Lerew

Anthony Lerew got the promotion to the majors yesterday. Not a huge surprise here as the more prospects they call up the more insurance they have in the bullpen for the stretch run. None of them called up after Sept. 1 are eligible for the postseason though unless someone on the 25 man roster gets injured and then you can replace them in the postseason with anyone in your system. Its a dirty little trick the Angels used to win the World Series (see Frankie Rodriguez). Lerew is one of my personal favorite pitchers in the organization. A year and half ago he was good pitcher who could top out as a #3 starter in the majors. Then midseason of 2004 he got a 5 mph boost in his fastball apparently due to mechanical changes and he lost a little control. If you had been following him based purely on his stats you would have seen him dominate the first half of the season with an ERA in the 2s somewhere and then start to lose it in the second half. Strange indeed. But he came back this year, learning to harness his newfound velocity that puts him up in the 97 mph range This year at Mississippi he wass 6-2, 3.93 in 75 inn with 64/32 K/bb and at Richmond he was 4-4 3.48, 73 inn. and 53/29. His walk rates are high but they will decrease as he learns his velocity better and his K rates will get better with his better control and improved off speed stuff. He made his pro debut today with .2 inn and a K. He now has slight potential as a #1 if he figures stuff out a little more. Delmon Young said he was the best of the three between him, Davies, and James. We'll see.