PhilliePhile

Phillies News/Links (3/16/10)

2010-03-16T21:39:00.004-04:00

Some Phillies-related news/links:

ESPN's Buster Olney reported that the Phillies had held "internal discussions" about acquiring Albert Pujols, in exchange for a package including Ryan Howard.
The Phillies have also held "internal discussions" about acquiring Matt Wieters, Ryan Zimmerman, Aroldis Chapman, both Jonas Brothers, both Sedin Brothers, Antero Niittymaki, and Sinbad.
Pujols would a great fit for the Phillies' lineup (or any lineup, ever), but St.Louis doesn't seem likely to deal Pujols. The Phils should, instead, set their sights on Sinbad, whom could likely be acquired for minor leaguer Tyson Brummett + cash.

Starting 3B Placido Polanco left Monday's game with a right knee injury, but he is expected to return to the lineup this weekend.
Watching an injured Polanco limp off the field was rather sobering. In a long-term injury scenario, Polanco's likely replacement at 3B would be Greg Dobbs, with Cody Ransom in reserve. While it is a relief that the name "Eric Bruntlett" was not used in the previous sentence, Dobbs and Ransom don't exactly inspire confidence. Hopefully, the good fortune the Phils have had in recent years, with respect to their frontline players, will continue.

Cole Hamels threw five innings in his third consecutive strong Spring start on Tuesday, allowing only an unearned run against Detroit.
Hamels' line so far in March: 10.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K. Even more importantly, he threw ten cutters and nine curve balls. If Hamels can add some diversity to his fastball/change-heavy repertoire of previous seasons, Roy Halladay won't be the only Ace in the Phils' rotation.

Roy Halladay's numbers after three Spring starts: 10 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 14 K.
Halladay has looked outstanding, so far this spring. As if his on-field performance wasn't enough, he has mentored a rejuvenated Kyle Kendrick, as well as contributing to the rejuvenation of the Philly real estate market. The $2.3 MM mansion isn't located far from Cole Hamels' home, so Halladay will be available to counsel Hamels, whenever any high BABIP-related meltdowns occur.

In the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, Kyle Kendrick has thrown nine scoreless frames, over three appearances. Jamie Moyer has been bombed in "B" games, while Drew Carpenter and Ryan Vogelsong have been sent to minor league camp.
Kendrick hasn't allowed a walk this spring, but he has only recorded two strikeouts, which is not a great sign. The competition has always been between Kendrick and Moyer, and is still weeks away from being decided.

Domonic Brown hit a pair of homers on Tuesday, improving his slash line to .417/.464/.750. For his efforts, Brown was sent to the minor league camp.
If the Phillies lose a starting outfielder to injury in 2010, it is good to know that they have a viable replacement: Ben Francisco. Brown is best-served with a full season of ABs at the AAA level, rather than sitting on the bench in Philly. In 2011, possibly depending on whether the Phils retain Jayson Werth, Brown could be an everyday MLBer/RoY candidate.

The Phillies' Minor League Spring Training teams can be followed this month, on the internets.
I, typically, complement my regular-season viewing of Phillies' games, with the internet radio broadcasts of the IronPigs and/or RPhils. However, I don't recall ML Spring Training info being so readily accessible in the past.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA)
Reading Phillies (AA)
Lakewood BlueClaws (A-)

In a bracket tournament of considerably more importance than that college basketball one, the Titans of the Phillies' Blogosphere are battling for bragging rights at The Phield.
Each morning at 8am, a matchup will be announced, with e-mailed votes accepted until 8pm.
This is a good opportunity to make certain that you are following all of the top Phillies' blogs, and also to discover blogs you haven't been reading. My personal favorite Phillies' blogs, The Zo Zone, Beerleaguer, The Good Phight, and Crashburn Alley all have reasonably good shots at achieving greatness.

2010 Season in Review

2010-03-14T20:28:00.004-04:00

(The following is an excerpt from Baseball Prospectus 2011, and may contain spoilers.)

Prior to the 21st Century, the Philadelphia Phillies were rarely considered a model franchise. Rarely lucky or good, the embattled ballclub limped through the years, their record oft-charred by crippling injuries and questionable personnel decisions. With the exception of a few staggered oases (1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, and 1993), the name "Phillies" was synonymous with mediocrity, or worse. Often, much, much worse. The Phillies became the first MLB team to lose 10,000 games, a testament to their longevity as a franchise, as well as to their sustained impotence between the lines.

Things have gone a bit better for the Phils, in the current millennium. Actually, that is an understatement of similar magnitude to statements such as "Roy Halladay is a workhorse.", or "Placido Polanco has a sizeable melon." In making their third consecutive World Series appearance, and winning their second World Championship of the Century, the 2010 Phillies were certainly the greatest edition in the team's history. The 102 regular-season wins posted by the club still left the franchise 1087 games below .500 for their history, but this now-model franchise appears to mere decades away from a lifetime winning record. The only burning question is how they are going to able to afford to continue to roster so many superstars.

The success of the 2010 Phillies has to be, mostly, attributed to their outstanding starting pitching. Acquiring Roy Halladay was expensive, both in terms of salary, and players. The 2010 Cy Young award winner was worth every penny, and every promising prospect. Besides posting one of the best statistical seasons in baseball history, the tireless ace set the standard for MLB's best rotation. The sturdy staff had four hurlers exceed 200 IP, completing an impressive thirty-two games. Trusting in the NL's best defense, the starters were able to go deep into games, while still keeping their pitch counts manageable. Cole Hamels was the same ace he has been his entire career, without the BABIP issues that had plagued his 2009 season. Joe Blanton continued his evolution from proclaimed innings-eater, to actual, quality innings-eater. J.A. Happ continued to bend BABIP to his will, prompting sabermetricians to question whether the southpaw was simply a two-season outlier, or whether a deeper magic was in play. Kyle Kendrick took over the fifth spot in May, replacing veteran Jamie Moyer. Kendrick held the fort at the back of the rotation, until the Phils' second annual acquisition of Cliff Lee further solidified the starting pitching. Hamels and Lee combined to split the six postseason victories not claimed by Halladay.

The health and performance of the starting pitchers also had a beneficial effect on the bullpen. Closer Brad Lidge flourished with a reduced workload, rarely being required to pitch in consecutive games. The Phils' offseason signings of well-traveled vets Jose Contreras and Danys Baez had appeared somewhat questionable at the time, but they demonstrated the club's wisdom in roster construction, performing well in their middle relief roles. Holdovers Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin had career years, excelling as Lidge's setup men. Only reliever J.C. Romero struggled, as injury and legal woes continued to derail his career.

While the pitching gets most of the credit for the Phillies' success, perhaps deservingly so, the club's position players also were quite deserving of merit. Chase Utley's MVP season, Ryan Howard's 52 HRs, and Bearded Jayson Werth's contract year performance keyed the offense. Shane Victorino was second to only Werth among NL outfielders, in launching 31 HRs. While Victorino's sudden power surge was as shocking as his uncanny ability to design and sell $40 t-shirts, he certainly wasn't the Phillies biggest surprise in 2010.

Brian Bocock entered Spring Training hoping to claim a roster spot with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA). By the time the regular season began, Bocock had, in fact claimed a roster spot. As the parent club's starting shortstop. Jimmy Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP, was relegated to the utility role that had seemed destined for light-hitting Juan Castro. Bocock's numbers at the plate were less reminiscent of Rollins, and more reminiscent of former Phils neophyte Joe Millette. However, Bocock also posted one of the greatest defensive seasons in the game's history, a UZR-heavy 9.2 WAR, and a third place finish in the NL Gold Glove voting. Rollins, dealt to Boston on May 11, did win a Gold Glove. But the Phillies' enlightened decision to install Bocock as the starter early in the season allowed them to maximize their return for Rollins, as well as to free up the payroll that, later, allowed them to fit Lee into their $140MM budget.

(BP2011 will be available in January 2011, wherever fine books are sold.)

Halladay Music

2010-03-07T22:01:00.003-05:00

One of the most prominent Spring Training storylines has been All Things Roy Halladay. We have learned of his intense desire to perform in the postseason. We have noted the relationship between his levels of facial hair, and his wOBA against (a bearded Halladay is a dominant Halladay). The effect Halladay has had on his teammates, particularly his apprentice (Kyle Kendrick), is much more difficult to quantify, but certainly beneficial. The indomitable northpaw's first game action as a Phillie included three non-strikes, among his twenty-four offerings. However, he will, undoubtedly, improve upon those numbers, as the season progresses. (Besides, it's not like he gave up any runs, or hits, or anything like that.) There has been a veritable multitude of words spent on Halladay-related topics since his acquistion, yet there is one specific area that has not yet been suitably explored.

Since the Dawn of Sabermetrics, the factors that influence a pitcher's success (or failure) have been studied intensely. The areas that a pitcher has control over (whiffs, walks, and facial hair)
have proven to be the best predictors of success. BABIP and HR/FB provide clues as to the sustainability of a pitcher's performance. A pitcher's Entrance Music appears to have a discernible effect on opposing batters, but the study of this particular phenomenon is still in it's infancy. While determining the specific impact of an intimidating entrance song is, currently, an imprecise science, partially as a result of imperfect information and insufficient sample sizes, few question that such an impact exists.

Roy Halladay suffered from the adverse effects of a replacement level entrance song, during his time in Toronto. Robert Palmer's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" is not a worthy choice for a perennial Cy Young candidate, especially one performing for a perennial World Series contender. There are numerous alternatives that can be utilized here, some including Halladay's nickname ("Doc"), and same playing on his surname. Making the assumption that the entrance song will only be played during home games, we can adjust for CBP's affect on Halladay's ERA. Assuming eighteen home starts, and optimal facial hair levels, we can use a proprietary formula to project Halladay's ERA with each of the potential entrance songs considered.

Dizzee Rascal, "Holiday"
Pertinent lyrics: "If you ain't doing nothing, let's fly away, drive away, take a holiday."
Commentary: This option could get the CBP crowd revved up, but won't intimidate many opposing batters.
Projected ERA: 3.19

Thompson Twins, "Doctor, Doctor"
Pertinent lyrics: "Doctor, Doctor, can't you see I'm burning, burning? Oh Doctor, Doctor, is this love I'm feeling?"
Commentary: Pete Alexander who have struggled to keep his ERA under 3, with this entrance song.
Projected ERA: 3.43

Green Day, "Holiday"
Pertinent Lyrics: "I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies, This is the dawning of the rest of our lives, On Holiday!
Commentary: A worthy choice, but not sufficiently intimidating.
Projected ERA: 2.86

The Dandy Warhols, "Every Day Should Be a Holiday"
Pertinent Lyrics: "Anytime, Baby let's go, Every day should be a holiday"
Commentary: Perhaps a bit dated, but a decent choice.
Projected ERA: 3.06

Lindsey Buckingham, "Holiday Road"
Pertinent Lyrics: "I found out long ago, It's a long way down this holiday road."
Commentary: Reminiscent of the movie "Vacation." About as intimidating as Marty Moose.
Projected ERA: 3.38

Motley Crue, "Dr. Feelgood"
Pertinent Lyrics: "He's the one they call Dr. Feelgood, He's the one that makes you feel alright."
Commentary: Would not be an appropriate choice for Roy Halladay.
Projected ERA: N/A

The Dead Kennedys, "Holiday in Cambodia"
Commentary: Much less appropriate than the previous option.
Projected ERA: N/A

UFO, "Doctor, Doctor"
Pertinent Lyrics: "Doctor, Doctor please, oh the mess I'm in"
Commentary: Halladay does not get into messes, nor is he a "nervous boy."
Projected ERA: 3.28

Scorpions, "Holiday"
Pertinent Lyrics: "Let me take you far away, You'd like a holiday."
Commentary: Too slow-paced, troublesome German-accented vocals.
Projected ERA: 3.34

Pantera, "Psycho Holiday"
Pertinent Lyrics: "Been put through the test, your mind laid to rest, you're on a psycho holiday."
Commentary: This appears to be the optimal entrance song.
Projected ERA: 2.34

While there are other possibilities that have yet to be examined, the projected ERA (2.34) produced by Pantera's "Psycho Holiday" appears rather difficult to beat. This is not surprising, as even Adam Eaton could (likely) produce a sub-6.00 ERA, with a Pantera entrance song. Hopefully, the statistical consultants employed by the Phillies organization will come to a similar, or superior, conclusion.

Under the Radar

2010-02-28T22:27:00.003-05:00

The Phillies' offseason has included several high profile acquisitions. Roy Halladay, Placido Polanco, and Ross Gload are among the household names joining the defending NL Champions. While most of the offseason's media coverage has centered around the Gload Signing, there were other moves within the organization that merit comment.

OF/1B Tagg Bozied was signed to a minor league contract.

Bozied was a highly-regarded Padres' prospect in the early 21st century, but ruptured the patella tendon in his left knee in July 2004, while celebrating a walk-off grand slam in the minors. Bozied spent the remainder of the decade living the life of a minor league journeyman. In 2009, Bozied began the season in Taiwan, and finished it in the Pirates' organization, posting a .362 wOBA (and a 27.9 K%) at AAA.

The right-handed hitting slugger will, likely, spend 2010 batting in the middle of the order for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA). Immediately upon his signing, Bozied became one of the favorites for the AAA All-Star Game's Home Run Derby, to be hosted at LV's Coca-Cola Park.

