Phillies In Arizona Fall League

[PhilaVa]

Pitchers
Keith Bucktrot - Reading (AA)
Dan Giese - Scranton (AAA)

Catchers
Carlos Ruiz - Reading (AA)

Infielders
Ryan Howard - Scranton (AAA)
Buzz Hannahan - Scranton (AAA)

Outfielders
Chris Roberson - Clearwater (A)

Phillies send six to the AFL this year, all play for the Phoneix Desert Dogs (3-0). Howard is named as an infielder, not sure if he is playing outfield yet. Here are some recaps from the first couple of games.

October 9th: Desert Dogs 9, Scorpions 6

The Desert Dogs wiped out a 6-2 deficit with a seven-run seventh inning and held the Scorpions scoreless in the final two innings to earn the win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Ryan Howard (PHI), Mike Napoli (ANA) and Buzz Hannahan (PHI) combined for six of the Desert Dogs 11 hits.
The game was broken open in the seventh when Hannahan led off with a single to right field. Casey Smith (ANA) reached on a throwing error that advanced Hannahan to second. Kansas City prospect Donald Murphy singled to shortstop. Hannahan scored on a throwing error by the Scorpions short stop. Smith moved to third on the throw. A Howard single through the right side would score Smith and D. Murphy stood on second. Manager Dean Treanor brought in Chris Roberson (PHI) to run for Howard.

October 8th: Desert Dogs 11 - Scorpions 2

Infielder Ryan Howard (PHI) belted a home run with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Desert Dogs. Southpaw Dusty Bergman (ANA) notched his first win of the season.

[FreezeC2]

infielder. So I guess he hasn't played any OF yet?

[Domino427]

i was in Reading this summer and saw a Phils game there. That Carlos Ruiz was catching. I'll tell you, that team doesn't have a lot of hitters, but the kid looked pretty good. I think his average was only like .260-something, but I believe he was splitting time, and for a catcher, didn't look so slow (at least not compared to Lieby and Pratt which I'm used to seeing). Obviously the Phils think somethin of him to send him to the AFL. They must feel that with a little work, he could be a pretty good ballplayer.

[PhilaVa]

infielder. So I guess he hasn't played any OF yet?

I'm really not sure, they list him as an infielder, he was called an infielder in the story, the Phils say he will play outfield. So I dunno if he is just working up to it or the recaps are just wrong. We have to wait till after AFL is over to figure out what the results are I guess, unless someone else has more knowledge.

[FreezeC2]

Saw this on baseball America's site.
With Jim Thome signed through 2008 with a club option for 2009, the Phillies appear set at first base. There was some speculation that Howard might take some work in the outfield in the Fall League, but neither Howard nor Richardson(Desert Dogs Manager) said they have been told to do that.

"I know there was talk, but we'll just have to wait and see. You take the situation and try to take a positive out of it. It can't hurt, you know. Just see what happens with it," said Howard, who added that his last played outfield in high school.

"That's stuff you can't control. The only thing you can control is how you go out and play every day. Go out, do what you are supposed to do, and things will work themselves out. You can't really worry about it. You want to stay focused on your game on the field and not on the stuff off the field that you can't control."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/2004afl/041012afl.html (http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/2004afl/041012afl.html)


Howard has played 7 games and is DESTROYING THE LEAGUE in offense
.483 AVG(#2), 8 Runs(#2), 14 H(#1), 6 2B(#1), 3 HR(#1), 9 RBI(#1), .531 OBP(#4), 1.069 Slugging %(#1)

^Those are from MLB's updated AFL stats, they don't list positions.
Baseball America shows Howard having played 4 games, all at 1B.

[PhilaVa]

Thanks freeze, I updated his stats after the first three games and was wondering the same thing, it seemed as if when i did that update that he wasn't playing the outfield and with him continuing to dominate at the plate this is becoming a problem for us...

Looks like Phils management has once again is left with their thumbs up their ass....

[asheylarry]

Is trading Thome an option?

[PhilaVa]

Is trading Thome an option?

If we want to make the playoffs next year it's not.

[moses]

Is trading Thome an option?
Ahh, the seeds of an idea...

[BHGangFan Part2]

How old is Keith Bucktrot? When I was 14, I was in baseball camp and someone from one of the Phils minor league teams came to teach us how to pitch and afterwards he signed autographs. I'm pretty sure his name was either Keith Troutman or Keith Bucktrot. In any case, he never made it as a player.

[Domino427]

How old is Keith Bucktrot? When I was 14, I was in baseball camp and someone from one of the Phils minor league teams came to teach us how to pitch and afterwards he signed autographs. I'm pretty sure his name was either Keith Troutman or Keith Bucktrot. In any case, he never made it as a player.
I dono how old you are, man, but Bucktrot isnt all that old. he's still in his mid-20s.

[HamelsToe]

If we want to make the playoffs next year it's not.
Ouch Phila

Very ouch

[PhilaVa]

Ouch Phila

Very ouch
Yeah, like any of you bitches saw Ryan Howard being this good out of the gate.

[moses]

Yeah, like any of you bitches saw Ryan Howard being this good out of the gate.
If Thome comes back healthy, we're still not in a bad situation.

[BHGangFan Part2]

I dono how old you are, man, but Bucktrot isnt all that old. he's still in his mid-20s.
It's not him then. I'm 21.

[Muzzy_6]

Does anybody know yet which Phillies prospects I am going to be able to throw batteries at this fall?

[jcarm22]

Does anybody know yet which Phillies prospects I am going to be able to throw batteries at this fall? Hamels should be one of them.

[Muzzy_6]

Hamels should be one of them.
Oh, I'm definitely getting into a bar fight with him.

[pennstpat]

Oh, I'm definitely getting into a bar fight with him.Let's rumble with the Sharks!

[jcarm22]

Oh, I'm definitely getting into a bar fight with him. Call him an idiot if he throws a punch with his left hand.