Lack of starting pitching likely a main reason for Wolever's exit

There were probably a number of reasons why Marti Wolever was relieved of his duties as the Phillies assistant general manager, amateur scouting, but the lack of starting pitching in the minor league system is a good place to start.

While David Buchanan was a find as the Phillies No. 5 starter, nobody can be assured that he will even be in the rotation next year.

And if there had been more depth in the system, it's likely that Buchanan wouldn't have gotten a chance.

The Phillies had so little starting pitching depth on the farm that they had to take a flyer on Jerome Williams, who struggled for Houston and Texas this year.

To his credit Williams pitched well in his nine starts with the Phillies, finishing with a 2.83 ERA. He's a free agent and he may have pitched his way into the rotation next year.

Nola was impressive at Clearwater and then Reading, but again, is he being rushed through the system because of a lack of depth?

Like many pitchers, Nola isn't a sure thing, but he has poise and knows how to pitch. His fastball wasn't overpowering but he also had pitched 116 1/3 innings at LSU. The fact that he made it to 171 2/3 innings is a positive development.

In five Double-A starts covering 24 innings, he had a 2.62 ERA.

Is that enough to start next season at Triple-A?

Those who speculate whether he can make the Phillies roster out of spring training are getting way ahead of themselves.

However, if he does start at Triple-A, then Nola could be pitching in Philadelphia sometime next season.

If he makes it, then Wolever would get the credit, just as he has for drafting Cole Hamels. The problem is that there were too many unaccomplished starting pitchers in between.

After Nola, there doesn't appear to be a starter in the system who can help the Phillies at any point next year. And maybe not the following year as well.

Of course things change, but for now, starting pitching remains the biggest weakness in the Phillies system (and in fairness in a lot of teams' minor leagues).

Then again, the Phillies aren't flowing with hitting prospects either, but the pitching has less depth.

Wolever's successor will have to make an impact in starting pitching.

Remember at one point this season when the Phillies  were in a need of a starter and had Sean O'Sullivan fly to Philadelphia and pitch that same day in a 6-5 win over Houston Astros on Aug. 7. O'Sullivan allowed five runs in six innings, which considering the circumstance, gave the team a chance to win.

Still, O'Sullivan, 27, had a 4.30 ERA at Lehigh Valley. Teamamte Greg Smith, who turns 31 in December, sported a 4.40 ERA. Another starter was Brad Lincoln, who began the season in the Phillies bullpen but was quickly sent to the minors, had a 5.11 ERA. He had 27 appearances, 22 as a starter.

The No. 2 starter in the Phillies system is lefthander Jesse Biddle and his struggles in his second year at Reading have been well documented. Then he ended the season with a quadriceps injury.

Will Biddle begin next year at Double-A or Triple-A?

Biddle turns 23 next month so there is still plenty of time, but to be the organization's No. 2 starting pitching prospect and to have so many questions, shows a lack of depth. Next season is a critical year for the 2010 first round pick from Germantown Friends.

The third best starting pitching prospect could be Reading righthander Severino Gonzalez, who turns 22 on Sept. 28. Gonzalez did finish strong.

In his last six starts, Gonzalez, had a 2.83 ERA and opponents batted .221.

Again, he's not an overly hard thrower, sort of in the Buchanan mold.

His ERA was 4.59 in a career-high 158 2/3 innings. Is that enough to have him start next season at Triple A?

It just might.

We could go down the line about the starting pitchers, but one gets the point. Even the top Phillies starting pitching prospects have questions.

And the lack of starting pitching depth is likely the main reason why Wolever is no longer a part of the organization.