End of the Year Report–Starters, Bottom Half

Around the System

Clearly the strength of the Minor League system, the starting pitching at the bottom half of the system has the potential to place several members into the Phils rotation by 2013.  Next year could be a real juggling act with a lot of talent and a limited number of spots. Look for the first of the reports on the bullpen on Friday.

Lakewood

Jared Cosart, 20, 14 starts, 7-3 with a 3.79 ERA; 71.1 IP 60H 16BB 77K, 1.93 GO/AO, .224 opp. avg., .234 vs. LH, .218 vs. RH, .314 with RISP, 1.06 WHIP. Cosart’s health problems continued in 2010 as he missed the last two plus months of the season with elbow issues.  When he pitched prior to his injury he was somewhere between very good and dominant in the SALLY.  With only 14 starts at Lakewood under his belt, the Phils may give him a month with the BlueClaws before the move up to Clearwater.

Brody Colvin, 20, 27 starts, 6-8 with a 3.39 ERA; 138 IP 138H 42BB 120K, 7HR allowed, 1.25 GO/AO, .258 opp. avg., .242 vs. LH, .270 vs. RH, .224 with RISP, 1.30 WHIP, 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA Post All Star. Colvin dominated after getting his feet on the ground in the SALLY (see Post All Star stats). The Phils 7th round draft pick in 2009 should open 2011 in the Clearwater rotation.

Nicholas Hernandez, 22, Lakewood: 8 starts, 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA; 56 IP, 38H 8BB 52K 0.93 GO/AO, .192 opp. avg. Hernandez dominated in Lakewood early and then hurt himself in Mid May.  His comeback attempts in the  GCL did not go well as he made 2 appearances in July, and two more in August never throwing more than 3 innings.  He is expected to throw 25-30 innings in the Florida Instructional league. I would think he starts 2011 back in Lakewood to assure his health, before a move to Clearwater or even Reading.

Trevor May, 21, Clearwater: 16 games, 5-5 with a 5.01 ERA; 70IP 53H 61BB 90K, 7 Hr allowed, 0.76 GO/AO, .212 opp. avg., 1.77 WHIP. Lakewood, 11 starts, 7-3 with a 2.91 ERA, 65IP 51H 20BB 92K 3 HR allowed, 0.78 GO/AO, .214 opp. avg, .206 vs. LH, .221 vs. RH, .255 with RISP, 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA since Aug 1. 1.09 WHIP. TOTALS: 27 games, 12-8 with a 4.00 ERA; 135IP 104H 81BB 182K, 0.77 GO/AO, .213 opp. avg. Opponents could not hit May in either the FSL or the SALLY, the difference for May being he threw strikes once he was sent back to Lakewood.  I see the May, the Phils 4th round pick in the ’08 draft starting the year in CLearwater with a potential June callup to Reading if he is throwing up to his capability.

Jonathan Pettibone, 20, 24 games, 8-6 with a 3.49 ERA; 131.1 IP 114H 41BB 84K, 10 HR allowed, 1.50 GO/AO, .237 opp. avg., .207 vs. LH, .256 vs. RH, .197 with RISP, 6-4 with a 2.41 ERA in 12 Post All Star starts.  Pettibone came on very strong in the second half of the season and was a key cog in the Championship wheel for the BlueClaws. Pettibone, who was the Phils 3rd round pick in 2008, should be starting 2011 in the Clearwater rotation.

Julio Rodriguez, 20, Williamsport: 7 games (5 starts), 34IP 25H 15BB 36K, 2 HR allowed, 1.24 GO/AO, .200 opp. avg., 1.14 WHIP. Lakewood: 13 games (7 starts), 5-1 with a 1.44 ERA; 56.1 IP 32H 22BB 90K, 2 HR allowed, 0.83 GO/AO, .160 opp. avg., .181 vs. LH, .145 vs. RH, .154 with RISP, 3-1 with a 0.69 ERA Post All Star; 0.96 WHIP. TOTALS: 20 games (12 starts), 7-3 with a 1.89 ERA, 90.1 IP, 57H 36BB 126K 1.00 GO/AO, .175 opp. avg. Perhaps the most dominant line among Pitchers in the Minor League system, Rodriguez remains a bit of a mystery with his radar gun reports ranging anywhere from 86-93.  An 8th Round pick in 2008, there really is no good reason to hold him in Lakewood, especially considering his continued excellence in the Lakewood Championship run.

