Monday-LHP Ervis Manzanillo (0-1, 7.88) vs. RHP Mikey O’Brien (0-1, 2.16)
Tuesday-LHP Mario Hollands (2-1, 1.10) vs. LHP Kramer Sneed (1-1, 3.77)
Wednesday-RHP David Buchanan (2-1, 2.40) vs. RHP Zach Nuding (2-0, 4.61)
Thursday- LHP Jesse Biddle (0-2, 5.59) vs. RHP Shane Greene (1-2, 5.40)
Friday- RHP Colby Shreve (2-1, 2.40) vs. RHP Nik Turley (1-1, 5.65)

Here's Phillies first-round choice (and a would-be Oregon Duck) Jesse Biddle talking about his adjustment to pro life, his repertoire and his experience at the 2008 World Series Game 5 -- parts 1 and 2. He'll more than likely pitch for the Lakewood BlueClaws this year.

Earlier today, I spoke to a very good scout friend who attended both Phillies and Pirates Instructional League action this fall. He had a lot of great stuff to say about both clubs, especially the Phillies, who, despite their paltry returns in the Cliff Lee deal, boast one of the deepest and most talented farm systems in the game.

On Jarred Cosart, who missed most of the year with an elbow issue:

His fastball is back. His breaking ball looks good, but it still needs work.

On Nick Hernandez, a command artist who missed most of the year with a shoulder strain

I was disappointed. He was at 83-86 with the fastball and was all over the place. Something's not right. He walked the park when I saw him.

On Jonathan Singleton, the teenage slugger who is moving the outfield:

Looked very good in left field. Did not look out of place. He has enough of an arm and athleticism to stay at the position. ... The plate discipline impresses me the most, very rare to see that kind of command of the strike zone at such a young age.

On Jesse Biddle, the team's first-rounder from 2010:

Good body. He's got an average fastball, but the 12-to-6 curveball is his signature pitch. He's got a chance to be good, but not top-of-the rotation good.

On Cameron Rupp, a catcher the team took in the third round:

He's got a lot of raw power, but there are a lot of holes in his swing. He's a fringy prospect who can run into a fastball, but he's also very long to the ball.

On Mel Rojas Jr., the Pirates' third-rounder

I'm not really impressed. He's plenty athletic, but I'm not buying the bat.

On Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh's first-rounder:

He has a chance to be special. If it weren't for Harper, he could have been the No. 1 pick.

Here are, from the top, two videos of Josh Romanski facing Jonathan Singleton, another of Romanski striking out Jiwan James, and one of J.R. Murphy singling against Trevor May.

More video from last night's RiverDogs/BlueClaws tilt:

Here's a couple of videos from last night's RiverDogs and BlueClaws action in Lakewood:

From top to bottom: Emerson Landoni collects a hit off of Nick Hernandez, Graham Stoneburner warms up, Stoneburner carves up Domingo Santana. Enjoy.

Greensboro
Rand Smith - CF
Taylor Krick - 3B
Kyle Jensen - LF
Kyle Skipworth - DH
Carlos Paulino - C
Chad Cregar - RF
Brent Weaver - 1B
Jose Torres - 2B
Michael Pasek -SS
Matt Montgomery - P

Lakewood
Jiwan James - CF
Leandro Castro - LF
Anthony Hewitt - RF
Sebastian Valle - C
Jeremy Barnes - 2B
Darin Ruf - 1B
Stephen Batts - DH
Alan Schoenberger - 3B
Jonathan Villar - SS
Nick Hernandez - P

First inning: Nick Hernandez looks fantastic, getting a pair of grounders to short and freezing Taylor Krick.

Jiwan James helped the Grasshoppers out by popping up a bunt before Leandro Castro beat out an infield single. Anthony Hewitt and Sebastian Valle followed with strikeouts.

Second inning: Hernandez continued breezing through the Grasshoppers. He fanned Kyle Skipworth looking, then got Carlos Paulino to pop to second and a bouncer to first from Chad Cregar.

On the other side, Montgomery matched Hernandez. He weaved his way through Jeremy Barnes, Darin Ruf and Stephen Batts with a pair of strikeouts.

Third inning: The duel continues. Both pitchers went 1-2-3 frames. At this rate, we'll be here about another hour, or, like the Mets and the Cardinals last night, another five hours.

Fourth inning: Skipworth shoots one through the right side for a hit, but that's the extent of the damage as Hernandez gets the next three. He's allowed one hit through five.

The BlueClaws also go quietly, on two flies to right and a strikeout.

Fifth inning: At last, some offense. The BlueClaws put together three straight hits, including a leadoff triple by Stephen Batts, and Lakewood put up a three-spot. After five, 2-0 Claws.

Nick Hernandez is absolutely cruising. The left-hander has allowed a single hit, off the bat of Kyle Skipworth, to this point. For a guy who is barely touching 90, Hernandez sure looks dominant.

Claws add three more, making the score 5-0 after seven.

Alan Schoenberger, a 21-year-old shortstop from Queensland, Australia, has three RBIs today. In his previous three seasons he had driven in a total of 13 runs. That's baseball.

