The Philadelphia Phillies are ending a difficult season, one player showing some promise for next season is pitcher Ben Lively. Here is his grade for 2017.
Starting pitcher Ben Lively showed some promise, as well as some struggles, during his time with the Phillies in 2017. He finished on a high note, winning his last start of the season, going six innings, allowing just two runs against the Mets.
Overall, Lively went 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 15 starts. Before examining his overall performance, I will take a look back at Lively’s excellent 2016 and 2017 seasons in the Minor Leagues.
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Lively dominated in Double-A Reading in 2016, going 7-0 with a 1.87 ERA. Moving up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Lively continued to impress, posting an 11-5 mark with a 3.04 ERA. This season, in 16 starts with the Iron Pigs, Lively was 7-5 with a 3.15 ERA and only three home runs allowed in 97 innings.
In his first Major League start June 3, Lively impressed, allowing a single run on four hits.
He allowed just three runs or less in six of his next seven starts, but was 0-4 during that period. However, Lively continuously kept the team in ball games, which is all anyone could ask for from a rookie pitcher.
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Lively had a few bumps along the way, allowing six runs in five innings on two separate occasions. On the flip side, Lively allowed two runs or less in four of his last eight starts and went 3-2 since the end of August.
Not a strikeout pitcher, Lively fanned 52 in 88 2/3 innings, but walked only 24. He was troubled a bit by the long ball, allowing 13 home runs in his 15 starts. Lively needs to go deeper into games, pitching six or more innings in only 10 of his 18 starts.
Putting it all together, Lively was impressive with his control and keeping the Phillies in most games he started.
Eliminating the two terrible performances, Ben Lively pitched to a very respectable ERA of 3.43.
The 25-year old Lively likely wasn’t expected to see significant time with the Phillies this season. He pitched slightly better than the Major League average ERA of 4.36. Considering this fact, Lively receives a solid C or C+ grade for his rookie season.
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The potential is there for Ben Lively to improve a full grade following the end of the 2018 season.