Colby Shreve, 22, 23 games (18 starts), 7-5 with a 3.95 ERA; 109.1 IP 95H 30BB 76K, 11 HR allowed, 0.98 GO/AO, .234 opp. avg., .224 vs. LH, .242 vs. RH, .277 with RISP, 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA Post All Star. 1.14 WHIP. A very successful 2010 for Shreve who missed 2008 and 2009 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He did miss the last two weeks of the season on the DL, but I have not read that it is anything serious and I suspect that management wanted to limited Shreve’s innings. The big righty was the Phils 6th round pick in 2008. I would not be surprised to see him in Reading to start 2011, making him an age appropriate 23 year old.

Josh Zeid, 23, 43 games (12 starts), 8-4 with a 2.93 ERA; 8 saves, 107.1 IP 95H 27BB 111K, 7 HR allowed, 1.07 GO/AO, .238 opp. avg., .224 vs. LH, .247 vs. RH, .204 with RISP, 1.14 WHIP; 31 games as a reliever, 6-2 with a 3.06 ERA; 47IP 41H 13BB 49K, .240 opp. avg.; 12 starts: 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA; 60.1 IP 54H 14BB 62K. Zeid firmly placed himself on the radar screen this year earning a SAL All Star berth as a reliever and then throwing predominately as a starter during the second half of the season and pitching just as well.  Zeid has excellent control, and throws hard.  I would be surprised if he was not in Reading to start 2011 (24 yrs old to start the year), but your guess is as good as mine as to whether it will be in the ‘pen or rotation. Look for Zeid in the Arizona Fall League.

Williamsport

Jesse Biddle, 18, 12 starts between GCL and NYPL, 4-1 with a 3.92 ERA; 43.2 IP 40H 20BB 50K, 2 HR allowed, 0.98 GO/AO, .241 opp. avg. The Phils had to be pleased with what they initially saw out of their 2010 1st round pick.  I would look for him in the 2011 Lakewood rotation.

David Buchanan, 21, 13 starts, 3-1 with a 4.21 ERA; 62IP 61H 23BB 30K, 1 HR allowed, 2.08 GO/AO, .254 opp. avg., .243 vs. LH, .264 vs. RH, .224 with RISP.  Buchanan was solid for Williamsport with two very bad starts really inflating his ERA. The Phils 7th Round pick in the 2010 draft, Buchanan should be starting in Lakewood next year.

Lendy castillo, 21, 14 games (7 starts), all but his last game was in GCL. 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA; 49.2 IP 36H 20 BB 54K, 0.77 GO/AO, .206 opp. avg. Castilo transitioned to the mound last year and showed promise in the GCL this year, ending the year with Williamsport.  Look for Castillo in Lakewood in 2011.

Percy Garner, 21, 2 games , 0-2 with an 18.00 ERA in Williamsport. 4IP 8ER 1BB 1K. Garner, the Phils 2nd round pick out of Ball State was shut down quickly after two very poor outings.  I would expect him in the Williamsport rotation to start 2011.

