As the Bullpen Turns: Rosenberg is next
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As the Bullpen Turns: Rosenberg is next
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE (9:41 a.m.): Indeed, it's B.J. Rosenberg who gets the call. He'll wear No. 53 and is available beginning Saturday.
EARLIER:
BALTIMORE — Raul Valdes has the unfortunate distinction of being lefthanded. Typically, that will prolong a pitcher's career, but in this case, it earned Valdes a ticket to Allentown despite a 2.13 ERA in 12 2/3 innings for the Phillies.
"We want to bring up a righty and see if we can get some balance in our bullpen," Charlie Manuel said after a 9-6 victory over the Orioles. "That was hard because Valdes, I felt like he did a super job for us. He could be back. He pitched good enough. It wasn't because we didn't like the way he pitched."
It's just Chad Qualls and Michael Schwimer have been so bad that another righthanded arm is required.
The Phillies are looking outside the organization for bullpen help, but they will dip into the minors again Saturday for a new face. One possibility is B.J. Rosenberg, a 26-year-old righty who is throwing quite well for the IronPigs.
He began the season at double-A Reading. In 11 games and 20 2/3 innings at triple A, he has a 1.74 ERA with 26 strikeouts and six walks.
The Phillies have two righties on the 40-man roster — Phillippe Aumont and J.C. Ramirez. They, too, are possibilities. So is Brian Sanches, who spent some time with the Phillies earlier this season. But both Aumont and Sanches pitched Friday for Lehigh Valley. Ramirez was just recently promoted to triple A and isn't on the radar.
Plus, the Phillies outrighted Pete Orr off the 40-man roster after Friday's game to leave 39 active players. That suggests the righthanded reliever will come from outside the 40-man roster.
In addition to Rosenberg, Tyson Brummett has decent numbers at triple A after starting in Reading. But Phillies officials have long viewed Rosenberg as a potential arm because he throws strikes.
With a dearth of options at the major-league level, he may finally have his chance.
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How come all the minor league prospects in the system are 26+ years old?— thingfish- Saw Rosie pitch 3 times.....very lively heater.
Cannot understand why Qualls is still on roster.— NewMick314 - How does Qualls remain on this team?— sobjoe24
- Qualls + Schwimer = Late-inning losses. You bring in the Schwimster last night in a game that's clearly a comfortable win, while sparing Bastardo and Papelbon. But, no.
— eman - This makes no sense. CHAD QUALLS HAS GOT TO GO. Valdes needs to be here.— carmendmv
Comment removed.- You send down Valdez, who has been very good since being called up!!! Really??? If you're going to send down a lefty, why not Savery. Just stupid...another to add to the long list.— Jay25
- Qualls is a mystery to a lot of people. His ball must have no action on it because he throws around 95 mph. You would think with that kind of speed, he would have get more batters out. His location, with a few exceptions, has been pretty decent.
However, he seems to give up the big hit with scary frequency.
A change of scenery may be what he needs. Hope the Phillies get something of value if they move him.
The biggerst disappointment to me is Hunter Pence.
Yes, he may lead the team in Rbi's but he has left so many baserunners out there in crucial situations. Time was, when he was in Houston, he would be walked in those crucial situations. Not now. Teams pitch to him to get the big strikeout. It has worked almost all of the time.
The Phillies would be in fairly decent position in the division if he had come through a few more times with the game on the line.
I don't want to hear he did'nt have than many opportunities with the game on the line. He has had tons of opportunities but has come up short.
He is still trying to hit 500, 600 , 700 foot homers, like he tries to do in batting practise, when a base hit is all that is required.
If Rollins is Jimmy PopUp then Pence must be Hunter NoShowUP !— candidly - Amaro wanted to be the only GM in MLB history to get rid of Raul, Valdez, and Raul Valdes all in the same year.— dasher
- RAJ should release Qualls and bring back Valdez, it isn't his fault all the righties suck. Oy vey, their bullpen is bad, bring up Rosenberg.— drbob1
- Yes it is his fault all the righties suck, he signed them. He also had all off season to do something about it and didn't
- What does this say to the roster when you have a BP guy who's pitched well (Valdes) and yet you keep the two RH guys who can't get anyone out (see: JJ Hardy for a HR off Schwimer)? JJ Hardy?— PhillySubsMac
- Great work RAJ, Qualls is the worst bleeping pitcher I've ever seen. Well at least Rollins, Utley and Howard gotz paid. You must be running out of fingers to put rings on by now for all that money right? Wrong, you stink, we want Gillick back.
- Best move for the Phils... release RAJ— jmb53
