Off the Stove
Some Thanksgiving Friday nuggets from the hot stove:
- The Brewers have signed ex-BlueClaws pitcher RJ Swindle. You probably remember RJ, the lefty who threw about 82, tops, with his fastball but threw a nasty 60 mph slow slow curveball that nobody could hit. Well nobody in the minors could hit it, whether that was in Lakewood, Reading, or Lehigh Valley. He had a rough patch with the Phillies mostly in mop-up duty, but in the minors he would strike out more than a batter per inning, barely walk anyone, and of course he’s lefty. Who knows if he can make it in the bigs but he was sure fun to watch, and a great guy on top of that.
The Red Sox drafted him and he only had a 56/4 K/BB ratio in the Penn League. After he was released, he went to Charleston in the SAL for the Yankees and 0.61 ERA with a 46/5 K/BB ratio. That wasn’t good enough for the Yankees either. The Phillies signed him off the Newark Bears and he had a good run all the way up the ladder. We wish him the best with the Brewers.
- Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Phillies have made contact with Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett. It appears that it’s Moyer or Lowe or Burnett, and then a slew of former BlueClaws will have the chance to win the fifth starter spot behind Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, and Moyer/Lowe/Burnett. Those would be JA Happ (3.61 ERA in 31 MLB innings), Kyle Kendrick (11-9, 5.49 ERA), and Carlos Carrasco (3.69 ERA, 159 Ks in 151 IP between AA/AAA). Drew Carpenter and maybe Adam Eaton could be in the mix too, per Zolecki.
- Still think the Phils re-sign Moyer. If the Yankees don’t sign CC Sabathia, it appears they’re going to throw the Brinks Truck in front of Lowe and Burnett, pricing everyone else out of the running. And those guys know to wait.
- If you missed it last week, the Phillies added RHPs Carlos Carrasco and Drew Naylor, LHP Sergio Escalona, C Joel Naughton, and OF John Mayberry Jr. to their 40-man roster, protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft. All, except Mayberry, who was just acquired for Greg Golson last week, are former BlueClaws. The Rule 5 Draft, designed to limit the ability of teams to stockpile minor leaguers who would advance to the big leagues in another organization, takes place at the Winter Meetings on December 11th. Jeremy Slayden was left unprotected.
- Enjoy the turkey leftovers.
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