Here is John Curtiss, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander. He looks like most tall righty relievers who throw in the mid-90s. He signed with the Rays a few weeks before spring training began. He is 27 years old, and he is enjoying a career season.
He threw the final pitch in Friday night’s 6-4 Phillies’ loss, the pitch that all but sealed their fate in this weird 2020 that is a little more normal now because it is yet another year without a winning record for the Phillies. When Scott Kingery flailed at Curtiss’ slider, the righty lowered his ERA to 1.85 in 24 1/3 innings.
Why does John Curtiss matter? For three weeks last summer, he worked for the Phillies. He went to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June when they were scrambling to fill roster spots because of injuries. He pitched nine times for the IronPigs and he had a 10.95 ERA. The Phillies released him July 7 and Curtiss went home. It barely registered a blip on the transactions page. There are dozens…
