The Phillies jumped to 2-0, and 4-2, leads against Mets' starter Oliver Perez. Perez displayed little in the way of command, with only thirty-six of his seventy-seven pitches in the strike zone.(The Mets have blamed the WBC for Perez' poor start to the season, but should consider the possibility that Perez just isn't very good.) Perez only lasted two and one-third innings, surrendering five hits and six walks. The Phillies should have gotten more than just four runs against the embattled Mets' starter.
Phillies' starter Jamie Moyer was only marginally better, permitting seven hits and four walks over five and two-thirds innings. Moyer was responsible for all five of the Mets' runs. Moyer (and Perez) were both troubled by Home Plate Umpire Adrian Johnson's randomly-generated strike zone, which was a crucial factor in the number of walks allowed by the two teams.
The Phillies, eventually, won the battle of bullpen attrition, though it took some luck/skill to do it. Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, and Jack Taschner combined for four and one-third scoreless, but permitted seven baserunners. In the eighth inning, Jayson Werth cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate, with a strong throw to newly-reactivated catcher Carlos Ruiz. Brad Lidge returned to the mound in the ninth inning, and stranded two, after walks of the unintentional, and intentional, variety. Jack Taschner entered the 5-5 game in the tenth, as the Phillies had already used their more skilled relief options. (If Chan Ho Park had gone deeper into Friday's game, perhaps the more reliable Chad Durbin would have been available Saturday.)Taschner allowed two singles in the tenth, and faced Carlos Beltran, with one out and runners on first and third. But Phillies' 3B Pedro Feliz fielded a hard-hit grounder, and began an inning-ending twin killing. Victorino's walk in the bottom of the frame ended matters, but Raul Ibanez' game-tying solo home run in the sixth was the biggest hit of the day.
Brad Lidge's return on Saturday lessened the concerns about his health. (Though his knee did seem to trouble him, and a DL stint might not be the worst idea.) Lidge's status aside, the Phillies are currently facing a number of pitching-related concerns, including the overworked bullpen, Cole Hamels' ankle injury, and Chan Ho Park's total lack of pitching ability. The Phillies have myriad viable options to address these issues, but quite a lot to consider, such as contract statuses, roster construction, and their upcoming schedule. Fortunately for Phillies' General Manager Ruben Amaro, I will now tell him exactly what to do, in a convenient bulletpoint format.
- Demote Chan Ho Park to the bullpen as a long reliever, preferably to be used in games where he will have no role in the outcome. Promote J.A. Happ to the starting rotation.
- Place Cole Hamels on the 15-Day DL, retroactive to Tuesday, April 28th. He will be eligible to return on Thursday, May 14th, against the Dodgers. There is no reason to rush him back from injury this early in the season, and there is every reason to minimize his workload, so as to prevent Verduccification. (This will require two starts from a AAA starter. The Phillies will also need a AAA starter on Saturday, May 16th, as they play a doubleheader against the Nationals.)
- Add AAA reliever Tyler Walker to the 40-Man Roster, and recall him to take Hamels' spot on the 25-Man roster. Walker will help the overworked bullpen, and help the Phillies avoid using J.A. Happ, prior to his first start.
- Start Brett Myers against St. Louis on Monday, on his regular four days of rest.
- On Tuesday, DFA utility player Miguel Cairo. Cairo rarely plays, never contributes, and the Phillies are better off with an extra arm, at least in the short-term. For twelve games, the Phillies will go with thirteen pitchers, helping to keep the bullpen fresh.
- Recall Kyle Kendrick from AAA to join the rotation, during Hamels' absence. Kendrick will take Cairo's spot on the 25-Man roster. Barring rainouts, Kendrick will start on Tuesday, Sunday, May 10th, and Saturday, May 16th (doubleheader). If Kendrick struggles on Tuesday, AAA starter Andrew Carpenter can make either (or both) of the next two starts. (Carpenter would be on only three days' rest on Tuesday, May 5th. Kendrick will be on his regular, fifth day.)
- Start J.A. Happ Wednesday against the rival Mets, with four days of rest, following his thirty-one pitch relief appearance on Friday, May 1. Happ should be more effective with four days of rest, than going with three days on Tuesday. Starting Kendrick against St. Louis Tuesday, and saving Happ for the division-rivals New York Mets is also prudent.
- DFA Jack Taschner on Thursday, May 14th, when Cole Hamels returns. (Unfortunately, the May 14th game is a day game, Hamels' tragic flaw.) Taschner is likely gone when J.C. Romero returns, anyway. (Alternatively, if Tyler Walker pitches poorly, he could be the one DFA'd.) Either Taschner or Walker would have to pass through waivers to go to AAA, but neither would be a huge loss to the Phils.
- Option Kyle Kendrick back to Lehigh Valley on Saturday, May 16th, after his start in the first game that day against the Nationals. Replace him with AAA outfielder John Mayberry, Jr., or with an outfielder from MLB's DFA Pile for the second game. (Preferably the outfielder will be from the DFA Pile, making the MLB minimum, so Mayberry can play every day in AAA.) This will return the roster to a more preferable twelve pitchers and thirteen position players. (The four-man bench of Matt Stairs, Greg Dobbs, Eric Bruntlett, and Chris Coste will be a bit tight. Especially, in non-DH games, with Coste being the only backup catcher, and unlikely to pinch-hit.)
The Phillies play the rubber game of the series against the Mets on Sunday afternoon. Joe (the Lumber) Blanton starts for the Phils, opposed by Mets' starter John Maine. This starting matchup doesn't favor the Phillies, but if they can win games started by Chan Ho Park, they can win Blanton starts. Hopefully, Blanton will be able to eat more than his usual six innings.
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