Mario Hollands, 22, 14 starts, 4-4 with a 4.57 ERA; 65IP 63H 16BB 63K, 0.98 GO/AO, .252 opp. avg. 6 Hr allowed, .284 vs. LH, .237 vs. RH, .309 with RISP. Hollands, a lefty, was the Phils 10th round pick in the 2010 draft.  After looking very good out of the gate, he struggled down the stretch, possibly feeling the effects of the minors after the long college season.  2011: Lakewood

Ervis Manzanillo, 19, GCL: 7 starts, 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA; 33.1 IP 21H 11BB 33K , 1.86 GO/AO, .183 opp. avg. Williamsport: 6 starts, 1-2 with a 6.29 ERA, 24.1 IP 19H 18BB 23K 4 Hr allowed, 0.78 GO/AO, .202 opp. avg.  This year was Manzanillo’s first year in the States and he looked good in the GCL before struggling, mostly with his control in Williamsport.  Still, he showed some promise.  2011: Williamsport

Eric Pettis, 22, 20 games (5 starts), 8-0 with a 1.37 ERA; 7 saves, 59IP 43H 7BB 67K, 1.08 GO/AO, .204 opp. avg. Pettis was a very nice surprise for the Phils, first in the Williamsport rotation, and then in the ‘pen.  Look for him to start 2011 in Lakewood with the potential to move quickly.

GCL

Steven Inch, 19. Inch missed the season injured.  I would look for the 6th round pick in the 2009 draft in WIlliamsport in 2011 if healthy.

Colin Klevan, 19, 10 games (7 starts); 0-5 with a 7.04 ERA; 30.2 IP 37H 11BB 22K, 0.89 GO/AO, .291 opp. avg, .222 vs. LH, .329 vs. RH, .240 with RISP. Rough goings for the Kamloops native, a 33rd round pick in 2009.

Jon Musser, 18. Musser, the Phils 21st round pick this year was a late signee and didn’t pitch in 2010.  Depending on how he looks in Extended Spring Training, either GCL or Williamsport.

Miguel Nunez, 17, 8 games (5 starts), 1-4 with a 5.20 ERA; 27.2 IP 31H 15BB 21K, 1 Hr allowed, 1.07 GO/AO, .287 opp. avg. First trip to the States for the 17 year old.  No reason to rush the 6’6, 215 pound righty.  2011: GCL

Ethan Stewart, 19. Stewart, the Phils 47th round pick was another late signee.

 

42 thoughts on “End of the Year Report–Starters, Bottom Half”

  1. My top ten

    1. Jarred Cosart
    2. Brody Colvin
    3. Trevor May
    4. J.C. Ramirez
    5. Phillippe Aumont
    6. Vance Worley
    7. Jesus Sanchez
    8. Jesse Biddle
    9. Julio Rodriguez
    10. Miguel Nunez

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  3. My guess is that Sampson won’t be back. He’s been passed by so many other pitchers and new draft choices I don’t think he has any value. By the way, Ramirez and Aumont are barely in my top 20 pitchers at this point. If they didn’t come in a highly visible trade, we wouldn’t be talking about either after this year. There are some seriously good arms in our system right now and lots of pretty good arms too.

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  4. How about Lisalberto Bonilla (20) and Lino Martinez (18)? Bonilla ate up GCL and struggled in Wmsprt. Martinez, a lefty, was used in in a few starts and some long relief appearances. I think Bonilla repeats Wmsprt and Martinez will be in GCL again.

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  5. How does Pettibone generate so many groundballs? Does he throw a heavy sinker? Its really impressive to see so many groundball outs.

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  6. Murray, I understand the pessimism on Aumont and Ramirez. As far as Aumont, this is a pitcher who spent all of the last three years on Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect list. His command disintegrated but this is still a pitcher who is only 21, has high strikeout rates and has already handled MLB caliber hitting (see the last WBC). J.C. Ramirez had terrible ERAs but I’m looking beyond those and seeing excellent peripheral numbers. A 21 year old in AA with a 2.5 K/BB ratio is worth watching.

    As for Sampson, the Phils converted him to a bullpen arm and his strikeout rate spiked. I saw him in person throwing 90 mph out of the bullpen, and I don’t think you can write that off yet.

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  7. I think they are just taking time with Cosart. Injury was not serious because he was throwing in Florida the last month.

    Zeid has impressed me and I think you will see him move up the latter fast.

