Fantasy Baseball Cafe Forums

by **Scooter1027** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:34 am

Well, as far as knapplc improving our pen, that remains to be seen. I've never seen him pitch :-D

I actually think the pen will be tolerable this year. Villanueva's been fantastic in relief, Stetter looks like the real deal as a lefty specialist, and there are a number of interesting young arms (Tim Dillard, Omar Aguilar, Eduardo Morlan, RJ Swindle) that will get a shot. A healthy David Riske would make a big difference, injuries killed his season. He's a career 3.50 ERA guy who just derailed last year with elbow injuries. It's the rotation I'm worried about....they need to sign someone, whether it be Sheets, Looper, Perez, someone. I don't want to see Suppan/McClung penciled in 4/5 to start the season. McClung's an adequate spot starter/long reliever, but shouldn't be counted on for more than that.

by **knapplc** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:49 pm

You know those pitch machines? I can hit 55 on those things.

On a good day.

:-°

by **Snakes Gould** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:44 pm

i was very impressed with stetter during the NLDS as a LOOGY. ;-D

by **Scooter1027** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:40 am

Snakes Gould wrote:i was very impressed with stetter during the NLDS as a LOOGY.

Yeah, it was weird, he kinda supplanted Shouse as the go-to LOOGY, which was surprising consider Shouse had a good year.

What are your thoughts (if any) on RJ Swindle? The guy's minor league numbers are absolutely fantastic -- 1.58/0.90, 226 K / 25 BB in the minors...wow. His numbers against left handed hitters are mind-boggling. Philly must have seen something they didn't like in this guy to give up on those numbers in a 24 year old lefty...do you know anything about him?

by **Niffoc4** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:46 am

Scooter1027 wrote:
Snakes Gould wrote:i was very impressed with stetter during the NLDS as a LOOGY.

Yeah, it was weird, he kinda supplanted Shouse as the go-to LOOGY, which was surprising consider Shouse had a good year.

What are your thoughts (if any) on RJ Swindle? The guy's minor league numbers are absolutely fantastic -- 1.58/0.90, 226 K / 25 BB in the minors...wow. His numbers against left handed hitters are mind-boggling. Philly must have seen something they didn't like in this guy to give up on those numbers in a 24 year old lefty...do you know anything about him?

He's never been someone scouts were big on. The stats have always been there, but I guess he doesn't 'look' like a pitcher. I think he tops out at 85 or so, but throws four pitches from three different arm angles, so there's a lot of deception involved. He's now on his fourth team, originally drafted by the Red Sox, then cut, and was awesome in the indy leagues and signed by Yankees, then they cut him and he pitched in the independent leagues until the Phillies signed him. Was up and down between the majors and minors before (I think) he pitched for the Canadian national team.