Alumni Odds and Ends

Three stories about three players who once were Timber Rattlers

J.J. Putz is with White Sox, trying to move on after bad endings with Mariners, Mets

The J.J. Putz who last year questioned the chemistry of the Mariners' clubhouse in 2008, and last month was quoted as questioning the handling of his injured elbow by the New York Mets, was nowhere to be found Monday.

Instead, after he made his first appearance against the Mariners since being traded from Seattle in December 2008, Putz sounded happy and relaxed. That's in part because he again feels at home, in the familiar confines of the American League and with a team, the Chicago White Sox, that trains near his Arizona residence.

"Everything feels good," he said after pitching a scoreless inning for the White Sox in a 5-4 Mariners win, one of two games Seattle played Monday.

Mariners’ Johnson progresses step-by-step

Rob Johnson has talked to the doctors who fixed his hips and he even got a reassuring message from Alex Rodriguez to let him know everything’s going to be fine.

Johnson, the Seattle Mariners’ starting catcher, is feeling good again and may start his first spring training game by the middle of this week. That’s a big step after a scare last week when he got out of bed and couldn’t walk without pain.

It’s part of the recovery process from the surgery Johnson had on his right hip in October and his left hip in November to repair cartilage damage and shave the bone. Knowing that his discomfort was part of the recovery process didn’t make it any less painful, or worrisome, for Johnson.

Aumont better in second spring outing for Phillies

In just over 2 months, Phillippe Aumont has moved across the country, been transformed from a reliever to a starter, and been told to revert to the mechanics that he used before the Seattle Mariners selected him in the first round of the 2007 draft.

In other words, he is very much a work in progress.

But even though the Phillies are more worried about progress than results when it comes to their new, 21-year-old pitching prospect, a little success never hurts.

[Sunday], Aumont had that success, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam and finishing with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the Phillies' 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I was able to throw a little more strikes, and have a little more focus in the game," said Aumont, who allowed two hits and one walk with no strikeouts. "We've been working the last few days on some stuff, and it paid off a little bit today."

Former First Round picks

Larry Stone of the Seattle Times caught up with three former Seattle Mariner first round picks who are no longer in the Mariners organization. Two of them are ex-Rattlers.

They arrived, as all first-round draft picks do, accompanied by breathless hype and limitless dreams.

Jeff Clement was that rarest of commodities, a left-handed- hitting catcher with power and a keen eye. Brandon Morrow had the sort of live arm that sends scouts' hearts atwitter. And Phillippe Aumont, a 6-foot-7 flamethrower, was the prototype of a power pitcher.

But in a five-month span last year that typified the aggressive game plan of Jack Zduriencik's general managership — one with no emotional ties to the phenoms of the previous regime — all the players were traded away.

Their dreams went with them. The hype had pretty much dried up.
...
None of the players fulfilled their promise with the Mariners, but all are young enough to still make their mark. And they will have their chance. Clement, 26, is being converted to first base by the Pirates and will be given a strong opportunity this spring to win the starting job. Morrow, 25, is slated for the Blue Jays' rotation, while Aumont, 21, will be a starter in the minors this year, likely at Class AA.

By happenstance, all landed with teams that train within a 20-mile radius in Florida. They each seemed excited about the prospect of jump-starting their careers in a new environment.

I'll pull out some of the parts on Clement ('05) and Aumont ('08). Click to read it all.

Clement noted that Zduriencik has made a sweeping transformation since he took over as GM after the 101-loss disaster of 2008 — a season in which the catcher hit just .227 in 203 at-bats.

"There were some changes that needed to be made, and he's making a lot of changes he thinks are going to make them a championship team," Clement said in Bradenton. "It's interesting that three (No. 1) picks are gone now, but obviously, he has a plan and he's trying to implement that."

Clement was picked after Justin Upton and Alex Gordon, and ahead of Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Ryan Braun and Jay Bruce, among others, in a draft that has been called one of the best in history. The general manager (Bill Bavasi) and scouting director (Bob Fontaine) wwho made the call on Clement are long gone, and Clement realizes their advocacy went with them.

"I think it's clear that changes [were coming]," he said. "You're going to have a lot more opportunities with the people that invested in you. If it changes, you expect that. Obviously, they wanted to move in a different direction, and I have no ill will toward them for that. They have a plan, and I wasn't part of that plan, and that's fine."
...
Aumont was more flattered than surprised by his trade — flattered to be dealt in a package that yielded a Cy Young winner in return.

