The Hog Blog

COCA-COLA PARK TO GET ANOTHER DISPLAY BOARD...

For those Coca-Cola Park fans who felt they didn't get enough information for the five existing electronic scoreboards, the IronPigs are adding a new element to the nine-story structure that towers behind the left field lawn seating area.

A new 76-feet-by-4-feet LED ribbon board will stretch the entire width of the existing scoreboard, running parallel to the linescore at the bottom.

The sign will be used for advertising, graphics and general information.

“Our fans are going to be happier than pigs in mud when they first get their eyes on this truly special display,” IronPigs general manager Kurt Landes said in a release touting the addition. “This is another example of our organization’s commitment to provide the best fans in Minor League Baseball with jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind amenities and experiences.”

The release says the board will "feature vivid displays to enhance the fan experience and provide the first true motion advertising opportunity for the club’s marketing partners."

The new scoreboard is the second major addition added to the park this winter. The Red Robin Tiki Terrace and Oasis, a new hospitality seating area located behind the left field wall adjacent to the foul poll, will open this season.

The new ribbon board, similar to those that hang on facade of the upper levels of indoor arenas and newer stadiums around the country is being designed and manufactured by Daktronics, an industry leader recognized for its displays that use the light emitting diede (LED) technology. Installation of the new board is scheduled for mid-to-late March.

Coca-Cola Park’s main scoreboard, stopped by the Coca-Cola bottle that erupts with fireworks when the IronPigs score, is dominated by a 20 feet-by-50 feet high def video board.

The stadium also features LED boards behind the bullpen and home plate, along with two fascia boards on the facade of the club level on the first and third base sides of the park.

BUMP, THOMPSON AND MORE FROM THE CARAVAN ...

Nate Bump and Rich Thompson didn't spend a lot of time on the open market this winter.

Thompson, a fan favorite at Coca-Cola Park, re-upped for a fifth season with the Phillies organization on Dec. 13, not long after the minor league free agency session began.

"Has it really been five years?" Steve Noworyta, the Phillies assistant minor league director, asked rhetorically. "Wow."

Bump signed back on for his third year in the organization on Jan. 9, although it sounds as if the decision was made long before his pen hit the contract.

"I didn't even entertain offers," Bump said.

The pair are two of the eight veteran IronPigs free agents the Phillies re-signed after last year's historic playoff season, and barring any bizarre circumstances this spring should be on the Opening Day roster.

For Bump, the decision came down to security and pride.

"I'm an hour down the road in West Chester, [and] I'm a Pennsylvania guy," he said at last month's IronPigs Charities banquet. I've always belt comfortable here.

"I have something to prove," Bump, an International League all-star in 2009, added. "The start of the season last year, those first few months, were pretty rough on me. I was trying to do too much. Now all I want to do is prove myself. i made some adjustments in the off-season instead of trying to make the adjustments to get back in the big leagues during the year, and I think it's going to pay off."

Bump realized that he might have had a tough job selling himself to another organization with his numbers from last year (5-9, 4.97).

"For me, to go somewhere else after the year that I had would've been an uphill battle, because you have to learn everybody and everybody has to learn you," said Bump, who did have a 3.14 ERA over his last 10 starts. "A lot of times it takes a full year to get that done. Me, I'm 35 years old, and [the Phillies] know what I'm capable of, and if I can prove I'm back in the that realm than I feel I have a better chance here than anywhere else."

Thompson pretty much has that same attitude.

"I'm in a situation here where I have a good rapore with the manager, and I get to play, and that's really all you can ask for," Thompson said. "You never know where a situation is going to lead, but I'm not going to beat someone out in spring training at 32 [years old]."

Both Bump and Thompson realize they're not going to be handed a roster spot. Seeking insurance for their major league rotation, the Phillies have brought in Joel Pinero, Dave Bush, and Pat Misch, and took a flyer on Scott Elarton, a former 17-game winner with Houston trying to resurrect his career.

