Just some random tidbits to start off your Monday

* Antonio Bastardo made his AA debut this weekend, and the results weren’t bad; 5.2 IP — 1 ER — 5 H — 3 BB — 4 K.

* Josh Outman’s first bullpen experience didn’t go quite as well; 3.1 IP — 2 ER — 4 H — 2 BB — 2 K

* Lou Marson is 7 for his last 17, and for the season is hitting .329. Marson is clearly the best catching prospect we’ve had since Mike Lieberthal, and frankly, is the first guy I check on every morning in the box scores. If he continues to hit, we’re looking at a special prospect here.

* Drew Naylor had arguably his best professional appearance yesterday, going 8 innings and allowing 1 ER on 5 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 11. Naylor has pitched well at Lakewood and probably should be moved up to Clearwater in the next month or so, as he is 21 going on 22 (May 31st) and needs to pitch against more advanced competition. But so far so good.

* Travis Mattair,  who hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts at Lakewood, now has 5 hits in his last 13 AB’s. This might not seem significant, but he’s been in the high .100’s all season, and is now hitting .212. He still isn’t showing power, but if he begins to hit a little bit, he’ll start making adjustments and the power should come. He’s very young for Lakewood, so holding his head above water is the big thing. His last 3 games are a pretty good sign, as far as I’m concerned.

The Reading Eagle has the scoop

Word came down from Philadelphia Thursday to shake up the Double-A club’s pitching staff, with Josh Outman and Fabio Castro sent to the bullpen.

The move of Castro isn’t a surprise: All but one of his 26 appearances with Philadelphia over the last two seasons have come out of the bullpen.

For the 23-year-old Outman, however, it’s big news since he’s been projected as a starter and a potential member of the rotation in Philadelphia.

The order to get him accustomed to coming out of the bullpen signals that the Phillies see him helping them, and soon. He could very well be in the big leagues by mid-June.

“They feel like the need in the major leagues (right now) is for a left-handed reliever,” said Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller. “I think he suits that (role). I have no doubt that he’s got the stuff to do it.”

Veeeeeeery interesting. If the goal is to break Outman into the majors as a reliever, with the ultimate goal of having him start next season, then I like this move. If they have already given up on him as a starter, then I don’t like the move at all. Only time will tell.

KG has offered his knowledge to us and will answer some questions as he’s done in the past, so if you have specific questions you’d like answered, post them in the comments section here and I’ll pick and choose the best ones to send his way.

This note was in Mike Radano’s column today

Finally, reliever Scott Mathieson scheduled a visit with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., for a third opinion on his surgically repaired right elbow. Mathieson saw Dr. Lew Yocum in Los Angeles as well as the Phillies’ doctors. Even though he has some discomfort, he appears to be going through the natural progression of recovery.

“It’s not a setback,” Steve Nowryta, the Phillies director of the minor leagues, said. “(Mathieson) wanted to get another opinion, and that’s understandable.”

Forgive me for being slightly skeptical of the Phillies PR machine. Mathieson had Tommy John Surgery in September 2006. The normal recovery period is anywhere from 12-18 months. Last summer Mathieson pulled himself out of game after feeling discomfort in the elbow and then had surgery in the offseason to relieve discomfort, which was just a product of the TJ surgery. The team said he’d be fine, but its now almost May, but its now 20 months since he’s had the surgery, and clearly something isn’t right.