Weekend Update
As the Phillies starting pitching goes, so goes the Phillies. At this point, the only way a fan can look at the starting pitching with out going crazy is by trying to stay as optimistic as humanly possible. Maybe Brett Myers can pitch everyday. Maybe Cole Hamels will come back strong and actually stay on the field for the rest of '06. Maybe Ryan Madson's arm slot issues really were the cause for his troubles and he'll begin to figure out how to manage his mechanics and achieve success as a starter. Maybe the time off will allow Jon Lieber to get back to being the Jon Lieber of 2005. Maybe the talk about Ryan Franklin moving to the rotation is all a big lie...or maybe after a disastrous start or two, the Phillies will finally realize he isn't a big leaguer and will dump him from the club. Maybe Cory Lidle will...well, actually I've got nothing to say about Cory Lidle. Cory Lidle has been Cory Lidle and, assuming no catastrophic world events take place in the near future, will continue to be Cory Lidle.
While on the subject of starting pitching, I must confess that I am absolutely at a lost to explain the excitement felt by some Phillies fans over the promotion of Eude Brito to the big club. This excitement may not be a widespread thing so this may not be relevant to all, but I've gotten the impression that the Phillies fans I've talked to think that Brito can actually serve as a vital cog in the rotation for a team trying to win a division. I'm not down on Eude Brito because of his one ugly start in the majors this season nor do I believe that he is an utterly useless ballplayer - I just happen to think he can help a major league team in some capacity though not necessarily the Phillies (and not necessarily as a starting pitcher). I look at Eude Brito and see a AAA guy who will be turning 28 in August of this year - a guy that posted pretty numbers at AAA (5-2 record, 3.02 ERA), but not so pretty peripherals (32 K/23 BB ratio in 56.2 IP, plus more fly outs than ground outs).
I'm not mad about Eude Brito starting for the Phillies for the simple fact that he is absolutely needed. The Phillies needed a starter for Saturday's game and their only legit options on the 40-man roster were Daniel Haigwood, Scott Mathieson, and Zack Segovia - all AA guys. Giving Haigwood or Mathieson (both flyball pitchers thus far this year) a trial start pitching in Dodger Stadium might have been a good idea, but going with Brito was a safer, perhaps smarter in the long-term kind of move.
One last thing...Pat Burrell/Bobby Abreu to the Yankees...Aaron Rowand back to the White Sox for Jon Garland...I'm not buying it, not even the slightest bit...only time will tell if there was any truth to these trade rumors, but until I see something more than the irresponsible speculation typical of the New York papers or hear something more than that hack Kevin Kennedy throw out the Rowand-Garland rumor on the Fox Saturday broadcast pre-game show, I'll remain confident that the Phillies starting outfield won't be changing anytime soon (unless Aaron Rowand gets into another fight with an oufield wall...)
Enough about all that...we've got four days of minor league games to catch up on...on to the minors...
AAA Scranton-WB
* Josh Kroeger: 1-11, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K, OF assist
* Danny Sandoval: 0-7, RBI, 2 K, E (7)
* Brennan King: 5-15, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
* Chris Roberson: 4-15, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 CS (12/19 SB)
* Carlos Ruiz: 3-15, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 3 K
* Travis Minix: 3.1 IP 1 H 0 ER 1 BB 2 K
* Ryan Cameron (2 S, 6): 2 IP 1 H 0 ER 1 BB 1 K
* Seung Lee (W, 5-4): 6 IP 3 H 1 ER 1 BB 1 K
Is it finally time to move Julio Santana in some way (maybe the 60-day DL?) to free up a 40-man roster spot so that another one of these Red Baron relievers (Minix or Cameron) can better position themselves for a promotion to Philly?