With an opening for a fifth outfielder on the big league level -- and just in case John Mayberry Jr. turns out to be a one-year wonder -- the Phillies brought in Juan Pierre, Lou Montanez and Scott Podsednik.

"They signed some pretty good players," Thompson said. "You don't really worry about who your competition is, because you don't come to spring training any season without competition. Obviously they're going to sign people, so that's really nothing I worry about."

"There's that cherry-picking thing you can do, try to find the right organization, and I've seen it work for some guys, but not all the time," Bump said. "They're always going to be guys getting picked up at the last minute, halfway through camp, whatever. I'd rather be with a good team, a good organization that has a chance to win at the major league level, and go on from there."

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There nearly was another returner fighting for a spot in the rotation.

Noworyta said the Phillies had a deal with Brian Bass to return, but Bass instead got a more lucrative offer to play overseas.

"We had an agreement with Bass but he didn't sign off it because he told me of the Korean situation, and I said that's fine," Noworyta said. "All along he told me about that job, and I'm happy for him. It's an opportunity for him to take care of his family financially."

Other than Bass, Noworyta said the Phillies basically got who they targeted.

"I think the ones we wanted to go after we went after early and we got them," he said, referring to the free agents on the IronPigs roster. "We targeted who we wanted, and it worked out."

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One thing Bump and Thompson, along with the other returning IronPigs, have going for them is that so far in the four-year history of the team, none of the free agents re-signed have been let go in the spring.

"We're kind of an organization that doesn't sign a lot of guys for tryouts [in the spring]," Noworyta said. "We sign guys that we know can come in and help us either at Triple-A or the big leagues. to me, it leaves the organization with a bad taste when you have to bring someone in and then have to let them go."

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As for some some other tidbits ...

* Noworyta said first base should come down to incumbent Cody Overbeck or Matt Rizzotti, who had another strong season at Double-A. Overbeck, Noworyta said, played well in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .321 in 24 games.

"I think he realizes now what it takes to get there," he said of the converted third baseman, who was once the top right-handed power prospect in the system. "He knows he's got to step it up."

Throughout Overbeck's career he's always done well the season after he moves up a level. In 2010, after hitting .230 in 96 games at Clearwater following a promotion from Williamsport, Overbeck hit .302 with 11 homers in 58 games before moving up to Reading.

After hitting .255 with 13 homers in 78 games at Reading to finish that season, Overbeck began last year by hitting .275 with 18 homers in just 62 games before being promoted to the IronPigs, where he hit .275 with six homers in 68 games.

"It'll be interesting to see how he looks in camp," Noworyta said.

* Three years ago, Jason Donald came to the IronPigs as an up-and-coming shortstop, but the Phillies give him playing time at both second and third base to prepare him for life as a potential utility infielder.

Noworyta doesn't believe the same thing will happen this year with Freddy Galvis.

There have been strong indications that if Jimmy Rollins has to miss extended periods of time with injuries, Galvis would get the call to be the everyday shortstop.

"We were comfortable enough with what we saw in him to move Valdez," he said, referring to Wilson Valdez, Rollins' main back-up the past two seasons. "With Jimmy's health, we need to make sure he's ready at shortstop if needed."

* Noworyta will be keeping an eye on Carlos Rivero, the 23-year-old who was lost to Washington on a waiver claim when Rollins was re-signed.

For whatever reason, the Phillies elected to option Rivero off the 40-man roster (and risk losing him on waivers) instead of outfielder John Bowker, who wound up getting released anyway a few weeks later so he could sign with a team in Japan.

"We had a feeling that he would be claimed," Noworyta said of Rivero, whom the Phillies had claimed off waivers from Cleveland the previous winter.

Rivero, who played third after spending his career at short, hit .275 with a career-high 15 homers and 66 RBIs in 129 games at Reading. He showed glimpses of adjusting to Triple-A pitching at the end of a seven-game audition with the IronPigs in early August when he was shuffled back to Reading after Jack Cust was signed.

"I was excited about him because he was so young and he was starting to figure it out," Noworyta said. "It will be interesting to see how he does."

