Aumont, Schwimer sent down
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Aumont, Schwimer sent down
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The talent contained in Phillippe Aumont's right arm is obvious. So is the polish he still lacks.
Aumont was one of four pitchers sent to minor-league camp Tuesday morning by the Phillies. In addition, Michael Schwimer was optioned while David Purcey and Jeremy Horst were reassigned.
The 23-year-old Aumont is one of the team's top pitching prospects. He allowed four runs (two earned) in four innings on six hits and four walks. He did strike out four.
But after a shaky outing Saturday in which he allowed three stolen bases, threw a wild pitch and walked two, Rich Dubee bemoaned his current state.
"He's erratic," Dubee said. "Slow delivery to the plate. He's inconsistent. He has a great arm. Great stuff. But we have a little work to do there.
"He has to be more consistent with his fastball and his secondary stuff. He has to be quicker to the plate. Too much of a chance to be a track meet against him."
That work will come under the guise of Rod Nichols, the pitching coach at triple-A Lehigh Valley. But it's not unreasonable to suggest Aumont will be pitching in Philadelphia sometime in 2012.
Schwimer, 26, also appeared in four games and allowed two runs. He struck out five with one walk. He'll provide relief depth.
Purcey, a lefthander, allowed two runs in seven innings. He pitched for three major-league teams in 2011. Horst, acquired in the Wilson Valdez trade, had a 6.75 ERA in four outings.
The Phillies now have 41 players in camp. It's 38 if you don't count the injured Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Justin De Fratus.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
If you have a child who plays baseball, you want him to play like Utley. I will say he is one of the best baserunners in Phils' history. Wasn't special in the field, good bat with power. It think people are attracted to his hustle and his quietness, however the quietness is also an issue. My guess is that he kept mum on how severe the issue is with his knees. IMO, that is not a team player and that is selfish behavior. Rightly so, because his contract is up season after this one. However I think it's disingenuous behavior.— beegal99- ALLOW ME TO SAY THAT FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON UTLEY HAS BEEN DEIFIED JUST LIKE DARREN DAULTON WAS....EACH HAD 3 OR 4 GOOD YEARS , BUT THEY WERE NOT ALLTIMERS!— DONDEN31
- Don W I watched Schmidt play he was hands down better than Utley. Utley was really good for a couple years but that's it. To say he is better than Schmidt is a complete joke.— mbutley
- Has JM Jr even played infield since little league? Of course, we could tell him to stand there and let the balls hit him like a hockey goalie. Don't forget Pat the bat was a 3rd baseman in college but didn't have the foot speed or reactions to play 3b. Don't let a little athleticism fool you...playing 3b is a diff world. Did you see whatshisname get smoked in the face yesterday? he's lucky that didn't cave his face in.— fuss77
- I certainly threw a few rocks toward Michael Jack in his playing days, and I love Utley as a player, especially in the post season, but to put Utley in the same category as Schmidt is silly— Abusedeaglesfan
- Aumont will be reprogrammed "...under the guise of Nichols" ??
Is that a good thing ? Is Nichols one of the good guise ?— NewMick314 - Who would you want up in a clutch situation Chase or Schmidt? Schmidt was a career 265 hitter. Mike over a short period was a 285 hitter great defense and over 40 homer potential. With the game on the line I would have prefered Chase at bat. Schmidt was also a very good base runner and smart player but not at Utley's level in either. Who had more talent I would go with Schmidt. On the other hand who would you describe as a winner? Both but I would go with Chase for that key at bat.— Don w
- As far as the Utley vs. Schmidt discussion - here are some numbers - just looking at HRs (from baseball reference) - Of Schmidt's 548 HRs 1.8% were game ending, 35.2% were go-ahead and 10% were game tying - so 47% of his home runs either won the game, put the team ahead, or tied the game. Of Utley's 188 HRs 1.1% were game ending, 28.7% were go ahead and 12.2% were game tying - so 42% of Utley's HRs were game winning/go ahead/game tying - close but not quite to Schmidt's level. Having been privileged enough to have seen both play in my life - Schmidt was better - hands down. Mike Schmidt is a Hall of Famer, Utley, even if he stayed healthy might have been good enough to make the Hall of Fame. With Schmidt there was no doubt.— psumet51
- Aumont has the baseball pitcher's equivalent of the PGA golfer's yips. There are plenty of talented golfers on the tour but very few actually crack the top 10-20 year in and year out, or ever! Aumont has game. He just freezes up, can't control it or produce when needed to. EVERY single time I have watched him pitch in person, I have thought to myself......he will never make it to the Majors. He just doesn't have what it takes regardless of what people say. He hasn't conquered his yips in spite of all he said the opening of camp about how he's learned to deal with the mental side of the game. I beg to differ. I've never seen a pitcher so routinely sqeeze the ball so tight and bury it in the dirt 3 feet in front of home plate as I have Aumont. Gotta conquer those yips, kid.— Mark1npt
- The problem with the Wislon Valdez deal is not the fact that he was so great. Its the fact they kept Mikey Martinez over him, when its obvious Wislon is the much better reserve player. Gavce good solid D, and did have a knack for getting some big hits. Phils traded him to try and stay under the luxury tax, but really, wasnt there another way to do this rather than keep Martinez over Valdez?— Big D phillies fan
- And next time I promise to do a spell check...Wislon...Gavce...eeesh— Big D phillies fan
- Aurmont is 23 years old folks, he'll be fine. Guys that big take a little longer to develop, right Roy?— gmr18901
