A Surprise Promotion Ahead for Phillies’ Pitching

While fans tune in to each game, they never know if the starter, the offense and/or the bullpen will disappoint them, as the losses keep mounting for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Games Remaining at 93:

If you only watch half of a movie, you can only guess how it began or how it will end.

Despite limited chances to enjoy a victory, the faithful continue supporting their guys in red pinstripes and waiting for the darkness presently clouding their club to dissipate. In other words, last season’s highs during the first two months match the lows of 2017 to date. But when you review some individual stars, the same pattern emerges: Expectations on Opening Day for Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco have led to questions regarding their talent. Yet, strong second-half performances by both will renew the optimism of March and April. Severe growing pains.

If this trend only affected the offense, an in-depth analysis would reveal a third baseman and a center fielder who had overachieved last summer. However, the young starters have also experienced the same phenomenon – especially Jerad Eickhoff and Aaron Nola. Meanwhile, Ben Lively and Nick Pivetta are mystifyingly showing the upward career trajectory we witnessed frequently from the young hurlers in last year’s rotation. A coincidence?

Ending with the most likely candidates to appear with the Phillies, this article covers the arms in the pipeline who are the closest to an advancement. Basically, it shows the additional competition for the slots on the five-man staff of the red and white.

While many locals gave up on right-hander Mark Appel, his overall record in the organization has done nothing to warrant otherwise. But his last five outings for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs are encouraging. He has pitched 31 innings in those five contests with a 3-1 mark and a 1.74 ERA. Ergo, MiLB limbo.

After straining his elbow during his first appearance with Lehigh Valley, Zach Eflin began throwing in Florida around June 19 and will pitch a simulated game by June 25. So, early July is a safe guess for his return to the IronPigs’ rotation. However, here is another example of a pitcher expected to contribute who took a step backward.

With the veteran setup relievers on the trading block, Hector Neris and Edubray Ramos will handle the final outs for the last two months. Yes, growing pains have occurred here also and saddled the reliable fireballers from 2016.

Observing Neris at his best, Mackanin and McClure agreed the closer has looked like the eighth-inning fireman from the previous 162. But remember, the pitching coach added Neris and Gomez had tired due to overuse before the final month. And the former’s reliable splitter and control during this campaign – the skipper stated – is a Dr. Henry Jekyll and a Mr. Edward Hyde.

IN OTHER WORDS:     “Some days you tame the tiger, and some days the tiger has you for lunch.” – Tug McGraw

Although Ramos had experienced difficulty early on, he went from April 30 to June 16 with solid results. He fired 21 1/3 innings with only four earned runs allowed for a 1.69 ERA during those 21 outings. But his 3.03 ERA has since increased to a 4.55 mark. Despite, however, his last two appearances, Ramos is a possibility to close because Pat Neshek doesn’t want the job.

For a major leaguer, there are three plateaus for a long career. Firstly, the MLB Draft is his introduction to professional baseball because his signing increases his odds of achieving his dream. But reaching the Show takes most prospects three to five seasons from the low minors to the highest level. And, perhaps, the most difficult of the three stages is staying in the big leagues.

In the Philadelphia Phillies’ pipeline, starters are not the only commodity for general manager Matt Klentak to discuss with his skipper. You can imagine Mackanin’s powwows with Klentak regarding a solution to finish off opponents in the final frame. Repeatedly, the manager points out his two veteran arms will be moving on. And he isn’t completely comfortable with Neris or Ramos.

Among the GM’s important promotions, a ninth-inning stopper is atop his agenda for the second half. And the red pinstripes have a righty who had 21 outings for 28 2/3 innings with a 1.26 ERA with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils: seven saves in eight chances. And even though he now has a 3.48 ERA for six appearances with the IronPigs, only a recent hiccup inflated his ERA, while the other five outings have been excellent: one earned run for 9 1/3 frames. The one earned run was during a three-inning performance. And who earned his first Triple-A save on June 18 when the current closer – a former MLB reliever – needed a day off? Jesen Dygestile-Therrien.

The Numerical Bible:

This review is not a sabermetrics article, which means no heavy statistical analysis. But because some readers rely on stats, this is only a reference: no reason to articulate the importance of these numbers.

Stats are through June 20.

Eshelman, 23:

• Triple-A: 8 Gms., 59 Inn., 5-1, a 1.68 ERA, a 2.74 FIP, a 3.72 xFIP and a 0.86 WHIP.
• Double-A: 5 Gms., 29 Inn., 3-0, a 3.10 ERA, a 5.02 FIP, a 3.50 xFIP and a 1.10 WHIP.

Thompson, 23.5:

• MLB: 3 Gms. (relief), 5 Inn., 0-0, a 9.00 ERA, a 6.84 FIP, a 7.37 xFIP, a 6.42 SIERA, a -0.1 fWAR and a 2.00 WHIP.
• Triple-A: 13 Gms., 63 2/3 Inn., 3-7, a 5.94 ERA, a 3.94 FIP, a 4.24 xFIP and a 1.63 WHIP.

Appel, almost 26:

• Triple-A: 14 Gms., 71 1/3 Inn., 5-3, a 5.05 ERA, a 5.55 FIP, a 5.15 xFIP and a 1.60 WHIP.

Next: Odds for Each Phillies' Promotion Candidate

Therrien, 24:

• Triple-A: 6 Gms., 10 1/3 Inn., 1 Save, a 3.48 ERA, a 4.71 FIP, a 3.36 xFIP and a 1.06 WHIP.
• Double-A: 21 Gms., 28 2/3 Inn., 7 Saves, 1 BS, a 1.26 ERA, a 1.29 FIP, a 1.72 xFIP and a 0.59 WHIP.