"You don't see that too often," he said with a laugh. "It's probably going to happen once in my life you get that opportunity to be part of something like that. It's really an honor for me, and the other guys that came in the trade, too. They feel pretty flattered about that."

...

The Phillies, as the Mariners once did, envision Aumont as either a front of the rotation starter or a potential closer. He is philosophical about going from No. 1 draft pick to trade fodder.

"I guess that's part of the sport," he said. "You get drafted high, and
I guess when you have high picks, they can go get bigger names for the big-league team right away, instead of waiting for you to get up. It's part of the game — you're just a chip, and they trade you."

Prospects, prospects, prospects

Baseball America has unveiled their Top 100 Prospects list for the 2010 season.

Former Timber Rattlers on the list:

30. Michael Saunders ('06)

59. Brett Lawrie ('09)

83. Adam Moore ('06)

93. Phillippe Aumont ('08)

Alumni Notes

From 1996:

If the Red Sox were certain about designated hitter David Ortiz, they would not be uncertain about his position in their lineup.

They would not be considering free agents such as Russell Branyan.

They would not be linked every three seconds to Padres first baseman
Adrian Gonzalez.

Well, the Red Sox are not certain about Ortiz, cannot be certain, even though last season he rallied to hit 26 of his 27 home runs after June 1.

The Sox's interest in Branyan, a left-handed slugger who reached agreement Friday with the Indians, was the latest indication that they might act quickly to replace Ortiz if he again gets off to a poor start.

From the 2000 team:

Former Mariner Cha Seung Baek, the Korean right-hander who last pitched in the big leagues two years ago, is in camp today for a minor league tryout [with the Mariners].

From the 2002 team:

Nothing comes easy for the Indians, but who among the Tribe faithful doesn't already know that?

Having virtually stolen one of their consistent run producers from the Seattle Mariners for Ben Broussard midway through the 2006 season, the Indians could face an unusual dilemma: losing that player to the army.

South Korean males are obligated to serve their country in the military for two years. Shin-Soo Choo, second to Grady Sizemore as an all-around player for the Tribe, is a native of South Korea. Choo has not yet put in his time with the armed forces. He is required to do so after the 2010 season.

But if he leaves baseball behind for two years, there is no guarantee he will return — at age 29 — with his skills intact. Moreover, he would lose two of his prime income-producing seasons (he will be arbitration eligible in October).

So what can he do?

From 2008:

Phillippe Aumont, the hard-throwing 21-year-old righthander acquired in the trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle, said the Phillies haven't officially told him whether he will enter the season as a starter or reliever.

But while the decision may not be set in stone, the near-unanimous opinion among team personnel is that he will begin the year as a starter at Double A Reading.

And if you listened to Aumont talk yesterday, it was easy to understand why.

A little more on the Trade

Bleacher Report asks the question: Could Phillippe Aumont Help the Phillies in 2010?

It's not that far-fetched that the Phillies are planning on him relieving in 2010. Clay Condrey has been let go, Chan Ho Park has been offered a contract but wants to start again, and Scott Eyre hasn't re-signed as of yet either.

And with the payroll around $131 million already, that leaves Amaro about nine million to spend on relievers for the rest of the off-season. Philadelphia has been linked to Fernando Rodney and John Smoltz as possible bullpen arms.

Last year, the Phils struggled closing games out. Brad Lidge had a miserable season while Ryan Madson had a decent year when he was in the eighth inning role, but when he had closer duties, he wasn't very good.

Bringing Rodney or Smoltz in to replace Park or Eyre as a late-inning reliever would help shore up the bullpen, but it would still leave holes elsewhere in the 'pen.

To sign Rodney, it'll probably require closer money unless he gets a chance to close. I don't believe Amaro would promise him a chance to replace Lidge as the closer so he'll have to pay top dollar for him, which would bring him right up to the $140 million budget.

Let's say Rodney or Smoltz is brought into the fold as a late innings reliever, there's still a long relieving role up in arms. Pitchers like Antonio Bastardo, Sergio Escalona and Drew Carpenter will be looked at in the Spring, but Aumont shouldn't be ruled out.

This kid has a live arm with movement on his pitches. He throws three pitches, and has a nasty curveball who can get Major League hitters out. I know it was just the WBC, but he did strikeout Youkilis and Granderson, two MLB All-Stars.

Aumont could be a pleasant surprise for the Phillies this season, or he could stay in the minors and never be heard from again. Who knows.

I don't know. The Shadow, maybe?

