Left-handed relievers follow a road less traveled

When it comes to the Phillies' organization, there's an express lane to Philadelphia reserved for left-handed relievers.

Earlier this week we discussed John Sickels' Phillies prospect grades and lamented the organization's lack of sure-fire future star. The problem with these lists is they never account for the path of least resistance. Consider all the talented blue-chippers who never make it, then consider left-handed misfits like Mike Zagurski, Juan Perez, Sergio Escalona and R.J. Swindle and how often the Phils reach for a spare lefty. The Phils don't discriminate, either. They'll reach for the hottest hand, regardless of athleticism or pedigree. Anthony Hewitt, an amazing athlete chosen by the Phillies in the first round of the 2008 draft, will probably never make it, but Jake Diekman, a failed starter selected in the 30th round in 2007, is likely to earn at least a cup of coffee somewhere, at some point.

Diekman, 24, had a quality season pitching for Double-A Reading (3.05 ERA, 83/44 K/BB ratio in 65 IP) and has not allowed a hit in 6 1-3 innings so far in the Arizona Fall League.

Diekman wasn't even mentioned in Sickels' list, which included 21 rated players and 20 honorable mentions. Sickels isn't alone in his prejudice; loogys never get any love. It's not for a lack of need, either. Think about how many times a contending team kicks the tires on an Arthur Rhodes, a Mike Gonzalez or a George Sherrill at the trade deadline. The Phils needed help in this area, too, and always seem to need a spare lefty, adding J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre in midseason deals in 2007 and 2008. Rhodes, Gonzalez, Sherrill and Romero are free agents yet again, along with fellow lefties John Grabow, Javier Lopez, Damaso Marte, Trever Miller, Darren Oliver and Brian Tallet. They'll all find work somewhere and the best ones will be bartered off to a contending team at midseason. That's how it goes.

Lefties can live forever. Les Walrond has circled the globe, waiting for the elusive door to open at a shot at joining baseball's lefty buffet. The 34-year-old lefty twirled 6 1-3 shutout innings and struck out seven Friday night in lowering his Venezuelan winter ball ERA to 0.96. Venezuela is the latest stop on an itinerary that's included Philadelphia, Allentown, Yokohama, Japan, Doosan, Korea, Lancaster, Pa., Reading and back to Allentown, all since 2008.

At the very least, he's been to the Show. That's something Jeff Jackson can never say.

Comments

[2manychefs]

I'm rooting for Joe Savery to make the opening day roster as a 2nd lefty. That would be a great story!

[J. Weitzel]

Missed opportunity with "A road Les traveled"

[fumphis]

If this season has taught me anything, it's that it's just not fun in any way to have high expectations of your team. Expectations make you impatient and indifferent about the regular season, and anxious rather than excited about the postseason. They bring devastation and anger rather than disappointment and "always next year" when they aren't met, and relief rather than joy when they are. Given how arbitrary October is, winning a WFC should be a happy surprise that takes your breath away; it should require your team to excel in a way no one quite thought they were capable of. It shouldn't be an expected, "deserved" outcome you plan your season around and judge your team over.

Baseball is really just a means by which you get 3 hours of entertainment every day for 6 months. Each game is much more fun when taken on its own terms. The occasional October triumph is the apotheosis of fandom, and produces moments to be remembered and savored forever, but only when it catches you by surprise; if you get it into your head that it *must* happen every year, you're basically destroying the peaceful, cerebral, wholly in-the-moment enjoyment that the sport is all about. Watching 162 games shouldn't be a tedious step along the way to what really matters, it should be fun in and of itself--otherwise, what's the point?

Hardly an original observation, but the WS-win-or-bust attitude this year was bad for the players, bad for the front office, and especially bad for the fans.

[GTown_Dave]

Speaking of relief pitching Jacksons who have been to the show, remember when the Phillies signed "veteran closer" Mike Jackson? Yeah, he was a RHP -- I think. I mean, I only saw that one pitch -- but still. Good times, good times ...

[Bob]

I hear you, fumphis, and agree about the WS or bust attitude. I would honestly like to start next year off with more of that feeling, but I'm not sure it can be done. It's kind of like trying not to think of the word "elephant" for 60 seconds, starting in three, two, one...

[rich]

"the WS-win-or-bust attitude this year was bad for the players, bad for the front office, and especially bad for the fans."

