A look at the Starting Pitchers in the top half of the organization. I have included the number of innings pitched for each pitcher in 2010, as that becomes an issue as we get into the seasons final weeks.  Teams rarely want to extend a pitcher more than 30-40 innings over the previous season.

Lehigh Valley

Brian Bass, 29, 20 starts, 5-8 with a 4.03 ERA; 116IP 121H 43BB 73K; 2.58 GO/AO; .273 opp. avg, 11 HR allowed; .277 vs. LH, .270 vs. RH, .262 with RISP; 3.05 ERA in his 10 starts since June 1.  IP in 2010 (76.1).  Bass started slowly but has been the most consistent ‘Pigs starter over the last two months.  Has been consistently going deep into games.

Scott Mathieson, 27, 22 games (4 starts); 0-1 with a 3.05 ERA; 5 saves; 41.1IP 35H 21BB 52K; 1.30 WHIP; 0.68 GO/AO; .227 opp. avg.; .172 vs. LH, .260 vs. RH, .184 with RISP; 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA in his 4 starts.  2010 IP= 66.0; 2011 IP= 46.1. Mathieson has been put back into the rotation and looked good in his last start, striking out 8 in 4.1 IP.  He needs to get hitters out earlier in the count, adjusting his mindset against striking out every single hitter.

Ryan Feireabend, 25, 19 starts, 9-5 with a 5.42 ERA; 101.1 IP 110H 32BB 72K; 20 HR allowed; 1.40 WHIP; 1.10 GO/AO; .276 opp. avg; .187 vs. LH; .303 vs. RH; .326 with RISP; 6-3 with a 4.92 ERA since June 1.  2010 IP= 122.2. Feirebaned has been inconsistent, with the home run ball just killing him.  He has shown glimpses of promise, maybe just enough that he is invited back as a left handed arm in 2012.

Nate Bump, 35, 18 starts, 3-6 with a 5.42 ERA; 89.2 IP 120H 19BB 48K; 7 HR allowed; 1.44 GO/AO; .327 opp. avg., .374 vs. LH, .286 vs. RH, .346 with RISP; 1.55 WHIP; 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 5 July starts.  Bump threw 7 shutout innings last night but has looked good infrequently, getting hit very hard in most outings.  2010 IP= 107.2.

Ryan Edell, 28, 7-3 with a 3.72 ERAin 21 games (15 starts) between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 104IP 117H 15BB 74K; 1.16 GO/AO; .285 opp. avg; 1.27 WHIP; In 3 starts for Lehigh Valley, 1-2 with a 6.32 ERA; Edell rejoins the Lehigh Valley rotation after Tyson Brummett couldn’t hold his rotation spot.  Edell, while not so good starting prior to the All Star break should give more consistency then Brummett. 2010 IP= 147.1

Reading

Austin Hyatt, 25, 20 starts, 9-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts; 112.1IP 99H 39BB 125K; 16 HR allowed; 1.22 WHIP; 0.62 GO/AO; .236 opp. avg., .200 vs. LH, .266 vs. RH; .204 with RISP; 4-2 with a 3.79 ERA since June 1.  Hyatt has been very consistent in his move up to AA, and appears ready to take the next step, providing some much needed help to the LV rotation after August 1,  I predict. 2010 IP= 146.1

JC Ramirez, 19 starts, 8-10 with a 4.25 ERA; 2 CG; 108IP 98H 37BB 60K; 0.71 GO/AO; .238 opp. avg; 9 HR allowed; .219 vs. LH, .256 vs. RH, .313 with RISP; 1.25 WHIP; 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA since June 1.  Troubling stats since the beginning of June have put a damper on a great start by Ramirez. 2010 IP= 142.

Tyler Cloyd, 24, 6-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 24 games (15 starts) between Clearwater and Reading; 101.1IP 93H 13BB 92K; 1.05 WHIP; 1.25 GO/AO; .240 opp. avg; For Reading: 11 games (10 starts) 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA; 62IP 62H 6BB 53K; 5 HR allowed; 1.15 GO/AO; .256 opp. avg; .282 vs. LH, .232 vs. RH, .263 with RISP.  Cloyd has placed himself on the prospect map with an extremely consistent year across two levels, showcasing excellent command.  2010 IP= 78.1

BJ Rosenberg, 25, 4-4 with a 4.55 ERA in 24 games (13 starts); 83IP 90H 25BB 79K; 8HR allowed; 1.12 GO/AO; .283 opp. avg; 1.38 WHIP; .274 vs. LH, .293 vs RH, .298 with RISP; 4-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 13 starts; .287 opp. avg. Still making the adjustment as a starter after several years as a reliever.  The adjustment has often been rough. 2010 IP 27.2 (injured early in the year)

Joe Esposito, 26, 5-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 27 games (8 starts) between Clearwater and Reading; 75.2IP 73H 37BB 66K; 8 HR allowed; 1.45 WHIP; 0.62 GO/AO; .264 opp. avg; 2010 IP= 43.2.  Has done a serviceable job doing whatever is asked of him between two levels of the organization.

Clearwater

Trevor May, 21, 20 starts, 7-6 with a 3.54 ERA; 112IP 93H 49BB 151K; 6 HR allowed; 0.69 GO/AO; .227 opp. avg; 1.28 WHIP; .234 vs. LH, .220 vs. RH, .255 with RISP; 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA in July. 2010 IP= 135.  May should feel very good about himself bouncing back after a difficult 2010.  He has had several truly dominant outings.  Hopefully he finishes off the season showing some more domination of High A and will be ready for a AA rotation spot in 2012.

Julio Rodriguez, 20, 20 starts; 12-6 with a 3.17 ERA; 110.2 IP; 73H  46BB 106K; 1.07 WHIP; 0.55 GO/AO; .189 opp. avg; .201 vs LH, .175 vs. RH, .211 with RISP; 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 4 July starts.  2010 IP= 90.1.  Rodriguez continues to be very impressive across the board. The only issue holding him back from a 2011 promotion to AA may be monitoring his innings as he has already thrown 20 more than last year.

Jon Pettibone, 21, 20 starts, 8-7 with a 2.81 ERA; 121.2 IP 116H 28BB 87K; 4 HR allowed; 1.18 WHIP; 0.96 GO/AO; .254 opp. avg; .247 vs. LH, .263 vs. RH, .252 with RISP; 5 starts in July and is 1-2 with a 2.53 ERA. 2010 IP= 131.1. Pettibone has shown he is ready for the jump to AA and that may be coming shortly.

Jared Cosart, 21, 19 starts, 8-8 with a 4.19 ERA; 101IP 92H 40BB 75K; 7 HR allowed; 1.30 WHIP; 1.71 GO/AO; .244 opp. avg; .200 vs. LH, .291 vs. RH, .271 with RISP; 2-3 with an 8.14 ERA in July.  While incredibly impressive in the Futures Game, whats up with July?  I would expect Cosart’s workload to be closely monitored in the seasons final five weeks. 2010 IP= 101IP

Brody Colvin, 20, 2-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 15 starts; 79IP 81H 27BB 56K; 7 HR allowed; 1.36 WHIP; 1.52 GO/AO; .266 opp.; avg; .255 vs. LH, .277 vs. RH, .190 with RISP; 1-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 4 July starts.  Coming around after a rocky first several months fighting injury. 2010 IP= 138.