Three things about "The Trade"

First: MLB.com has a bit about the prospects involved in the "any minute now blockbuster" between the Mariners/Phillies/Blue Jays.

Here are the parts about the ex-Rattlers:

Phillippe Aumont ('08):
The Mariners, partially because of durability concerns and partially because his two-pitch power mix seemed perfect for the role, turned Aumont into a full-time reliever in 2009. After pitching very well for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, he saved 12 games and had a .195 batting average against while pitching in a very hitter-friendly High Desert park in the California League. That led to a promotion to Double-A. He was a bit more hittable there, though he still finished the season with 16 combined saves and 59 strikeouts in 51 innings. He did miss time with a broken left hand when he punched a wall following a blown save. He made up some time in the Arizona Fall League, where he gave up 19 hits and eight walks in 12 innings, but also struck out 18.

Juan Ramirez ('08):
Ramirez still has some projection and upside to him at 6-foot-3. He's already got a pretty good fastball he can crank as high as 97 mph to go along with a very good hard slider. His changeup lags behind, never surprising for a young pitcher, and it's possible he could be a dynamo short reliever when all is said and done.

Second: The usual suspects are giddy about Cliff Lee and not that broken up about losing three prospects.

Third: You do realize that if Aumont and Ramirez start at their careers in the Phillies organization they will be playing in Reading...for former Timber Rattlers manager Steve Roadcap...don't you?

Quick Update

I had this story from Philly.com open when I was writing that last post, but didn't look at it until after I had posted. The details.

The Halladay/Lee deal is "very unlikely" to be finalized today, according to a person familiar with the talks. An official announcement could very well come tomorrow. The two sides are likely still working on the specifics of a contract extension.

There has been some unrest in my inbox this morning about reports of this trade. The widely reported deal is a good one for the Phillies, but your concerns are understandable. Reports varied yesterday evening, but the framework has now come into focus as pretty much this:

Phillies get: Roy Halladay from Toronto, 20-year-old righthander Phillippe Aumont form Seattle, 21-year-old righty J.C. Ramirez from Seattle, and 21-year-old outfielder Tyson Gillies from Seattle.

Click the link to see the rest of the deal. But I did want to share this beautiful sample of Philadelphia optimism...

Will either Aumont or Ramirez become major league stars? Not likely. It is never likely that pitching prospects will become solid major leaguers. But they do help ease the hit to the farm system caused by this trade.

Always look on the bright side of life, my friend.

What we know so far

You may have heard about the potential 3-team trade that is on the verge of being finalized. It does have a Timber Rattlers connection.

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times pointed to this Jayson Stark article at ESPN yesterday. The Stark article was updated this morning, so that is where I'll link.

A couple of companion deals that would send Roy Halladay to Philadelphia and Cliff Lee to Seattle are "close" but "not done," according to two sources familiar with the negotiations.

As part of the deals, Halladay would agree to a three-year extension through 2013, with a vesting option that could lengthen the deal by another year or two, one source said. The extension is expected to guarantee Halladay in the neighborhood of $60 million, plus the $15.75 million he would make in 2010, the final year of his current contract.

The specifics of the trades took some twists and turns on Monday. The latest structure would send three Phillies -- outfielder Michael Taylor, catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud and pitcher Kyle Drabek -- to Toronto, sources said.

Under that scenario, the Phillies would not have to include their top position-player prospect, Domonic Brown, and they would receive Seattle's top pitching prospect, Phillippe Aumont, who originally appeared ticketed for Toronto.

Why is Aumont, a Rattler in 2007, included in this deal? Baker explains here:

Aumont had several closer-type candidates either right with him or ahead of him, including David Aardsma, Mark Lowe, Shawn Kelley and Josh Fields.

Baker also throws out some other potential farmhands that could be part of the deal in that post. There is also this post that is about Aumont's '07 Rattler teammate, Juan Ramirez. Well, at least, that's how Rattlers fans remember him. He now goes by JC or Juan Carlos Ramirez.

We're seeing all kinds of names thrown about as some of those who could be dealt in the Cliff Lee blockbuster. Here's another to add to your list that I've now heard from a couple of places.

Class A starting pitcher J.C. Ramirez (also known as Juan Ramirez).

Ramirez was recently added to Seattle's 40-man roster and was listed by Baseball America's as the No. 5 overall prospect in the organization heading into this coming season. He was a part of that Class A High Desert juggernaut we told you about from this past season. The native of Nicaragua is only 21 and went 8-10 with a 5.12 ERA last season.

