Decent start for Phillies pitching prospect Biddle

This time last year, Jesse Biddle was a senior at Germantown Friends, blowing away local high school hitters with a lethal fastball and accompanying curve.

The big lefthander was so impressive, the Phillies made him their first-round draft pick in June (27th overall). He's now at his third level of pro ball, twirling for the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Phillies' Class A affiliate about 65 miles east.

Biddle made his first start at Lakewood last night in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Kannapolis Intimidators, a Chicago White Sox affiliate. He picked up a hard-luck loss as the BlueClaws fell, 4-1. Biddle's line: 4 innings, two runs (one earned), two hits, three walks and three strikeouts. An inherited runner scored on an error in the fifth inning, so Biddle was tagged with the L.

"It was one of those days; mechanics weren't great, but I was able to kind of just pitch with what I had and helped keep my team in the game," Biddle said. "It just didn't work out.

"It's a long season. I just wanted to get the first one under my belt, get out there and give my team a chance to win. I felt I did an OK job of that."

Biddle's scheduled debut was delayed Saturday by the field conditions and then he had to wait through Game 1, a 2-0 loss in 16 innings. Doubleheaders are scheduled for seven innings.

After Biddle signed with the Phillies, the team sent him to the Gulf Coast League, where he went 3-1 with a 4.32 ERA in nine starts last summer. He was good enough to earn a call-up to Williamsport, the Phillies' short-season Class A affiliate. A 1-0, 2.61 showing in three starts there, along with a solid spring training, led to this season's promotion to Lakewood.

Minor league baseball is all about progress. Biddle knows that. And last night's loss probably would be a whole lot harder to take if his final pitching line were uglier.

"The biggest thing is not how you start the season, but how you finish," he said in an interview last week.

Spring training was quite an experience for the 6-4, 225-pounder. While in Florida, he didn't get to spend much time with the guys on the big team, but he enjoyed being part of the whole spectacle.

"I got a chance to be around the buzz of spring training," Biddle said. "It was just great to be part of what has to be one of the most anticipated seasons in years. I was thinking, 'It's a great season to be a rookie.' "