Phils Win Rain-Shortened Second Game

Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel controls time, space, and the elements. Or at least one of the three. Fueled by Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez home runs, the Phillies jumped to a 7-5 sixth-inning lead, in the second game of their double-dip in Washington. With the bases loaded, and Ryan Howard at the plate, the rains came. The Nationals' grounds crew struggled mightily with the tarp, and could have used Adam Eaton's proficiency in that area, which in his one true talent. After a ninety-minute rain delay, the game was called, and the Phils had swept the day. In the context of a rain-shortened second game, Manuel's decision to use his originally-planned starter for the second game, J.A. Happ, in relief on Friday night, made more sense. As did using Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge in relief, during the first game of the day. As well as playing the Saturday's first game down a player (DFA'd Miguel Cairo), instead of starting Andrew Carpenter in the day game, and replacing him for the nightcap. Obviously, Manuel knew something that we didn't.

Andrew Carpenter, making his first MLB start for the Phillies, pitched adequately, and was not helped by a tight, inconsistent strike zone. Though Carpenter did pick up his first major league win, as a result of the shortened game, it was a quotation-marks-worthy "win." He survived four and a third innings, allowing five runs on eight hits/three walks. He threw ninety-nine pitches. Fortunately for the Phils, Nats' starter Daniel Cabrera was atrocious, particularly against the top of their left-handed heavy lineup. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Ryan Howard combined to go 9-12, with two home runs, three doubles, a triple, seven runs scored, and six of the seven RBI. (The rest of the Phils' lineup was a combined 0-12, with three walks.) Cabrera permitted all seven Phillies' runs, in five innings of eight-hit, four-walk ball. He pitched like a minor leaguer with serious command issues. His rotation spot should be in jeopardy, but given an injury to rotation-mate Scott Olsen, Cabrera might stick around a while longer. (Note: The Nats are calling up ace minor leaguer Ross Detwiler from AA to start on Monday night, might be worth watching as the Phillies have Monday off.)

In a good roster-management move, the Phillies sent Carpenter back down to AAA after the game. (Carpenter would not have been available to pitch again for at least three days, and is best-served starting in AAA. We could see him in the Phillies' pen later in the season, and certainly in September, when rosters increase.) They made an intriguing replacement decision, recalling LHP Sergio Escalona from AA. LHP Jack Taschner, whom Manuel avoided using on Friday and Saturday, may be in danger of losing his spot in the bullpen. With LHP J.C. Romero slated to return on June 3, Taschner would likely have been jettisoned then. But Escalona might have about a week's worth of time to audition for the job of keeping Romero's spot warm.

With a three-game interleague series looming for next weekend, Escalona or Taschner, might be gone by Friday's game, to be replaced by another position player. Though the use of a designated hitter lessens the need for pinch-hitters, John Mayberry, Jr. may be recalled to play left field, in games that Raul Ibanez DH's. Matt Stairs may also spend some time in the DH role. Hopefully, the Phils won't recall utilityman Pablo Ozuna, instead, as he might make us long for Miguel Cairo. (Cairo will, likely, pass through waivers and go to AAA Lehigh Valley. He could be back up with the Phillies in a couple of weeks. Ugh.)

The decision to promote Escalona may also give us some insight into the time horizon that the Phillies considered. It doesn't seem likely that they will go with an extra bullpen arm for an extended period. As Escalona was already on the 40-Man Roster, and has options remaining, he can easily be sent back down to the minors on Friday. (If he beats out Taschner to be the Romero Placeholder, Taschner will be DFA'd, and won't be a major loss.)

If the Phils thought it likely that the recalled reliever would be up with the team for an extended period of time, they might have recalled Mike Koplove or Gary Majewski from AAA. However, they would need to put either of those two players on the 40-Man Roster, in order to recall them, and either would have to pass through waivers to be sent back to AAA. (Note: With open slots on the current 40-Man Roster, adding them wouldn't be a problem, it's the potential demotion that would be the issue. Neither Koplove nor Majewski has options remaining.) It seems unlikely that either one would make it through waivers without being claimed by another club. (Given that waiver priority starts with the team in the same league with the worst record, the Nationals would likely scoop up either one. I wonder if the Nats would deal RH-hitting OF Josh Willingham for either of them? Or both of them? Plus Cairo?) Recalling Koplove or Majewski, only to be lost on waivers in five days, wouldn't be very good utilization of assets. The Phillies made a good decision here.

On Sunday afternoon, the Phils will try to complete the four-game series sweep of the Nationals. Chan Ho Park, coming off two excellent starts, gets the ball for the Phillies. Jordan Zimmerman, coming off three poor performances, starts for the slumping Nats. The Phillies are in great position to finish off the sweep, and get closer to the top of the NL East.