Reading ended its year on Monday, with a 69-72 season. The R-Phils got off to a poor start, then picked up some steam but not enough. In recent years, Reading always seems to be playing from behind. After June 10, they were 45-38 but it was too late.
In fairness, it was a changing cast of characters this year in Reading. There never seemed to be an outfield and pitching was often on the fly. Domonic Brown, Vance Worley, Michael Schwimer, and Michael Stutes were among those promoted to Triple-A. Matt Rizzotti, a curious case, suddenly blazed his way to Double-A, kept hitting, and was sent to Lehigh Valley. Of the three prospects in the Cliff Lee trade, Philippe Aumont was sent down to Single-A; Tyson Gillies was mostly injured, then ended up busted; J.C. Ramirez was up and down. Call-up Justin De Fratus, now tabbed for the bullpen, made a late splash in the season. Freddy Galvis dazzled on defense but fizzled at the plate. If only this kid could hit.
All in all, it was a season of fits and starts in Reading, still one of the best ballparks around. I wonder how the mega-renovation scheduled for the off-season will go. And will Reading ever be able to top its best promotion ever--the Ryan Howard Garden Gnome?
