Category Archives: Uncategorized

This week it was announced that Tampa Bay had traded Matt Garza to the Cubs for prospects. Who cares right? Well more prospects for Tampa Bay could translate to more prospects seen at Coca Cola Park by means of the Ray’s AAA team, the Durham Bulls.

Who Tampa got: Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, and Hak-Ju Lee.

Chris Archer – Archer was drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 draft by the Indians. He made his first appearance at the AA level in 2010 posting an 8 win 2 loss record in 13 games with Tennessee boasting a 1.80 ERA. More likely he will start at AA this season but could be a late call up or even a possibility for 2012.

Brandon Guyer – Guyer was a 5th round pick in the 2007 draft for the Cubs. He hit .344 with 13 HR in 102 games with AA Tennessee in 2010. I would say a good possibility this guy shows up with the Bulls at some point this season.

Robinson Chirinos – Chirinos split time between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa last year. He hit a combined .326 with 18 HR. Another possible addition to the Bulls 2011 roster.

Hak-Ju Lee – A native of Korea, Lee is a highly touted prospect at Shortstop. He is still in A ball and will most likely be there for 2011.

OinK!

Someone had to go to make room for J.C. Romero on the 40 man roster and Escalona was the guy.   It’s still possible he could be outrighted to the minors if no other team claims him.

As tweeted by Matt Provence, (@pigsradio)

“Yesterday, the Phillies signed veterans 1B/OF Robb Quinlan and INF/OF Delwyn Young to minor league contracts.”

Rob Quinlan is listed on Baseball-reference.com as a 1st baseman, 3rd baseman and left fielder. He was drafted by the Angels in the 10th round of the 1999 draft. Quinlan has played in 458 games over 8 seasons with the Angels, the high mark of 86 games coming in 2006. His Major League batting average over that time is .276.

Quinlin doesn’t look to have great speed or power, with a quick glance at his career stats, but can play the corners in the infield and outfield. In 2010, he made his first trip back to the minors for AAA Salt Lake hitting .258 in 34 games. The most intriguing information I found about Quinlan is that he bats and throws right-handed. It leads me to believe he could be a Duct Tape fix for the right field spot on the Phillies if Domonic Brown starts the season here in the Lehigh Valley. He could also serve as a right handed bat off the bench, something the Phillies have been looking for. Quinlan will be 34 by the beginning of the 2011 season.

Delwyn Young is a 28 yr old switch hitting left fielder and 2nd baseman. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 4th round of the 2002 draft, Young spent 3 seasons with the Dodgers and the past 2 years in Pittsburgh. Like Quinlan, Young appears to be another utility player who can play the infield and outfield. Being a 2nd baseman won’t come in handy to the Phillies, but he is an extra outfielder who can swing from the North side of the plate. One fun fact about Young is that he hit a 2 run home run against Steven Strasburg in Strasburg’s first major league start.

So my opinion time…
One of these guys is going to be on the Phillies bench. It’s very well known that the Phillies want a right handed bat on the bench. I find it highly unlikely that BOTH of these utility players will remain on the Phillies roster by opening day. I feel that Young holds a slight edge at the moment. All could change with a poor/good performance in spring training by either player but as I read more and more about Young, he seems to have the pinch hitter role in his portfolio more so than Quinlan does. Granted, neither players had an outstanding 2010 season and Young is 5 years younger than Quinlan, but one of these guys, if they hold together this spring, should make the Phillies roster and the other (if not released) will be standing tall at the Coke on April 7th.

89 Days! OinK!

Just saw a note on Twitter from Jon Heyman (@SI_JonHeyman) and learned that former major leaguer Super Joe McEwing will be the Charlotte Knights manager in the 2011 season.

McEwing, a native of Bristol, PA (Bucks County), spent time in the major leagues with the Cardinals, Mets, Royals and Astros. He had previously served as the Knight’s hitting coach and prior to that as manager of the Winston-Salem Dash (Class A for the White Sox).

