Still HOT

from South Atlantic League notebook
News & notes for the week of July 28
By Jed Weisberger / Special to MLB.com


Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies)
THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The BlueClaws (27-15, second half; 65-47, overall) went 5-2 and were second in the SAL Northern, two games behind West Virginia.

WHO'S HOT: RHP Mike Stutes (2-0, 0.75) won his second straight start for the BlueClaws, throwing six solid innings, striking out seven in topping division leader West Virginia Friday night. ... C/OF Tim Kennelly is hitting .356 (36-for-101) in 29 games with Lakewood. ... RHP Jared Simon (6-2, 2.01) has cashed in 23 of 28 save opportunities, fourth in the SAL. ... RHP Vance Worley (1-0, 2.10) has had five solid starts, allowing seven earned runs in 30 innings. ... RHP Chance Chapman (7-5, 3.05) is 10th among SAL ERA leaders.

WHO'S NOT: OF Jay Miller is batting .194 (20-for-103). ... OF Alberto Cambero is hitting .182 (8-for-44) in 24 games with the BlueClaws. ... 1B Michael Durant is at .226 (65-for-288).

NEWS AND NOTES: Lakewood hitting coach Greg Legg has joined the Phillies as a bullpen coach, while Roly de Armus accompanies Team USA to the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Phillies outfield coordinator Jerry Martin and hitting coordinator Sal Rende will fill in with the BlueClaws in Legg's absence. He is expected to miss about three weeks as the Olympic medal round is scheduled for Aug. 23. This is Legg's first trip to the Major Leagues as a coach. He has been with the Phillies since he was drafted by the club in 1982. The former infielder played briefly for Philadelphia in 1986 and 1987, appearing in a total of 14 games with a career average in the Majors of .405 (9-for-22). He was named the first manager in BlueClaws history Dec. 13, 2000, and led Lakewood to a 60-79 record in 2001. In 2007, he managed the Phillies' Class A Short-Season affiliate, the Williamsport Crosscutters, to a 34-42 mark.

DID YOU KNOW? Kennelly, a native of Perth, Australia, is giving opposing SAL pitchers headaches, going 14-for-35 in his last 10 games to give the Lakewood offense a major boost. He did not show this type of prowess at the plate last season, hitting .221 with appearances at Lakewood, Class A Advanced Clearwater and Williamsport. Hitting .348 against lefties and .359 against righties, Kennelly is proving a tough out as the BlueClaws battle for the SAL Northern second-half title.