Phillies make things interesting by calling up relief prospect Phillippe Aumont
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Phillies make things interesting by calling up relief prospect Phillippe Aumont
David Murphy
The Phillies' bullpen auditions just got a lot more interesting. The team announced after tonight's win over the Reds that it had recalled right-hander Phillippe Aumont to replace lefty Jeremy Horst, who was placed on the three-day paternity leave list. Aumont, you probably remember, was the centerpiece of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners after the 2009 season. It has been an up-and-down season for the big righty. In 41 appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he recorded 15 saves, posting a 4.26 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 34 walks in 44 1/3 innings.
His last 10 games tell the story of his time in the system. His last time out, he allowed four runs on three hits and a walk without recording a strikeout in 2/3rds of an inning. In the three outings before that, he allowed one baserunner and struck out four. In the three outings before that, he allowed five hits and five walks with five strikeouts and three runs in four innings. And in the three outings before that he allowed one baserunner with three strikeouts in three scoreless innings.
Aumont has a huge arm. He also throws a curve ball and a splitter. Command and composure have been the two big issues with him. Assuming he is here for the rest of the season, it will give fans something interesting to watch as the Phillies try to get a read on their bullpen in advance of what is sure to be a busy offseason.
UPDATED, 11:16 p.m.
Somebody on Twitter asked why the Phillies picked Aumont over righthander Justin De Fratus, who was a September call-up last season and entered spring training as arguably the top relief prospect in the organization. Long story short, the Phillies seem determined to err on the side of caution with regard to De Fratus' elbow, which caused him to miss the first half of the season after he developed a case of inflammation in spring training.
De Fratus has pitched in 17 games since returning from the disabled list, striking out 19 while walking two with a 2.41 ERA in 18 2/3 innings. But he has only pitched on back-to-back days once since returning. In fact, he has had at least two days of rest before 14 of his 17 outings. The minor leagues are a much more structured environment than the majors when it comes to divying up workload. I don't think the Phillies felt like throwing De Fratus into the fire yet.
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Its kind of like Mike Stutes. He was great for the first couple of months after he was brought up last year, and pretty worthless since then. These guys have to show that they can do it over the long haul. I don't have much confidence in any of the Phillies' young relief pitchers.— SteveS11- Bring Ryan Madson back. He'll be happy to take a setup role, coming off of his TJ surgery.
— SteveS11 - I am waiting for the people who resent Jimmy Rollins's taking paternity leave -- to which he has a contractual right -- to start spewing venom at Jeremy Horst for doing the same thing. I am still waiting...— Dave Clemens
- @Dave Clemens, I resent many things about the wonderful Jimmy Rollins, including his manager never holding him to account and giving in to the Stroller's every wish, but I never objected to him taking paternity leave.
Many of us have taken exception to many things done by your hero without you trying to pick a fight over the one thing that was a minor blip on the overall radar screen for this guy.
Otherwise, good try.— advantasux - Bet Aumont has one heck of a slapshot - Hey, maybe Lavy could use him on D...— DaveCicc
- They are throwing the guy a 3 day bone. He might pitch once in mop up duty. This is a wake up call for him to show how he is wasting his talent and what could be if he focused.— hawk18
- Can we all stop bringing up the Bastardo/dead arm issue? I could have maybe bought that at last seasons end when he struggled after pitching a career high in innings, etc. This year....whats his excuse? Some still want to say he has a tired arm? Mentally soft. Lack of control. Thats the real issue.— Big D phillies fan
