Zach Eflin has not pitched yet, thanks to rainouts (Frank Klose/Philliedelphia)
While the International League has been in action since the 7th of April, the IronPigs have managed to play just two games. With field conditions unplayable in Syracuse and now rain in Rochester, the IronPigs find themselves scrambling to get their players live game action. This has a domino effect for the Phillies, who may be looking at some of the players at AAA.
The opening series in Rochester was supposed to include four games: April 7, 8, 9, and 10. Instead, the IronPigs and Chiefs played a double-header at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA, on April 8. The playing conditions were not acceptable for professional play. Due to construction to ready Coca-Cola Park for the season, tickets could no be sold. The games, as often are the case in the minor leagues, were just seven-inning matches.
So, the Phillies lost the opportunity to get their bullpen arms work early on to see if they can help the big club. Starters Jake Thompson and Adam Morgan went just five innings. The three relievers the Phillies have pitched are candidates to see Major League action in the future: Edward Mujica, Luis Garcia, and Andrew Bailey.
Mujica gave up three earned runs in his one inning of work in relief of Thompson in the IronPigs' 5-2 loss in game one. In game two, Garcia relieved Adam Morgan with the score tied at 1. Garcia walked the bases loaded, and Bailey relieved. One of Garcia's runners scored and he was charged with the loss, though Bailey recorded the last three outs of the game.
So, instead of 36 innings of play, the IronPigs have played just 14 innings, and since the home team – the Chiefs on the IronPigs' turf – held leads heading into the final inning, that is two fewer innings of pitching for the Pigs' 'pen.
Then, after the IronPigs headed to Rochester to open a series against the Red Wings on Monday, they got more bad news: another rainout. The two teams are making up the game with a doubleheader this evening. The good news is that they are underway.
After a disastrous start to the season by the Phillies bullpen, all eyes were to relief from AAA. So far it is too early to tell who might represent a valuable replacement. The weather has not helped.
