AFL Season in Review

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has put another season in the books. Let's review how our list of familiar names did this year.

Greg Golson | He hit .266 with six doubles, three triples, and two home runs. He scored 17 runs and knocked in 16 RBIs. He also stole eight bases.

AFL Top 10: Games, At-Bats, Runs, Hits, Doubles, Triples, RBIs, and Stolen Bases

Tuffy Gosewisch | He had 12 hits in 48 at-bats (.250) in 14 games. Included in his 12 hits were two doubles and a home run. He scored four runs and knocked in six RBIs.

Mike Costanzo | He had 17 hits in 25 games. Included in his 17 hits were one double and two home runs. He scored six runs and knocked in 10 RBIs.

Joe Bisenius | He threw 10 innings over six games and finished with a 1-1 record. He gave up 13 hits and struck out 12.

Patrick Overholt | He split the season between the role of a starter and coming out of the bullpen. He threw 20.2 innings over nine games and finished with a 3-2 record. He gave up 18 hits and struck out 11. He held hitters to a .243 batting average.

AFL Top 10: Wins

Josh Outman | He split the season between the Saguaros and Team USA. In three starts for Peoria (0-1), he struck out eight in 7.2 innings. He made two relief appearances (1-0) for the Red, White, and Blue and struck out five in six innings.

Chris Booker | He gave up just one hit and struck out three in two relief appearances for Team USA. He also picked up a save in his 3 innings of work.

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo Talks About Trade

Chris Kline from Baseball America has a short interview with Mike Costanzo about his trade to the Astros.

BA: You sound pretty amped up. How excited are you right now?

MC: I’m really fired up. It took a little time to get over the fact that I won’t be a Phillie. I mean, I grew up watching that team in the Vet and Citizen’s Bank (Park) is unbelievable. I’m just thrilled to go to Houston right now. This might be the best thing for my career. It’s a great organization.

Read the full Baseball America interview

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo traded to Astros

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo joins Michael Bourn and Geoff Geary as the newest members of the Houston Astros. The Phillies received Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett in the deal.

Mike Costanzo | He spent the 2006 season in Clearwater hitting .258 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs.

Geoff Geary | He started 19 games for Clearwater in 1999. He was 10-5 with a 3.95 ERA.

Michael Bourn | He was a fourth round pick in the 2003 draft. He skipped Clearwater during his progression to the Majors.

Brad Lidge | He was a starting pitcher in the Florida State League for Kissimmee during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.

Eric Bruntlett | He skipped Single-A ball during his progression to the Majors. He was a ninth round pick in the 2000 draft out of Stanford.

AFL Update (as of 11/4/07)

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has finished up another week and it's time again to check up on our list of familiar names.

Greg Golson | He has picked up the pace since our last update stringing together a five-game hitting streak. He has upped his number of doubles on the AFL season to five.

Tuffy Gosewisch | He has continued to do well in Arizona, going one for four with a run scored in his three games since our last update.

Mike Costanzo | He has struggled since our last update only picking up two hits in four games.

Joe Bisenius | He has added just one more relief appearances since our last update. He gave up two runs on three hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings of work.

Patrick Overholt | He gave up three runs on four hits and struck out one in three innings of work, which was good enough for his second victory of the AFL season.

Josh Outman | He picked up his first win for the Red, White, and Blue in relief. He threw four innings of shutout baseball giving up just three hits while striking out three.

Chris Booker | He made his second relief appearance for Team USA, giving up one hit and striking out one in two innings of shutout baseball.

Watch AFL Action on MLB.TV

AFL Update (as of 10/28/07)

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has finished up another week and it's time again to check up on some some familiar names and add yet another one to the list.

Greg Golson | He has struggled in three of his last four games adding just three hits since our last update. He has upped his number of doubles on the AFL season to four.

Tuffy Gosewisch | He has picked up steam with three hits in his 10 at-bats since our last update.

Mike Costanzo | His hitting streak was snapped, but he did have three hits and three RBIs since our last update.

Joe Bisenius | He has added just one more relief appearances since our last update. He gave up one run on two hits and struck out two in 1.2 innings of work.

