The Phanatic Magazine kicked off its 35 straight days of Phillies on Sunday, one article per day detailing each member battling for position as the season begins. Also, look for Michael Rushton's season outlook, which will cap the offseason look at the Phillies on Opening Day -- April 2nd against Atlanta.
DAY 7: Eude Brito
By Tim McManus
Eude Brito is a name Phillies fans do not want to become familiar with this season.
He is a stopgap, a man who appears when the plan has gone awry. If a starter implodes or gets injured, this left-hander out of the Dominican Republic is on a short list of those who come jogging to the rescue.
Brito could take on a more prominent role should he show flashes of brilliance early on, of course, but after eight years as a professional, it seems safe to say he is what he is.
And that, essentially, is a gifted arm that struggles with his control. As the Phillies scouting report admits: "Command within the zone is his Achilles heel."
Not the most encouraging of words, given that command within the zone is nothing short of imperative to successful pitching.
Brito was signed as an amateur free agent on July 3, 1998, and finally made it to the big dance in August of 2005. He ended up with five starts that season and posted a 1-2 record with a healthy 3.68 ERA.
He was recalled from the minors on two separate occasions in 2006, and again went 1-2 for the Fightin's. This time, though, three of his appearances were as a reliever, and his ERA sat at 7.36 by season's end.
His time in Triple-A was rather productive, however, as he went 10-8 with a 3.17 ERA in 26 games (23 starts) for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Big League experience and a nasty slider should be enough for Brito to find a spot in the bullpen, although a few trips back and forth to the minors should be anticipated.
Just hope you don't see too much of him.
Tomorrow: Fabio Castro
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