Bunts and Balks (6/27)

Reliever J.C. Romero was involved in a postgame incident in Tampa on Thursday.
Romero, allegedly, pushed a man, and grabbed him around the neck. The man had requested Romero's assistance in acquiring some steroids. Romero should have just ignored the jackass. If Romero did instigate physical contact, a suspension is very possible. Perhaps Sergio Escalona will get to stay with the P-Phils for more than a few days this time...

It has been announced that Antonio Bastardo will be unable to make his start on Wednesday, due his shoulder injury. Cole Hamels will move up a day in the rotation, and pitch on Wednesday. Hamels will still be pitching on his regular fifth day. Carlos Carrasco is expected to be promoted from Lehigh Valley (AAA) to make the start on Thursday.

Andrew Carpenter is 7-1 with a 2.75 ERA for Lehigh Valley. Carrasco is 4-7 with a 4.92 ERA for the IronPigs. Why would Carrasco be chosen over Carpenter?
Win-loss record is not the best stat to look at when comparing hurlers. Carrasco has a 3.50 FIP, and has been unlucky (.349 BABIP and 61.7 LOB%). Carpenter has a 4.35 FIP, and has been lucky (.274 BABIP and 82.3 LOB%). Carrasco has been the better pitcher this season and, arguably, is the more promising prospect of the two.

If Bastardo won't be available to pitch for more than a week, and Carrasco won't be needed until Thursday, why not recall a bullpen arm in the interim?
I got nothin'.

Jimmy Rollins continues to ride the bench, with Eric Bruntlett replacing him in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game on Sunday.
Giving the slumping Rollins five days off in a row, including Monday's off day, isn't the worst idea. The worst idea is starting the .129 BA-ing, .189 wOBA-ing Bruntlett in four consecutive games.

Reading (AA) Phillies starting pitcher Joe Savery may face suspension, after hurling a ball into the stands during Friday night's suspended game.
The Friday night game never should have been started, as the conditions were unplayable. Savery's scoreless streak ended when he allowed a first-inning run in the rain, and the game was suspended in the second inning, after Savery was sent to the mound in a thunderstorm. The mismanagement by the umpires cost Savery a start. Savery chucked a ball into the stands, which could have been very problematic, IF THE STANDS WEREN'T EMPTY BECAUSE: THUNDER AND LIGHTNING! Savery had reason to be frustrated, but could have handled things better. He'll probably miss another start, due to a suspension, but attending an Anger Management class (with J.C. Romero?) should be sufficient punishment.

In another tale of Umpire Mismanagement, it was announced that the umpires had erred when requesting an instant replay in Tampa. The replay was called for in order to examine a ground-rule double, but the instant replay rules only apply to home run calls. The League should simply adjust the standings, giving the Phils wins against Tampa, and against Boston (for the Dobbs walk-off homer over the foul pole), and we'll all put the matter behind us. Bygones and whatnot...

In Saturday night action, the IronPigs defeated the Norfolk Tides, 5-0. The FeHogs scored four in the first, and that was all they needed. Carpenter won his seventh game, with eight scoreless innings (five hits, one walk/seven strikeouts). Mike Spidale, back in the leadoff spot, went 3 for 4, pacing a fourteen-hit attack.

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost the completion of their suspended game from Friday, 8-2, to the Trenton Thunder. The R-Phils would likely have had more luck, if the game had been rained out on Friday, and Joe Savery had been able to start on Saturday.

The R-Phils won their regularly-scheduled game, 7-2. Starter Vance Worley pitched six innings (of the seven played), permitting only a pair of runs, and picking up his fifth victory. Worley allowed six hits and a walk (three strikeouts). Jeremy Slayden had a home run, though his 1 for 4 game dropped his average to .395. Michael Taylor is at .337, after a 2 for 3 game.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored five in the eleventh inning, beating the Jupiter Hammerheads, 8-3. Julian Sampson had one of the strongest starts of his season, surrendering three runs, in six and two-thirds innings (five hits, one walk/one strikeout). Outfielder Steve Susdorf, who hit .333 in 78 AB at Lakewood, went 4 for 6, raising his Clearwater BA to .500 (1.105 OPS in 28 AB).