This is what happens though when you have an overwhelmingly superior starting rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt, and come off first place finishes from '07 through '10.

It's inevitable the fans and players are going to be expecting a World Series Championship (can't bring myself to call it a World Championship) and anything less will be a disappointment.

It is less fun in some ways to have such high hopes, particularly when you don't win it all. It would surely be more enjoyable to come out of nowhere like the Cardinals did this year. I can guarantee you the average Cards fan was not expecting a WS title even one month ago.

You're right about one thing - it is all about expectations.

[Dragon]

That's what happens when fans get too caught up in the hype. Granted, there was more hype than usual this year with "The Four Aces" headlines and hoopla. Nonetheless, the best way to look at it is there are two seasons - the regular season where the best teams finish first and the playoffs where anything can happen and nothing is guaranteed.

[Scott]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/4003/yuniesky-betancourt

[DH Phils]

"Baseball is really just a means by which you get 3 hours of entertainment every day for 6 months. Each game is much more fun when taken on its own terms. The occasional October triumph is the apotheosis of fandom, and produces moments to be remembered and savored forever, but only when it catches you by surprise; if you get it into your head that it *must* happen every year, you're basically destroying the peaceful, cerebral, wholly in-the-moment enjoyment that the sport is all about. Watching 162 games shouldn't be a tedious step along the way to what really matters, it should be fun in and of itself--otherwise, what's the point?"

I agree with this 100%, and wish I could have put it as eloquently.

[Scott]

Speaking of lefties...
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/10/giants-re-sign-javier-lopez.html

[cut_fastball]

Scott -- I'll take Freddie...

[cut_fastball]

"Freddie" = "Freddy" (Galvis). Nuts. Really need that "edit" function.

[Scott]

Brewers took a pass on K-Rod. I really hope Rube doesn't decide to kick his tires.

[Scott]

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7170798/boston-red-sox-talk-pete-mackanin-dale-sveum-week

[gobaystars]

Not to be a stickler but Doosan is not a place. The team plays in Seoul. Doosan is the corporate sponsor. They are a contruction complany.

[Scott]

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/3505/marco-scutaro

[Luis]

I never heard of Sickles so i say Phrack him and his opinions. However, the Phils might as well give one of their own a chance. Not talking about a few innings then if they have 2 or 3 bad outings send them back to minors. I mean a real shot. Guys like Perez, who be in and out of the league for years arent going to fix their problems. If other teams couldnt fix their issues what makes them think all the sudden they can. They keep searching for these hidden gems, that aren't really there.

[Bake McBride was Here]

Looks like the Union pulled a Phillies. Apparently Rollins was at the game. Maybe that wasn't such a great idea.

[Scott]

Giants are busy today locking down their lefties...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/10/giants-exercise-affeldts-2012-option.html

[rich]

Eagles vs. Cowboys about to start. I predict a tight game to the finish!

[Rauls grandpa]

I would like to be the first Beerleaguer to welcome our new shortstop, Yuniesky Betancourt. Welcome Yuniesky, what's up with the Slavic name?

[gobaystars]

Rollins was at the Union game and now he's at the Eagles game. For a guy that is allegedly leaving, he sure around a lot.

[GBrettfan]

fumphis: Super post. Really terrific. Thanks.

[KevinStocker93]

I never understood why the Phillies gave up on Escalona. At least why they would let him go and keep Zagurski. Escalona had a pretty good 2011 for Houston too.

[rich]

"Eagles vs. Cowboys about to start. I predict a tight game to the finish!"

Another brilliant post by me.

[MisterZoomer]

Bob - that is called 'The Game'. Google it. I just lost the game.

[Edmundo]

I never heard of Sickles so i say Phrack him and his opinions.

You haven't been paying attention then. Sickles has been a minor league rating maven for many, many years and is as good as anybody at it. You'd learn more from him than from listening to the front office.

[Edmundo]

I would like to be the first Beerleaguer to welcome our new shortstop, Yuniesky Betancourt. Welcome Yuniesky, what's up with the Slavic name?

The Russian influence in Cuba has spread throughout the Caribbean. Ever hear of a guy named Vladimir Guerrero? :)

[Jbird]

tip of the cap to Tony Larussa. Not my favorite guy, but gotta respect anyone that goes out on top.

[Regress To The Mean Machine]

Now that LaRussa is gone... does that increase the odds that Pujols says sayonara?

