Phils Lose Duel, But Park Restores Honor (and Rotation Spot)

On Wednesday night in New York, Phillies' pitcher Chan Ho Park went through the formality of his final start, before his inevitable demotion to the bullpen. Future fifth starter J.A. Happ was ready to take over in the fourth inning, or so, of this encounter against the Mets, before assuming his rightful spot in the rotation. All that was to be determined was just how high Park's FIP would go.

This Phillies team has brought us a number of surprising, unlikely occurrences this season. A comeback win, in a game where their WE was a mere .7% in the seventh inning. A positive UZR from Raul Ibanez. A base hit by Miguel Cairo. Wednesday night, the unimaginable happened. Chan Ho Park pitched brilliantly, matching scoreless innings with Johan Santana. Park pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two walks, and only a single hit. This blogger spent the hours leading up to the game hoping that, somehow, Happ would wind up making the start. (Perhaps Park would take a cab to the new Yankee Stadium, by mistake.) By the seventh inning, I was cursing Charlie Manuel for removing Park from the game, after making only ninety-one pitches. The Phillies lost, 1-0, to Santana and the Mets, as they only managed three hits in the game. In another surprising event, the Mets scored the only run of the game when Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth, both strong defenders, failed to execute in the field. The best performance by a Phillies' starter in 2009 only netted Park a no-decision. But he saved his spot in the rotation, for at least another turn.

Are the Phillies better off with Park in their rotation? Seasons worth of stats, as well as numerous projections, indicate that they are better off with Park in an opponent's rotation. Park hasn't been that effective in a starting role this century. Some argued that the Phillies would have been better off if Park got bombed Wednesday night, providing them with an excuse to move Park to the bullpen. But, when he's between the white lines, Park deserves our support. If the Phillies want to change his role at any point, they are free to do so. If anyone wants to root for the Mets to beat the Phillies, they are free to do so, futile though it may be. I still think signing Park was a mistake, I still think putting him in the rotation was a mistake, and I think keeping him in the rotation is just compounding their error. He was outstanding Wednesday night, but I don't expect to see many more such performances from Park. However, when he's on the mound for the Phils, I'll be hoping he is successful. As Phillies fans, that's what we should be doing. Supporting our team. (Even Miguel Cairo, at least until he finally gets DFA'd.)

Phillies play the second game of their two-game series in New York Thursday night. Jamie Moyer for the Phillies, Mike Pelfrey for the Mets. Can't wait to see how the Phillies surprise us this time.