AA Reading
* Michael Bourn: 5-17, 2 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K
* Tim Moss: suspended
* Jason Jaramillo: DL
* Angel Chavez: 7-15, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB, K, SB
* Jorge Padilla (Mets): 0-3
* Shawn Chacon (Yankees): 5 IP 4 H 3 ER 2 BB 3 K
* Daniel Haigwood (L, 1-4): 7 IP 2 H 1 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Gio Gonzalez (L, 2-5): 6.1 IP 10 H 5 ER 1 BB 5 K
* Nick Evangelista (W, 1-0): 1.2 IP 0 H 0 ER 2 BB 0 K
* Zack Segovia: 6 IP 9 H 5 ER 2 BB 5 K
With Moss suspended and Jaramillo still on the DL, that Reading lineup is even more devoid of any kind of big league talent than usual - that's really saying something when you consider the loss of two guys with questionable prospect status like both Moss and Jaramillo a big loss. Ouch. Jorge Padilla gets a mention because he is a former Phillie...and a guy whom Mike Arbuckle once said had the upside of Bobby Abreu. Ouch.
Nick Evangelista continues to impress...the 24-year old reliever has only pitched 1.2 innings with Reading since his promotion to AA, but should move to the top of the list of R-Phils relief prospects waiting on the call to Scranton...in some cases it is good to be patient with a prospect, but other times you have to move them quicker than you had once planned...
High A Clearwater
* Mike Costanzo: 1-9, 4 BB, 6 K
* Brad Harman: 1-14, R, 3 BB, 3 K, CS, PO
* Bryan Hansen: 1-15, 2 RBI, R, HBP, 4 K, E (1)
* Tuffy Gosewisch: 4-11, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
* Blake Dewitt - Dodgers - : 3-14, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K, SB
* Travis Denker - Dodgers - : 2-11, 5 BB, 2 K, E, CS
* Scott Elbert - Dodgers - (W, 4-4): 6 IP 3 H 1 ER 4 BB 7 K
Is it just me or has Clearwater played Vero Beach about 20 times in the past month? Dewitt and Denker are two impressive infield prospects for the Dodgers and Elbert is quick riser with a bright future for the men in blue...
* J.A. Happ (L, 2-6): 6 IP 8 H 4 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Jeremy Griffith (W, 4-4): 7 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 2 BB 5 K
* Julio De La Cruz: 6 IP 8 H 3 ER 1 BB 4 K
* Andrew Baldwin (W, 2-5): 7 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 10 K
Gosewisch threw out three base runners in one game over the weekend...that's a silver lining for an otherwise dreadful weekend for the Thresher lineup. On the plus side, the pitching was excellent...as soon as there is room in the Reading rotation, J.A. Happ needs to get the call...
Low A Lakewood
* Greg Golson: 4-16, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 K, SB, CS, E (2), OF assist
* Welinson Baez: 1-10, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
* Lou Marson: 1-9, 2 R, BB, 5 K
* Jeremy Slayden: 4-13, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB, 3 K, E (2), OF assist
* Clay Harris: 0-12, 2 R, BB, 5 K
* Sean Gamble: 3-10, RBI, BB, CS
* Cole Hamels: 5.2 IP 3 H 1 ER 2 BB 3 K
* Brett Harker (L, 0-1): 2 IP 5 H 3 ER 1 BB 2 K
* Matt Maloney: 6 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 1 BB 6 K
* Pat Overholt (L, 3-2): 0 IP 2 H 3 ER 1 BB 0 K
* Scott Mitchinson: 6 IP 5 H 2 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Andy Barb (W, 3-2): 3 IP 0 H 0 ER 1 BB 5 K
* Carlos Carrasco (W, 4-3): 7 IP 5 H 1 R 0 ER 4 BB 3 K
Greg Golson and Jeremy Slayden had strange weekends together - both guy had 4 hits, a double, 2 RBI, 3 K, an OF assist, and each made their second errors of the season.
Hamels rehab start went well enough - he'll be ready to go for the big club on Tuesday...Maloney and Mitchinson continue the race to see which player gets promoted to Clearwater first...Carrasco continues to build his case as the best Phillies prospect in the system now that Cole Hamels is in Philly - that's right, the best prospect in the system...