Why should Phillies' fans care about this signing? First off, "Tagg Bozied" is a truly great baseball name. Secondly, CHONE projects Bozied to a .329 wOBA and a .5 WAR for 2010. Ross Gload's CHONE projections for 2010: .316 wOBA and a -.3 WAR. Would Bozied have been a better choice for the Phils' bench? Perhaps. Perhaps not. But he certainly would have been a much cheaper alternative. With the salaries of many Phils' starters heading towards the stratosphere, maybe a more "top-heavy/bottom-light" method of roster construction will need to be considered. Why pay more than the MLB minimum, for players likely to spend the bulk of their time rooted to Manager Charlie Manuel's bench? Especially when those roster spots could be upgraded, if desired, with trade deadline deals...

SS Kami Mattioli was the final offseason addition to the roster of the Phillies' Ballgirls.

Mattioli will provide the Ballgirls with another high-OBP bat for the top of the order, strong infield defense, and leadership on (and off) the field. After Halladay, this may have been the Phils' best offseason acquistion.
However, the process by which Mattioli was selected was somewhat questionable. The Phillies could have had their sabermetric consultant(s) (and scouts) determine the final roster spot, considering the candidates' 2010 projections, as well as their potential impact on the current roster. Instead, they left the decision to a vote by the fans, a vote informed only by videos of the candidates' interviews. No stats, no scouting reports, no videos from game action, just the interviews were provided.
Fortunately, in this case, the crowds were wise, and the Ballgirls have their answer to Chase Utley. However, the Phillies need to clean up this process, and perhaps pick up a full-timer off the sabermetric waiver wire to help with these types of personnel decisions. Mattioli easily could have spent the next decade with a divisional rival. Or the Mets.

CF Shane Victorino signed a clothing deal with Silver Star Casting Company.

Victorino will be helping design a series of shirts with the MMA-outfitter. Unfortunately, the first "Flyin' Hawaiian" shirt will not be available until March 31st. At $40 a pop, it is no wonder Victorino could afford to eschew arbitration, and sign a three-year, $22 million extension. Perhaps Victorino can get impending free agent Jayson Werth involved in this venture?

The Phillies have two consecutive Fall Classic appearances under their belts, becoming a desirable destination for highly-regarded free agents/pending free agents (Polanco, Mattioli, Halladay, etc.) in the process. But when their players start designing $40 t-shirts, THAT'S when you know that the organization has reached a higher level.

Ruiz Agrees to Extension, Rollins Marries

2010-01-25T07:20:00.004-05:00

Catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Phillies avoided arbitration, agreeing to a three-year extension worth a reported $9 million. Ruiz had his best offensive year in 2009, posting a .337 wOBA. Ruiz has performed extremely well offensively in the postseason, with a wOBA of .403 (119 PA.) He is considered a strong defensive backstop, ranking among the best catchers at handling pitches in the dirt. His improved offensive performance in 2009, lead to a career-high WAR of 2.2, worth approximately $10 million in free agent dollars. If Ruiz can keep his WAR in this range, the Phillies did well to extend him.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins also agreed to terms this weekend, marrying his girlfriend Johari Smith, in a ceremony Saturday in the Cayman Islands. First basemen Ryan Howard, outfielder Shane Victorino, and former Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu were among the players in attendance. There are no reports (yet) as to whether Abreu displayed the same trepidation on the dance floor, that he once showed in the Phillies' outfield. Rollins and Smith each posted WARs over 2.0 in 2009, so this was a good deal for both parties. Pictures are available at The 700 Level.

Phillies' Offseason Review: Major Additions

2010-01-17T18:30:00.008-05:00

Remember when the cost-conscious Phillies were largely invisible during the offseason? Those days are almost as forgotten as those lost seasons when the Phillies were playing out the string by August. These Phillies have a $140 million budget, and are very active participants in free agency. Whether they should be a little less active is up for debate, but you can't argue with their recent results: three consecutive NL East titles, two World Series appearances, and one WFC(!).

Roy Halladay ('10 salary: $15.75M, 11: $20M, 12: $20M, 13:$20M, 14:$20M option)The cost to acquire Halladay was high: top prospects Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis D'Arnaud were sent to Toronto for one season of Halladay, plus $6M. Halladay quickly agreed to a (likely below-market value) extension, for an additional three years, plus an option.
Halladay has been one of MLB's premier pitchers over the past four seasons, posting WARs of 5.7, 5.6, 7.4, and 7.3. With the cost per WAR on the free agent market approximating $4M, if Halladay keeps his WARs over a very manageable (manageable for him, not manageable for most hurlers) 5.0 per season, the Phillies have done well here.
It remains to be seen how the players dealt to Toronto will perform, and if Halladay (930 IP since 2006) will be able stay healthy throughout his Phillies career. But the prospect of having Halladay (HALLADAY!) fronting the Phils' rotation for the next five seasons is rather thrilling.

Placido Polanco ($18M guaranteed over three seasons, plus '13 option for $5.5M)

The biggest names among free agent 3Bs were Adrian Beltre and Chone Figgins. The Phillies signed...2B Placido Polanco to play 3B. Polanco has been a strong defender at 2B, but it is questionable as to how well his arm will play at 3B. Polanco has seen his wOBA drop from .371 in 2007, to only .321 in 2009. Poor luck may have been a factor in 2009, as Polanco's BABIP of .295 was well below his career average of .314. Polanco will be thirty-five in October, and his offensive abilities may be on the decline.
Polanco posted a 3.1 WAR in 2009, largely due to his defensive prowess. But Polanco's UZR of 11.4 in 2009 may be overstating his fielding abilities. Over his previous three seasons, Polanco's has an average UZR of 7.5. Adjusting slightly for position change/age, an UZR between 5 and 6 seems more likely.
The Phillies will pay Polanco the (approximate) free agent market price for a 1.5 WAR player. Polanco will likely prove to be a good value in '10 and (possibly) '11, but the Phils may regret including that third year.

Brian Schneider ($2.75M guaranteed over two seasons)

The days of Paul Bako as the MLB backup are over. This is certainly a good thing.Schneider struggled offensively in '09, but part of that was due to a miniscule BABIP of .233 (career average BABIP: .281). His LD% dropped from 25.7% to 13.2%, so his difficulties with the bat might not have been all BABIP's fault.
Schneider, a capable defensive catcher, should provide the Phils with sufficient WAR value.
However, this is another case where the Phils may have been better off with a one-year deal. Instead of rushing to sign Schneider, the Phils may have been able to wait out the market a bit, and gotten a more favorable deal.

Danys Baez ($5.25M guaranteed over the next two seasons)

On the plus side, Baez is neither Brandon Lyon nor Fernando Rodney, both of whom got much more many, and may post similar results. On the minus side, two guaranteed years seems a year too much. Perhaps a one-year $1.5M deal would have been more appropriate, considering Baez' WAR of .3 in 2009.
Baez K/9 has decreased every season since 2004, and his 4.02 ERA last season was aided by an unsustainable .239 BABIP. If Baez can repeat last seasons GB% of 60.9%, he has a chance for some success in middle relief. Retaining Clay Condrey, at approx. one-third of Baez' salary, may have been more prudent decision.

Jose Contreras (reportedly, a one-year agreement for approx. $1 M)

With Chan Ho Park looking to find a spot in another MLB team's rotation, the Phils needed a veteran bullpen arm, who could make an occasional spot start. Contreras should fit this role quite nicely. Contreras posted some ugly conventional numbers as a starter in 2009, but a .325 BABIP and a 62.7 LOB% were factors. His FIP of 4.11 is not nearly as unsightly as his 5.42 ERA as a starter with the White Sox.
Contreras posted a K/BB of 2.00, with a K/9 of 7.25. He can still dial up his velocity to the low-90s, and should be an asset as a reliever, provided his workload is kept manageable.

Ross Gload ($2.6M guaranteed over two seasons)

Gload was signed to take the place of Matt Stairs as one of the Phils' primary bench options. Stairs posted a WAR of 0.0 in an ugly 2009, which was eerily similar to Gload's -.1 WAR. Gload has little power and little defensive value. He is a below average offensive player, and it is questionable as to why the Phils felt the need to give him a second guaranteed year.
The Phils likely could have filled this role more cheaply with a AAAA player (Andy Tracy?), and then upgraded with a cheap salary dump for the stretch run, if desired.

Juan Castro ('10 salary: $.70M, 11: $.75M option/$50K buyout)

Castro, who will be 38 years of age in June, had a career year in 2009, posting a .277 BA. Castro's sudden offensive surge was likely the byproduct of an aberrant .349 BABIP (career BABIP: .267). Only five of Castro's thirty-one hits in 2009 were for extra bases (four doubles, one homer).
Castro will be the backup SS, going 0 for 3, with a strikeout, once every couple of weeks. He will also be used as a pinch-hitter more frequently than he merits, and will replace Jimmy Rollins late in blowouts less frequently than he should.
Hopefully, Chase Utley's days off will be covered by moving Polanco to 2B, and starting Greg Dobbs at 3B. Getting Dobbs more playing time should make him a more effective player, and getting Castro less playing time should make Phillies fans less disconcerted.
The Phils probably should have just saved .30M, and rostered Wilson Valdez as the backup middle infielder.

The Phillies have made some good moves for 2010, but may have overpaid a bit in term and salary. Last offseason, the Phillies rushed into the market, signing Raul Ibanez for three years, and Jamie Moyer for two. This offseason the Phillies rushed to give Placido Polanco three years, and Danys Baez (and Ross Gload and Brian Schneider) two. These extra years given to declining veterans may combine to exact a price in future fiscal flexibility.
General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. has been quick and decisive in his forays into the free agent market. With Jayson Werth and Ryan Howard approaching free agency, in the next two offseasons, respectively, the cumulative weight of these ill-advised contracts may come back to haunt the Phillies. But we'll worry about that after the Phillies' third consecutive World Series appearance, this October.

There is still hope for the Phils...

2009-11-02T19:39:00.003-05:00

Last night's Game Four loss to the Yankees was a painful one. When Pedro Feliz took Joba Chamberlain deep, tying the score at four in the eighth inning, things looked good for the Phillies. A scoreless ninth from rejuvenated closer Brad Lidge would set the stage for a walk-off victory. We've seem this remarkable team win games in this manner many times. But, after getting two outs, Lidge imploded, as we have also seen so many times, this season. The resulting three-run deficit was too much to overcome against Yankees' closer Mariano Rivera. A three games-to-one Series deficit may be even more difficult to overcome.

But, if we've learned anything about this Phillies ballclub, over the past two magical seasons, it's not to give up on them. No matter the circumstances. No matter the Win Expectancy. If there's a team capable of coming back from this deficit, it's the Phillies.

In fact, perhaps the Phillies have the Yanks right where they want them. With their ace, Cliff Lee, on the mound, opposed by A.J. Burnett (on short rest), a victory at home tonight is not out of the question. In Game Six, a rested Pedro Martinez, coming off his strong outing in Game Two, would (likely) be opposed by Andy Pettitte (on short rest). In a winner-take-all Game Seven, anything could happen. Perhaps BABIP would, finally, smile upon Cole Hamels, the Phillies' star-crossed southpaw. Maybe the Phils' bats would finally explode against C. C. Sabathia, once again pitching on short rest. This Series is far from over. Don't be surprised if the Phillies take the Yankees to the limit. As long as the Phillies have outs left, it is too soon to count them out.

Lee and Phils Lose, But Still Plenty of (Fictional) Positives

2009-09-05T00:16:00.006-04:00

The Phillies lost to the Astros on Friday night, 7-0. Cliff Lee had his second consecutive rough outing, surrendering six runs on nine hits, and surviving only three innings. He was BABIP'd to death by bloops in a four-run Astros' second, and gave up a two-run bomb in the third inning. Jamie Moyer pitched well in relief, allowing only a solo home run. Unfortunately, even a solo home run would have been too much for the recently offense-deficient Phillies to overcome, as their eight hits (seven singles) lead to a total of only zero runs. The Phillies' bats are slumping now, but should perk up in the near future. Hopefully. Of course, it's better to slump now, than in the Fall Classic.

The biggest positive for the Phils on Friday night: Cliff Lee threw a mere seventy-four pitches! Typically, Lee has averaged, approximately, seventy-five gajillion pitches per start. This "vacation start" will help him stay fresh for the playoffs. Reliever Jamie Moyer has seen most of his success pitching in the rain, on at least ten days' rest, and following fastballer Pedro Martinez. The elderly slowballer was called upon to relieve Lee on Friday night, with a mere six days' rest, barely having recovered from his sixty-one pitch outing on August 28th. There wasn't any rain, either. Despite the trying circumstances, Moyer rose to the occasion, and kept the Phillies within seven runs.

When the Phillies gutted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs' roster on September 1st, the Phils' AAA squad saw their hopes of a .500 season dashed. It was the right move for the organization as a whole, however. The Phillies are chasing a playoff spot, and need to put their regulars in position to perform their best in the postseason. With a full lineup's worth of AAA talent, including Eric Bruntlett and Miguel Cairo, the Phillies now have the personnel available to rest their starting eight early and often.

All of the recent call-ups contributed on Friday night, if only by their mere presence. Sure, none of them got hits, or anything like that, but they pitched well, and fielded adequately. The one substitute who should make the postseason roster, Brett Myers, looked sharp in his scoreless inning. Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel chose the spot for Myers' return to MLB prudently, inserting the fiery fireballer into the seventh inning, of a 7-0 game. Myers looked like anything but a sub, retiring all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts. With Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge locking down the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, Myers would make a good addition to the seventh-inning mix, in the playoffs. Paul Hoover, Quinton Berry, J.J. Furmaniak, John Mayberry, Jr., Mike Cervenak, and Kyle Kendrick also appeared, though none did anything of particular note.