But like I said, he's only 21. And at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he's a big, imposing guy with a lot of appeal. He struck out 111 guys in 142 1/3 innings while walking 53.

He's a name I'm hearing now. Not the only name, but one of them.

For the amount of time it took me to put this post together, the deal is probably finalized by now, but if there are updates, I'll pass them along later today.

Lesson learned

The story or Phillippe and the locker gets a little more play.

The first full season right-hander Phillippe Aumont spent as a relief pitcher taught him all about the thrill of getting the final out of a game -- and even more about the pain caused by taking a blown save too seriously.

Like don't take out your frustrations by punching a metal locker.

The Mariners' strong-armed prospect, who worked a perfect inning of relief in his first outing with the Arizona Fall League Peoria Javelinas, said he has moved past the midseason incident. But he flashed a sheepish grin recently when asked about the freakish injury he sustained following a game with Double-A West Tennessee.

He explained that his emotions began to simmer two days earlier when he was unable to protect a lead.

"That was tough to take," Aumont said. "You're competitive and you don't want to get beat, but I moved on from that one."

Moving on from the second consecutive blown save was not as easy.

"I lost my mind. I lost it completely," Aumont said with a half-smile. "I barely remember anything because I just completely lost it. When something gets you real bad, and you have a hard time controlling yourself, that's what happened. I just started hitting my locker with my left hand. I didn't feel it at the time because the adrenaline was just pumping so much.

"I calmed down, started getting undressed, and didn't feel anything at the time."

Luckily, it was Aumont's non-pitching hand and he didn't think much about it, but when he woke up the next day and noticed his left hand was considerably larger than his right, he could only hope that it was nothing serious.

That is not the only focus of the story. It's more of a jumping off point.

The former first-round Draft choice (11th selection overall in 2007) is back on track and hopes to use the Arizona Fall League as a springboard to the Mariners' bullpen next season.

"I have this great opportunity here," he said. "I know there are a lot of front-office people from the Mariners coming down to watch, and even if they aren't here, they are going to hear about it. I will do my best to show them I can compete at a higher level."

Aumont posted a 3.24 ERA with 12 saves in 29 appearances for Class A High Desert this past season before being promoted to West Tennessee in mid-July. He went 1-4 with a 5.09 ERA and four saves in 15 relief appearances, striking out 24 batters in 17 2/3 innings.

Despite not having pitched at the Triple-A level, a solid six weeks in the AFL could catapult Aumont into the Seattle bullpen picture when Spring Training opens in mid-February.

The Mariners have a surplus of potential starters, and although most of the relievers -- including right-handed closer David Aardsma -- return next season, the probable loss of right-hander Miguel Batista to free agency could create an opening.

"Next year is a big year for me," Aumont said.

A little Alumni news

Rob Johnson ('05) needs surgery...er, surgeries....

Mariners catcher Rob Johnson faces an arduous offseason of medical procedures, starting Friday with surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.

Johnson also needs the same operation on his right hip, as well as left wrist surgery and possibly a fourth surgery, to remove a bone spur in his right elbow.

Sounds daunting, but according to the Mariners, doctors believe Johnson should be healthy at the start of spring training.

"I talked to Dr. Khalfayan [Mariners medical director Edward Khalfayan] and he said it's a lot, but it looks a lot worse than it is," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday. "He said all of these are manageable, and that Rob should be OK by spring training, unless they see something they're not expecting."

Johnson, in a phone interview late Tuesday afternoon, said he is excited at the prospect of a healthy season in 2010.

"That's the most encouraging thing," he said. "It's going to be awesome to be back and not have to stretch 45 minutes because of the pain."

You know who is going to like this?

Johnson, who evolved into the personal catcher for the Mariners' Cy Young candidate, Felix Hernandez, played in 80 games, hitting .213 with two home runs and 27 runs batted in. In September and October, Johnson hit only .115 (3 for 26) with one extra-base hit.

That's who is going to like this.

Also, you may be a little shocked by this headline...well, no...you'll not be shocked...

Mariners think Phillippe Aumont has makeup of great reliever

Imposing relief pitcher Phillippe Aumont wants to clear some things up before he embarks on trying to make it to the majors with the Mariners next season.

First off, while his hip has been problematic since his amateur days in Canada, it is not a degenerative condition as had been rumored, and is not behind a surprising decision to move the former No. 1 draft pick to the bullpen. Secondly, yes, he does indeed regret the behavior that led to him breaking his non-pitching hand by pounding a locker after he'd allowed three runs in the ninth inning of a Class AA loss in August.