Patrick Overholt | He has added two more relief appearances since our last update. In his three innings, he's given up two runs on three hits and struck out two. Overholt has added a win and a loss to his record (1-2).

Josh Outman | He has changed AFL uniforms since our last update moving over to Team USA as they prepare for the World Cup. He has pitched two innings in relief for the Red, White, and Blue giving up one run on two hits while striking out two.

Chris Booker | He just joined the AFL with Team USA. He picked up a save after striking out two in one inning.

AFL Update (as of 10/21/07)

The Arizona Fall League (AFL) has finished up another week and it's time again to check up on some some familiar names.

Greg Golson | Golson has struggled in his last five games adding only two hits since our last update.

Tuffy Gosewisch | I missed his name and six at-bats in our first AFL update. Since then he's played in just one game adding four more at-bats and an RBI.

Mike Costanzo | I also missed Costanzo in the first update. He struggled to start the AFL season, but now has a three-game hitting streak (.417).

Joe Bisenius | He's added two more relief appearances since our last update. He struggled in one outing, but came back next time with two strikeouts in one inning of work.

Patrick Overholt | He's also added two more relief appearances since our last update. Like Bisenius, he struggled in his one outing, but came back the next appearance and struck out one.

Josh Outman | Outman pitched a three-inning shutout in his one start since our last update. He gave up two hits, and struck out three.

Lou Marson to play in Arizona Fall League

Lou Marson has been placed on the roster of the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League.

The Arizona Fall League is comprised of six teams and is owned and operated by Major League Baseball. This will be the 16th season of the AFL. The season starts on October 9 and the Championship Game is scheduled for November 17.

The Saguaros roster is made up of players from the Phillies, Dodgers, Marlins, Padres, and Tigers. Home games are played at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Former Threshers on the Saguaros roster include Joe Bisenius, J.A. Happ, Scott Mathieson, Josh Outman, Mike Costanzo, and Greg Golson.

Former Thresher Costanzo the focus of a Reading Eagle story

Former Thresher Mike Costanzo was the focus of this story by Mike Drago in the Reading Eagle. Several current and former Clearwater Threshers were also mentioned in another part of the article.

Check out the whole article here.

Update: Former Threshers in Reading

Eleven former Threshers are currently on the Reading Phillies (Double-A) roster.

Here is an update of how they are doing with Reading so far this year.

Allen Davis - Given up zero hits in five out of his 10 relief appearances

Julio De La Cruz - Strictly a reliever this year. In 25 appearances he's got a 1-1 record with a 3.78 ERA. He also has three saves. Hitters are batting .224 against him and he's got a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.2 to 1.

Chris Key - 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4 to 1.

Patrick Overholt - Scattered eight hits over five innings in his debut with Reading on Saturday.

Chris Coste - Joined Reading after a month with Ottawa (Triple-A). He is hitting .288 in his 19 games with Reading. Against lefties he is 7 for 17 (.412) with three home runs.

Mike Costanzo - Batting .325 in his last ten games. In five of those games he has gotten two hits. His 13 home runs lead the Eastern League. He has 29 extra-base hits which ranks him tied for fourth in the Eastern League. Leads Reading in walks with 27.

Michael Garciaparra - He is 12 for 36 (.333) with runners in scoring position.

Jesus Merchan - Leading the Eastern League in hitting with a .356 batting average in 48 games. Only struck out eight times in 163 at-bats. Hitting .410 on the road. His on-base percentage of .422 is third best in the Eastern League.

Peeter Ramos - Was three for five with two runs scored in a game on June 7 against Harrisburg. Has nine hits in 22 at-bats (.409) with runners in scoring position.

Branden Florence - Still on the disabled list. Injured in April and missed the entire month of May. Close to missing the whole month of June as well.

Mike Spidale - Was two for four with a stolen base in his second game with Reading (vs. Trenton) on June 15.

Former Thresher Costanzo named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week

Former Threshers infielder Mike Costanzo was just named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week for June 4 - June 10. Costanzo is currently with the Reading Phillies (Double-A).

He hit safely in all seven games during the week which was good for a .370 batting average. He had two hits in three of the games. Five of his 10 hits on the week were doubles.

