Farm subsidies
It could be difficult for the Phillies to add complementary pieces via waivers this August, given their low waiver position and their apparent inability to add much payroll.
Farm subsidies
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It could be difficult for the Phillies to add complementary pieces via waivers this August, given their low waiver position and their apparent inability to add much payroll.
But there are some names to watch down at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, particularly those of Phillippe Aumont and Michael Schwimer. Manager Charlie Manuel singled them out yesterday when asked about his desire to add a bullpen piece prior to the Aug. 31 deadline for playoff eligibility.
Aumont has experienced a renaissance this season after a miserable 2010 in which he went 3-11 with a 5.68 ERA, 8.5 K/9 and 5.9 BB/9, starting at Double-A Reading before being demoted to High-A Clearwater. Aumont, who was the most highly-touted of the three players the Phillies received for Cliff Lee back in December of 2009, had spent big league spring training with the team while preparing to return to a starting role after working out of the bullpen in Seattle.
This year, the Phillies moved Aumont back to relief full time.
Phillies minor league personnel have raved about the 22-year-old righthander, and you can see why when looking at his line. Aumont has logged 10 innings since his promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, striking out 17, walking six, and allowing three runs on 11 hits.
At Double-A Reading, he posted a 2.32 ERA, 11.9 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 25 appearances.
When the Phillies acquired Aumont, they viewed him as a potential back-of-the-bullpen piece. It would not be surprising to see him with the Phillies at some point this season, even if it is just after rosters expand in September.
Schwimer's role is a little less clear. He has posted impressive numbers at Lehigh Valley, logging 62 1/3 innings in 42 appearances with a 1.76 ERA, 11.6 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9. But he has been passed over for a promotion to the majors on a couple of occasions this season.
Still, he could get a shot.
In other minor league news, a couple of infielders who have boosted their stock over the past year were promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley: Freddy Galvis, a slick-fielding short stop who has finally shown some improvement at the plate after struggling for most of his career, and Carlos Rivero, a waiver wire pickup off the Indians this spring. Rivero had struggled at the plate in 2009 and 2010, but is hitting .285/.340/.449 with 11 home runs, 31 doubles and 82 strikeouts in 390 at-bats at Double-A Reading.
Rivero could be an intriguing name to watch next spring training. He is only 23 years old, yet has an impressive frame for an infielder. He was a short stop in the Indians system, but has played third base this year.
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So any thoughts, Murph, why Schwimmer was passed over?— Corsair42
Comment removed.- It's starting to look like that second Cliff Lee trade wasn't a total waste, after all. Aumont's K rate is impressive no matter how you spin it. I've been wondering for years why the Phils haven't been able to develop more quality bullpen arms, and it finally looks like they're changing their ways. Madson, Bastardo, Stutes...Aumont?— The Pack Leader
- Raving about 17 base runners in 10 innings?! Bar is pretty low.— bobcitydoc
- Good to see some more kids getting promoted, especially in the infield. I'd love to see Aumont and Schwimer in September.— scootch
- Wonder how close to ready De Fratus is seen to be.— Claudio Vernight
- Team is stacked.... if the starters keep pitching the way they have, Oswalt comes back strong and the bullpen committee currently pitching lights out, there will be little need or available innings for either of these guys.— HAROLD Eskin
"and you can see why when looking at his line" why he is raved about? Really? You can plainly see that? How about explaining it. Gee Murph, you think maybe you could question WHY any pitcher who walks 6 and allows 11 hits in 10 innings would be raved about? At the very least you should have only said they rave about his strikeouts or strike out pitch. This guy wont get a sniff of the major leagues with that that lack of control.— Norf77- norf, whatever man...lol. You should be able to see the good, even through the bad.— MFPhils
- I am also curious why Schwimmer has been passed over repeatedly this year. He has certainly put up impressive numbers.— PortCity
- @MFPhils...what exactly are you laughing out loud about? Your idiot self or my comment, neither of which is funny.— Norf77
- Bring up the Kratz kid...serious power hitter from the right side and a far better defensive catcher then Schnieder...— kelprod2
- September call ups....Brown,Schwimmer,Kratz,Aumont,....Rich Thompson really should be up, a supreme basestealer who also looks like the Sham Wow guy.— bearsfriend
- Keep an eye on De Fratus. He had a rough start when he jumped to AAA, but has turned things around. He has the make-up to be a solid reliever. Good control and does not get shaken easily.— markfordham
- I gotta agree with Norf. Allowing 17 runners in 10 innings is nothing to rave about. 17 Ks is pretty impressive, however. How hard does this kid throw?— kjuggs77
- Exactly Kjuggs77. If he's going to say someone is raved about and prints a pretty terrible pitching line except for the strikeouts, at least tell us WHAT is being raved about and how hard this kid throws.— Norf77