The latter incident, which left the 6-foot-7, 225-pound Aumont sidelined for the final three weeks of his season, could delay his fast-tracking to the big leagues. The Mariners want to see how Aumont's shortage of innings impacts his mound performance and will get their first glimpse today when the 20-year-old is expected to make his Arizona Fall League debut for the Peoria Javelinas.

"I lost my mind," Aumont said Tuesday of the locker incident, as his Javelinas were thrashed, 17-4, by the visiting Surprise Rafters. "I lost it completely. I barely remember anything because I just completely lost it. When something gets you real bad and you have a hard time controlling yourself, that's what happened. I just started hitting my locker. I didn't feel it at the time. Adrenaline was just pumping."

The next day, his hand was so sore he couldn't play catch and he had to sheepishly admit to the team's trainer what had happened.

Matt Toth must have been so happy to be on the receiving end of that conversation.

Go read it all.

Aumont returns

to camp.

Phillippe Aumont’s return to Arizona and the Seattle Mariners was without fanfare, hype or celebration. It included a bag of Chick-Fil-A for breakfast and the long walk around the building to the minor league clubhouse of the Mariners' spring training facility.

In fact, there was little mention of his return. If not for the random glance in the parking lot by a media member, Aumont would have returned rather inconspicuously ... well as inconspicuous as a 6-foot-7 guy can be.

And while he was now far removed from the Canadian team and the glitz and hype of the WBC, the experience and his memorable one inning of a work is something he won’t soon forget.

“It’s a lifetime experience,” he said. “It’s a career highlight for me right now. Hopefully I’ll get a chance somewhere to do something special like that. It’s the best inning of my life.”

Minor League Camp. But, still...

For now, it’s back to the minor league life and minor league camp, which didn’t seem to thrilling to Aumont after spending last season in major league camp.

“I don’t have any control over that,” he said. “There’s people up there who have some reasons. I wasn’t really happy about it, but we’ll go through camp and we’ll start the season. I’ll do the best I can and stay healthy.” But Aumont understands there is certain reasoning behind it. He just hasn’t heard it.

“They didn’t really tell me,” he said. “But I got hurt last year and once you’re in big-league camp, you’re not there to play around. You’re there to perform. I guess they wanted to take it easy on my arm and in minor league camp I can step back a little bit.”

That’s sort of the reasoning according to GM Jack Zduriencik said.

“He’s a guy that pitched in A ball last year and is going to pitch in A ball this year,” Zduriencik said. The plan is still to bring him over for some cactus league games according to Zduriencisk and manager Don Wakamatsu. But the goal is to keep him healthy and get him ready for the season.

No word on if it is Clinton, Iowa A-Ball or High Desert Mavericks A-Ball.

A couple of pitchers

Nathan Adcock ('07, '08) gets a write up in his hometown newspaper.

Nathan Adcock endured something he never had to go through since he picked up a baseball at a young age.

Last season was a trying time for Adcock. While pitching for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Seattle Mariners’ Class-A farm team, he felt a sharp pain in his right elbow after throwing an 0-2 curveball on June 25. His arm began to tingle all the way up his long right arm. Adcock threw one more pitch and called for the trainer.

Adcock’s season, which was off to a solid start, was over in the blink of an eye. The Seattle Mariners elected to shut down the former fifth-round pick after he was diagnosed with an elbow strain.

“It was hard,” said Adcock, a former North Hardin standout and Kentucky’s Mr. Baseball in 2006. “I was depressed. I’ve never had any arm trouble. I want to compete and I’ve always wanted to pitch when it’s my turn. It was real frustrating. I didn’t know what to expect because I’ve never had anything like that happen.”

Although he had a 2-5 record at the time of the injury, Adcock posted a 3.72 earned run average in 77 1/3 innings. He had lowered his hits allowed and walks, while his strikeouts rose from his previous season with the Timber Rattlers.

Any goals for the 2008 Opening Day starter?

“Stay healthy,” Adcock said. “I feel fresh now. I feel good. Just being back in baseball and being able to pitch again is going to be fun.”

He is hoping to start the season with High Desert and finish it with West Tennessee.

Phillippe Aumont gets a write up in the New York Times.

Four years ago, the future of Canadian pitching spoke only French. Phillippe Aumont, a 20-year-old bold enough to retire three major league stars with the bases loaded, was too shy to talk with his teammates on a junior national team.