There was one scary moment, in the eight inning, when Phillies' centerfielder Jason Ellison was injured diving for a line drive. Ellison was helped from the field, but could be ready to return by the start of Spring Training. Provided his extensive rehab goes well, he should help bolster the bench of his next organization's AAA squad. Showing that kind of effort, in a game that had been long-decided, displays the kind of hustle that serves as a good model to actual prospects. I wish Ellison the best of luck in his future endeavors, but I do have a confession to make. As Ellison's inert form was carefully removed from the field of play, I thought to myself that the Phillies were very fortunate that the injured centerfielder wasn't All-Star Shane Victorino. Losing Victorino would be very damaging to the Phils' hopes of postseason success, and would have been especially frustrating under such futile circumstances. It was good planning that positioned Ellison in center to "take the bullet" for Victorino. (Though the Phillies' Win Expectancy would have remained at .1%, whether the centerfielder made the catch or not, you still have to applaud the valiant effort.)

Joe Blanton will get the start in the second game of the series, on Saturday night. As the workhorse northpaw has thrown a few gazillion pitches of his own this season, he probably won't pitch more than five innings on Saturday. The Phillies want to keep him on his routine, but want to save some arm strength for October. Moyer won't be available in relief, but with Kendrick, Rodrigo Lopez, and Drew Carpenter, stretched-out starting pitchers all, ready to go, the Phillies have the depth to keep the workload of their postseason hurlers low. That's just smart management, the type of management that wins WFCs.

Phillies Reinforce with...Jack Taschner? (But more to follow soon...)

2009-09-02T23:53:00.005-04:00

It was September 1st. The day when the Phillies could expand their active roster, by as many as fifteen players, and reinforce the tiring bullpen and the ineffective bench. The Phillies had a wide variety of replacement-level options for recall, and they summoned...Jack Taschner. And...that's it. Yikes.
On the plus side, the Phils have indicated that more recalls are coming. Some pitchers (Rodrigo Lopez? Kyle Kendrick? Drew Carpenter? Steven Register? Sergio Escalona?) should be up shortly. A catcher (Tuffy Gosewisch? Paul Hoover?), an outfielder (John Mayberry, Jr.?), and a player with some speed (Rich Thompson? Quintin Berry?) should also get the call. Players have to be on the 40-Man roster to be recalled (Gosewisch, Hoover, Thompson, and Berry are not.), but Joe Bisenius and Jack Taschner are easily DFAable. Rehabbing relievers Brett Myers, Clay Condrey, and Antonio Bastardo are also probable additions.
A look at some of the recent Phillies' transactions should give us an idea of their likely thought process:

Jack Taschner is recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA). Given that he was a dismal failure with the Phillies this season, didn't think we'd see him on the parent club again. But, he put up some good numbers in AAA, and the Phillies are paying him an MLB salary, so they might as well let him eat some low leverage innings. Besides, maybe having him around the 'Pen will help Chad Durbin.
For the IronPigs, Taschner posted an ERA of 2.18, in 20.2 IP. But we know ERA can be deceptive, especially for relievers. We saw Taschner spend weeks in MLB WHIPping the ERAs of his teammates, by allowing inherited runners to score. Looking deeper at Taschner's AAA numbers, we see a .249 BABIP/81.3 LOB%/4.02 FIP combo. Taschner has been rather fortunate in AAA.
However, the southpaw has been experimenting with a sidearm delivery, when facing left-handed batters. If he could get LHBs out, he might be a satisfactory LOOGY. He did look good in this role, during Wednesday night's loss to the Giants. But don't expect Taschner to make any meaningful appearances, and don't be surprised if he is DFA'd, when a 40-Man spot is needed for a more capable relief option.

Brett Myers pitched in consecutive games for Lehigh Valley, throwing scoreless innings on Tuesday and Wednesday. He needs to start facing MLB hitters, in order to evaluate him for a possible postseason role, as a reliever. An effective Myers could be a force in the seventh/eighth innings. Expect him to be activated this weekend, for the Houston series.

John Ennis was added to the 40-Man roster, and the 25-Man roster, and placed on the 15-Day DL. Brad Harman was designated for assignment, in order to open a spot for Ennis.
Harman had no future with the Phillies, due to his inability to hit.
Ennis probably doesn't have much a Phillies' future either, and is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He should be ready to pitch again around this time, in 2010. Why did the Phillies do this? Flexibility. As long as Ennis is on the DL, he can be replaced on the postseason roster by anyone in the organization on August 31st. So, one of the September callups would be eligible, as a result of this move.

Catcher Tim Gradoville was promoted to Lehigh Valley (AAA), from Reading (AA). Gradoville retired to begin his coaching career, but was activated as a player-coach for Reading. He served as backup catcher, appearing in two games, but not batting. It looks like he may reprise this role with Lehigh Valley, enabling Paul Hoover or Tuffy Gosewisch to be recalled to the parent club, as the third catcher. The veteran Hoover would seem the more likely candidate for an MLB bench role, with Gosewisch starting the majority of Lehigh Valley's remaining games.

Michael Schwimer was promoted to Reading (AA), from Clearwater (A). Schwimer was lights-out (12.3 K/9, 4.32 K/BB, 1.95 FIP) in Clearwater, and picked up two wins (in a doubleheader) on his first day as an R-Phil. He could really help Reading's bullpen, as they try to hold on to a playoff spot.

B.J. Rosenberg was placed on the temporary inactive list, so that he could participate in the World Cup. Any "World Cup" that includes Terry Tiffee and Cedrick Bowers probably isn't worth worrying about. Don't understand why the Phils didn't keep Rosenberg in Reading, to help with their playoff run.

Carlos Monasterios was promoted to Reading (AA), from Clearwater (A). Monasterios, one of the players acquired from the Yankees, in the Bobby Abreu/Cory Lidle trade, has been effective in A ball (7.79 K/9, 2.63 K/BB, 3.27 FIP). But, he is no Rosenberg.

After losing two consecutive games to the New Britain Rock Cats, the Reading Phillies fell into a tie with Erie, for the final playoff spot.
With games against the EL North's top two teams this week, New Britain and first place Connecticut, the R-Phils' playoff hopes are in trouble.
Reliever Chance Chapman will make a spot start for the R-Phils on Thursday. Chapman was an effective starter in 2008, with Lakewood (7.64 K/9, 3.19 K/BB, 2.95 FIP). He has been an effective reliever for Reading (8.24 K/9, 2.35 K/BB, 3.13 FIP), but his arm isn't stretched out. He'll, probably, be good for four innings. Don't understand why the R-Phils didn't recall a starter from Clearwater to make this start. They might make that recall, before the spot in the rotation comes around again.

Phillies Use Ancient Methods to Defeat Braves

2009-08-31T01:44:00.015-04:00

Long ago, the sport of baseball was a very different game. Players left their gloves on the field, when they returned to the dugout. If players spent more than two weeks on a roster, without playing, it was probably either because they were very bad at the game of baseball, or because they were actually spies. There was a batting maneuver, used to advance runners, known as the "bunt." The Philadelphia Phillies had an innings-eater, by the name of Grover Cleveland Alexander, who pitched more than three-hundred innings, seven seasons in a row. A "loogy" was just a synonym for expectorant. Way back then, creating a "Cliff Lee", using DNA obtained from Steve Carlton, would have been as inconceivable as the Phillies being labeled a "perennial contender."

In the much more recent past, the Phillies have pondered several questions. "If Brad Lidge blows every save opportunity, has he achieved perfection?" "Will Matt Stairs ever get a hit again?" "Is Eric Bruntlett really only the fourth-worst-hitting non-pitcher on this team?" They also considered a more philosophical question. They asked themselves, "If Scott Eyre is in the bullpen, and he never pitches, does he make a sound?" Noted philosopher/ineffective reliever Chad Durbin, who was not created using DNA obtained from Ron Reed, would likely answer that question, "Does he (Eyre) ever NOT make a sound?" Manager Charlie Manuel, however, hasn't appeared to be aware of Eyre's continued bullpen existence. At least until the eighth inning of the Phillies' 3-2 victory over the Braves, on Sunday night.

Scott Eyre entered his first game in two weeks, with runners on first and second, and no outs. Though he had warmed up numerous times during those two weeks, and his usefulness as a LOOGY had been oft-demonstrated, he had been reduced to merely cheering on his teammates. Suddenly, he was called on to pitch, during the highest leverage at bat of the game. Four pitches later, he induced an unconventional 4-6-5 double play. He retired the next batter on another grounder, exiting the inning with a 3-2 lead. Now, we are left to ponder why we had to wait two weeks between Eyre appearances. A Grover Cleveland Alexander-esque ERA of 1.65 should surely qualify Eyre for more regular use.

The Phillies' offense generated a lot of sound on Sunday night, with Chase Utley hitting yet another home run (his 29th), and Carlos Ruiz knocking three hits, including a pair of doubles. The loudest noise, however, may have been made by the softest contact. In bottom of the seventh inning, with the score tied at one, Raul Ibanez lead off the inning with a walk. Pedro Feliz followed, and performed the archaic maneuver known as "squaring around to bunt." This antiquated technique doesn't seem to have a lot of value in today's chock-full-of-extra-base-hit-game, except as a possible (occasional) deterrent to deep-playing infielders, or as a practice utilized solely by exceedingly weak-hitting batters. In Sunday night's context, however, it led to a two-base error. Carlos Ruiz followed Feliz' bunt with a two-run double, and the Phillies had all the scoring that they would require.

When you have (the post-April 2009 version of) Joe Blanton on the mound, not a lot of offense is needed. Blanton once pursued the quality start, and the seventh inning, as Moe Berg had once pursued Axis secrets (with a lumbering tenacity). Now that Blanton has made ten consecutive quality starts, venturing into the seventh inning in nine of them, the lanky northpaw has earned the "innings-eater" label that had once been, prematurely, bestowed upon him. Blanton ate seven more innings, surrendering only a solo home run, among three hits and four walks (and seven strikeouts!).

Brad Lidge, often effective when not used more than two days in a row, retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, for his twenty-seventh save. The Phillies had combined methods, both ancient and modern, in winning the rubber game of the three-game series. Philadelphia increased their divisional lead to eight games, with only thirty-four games remaining to be played. Joe Blanton may get the opportunity to reprise Alexander's 1915 role, as an innings-eater on a team that went on to play the Red Sox, in the World Series. (That is, if 2009's Red Sox can get past Detroit, in the ALCS...)

Bunts and Balks (8/30)

2009-08-30T23:39:00.007-04:00

Brett Myers made his second rehab start at Reading (AA) on Saturday, with mixed results. Myers allowed one run in two innings. He threw thirty pitches, only sixteen for strikes. He allowed two hits, one of which was a flukish inside-the-park-homer. (The long fly ball hit off the outfield fence, and bounded far away from outfielder DomOnic Brown.)
Myers was expected to throw fifty pitches, but rain forced the game to be suspended.
Myers is expected to pitch on consecutive days, later this week, and then be recalled to Philadelphia. (The appearances are supposed to be for Lehigh Valley (AAA), but I'm officially voting for them to take place for pitching-strapped, playoff-hungry, Reading.)
A positive for the R-Phils was that Myers' start saved them from using one of their starting pitchers, as the game was turned into a Myers + bullpen effort. A rain-wasted start by one of Reading's remaining starting pitchers would have been damaging to their playoff hopes. Reading was very lucky that Myers' unfortunate eye injury (that did NOT happen in a bar) pushed back his rehab schedule, enabling him to pitch for them on Saturday.

The Phillies announced that top prospect Kyle Drabek has been shut down for the remainder of the season. Drabek is not injured, the Phils are merely shutting him down, for precautionary reasons. It is a prudent move, considering that Drabek is coming off TJ surgery, and has pitched 158 innings.
Drabek's final stats at Reading: 8-2, 3.64 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .298 BABIP, 7.1 K/9, 2.45 K/BB, 3.83 FIP. One notable red flag: LHB hit .322 against the 21 year-old northpaw.
It's a shame that Drabek's workload wasn't reduced earlier in the season, so that he could perform for the R-Phils during their playoff run, and their inevitable postseason games. But the Phils made the right move, in shutting Drabek down.

So, who's left in the Reading rotation? How are they going to get through a week in which they have ten games scheduled?
The current rotation seems to include Yohan Flande, Mike Stutes, Mike Cisco, Vance Worley, and Alex Concepcion (?). (Concepcion has pitched mostly as a reliever, and would be fortunate to pitch four innings. Considering that doubleheaders in AA are only seven innings long, those games would be the best fit for him, as a starter.)
Flande and Concepcion are scheduled to start Monday's doubleheader, and could both start Saturday's doubleheader, on four days rest.
Mike Cisco has been announced as Tuesday's starter, with Mike Stutes scheduled to pitch Wednesday.
Friday would be Vance Worley's fifth day.
It looks like Reading needs a plan for Thursday.