[MG]

Yuniesky is a horrendous defender at SS and Amaro isn't going to sign him to start at SS because of it. Guaranteed.

Giants just upped the FA market for relievers by resigning Lopez to 2 yr/$8.25M and picking up Affeldt's $5M option.

Congrats to LaRussa. 'Manager of the Decade' in 3 different decades, 6 pennants, 3 WS, and a much better record than expected given the runs scored/run surrendered would suggest. Absolute first ballot HOF manager. One of the best ever.

[MG]

Aramis Ramirez declined his $16M option because he will get 4 or 5 years guaranteed? He really thinks some team is going to give him 4 yrs/5 yrs given his age (going to be 34) and his recent injury history?

My bet is he gets 3 yrs and an option.

[Tony LaRussa]

Now that I am leaving, I have to admit, I tried to touch Charlie's junk more than a few times.

[Lake Fred]

LaRussa knows this year was a fluke and he's going out in style. Will he give his hair dye a rest and try to get a more graceful mature look?

[MG]

"LaRussa knows this year was a fluke and he's going out in style. Will he give his hair dye a rest and try to get a more graceful mature look?"

Yeah he did have that 'black shoe polish' dye job. My bet is that he keeps it for several more years though only at 67.

[The_GodfatherSJP]

Brookover's up with an idiotic post saying Cuddyer should be the Phillies top offseason target: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Cuddyer-should-be-Phillies-primary-focus.html

Problems:

1) Cuddyer's a defensive liability everywhere but LF and 1B. You don't want him as your primary 3B. Brookover's basically saying the Phillies need a super utility guy. If they wanted someone like that, the Phillies would have pulled the trigger and traded for Michael Young.
2) Money. Cuddyer's the premiere OF free agent this offseason after Carlos Beltran. After him you've got Josh Willingham, Magglio Ordonez, and Jason Kubel. Cuddyer's going to get a multiyear deal as a 32 year old. Given the need to sign Hamels long term and solve the SS problem, the Phillies would be very foolish to spend a lot of money on this guy, especially since they'll need cash to keep Hunter Pence after 2012 (he's a free agent after that year).

[can_of_corn]

Thanks, fumphis, for the articulate sentiments.

I wouldn’t trade this run of excellence for anything. Yet, yet…there was something poetic about walking up to the ticket window of the Vet on a summer day when you had a few free hours, buying a ticket, and settling into whatever seat was available that day. There was joy in the moment…a good defensive play, a triple by a favorite player, a cool beverage in the sun. There was comfort that a seat would always be there without the frenzy of Stub Hub and lotteries, and there was a satisfaction that the fans at the park cared as much about that day as they did about three months from then.

[Tony LaRussa]

This is my natural hair color. I swear on Mark McGwire's workout routine.

[aksmith]

I don't see a lot of Twins games. Just how bad is Cuddyer's defense at third? Because I could be very happy with a good bat at third base for a change. Polanco's ghost and Abraham Nunez aren't exactly my idea of robust offense.

Want to go cheaper? Grab back Gregg Dobbs to platoon with Polanco at third and maybe Dobbs will hit and Polanco will stay healthier. That's if they want to go cheap. Or maybe they can grab a Kouzmanouff(sp?) and he'll have a bounce back year.

There has got to be something better for third base.

[DPatrone]

The Phils aren't goona spend a lot a money on the open market unless it's to keep their FA's. How can they? I bet they're not gonna cross the luxury tax threshhold and they already have 110 milliojn committed to 11 players including the buyouts to Oswalt and Lidge.

So if anybody thinks were getting Cuddyer or Ramirez, think again. I believe Hamels will be signed long-term, and Rollins and Madson I give a 50-50 chance. I do believe however that RAJ will make a trade or 2. That's where the surprise moves will happen.

[rich]

With Wainright coming back next year, and Carpenter another removed from his injury - I could see the Cardinals being better on paper next year than they were this year. I do think Pujols re-signs with St. Louis, even without TLR - and if this Freese kid pans out over a 162 game season they may be stronger offensively.

[Edmundo]

"this Freese kid" will be 29 in April. He's had a Werth-like run of injuries, so there IS a chance he's the real deal, i.e., an All-Star once or twice.

[Phil_Byatt]

It's very confusing why some parents don't want there children to be left-handed. I am a left handed and there are some interesting characteristics in being left-handed.ladies left handed golf clubs