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dennis_keith · 11-30-2016, 09:31 AM

Tom Casagrande's story reminds me of a much more recent Phillies farmhand that barely missed getting a shot to prove what he could do in the majors.
Lefthander, Brian Mazone, originally signed by the Braves, had knocked about in the minors for eight years before having a great 2006 season for the Phillies AAA team of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He finished the regular season at 13-3, with a 2.03 earned run average. He was an unspectacular, pitch-to-contact pitcher who only averaged 5 to 6 strikeouts per 9 innings.
He had just turned 30 that July when in the middle of the (AAA) International League playoffs he was called up to pitch a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 5, 2006. Unfortunately a deluge hit that ballpark that day and the rainout cost the San Diegan his only opportunity to pitch in the majors. He was returned to Scranton-Wilkes Barre where he had a rare off-day pitching poorly in the game that eliminated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the playoffs. That poor performance, which was rare for Mazone that season, may have sealed his fate, as he was not offered a call up by the Phillies for the remainder of the season. That playoff elimination game also turned out to be the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons final game as a Phillies affiliate, with the Phillies then ending an 18-year relationship with that North Eastern Pennsylvania franchise and region.
The team, including Mazone, was moved to Ottawa for the 2007 season, where he pitched in another "last situation" as that year's Ottawa Lynx are to this day the last Canadian baseball team with a major league affiliation. The move to Ottawa was a temporary move while Coca-Cola Park was being built by the Phillies in Allentown, PA, a bit closer to their home base of Philadelphia. In 2008 Mazone pitched for the new Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, based in Allentown, and continued to pitch for the Iron Pigs through part of 2010, at which point he was released, but he pitched the remainder of the year for Mexicali of the Mexican League. That stint in Mexico ended his career at age 34 without him ever reaching the majors.
Photos of Brian Mazone would be welcome. Thanks!

11-30-2016, 09:31 AM	#29585
dennis_keith Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 261	Another near-miss Phillies LHP - Brian Mazone Tom Casagrande's story reminds me of a much more recent Phillies farmhand that barely missed getting a shot to prove what he could do in the majors. Lefthander, Brian Mazone, originally signed by the Braves, had knocked about in the minors for eight years before having a great 2006 season for the Phillies AAA team of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He finished the regular season at 13-3, with a 2.03 earned run average. He was an unspectacular, pitch-to-contact pitcher who only averaged 5 to 6 strikeouts per 9 innings. He had just turned 30 that July when in the middle of the (AAA) International League playoffs he was called up to pitch a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 5, 2006. Unfortunately a deluge hit that ballpark that day and the rainout cost the San Diegan his only opportunity to pitch in the majors. He was returned to Scranton-Wilkes Barre where he had a rare off-day pitching poorly in the game that eliminated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre from the playoffs. That poor performance, which was rare for Mazone that season, may have sealed his fate, as he was not offered a call up by the Phillies for the remainder of the season. That playoff elimination game also turned out to be the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons final game as a Phillies affiliate, with the Phillies then ending an 18-year relationship with that North Eastern Pennsylvania franchise and region. The team, including Mazone, was moved to Ottawa for the 2007 season, where he pitched in another "last situation" as that year's Ottawa Lynx are to this day the last Canadian baseball team with a major league affiliation. The move to Ottawa was a temporary move while Coca-Cola Park was being built by the Phillies in Allentown, PA, a bit closer to their home base of Philadelphia. In 2008 Mazone pitched for the new Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, based in Allentown, and continued to pitch for the Iron Pigs through part of 2010, at which point he was released, but he pitched the remainder of the year for Mexicali of the Mexican League. That stint in Mexico ended his career at age 34 without him ever reaching the majors. Photos of Brian Mazone would be welcome. Thanks! Last edited by dennis_keith; 11-30-2016 at 03:33 PM.