Who makes the start for Reading on Thursday?
I'd like to see a "rehab game" featuring Brett Myers, Clay Condrey, and Antonio Bastardo. That could really help the R-Phils' playoff hopes. We may see some of the aforementioned rehabbers in Reading this week, but the R-Phils need to find a starting solution for the rest of the season.
They will, likely, need to recall a pitcher from Clearwater (A), one who would be pitching with (at least) four days' rest, on Thursday.
The available candidates are: Drew Naylor, Jon Velasquez, Tyler Cloyd, and Darren Byrd.
Naylor is twenty-three, on the 40-Man Roster, and has pitched the most innings in A (151). Naylor has a K/BB of 3.06, and a FIP of 3.67. If you remove the worst of Naylor's last ten starts, he has a 3.97 ERA, in that timeframe.
Velasquez turns twenty-four in October, has a K/BB of 2.82, and a FIP of 3.83 (64.2 IP).
Velasquez has an ERA of 2.82, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.
Cloyd is twenty-two, has a K/BB of 1.76, and a FIP of 4.02 (71.2 IP).
Cloyd has an ERA of 3.27, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.
Byrd turns twenty-three in October, has a K/BB of 1.66, and a FIP of 3.85 (81 IP).
Byrd has an ERA of 2.58, in the best nine, of his last ten starts.

So, esteemed blogger, who should get the call from Clearwater?
I'd recall Naylor to make the start for Reading, on Wednesday, on six days rest.
I'd recall Velasquez to make the start for Reading, on Thursday, on five days rest.
(The R-Phils never beat the New Britain Rock Cats, so they might as well try some different starters against them, in Naylor and Velasquez.)
Mike Stutes would be pushed back to Friday, facing 1st place Connecticut, on seven days' rest.
Vance Worley, pitching on five days' rest, would split the Saturday doubleheader, with Yohan Flande.
Alex Concepcion would return to the Reading bullpen.
Mike Cisco (6.41 ERA/519 FIP in five AA starts) would return to Clearwater, after making the start for Reading on Tuesday.

Clay Condrey and Antonio Bastardo are scheduled for rehab appearances on Monday, with the GCL Phillies (Rookie). They are getting closer. With no setbacks, and two (or three) more rehab appearances (in AA/AAA?), we might see them with the parent club next week.

J.C. Romero might long toss, at some point in the near future. Starting to look like Eyre and Bastardo will be the (only) lefties in the postseason bullpen.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost to the Syracuse SkyChiefs on Sunday, 3-1. A bunch of non-prospects, playing out the string, and hoping to become Phillies (MLB) on Tuesday.
I find the SkyChiefs' logo to be aesthetically displeasing.

The Reading Phillies lost both games of a doubleheader on Sunday, 1-0 and 5-2, to the Bowie Baysox. Two very disappointing seven-inning losses for the R-Phils.
In the completion of Saturday's suspended game, Chance Chapman (3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB/4 K) and Scott Mathieson (2 IP, 4 K) shut down Bowie. But Reading was held to five singles, and the inside-the-park homer allowed by Brett Myers was the game's only run.
The R-Phils were also held to only five hits (all singles) in the second game. Two games, fourteen innings, zero extra-base hits for Reading.
Starter Vance Worley was ineffective, pitching four and two-thirds innings, and allowing four runs (four hits, five walks/four whiffs). His record dropped to 7-11, with a 5.22 ERA. Worley is now 1-5, with a 7.44 ERA, after the All-Star break. In his last ten games, Worley is 2-6, with an 8.15 ERA. Perhaps Worley needs to be shut down also, as he is nearing 150 IP, after pitching 69 in 2008.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Daytona Cubs on Sunday, 4-2. Edgar Garcia got the victory, surrendering only a single run, in six and one-third innings (four hits, one walk/four whiffs). Tyson Brummett pitched one and two-thirds scoreless innings, reducing his ERA with Clearwater to only 9.00.

Jamie's Only Happy When it Rains

2009-08-29T01:53:00.011-04:00

Pedro Martinez had shown flashes of brilliance, in his four starts as a Phillie. He had also displayed maddening inconsistency, as evidenced by his 5.14 ERA. His Friday night start against the Braves was a crucial one, as he continues to compete for a postseason roster spot. Martinez held the Braves scoreless through the first two innings, and the Phillies took a 1-0 lead, on a home run by Ryan Howard. On 70's night at Citizens Bank Park, Martinez was turning back the clock.

Then the predicted rains came. After a sixty-three minute rain delay, the game was, inexplicably, resumed, despite the fact that the rains continued to pour down. A second, forty-five minute rain delay, followed. Play continued, as the Phillies took the field, in the top of the third inning. Wait...is that Jamie Moyer's music?

The deposed fifth starter was making only his second relief appearance, and his first since August 18th. Moyer hasn't had many opportunities, since he was removed from the rotation after his August 9th start. He threw six scoreless innings in the first relief outing, and pitched almost as well on Friday night. With his slow-moving pitches keeping the Braves' off balance, and some assistance from a generous home plate umpire (who wanted to get home in plenty of time to watch Metalocalypse ), Moyer permitted only a single run, in four and one-third innings. Moyer allowed four hits, walked no one, and struck out five (!). Infrequent appearances, in rain-delayed ballgames, have been proven to be an excellent fit for the venerable hurler. Perhaps a return to the Rain City for 2010 would be another excellent fit for the veteran.

Thanks to Moyer's effort, and a two-run homer by Ryan Howard (not to be confused with his solo homer, two innings earlier), the Phillies had a 4-2 lead, entering the top of the ninth. It was Brad Lidge time! Fortunately, with the opportunity to procure his tenth blown save of the 2009 season, Lidge's outing was more reminiscent of the best moments of his perfect 2008 season. The Phillies' closer retired all three batters he faced, throwing eight of twelve pitches for strikes.

The Phils' victory was a crucial one, as it erased the possibility of a series sweep by the Braves. With an eight-game lead over Atlanta (and Florida), the Phillies are in excellent shape in the quest for their third consecutive division championship. The Saturday Night Special isn't the only thing we haven't seen in Philadelphia, since the 1970s.

Bunts and Balks (8/28)

2009-08-29T00:50:00.004-04:00

Brett Myers is expected to make a rehab appearance for Reading (AA) on Saturday. Antonio Bastardo has a rehab appearance planned for Monday, with the GCL Phillies (Rookie). Clay Condrey threw a simulated game on Thursday, and may pitch in a non-simulated game next week. J.C. Romero long-tossed on Thursday, and the next step in his rehab is unknown.
Perhaps Charlie Manuel will actually utilize some of these relief options, when they return to the active roster. Current relief options Chad Durbin and Scott Eyre have been used so infrequently that it is possible that they are struggling with injury concerns of their own.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) and Reading Phillies (AA) both had their Friday night games postponed, due to rain. Each time will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Fortunately, neither team burned a starting pitcher, in a rain-shortened contest.
Joe Savery doesn't handle such things well.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) won the first game of their Friday night doubleheader, beating the Daytona Cubs, 3-2. Threshers' starter Jon Velazquez pitched well, permitting only two runs (one earned), in seven innings (two walks/five whiffs). Carlos Monasterios followed with two scoreless frames (two hits, one walk/three whiffs), and picked up the victory, when the Threshers broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning.

The Clearwater Threshers were no-hit in the second game, losing 3-0. Perhaps the Threshers would have gotten a hit, if the doubleheader finale wasn't shortened to seven innings. It was the first no-hitter for the Daytona Cubs, in thirteen days. The Threshers did have three walks in the game, so there's that.
Clearwater used three relievers to pitch the game: Walter Tejeda (three innings, two unearned runs), Chris Kissock (two innings, one run), and Michael Schwimer (one scoreless inning). The bullpen game worked out pretty well for the Threshers. Well, except for the no hits.

One Bad Pitch

2009-08-28T10:32:00.004-04:00

J.A. Happ was on his way to his eleventh win, Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The rookie southpaw had a 2-1 lead, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, and the Phils were on their way to winning two of three from the Pirates. Happ delivered a 1-1 pitch to Pittsburgh's Garrett Jones, attempting to throw a fastball away. Happ's offering was near the center of the plate, Jones drove it over the center field fence, and the Pirates went on to win, 3-2. Happ's one-hundred and fourteen pitch masterpiece resulted in the rookie's third loss of the season.

Cole Hamels was Cole Hamels on Wednesday night, in Pittsburgh. Hurling eight scoreless innings, throwing mid-90s velocity on the fastball, firing one-hundred and twenty-three masterful pitches, this was the Hamels we've been waiting to see. It's been almost a month, since Hamels last posted these kinds of results, in a victory over Arizona (July 28th). Chase Utley had provided all of the offense necessary, with a solo home run in the first inning. Ryan Madson, with closer Brad Lidge having the night off (after pitching four consecutive days), came on to close out the 1-0 Phillies' win. After striking out the Pirates' leadoff batter in the ninth, Madson got two strikes on the second batter, Brandon Moss. The Phils' reliever threw a changeup that caught too much of the plate, and Moss hit a game-tying homer. Fortunately, Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer in the top of the tenth, and Madson held Pittsburgh scoreless in the bottom of the frame. It would prove to be the only win of the series for the Phillies.

What did the glaring errors made by Madson and Happ have in common? Well, the fact that they never should have happened because they never should have been in position for them to happen. Each respective hurler's bad pitch, certainly, never should have been so glaring. On Wednesday night, the Phillies' offense was 1 for 9, with runners in scoring position. They scored only one run, on a solo home run, in the first nine innings. Madson should have been provided with a greater margin for error. Madson performed well, retiring six of the seven batters he faced. But all of the attention is focused on Madson's one bad pitch.

On Thursday night, the Phillies left another eight men on base, courtesy of an 0 for 5 performance with runners in scoring position. Two starts ago, Pittsburgh northpaw Charlie Morton allowed ten runs to the Cubs, while acquiring only three outs. Yet he survived six innings against the Phillies, permitting only a pair of runs. The Phils were then held scoreless for the final three frames, by journeyman Denny Bautista and erratic closer Matt Capps. Considering that the Phillies' bullpen was well-rested, perhaps Happ should not have even been in the game for one-hundred and fourteen pitches. After throwing so many pitches, even the physically-tough Happ must have been fatigued, at that point. The Phillies' hitters (and Manager) should have done better to support Happ.

The Phillies still lead the division by seven games. They still have a good shot at the best record in the National League. Their bats are too proficient to continue slumping with runners in scoring position, and their propensity for hitting homers without runners in scoring position may be enough to provide sufficient scoring. However, losing two of three to Pittsburgh is rather frustrating. With the bullpen getting rusty from being underworked, the starting pitchers (likely) getting fatigued from overwork, and some of the position players showing signs of needing some rest (Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz), Charlie Manuel needs to start making some adjustments. The Phillies are the best team in their division, but they need their players to have something left for the postseason. Manuel needs to reduce the physical drain on his charges, as well as the mental drain caused by so many close games, and difficult defeats. The Phillies need to stop putting themselves in the position where a single poorly-located pitch can cost them a victory. They are much too talented to be losing two of three to the Pittsburghs of MLB.

Bunts and Balks (8/27)

2009-08-28T09:15:00.004-04:00

Brett Myers was overpowering, in his two-inning rehab stint on Wednesday night. On one hand, Myers was facing AA hitters. On the other hand, Myers pitched two scoreless innings, threw seventeen of twenty-four pitches for strikes, utilized a 92 MPH fastball to whiff five (of seven) batters, and will be appearing in both the R-Phils' and P-Phils' Championship Parades.
Myers needs to pitch on consecutive days this weekend, and then he should be ready to join the P-Phils' bullpen on Tuesday, Roster Expansion Day!

GM Ruben Amaro indicated that the Phillies wouldn't be make any more acquisitions, prior to Sept. 1st. The cagey Amaro is, definitely, going to pick up a bench bat.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) pounded the Rochester Red Wings on Thursday, 11-2. With the game tied 2-2, heading into the eighth inning, the FeHogs exploded for a three-run eighth, and a six-run ninth. Starter Kyle Kendrick pitched seven and two-thirds innings, permitting only two runs (seven hits, zero walks/one whiff).

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost an epic game to the rival Erie Seawolves, 9-6, in thirteen innings. Four hours and twenty-nine minutes, in front of 6915 rabid fans, against the team chasing them for the final playoff spot. The R-Phils trailed 6-2, after three innings, but scored single runs in the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth innings. Neil Sellers had four hits, including a homer and a double. Kevin Nelson had (another!) home run, and four RBI.
Starter Mike Stutes surrendered six runs, in only five innings (seven hits, two walks/four whiffs). The R-Phils' bullpen (Alex Concepcion, Pat Overholt, Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona) combined for seven scoreless innings, until Escalona was touched for three runs (two earned) in his third inning of work.
The R-Phils lead Erie by a game and a half. Bowie is three games behind Reading, with a four-game series between the two scheduled this weekend. Vance Worley, Yohan Flande, Kyle Drabek, and Mike Cisco are lined up to make the starts, and Brett Myers may be available out of the bullpen.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Brevard County Manatees on Thursday, 7-2. Those Sea Cows are too tough. Clearwater had five hits...and five errors. Starter Darren Byrd permitted five runs (four hits, six walks/two walks), in five innings. The Threshers, like the IronPigs, are pretty much playing out the string. All of our minor league focus should be on Reading right now.

Loss Not (All) Lidge's Fault

2009-08-26T08:53:00.003-04:00

It is the responsibility of Manager Charlie Manuel to put his team, and his individual players, in position to succeed. In Tuesday night's walk-off loss in Pittsburgh, Manuel failed to do either. Pitching for the fourth consecutive game, closer Brad Lidge failed to record an out, as the Pirates rallied for a 6-4 win. Given the impressive performance by the Phillies to even create a save opportunity, and the (last) place the Pirates reside in the standings, this loss was a particularly frustrating one.

