RHP Justin Germano (NR) and RHP Josh Hancock (NR)
The 21 year old Germano will make his major league debut. Germano has been on the fast track this season. After starting the season with AA Mobile where he went 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA, he was promoted to AAA Portland and in 3 games he went 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Kevin Towers has compared him to Jake Peavy, but Germano does not have his velocity.
With Randy Wolf missing a start due to tendonitis in his elbow, the Trenton Times reports that the Phillies will call up the 26 year old Hancock from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he went 4-3 with 3.60 ERA in 8 starts. Hancock is a guy that depends on his defense as he is not a strike out pitcher.
============
Germano left speechless
21-year-old starter will make his debut Saturday
At the ripe old age of 21 years old, and three weeks removed from pitching in Double-A, Justin Germano couldn't bring himself to utter a coherent thought after he found out he'd been promoted to the Majors by the San Diego Padres.
"I didn't really know what to say," Germano said. "I was calling home telling family members and friends, and that's all I could get out was, 'I got called up.' It's an awesome feeling."
The Padres have made a habit of calling up young and talented pitchers and giving them their chance at the Major League level. Current starters Jake Peavy (21 years old in 2002) and Adam Easton (22 years old in 2000) were neophytes upon reaching the Majors, and Oliver Perez -- since traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates -- was all of 20-years-old when he made his first start for San Diego in 2002. It doesn't stop with pitching; even position players have a tendency to make the big leagues faster with the Padres. Third baseman Sean Burroughs was 21 years old as a rookie in 2002.
"I believe if they are ready, let's just take a look, let's throw them in the fire. Let's find out," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "Sometimes you can leave them down there and be too concerned about that, but if they are playing and pitching real well in Double-A and Triple-A, then there's a chance they can do it here, as long as they have the right make up."
Germano received a warm welcome when he arrived in the clubhouse, which should help calm any nerves he might feel.
"We will all be pulling for him, all the starters are," Peavy said. "We are all going to rally around him and try to make him feel as comfortable as we can make him. We are all a close-knit group. We take pride in winning and losing together and that's what's fun to be a part of here."
Bochy said he advised Germano just to have fun with the experience. With David Wells and Sterling Hitchcock both due off the disabled list within the next two weeks, it is possible that Germano will only be making one or two starts before being shipped back to Triple-A Portland.
"There is a learning curve. He's going to struggle," Burroughs said. "There are (very few) guys who come up and play and don't struggle. It's just how you handle it. You've got to handle it well and go back down, or maybe he will come up and be lights out and be a mainstay. There's no reason why he shouldn't be. Whether you are a position player or a pitcher, you just have to go out and do your thing and be successful."
Peavy gushed about how appreciative he was that the Padres gave him his chance so early. Even if this stint only lasts a start or two, Bochy said getting Germano his first call-up and start out of the way will be invaluable in the future.
"Hopefully with our evaluations through our development and scouting, we can make the right decisions on a guy who is ready to come up and compete up here," Bochy said. "We think we were right on Oliver and Peavy and Eaton, but you are not always going to be right."
Less rest for the weary: Bochy said Thursday that Brian Lawrence will start Sunday's game in Philadelphia on only three days' rest.
"He threw fewer than 100 pitches (96), he said he's fine to go, and he wants to go Sunday," Bochy said. "Talking to him after the game (Wednesday) and then again (Thursday), he feels great."
The doubleheader in Pittsburgh necessitated the move, and with Wells out of the picture and Germano already called up, the Padres had limited options. Bochy did, however, say that the team considered cutting injured lefthander Sterling Hitchcock's rehabilitation stint short. But Hitchcock was scheduled to make his next start for Portland Thursday.
The off day Monday while the Padres travel to Colorado means that Lawrence will be the only San Diego starter forced to adjust his routine. Lawrence said he has previously thrown on three days' rest during the playoffs in the minor leagues.
"You just have to make sure you don't throw too long a bullpen (session)," he said. "Once (I) get on the field, I won't even know."
=========
Lefthander Randy Wolf, who will miss tomorrow night's start against the Padres because of mild tendinitis in his left elbow, will throw a bullpen session instead.
Righthander Josh Hancock will start in Wolf's place. Hancock pitched three innings Wednesday for triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Red Barons manager Marc Bombard pulled him.
"You're done," Bombard said.
"What the [heck]?" Hancock responded.
"Don't question me," Bombard replied.
Bombard paused for a second before he told him he was out because he was headed to Philly.
