Posted: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 4:44 PM | 56 comments |
 

Durbin activated; Figueroa designated for assignment
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The Phillies' bullpen is at full strength with the return today of reliever Chad Durbin from the disabled list.

Durbin's return comes at the expense of righthander Nelson Figueroa, who was designated for assignment for the second time this season by the Phillies.

Durbin, on the disabled list since June 24 with a strained right hamstring, pitched three perfect innings and struck out three in two rehab appearances with single-A Clearwater.

The Phillies decided to remove Figueroa from the roster rather than risk losing Rule 5 draft pick David Herndon, who is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA.

Figueroa was 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 appearances. After being designated for assingnment earlier this season, Figueroa returned from triple-A Lehigh Valley and allowed one hit and no runs spanning four appearances and 7 1/3 innings. If you include the three starts he made for the IronPigs, he has allowed just 11 hits, two runs and struck out 25 batters in his last 26 1/3 innings. He had a 0.68 ERA during that stretch.

The Phillies also activated reliever Antonio Bastardo from the DL and optioned him to Lehigh Valley.

 
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 4:44 PM  Permalink | 56 comments
56
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:53 PM, 07/15/2010
    Figgy is figgy....you don't give up a live, young power arm like Herndon for him.....
    — Mark1npt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:55 PM, 07/15/2010
    What does Figueroa have to do to stick around. He is one of the relievers who has actually done well this year for the Phillies and once again he gets the shaft. Who cares about Herndon and Baez is a total waste.
    — fischman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:58 PM, 07/15/2010
    I thought maybe the FO made a trade to keep up with the Braves!!!!!!!!
    — KGKoons
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:58 PM, 07/15/2010
    WHY IS BAEZ STILL ON THE ROSTER?????????
    — DONDEN31
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:59 PM, 07/15/2010
    This is a joke!!!! Why did I think this organization knew baseball. Why wasn't Danny Boy moved!!! He's the cripple in the BP...Good Lord!!! Should of kept Figueroa.....@#$%!!
    — Lynnwood
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:01 PM, 07/15/2010
    It's all about the $$.....no way was Baez going anywhere with his contract. I think Fig deserved better.
    — jimyd0315
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:05 PM, 07/15/2010
    I'm sure that these developments were given a ton of thought by the brass. I'm intrigued by this Herndon kid, as he has shown flashes of competancy in his brief "shelf life" this year. Hope he pans out, or at the very least, shows Rube you don't gamble on a Rule 5 guy unless you are LOADED with pitching. (cough, cough)
    — TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:05 PM, 07/15/2010
    The FO has already started off on the wrong foot!!!! Can't believe Danny Boy is still with us.....
    — Lynnwood
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:06 PM, 07/15/2010
    It's ashame that Figgy can't stay, because of another goof by Amaro, of signing Baez for 2 years. They need to eat the contracts of Baez and Ibanez(well not cut Ibanez, but put him on the bench) to do what is best for the success of the team.
    — carlosbeltran
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:10 PM, 07/15/2010
    They are paying Baez whether he is on the team or not. On the team he is hurting us. The wise move would be to release him so he can deal no more pain on the field. The Phillies still will feel the economic pain but will improve the club.
    — baseman
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:17 PM, 07/15/2010
    It's a shame no one recognizes your inherent genius Lynnwood. It makes one wonder how these "organization" people became multi-millionaires while you are a mere philly.com poster.
    — evolutionary
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:21 PM, 07/15/2010
    Figueroa has pitched well. What is the major league record for the most times being designated for assignment in one season?
    — Freedom Fries
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:23 PM, 07/15/2010
    This is a stupid move. I would not be the least bit surprised to see another NL team gobble up Figueroa just to hurt our bullpen depth. Danys Baez is worthless, but Amaro way overpaid for a guy no one else wanted so now we are going to lose a fairly reliable insurance policy in Figueroa who can be effective in long relief or give the club a spot start if needed. Another ridiculous contract determines a decision rather than the move that actually makes sense from a pure baseball perspective. This earns Amaro another big, fat BOOOOOOO from me.
    — psuflyers
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:30 PM, 07/15/2010
    Give the Blanton problem, a lng releiver/innings eater is a primary need, yet Figgie gets dumped abd Danny Boy stays. RAJ, are you paying attention ? Please put Gillick back on speed dial and get some decent advice or I will send TBear out looking for you.
    — mick314


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

This is Brookover’s second stint writing about the Phillies, having joined the coverage team after seven years as an Eagles beat writer. Brookover was hired by The Inquirer in 2000 as the Phillies beat writer after spending 13 years writing about the team for two suburban newspapers. While on the Eagles beat, Brookover, who had covered just two winning Phillies teams in 15 seasons, saw the Phillies move into a cash-cow new ballpark and begin playing a brand of the game he found unrecognizable. Follow him on Twitter here.

Gelb is in his third season covering the Phillies. He was hired by The Inquirer in August 2009 after graduating from Syracuse University. He has also covered baseball at The Star-Ledger and Cape Cod Times. Born and raised in Bucks County, he attended Central Bucks High School West. Follow him on Twitter here.
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