The fatigued closer did not have his good stuff, and failed to adjust. But he never should have been put in that position, with other options (Ryan Madson, Scott Eyre) available, to pick up/combine to pick up the final three outs. Perhaps the real mistake was made Sunday, when Lidge pitched in a non-save situation? Either way, the Phillies lost a game they should have been able to win. Lidge, his confidence buoyed by three consecutive strong outings, saw his ERA rise back over seven (7.33), and he added a ninth blown save, and a sixth loss, to his season's record. Lidge's strong weekend is all-but-forgotten, as the cries for his removal from the closer's role continue.

Almost forgotten amidst the fury sparked by the walk-off loss were some impressive individual performances. Jimmy Rollins lead off the game with a home run, on the first pitch he faced. On the second pitch he faced, Rollins hit another homer. Starter Joe Blanton did not have his good stuff, but managed to scrap through six innings, allowing only three runs. All three runs came via the home run. Blanton was a bit wild, throwing only sixty-nine of his one-hundred thirteen (!) pitches for strikes. More accurate home plate umping could have saved Blanton a run, or two, or at least helped him keep his pitch count down. Tyler Walker followed Blanton with two scoreless innings (two walks/two whiffs), before Lidge's blown save.

The Phillies looked to be en route to another, come-from-behind victory, when they turned a 3-2 deficit, into a 4-3 lead, in the top of the ninth. The key hits were a pinch-hit double by Ben Francisco, and a Shane Victorino triple. Pirates' closer Matt Capps was charged with his third blown save. Capps wound up with his third win, when Manuel's questionable move helped lead to a Phils' loss. Hopefully, Cole Hamels will get better results in Wednesday night's rematch, and we won't see Lidge for a fifth consecutive day.

Bunts and Balks (8/25)

2009-08-26T08:10:00.004-04:00

Brett Myers is expected to make a rehab appearance on Wednesday, in Reading (AA). Barring any unforeseen, unfortunate events, Myers will pitch at least an inning. He will probably be tested in at least one multiple-inning outing, and used on consecutive days, before being recalled to the parent club in September.

The minor league players that the Phillies will be sending to the Arizona Fall League have been announced. Joining the Scottsdale Scorpions, are: RHP Mike Cisco, RHP Scott Mathieson, RHP Michael Schwimer, LHP Mike Zagurski, C Tuffy Gosewisch, SS Troy Hanzawa, OF DomOnic Brown, and OF Steve Susdorf. A little surprised to see Gosewisch, maybe the Phils are trying to make up for the time he missed when he was DL'd? Zagurski almost missed time this season, and may be pitching for his 40-Man roster spot. Was a little surprised not to see Joe Bisenius on this list.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Pawtucket Red Sox on Tuesday, 8-5, in twelve innings. Starter Rodrigo Lopez managed to allow ten hits, including four homers, to the weak-hitting Red Sox, in only six innings. Lopez permitted five runs, but the FeHogs' bullpen followed with six scoreless frames.

The Reading Phillies (AA) scored five runs in the eighth inning, to key a 8-5 victory over the Erie Seawolves on Tuesday. The come-from-behind victory increased the R-Phils lead over the Seawolves, for the final playoff spot, to one and a half games. Kevin Nelson had (another!) home run, DomOnic Brown had a pair of hits, and Neil Sellers had three hits. Freddy Galvis was 1 for 4, with a throwing error.
Starter Kyle Drabek was not effective, in his six-inning outing. Drabek surrendered ten hits, and five runs (two walks/seven whiffs). The relievers were effective, as Scott Mathieson (two innings), Sergio Escalona (two-thirds of an inning), and B.J. Rosenberg (last out), held Erie scoreless.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) split a doubleheader with the Brevard County Manatees, on Tuesday night. The Sea Cows won the opener, 2-1, as the Threshers made four errors. Starter Edgar Garcia took the loss, allowing both runs (one earned), in five and one-third innings (four hits, two walks/four whiffs). Garcia threw two wild pitched, and hit one batter.
The Threshers prevailed in the second game, 6-4. Cody Overbeck hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Julian Sampson had a rough start, lasting only three and one-third innings (three runs on seven hits, one walk/three whiffs/two HR allowed). Michael Schwimer pitched two scoreless innings (zero hits, one walk/four whiffs), to notch his twentieth save.

Bunts and Balks (8/24)

2009-08-25T01:16:00.002-04:00

The uniform worn by Eric Bruntlett on Sunday, during his three-hit game, is on the way to Cooperstown. Bruntlett also was wearing the uniform when he set up his game-ending, unassisted triple play, with two defensive miscues. It joins his Elmer Fudd hat from the 2008 postseason, in the rapidly growing Gnome Wing of the Hall.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) outfielder Michael Taylor was placed on the DL, retroactive to 8/22, with a strained right oblique. The FeHogs are out of the playoff race, so the loss of Taylor only hurts them from an attendance standpoint. But the untimely injury may keep Taylor from being promoted to the parent club, during September's roster expansion.

The IronPigs activated LHP Brian Mazone from the DL, and he made the start on Monday night. The FeHogs stashed Mazone on the DL with turf toe, until Saturday's doubleheader necessitated a spot start. Mazone hasn't been great this season, but this is preferable to starting reliever Jake Woods, in another "bullpen game."

The IronPigs fell to the pitiful Pawtucket Red Sox on Monday, 3-2, on a run in the bottom of the ninth. Mazone pitched five scoreless innings, surrendering only three singles (two walks/eight whiffs). Former Phillies' superstar Paul Byrd started for the Red Sox, allowing only one run, over seven innings.
Carlos Leon had two sacrifices for the IronPigs, batting in the eighth spot, ahead of .100-hitting Tuffy Gosewisch. There are so many problems with that preceding sentence.
Joe Bisenius continued to pitch himself off the 40-Man roster, allowing a run, on a homer and two walks (two whiffs), in one and one-third innings. Bisenius' ERA in AAA decreased to a mere 20.25.

The Reading Phillies (AA) promoted IF Freddy Galvis from the Clearwater Threshers (A). With Carlos Leon in AAA, and Brad Harman on the DL, the R-Phils needed a second middle infielder. They would have been better off adjusting the roster "Gradoville style", and activating batting instructor Kevin Jordan, a former Phillie, as a second baseman. Galvis is a superb infielder, but does not hit.

The Reading Phillies lost to the New Britain Rock Cats (again) on Monday, 6-3. I am so sick of the Stone Felines. The R-Phils outhit New Britain, 14-8, but had thirteen singles, and were only 2 for 10 w/RISP, leaving ten on base. Reading also made a pair of errors.
Starter Yohan Flande did not fare well, permitting four runs, in four innings (seven hits, four walks/three whiffs). Flande was fortunate that reliever Alex Concepcion stranded both baserunners he inherited.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) fell to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 4-2. Threshers' starter Tyler Cloyd was victimized by a two-out grand slam, in the third inning. Cloyd pitched six innings, without permitting any additional runs (six hits, two walks/three whiffs). Michael Schwimer pitched a scoreless frame. Tyson Brummett also pitched a scoreless inning, reducing his ERA in A ball to only 33.75. It was unclear at press time whether Clay Condrey and/or J.C. Romero were in attendance at the final Feeding Frenzy.

The Lakewood BlueClaws were swept in a doubleheader Monday night, by the Lake County Captains. But the BlueClaws drew over 6,047 fans, giving them over 4 million in their history. It them a mere 608 games to eclipse reach the milestone. Lakewood leads the league in attendance this season.

The Mets are no match for Cliff Lee, either.

2009-08-24T18:43:00.005-04:00

Cliff Lee is a robot. Either that, or he was cloned using DNA retrieved from Steve Carlton in 1976. Perhaps, both. Lee improved to 5-0 as a member of the Phillies, with a remarkable ERA of only .68, in Monday afternoon's easy 6-2 victory over the Mets. The Phils improved their record to 72-50, seven games better than second place Atlanta, and only one-half of a game behind the league-leading Dodgers.

Lee pitched seven innings, allowing only two unearned runs, on six hits and zero walks. Lee struck out five, and threw eighty-three, of his one-hundred and thirteen, pitches for strikes. The confident southpaw worked quickly, demonstrated precise command, and had little difficulty in silencing the New York bats. In the offseason, when waiting for Spring Training to begin, this domination of the rival Mets will be one of the regular season games that needs to be enjoyed again.

Lee didn't need a lot of support from his teammates on Monday, which was good, as he didn't get a lot. Chase Utley had a double-error, leading to both New York runs. An Utley double-error is about as rare as a three-hit game by Eric Bruntlett. Bruntlett got his second consecutive start, giving Jimmy Rollins the day off, and was 1 for 4. Paul Bako was hitless, as is his way.

Almost all of the Phils' offense was provided by the ferociously hot bat of Ryan Howard. Howard crushed a ball over the left field fence in the first inning, driving in the first three Philly runs. In the third inning, he mixed things up by blasting a homer to right, for two additional runs. Raul Ibanez hit a run-scoring double in the ninth, giving the Phils an insurance run. Chan Ho Park and Brad Lidge both retired all three batters they faced, completing Lee's twelfth win of the season. Lidge's appearance, in a non-save situation, was his third strong one, in as many days.

The Phillies continue their road trip on Tuesday, with the cellar-dwelling Pirates waiting in the wings. With Joe Blanton on the hill Tuesday, followed by Cole Hamels, and J.A. Happ, a three-game Phillies' sweep is a distinct possibility. With the slumping Dodgers facing the streaking Rockies, the Phillies could be leading the National League, by the time their weekend series against Atlanta begins on Friday.

Rehab Success

2009-08-24T18:12:00.005-04:00

There was plenty of rehab sucess for the Phillies on Monday, as four late-season relief possibilities threw, including two in non-simulated games.

Brett Myers threw an inning for the Lakewood BlueClaws (A-), in their Monday game against the Lake County Captains. Myers threw fourteen pitches, seven for strikes. His fastball hit 93 MPH. He faced four batters: ground out to second, strike out, walk, fly out to center.

Antonio Bastardo threw one and one-third innings for the GCL Phillies (Rookie), in their Monday game against the GCL Pirates.
In the first inning: ground out to second, foul pop to first, ground out to second.
In the second inning: fly out to right, HBP, single to center
Bastardo was pulled after the single, and reliever Juan Sosa did not allow either baserunner to score.

Clay Condrey threw thirty-five pitches in a bullpen session, Monday morning in Clearwater. He is expected to throw again Thursday.

J.C. Romero threw thirty-five pitches in a bullpen session, Monday morning in Clearwater. His next appearance has yet to be determined.

Also undetermined was whether Condrey or Romero would return to Bright House Field in Clearwater, for the final Feeding Frenzy Night. Condrey will probably be there, if he is in the mood for Mongolian barbeque tonight.

The Mets are No Match for Eric Bruntlett

2009-08-24T12:47:00.007-04:00

Jayson Werth strode to the plate, with the opportunity to do some serious damage. In the first half-frame of Sunday's game against the Mets, the Phillies' first two batters had reached base. Jimmy Rollins had left off the game with a double, on the eighth pitch from Mets' starter Oliver Perez. Shane Victorino had followed with another eight pitch at bat, working the erratic Mets' hurler for a walk. In recent games, the Phillies had often struggled to convert these early opportunities into runs. Werth fouled off six consecutive Perez offerings, in another epic at bat. On the twelfth pitch to Werth, Perez tried a four-seam fastball. Werth drove the 90 MPH pitch into the stands in left, a tremendous blast that gave the Phils an early 3-0 advantage.

Carlos Ruiz was just hoping to turn the lineup over. Pedro Feliz had worked a two-out walk, and Eric Bruntlett, starting at second base to give Chase Utley the day off, followed with a seeing-eye single. Ruiz was the eighth Phillies' batter to face Oliver Perez in the first inning. Perez was laboring, and Ruiz would have been happy to take a walk. Perez' second pitch, an 89 MPH four-seam fastball, got a little too much of the plate. Ruiz deposited the pitch over the fence in left. The Phillies had two homers, in the span of six batters, at homer-unfriendly Citi Field. The embattled Perez threw three balls to the opposing pitcher, Pedro Martinez. The third ball, his forty-seventh pitch, was his last, as Mets' Manager Jerry Manuel had seen enough. Martinez went down on strikes, but the Phillies had taken a 6-0 lead, before the Mets could even bat.

Brad Lidge was in trouble. It certainly wasn't the first time he had encountered difficulties converting a save opportunity. However, this time, Lidge had been the unlucky victim of a series of unfortunate, defense-deficient, events. The Phillies' closer had entered the ninth inning with a 9-6 lead, and had induced routine ground balls to the first three batters. Ryan Howard turned the first grounder into a three-base error, and Eric Bruntlett had converted the second grounder into a run-scoring, one-base error. The third grounder seemed destined to be a 4-6 fielder's choice, but Bruntlett had muffed it into a single. With the lead down to 9-7, the tying run on first base, and still no outs, Lidge wondered what more he could have done. Phillies' fans hoped Eric Bruntlett would be replaced by Chase Utley's Golden Glove. With the runners off on the pitch, Lidge delivered a slider to the Mets' Jeff Francoeur. The Mets' outfielder hit a hard line drive up the middle...for a GAME-ENDING UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY BY ERIC BRUNTLETT!!

Bruntlett's game-ending play, only the fifteenth triplet killing in MLB history, and only the second to end a ballgame, might not have been the strangest of the game's unlikely events. It wasn't even the most unlikely event involving Eric Bruntlett. The weak-hitting (on his best days) utility player not only had THREE HITS IN THE SAME GAME, but he came within a reversed call of a four-hit game. The three hits elevated Bruntlett's season average to .154, and the unassisted triple play placed the scraggly infielder in the same exalted corner of Phillies' history as the inimitable Mickey Morandini.

