Phillies Baseball

The Phillies announced on Sunday, following their 5-3 win over the Cubs, that the team had added four players for the stretch run.

With the roster expansion, teams can expand their roster from 25 players to 40 players.

With September callups taking place on Monday, the team recalled pitchers Adam Eaton and J.A. Happ, catcher Lou Marson, and outfielder Greg Golson.

Some others may still be added as the month progresses. They would likely be catcher Jason Jaramillo, pitchers Les Walrond and maybe Joe Bisenius. Infielder Mike Cervenak and outfielder T.J. Bohn could also be summoned from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Eaton, who was demoted to the minors in July, was promised a September return to Philadelphia. To be honest, that is the only reason he is back. He hasn’t warranted a callup with his pitching.

His numbers in the minors have been disgusting.

With Triple-A, Double-A and Single-A he went a combined 0-5 with a 7.02 ERA in seven games started.

Happ, already up with the Phillies earlier in the season, returns after an impressive season with Lehigh Valley. He led the International League in strikeouts with 151 in 135 innings.

Happ started two games for the Phillies this year and relieved in one more.

Lou Marson, a member of the Bronze winning USA Olympic baseball team, is being brought up from Reading. He has yet to play at the Triple-A level.

Marson hit .314 with five homeruns and 46 RBIs in 94 games. He hit .308 in Beijing in five games, four of them starts.

The most exciting callup and most anticipated callup for fans is outfielder Greg Golson. His speed and defensive skills are what make him one of the most coveted Phillies prospects each year at the trade deadline.

Golson, also being brought up from Reading, hit .282 with 13 homeruns, 60 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. Manager Charlie Manuel will use Golson as a late inning defensive replacement and pinch runner. 

Golson has the same speed and defensive prowess as former Phillie Michael Bourn, but has a keener eye at the plate and a better bat, which made Bourn expendable in the off-season trade with Houston for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett.

Look for all four of these players to see plenty of playing time during the month of September, especially Golson and Marson. Manuel also said Marson would be used alot since he now has three catchers on his roster.

Happ becomes the third lefty in the bullpen and will provide rest for J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre when needed.

The Phillies also added a left handed bat to their bench over the weekend by acquiring infielder/outfielder Matt Stairs from the Toronto Blue Jays for a minor league player to be named.

He will be used in late game pinch hitting situations when a lefty needs to be called upon and to spell either Pat Burrell or Jayson Werth in the outfield for a day off.

One month left and the Phillies are one game out of first in the NL East behind the New York Mets. This should be just as interesting as last year’s finish; if not better!

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