    Hopefully Hernadez will get back to where he was before injury during the upcoming offseason.

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  8. Gregg, thanks for all these reports you’ve been doing. I’m not sure I understand the logic of Cosart in Lakewood. He did very well there, then had injury issues. If he’s healthy and throwing well in the Spring, get him up to Clearwater. Nothing left to prove in Lakewood.

    I can understand why Shreve might get pushed to Reading due to his age, but I’m not sure his performance warrants it. If anyone should double-jump to Reading to start the year in the rotation it should be May. Obviously he’s had problems with control and with more advanced hitting, but he’s at least been through it a little bit. If he’s pitching well in the Spring, then one could conceivably project him to start in Reading. My guiding philosophy on this crazy idea is that performance is more important than age as one moves past low A.

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  9. Boston–
    I agree with you totally that promotions should be based on production rather than age, but here are my points with Cosart and Shreve. Cosart has had significant injury problems over multiple years. He is certainly within our top 3 prospects, maybe #1. While I want him challenged in High A, I wouldnt want him out there overthrowing, trying to prove he belongs right off the get go. Let him get 5 starts or so under his belt so he can be sure he feels good about his arm, and then promote him. With Shreve, I went back and forth a number of times about where to put him. If there were openings in High A, thats where he would have gone, however, the decision came down to primarily which pitchers development could be challenged, while limiting the possibility of harm by potential lack of success through the double bump. Shreve is the name I came up with, because his “up side” may be slightly less than the other group, and as such, I would be more willing to step out of line. Maybe backwards reasoning, but reasoning nonetheless. After pitching in Junior College, recovering from TJ surgery, and pitching almost a full year successfully in Lakewood, Shreve was the answer I came up with.

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  10. Interesting post considering all the complaints I read on the major league blogs about us having a weak farm system due to all the trades.

    I was at the BC game last Saturday, Zeid absolutely dominated the last 4 innings with a perfect performance. He was throwing as high as 97 mph and pitching strikes! I do not think he went even a 3 ball count all 4 innings. Every first pitch was a strike.

    I then came home and watched Lidge walk the bases loaded. I was so frustrated as I just saw in the Blue Claw’s game how it should be done.

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  11. Gregg, you ignorant slut (that’s a joke and a reference, not how I actually feel). Fair enough. It’s tough having so much talent! My stronger feeling about all of this is that A-, A+, and AA assignments will depend a lot on Spring Training performance. There are a number of guys whom you could see at multiple levels, so the Phils will probably let it “sort itself out” while not delaying anyone’s progress too severely. Conversely, they will probably try to not challenge the young pitchers before they are ready either.

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  12. My top ten

    1. Jarred Cosart -agree
    2. Brody Colvin – May
    3. Trevor May – Colvin
    4. J.C. Ramirez – Biddle
    5. Phillippe Aumont – Ramirez
    6. Vance Worley – Pettibone
    7. Jesus Sanchez – Aumont
    8. Jesse Biddle – Worley
    9. Julio Rodriguez -agree
    10. Miguel Nunez – Shreve

    Sanchez would be #11, Hyatt #12

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  13. Gregg, if I use your slotting, this is how the “prospects” will line up (and I’m fine with your slotting):

    LHV- Carpenter, Worley (if not in bigs), Flande and Naylor.

    Reading- Shreve, Zeid, Cisco, Hyatt, JC Ramirez, Sanchez

    Clearwater- Colvin, May, Pettibone, J. Rodriguez, Aumont, Way

    Lakewood- Cosart, Hernandez, Biddle, Buchanan, Hollands, Castillo, Pettis

    Williamsport- Garner, Manzanillo, Inch, Kleven, Bonilla

    GCL- Musser, Nunez, Stewart, Lino Martinez.

    Leftovers: Edgar Garcia, Correa, Esposito (not really a prospect), Garret Claypool, Craig Fritsch, Kevin Angelle (where did he go? Just kidding!!!)

