Results tagged ‘ B.J. Rosenberg ’
The Big Red Machine
The Phillies open a three-game series tonight against the Reds at Citizens Bank Park.
The Reds swept the Phillies in Cincinnati last month.
A few notes before the series opener:
- The Phillies finally optioned left-hander Raul Valdes to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was 1-0 with a 7.65 ERA in 10 appearances. Right-hander B.J. Rosenberg takes his place. He was 1-3 with a 4.30 ERA in seven starts in Triple-A. I’m not sure why he got the nod over Lehigh Valley relievers like Joe Savery (3.00 ERA in 12 appearances), Mike Stutes (3.86 ERA in 17 appearances) and Cesar Jimenez (3.20 ERA in 10 appearances), but I’m guessing it’s because he has a power arm and gives the bullpen length. But Rosenberg has 24 strikeouts with 20 walks in 37 2/3 innings. But clearly something needed to be done to shake up the bullpen. The middle relievers have struggled tremendously. If you’re asking about Chad Durbin (7.30 ERA in 12 appearances), I think he gets a longer leash because of his contract (one-year, $1.1 million, plus a club option for 2014), plus the Phillies considered him a valuable asset in mentoring some of the younger arms in the bullpen.
- The Phillies called Roy Halladay‘s right shoulder successful, but he faces long odds to pitch successfully again.
- In case you missed it yesterday, Jimmy Rollins spoke openly and honestly about the reality facing the Phillies: They better get this thing turned around or the front office might blow it up.
- Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani is looking forward to facing Cliff Lee tonight. “He’s why I run off and on the field, because Cliff Lee did that when I was growing up,” he said. “I also like how he uses his fastball.” Cingrani is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in five starts. He has dominated left-handed hitters, who have just a .554 OPS against him. Chase Utley is hitting .158 with a .554 OPS against lefties this season. Ryan Howard is hitting .190 with a .590 OPS against them.
- The Phillies have hit .275 with a .331 on-base percentage and .395 slugging percentage in their last nine games, although they are averaging only 3.9 runs in those games. They were hitting .237 with a .296 on-base percentage and .374 slugging percentage in their first 32 games. It is far too early to say the Phillies are turning around their fortunes, but I guess it’s a step in the right direction. Still, they could use some power somewhere. Too many singles, not enough extra-base hits to score runs.
Cook Released; Triple-A Rotation Practically Set
The Phillies entered Spring Training with veterans Aaron Cook and Rodrigo Lopez expected to pitch in the Triple-A Lehigh Valley rotation.
Both are gone.
They released Lopez last week and they released Cook today The Phillies had a noon deadline today on Cook. They had to promise him a spot on the 25-man roster, pay him a $100,000 retention bonus to pitch in Triple-A or release him. Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said after a discussion with Cook’s agent they decided to release him.
“We decided that was the best thing to do,” Proefrock said. “It was our decision. But I think Ruben (Amaro Jr.) was cognizant and considerate of the player’s feelings of the circumstances.”
Cook went 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in six Grapefruit League appearances, but went 13-29 with a 5.54 ERA the previous three seasons, including 20 strikeouts in 18 starts last season with the Red Sox. Cook’s departure sets up a Triple-A rotation with right-handers Tyler Cloyd, Jonathan Pettibone, Ethan Martin and B.J. Rosenberg and left-hander Adam Morgan, although Proefrock said nothing has been finalized.
Players Option Five to Minor League Camp
The Phillies optioned five players to Minor League camp this morning:
- Right-hander Tyler Cloyd.
- Right-hander B.J. Rosenberg.
- Left-hander Mauricio Robles.
- Outfielder Tyson Gillies.
- Catcher Sebastain Valle.
The Phillies have 42 players in big-league camp (non-roster invitees in parenthesis): 20 pitchers (five), four catchers (two), 10 infielders (three) and eight outfielders (one).
Howard to Appear in Entourage
Entourage star Jerry Ferrara and Ryan Howard were chummy behind the batting cage today at Dodger Stadium.
There’s a reason for that.
Howard makes an appearance in the Sept. 12 season finale of Entourage on HBO.
Ferrara, who plays Turtle, and Howard would not discuss Howard’s scene, although Ferrara said, “Being the season finale it’s kind of a frantic episode. Ryan’s in a position to help out my character a little bit.”
“It sounded like he had a good time,” Ferrara said. “He’s a fan of the show. We’re obviously a big fan of his. As a Yankee fan I didn’t know if he was going to be too happy that the storyline was with my character, but we didn’t talk Yankees.”
Personally, I would have demanded a scene with Emanuelle Chriqui, but I’m pretty sure she has a restraining order against me. (It was just a misunderstanding!)
Howard and Chase Utley also appear in an upcoming episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
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Ross Gload, who is on the DL with a strained right groin, is scheduled to make rehab appearances tomorrow and Thursday with Class A Clearwater. If it goes well he could be activated before Friday’s series opener against the Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. … Danys Baez, who is on the DL with back spasms, also is in Clearwater. He long tossed yesterday. … The Phillies are sending right-handers Tyson Brummett, Justin De Fratus, Chris Kissock, B.J. Rosenberg and Josh Zeid; catcher Tim Kennelly and first baseman Matt Rizzotti to the Arizona Fall League. Class A Lakewood manager Mark Parent will coach in the AFL. … The Class A Florida State League named Clearwater right-hander Austin Hyatt its Pitcher of the Year. Hyatt, a 15th round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, is 11-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) this season.
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The Zo Zone is on Facebook and Twitter. My Phillies book “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly” is available online, and at Delaware Valley bookstores!
Todd Zolecki
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