A look at the bullpen in the upper reaches of the organization. Stats are through Thursday August 8th and a warning before you read: This is not pretty, especially in Lehigh Valley and Reading.

Lehigh Valley

Phillipe Aumont, 24, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; 24 games; 0-1 with a 5.18ERA; 2 saves; 24.1IP 21H 27BB 31K; 0.86GO/AO; .233 opp. avg; 10.0BB/11.5K per nine; 1.97WHIP; .273 vs. LH, .196 vs. RH, .220 with RISP; 0-1 with a 3.97ERA in his last 10 outings (9BB in 11.1IP). Simply look at the names in the Philadelphia bullpen and you will see how far Aumont’s stock has dropped in the organizations eyes.  He simply can’t throw strikes consistently and some attitude issues have cropped up.

Justin Friend, 27, Acquired in the 2010 Rule 5 draft; 39 games; 5-4 with a 4.98ERA; 59.2IP 61H 43BB 47K, 1.78 GO/AO; .266 opp. avg., 6.4BB/7.1K per nine; 1.74WHIP; .354 vs. LH, .179 vs. RH, .241 with RISP. All in all a very unimpressive year for Friend. Although he has had success against right handed hitters, control issues have landed him in hot water, against lefties and righties alike.

Jay Johnson, 23, Signed as a free agent in 2011; 45 games; 2-3 with a 3.48ERA; 3 saves; 44IP 35H 36BB 54K; 1.19GO/AO; .210 opp. avg; 7.4BB/11.0K per 9; 1.61WHIP; 7 games for Lehigh Valley; 0-1 with a 8.10ERA (11BB in 6.2IP); Johnson was effective in Reading with some control issues and once promoted Johnson has had very little idea where the ball is going.  Johnson is very similar to Jake Diekman in that he could be an effective LOOGY but it is all dependant on some semblance on control.

Mike MacDougal, 36, Signed as a free agent in 2013; 12 games, 2-1 with a 5.06ERA; 16IP 16H 10BB 17K ; 1.07 GO/AO; .263 opp. avg; 5.6BB/9.6K per 9; 1.63 WHIP; .333 vs. LH, .222 vs. RH, .286 with RISP; 1-1 with a 6.75ERA in his last 10 games. Has been barely adequate for Lehigh Valley.
Mauricio Robles, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2013; 42 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 3-3 with a 2.33 ERA; 6 saves; 54IP 33H 39BB 55K; 1.02 GO/AO; .182 opp. avg; 6.5BB/9.1K per 9; 1.33 WHIP; For Lehigh Valley: 0-2 with a 1.93ERA in 25 games; .159 opp. avg; 8.4BB/9. I am a little surprised that Robles has not gotten a shot with all the bulloen issues for the Phils.  He has been virtually unhittable, but yet another pitcher who is having huge control problems. Allowing a walk an inning at the major league level is a certain recipe for disaster.

BJ Rosenberg, 27, Phils 13th round pick in 2009; 26 games (10 starts); 3-6 with a 4.58ERA; 72.2IP 78H 34BB 58K; 1.13GO/AO; .274 opp. avg; 4.2BB/7.2K per 9; 1.54 WHIP; .280 vs. LH, .269 vs. RH, .211 with RISP; 1-1 with a 2.87ERA in his last 10 games (2BB/16K in 11.2IP). Overall, Rosenberg has had a very pedestrian season, but has come on as of late after recovering from an arm injury.

JC Ramirez, 25, Acquired from Seattle in 2009; 29 games between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 3-2 with a 4.87ERA; 2 saves; 40.2IP 42H 23BB 39K; 1.00 GO/AO; .258 opp. avg; 5.1BB/8.6K per nine; 1.60WHIP; I was very surprised at Ramirez callup because he had not pitched well at all. He continued that absent a good outing or two in Philadelphia.

Reading

Bobby Bramhall, 28, SIgned as a free agent in 2013; 24 games between Lehigh Valley and Reading; 0-2 with a 4.30ERA; 44IP 48H 18BB 30K; 3.7BB/6.1K per 9; 1.50WHIP; Bramhall has been ok in the multiple roles he has been asked to play.

Tyler Knigge, 24, Phils 12th round pick in 2010; 40 games; 3-2 with a 4.44ERA; 3 saves; 52.2IP 52H 24BB 41K; 0.71 GO/AO; .251 opp. avg., 4.1BB/7.0K per 9; 1.44WHIP; .207 vs. LH, .283 vs. RH, .211 with RISP; 1-0 with a 6.97ERA in his last 10 games. Big things were expected for Knigge in 2013 and he has had a fairly mediocre season.

Hector Neris, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2010; 36 games (8 starts); 3-4 with a 4.98ERA; 81.1IP 80H 37BB 75K; 13HR allowed; 0.75GO/AO; .255 opp. avg; 4.1BB/8.2K per nine; 1.44 WHIP; .281 vs. LH, .237 vs. RH, .247 with RISP; 0-1 with a 3.07ERA and .158 opp avg in last 10 games. Put Neris in the growing category of medicore seasons for members of the bullpen.  Unlike others, his control isnt awful but he has gotten hurt badly by the home run ball.  As pitched well as of late.