    I think Pettis and Castillo will be relievers and spot starters. Reading won’t have a lefty starter so Way may go there. If Way goes to Reading then there will be no lefty starters at Clearwater until Hernandez or Hollands is ready. Williamsport starters don’t impress me all that much but Garner and Bonilla could have big years. GCL will hopefully have some 2011 draftees and if Werth leaves there could be some decent draft picks in the mix. They may not be pitchers but could be.

    DSL and VSL have a couple of guys who could be stateside next year. Adrian Serra, a 19 year old lefty, was unhittable in the DSL. Gabirel Arias (20) and Carlos Best (19) were also effective as starters. Ronald Mendez is a 17 year old from VSL who could be moved quickly. There are others.

    If nothing else there’s quantity of talent. As guys move up, we’ll see how much quality. As we’ve seen before, a guy can be great in ‘A’ but washes out in ‘AA’. Someone will always say that we, on this site, overvalue the Phils prospects. Maybe so, but if 1 or 2 guys can come up and make some impact for the big club each year, that’s all you can ask. Next year, there are going to be some relievers that will have to make a splash and I think Naylor will be serviceable. After that if one of those Reading guys can provide some competition on the big club then it’s a big success. The other guys lined up behind will get their chance in 2 or 3 years.

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  14. I’ve read that Cosart’s injury issues are an effect of the high jump in velocity in his fastball. Scouts has said that going from throwing in the high 80’s/low 90’s to high 90’s in a very short amount of time compromises the elbow. But he went to Mr. TommyJohn himself, Dr. James Andrews, and he said Cosart didn’t need surgery, its just getting acclimated to all that speed. I’d love to see May in Reading mid season next year, but a lot of that is going to depend on whether or not he leaves his command at the front door of clearwater again. Jeez the Phil’s system is getting to be like the Braves! Pitching rich!

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  18. The upcoming Pan-Am qualifying tournament in October will be worth watching. Along with Justin DeFratus for team USA, it looks like Phillippe Aumont will pitch for Canada and Julio Rodriguez may pitch for Puerto Rico.

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  20. my top 10
    1) Colvin
    2) May
    3) Cosart (til he proves he’s healthy)
    4) Biddle
    5) Rodriguez
    6) Pettibone
    7) Hernandez
    8) Aumount
    9) Sanchez
    10) Hyatt

    JC doesn’t do anything for me. Worley graduated with a low-ceiling.

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  21. Interesting article…I suppose they could move the GCL Phils (rookie level) up here and play them in the Appalachian league (also rookie level)- but that seems like a geographic stretch. Same thing for the high A Threshers team. The closest league would be the Northern half of the Carolina league and it’s just too far.

    The Phils already have a team for each level (RK, A-, A, A+, AA, AAA). Would it be a stretch for them to field say, two, A- level clubs?

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  22. I’m guessing that if it is an existing team that moves, it will be the Crosscutters. Their attendance this year was 10th in the league (1,774 per game). There are 14 teams in the league, so attendance is relatively poor and they will probably draw more fans in a new stadium in a more populous area. The geography works better, as most of teams appear to be in East of Williamsport. Williamsport has had teams for a long time, but the parent major league organization appears to change every few years. On the other hand, Lakewood leads their league in attendance.

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  24. They won’t move Clearwater/GCL because of the complex…Lakewood has been succesful…agree with Williamsport. They would probably do well attendance wise because of location to Philly. I know I would make the trip from Delaware.

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  25. I realize I’m def in the minority here, but I’d rather have an Atlantic League team than a low A team. Too short of a season, quality of play is spotty.

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  26. They would need to buy the Williamsport franchise first or buy a different NY-Penn League club and move them. I would be extremely disapointed to see W-Port lose minor league ball as not only is it not terribly far, but it is also one of the last places to get an authentic old style baseball experience.

    West Chester would not be unreasonable for the Carolina League seeing as Wilmington is also in the league.

