against each other it becomes political, opening the door for unjust bias. I just don’t enjoy it.

Now I understand that umpires and referees can make mistakes. You could make the case that balls and strikes are subjective to an umpire but in that case the rules are concrete. It’s less about personal opinion and more about capability of that specific umpire.

Is it April yet?

OinK