He is tied for second in the Eastern League with 11 home runs on the season.

Baseball draft tomorrow

Clearwater Threshers of the future will be drafted starting tomorrow (Thursday, June 7) and Friday at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The draft starts at 2pm and the first round will be televised for the first time ever on ESPN2. MLB.com will have the entire draft. Look for Lee McDaniel (Assistant Director, Minor League Operations/Florida) to man the phone for the Phillies at Disney.

The Phillies have the 19th pick in the first round.

Last Five Phillies Top Picks
2006 - Kyle Drabek (Lakewood)
2005 - Former Thresher Mike Costanzo (now with Reading)
2004 - Current Thresher Greg Golson
2003 - Former Thresher Tim Moss
2002 - Former Thresher Cole Hamels (now with Philadelphia Phillies)

Who do you think the Phillies should take with their first pick?

How long do you think it will take this first pick to make it to the Threshers roster?

Costanzo to start in AA in '07?

Mike Costanzo is starting to keep a journal for entry for free on their web site.

He does answer the question of one our recent commenters:

I banged up my knee at the end of the season and I'm just down here to stay in shape and work on a few things. The knee isn't anything to worry about and I'll be 100% for next spring, without a doubt. It's just a matter of being cautious right now.

He also talks a little about next year, and indicates that we may not see him in Clearwater for much of '07:

I just found out that the plan is for me to start 2007 with AA Reading. It's another jump and I'm really excited about moving closer and closer to the majors. I've heard a lot of great things about the fans in Reading and although I've never been to the stadium there, I've heard good things about it.

You can catch all of Mike's journal entry here.

(Q) Who plays in the FIL?

(A) 36 players currently in the Phillies organization make up the 2006 Philies FIL Roster. Most of the players were members of the GCL Phillies during this past summer and there is also a mix of players from Batavia and Lakewood on the roster. Mike Costanzo (third baseman) and Greg Golson (outfielder) are the only two members of the team that played in Clearwater this past season.

FIL will be a good opportunity to check out some of the future stars of the Clearwater Threshers. Some of the more notable names on the roster, other than Costanzo and Golson, are Carlos Carrasco (pitcher), Kyle Drabek (pitcher), and Welinson Baez (third baseman).

FIL Home games are played at Bright House Networks Field and admission is free.

Julio De La Cruz named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week (again)

Julio De La Cruz was just named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week for August 14-20. Not a shock, since Julio did toss a no-hitter in his one appearance during the week.

This is the second time he's won the award this year.

Expect to see There is a release on the Official Site sometime in the near future now.

It appears I may have missed that Mike Costanzo won Phillies Minor League Player of the Week for August 7-13. He reached base in all six games while batting .391 with three HRs on the week.

UPDATED 8/24 AT 11:15AM - De La Cruz has also been named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week!

It's real early to start talking about...

the 2007 Clearwater Threshers roster, but the Delaware County Times has a story in today's edition that says that Mike Costanzo will likely start with the Threshers again next year.

Costanzo profiled in Cherry Hill Courier-Post

Threshers All-Star third baseman Mike Costanzo was profiled in a Phillies minor league update story in the June 19th edition of the Cherry Hill Courier-Post

They have a few quotes from Phillies Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle:

"I think his progress has been right on track. It's not easy to go to the wood bat. He's also seeing better pitching, but we've seen plenty of growth and we're excited about how he's been playing."

"I think he's moving along exactly how we expected him to. The biggest thing is always how hard he's willing to work at the game and right now he's been more than what we could've asked for."

Catch the whole story here

Good times in Lakeland....

I only had the opportunity to catch the pre-game party and the game itself, so I can't speak for the whole weekend, but it seems like the 45th Annual FSL All-Star Weekend went pretty well.



It was beautiful, breezy evening in Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium. You might be able to see all five of the Clearwater Threshers' in this picture as both teams line up for the anthems.



Mike Costanzo started at third base and played the whole game. He went 1 for 4 at the plate and made some great plays with his glove.



Phinley was on hand along with the rest of the FSL mascots to entertain the thousands of fans at the game on Saturday.



Miss the fun? Catch 47 will be airing the ballgame on Wednesday, June 21 at 9pm.