    But the whole situation seems unreliable. Besides the problems with land ownership, the Phillies could NOT be happy about leaking the idea that the Phils would have a lame duck minor league affiliate for THREE YEARS. Imagine how Williamsport would respond to that kind of commitment from the Phillies almost immediately after re-upping their player development contract. Again, the Phillies do not own the Cutters.

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  28. Ethan Stewart wasn’t a late sign. He was listed as signed at least a month before the deadline. Site didn’t give it any pub.

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  30. I don’t know why Worley is said to have a “low-ceiling”. I think that may be an old scouting report. Given his control, velocity, assortment of pitches, health, and age, I’d set his ceiling very high. He’s the top prospect behind Brown in my book. I rank them Brown, Worley, Valle, May. I’ll have to think about the rest. I’m not sure what to think about Cosart’s elbow problems but they certainly worry me too much to place him higher than those top 4.

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  31. West Chester/Williamsport- they don’t have to buy anything, when Williamsport’s PDC expires, they make an agreement with the group in West Chester. Williamsport will have to make an agreement with another organization (I doubt it) or they are out of the league. Since Aberdeen , Maryland is in the New York-Penn League it would be in line with League trends in the geographical sense to be in West Chester.
    Also , the article does not say the team will be there, it says that Montgomery committed to bring a team there , once a stadium is built. Given potential financial constraints and the political proclivities of some, not a done deal.
    It would work similar to the Penn State/ State College Spikes arrangement. Penn State Baseball till the start of Short Season play, and then NYPL: a great situation.
    This would work. I don’t think the Williamsport /lame duck theory holds any sway,, as it is believed most attend minor league games for a night of entertainment, not to get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing they will be cared for by an MLB organization for so many years, micro-analyzing any “prospect” they see, or tracking aome bizarro stats on a sliderule. And “Historic” Bowman Field can have a couple more years and then they can re-evaluate that situation.
    I think the other options are not likely. Last time I looked Philly had a long term agreement with Clearwater to house it’s High A and Rookie League operations . MLB has an agreement that teams have one Low A, one High A, one AA, and one AAA team apiece, so that rules out the Carolina League unless Clearwater is out. Appalachian League is out , unless another Rookie League team is added, I would like to see this, but I think they can do well without it, so in the interest of not spending extra money, that is what they likely do. Also they will have to still have a Spring Training in Florida or Arizona, so that means they likely stay in Clearwater, so there’s no replacing that Rookie League team in any likely scenario.

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  32. “Williamsport will have to make an agreement with another organization (I doubt it) or they are out of the league.”

    That’s not how minor league franchises work. When you own a minor league franchise you are generally guaranteed to have a minor league team. If the musical chairs end and you’re left standing, the league assigns teams with parent teams. This is how Las Vegas ended up hosting the Toronto Blue Jays.

    “This would work. I don’t think the Williamsport /lame duck theory holds any sway,, as it is believed most attend minor league games for a night of entertainment, not to get a warm fuzzy feeling knowing they will be cared for by an MLB organization for so many years, micro-analyzing any “prospect” they see, or tracking aome bizarro stats on a sliderule. And “Historic” Bowman Field can have a couple more years and then they can re-evaluate that situation.”

    That’s not what the lame duck theory is saying. What is being said is that you’re telling the fans of Williamsport that “we’re going to move the team.” Look at Portland, Oregon’s attendance this season as an example of what happens to a lame duck team. Can you imagine that for three years? Williamsport’s attendance and business would be absolutely ruined. And for your parent club to express that sentiment would be a slap in the face. “Enjoy your baseball, you know we’re taking it away in three years.” Yeah, that’d be a great way to build a fanbase.

    I think the most likely scenario is that West Chester is blustering. If they aren’t and the Phillies quietly promised them a NY-Penn League team, it’s a disasterous move to declare it at a press conference. Point blank, you do NOT declare your intentions to move a team three years before it happens.

