Like Jason [Link: Beerleaguer - Phillies Blog, Baseball News, Trade Rumors & Spirits: Phils purchase contract of junkball lefty R.J. Swindle], I can't wait to see R.J. Swindle in action with the Phillies.
The left-handed reliever has a fastball that would cause Charles S. Dutton to exclaim at the ball, "you're five foot nothin', one hundred and nothin'!" It tops out at 85 mph and a curveball that strolls across the plate in the plate in the 50's. Guys like Jeff Francoeur to swing three or four times before the ball even reaches them.
He's the type of player that has had success everywhere he's ever been, the minors where he has a career 2.36 ERA, the independent leagues, etc., but because his game doesn't fit the mold of a classic big league pitcher, he's never gotten the chance. Kudos to the Phillies for giving him that chance.
Go get 'em R.J., go get 'em.
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For more on Swindle, read an interview The Good Phight did with him a few weeks ago. When I read it back then, this was a quote from Swindle that I meant to highlight around here a few weeks ago, but I never did:
I certainly hope the powers that be are taking notice. I think they are. The Phillies have been great to me, and Steve Noworyta and Gorm Heimuller have been great to me as well. There are alot of people on the chain that like numbers guys like me rather than velocity for everything so that is good for me. We will see what happens the rest of the year.
The Phillies have numbers guys?!?! Who knew?!?!
