Michael Schwimer started the year down in Triple-A Lehigh Valley after not making the team in Spring Training. He was expected to provide the Phils big league club with some relief help when they needed it–and they certainly needed it when Mike Stutes went on the DL early in the year.
However, his stay in the bigs didn’t last too long, as he was sent down just a few weeks later to make room for Cliff Lee, who was set to return to action after spending some time on the DL.
When Jose Contreras went down with an elbow injury in early June, the Phils yet again recalled Schwimer, and this time he stayed up until mid August.
But then things got weird. He was sent down on August 23, but did not report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He claimed that he was injured, and should have been put on the 15-day DL, rather than being sent down. He reluctantly reported almost a week later, and, although he was presumed to be called up in September, he never was. His last game of the 2012 season was on August 19 in a game in Milwaukee.
Even though Schwimer wasn’t with the Phillies for the entire year, he still pitched the 3rd-most innings (34.1) out of the Phils bullpen. He had a 4.46 ERA, and was overall in the middle of the pack among Phils relievers. He wasn’t the best at anything, but he wasn’t the worst, either.
Jon’s Grade: C … Overall, I think Schwimer did a decent job, given the circumstances. He wasn’t even on the team on Opening Day, and made multiple trips between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley during the season.
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