Phillies Have Just One More Start to Come up with Better Plan than ‘Carlos Zambrano’

We’re doing this, huh?  We’re really going to let… this… happen.

Well, it’s not like there’s something more promising in the works.  Or anything promising at all.

July 15, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano (38) before a game against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Zambrano has been crawling through the Phillies’ minor league system toward what seems to be an inevitable appearance on the Major League level.  He’s started in Clearwater, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, and has now been assigned one further start for the IronPigs before the evaluation is complete.

And then, he’ll just be on the Phillies, I guess.  Through six starts, he’s allowed 26 hits, 7 earned runs, and 16 walks while striking out 29.  His ERA sits at a delightful 1.89.  So he’s earned a shot, statistically, and could very well take the place of an injured Jonathan Pettibone.

The 32-year-old will take the mound on Friday, knowing he will either be promoted to the big club to showcase his talents for work on a contender or other team in 2014, and if he isn’t, then he can just walk away.  Of course, Ruben Amaro has already hinted that he isn’t very impressed with Zambrano’s work so far, so one more start may not be enough to change his mind.

Who knows.  This plan is weird.