Phils' starter Pedro Martinez, in his third start with the team, picked up the 216th regular season win of his memorable career. But the future HOFer didn't do anything to merit installment in an exalted corner of Phillies' history. He looked very good at times, but the overall stats were rather, well, Moyeresque. Six innings, seven hits, four runs- this is the type of unimpressive line that Moyer produced on a regular basis. The glimpses of the talented Martinez were overshadowed by the replacement level results. Martinez needs to do better. Fortunately, the offense provided enough for Martinez to win on Sunday.

The Phillies will send Cliff Lee to the mound on Monday afternoon, as they try to win three of four from the Mets. Given that Lee has been pitching like Pedro Martinez, circa 2005, and that Eric Bruntlett's hot bat and glove will be in the lineup again, another Phils' win seems likely.

Bunts and Balks (8/23)

2009-08-23T18:32:00.004-04:00

Brett Myers' rehab appearance, scheduled for Sunday in Lakewood (A-), was postponed due to rain. The Blue Claws had their game rescheduled as a Monday doubleheader, starting at 5:05pm. Myers is expected to pitch the first inning, of the first game, as he has dinner reservations that night.
If Lakewood draws 6,047 fans, they will be the fastest South Atlantic League team to reach 4 million in attendance. In the unlikely event that a Brett Myers appearance, and TWO baseball games isn't enough, the PHILLIE PHANATIC will also be there! Drawing 6,047 fans should not be a problem.
There doesn't appear to be any internet broadcast available, but Myers' appearance, and the rest of the doubleheader against the Lake County Captains, will be live-blogged here.

Clay Condrey and J.C. Romero are expected to throw bullpen sessions in Clearwater on Monday. Reinforcements are on the way, though not exactly quickly...

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) continued to feast upon the entrails of the woeful Pawtucket Red Sox, winning 4-2, on Sunday afternoon. Starter Joe Savery got his third victory, in four decisions at AAA. But, just as we shouldn't get overly excited about Gustavo Chacin's eight scoreless innings on Saturday, we need to temper our excitement about Savery's performance, as well. Pawtucket has ridden a .229 team batting average, to a 53-73 record. The highest batting average in their starting lineup was .252. Four players in the starting lineup were batting under .211.
Savery survived five and two-thirds innings, permitting two runs, on five hits and three walks (three whiffs). He left the game in the sixth inning, after loading the bases, but reliever Gary Majewski stranded all three runners.
Carlos Leon, promoted to AAA, when Miguel Cairo was promoted to the parent club, made his first start for Lehigh Valley. The second-sacker went 3 for 3, including a home run. Leon was referred to as "minor league filler" on this blog, prior to the game, and appears to have been spurred on by the comment.

The Reading Phillies (AA) fell to the New Britain Rock Cats on Sunday afternoon, as per usual, 5-4. The Stone Felines have won 10 of 11 from the R-Phils, and seem devoted to keeping Reading out of the playoffs. The R-Phils play New Britain again on Monday night, and have another three-game series against them in September.
R-Phils' starter Vance Worley pitched six innings, surrendering three runs, on six hits and a walk (two whiffs).
R-Phils' reliever B.J. Rosenberg GAVE UP ACTUAL RUNS, for the first time since May 31st. Rosenberg actually gave up two runs in one inning, on three hits (zero walks/zero whiffs).
Steve Susdorf went 3 for 4 for Reading, raising his average to .245.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) had Sunday off, and will continue their series against the Dunedin Blue Jays on Monday. Tyler Cloyd will take the ball for Clearwater, on the last scheduled Feeding Frenzy of the Year. Clay Condrey and J.C. Romero picked the right place to make their respective rehab appearances, as the "best restaurants around the Clearwater area", including Boston Market, Westshore Pizza, and Costco, will be at Bright House Field. If you mock the inclusion of Costco, in such esteemed culinary company, you've obviously never enjoyed a Costco hot dog, while watching the Phillies (or one of their affiliates). Access to the Costco snack bar alone (and their glorious churros!), is more than enough to justify paying their annual membership fee.

Bunts and Balks (8/22)

2009-08-23T12:40:00.005-04:00

The Phillies placed IF/OF Greg Dobbs on the 15-Day DL, with a strained calf. IF/OF Miguel Cairo was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA). Antonio Bastardo was moved from the 15-Day DL, to the 60-Day DL, opening a spot on the 40-Man roster for Cairo.
Dobbs was the fourth outfielder in June (1.008 OPS in 40 PA) and July (.739 OPS in 51 PA), but has been relegated to the fifth outfielder role, since the acquisition of Ben Francisco. Dobbs has only had 15 PA in August, and has struggled in the limited role, posting a .564 OPS. (Dobbs has posted an OPS of .891 in his starts, but his mediocre defensive abilities, and the capable, durable players ahead of him, keep him from becoming a regular.)
Miguel Cairo? Yikes. He posted a .235 OPS with the Phillies (-38 OPS+!) in 17 PA, before being, mercifully, DFA'd in mid-May. He performed adequately at AAA (.725 OPS/.330 wOBA), and might be a better option than Eric Bruntlett, to cover days off for Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. There was a good chance Cairo would have been recalled in September, when rosters increase. Bako, Bruntlett, and Cairo taking up three active roster spots, before the September expansion, is somewhat frightening.
Bastardo's move to the 60-Day DL was merely procedural, as he has already been disabled for more than sixty days. Bastardo is making a minor league rehab appearance on Monday, so he may be seen with the parent club in September.

Brett Myers will make his second minor league rehab appearance on Sunday night (5:05pm) for Lakewood (A-). Hopefully, Myers won't play catch with his 4-year-old before the game. The parent club needs him back.

IF Carlos Leon was promoted to Lehigh Valley (AAA), to take the spot vacated by Miguel Cairo.
The 29-year-old Leon posted a .295 wOBA in Reading (AA), and appears to be more minor league filler, than prospect, at this point.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs scored three runs in the top of the eleventh inning, winning a duel with the Pawtucket Red Sox on Saturday, 3-0.
Starter Gustavo Chacin was brilliant, throwing eight scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and two walks (two whiffs). Before you get too excited, however, take a look at the high putridity level of Pawtucket's lineup. Chacin could help an MLB team, as a back-of-the-rotation starter. But his 4.44 FIP in AAA this season probably won't put him in the mix for the Phillies' 2010 rotation.

The Reading Phillies (AA) placed INF Brad Harman on the DL, with a left groin strain. The organization is getting a bit low on middle infielders...

The Reading Phillies lost to the New Britain Rock Cats on Saturday, 3-2. It was the eighth loss for the R-Phils, in nine games, against the Stone Felines. Starter Mike Stutes had the only R-Phil win against New Britain, but wasn't able to duplicate that effort on Saturday. Stutes permitted three runs, in six and one-third innings (eight hits, two walks/four whiffs). Catcher Kevin Nelson was 4 for 4 on the night, including a solo homer in the ninth inning. Nelson has shown some actual offensive prowess, since his recent demotion from AAA. He might need to swap places again, with current AAA backstop Tuffy Gosewisch.

The Reading Phillies activated RHP Tyson Brummett from the DL, and assigned him to Clearwater (A). Brummett has pitched poorly at two levels (AA and AAA) in 2009.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) were thrashed by the Dunedin Blue Jays on Saturday, 17-2. The score was 1-0, Dunedin, after five innings. Then, things took a turn for the worse for the Threshers. A nine-run Dunedin sixth put the game away, and the Blue Jays tacked on another five in the ninth.
Clearwater starter Jon Velazquez deserved better, as reliever Carlos Monasterios permitted three inherited runners to score. Velazquez' final line: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K(!)
Tyson Brummett made his first appearance for the Threshers, called in to pitch the final inning of a 12-2 game. Brummett faced six batters, surrendering three hits and two walks. (He did record a strikeout.) Two of the runners Brummett was responsible for scored after he left the game. Brummett's one out/five run appearance gave him an ERA of 135.00.
Brummett has now pitched poorly at three levels in 2009. Maybe he'd have better results in Lakewood?

Bunts and Balks (8/21)

2009-08-22T00:14:00.006-04:00

Brett Myers' first (non-simulated) rehab appearance was a successful one, as he threw a scoreless inning for Clearwater (A). Myers allowed two singles, but struck out the side, throwing in the low 90s. Barring any unforeseen occurrences, Myers is expected to make four (or five) more minor league appearances. He should be recalled in early September, when rosters expand, and is eligible to be added to the postseason roster. His final pre-recall test should be a simulated game, against MLB stalwarts Eric Bruntlett, Matt Stairs, and Paul Bako.

Billy Wagner was placed on waivers by the Mets, and was, reportedly, claimed by the Red Sox. As a team in the same league as the Mets, the Phillies could have claimed Wagner, before the Red Sox. However, GM Ruben Amaro indicated that the Phillies "don't have $3 million to pull out of a tree." (Wagner would have cost $2.7 million in salary for the remainder of 2009, plus a $1 million buyout for 2010.) Even if the Phillies did have $3.7 million in a tree, Wagner is no less of a gamble than rehabbing sunk costs Brett Myers and J.C. Romero. Wagner will probably be back at home with the llamas, before the Phillies are done with their postseason run.

There has been talk on the internets about Jamie Moyer as an offseason trade piece. Moyer will, depending on attained incentives, make between $6.5 million and $8 million.
The Phillies would, likely, have to eat the majority of that, in order to deal Moyer, who will be 47 next season. Even at $1 million, it doesn't seem like their would be a huge market for a veteran with an ERA over 5.5. The Phillies will, probably, allow Moyer to compete for the fifth spot in the 2010 rotation, and DFA him during Spring Training. (Probably after only a couple of appearances, so that there is plenty of time for him to compete for a roster spot on another team.) Washington or Seattle might take him, for the MLB minimum.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Scranton/WB Yankees on Friday night, 9-1. Kyle Kendrick pitched six innings, allowing a run, on three hits (two walks/one strikeout). Kendrick has had some good results in AAA, over the past two months. He has a 2.80 ERA, with a 1.02 WHIP. But he has only 20 strikeouts, and 12 walks, in 60 innings. He'll probably be in the parent club's bullpen in September, by virtue of his experience/spot on the 40-Man roster, but doesn't seem to fit in the team's long-term MLB plans.

The Reading Phillies (AA) fell to the New Britain Rock Cats on Friday, 6-3. Mike Cisco continued to not baffle AA hitters, falling to 0-3, with a 6.33 ERA at the level. Cisco surrendered six runs on six hits (three walks/one whiff), in five innings. Catcher Kevin Nelson, recently sent down from AAA, had his third homer, in his last five games. DomOnic Brown had a pair of hits, improving his average to .320. Quintin Berry stole two more bases, increasing his league-leading total to 47. Could he be pinch-running for the parent club in September?

The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth, to beat the Dunedin Blue Jays, 5-4. The hero? Gus Milner, with a two-out, walkoff single. Starter Darren Byrd pitched five scoreless innings, working around four hits and three walks, and striking out five batters. Byrd bounced back nicely, from consecutive poor outings.

A Day in the Life of Brett Myers

2009-08-16T21:21:00.006-04:00

Brett Myers walked back to his car, after spending the morning speaking to at-risk youth. There weren't many positives to his extended stint on the disabled list, but the ability to serve the community on a daily basis was certainly one of them. Myers had so much to be thankful for, and was glad to have the opportunity to give something back.
As Myers reached his car, he caught a glimpse of a masked assailant behind him. Myers deftly dodged, as the assailant smashed his fist into the side of the vehicle. The future Phillies reliever had already driven away, by the time his attacker was ready to consider throwing a second punch. Myers knew he could have dispatched the attacker quite easily, but wasn't about to risk even the smallest of injuries. He knew better than that. He had a team that needed him. He had an important rehab start tomorrow night. As Myers navigated the streets of Ft. Lauderdale, he thought to himself, "that masked dude punched just like Billy Wagner."

Myers liked the arcade, and he enjoyed the playground, but giant, singing, robotic animals? Not so much. Of course, the robots were his son Colt's very favorite part. So Myers, dutifully, took his 4-year-old to Chuck E. Cheese this, and every, Friday afternoon.
Myers, nursing a Mr. Pibb, and his son sat in the front row, watching the melodic gyrations of a family of beavers. At least until the largest of the beavers approached, glaring menacingly. Myers jumped to his feet, ordered his son to go to the car, and stood between the ill-intentioned robot, and the other children. The beaver was quickly corralled by a combination of robotic animals, and well-trained Chuck E. Cheese associates. Myers left the confines of the family-fun restaurant, without further incident. At least until he reached the parking lot.
Myers didn't hear his son exclaim, "Dad! Catch!", until the baseball had bounced off the left side of his face. His rubbed his left eye, thinking to himself, "Sometimes I wish he didn't throw harder than Moyer."
Myers also didn't see the unfortunate conclusion to the non-robotic beaver's employment with Chuck E. Cheese's, Pizza Time Theater Inc. As Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, wearing all but the head of a beaver costume, was forcefully escorted from the premises by the authorities, he muttered to himself, "This still worked out better than Oliver Perez."