Had Rivero stayed, the IronPigs' third-base job likely would've been hist to lose next month.

* Despite the trades that have stripped some of the gems out of the farm system, Noworyta said the Phillies minor leaguers had a banner season in 2011.

"Over a five or six year period we lost somewhere around 28 or 30 players in trades. And you look at last year's season, there were five teams in our minor leagues in [playoff] contention," he said. "That's tough to do, because those 28 or 30 weren't just players, they were prospects in our system that other teams wanted.

"That's a credit to Marty [Wolever, the director of scouting] with his draft every year, and we're drafting low every year, to get quality players, the prospect-type players that makes everyone better. And then you filter in the free agents that we sign, the quality guys with the ability to help our prospects grow, and you see where the success comes from."

IRONPIGS OPEN CAMP MARCH 1, BEGIN SPRING SEASON MARCH 11

The IronPigs will officially begin their quest for a second straight International League playoff berth on Thursday, March 1, when the Phillies open their minor league camp at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater.

Ryne Sandberg's team will open its 18-game exhibition season 10 days later, on Sunday, March 11, against the Canadian Jr. Olympic Team at historic Al Lang Field in nearby St. Petersburg.

Lehigh Valley will then play 16 games over the next 19 days against the three other teams in the immediate Tampa Bay area -- Toronto (Dunedin), Pittsburgh (Bradenton) and the Yankees (Tampa) -- before breaking camp on Sunday, April 1. The IronPigs cap their preseason schedule with the annual Rt. 222 Showcase against the Reading Phillies on Tuesday, April 3, at FirstEnergy Stadium before opening the regular season two nights later at Coca-Cola Park against Scranton.

As a reminder, on game days in the spring, four minor league games are played each day -- Triple-A, Double-A, and two Single-A. The Triple-A and Double-A squads travel together, so when the IronPigs are home at the Carpenter Complex, so too are the R-Phils. The two Single-A games play the same opponents but on an opposite home/away schedele.

Here's the complete schedule:

Sunday, March 11 -- IronPigs vs. Canadian Jr. Olympic Team, Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg (1:05 p.m.)

Monday, March 12 -- Camp day

Tuesday, March 13 -- Blue Jays at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Thursday, March 15 -- Camp day

Friday, March 16 -- IronPigs at Blue Jays, Dunedin, 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 17 -- Yankees at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 18 -- IronPigs at Blue Jays, Dunedin, 1 p.m.

Monday, March 19 -- Pirates at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, March 20 -- IronPigs at Tigers, Bradenton, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, March 21 -- Yankees at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Thursday, March 22 -- IronPigs at Yankees, Tampa, 1 p.m.

Friday, March 23 -- IronPigs at Blue Jays, Dunedin, 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 24 -- Blue Jays at IronPigs, 10 a.m.

Sunday, March 25 -- Camp day

Monday, March 26 -- Yankees at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, March 27 -- IronPigs at Yankees, Tampa, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28 -- Pirates at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Thursday, March 29 -- IronPigs at Pirates, Bradenton, 1 p.m.

Frdiay, March 30 -- Blue Jays at IronPigs, 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 31 -- IronPigs at Pirates, 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 1 -- Break camp

Tuesday, April 3 -- Rt. 222 Showcase vs. Reading Phillies, FirstEnergy Stadium, 6 p.m.

MIRACLE LEAGUE SEEKING COACHES ...

Regulars at Coca-Cola Park the past few years know that one of the season highlights is the annual Miracle League game, when players and coaches of the IronPigs and even the opposing team help out in a pre-game exhibition by children with special needs.

The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, based in Schnecksville, is seeking coaches for the upcoming 2012 season. Those interested are invited to a coaching mixer at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, at Mezza Luna Sports Bar and Grill at 1193 Airport Road, Allentown.

To register or for more information, contact Melissa Borland at 484-757-5746, or by e-mail at melissa@miracleleaguelv.org.

