Carlos Carrasco, still only 21, was quite impressive in his 6 starts with Lehigh Valley, going 2-2 with a 1.72 ERA in 36.2 IP. He walked 13 and struck out 46, for a WHIP of 1.36. Opponents hit .250 against him. On the year between Reading and Lehigh Valley, he threw 151 innings and struck out 155 with a combined ERA of 3.69. Projection: I believe he will start the year in Lehigh Valley and depending upon his performance, could be looking at the #3 starter job in Philly by mid year, depending upon trades, injuries, and the always apparant “Eaton factor”. (That being those pitchers who are horrendous who the Phillies have paid millions of dollars, thus creating a rotation obligation)
JA Happ, 25, finished the year 8-7 with a 3.6o ERA in 23 starts. He threw 135.0 innings for the ‘Pigs, walked 48 and struck out a league leading 151. His WHIP was 1.21 and opponents hit only .234 against him. Even with the good numbers, he was called up twice by the Phils which kept his minor league numbers down a bit. Projection: Happ was spectacular in several starts, excellent in others and got bombed in a few, creating the 3.60 ERA. I, for one, would be disappointed if Happ wasnt the #5 starter next year in Philly. He has been a good soldier, waiting for his opportunity without complaint, and he is clearly every bit as good, and probably significantly better than Eaton/Kendrick.
Brian Mazone, 32, went from the IL All Star team to a 5.63 post all star break ERA in an up and down year. Mazone overall was 9-12 with a 4.10 ERA in 164.2 innings, throwing in a league leading 28 starts. He was very dependable going every 5 days, walking 36 and striking out 116. He had a WHIP of 1.29 and opponents hit .279 against him. He gave up a problematic 20 home run balls. Projection: Mazone must have been frustarted this year with the call ups and Happ and even more so of Walrond ahead of him. I would be a bit surprised to see Mazone back with the ‘Pigs although he gives a professional effort every 5 days.
After being acquired early in the season from the Cubs organization, Les Walrond, 31, acquitted himself very well for the ‘Pigs, going a deceiving 5-8 with a very good 3.32 ERA in 21 games including 17 starts. Several of the starts were minor league masterpieces including a 17 strikeout effort. On the year, he threw 111 innings for the ‘Pigs, walking 42 and striking out 105. His WHIP was 1.33 and oppoenents hit .257 off of him. Projection: I would imagine that Walrond would stick around in AAA for the ‘Pigs next year awaiting an opportunity in Philadelphia. The Phillies thought enough of him for a September recall, so I would imagine another year in the Valley seems likely.
Travis Blackley, 25, was picked up with some moderately high hopes which he did not fulfill. He was 5-10 with a 5.41 ERA in 21 starts this year, pitching poorly enough to be removed from the rotation at the end of the year. He walked 59 and struck out 87 in 123 innings, allowing opponents a .275 batting average. There were times he had decent stuff but often alcked the composure to put a bad inning behind him. Projection: The fact that he throws lefthanded may provide him another chance in Lehigh Valley next year, but absent his left arm, he didnt show much other than a good pick off move.
Jason Anderson, 29, was fair at best in relief for Lehigh Valley this year going 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 30 appearances. He walked 14 and struck out 34 in 44 IP, with a WHIP of 1.59. Opponents hit a very high .313 against him. Projection: Anderson is at the stage an organization filler in my opinion and will be treated that way until his numbers significantly improve.
Matt Childers, 29, was the Iron Pigs closer this year and did a very good job until the end of the season when, during the last month, he was roughed up often. Overall, he was 3-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 53 appearances, earning 20 saves. He pitched 66.2 innings and walked 18, while striking out 68. His WHIP was 1.38 and opponents hit .279 on him. His ERA in August was 8.49 causing his yearly numbers to skyrocket. Projection: Hopefully he returns to lehigh Valley as he is a contributor when not overused, but his age (and more often than not, his stuff) takes him out of prospect status.