Mike Nesseth, 25, Phils 17th round pick in 2010; 41 games between CLearwater and Reading; 1-4 with a 2.88ERA; 7 saves; 56.1IP 58H 17BB 29K; 1.56 GO/AO; .275 opp. avg., 2.7BB/4.5K per nine; 1.33 WHIP. For Reading, 31 games, 1-3 with a 1.62ERA and 7 saves. .273 vs. LH, .237 vs. RH, .194 with RISP. We finally reach a reliever that has had a decent season. Nesseth has been extremely effective out of the Reading bullpen and has become the most dependable late inning reliever for the Fightins.

Colby Shreve, 25, Phils 6th round pick in 2008; 34 games, 2-3 with a 3.81ERA between Clearwater and Reading; 54.1IP 55H 24BB 39K; 0.82 GO/AO; .271 opp. avg., 4.0BB/6.5K per 9; 1.45WHIP; For Reading: 12 games; 0-2 with a 4.96ERA; Shreve has been fine in his role as an innings eater. He has not received many meaningful innings all year.

Kyle Simon, Turning 23 in Aug, Acquired from Baltimore in 2012; 35 games, 1-4 with a 5.10ERA; 8 saves, 42.1IP 47H 21BB 26K, 3.81GO/AO; .278 opp. avg; 4.5BB/5.5K per 9; 1.61 WHIP; .304 vs. LH, .260 vs. RH, .226 with RISP; 0-1 with a 5.73ERA since July 1. Simon was depended upon to be the Reading closer at the outset of the season, was removed from that position and has had a very disappointing year.  That said, younger than the others in the Reading bullpen and has the skill to turn this around in ’14.

Juan Sosa. 23, Signed as a free agent in 2007; 35 games between Clearwater and Reading; 4-2 with a 4.38ERA; 3 saves; 61.2IP 59H 39BB 51K; 1.05GO/AO; .255 opp. avg; 5.7BB/7.5K per 9; 1.59 whip; For Reading: 28 games; 2-2 with a 5.44ERA. Most of Sosa’s appearances have come when Reading needs multiple innings in a blowout and he has been largely ineffective.

Clearwater

Dan Child, 21; Phils 18th round pick in 2013 draft; 8 games between GCL and CLearwater; 0-0 with a 0.84era; 10.2IP 8H 5BB 8K; Child was a 2013 draft pick and joined the organization after a long college baseball season for Oregon State. He has pitched very well and hasn’t looked at all out-of-place in the FSL, his likely starting point next year.

Ken Giles, 22, Phils 7th round pick in 2011 draft; 15 games; 2-0 with a 4.15ERA; 4 saves; 17.1IP 12H 10BB 25K; 3HR allowed; 1.00 GO/AO; .188 opp. avg; 5.2BB/13.0K per 9; 1.27WHIP; In his last 10 games: 2-0 with a 1.38ERA and 4 saves; Giles has gotten into his groove and has been overpowering FSL hitters after a slow start back from injury. Certainly continues to project as a late inning guy in the Phils bullpen come 2015.

Jordan Guth, 22, Phils 9th round pick in 2012; 33 games (5 starts) between Lakewood and Clearwater; 4-7 with a 4.12ERA; 78.2IP 75H 42BB 57K; 1.07O/AO; .253 opp avg; 4.8BB/6.5K per 9; 1.49WHIP. For Clearwater: 19 games, 3-3 with a 5.29ERA. Guth has progressed this year through Lakewood and struggled at times in CLearwater. I think Guth’s role is where he is most comfortable and that is the ‘pen. I expect progress the last month of the season.

Steven Inch, 22, Phils 6th round pick in 2009; 39 games; 5-5 with a 4.45ERA between Lakewood and Clearwater; 11 saves; 64.2IP 66H 35BB 37K; 1.96 GO/AO; .267 opp. avg; 1.56WHIP; 4.9BB/5.1K per nine; 1.56 WHIP; For Clearwater: 4-1 with a 4.03ERA in 10 games; Inch has been “fine”. Nothing more, nothing less. He is walking too many but generally has found a way to get himself out of big trouble.

Colton Murray, 23, Phils 13th round pick in 2011; 39 games; 2-6 with a 5.77ERA; 10 saves; 53IP 54H 26BB 57K; 0.66GO/AO; .261 opp. avg; 4.4BB/9.7K per nine; 1.51WHIP; .232 vs. LH, .275 vs. RH, .274 with RISP; Last 15 games: 0-2 with a 7.91ERA; Murray was good during the first couple of months but has progressively gone downhill since.

Ryan O’Sullivan, 22, Acquired from Dodgers in 2012; 46 games; 3-5 with a 2.66ERA; 5 saves; 64.1IP 64H 29BB 40K; 2.44 GO/AO; .266 opp. avg; 4.1BB/5.6K per nine; 1.44WHIP; .247 vs. LH, .276 vs. RH, .230 with RISP; Last 10 games: 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA; O’Sullivan has been a workhorse for Clearwater and has had a good season. That said, nothing overwhelmingly positive here. Simply solid, which is just fine.

Luis Paulino, 24, Signed as a free agent in 2009; 33 games between Lakewood and CLearwater; 7-6 with a 4.98ERA; 2 saves; 65IP 76H 28BB 63K; 0.66GO/AO; .289 opp avg; 3.9BB/8.8K per 9; 1.60WHIP; 26 games for Clearwater, 4-6 with a 5.63ERA and .304 opp. avg; Simply very hittable.