RT 222 SHOWCASE RETURNS TO READING ...

The 5th-annual Rt. 222 Showcase between the Phillies' top two minor league affiliates will return to Reading this year.

The exhibition game between the Triple-A IronPigs and the Double-A Reading Phillies will be played on Tuesday, Apri 3, at Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium.

Coca-Cola Park has hosted the game the last two years after the first two games were played at Reading. Future games are expected to be on an alternating basis.

Capital Blue Cross, a major sponsor of both organizations, will sponsor the game, which will benefit Baseballtown Charities.

Tickets for the exhibition game go on sale starting today via www.readingphillies.com, over the phone at 610-370-BALL, and at the R-Phils Ticket Office located at FirstEnergy Stadium. General admission tickets located in the red and green seating areas cost $5 and reserved seats in the Yellow Box and Blue Box seating areas cost $7.

Baseballtown Charities, a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, was launched ten years ago in association with the Reading Phillies in order to keep baseball alive in Reading through charitable donations to underprivileged youth, who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to play baseball. The organization was also founded to pay tribute to Reading’s rich baseball history.

Earlier today, Baseballtown Charities also debuted the re-branding of the organization, including a newly designed logo and character.

For more on the new logo and rebranding, follow the link

http://reading.phillies.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120122&content_id=26422386&vkey=news_t522&fext=.jsp&sid=t522

REMEMBER JACK CUST? HE'S BACK (BUT NOT WITH PHILLIES) ...

Remember last summer, when the Phillies were desperately searching for a left-handed hitter off the bench with some pop in his bat?

One of their candidates was Flemington, N.J., native Jack Cust, who they signed on Aug. 12 following his release by Seattle earlier in the month.

Eight days later, after a six-game tryout with the IronPigs, (5-for-20, .250, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 2 RBIs), the Phillies cut him loose as well.

However, Cust resurfaced Wednesday when he signed a one-year, $600,000 deal with Houston.

Why would the Astros be interested in someone who was released by two organizations last year?

A few reasons.

First, he comes cheap, a plus for an organization that just changed owners.

Second, he is only two years removed from being a productive major league hitter. the 33-year-old was Arizona's first-round draft pick back in 1997 and bounced through three organizations (Colorado, Baltimore and San Diego) before arriving in Oakland in 2007, where he had the most productive stretch of his career.

Cust hit 84 homers over the next three years, with a high of 33 in 2008, and averaged 76 RBIs, although he also averaged 182 strikeouts over those three years with a high of 197.

He tailed off to 13 homers and 52 RBIs in 112 games in 2010, and after signing with Seattle as a free agents was hitting only .213 with three homers and 23 RBIs in 57 games last year when he was released on August 4.

Third, the Astros are switching to the American League for the 2013 season. Cust's deal does include a team option for 2013, and if he shows something this year, the Astros lookiat him as a cheap (there's that word again) designated hitter option in their 2013 line-up.

OUTMAN DEALT AGAIN ...

As Phillies fans envision of the likes of Trevor May, Jonathan Pettibone, and Tyler Cloyd stepping into the Phillies rotation, they may do well to remember the name of Josh Outman.

Four years ago Josh Outman was a highly thought of left-handed pitcher in the Phillies minor league system.

Monday, the 27-year-old joined his third organization when he was included by Oakland in a deal that brought outfielder Seth Smith to the A's.

Outman and right-hander Guillermo Moscoso head to Colorado in the deal.

Outman, the Phillies' 10th-round pick in 2005, was 14-6 in his first full pro season in Lakewood, then was 12-7 between Clearwater and Reading in 2007. The Phillies turned him into a reliever the following season, and he was 5-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 33 games at Reading when he was included in the trading deadline package that brought Joe Blanton from the A's.

Outman made his major league debut with the A's later that season, and was 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) in 2009 before his season ended in June with elbow pain that resulted in Tommy John surgery. He missed the 2010 season but returned last year to go 8-3, 3.91 in 17 starts at Sacramento and return to the A's with a 3-5 record and a 3.70 ERA in 13 games including nine starts.