Hancock smiled and said he was OK with that.
========
The 21 year old Germano will make his major league debut. Germano has been on the fast track this season. After starting the season with AA Mobile where he went 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA, he was promoted to AAA Portland and in 3 games he went 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. Kevin Towers has compared him to Jake Peavy, but Germano does not have his velocity.
With Randy Wolf missing a start due to tendonitis in his elbow, the Trenton Times reports that the Phillies will call up the 26 year old Hancock from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he went 4-3 with 3.60 ERA in 8 starts. Hancock is a guy that depends on his defense as he is not a strike out pitcher.
============
Germano left speechless
21-year-old starter will make his debut Saturday
At the ripe old age of 21 years old, and three weeks removed from pitching in Double-A, Justin Germano couldn't bring himself to utter a coherent thought after he found out he'd been promoted to the Majors by the San Diego Padres.
"I didn't really know what to say," Germano said. "I was calling home telling family members and friends, and that's all I could get out was, 'I got called up.' It's an awesome feeling."
The Padres have made a habit of calling up young and talented pitchers and giving them their chance at the Major League level. Current starters Jake Peavy (21 years old in 2002) and Adam Easton (22 years old in 2000) were neophytes upon reaching the Majors, and Oliver Perez -- since traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates -- was all of 20-years-old when he made his first start for San Diego in 2002. It doesn't stop with pitching; even position players have a tendency to make the big leagues faster with the Padres. Third baseman Sean Burroughs was 21 years old as a rookie in 2002.
"I believe if they are ready, let's just take a look, let's throw them in the fire. Let's find out," Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. "Sometimes you can leave them down there and be too concerned about that, but if they are playing and pitching real well in Double-A and Triple-A, then there's a chance they can do it here, as long as they have the right make up."
Germano received a warm welcome when he arrived in the clubhouse, which should help calm any nerves he might feel.
"We will all be pulling for him, all the starters are," Peavy said. "We are all going to rally around him and try to make him feel as comfortable as we can make him. We are all a close-knit group. We take pride in winning and losing together and that's what's fun to be a part of here."
Bochy said he advised Germano just to have fun with the experience. With David Wells and Sterling Hitchcock both due off the disabled list within the next two weeks, it is possible that Germano will only be making one or two starts before being shipped back to Triple-A Portland.
"There is a learning curve. He's going to struggle," Burroughs said. "There are (very few) guys who come up and play and don't struggle. It's just how you handle it. You've got to handle it well and go back down, or maybe he will come up and be lights out and be a mainstay. There's no reason why he shouldn't be. Whether you are a position player or a pitcher, you just have to go out and do your thing and be successful."
Peavy gushed about how appreciative he was that the Padres gave him his chance so early. Even if this stint only lasts a start or two, Bochy said getting Germano his first call-up and start out of the way will be invaluable in the future.
"Hopefully with our evaluations through our development and scouting, we can make the right decisions on a guy who is ready to come up and compete up here," Bochy said. "We think we were right on Oliver and Peavy and Eaton, but you are not always going to be right."
Less rest for the weary: Bochy said Thursday that Brian Lawrence will start Sunday's game in Philadelphia on only three days' rest.
"He threw fewer than 100 pitches (96), he said he's fine to go, and he wants to go Sunday," Bochy said. "Talking to him after the game (Wednesday) and then again (Thursday), he feels great."
The doubleheader in Pittsburgh necessitated the move, and with Wells out of the picture and Germano already called up, the Padres had limited options. Bochy did, however, say that the team considered cutting injured lefthander Sterling Hitchcock's rehabilitation stint short. But Hitchcock was scheduled to make his next start for Portland Thursday.
The off day Monday while the Padres travel to Colorado means that Lawrence will be the only San Diego starter forced to adjust his routine. Lawrence said he has previously thrown on three days' rest during the playoffs in the minor leagues.
"You just have to make sure you don't throw too long a bullpen (session)," he said. "Once (I) get on the field, I won't even know."
=========
Lefthander Randy Wolf, who will miss tomorrow night's start against the Padres because of mild tendinitis in his left elbow, will throw a bullpen session instead.
Righthander Josh Hancock will start in Wolf's place. Hancock pitched three innings Wednesday for triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Red Barons manager Marc Bombard pulled him.
"You're done," Bombard said.
"What the [heck]?" Hancock responded.
"Don't question me," Bombard replied.
Bombard paused for a second before he told him he was out because he was headed to Philly.
Hancock smiled and said he was OK with that.
========