Steve Green, 30, pitched extremely well for the ‘Pigs this year, going 5-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 35 games. His season was interrupted by his placement on the Canadien Olympic Team. In 67 innings for the ‘Pigs, he gave up only 56 hits, walked 29, and struck out 71. His WHIP was 1.27 and opponents hit .227 against him. He fulfilled many roles on the team from “long man” to middle relief, with even a spot start. Projection: I like Green. He has good stuff that is comparable to Clay COndrey’s, and I hope he stays in the organization, but I am sure Green will go where the greatest opportunity presents itself at the age of 30.
Stephen Randolph, 34, was acquired mid season and did a good job for the ‘Pigs as a Left handed specialist, going 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 35 games. He threw 47.1 innings, giving up 29 hits, while walking 31 and striking out 75. His WHIP was 1.27 and opponents hit only .176 against him. His stats are very interestting as he is simply dominant when he can get the ball over the plate. This is the issue that has held him back from being a contributor in the majors previosuly and will continue to. Projection: Randolph has the stuff to be very good. He, however, is 34 and the Phillies surely dont have him in their plans with the call ups of a half a dozen other lefties this season. It would be nice to have Randolph back in Lehigh Valley, but anything is possible from retirement to another organization.
Notes: Infielder Oscar Robles was released by the ‘Pigs on Tuesday.
First Baseman Andy Tracy , recalled by the Phillies, is now out for the year with a broken finger.
Phuture Phillies 
Good job, as usual but you missed Swindle. Did he get picked up by another club after he was DFA? Carpenter will probably move to AAA. I’m not sure he’s earned it but he is up with the Phils.
Who, from AA, do you want to see with the Pigs next year? I was looking at the roster and I’m not sure who’s ready. Bastardo, Brummett and Garcia have to at least start in Reading. Maybe by mid-season, you’ll see one or more of them. That leaves a few open spots for Starters. Overholt melted down at the end of the year but I think he’ll be moved to AAA. Escalona double jumped to AA this year so I think he’ll open the year at AA. Durbin’s available….
I’m not seeing many prospects in the pitching arena at LHV next year. Carrasco, Carpenter and who? You’ve had such a difficult year that I was hoping you’d get a lot of young exciting talent next year. There will be some position players though. I’m sure that’s coming in your next write-up.
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I have to say Blackley disappointed me. I remember reading his pre injury scouting reports from 2005 and he was very highly regarded…some guys just never make it back though.
Carrasco should be the 1st guy called up next season…I dont seem him making the rotation in the Spring.
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The Phillies are going to have a logjam at starting pitcher next spring. Hamels and Myers are locks. Moyer is probably just good enough that the team will not risk the embarassment of letting him go and Blanton is slotted so, unless he is traded, he’s not going anywhere (at least not last year). This leaves one spot for Kendrick and Happ to fight over and no apparent room for Carrasco. I don’t count Eaton as I think he’ll be released this offseason (following which, he will promptly go on to win 20 games for the Mariners). There’s not a lot of room for up and coming players. On the other hand, aside from Hamels and, perhaps, Myers, nobody in the rotation is all that great, either.
All of this suggests to me that things will be fluid next year. What I hope they don’t do, however, is banish Happ to triple A. I think they are at the point where jerking him around has hurt his effectiveness. He never knows what team he’s going to play for and what slot he will be playing in. I believe they think too much of Carrasco to let the same thing happen to him.
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I did forget Swindle who had an excellent year at AAA. There isnt much gray area with Swindle as people either love him or think he will never get an out again. He was removed from the Phillies 40 man roster but other than that I dont have any further info on him. I hope he is back, the ‘Pigs can use him. As far as the rotation, I would expect Carpenter and Carrasco for sure, I also think Walrond will be back. A surprise in the Iron Pig rotation at the beginning of the year may be Kyle Kendrick if he doesnt have a very good spring. Other than that, it will be two “organization fillers”, to fill the final two rotation spots. I agree than Brummett, bastardo and Garcia have not shown enough to take the next step to AAA.
