Santana Out, Condrey In

Phillies place RP Julio Santana on DL; Clay Condrey promoted

Clay Condrey is a 30-year old righthanded pitcher who has a 2.19 ERA with 1 save, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts in 12.1 innings pitched. He has some big league experience (18 games, 60.2 IP, 5.69 ERA with San Diego in 2002 and 2003), but has spent the past two full seasons with Scranton/WB of the International League (5.46 ERA in 155 IP in 2004, 4.15 ERA in 132.1 IP in 2005). He hadn't done quite enough to merit a mention on our AAA players to watch list, but that was probably a mistake on our end as the Phillies have made no secret of their desire to look a players exactly like Condrey for the last bullpen spot.

"Fun" Facts About Clayton Lee Condrey:

• Condrey will turn 31-years old on November 19 - the same day Ryan Howard will turn 27.
• He is a graduate of McNeese State University - one of only 7 major leaguers who can say that. 4 of those 7 are now active big leaguers: Condrey, Bobby Howry, Ben Broussard, and Rockies catcher Danny Ardoin.
• Originally a 94th round draft pick of the New York Yankees back in 1996 - the 1728th overall selection that year.

Condrey has worked out of the bullpen his entire pro career up until the Padres switched him to the rotation in AAA of 2002. He responded with one of his best minor league years, earned a promotion to the majors (with good results), and was considered a starter from that point forward. The Phillies wisely swapped him back to the bullpen this year, where the scouting reports have been positive - increase of velocity (sits at 86-88, touches 91), better command of the fastball, etc. Nobody is saying that Condrey developed great stuff at the age of 30, but he has done a better job of locating his pitches of late and could help the big league club if used properly. He certainly is at least as good an option as Julio Santana (if not quite as good as Yoel Hernandez could have been) for the time being.