In these photos are (clockwise)
Domingo Santana, Anthony Hewitt
and Jiwan James.

Greensboro
Rand Smith - CF
Terrence Dayleg - SS
Kyle Jensen - LF
Kyle Skipworth - C
Carlos Paulino - DH
Chad Cregar - 1B
Brent Weaver - 3B
Sequoyah Stonecipher - RF
Jose Torres - 2B
Curtis Petersen - P

Lakewood
Jiwan James - CF
Leandro Castro - DH
Anthony Hewitt - LF
Sebastian Valle - C
Adam Buschini - 3B
Jeremy Barnes - 2B
Darin Ruf - 1B
Domingo Santana - RF
Jonathan Villar - SS
Jonathan Pettibone - P

I'm here in Lakewood to bear witness to the magnificent outfield that is James, Hewitt and Santana. That's three of the top prospects in the Phillies system, all patrolling the same swath of grass. This is a prospect watcher's dream. I'll be here tomorrow, too.

First inning: Pettibone starts the day with a walk to leadoff man Rand Smith, but is spared any damage when 17-year-old right fielder Domingo Santana makes two fantastic plays.

In the bottom half, Jiwan James walks on four pitches before being erased on Leandro Castro's fielder's choice. Castro steals second before Anthony Hewitt waves at a Curtis Petersen hook. Sebastian Valle is up next, and this is what he does:

Inning over.

Second inning: Greensboro scores on a double from Brent Weaver that brings home Carlos Paulino. Pettibone gets a pair of grounders back to the mound to extricate himself from further trouble.

The BlueClaws followed by exploding for six runs, including two on bases-loaded walks to Jonathan Villar and Jiwan James, and three more on a single to left from Anthony Hewitt that was fumbled a bit by Jensen. 6-1 Claws after two innings.

Third inning: Pettibone gets the Grasshoppers 1-2-3, including a popout off the bat of Kyle Skipworth. Domingo Santana's fielder's choice plates another for the Claws, who now lead 7-1.

Fourth and Fifth innings: As team photographer David Schofield points out, Jon Pettibone is clearly a different pitcher with a lead. He's retired the side in the last two frames with just two walks and a hit. After five, it's still 7-1 Claws.

Sixth inning: Santana reaches on an infield single, but is caught stealing by Skipworth, who has an absolute hose behind the plate. That proves costly when Villar smacks a ground-rule double into the corner. Jiwan James bounces into a fielder's choice to end the frame and keep it 7-1 Claws.

Seventh inning: Jiwan James makes a FANTASTIC catch in center. He went full-extension to rob a Greensboro of a sure double.

Lakewood also goes quietly, with Sebastian Valle fanning to end the frame.

Eighth inning: Greensboro goes quietly in its half, ended when Siulman Lebron freezes Carlos Paulino on a 90-mph fastball on the black.

After a two-out single from Darin Ruf, Santana fans to end the eighth. Claws three outs from a win.

Ninth inning: Jordan Ellis gives up three in the ninth, but recovered to keep the Grasshoppers off the board and put a win in the books.

While the Thunder are on the road, I have to find a way to fill my time (and this blog) with relevant coverage. So, with that in mind, here's what I have planned for the rest of the month when (a) the team is out of town, or (b) I'm not covering.

Tomorrow and Sunday: I'll be in Lakewood to watch the BlueClaws take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers. I'll be on the look out for Claws outfielders Domingo Santana, Jiwan James and Anthony Hewitt, as well as Greensboro catcher Kyle Skipworth. Baseball America ranks Santana and James as the No. 10 and 11 prospects in the system, respectively. Baseball Prospectus has James at 7 and Santana at 9.

BA ranks Skipworth at the Marlins' 7th-best prospect; BP has him at No. 9.
Wednesday: This could be a double-duty day. I'm definitely headed up to Harrisburg in the morning to see Stephen Strasburg (perhaps you've heard of him) face Yohan Flande and the Reading Phillies. After seeing Phillippe Aumont on Wednesday, Flande will complete my viewing of the two best prospects the R-Phils' rotation has to offer. Also, the thought of Strasburg facing Domonic Brown is tantalizing to say the least.

Then, if I'm feeling up to the drive, I'll head down to Wilmington, Del. to see the Blue Rocks take on the Kinston Indians. The matchup that night pits Alex White, Cleveland's first-rounder last year, against the Chris Dwyer, Kansas City's fourth-round selection in 2009. Wilmington also has slugging first baseman Eric Hosmer in its lineup, so that would sweeten the deal.

Saturday: I'm headed up to New York's Hospital for Special Surgery to hear presentations about platelet-rich plasma therapy, rotator-cuff surgery and Tommy John surgery. These are relevant to the Thunder for a couple of reasons. Alan Horne is scheduled to undergo PRP therapy in lieu of rotator-cuff surgery, and Christian Garcia may need to have a second TJ surgery.

Sweetening the deal is the fact that the TJ presentation is being given by Dr. David Altchek, the man who would perform Garcia's operation if he needs one. In any case, Garcia will meet with Altchek on Monday in New York.