“I couldn’t speak a word,” Aumont said Monday at Rogers Centre before Canada played Italy in the World Baseball Classic. “I couldn’t talk with anybody. We had five other guys from Quebec, and I was always hanging out with them because I couldn’t communicate with the other guys.”

His silence did not last long. Aumont was a quick study in English, just as he has been in baseball. An All-Star last season with the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Seattle Mariners’ system, Aumont has introduced himself on the world stage.

Although he speaks English fluently now, French steered him out of the worst kind of jam against the United States on Saturday. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning, Aumont prepared to face David Wright, Kevin Youkilis and Curtis Granderson.

Le français ? Que signifiez-vous ?

The catcher, Russell Martin, and the pitching coach, Denis Boucher, both of whom were also raised in Quebec, met him at the mound. Boucher knew what he wanted to say — relax and have fun — but he did not decide how until he opened his mouth.

“I looked at him,” Boucher said, “and it just came out in French.”

And it worked. Read the rest of that piece for some pretty big comparisons for a pitcher with some pretty big talent.

A big step

They are still talking about Phillippe Aumont ('08) and his great escape against the USA.

Two outs, 2-2 count, bases loaded with big-league stars. Phillippe Aumont had one pitch left. He had to make the most of it.

The Seattle Mariners had given Team Canada strict orders: Aumont, their top pitching prospect, was limited to one inning and 25 pitches per game in the World Baseball Classic. He had battled elbow problems last year, and they were taking no chances.

So here was Aumont, a six-foot-seven right-hander, getting set to throw his 25th pitch, with 43,000 fans on their feet at the Rogers Centre. Aumont fired a hard curve ball.

Curtis Granderson swung and missed. As Aumont pumped his fist and bounced off the mound, the crowd roared.

Ever wondered about the term wear it? Here it is in its proper context:

As Aumont’s pitch count soared, Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt huddled anxiously in the dugout with coach Greg Hamilton, who also runs Canada’s national baseball program.

Hamilton had accepted the Mariners’ conditions on Aumont’s participation in the WBC.

“I’m going, ‘What do you do?’ ” Whitt said. “I mean, what if (Granderson) fouls that pitch off, do I take the guy out or what? So I was in deep discussion with Greg Hamilton, and I said, ‘You know, you’re going have to wear this with Seattle if he has to throw an extra pitch.’

Well, he didn't have to wear it.

One more on Aumont

He dazzled. It's science! At least according to FanGraphs.



That is the chart showing the velocity of his pitches. What is that? Here:

He only threw 21 pitches (13 fastballs, 8 slurves) but his average fastball sat near 96 miles per hour with solid movement. I could sit here and write out how impressive Aumont’s stuff looked or how consistent he mixed speeds, but how about I just show you using Pitchfx data?

Follow the link up top for movement and location charts.

Aumont Arms Canada...

with potential. From The National Post:

It is the kind of pitching line veteran managers learn to expect from 20-year-olds with live arms and limited experience.

Canada's Phillippe Aumont has still yet to pitch above Class-A, but on Tuesday, he faced his first major league hitters - and some minor league ones - in an exhibition game versus the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Gatineau, Que., native pitched a shutout inning, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out a batter. It confirmed two things Canada manager Ernie Whitt already knew.

Young pitchers have a lot to learn.

And when it comes to talent, nobody else on Canada's pitching staff for this year's World Baseball Classic can touch Aumont.

The Canadians take on team USA in about an hour and Aumont may face the Americans, but he will be limited to an inning.

Because of his earlier elbow ailment, Whitt is under strict restrictions regarding Aumont. He can pitch an inning in tomorrow's opener against the U.S., but will not be able to pitch again until Tuesday. And if he does go, he will be limited to 35 pitches.

Not that Aumont is going to let that take away from the experience.

"It could be big if they trust me and they bring me in in a big situation, it's going to give me a chance to prove I can pitch at that level," he said. " I'm ready for all those kinds of things."

He's gonna pitch

Phillippe Aumont ('08) will pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Right-hander Phillippe Aumont, who decided several weeks ago that his arm would not be strong enough to pitch for Team Canada in a starting role, has changed his mind and will join the team as a reliever.

Thought not invited to big-league camp, he has been working out at the Peoria Sports Complex since early January.

"First of all, (Team Canada) asked me to go as a starting pitcher and I said 'I can't do that,'" he said Monday morning. "The Mariners didn't want me to go as a starter either because it could mean pitching four or five innings.

