It was a rough day yesterday for the Phils. A heartbreaking loss to the Mets in fourteen twelve innings (it just felt like fourteen) gave us an anti-climactic conclusion to a rain-delayed, thrilling comeback in the ninth inning on a two-out, two-run blast by Jayson Werth off of Billy Wagner.

(So that’s — what, six blown saves for Wags now? Not that I’m counting or anything.)

To make matters worse, the Daily News reports that Tom Gordon has been placed on the 15-day DL following yesterday’s game. So, yeah… tough day.

As is often the case with me, when the major-league teams come up short, I look to our minor leagues for a morale boost. The Soul beat the New York Dragons in the AFL playoffs Saturday, and yesterday Les Walrond of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs made team history. Walrond struck out seventeen batters in nine innings of shutout baseball as the ‘Pigs triumphed over the Louisville Bats*, 2-0.

Les Walrond: Call-up material? Let’s examine why and why not.

Why: In his last week of pitching, these are Walrond’s stats: 2 starts, 15 IP, 11 H, 3 ER (1.80 ERA), 4 BB, 21 Ks. He has some big-league experience (2 call-ups for a total of 17 games). His repertoire of pitches includes a fast-ball, a curve, a slider and a change-up that he’s now improving. Did I mention he’s a lefty? No? He’s a lefty.

Why Not: Despite his recent excellence, Walrond is 3-7 on the season. He’s averaging less than six innings per start (13 GS, 73.1 IP). The sum of his major-league experience (one year with the Royals, one with the White Sox) resulted in a record of 0-3, with an ERA of 7.46. Did I mention he’s 31 years old? No? He’s 31 years old.

*Why didn’t they just call themselves the “Louisville Sluggers?” Must have been a trademark issue.

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