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The Phillies have 10 days to trade him, option him outright to the minors, (making him available to other teams to sign to their 40-man roster) or release him. I haven’t seen anywhere that they made that decision yet…
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RJ Swindle is, in IMO, going to have an extended big league career. He is a bit of an oddity, but he knows how to pitch and, as Moyer shows us again and again, a lefty can find a niche doing this and play a loooooooooong time in the majors. The question, for me, is whether he is truly ready for this challenge and exactly how and where he will fit in.
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Kendrick belongs in AAA to start next year to work on his third pitch. I’m tired of watching him try to hone his craft in the majors. That being said I feel badly for him as while his peripherals look horrible he was a good soldier last year when called upon and obviuusly not ready gave his best shot and did well (record wise at least). Start him in AAA and then if he blows them away after working on his third pitch bring him up midyear.
As far as Happ and Carrasco go I’d like to see both with a shot at the ML roster and give it to whoever has the best spring training. Open competition for the 5th pitcher can only be a good thing.
Also I don’t know why Randolph was never given a shot at the Scott Eyre role. I know Eyre’s done well, but if not Randolph (his stats were good) then why did they bring him here in the first place mid-year? Strange.
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Happ will most likely get the 5th pitcher spot next year. Hopefully the Phils realized how they treated him this season. The AAA rotation may look a bit odd. Carrasco Will probably start out there, Kendrick will hopefully be there, then Carpenter, and then its a mystery.
I hope Happ does well if he gets the job. If he doesn’t, we have Carrasco waiting in the wings.
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A Triple AAA Rotation of
Kendrick
Carrasco
Carpenter
Walrond and
Swindle if he accepts assignment would be nice.
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SirAlden, Swindle is not a starter and never will be….As far as Randolph goes, the only answer must be that the Phils are frightened by his control which has always been an issue.
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I love to debate prospects but a couple of people just keep memtion swindle. We saw him in person, what’s the big deal with this guy. That people just keep on bringing him up.
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I was actually saw Rj Swindle when he at Charleston Southern. He throws this 55mph curve ball andwhen he threw it for his phillies debut, it brought a lot ooohs and awws from the crowd… the only problem I had with him, is it seems to be that his curveball is very hittable in the majors. I hope I’m wrong, I want this guy to be our nasty lefty setupman
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Steven Randolph has always had a million dollar arm and a ten cent head. Teams have waited for years for him to put it together. It’s not going to happen. He gets into periods where he can’t find the plate even when it’s being point to..
R J Swindle is a guy getting as much mileage out of his talent as possible. He’s kind of the Chris Coste of pitchers. You want to cheer for him and see him do well. I don’t think it’s ever going to happen. I’ll be surprised if he even is with the Phillies next year.
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Swindle should be brought in for ONE lefty or TWO lefties in a row. He was completely MISUSED when he was here. He was not used as a Lefty Out Man.
He faced more righty batters than lefties. He should get another chance in the Majors.
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anyone have thoughts of HAPP as a eight inning type
he has the nerve.
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Swindle may get another chance in the bigs but I doubt it will be with the Phillies. With pitchers like Happ, Savory, and Bastardo emerging Swindle has little chance to stick.
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I not sure Happ has the makeup or repertory to be an everyday Eddie. None of his pitches are out pitches like Lidge or Durbin have. He takes awhile to adjust when he’s pitching.
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Other then Happ and Carresco, I seriously doubt any of those pitchers mentioned will be in the Phillies system next year.
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According to the Phils website, they DFA’d Swindle on 9/8 and on 9/9 they sent him outright to Lehigh Valley. Swindle is now listed on the IronPigs roster at MiLB. I assume this means he remains property of the Phils…unless he becomes a minor league FA this year…has he been in the minors six years? (If so, I think that makes him a FA.)
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it seems like they want HAPP to fail so they can be right.
They seem to favor ground ball pitchers even tho lifting a
bad low pitch is so much easier.
Has anyone seen Mike Cisco pitch or have any idea about his future?
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