While on the subject of starting pitching, I must confess that I am absolutely at a lost to explain the excitement felt by some Phillies fans over the promotion of Eude Brito to the big club. This excitement may not be a widespread thing so this may not be relevant to all, but I've gotten the impression that the Phillies fans I've talked to think that Brito can actually serve as a vital cog in the rotation for a team trying to win a division. I'm not down on Eude Brito because of his one ugly start in the majors this season nor do I believe that he is an utterly useless ballplayer - I just happen to think he can help a major league team in some capacity though not necessarily the Phillies (and not necessarily as a starting pitcher). I look at Eude Brito and see a AAA guy who will be turning 28 in August of this year - a guy that posted pretty numbers at AAA (5-2 record, 3.02 ERA), but not so pretty peripherals (32 K/23 BB ratio in 56.2 IP, plus more fly outs than ground outs).
I'm not mad about Eude Brito starting for the Phillies for the simple fact that he is absolutely needed. The Phillies needed a starter for Saturday's game and their only legit options on the 40-man roster were Daniel Haigwood, Scott Mathieson, and Zack Segovia - all AA guys. Giving Haigwood or Mathieson (both flyball pitchers thus far this year) a trial start pitching in Dodger Stadium might have been a good idea, but going with Brito was a safer, perhaps smarter in the long-term kind of move.
One last thing...Pat Burrell/Bobby Abreu to the Yankees...Aaron Rowand back to the White Sox for Jon Garland...I'm not buying it, not even the slightest bit...only time will tell if there was any truth to these trade rumors, but until I see something more than the irresponsible speculation typical of the New York papers or hear something more than that hack Kevin Kennedy throw out the Rowand-Garland rumor on the Fox Saturday broadcast pre-game show, I'll remain confident that the Phillies starting outfield won't be changing anytime soon (unless Aaron Rowand gets into another fight with an oufield wall...)
Enough about all that...we've got four days of minor league games to catch up on...on to the minors...
AAA Scranton-WB
* Josh Kroeger: 1-11, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K, OF assist
* Danny Sandoval: 0-7, RBI, 2 K, E (7)
* Brennan King: 5-15, 3B, 2B, 2 RBI, R, BB, 2 K
* Chris Roberson: 4-15, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 CS (12/19 SB)
* Carlos Ruiz: 3-15, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 3 K
* Travis Minix: 3.1 IP 1 H 0 ER 1 BB 2 K
* Ryan Cameron (2 S, 6): 2 IP 1 H 0 ER 1 BB 1 K
* Seung Lee (W, 5-4): 6 IP 3 H 1 ER 1 BB 1 K
Is it finally time to move Julio Santana in some way (maybe the 60-day DL?) to free up a 40-man roster spot so that another one of these Red Baron relievers (Minix or Cameron) can better position themselves for a promotion to Philly?
AA Reading
* Michael Bourn: 5-17, 2 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 5 K
* Tim Moss: suspended
* Jason Jaramillo: DL
* Angel Chavez: 7-15, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB, K, SB
* Jorge Padilla (Mets): 0-3
* Shawn Chacon (Yankees): 5 IP 4 H 3 ER 2 BB 3 K
* Daniel Haigwood (L, 1-4): 7 IP 2 H 1 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Gio Gonzalez (L, 2-5): 6.1 IP 10 H 5 ER 1 BB 5 K
* Nick Evangelista (W, 1-0): 1.2 IP 0 H 0 ER 2 BB 0 K
* Zack Segovia: 6 IP 9 H 5 ER 2 BB 5 K
With Moss suspended and Jaramillo still on the DL, that Reading lineup is even more devoid of any kind of big league talent than usual - that's really saying something when you consider the loss of two guys with questionable prospect status like both Moss and Jaramillo a big loss. Ouch. Jorge Padilla gets a mention because he is a former Phillie...and a guy whom Mike Arbuckle once said had the upside of Bobby Abreu. Ouch.
Nick Evangelista continues to impress...the 24-year old reliever has only pitched 1.2 innings with Reading since his promotion to AA, but should move to the top of the list of R-Phils relief prospects waiting on the call to Scranton...in some cases it is good to be patient with a prospect, but other times you have to move them quicker than you had once planned...