"I was kind of sad when I couldn't go [to the Classic]. But after I got here and started throwing some bullpens, my arm felt really good and I thought that I might be able to go there as a reliever."

Aumont, 20, called his agent, who contacted Mariners and Team Canada officials, and everyone decided that an inning or two of relief should not tax his arm all that much and permission was granted.

What is one of Aumont's dreams? I'll let him tell you.

"I don't know how they plan to use me," he said, "but one of my dreams is to pitch against (Team USA)."

Your French lesson for today...

Phillippe Aumont pense déjà au mois de septembre

Phillippe Aumont a recommencé à lancer il y a quelques jours au site d'entraînement des Mariners de Seattle en Arizona.

Le moins que l'on puisse dire, c'est que le grand lanceur droitier a connu une première année frustrante dans le baseball majeur.

Les Mariners en avaient fait leur premier choix du repêchage universel en 2007 - le 11e au total - et on avait tous hâte de voir comment il allait se débrouiller avec les Timber Rattlers du Wisconsin, la filiale A de l'équipe dans la Ligue midwest.

Malheureusement, un insistant malaise au coude est venu perturber sa campagne.

La douleur était sournoisement apparue entre deux de ses départs. Une blessure qui aura finalement totalement transformé sa saison.

Aumont a ainsi été privé de plusieurs départs avec les Timber Rattlers.

Il a aussi raté le match des étoiles de la ligue, les Jeux olympiques de Pékin et un camp de perfectionnement des meilleurs espoirs des Mariners.

Pourtant, quand il est parvenu à lancer, on peut dire qu'Aumont s'est bien tiré d'affaires.

Ses chiffres avec les Timber Rattlers ? Quatre victoires, quatre défaites et une moyenne de 2,75 points accordés en 55 manches et deux tiers.

Ajoutez à ça 50 retraits sur des prises et vous avez le portrait d'une excellente prestation pour le jeune homme de Gatineau.

«J'ai bien hâte de retourner dans le feu de l'action, a-t-il confié récemment. Je me sens bien. Je n'ai plus mal.

«C'était un petit malaise. Rien de majeur. Quelque chose de juste assez fatigant pour que je me pose des questions. Le problème, c'est que c'est parti et revenu tout le long de la saison.

«On m'a fait passer plusieurs tests qui se sont tous avérés négatifs.Je n'ai donc jamais pensé que c'était vraiment sérieux.

«Mais comme ça ne guérissait pas, avec le temps je suis devenu un peu inquiet.»

Aumont a décidé de mettre son bras au repos complet vers la fin de l'automne, ce qui semble avoir réglé le bobo.

On peut donc comprendre qu'il avait hâte de remettre son bras à l'essai.

Ce qu'il a fait depuis la fin janvier, en préparation pour le camp d'entraînement des Mariners, qui a débuté hier et auquel il a été invité.

«L'an passé, ma présence au camp du gros club m'avait permis de prendre de l'expérience», se souvient-il.

«J'avais bien aimé entre autres côtoyer Erik Bédard.

«Il m'avait donné quelques conseils, des petits trucs qui m'ont grandement aidé par la suite.»

On le croit sur parole. Des conseils venant d'un gars qui aspire au Cy Young, ça se prend toujours bien...

UN OEIL EN SEPTEMBRE

Mais même si le camp d'entraînement n'en est qu'à ses débuts et que nous ne sommes que le 15 février, l'imposant lanceur de six pieds sept pouces a déjà encerclé une toute autre date sur son calendrier: le premier septembre.

Ce jour-là, les formations du baseball majeur feront passer leurs effectifs de 25 à 40 joueurs en faisant graduer ceux qui se sont démarqués dans leurs filiales. Et Aumont en-tend bien être de ceux-là.

«C'est ça, le but que je me suis fixé cette année, dit-il. Je veux être rappelé par le grand club quand viendra le september call-up.»

L'artilleur ignore le parcours que les Mariners lui feront prendre d'ici là, mais il se dit prêt à travailler aussi fort qu'il le faudra pour parvenir à endosser le même uniforme que les Ichiro Suzuki, Adrian Beltre et compagnie.

Les Mariners ont souvent démontré du flair avec leurs choix de premier tour. Ken Griffey Jr (1987), Alex Rodriguez (1993) et Jason Varitek (1994) en sont de bons exemples.

Les Mariners disputeront leur premier match préparatoire à Peoria le 25 février en recevant les Padres de San Diego.

Some of the translation is below. Copy and paste the above article into FreeTranslation.com for the whole thing.