- Nice that Aumont has improved but you can't have a reliever who walks batters like he does at the major league level. He comes in with a man on first and proceeds to walk himinto scoring position, strikes out a guy, walks another, strikes out the next and gives up a hit, Phillies lose. Sorry but he is a long way off no matter how many guys he strikes out.— ccheung
- You guys are missing the point. Compare his '10 line to his '11 line. And I'm not talking about the 10 innings he's pitched at Triple-A. His overall line. It's a huge improvement. Now, minor league numbers really don't tell you anything. But everyone who has watched Aumont who I have talked to has said he has made real strides. I've only seen him once this season, and he had a bit of a melt down after a couple of things didn't go his way. Talked to somebody today who said it is probably a long shot that he is up before September. Point is, at this time last year he was looking like a potential bust. But his breaking ball has gotten a lot harder/sharper, he is commanding the ball better, and he has continued to mature, according to people who have seen him whose opinion I respect.— David_Murphy
- You guys are missing the point. Compare his '10 line to his '11 line. And I'm not talking about the 10 innings he's pitched at Triple-A. His overall line. It's a huge improvement. Now, minor league numbers really don't tell you anything. But everyone who has watched Aumont who I have talked to has said he has made real strides. I've only seen him once this season, and he had a bit of a melt down after a couple of things didn't go his way. Talked to somebody today who said it is probably a long shot that he is up before September. Point is, at this time last year he was looking like a potential bust. But his breaking ball has gotten a lot harder/sharper, he is commanding the ball better, and he has continued to mature, according to people who have seen him whose opinion I respect.— David_Murphy
- You guys are missing the point. Compare his '10 line to his '11 line. And I'm not talking about the 10 innings he's pitched at Triple-A. His overall line. It's a huge improvement. Now, minor league numbers really don't tell you anything. But everyone who has watched Aumont who I have talked to has said he has made real strides. I've only seen him once this season, and he had a bit of a melt down after a couple of things didn't go his way. Talked to somebody today who said it is probably a long shot that he is up before September. Point is, at this time last year he was looking like a potential bust. But his breaking ball has gotten a lot harder/sharper, he is commanding the ball better, and he has continued to mature, according to people who have seen him whose opinion I respect.— David_Murphy
- David, I like to believe that your overall point was clear to most readers (those not so easily aggrieved) ... If possible, could you track the Contreras story a little more closely? A plasma injection is unconventional (vs. cortisone), though not unprecedented. What are you hearing on the nature of his injury and the likelihood of near-full recovery this year? Who else has the same injury/treatment profile? How soon were they back to "full strength?" ... Because I suspect the Phillies will need Contreras in the playoffs. I admire Lidge, but I'm wary of how much he can contribute. Stutes might be in a regression, but regardless, he's very green. Bastardo has killer stuff, but his innings are mounting and he's young. Madson has been a successful closer for all of 3 months of his career. Not to cast doubt on all of them; I just think you need a bullpen to go 4 or 5 quality arms deep when you're dependent on pitching to win. Like the Giants last year. Or if, say, you get in a tight game with Texas... — PhilaLogic
- Dave, your point was a little obscure thats all. You said "looking at his line" and then proceeded to show a pretty lousy pitching line (not a comparison to 2010)and then in direct relation to that line you say how we should understand why he's getting raves based on THAT line. It was confusing. — Norf77
- David Murphy, another philly.com tag along who can always find severe problems where only minor or no problems actually exist. Need to send DM back to the Clearwater (Threshers) Express!— BEMiller
- No way do we go into September and the playoffs with unproven Schwimmer or Aumont in key situations. Won't happen.— eman
- eMan, you are correct. We should have learned a lesson when we put a highly touted, but unproven player in right field this year. Sportswriters clamored for his promotion. Does anyone miss Domonic Brown ??
Aumont isn't all that impressive .— phineas - Control comes with experience, striking out 17 in 10 innings proves his stuff is nasty. Aumont won't pitch any significant innings, but he's worth bringing up in September in a Herndon-ish role.— JayOfDaJungle
- Are you kidding? You want to bring up a kid that doesnt have control in the MINORS to face patient major league hitters? Do you remember when Hamels came up and the hitters wouldnt fish for his changeup and he couldnt strike out anyone? This kid is no Hamels. — Norf77
- Schwimmer would be great if he could learn how to to get lefties out as well as righties. DeFratus has been somewhat of a disappointment but I still think he will be a good late inning pitcher when he finally gets it. His control is what is going to make him.— pattymac3
- Bring up Tuffy!!!!!! Roy raved about him. Stop with the Kratz stuff.. they're saving Scwimmer as trade bait.— Phillyexp
- Dave Murphy is the only writer that will respond here to your moronic comments so shut the f up and let the man do his job. Thanks, Dave— blaqjaq
