Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Wathan to manage 'Claws in 09

The Phillies announced the minor league coaching assignments for 2009. Dusty Wathan will be the manager in the BlueClaw's ninth season, taking over for Steve Roadcap, who will move up to Reading. Former major league pitcher Bob Milacki will be the pitching coach and Gregg Legg will return as the bench coach. Dave Huppert, who managed the BlueClaws to the 2006 SAL championship and the Threshers to the 2007 FSL title, will return to Lehigh Valley for a second season with the IronPigs. Dave Lundquist, who was the pitching coach here last season, stays with his staff and goes to Clearwater to work with manager Ernie Whitt.

Also, Jason Donald was awarded the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded to the the Arizona Fall League player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership on and off the field. More congrats for JD, who had a landmark 2008.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Mathieson re-signs

The Phillies did not tender an offer to Scott Mathieson, making him a free agent, then resigned him to a new minor league deal. This removes him from the 40-man roster. Mathieson, a 2004 BlueClaw who made his major league debut in June of 2006, pitched just 7 games in 2007 and missed all of this year while rehabbing 2 separate Tommy John surgeries.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Bear, Harker lost in rule 5 draft

More of our boys on the move today as both Brett Harker and Ron "Bear" Hill were selected by the Florida Marlins in the minor league phase of the rule 5 draft.

Also, Andy Barb was selected by the Orioles off the Seattle's minor league roster. Andy, who had 17 saves with Lakewood in 2006 before leaving as part of the Jamie Moyer deal had an injury riddled 2008 and is looking to come back with the Orioles. He has been assigned to AA Bowie.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

JJ to Pirates

The Phillies have traded Jason Jaramillo to Pittsburgh for Ronny Paulino. Jaramillo goes to Pirates where he get a chance to play for former AAA manager John Russell and former roving hitting instructor Don Long.

JJ hit .304 for Lakewood in 2005, and was selected to the SAL all-star team. He skipped Clearwater and went directly to Reading in 2006, where he hit .247, also getting some time at AAA. Then he hit .379 in the Arizona fall league. He was also a member of the USA World Cup team, which won a gold medal in Taiwan following the 2007 season.

Jaramillo has become the odd man out with the emergence of Lou Marson as the catcher of the future in the eyes of Phillies management.

Homie released

In another confusing turn in the saga of Randy Ruiz, the Minnesota Twins released "Homie" last Wednesday. Randy hit .274 for the Twins in 22 games, including 2 doubles, his first major league dinger and 7 RBI.

I am surprised, feeling he had shown enough to at least merit an invitation to spring training. Randy is one of the most popular players to ever don a Lakewood uniform, and is still top single season RBI man the team has had (91 in 2004).

Monday, December 8, 2008

Hot Stove Report

Season's Greetings, Homesiders!!

Just a few quick notes for those of you who need the baseball fix.

In case you have not heard (or are living under a rock) Greg Golson has been traded to the Texas Rangers. Greg will probably play at Oklahoma City in 2009, but may get a shot at a reserve outfielder spot. We will see how that pans out in spring training. This opens up the future center field position in Philadelphia for Quintin Berry or Dominic Brown.

I have also heard that Tim Gradoville, a fan favorite in Lakewood, has signed on to be the bullpen catcher for your World Champion Phillies. Grado played at Frisco in the Ranger's system last year and became a free agent after the season. He sat down with Charlie Manuel last week and has decided to accept the Phillies' offer.

But the big news is Tim and his fiance Jamie will be tying the knot this January. Congratulations to the happy couple, the HomeSide wishes you nothing but happiness and success in whatever you choose to do in life!

The winter meetings are underway, so I expect an announcement about who will be managing where in the system in the coming season.

Many of our boys have become free agents this winter and I will keep my eye on the transaction wires to try to keep up with it.