So, he’s probably been to Coca Cola Park before, but this time in a more prominant role.

Not even close to the excitement as getting a Hall of Famer as the new manager.. but whenever local folks take the field at the Coke, you never know who you will meet in the stands.

OinK!

The Phillies invited free agent outfielder/second baseman Delwyn Young to spring training for a chance to make the Phillies.  The 28 year old Young has a .258 lifetime average with the Dodgers and Pirates. 

Other players invited to spring training are:

Robb Quinlan, a utility man who has played for the Angels in all or part of the past 6 seasons.  He’ll be 34 years old by opening day.

Brian Bass, RHP who has pitched with the Twins, Orioles and Pirates in the past 4 seasons.

Catchers Tuffy Gosewisch and Joel Naughton

Pitchers Michael Schwimer and Michael Stutes

What was reported here on December 14th has now been made official.   The Ironpigs will host the Reading Phillies in the annual 222 Showcase Game.   It is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th at 6:35 PM with gates opening 1 hour prior to start time.  All tickets are general admission and all full season ticket holders are entitled to one complimentary ticket for each seat in their account.  All other tickets are $6 and can be purchased beginning February 26th at 9 AM.

Former Ironpig Mike Cervenak has signed with the Florida Marlins organization.

LHP Yohan Flande has signed with the Braves.

Gustavo Chacin has re-signed with the Astros

Oakland has released Travis Blackley

Pirates have signed 3B Josh Fields (Remember the nice story I told about him a few months back?)

OinK!

As reported by the Beerleaguer:
http://beerleaguer.typepad.com/beerleaguer/2011/01/phillies-resign-reliever-gordon-to-minor-league-deal.html

Ironpig Brian Gordon has re-signed with the Phillies on a minor league contract.

He had a 3.46 ERA in 78 innings with the Ironpigs in 2010.

OinK!

Last summer I and some other Noise Nation members had the opportunity to volunteer for the Lehigh Valley Miracle League. It is a great experience and I encourage all of you to help out next season!

What can you do to help now? Well I was contacted by Scott and AnnMarie, our favorite bartenders from the Bud Light Trough at The Coke!

They are holding a charity event to benefit the Miracle League on January 19th from 6:00 to 8:00pm at the Holiday Inn in Fogelsville, PA.It’s been a while since we’ve enjoyed the great company and friendship of our favorite summer bartenders so come on out to see Scott and AnnMarie and support one of our favorite charities in the Miracle League.

The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley was founded in 2006, dedicated to providing children with special needs and other developmental disabilities an opportunity to play baseball.

See their website here:
http://www.miracleleaguelv.org/
Come on Noise Nation! Let’s get out there to help this cause!

You never count the last day.. that’s just a wake up. 100 Days and a Wake Up for Ironpig’s opening day in 2011!

I can already smell the grills being fired up. Winter grasping for its last breath and sunny skies trying to remind us that spring is around the corner.

The first day of baseball at Coca Cola Park has the same feel each year. The new interns rushing around madly to make sure everything is in its place. The concessions workers standing, waiting proudly for the surge of hungry fans. The scoreboard revealing new “themes” for the new season. The scoreboard time and temperature will serve as a reminder that it still is April. Smiles will be everywhere.

As for the team, we won’t know for a while. The roster is usually announced a week or so before opening day. Until then we have a few milestones to look forward to.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training starting around February 11th. That’s only 46 days away!

We’ll still see some straggling transactions. By this time most of the key players have signed. Teams will look to just fill out their rosters. Still no word if Mike Cervenak has been signed anywhere.

The Ironpig’s winter banquet (formerly the Phillies caravan) is on January 27th. Just a short month away.

You still have time to submit a recipe to the Noise Nation cookbook!

We have a long winter to think of things like making our own homemade version of Monopoly…

Let’s see what else comes up until then.

100 Days and a wake up!

OinK!