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  34. If the Williamsport club transfers to West Chester—why not transfer the Lakewood club to Camden Campbell Fields on the Waterfront—-ideal for all Philly fans.

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  35. Alan I completely disagree with you in regards to minor league teams that are very far away from their parent team. I don’t believe the fans going to their games care all that much which MLB club owns the team.

    Scranton Wilkes-Barre is averaging close to the same attendance with the Yankees owning them, that they had when the Phillies owned them.

    The Williamsport franchise in question was affiliated with the Pirates prior to the Phillies. They averaged just over 1,800 fans the last season the Pirates were the affiliate in ’06, they averaged just over 1,800 fans the first season the Phillies were the affiliate in ’07 and have continued to average right around 1,800 or just under per game every year the Phillies have had them.

    I think the amount of people attending games there has been established and it’s not a reflection of which MLB club owns the team.

    As to how they would get a team. The owners of the ballpark would likely need to purchase another minor league franchise from another city and move them there as that’s how it’s done (unless of course an MLB franchise decided they wanted to have an additional short-season team and field 3 of them… about a half-dozen MLB clubs already do this) in which case the minor league would probably ok an expansion of a new fresh franchise.

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  36. Somebody should email the reporter the phone number of the Phillies media relations office. Maybe then he could call to ask them if there’s any truth to the obviously self-intersted claim of Jerry Schneider that David Montgomery made a gentlemen’s agreement to put an affiliate in West Chester. Seriously, how do you publish that claim without trying to verify it?

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  37. FlyByNite, I’m not making the argument that minor league affiliations impact attendance. (Being a frequent patron of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre I will point out that their attendance figures right now are on account of factors completely out of the realm of the baseball field.) I’m just dispelling the notion that bringing a team to West Chester is simply a matter of the Phillies moving the club. I do think it is worth noting that Williamsport is not just another minor league club to the Phillies. The town’s only television station broadcasts Phillies games.

    As for your last paragraph, that’s substantially correct.

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  38. Gregg – Great job here and all year. So many prospects to talk about and excellently presented in short format.
    Bellman – Thanks for the followup summary. I proposed my rotations in the previous pitchers post and really just swapped Way and Shreve. In my opinion Shreve needs more low pressure innings. Way pitched in some big games in college and if healthy would have had a half season at CLW in 2010.

    Having six starters was not something I considered but with DL stints and spot starts maybe that is possible, but who is floater guy initially? REA = Zeid or Cisco, CLW = Rodriguez (should be Aumont probably but he really needs scheduled development)
    LKW seems to have a few multiple innings relievers who eventually become starters as the year wears on, like Zeid; so any of Buchanan, Hollands, Pettis and Castillo could be in that role.

    It is impressive that there are more prospects quality openings at the lower levels. It is good to start with an abundance of pitchers.

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  39. Cisco is a nice control pitcher and still has a chance to be a valuable reliever but his days as a starter are likely over. There are just too many other guys with much more upside than he has. If Zeid pitches well in the AFL, he’ll go to Reading and he’ll probably start but he could relieve also if Aumont goes there to start with JC, Way, and of course Hyatt and Sanchez.

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  40. Just to add another voice to the Rodriguez discussion, this is what Keith Law had to say: (Sorry if I’m stealing your thunder, Jim from Doylestown)

    Jim (Doylestown, pa): What’s your take on Julio Rodriguez of Lakewood and JC Ramirez of Reading? Potential #2 starters?

    Klaw (2:42 PM): I saw Rodriguez work several innings in relief, and thought he’d make a solid mid- to late-rotation starter. Ramirez is probably just a reliever at this point.

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  41. Sure that Law doesn’t have the names reversed(or some other thing) because Law ranked Ramirez 2nd among all Philly prospects pre-season., and I don’t think Julio Rodriguez has been seen as much or is as highly regarded , yet.

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  42. pretty sure because he never would have seen ramirez work several innings of relief. That would have had to be rodriguez.

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