Where should Savery start next year?

Savery, Joe

Where should The Savior start in 2008? Lakewood? Clearwater? Reading? Philadelphia? The Phillies have hinted he could start at either Clearwater or Reading, who knows. What do you think?

20 thoughts on “Where should Savery start next year?”

  1. Clearwater. If he tears it up, you can quickly promote him to Reading. But, and maybe this is glass half empty thinking, if he starts at Reading and really, really struggles, you hate to hurt his confidence by sending him to Clearwater to get straightened out.

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  2. Lakewood. You can promote him to Reading from there as easily as from CLW. He’s not going to have many IP this season.

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  3. Lakewood. No doubt about it. Let him get his feet wet, there’s no need to rush him. He’s only 21. If he tears up the league after 8 or 10 starts then promote him to Clearwater. Five or ten strong starts later, promote him again to Reading with the intention of starting him at AA Reading in 2008. I’d love to see him in a pennant race in 2008 with Reading. Since AAA Ottawa/Allentown probably has no shot at a title, he’s better off in AA pitching in games that matter.

    I envision Savery coming to Spring Training in ’09 with an outside chance to make the staff, but more likely he should start ’09 at AAA and simply pitch his way to the bigs, either as a mid or late season call-up.

    All this talk about 2008 is overdone. It is highly unlikely that Savery going to be ready as a 22 year old with one pro season under his belt. Very few pitchers can fast track like Hamels did. His name is Savery, not Saviour. If he dominates in the minors then more power to him, but to expect him to be a major contributor before 2010 is wishful thinking. The same goes for Carrasco.

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  5. I think the same about Carrasco, and I don’t think it’s impossible for Savery to be in the rotation in 2009. While not everyone fast tracks like Hamels, a few pitchers have done it recently. If things mostly go like everyone around the organization is hoping, I think the only way Savery isn’t given a legitimate shot at the 2009 starting rotation is if he’s being blocked by someone else. By that time the Phils might actually have five legitimate starters already.

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  6. Lakewood. Let’s keep in mind that this kid (emphasis on the word “kid”) pitched well in college but wasn’t exactly the second coming of Mark Prior (well – the college Mark Prior). While there is talk of how well he will do once he “focuses on pitching, without the hitting/fielding duties” that still remains to be seen so I think we all should relax and let him move along. As mentioned by a few of the wise sages here, if he dominates you just move him up. There is no rule that says you can’t move every 10 games or so – let’s base it on production and not projection.

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  7. Clearwater. Polished college pitchers who are number one picks should not go to Low A. They need to be challenged with more advanced hitters. Someone like Maloney got the longer route through Lakewood because he has lesser stuff.

    This year I would stick to Williamsport unless he is throwing well and there is a playoff opportunity at the end of the year in either Lakewood or even Clearwater. No hurry to promote him this year for a handful of innings.

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  8. Methinks Carrasco starts out next year in Reading, he needs to improve his command before he’s ready for Philadelphia.

    It would be nice if the Phillies could go a couple of years before rushing pitching prospects up to the bigs before they’re ready.

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  9. This is my personal opinion. I think Savery should start next season in Clearwater. The warmer weather is better for him than pitching in 45 degree weather in Lakewood. He’ll eventually have to get used to pitching in cold weather, but no sense doing it before it’s necessary. I think he should spend the first two or three months in Clearwater, and if he displays good control and good strikeout numbers, move him to Reading. If he handles the promotion well for 2 months, the command and K numbers are still there, I’d put him in the major league bullpen in September. It’s a good way to keep his innings down for the last month of the season, while also getting him used to the big league atmosphere and what is expected at that level in terms of preparation. In spring training in 2009, I’d give him a shot to win a rotation spot. If he doesn’t get it done, send him to Allentown and let him take his turn every 5th day.

    As for Carrasco, I think he should get called up once the rosters expand. I’m not particularly worried about it burning an option year, and I’m pretty sure it WONT, as long as he isn’t sent back down to the minors once he’s called up. Again, it allows you to keep an eye on his innings for the last month, and it gives him some experience around the major league environment. Give him the same shot of winning a starting spot in 2008 in ST, if he’s not ready, he heads to Allentown and starts every 5th day until an injury comes up.

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  10. Clearwater, because of the warm spring weather. Then move him up to Reading in June when the rainy weather comes.

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  11. The questions are whether he can strengthen his arm for a full ML season of games…and…whether he has all 3 pitches effective and under control.

    The innings he needs to arm his arm can be had at either Clwtr or Reading…but most likely he’ll start at Clwtr and move up to Reading during the season assuming he’s done well along the way.

    The need he’d satisfy at the ML level COULD be a bonanza for the team…but he needs to pay some dues to refine his skills and make him ready.

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  13. This question may have actually been answered in an article I just saw – from the Phils Director of Minor Leagues discussing Savery’s first outing:

    “If he continues to do what he did today,” said Noworyta, “then you take your time making the decision whether you put him in [low Class A] Lakewood this year. Or you just wait and finish it out here and then maybe make a double jump next year.” *

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  14. I’m right along with James in his assessments. Clearwater for the warm weather, then move him on up. I think he should finish this season out right where he’s at and maybe work on adding another pitch to his arsenal that can be at least major-league average, much like Cole Hamels has done by adding a curveball.

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  15. Geez, Savery has only pitched 3 innings in short season ball so far….

    Yes, but he isn’t a high school pitcher with no experience, he pitched at a major college program, and before the injury, was considered one of the 5 best players in the country, and the top pitching prospect. If it were Justin Verlander out of college, would you suggest he go real slow? The only issue for Savery is health, and it always has been. He’s immensely talented, and if he’s healthy, he should move quickly on his own. The Phillies holding him back would be foolish.

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  16. He won’t be ready in 2008 anyways so why rush him. Put him in Lakewood, and let him work his stuff.

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  17. I think that once he gets accustomed to life in the “pros”, he’ll move fast. Look for a start at High A Clearwater, with a midseason promotion to AA Reading, maybe even Allentown. Best case scenario would be Savior in the Phillies ‘pen in 2009.

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  18. I don’t like holding young players back either. But I would
    like to see more than 3 innings out of Savery before
    making wild projections about his future.

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  20. What about Scott Matheson in the rotation before those two. What’s up with him after the Tommy John? He’s projected as a starter next, but no talk of him when the roster is discussed with regard to trades.

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