Myers was about to call it a night. He had enjoyed a quiet dinner, and two (or three?) beers, with his wife, his nanny, and two friends. As the party rose to leave the watering hole, a burly townie yelled at Myers, "Happ's success is due to his low BABIP!" As a professional athlete, Myers had plenty of experience, in dealing with such instigators. Myers replied calmly, "His BABIP is regressing to the mean, but Happ has sustained his high level of success." Another patron yelled, threateningly, "It's his mechanics! He hides the ball! Like Randy Wolf!" Two groups of local roughnecks approached Myers' party, each from opposite sides. Flanked by his two buddies, Myers liked his chances in the inevitable altercation. But he had a responsibility to his ballclub. Myers and his party quickly withdrew, as the two opposing parties converged. With sabermetric fury evident in the eyes of one group, and anti-statistical malice filling the hearts of the other, the ensuing battle would be a ferocious one.

Myers woke up on his concrete driveway. The last thing he remembered was relaxing in the back seat of the Escalade, as his nanny drove home. His wife, Kim, exclaimed, "We opened the door, so we could wake you, and you fell right out!" The nanny handed Myers a towel, which he used to dab the blood dripping from his wounded left eye. "As long as it's just my eye, and not my arm, I'm still pitching Saturday", Myers thought to himself. "It's nothing", Myers told his wife. "I'll call Ruben tomorrow."

Reverse Split

2009-08-16T19:00:00.006-04:00

Brad Lidge got the job done Friday night. Called in to save a 3-2 Phillies win, Lidge retired the first Braves' batter, Yunel Escobar, on a hard line drive to right field. Adam LaRoche followed with a single, and pinch-runner Matt Diaz stole second base. After whiffing Ryan Church for the second out, Lidge walked Greg Norton. Nate McLouth came to the plate, with the game-tying run on second, and the game-winning run on first. McLouth drove the ball to deep left field, but the ballpark held it, and left fielder Raul Ibanez grabbed it on the warning track.

Lidge was going for his second save, in as many games, as he entered Saturday's game. Protecting a 3-2 lead, Lidge induced a Garret Anderson ground ball to second base. But Chase Utley misplayed the ball into a leadoff single. The Braves opted to sacrifice, and Matt Diaz was directed to lay down the bunt. Diaz' bunt was fielded by Lidge, who looked towards second, bobbled the ball, and threw it down the first base line. Anderson scored the tying run on the play, and Diaz ended up on third base. Instead of one out, and the tying run on second base, Lidge's miscues had the game tied, no one out, and the winning run only ninety feet away. An intentional walk, and a (likely) un-intentional intentional walk, loaded the bases. Omar Infante hit a ground ball, between second and third base. Under different circumstances, the ball would have visited shortstop Jimmy Rollins' glove, briefly, before landing in first baseman Ryan Howard's glove. Infante's ground ball bounded past the drawn-in infield, for a game-winning single.

Lidge's blown save on Saturday has reinvigorated the calls for Lidge to removed from the closer's role. If the defensively-adept Utley makes that play, the inning could have gone very differently. We could be talking about how Lidge is, finally, getting his game together, and that the only problem left to fix is Eric Bruntlett.

That wouldn't exactly be deserved, either, as Lidge should have had a blown save on Friday night. Either way, his performance this weekend has not instilled any confidence. What are the Phillies' options? Well, they can continue to go with Lidge, or they can give Ryan Madson another shot as closer. Madson did not do well, earlier this season, when he was the closer during a Lidge DL stint. But he has improved since then, and probably couldn't do worse than Lidge has done. I'd like to see Madson get another shot to close, and think he could succeed. But not necessarily now, and not at the possible expense of what remains of Lidge's increasingly-fragile confidence. The best Phillies' team, likely, includes an effective Madson, setting up for an effective Lidge. Expect the Phillies to continue to use Lidge to close games, at least for the immediate future, in hopes that he will start to get better results. I wouldn't go as far as saying that Saturday's blown save was a blessing in disguise, but the Phillies certainly need to figure out the closing situation. Blown saves can be a lot more costly, in the short series of the postseason.

Almost lost amidst Lidge's struggles was another, insidious, culprit. If the Phillies hadn't gone 1 for 12, with runners in scoring position, Saturday's game may not have even included a Lidge appearance. The Phillies had numerous chances to at least add to their one-run lead, if not turn the contest into one that even Tyler Walker could finish. Over time, more of those at bats are bound to be successful. Until then, a few less strikeouts, and a few more sacrifice flies, would be quite helpful.

Besides Lidge, and the RISP conversion issues, the Phillies have had a good weekend. Tremendous defensive play by outfielders Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth, and homers by Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, keyed Friday's victory. (Braves Manager Bobby Cox, inexplicably, removed southpaw Mike Gonzalez from the game, and allowed Ryan Howard to face northpaw Rafael Soriano. Howard's solo homer off Soriano provided the final margin.) Joe Blanton was outstanding (again) on Friday, permitting only one earned run (and one unearned run), in seven innings. His ERA is all the way down to 3.88, and Blanton is eating some serious innings (at least six and two-thirds in each of his last seven starts). Cole Hamels almost matched Blanton's results in his start on Saturday, permitting only a pair of runs (three hits, four walks/two whiffs), in six innings, despite not having his best stuff.

Another hot Phillies starting pitcher, J.A. Happ, is on the mound Sunday night. Javier Vazquez will start for the Braves, in what could be another tight game. With Lidge and Madson both having pitched in consecutive games, it's unclear who would close tonight for the Phillies. (I would bet on Madson, as he has thrown a combined fifteen pitches, in the weekend's first two games.) Hopefully, Happ and the Phillies' bats will do enough early in the game, that a save won't be necessary. But I'm confident that Madson can do the job, even if Joe Morgan has, probably, never even heard of him.

Bunts and Balks (8/16)

2009-08-16T17:41:00.007-04:00

The removal of Jamie Moyer from the rotation continues to be a hot topic around the internets. The Phillies removed the worst of their starters, in the hopes that the replacement would produce better results. There are more crucial issues right now. Will Brad Lidge get his act together? Will Matt Stairs start to get hits again? What really happened to Brett Myers on Friday night?

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) were held to only five hits, in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Bisons. Kyle Kendrick allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings (six hits, zero walks/one whiff). After spending the last couple of weeks buried in the parent club's bullpen, the game-rusty Kendrick was removed after throwing fifty-nine pitches. Tuffy Gosewisch had his first hit, since his promotion from AA, improving his average to .125.

The Reading Phillies (AA) won a remarkable pitcher's duel, walking off with a 1-0 win over the Binghampton Mets. Choosing to listen to the R-Phils internet broadcast, over the IronPigs internet broadcast, was the correct move today. DomOnic Brown sparked the rally in the ninth, blasting a double, and scoring the winning run on an error. Mike Stutes threw seven scoreless frames for the R-Phils, retiring thirteen consecutive Mets, and nineteen of twenty.
Stutes only surrendered two hits and one walk, while striking out nine. Sergio Escalona followed with two scoreless innings (one walk/one whiff), picked up his first win, and lowered his ERA to 1.82. Quintin Berry had two hits, and three stolen bases. Berry now has a league-leading forty-five thefts.
The R-Phils are locked in a tight battle with Erie and Bowie, for second place in the Southern Division, and a playoff berth.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored six runs, on eleven hits, but were outscored by the Tampa Yankees, 9-6. Matt Rizzotti was 4 for 5, with a homer, a pair of doubles, and three RBI. Rizzotti has hit .316 over his last ten games, improving his slash line to .257/.342/.468. Threshers' starter Darren Byrd survived only four and two-thirds innings, permitting four runs (eleven hits, three walks/two whiffs).

Bunts and Balks (8/15)

2009-08-16T16:03:00.003-04:00

Brett Myers missed his scheduled, one-inning, rehab start on Saturday, as a result of a left eye injury. Myers will return to pitching, as soon as his vision improves. Myers told GM Ruben Amaro that he was hit with a baseball thrown by his four-year-old son. Later, Myers amended the story, indicating that he had injured himself getting out of the back of his wife's Escalade. (On Friday night, he had gone out to dinner with his wife, two friends, and the nanny. Myers was in the back seat, when the nanny drove everyone home.)
The cloudy circumstances surrounding the unfortunate injury raise an obvious question: Does the nanny get paid extra for chauffeuring everyone around like that, or is it considered part of her regular duties?

Drew Carpenter was bombed on Saturday night, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost to the Buffalo Bisons, 7-5. The FeHogs pulled within two runs in the ninth, and had the tying run on base, but old pal Jim Ed Warden ended the LV threat. Carpenter surrendered all seven Bisons runs, in six innings (eleven hits (!), one walk/five whiffs). Carpenter's ninety-eight pitch outing increased his ERA to 3.20, and his record fell to 9-4.

The IronPigs and Reading Phillies (AA) swapped catchers, with Tuffy Gosewisch moving to AAA, and Kevin Nelson returning to AA. Not sure why this move happened. Do the Phillies want to see Gosewisch at AAA, to evaluate whether to place him on the 40-Man Roster? Is LV's starting catcher, Paul Hoover, injured in some manner? If not, won't he continue to get the bulk of the work? Do the Phils want Gosewisch to catch prospect Joe Savery, who has had considerably more success with him behind the plate? Is the move all about Nelson's total inability to hit AAA pitching? With Gosewisch returning from injury, is he better-suited for a backup role (to Hoover), than a time-splitting/starting role (with Tim Kennelly in AA)?
No answers here, yet.

On Friday night, the Reading Phillies removed top prospect Kyle Drabek from the game, with two outs in the fifth inning. I was initially excited to see this, as it appeared that the Phillies had put Drabek on a lower pitch limit. Unfortunately, Drabek was removed after throwing 100 pitches. Drabek has struggled mightily, as of late, and it appears that arm fatigue may be a factor. Drabek was charged with two runs, on five hits and two walks (seven whiffs).

The Reading Phillies won the first game of their Saturday night doubleheader, in walkoff style, beating the Binghampton Mets, 4-3. In the seven-inning game, the R-Phils scored their last three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Catcher Kevin Nelson hit a solo home run in the third inning, and pinch-hitting catcher Tim Kennelly hit a game-winning two-run single. Mike Cisco got the start for the R-Phils, and was touched for a two-run homer in the first inning. But Cisco settled down, allowing only one additional run, in his six innings (eight hits, two walks/three whiffs). Scott Mathieson pitched a scoreless top of the seventh, and picked up the win.

The R-Phils fell in the second game of the doubleheader, 4-0. Not surprising, as the R-Phils employed a "bullpen start", with recently-demoted Alex Concepcion pitching the first three innings (three hits, two runs, one walk/two whiffs). B.J. Rosenberg pitched a scoreless frame. The R-Phils were held to only three hits (one double, two singles) and one walk.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) used strong pitching to defeat the Tampa Yankees on Friday, 5-3. Edgar Garcia had his best start of the season, allowing three runs (two earned), in six innings (four hits, two walks/three whiffs). Tristan Crawford pitched out of a self-created jam, in a scoreless seventh (two hits, one walk). Michael Schwimer had little trouble in his two scoreless frames, giving up only one hit (four whiffs!), in collecting his sixteenth save.

The Threshers got more strong pitching on Saturday, but lost a pitcher's duel to the Tampa Yankees, 2-1, in eleven innings. Drew Naylor had a strong start, permitting only one run, in six innings (six hits, two walks/four whiffs). Walter Tejeda followed with two and one-third scoreless innings. Carlos Monasterios stranded a runner he inherited from Tejeda in the ninth, threw a scoreless tenth, but allowed the winning run in the eleventh. (Brett Myers was expected to make his one-inning rehab start in this game.)

Bunts and Balks (8/13)

2009-08-13T23:19:00.004-04:00

The Colorado Rockies recalled Adam Eaton from AAA. The Rockies have a three-game series against the Florida Marlins this weekend, so Eaton's considerable pitching deficiencies may continue to haunt the Phillies.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) had a 8-7 lead, after seven innings, but fell to the Louisville Bats, 12-8. Joe Bisenius' return to AAA did not go well. He allowed four runs, on six hits, in one and one-third innings of "relief." Perfomances like that could get Bisenius booted off the 40-Man Roster, in a timely manner.
Joe Savery made his third start in AAA, and managed to pitch four scoreless innings, escaping numerous jams. But he couldn't escape jams in the fifth and sixth innings, and his 2.45 ERA was horribly scarred. Savery finished with a 3.78 ERA, after his five and two-thirds innings of work. Savery gave up six hits and three walks (five whiffs), leading to six runs (four earned).

The Reading Phillies (AA) also suffered from bullpen issues, losing to the Trenton Thunder, 5-1. Yohan Flande took a no-hitter into the fifth inning for the R-Phils. Flande pitched six innings, allowing two runs, on only four hits (two walks/five whiffs). Chance Chapman and Mike Zagurski combined to surrender three runs in the seventh inning, and the R-Phils were held to only five hits.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) started their game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers at 6:30pm, so they could host a concert by rising country band Love and Theft! The Threshers remained undefeated, in Thursday night home games preceding Love and Theft concerts, with a 6-2 win. Tyler Cloyd pitched seven scoreless innings (three hits, two walks/six whiffs) for his third win, lowering his ERA to 4.02 ERA.

Phillies Respond to Manuel's Meeting, Sweep Cubs

2009-08-13T20:50:00.007-04:00

Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel picks his spots, in determining when to meet with his entire team. Last weekend should have been a memorable one, with a Harry Kalas plaque installed on the Wall of Fame, the greatest of each former Green(e) in attendance (Tyler, Tommy), and a chance to increase their divisional lead over the Marlins. It turned into a debacle, with Shane Victorino ejected from his outfield position, a pregame "Batting Challenge" that included one home run, and three pitchers batting (out of six participants), and Eric Bruntlett remaining on the active roster throughout all three games. Not to mention that the Phillies lost all three games. As there wasn't a UFC event scheduled for immediately after Sunday's loss, that was a very opportune time for a team meeting.