Phillippe Aumont already thinks about the month of September

Phillippe Aumont recommenced to launch some days ago to the site of training of the Marinate Seattle in Arizona.

The less than one can say, this is that the big righthanded promoter knew a first year frustrating in the major baseball.

The Marinate had done their first choice of the universal repêchage in 2007 - the 11st one altogether - and one had all haste to see how it was going to unravel himself with the Timber Rattlers of the Wisconsin, the affiliate HAS team in the League midwest.

Unfortunately, one insisting malaise to the elbow came to perturb his country.

The pain slyly had appeared between two of its departures. An injury that finally totally will have transformed his season.

Aumont was thus deprived of several departures with the Timber Rattlers.

It also spoiled the game of the stars of the league, the Olympic Games of Peking and a camp of improving of the better hopes of the Marinate.

So.....

Aumont decided to put his arm to the complete rest towards the fall end, which seems to have regulated booboo.

One can therefore to understand that it was anxious to put back his arm to the essay.

Which it did since the end of January one, in preparation for the camp of training of the Marinate, that began yesterday and to which one it was invited.

"The past year, my presence to the camp of the big club had allowed me to take experience", it remembers.

"I had well liked among others to mix with Erik Bédard.

"It had given me some counsels, small things that big helped me afterward."

One believes it on word. Counsels coming from a guy that inhales to the Cy Young, that takes itself always well...

inhales to the Cy Young....Can someone get me a human translation...for free?

But even if the training camp is only to its beginnings and that we are only February 15, the imposing promoter of six feet seven thumbs already encircled an all other dates on his calendar: the first September.

That day, the formations of the major baseball facts to pass their effective ones of 25 to 40 players while doing to advance those that distanced themselves in their affiliates. And Aumont in stretches well being of those.

"This is that, the goal that I set up myself this year, he says. I want to be recalled by the big club when will come the september call-up."

52 jours jusqu'à ce qu'Ouvre le Jour

D'Aumont. ..in français

Phillippe Aumont: 33e plus bel espoir

Le baseball majeur a publié sa liste des 50 plus beaux espoirs et le Québécois Phillippe Aumont figure sur cette liste. Il occupe le 33e rang.

L’été dernier, à sa première saison chez les professionnels, le lanceur droitier âgé de 19 ans a cumulé un dossier de quatre victoires contre autant de défaites en 15 matchs, dont huit comme partant. Une blessure mineure au coude a toutefois mis un terme à sa saison.

Maintenant. ..in anglais

Phillippe Aumont: 33rd more beautiful hope

The major baseball published his list of the 50 more beautiful hopes and the Quebec Phillippe Aumont figures on this list. It occupies the 33rd row.

The last summer, to his first season with the professionals, the 19 years old righthanded promoter combined a file of four victories against as much of defeats in 15 games, of which eight as leaving. An injury minor to the elbow nevertheless put an end to his season.

Aumont in the top 50

Ex-Rattler Phillippe Aumont ('08) has been ranked at #33 by MiLB.com on their list of Top 50 prospects.

Statistically speaking: Throwing with a very strict pitch count, Aumont was nonethless very impressive through the first two months of his first full season, allowing just six earned runs and 23 hits over his first 36 innings (1.50 ERA). He also struck out 35 while walking 11, holding hitters to a measly .177 batting average.

Scouting report: A sore elbow slowed him down in the second half, but it's not a big cause for concern. He throws his fastball, which has hard sink and is tough to pick up, up to 95 mph, with room for more. The breaking ball (curve) has a chance to be plus pitch, but his changeup is his third pitch and needs to be improved. He has pretty good command, especially for his age, and uses his size well for mound presence.

Video, stats, and quotes at that link.

Mariners look to the future

Jim Street at the Mariner website has this story on a couple of recent Timber Rattler pitchers.

Pitching future looks bright for Mariners
Aumont, Pineda touted as two of club's biggest prospects

The quickest way for the Mariners to return to playoff-contender status would be to assemble a quality five-man starting rotation, and former big league pitcher Jaime Navarro believes he worked with a couple of 19-year-old future stars at Class-A Wisconsin this season.

You probably have heard of right-hander Phillippe Aumont, the organization's first-round Draft choice last year out of Canada. But you might not have heard much about right-hander Michael Pineda, a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic.

They are considered the prime pitching prospects in the organization and are being handled with extreme care. Aumont's first full professional season twice was interrupted because of elbow discomfort, but he was examined by Mariners team doctors and received a clean bill of health.

Go read it all.