High A Clearwater
* Mike Costanzo: 1-9, 4 BB, 6 K
* Brad Harman: 1-14, R, 3 BB, 3 K, CS, PO
* Bryan Hansen: 1-15, 2 RBI, R, HBP, 4 K, E (1)
* Tuffy Gosewisch: 4-11, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K
* Blake Dewitt - Dodgers - : 3-14, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K, SB
* Travis Denker - Dodgers - : 2-11, 5 BB, 2 K, E, CS
* Scott Elbert - Dodgers - (W, 4-4): 6 IP 3 H 1 ER 4 BB 7 K
Is it just me or has Clearwater played Vero Beach about 20 times in the past month? Dewitt and Denker are two impressive infield prospects for the Dodgers and Elbert is quick riser with a bright future for the men in blue...
* J.A. Happ (L, 2-6): 6 IP 8 H 4 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Jeremy Griffith (W, 4-4): 7 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 2 BB 5 K
* Julio De La Cruz: 6 IP 8 H 3 ER 1 BB 4 K
* Andrew Baldwin (W, 2-5): 7 IP 6 H 2 ER 1 BB 10 K
Gosewisch threw out three base runners in one game over the weekend...that's a silver lining for an otherwise dreadful weekend for the Thresher lineup. On the plus side, the pitching was excellent...as soon as there is room in the Reading rotation, J.A. Happ needs to get the call...
Low A Lakewood
* Greg Golson: 4-16, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 K, SB, CS, E (2), OF assist
* Welinson Baez: 1-10, RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
* Lou Marson: 1-9, 2 R, BB, 5 K
* Jeremy Slayden: 4-13, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, BB, 3 K, E (2), OF assist
* Clay Harris: 0-12, 2 R, BB, 5 K
* Sean Gamble: 3-10, RBI, BB, CS
* Cole Hamels: 5.2 IP 3 H 1 ER 2 BB 3 K
* Brett Harker (L, 0-1): 2 IP 5 H 3 ER 1 BB 2 K
* Matt Maloney: 6 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 1 BB 6 K
* Pat Overholt (L, 3-2): 0 IP 2 H 3 ER 1 BB 0 K
* Scott Mitchinson: 6 IP 5 H 2 ER 1 BB 7 K
* Andy Barb (W, 3-2): 3 IP 0 H 0 ER 1 BB 5 K
* Carlos Carrasco (W, 4-3): 7 IP 5 H 1 R 0 ER 4 BB 3 K
Greg Golson and Jeremy Slayden had strange weekends together - both guy had 4 hits, a double, 2 RBI, 3 K, an OF assist, and each made their second errors of the season.
Hamels rehab start went well enough - he'll be ready to go for the big club on Tuesday...Maloney and Mitchinson continue the race to see which player gets promoted to Clearwater first...Carrasco continues to build his case as the best Phillies prospect in the system now that Cole Hamels is in Philly - that's right, the best prospect in the system...
posted by XXX at 11:49 AM
2 Comments:
Is Hamels starting Thursday, replacing Floyd? I read that on my fantasy wire as a possibility. Rowand back to the White Sox for Garland wouldn't make sense. That would be mean the ChiSox would have gotten Thome/Rowand for Garland. Nope, I can't approve that.
If someone was to be traded I think it would be Pat Burrell. For whom, I don't know. My only guess would be for starting pitching of some sort. BTW my pic for best Phillie of the year thus far would be Tom Gordon. Isn't he up to 17 saves now?
I seriously believe that pitching will be the factor of whom will win the NL East. Whoever has the most effective rotation/pen during the last month or so in the season will come out ahead.
The Breakdown:
The Mets have been in first for the majority of the year. Everyone is waiting for their pitching to fall off. Injuries have halted the team a little but they've worked through them so far.
The Phillies after a slow start, showed signs of life by going on a winning streak and teetering near the top of the division.
The Braves at times have played really well showing their still a force to be reckon with. Then comes the other times that the team looks clueless. Their bullpen hasn't improved and their starting pitching has been too shaky.
I don't think the Nationals are on tap for a divisional pennant, but both them and the Marlins will defintely be playing the roles of spoiler when late August/September comes around.
Sorry to ramble on..I guess it's due in large part of the Braves bad play and watching the Mets lead grow.
One other thing...I posted about Greg Maddux possibly returning to Atlanta. Even though I would rather not see this happen, but do you think he would fit in as a Phillie? Maddux is in his last year of his contract and I think he would probably be dealt by the deadline to a contending team. Then again he may just ride it out as a Cub.
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