Outman joined Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter in a rotation at Clearwater in 2007 that generated as much attention as the Threshers' so-called "Baby Aces' rotation last year of May, Pettibone, Cloyd, Julio Rodriguez and Jared Cosart.

Cosart, of course, departed to Houston in the Hunter Pence deadline deal. The other four are expected to work their way up the system this year, with Cloyd -- who finished the year at Reading -- a candidate to earn a Triple-A job with the IronPigs.

Many expect May, Pettibone and Rodriguez to be in the rotation at Reading this summer.

PHILLIES CONTINUE BARGAIN SHOPPING ...

The Phillies continue to stockpile potential spare parts for the upcoming season.

The latest is right-handed pitcher Joel Pineiro, signed to a minor league contract according to reports on ESPN.com and the philly.com. The 33-year-old will also receive an invitation to spring training.

Pineiro was a 12th-round pick by Seattle (when Pat Gillick was the Mariners' GM) in 1997 and has also played for the Red Sox, Cardinals and Angels. He was 7-7 with a 5.13 ERA in 27 games last year for Anaheim, including 24 starts. He also spent some time on the DL with shoulder pain.

The native of Puerto Rico has reached double-figures in wins four times in his major-league career, including in 2009 (15-12, 3.49 for the Cardinals) and 2010 (10-7, 3.84 for the Angels in the first year of a two-year, $16-million contract.

He was 14-7 with a 3.24 ERA in 2002 for the Mariners, his first full season, and won a career-high 16 games (16-11, 3.78) the following year. He has a career major-league mark of 104-93 with a 4.41 ERA in 12 seasons.

Piniero will join, among others, veterans Scott Elarton, Pat Misch, David Purcey and Dave Bush in Clearwater as the Phillies seek to build starting rotation depth.

BUMP ADDED TO CARAVAN GUEST LIST ...

Newly re-signed pitcher Nate Bump has been added to the guest list for the upcoming Phillies Winter Banquet at De Sales University on Jan. 26.

Bump has pitched the last two seasons for the IronPigs, earning a spot on the International League's mid-season all-star squad in 2010.

The current list for the banquet includes:

Charlie Manuel, Phillies Manager and winningest manager in franchise history

Scott Franzke, Phillies Radio Play-by-Play Broadcaster

Steve Noworyta, Phillies Assistant Director, Minor League Operations

Ryne Sandberg, IronPigs Manager and National Baseball Hall of Fame member

Rich Thompson, IronPigs outfielder since 2008 and all-time leader in games, hits, runs and stolen bases

Nate Bump, IronPigs pitcher since 2010 and third all-time in wins

More guests may be added.

The program for Phillies Caravan consists of dinner and an open bar, a sports memorabilia silent auction, raffles and an entertainment portion.Tickets are $80 per person or $725.00 for a table of ten.

Championship tables, allowing patrons entrance to a private pre-event reception and the opportunity to mingle with event VIP’s are also available. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour and commencement of the auctions and raffles.

The Phillies Winter Banquet beneficiary, IronPigs Charities, is a recognized 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on the state and federal level. One of the highlights of the 2011 Winter Tour event was the distribution of grants to local non-profit organizations. Over $160,000 has been distributed at this event.

Since its inception in 2007, IronPigs Charities has made more than $435,000 in monetary contributions - including more than $110,000 in 2011.

BUMP BACK ...

Baseball America is reporting that Nate Bump will be back in Phillies camp battling for a third season with the IronPigs.

The right-hander from Towanda was an International League mid-season all-star in 2010 with the IronPigs, going 8-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 20 starts in a season that was cut short by an injury.

He returned to the IronPigs last season, struggling through a 5-9, 4.97 season. But he had a 3.42 ERA over his last 13 starts after July 1, including a 3.21 mark over his last 10 starts when he was either hot (allowing two earned runs or less in seven of them) or cold (allowing 16 ER in 17.2 IP in the other three).