The ‘Pigs were 3-3 over the last week, and are currently 31-26 and in 3rd place in the Northern Division of the International League, 4.5 games behind division leading Pawtucket. After their rainout on Monday, the ‘Pigs continue their homestand Tuesday with four games against Gwinnett.

Probables: Tuesday: Cochran; Wednesday: Cloyd; Thursday: TBA Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

Pitchers Jesse Biddle, Adam Morgan, Austin Wright, along with Catcher Cameron Rupp were all named to the FLorida State League All Star Team representing the North Division in the game to be played June 16th.  No time to add much commentary other than to say that the Rupp pick surprises me.  More later.

With both Roy Halladay and now Jose Contreras looking at long term stints on the DL, the Phils are awfully thin on the mound considering who is on the DL already (Stutes, Herndon, DeFratus). With no pitcher near ready to come off the DL, the Phils will have to take a look at the Lehigh Valley roster for help.

The possibilities: The Phils are going to need a long man, presuming Worley comes off the DL to take Halladay’s spot in the rotation.  The most likely candidate for promotion appears to be Dave Bush. Bush has been very consistent for Lehigh Valley, going 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts. He has walked just 8 in 58.2 innings of work and held the opposition to a .186 average with RISP.  Bush had an out clause in his contract set for yesterday.  With how well he has pitched, I presume there has been some discussion with him about a call up, as he apparently chosen not to exercise his option.

Scott Elarton, who had been outstanding early on, has struggled more recently, most likely removing him from the short term radar screen.  Darkhorse is Tyler Cloyd who has been consistently good this tear.

If Worley is not quite ready yet, I would think that the Phils send Erik Kratz back down (they are carrying 3 catchers), have Bush take Halladay’s rotation spot in the short term and bring up a second pitcher from Lehigh Valley bullpen.  The most likely candidate at this stage appears to be Michael Schwimer.  Schwimer has struggled pitching for the Phils and recently had one of his very few poor AAA outings, however he is on the 40 man roster and if Worley is not ready, the Phils will have to make at least one move opening a spot on the 40, and maybe hesitant to make two.  Phillipe Aumont is not currently an option as he is one mediocre appearance removed from the DL himself.  A darkhorse candidate for the bullpen is BJ Rosenberg (Would require a 40 man roster move). Rosenberg has not yet gotten his major league shot, and has pitched extremely well for Lehigh Valley as of late, going 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA over his last 10 games.  Rosenberg, a 13th round pick out of Louisville in 2008 has help opponents to a .091 average with RISP during his tenure in AAA this year.