Call to the pen
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Last-Minute Decision by the Phillies

By Tal Venada

Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson throws to the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson throws to the Washington Nationals during the sixth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Is Buchholz’s Time in Philly Over? Photo by Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports. /

If a move was so obvious to fans, some scribes and a few television hosts, why did general manager Matt Klentak of the Philadelphia Phillies wait?

Boundaries Abound: 

Many concepts have limitations and we usually notice them when we reach them: Time, talent and drive are but three.

Behind the front-office door, Klentak talked to scouts, analytical personnel and uniformed management face-to-face and on the phone. But knowing the ramifications of this decision weighed on him. He questioned his staff about his choices: He could promote an MiLB starter, skip a turn in the Phillies’ rotation, call up someone for an emergency outing, or go with Johnny Wholestaff: a bullpen game.

Beginning with his possibilities in reverse order, the GM had this difficult situation due to Clay Buchholz‘s injury on the eighth game of 2017. Basically, the starters with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs had only toed the rubber for two appearances. And remember Klentak’s 50 percent rule: Two starters, two late-frame relievers and two corner outfielders mean the exec wants – at least – one of each pair to contribute for the entire 162. Jeremy Hellickson, not Charlie Morton, was also the successful hurler last summer, while Buchholz is the disabled one this time.

Despite two excellent efforts, right-hander Ricardo Pinto is with Lehigh Valley because righty Zach Eflin wasn’t ready for the IronPigs’ rotation. Realistically, the International League doesn’t have a book on him, but by mid-May they will. In other words, Pinto needed better numbers with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils to earn an advancement to Lehigh Valley. Ergo, an opportunity.

MiLB Pitching:

  • Pinto for 2016: 27 AA Gms. (2 in relief), 156 Inn., 7-6, a 4.10 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.
  • Pinto for 2017: 2 AAA Gms., 12 1/3 Inn., 0-1, a 0.73 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.
  • Appel for 2017: 2 AAA Gms., 7 2/3 Inn., 0-1, an 8.22 ERA and a 1.96 WHIP.

If right-hander Mark Appel continues to struggle, he could be a balancing piece in a deal at the trading deadline. Last year, he ended May with his worst outing of a forgettable month. All due to injury? Well, the former first-round pick overall had a 3.86 ERA after his first start for ’17, but he has to prove he’s healthy and effective first.

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