The meeting had a most efficacious effect, as the Phillies responded in impressive, WFC fashion. The Phillies used strong starting pitching, and a reawakened offense, in rolling to a three-game road sweep of the Cubs. Hopefully, the Phils can continue to ride their new momentum, this weekend in Atlanta.

Tuesday's opener at Wrigley Field would have been Phillies co-ace Cliff Lee's fifth day, but the Phillies opted to push Lee back two days, when inserting Pedro Martinez into the rotation. J.A. Happ made the start, with one extra day of rest, after being allowed to throw an obscene 127 pitches in his previous appearance. The draining complete game shutout would have been good reason to push Happ back a few days, and Lee's strong form good reason to keep him on his regular turn. Another good reason to start Lee on Tuesday: he could have returned, on regular rest, for the Sunday night finale against the divisional rival Braves.

Happ permitted seven hits and four walks, in his 100-pitch, six-inning effort. Usually, eleven baserunners in only six innings will result in considerable damage. However, Happ only allowed two of those runners to score. Happ left with the score tied, but after the Phillies took the lead, Brad Lidge contributed his seventh blown save of his imperfect season. The Phillies were not to be denied, however, as Ben Francisco broke the 3-3 tie, with a solo homer in the twelfth inning. Chad Durbin's first appearance, since his DL stint, was a successful one. Durbin closed out the 4-3 win, picking up his second save of the season, with a scoreless twelfth.

The Cubs would get no closer to a victory in the series. Pedro Martinez made his Phillies' debut on Wednesday, scattering seven hits and a walk, in five mediocre innings. Martinez tired in the fifth, when he allowed two, of the three, runs he surrendered. Fortunately, he was pitching with a 12-1 lead, after the Phillies had enjoyed a monstrous eight-run fourth inning. With an eleven-run lead, courtesy of three-run homers by Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez, Martinez' adequate outing was sufficient.

The Phillies had saved Cliff Lee for Thursday, when he would have the opportunity to ensure the Phils' first sweep at Wrigley, since the Kevin Gross-era 1984 team. Lee would have to win under difficult circumstances. Relievers Chan Ho Park, Scott Eyre, and Tyler Walker were unavailable, as they were attempting to track down the bleacher bonehead who doused outfielder Shane Victorino with a beer, during Wednesday night's game. (The three crime-fighting hurlers brought the culprit to justice, capturing him behind a Sonic restaurant in Aurora, Illinois. They proceeded to celebrate with Fried Ice Cream Blasts, after turning the heinous criminal over to the authorities.)

Lee had little need for relief, surrendering only a single run in eight innings, in picking up his third consecutive win as a Phillie. Lee was allowed to throw 122 pitches, which would have been a somewhat questionable move, if the bullpen hadn't been so short-handed. Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz hit homers, and the Phillies cruised to a 6-1 win. The Phillies lead the Marlins by 4.5 games, and the Braves by 5 games. If only every series could be this easy.

Bunts and Balks (8/12)

2009-08-13T13:48:00.004-04:00

Brett Myers made his third simulated relief appearance on Wednesday. Myers faced Clearwater Threshers (A) batters, throwing thirty-two pitches, in two innings. For a challenge, Myers should face Reading Phillies (AA) batters. DomOnic Brown, Steve Susdorf, Neil Sellers, and Kevin Mahar would be a formidable simulated group. Of course, at this early stage in Myers' rehab, it might not be prudent to challenge him too much. Myers could appear in an actual minor league game next week.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) rallied from a ninth-inning deficit, to beat the Louisville Bats on Wednesday, 10-9. Michael Taylor hit a game-tying home run, in the bottom of the ninth inning. As if that wasn't enough, it was Taylor's fifth hit of the game. It should also be mentioned that, as a result of the homer, Taylor successfully hit for the cycle!

Lehigh Valley LHP Brian Mazone was placed on the 15-Day DL. RHP Pat Overholt was reassigned from Lehigh Valley, to Reading (AA). Rodrigo Lopez and Kyle Kendrick were added to the Lehigh Valley roster. The current Lehigh Valley rotation appears to include (in no particular order): Drew Carpenter, Gustavo Chacin, Kyle Kendrick, Rodrigo Lopez, and Joe Savery.
Overholt struggled with excessive baserunner issues in AAA, permitting ten hits and thirteen walks (nine whiffs), in fourteen relief innings. Overholt's ERA of 3.21 is very deceiving; his FIP is 5.84. Overholt's AA FIP was 6.20, as his poor command has been too much for his lucky BABIPs (.228 in AAA, .247 in AA) to overcome.
The veteran journeyman Mazone is minor league filler, at this point in his career.

Lehigh Valley reassigned RHP Alex Concepcion to Reading (AA). RHP Joe Bisenius was promoted for Clearwater (A). Concepcion did an adequate job in AAA, posting a 3.86 ERA/3.41 FIP. Concepcion struck out eight batters, while walking only one, in fourteen innings at AAA, but he did allow fifteen hits.
Bisenius, a member of the Phillies' 40-Man roster, made three rehab appearances with Clearwater (A), throwing four scoreless innings. It appears that the Phillies want to see how he fares in AAA, when determining whether he remains on the 40-Man.

The Reading Phillies (AA) fell short in their ninth-inning rally attempt, falling to the Trenton Thunder, 3-2. Steve Susdorf hit his first R-Phils' homer in the ninth, but Reading couldn't complete the comeback. Susdorf, DH'ing for the night, has fifteen AA plate appearances, with a line of .286/.375/.571. He could be a satisfactory MLB hitter, but is limited by his defensive inadequacies.
DomOnic Brown went 2 for 4, with a double. In forty-three AA plate appearances, Brown has a line of .342/.419/.684.
Northpaw Vance Worley pitched well, permitting only two runs, both on a two-out home run in the first inning. Worley lasted seven innings, allowing only four hits, while walking none (four whiffs). Worley had a difficult patch in mid-July, four consecutive poor (possibly BABIP-induced?) outings, but now has three consecutive strong starts.
Scott Mathieson conceded a run in the eighth inning, which turned out to be the winning run. Mathieson started his AA stint with six scoreless innings, but has surrended a run, in each of his lost two innings.

The Reading Phillies (AA) activated catcher Tuffy Gosewisch from the DL. Tim Gradoville returned to his role as a coach. Gosewisch, Reading's starting catcher, was finally back in the lineup. It should be helpful for the young hurlers in Reading's rotation (Kyle Drabek, Yohan Flande, Mike Cisco, Mike Stutes, and Vance Worley) to throw to Gosewisch, again.
Gradoville spent a week with the R-Phils. He did not bat, appearing only twice, as a defensive replacement.

The Reading Phillies released RHP Francisco Butto, and sent RHP Tristan Crawford to Clearwater (A), to open roster spots for Overholt and Concepcion.
Crawford had been promoted from Clearwater, on July 24th, when Concepcion was promoted to AAA. Crawford had a 5.79 ERA, in nine and one-third AA innings.
The 26 year-old Butto had struggled with control, with a BB/9 of 4.2 in AAA, and 6.87 in AA.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 6-5. The Threshers, spurred by criticisms inferring that they had no good hitters left, had fifteen hits (eleven singles). Threshers' starter Jon Velazquez struck out eight, while walking only one, in five innings. Unfortunately, he was hurt by two home runs, leading to three runs.
Michael Schwimer's scoreless inning streak ended at twelve innings, as the northpaw surrendered two runs in the seventh inning.
Tristan Crawford finished for the save, striking out four (two hits, zero walks), in two scoreless innings.

Bunts and Balks (8/11)

2009-08-12T09:14:00.005-04:00

The Phillies removed Jamie Moyer from the fifth starter's role, and moved him to the bullpen. Pedro Martinez will join the rotation, starting Wednesday night, against the Cubs.
With future HOFer Pedro Martinez having, satisfactorily, completed his minor league rehab, the Phillies removed their rotation's weakest starter. Moyer pitched 123.1 innings, posting a 5.47 ERA/5.40 FIP. Moyer will, likely, be used as a long reliever/in low leverage situations. With two doubleheaders scheduled in September, Moyer could be considered (along with Drew Carpenter, Kyle Kendrick, and Rodrigo Lopez) for spot starting assignments, later in the season.

Kyle Kendrick was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA), t,o open a spot for Martinez on the active roster. Kendrick will, likely, return to the IronPigs rotation. Joe Savery, recently promoted from AA, would seem the most likely option to be demoted to Reading (AA). But, it is possible that Lehigh Valley could, instead, jettison Brian Mazone or Gustavo Chacin, both minor league journeyman who may be unlikely to return to the organization in 2010.

Chad Durbin was activated from the DL. Rodrigo Lopez was optioned to Lehigh Valley. Durbin has a month to make a case for a postseason roster spot. However, if the rest of the bullpen options are healthy for the playoffs, it may not matter how well Durbin pitches in August/September.
Lopez was able to be optioned to AAA, despite having more than five years of MLB experience, because it was written into his contract when he agreed to terms with the Phillies.

J.C. Romero had another rehab setback, and is scheduled for an MRI. It is starting to look like a lost season for Romero.

Brett Myers pitched in his second simulated game, and may make an appearance in an un-simulated game shortly. Expect him to be ready for a relief role with the Phillies, in September.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost to the Louisville Bats on Tuesday, 2-1. Michael Taylor had two outfield assists, at second base, and at home plate. Alex Concepcion pitched two scoreless innings of relief.

The Reading Phillies (AA) came from behind to defeat the Trenton Thunder, 6-5.
The R-Phils trailed 3-1, after six innings, but pulled ahead 6-3, in the top of the ninth. Despite some shaky fielding (the R-Phils made four errors), leading to two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth, the R-Phils held on for the win. Reading starter Mike Stutes pitched well, allowing three runs (only one earned), in six innings (seven hits, two walks/six strikeouts). B.J. Rosenberg got the final out, for his first AA save. Behind the plate for the final out was Tim Gradoville. A week ago, who would have predicted a low-A reliever, and a low-A coach, would be the battery in a AA game?

The Philadelphia Inquirer continues to spell DomOnic Brown's name incorrectly. Very disappointing.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) were bombed by the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Tuesday, 9-3. It was a very successing mission for the Flying Tigers. The Threshers took a 3-0 lead, in the top of the first inning, but never scored again. Threshers starter Darren Byrd pitched four and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs (only two earned), on eleven hits (zero walks/seven whiffs). The box score seems to indicate that Byrd had some BABIP issues...

(Don't) Blame Rapuano, For Phillies' Loss

2009-08-09T20:51:00.007-04:00

It was, mostly, a great weekend around Citizens Bank Park. A tearful ceremony celebrating Harry Kalas, in which a Kalas plaque was added to Ashburn Alley. Guest appearances by such Phillies' luminaries as Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Ricky Jordan, Bob Boone, Tony Taylor, Juan Samuel, and Garry Maddox. Mickey Morandini and Gene Garber each paid visits to the broadcast booth. A home-run hitting contest included the bats of Jim Eisenreich and Mitch Williams. Muffin's birthday was celebrated on Sunday, and the occasion was marked with the presentation of a Muffin-topped cake, by the Phillie Phanatic and Sarge Matthews. The Phils had high hopes for a successful...WAIT! Is that Paul Bako's Music???

Cole Hamels (sung to the tune of "Blame Canada"): Should we blame BABIP?
Paul Bako: Or blame my absent bat?
Joe Blanton: Or should we blame Coghlan, that Floridian rat?
Charlie Manuel: No, blame Rapuano
Everyone: Blame Rapuano
Shane Victorino: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Rapuano's fault!
Jamie Moyer: It seems like everything's gone wrong, since Rapuano came along
Everyone: Blame Rapuano!

OK. Sunday's 12-3 sweep-ensuring loss to the Marlins wasn't the fault of the home plate umpire. Starter Jamie Moyer, in what might be the last time in 2009 that he is referred to as a "starter", was roughed up for eleven hits (all singles) and a walk, in only five innings. Moyer surrendered mostly bloops and bleeders, but he was fortunate to escape with only two earned runs charged to his record, after permitting such an unhealthy number of baserunners.

The bullpen's performance was horrific. Long reliever Rodrigo Lopez, saved on Saturday, in order to back up Moyer on Sunday, came on to begin the seventh inning. Pitching on four days' rest, Lopez faced eight batters. Three got hits, three were walked, and all of the aforementioned six crossed the plate. Brad Lidge, pitching the ninth inning with a six-run deficit, got his ERA back over seven (now 7.24), by allowing three more runs. The Phillies' offense did little with Florida ace Josh Johnson, and the Marlins bullpen, getting out-hit by a 19-6 margin. The two-through-five hitters in the Phils' lineup combined for a 1 for 13 afternoon. No matter how bad the umpires were, the Phils have only themselves to blame for Sunday's loss.

That said, the tide seemed to turn Florida's way, when some umpire-infused idiocy cost the Phillies their starting centerfielder. Rodrigo Lopez threw what looked like a third strike, but home plate umpire Ed Rapuano called a ball. Centerfielder Shane Victorino put up his arms in disbelief, and Rapuano put up his arm, tossing the All-Star from the game! It was a surprising overreaction by the veteran umpire, who was immediately engaged in an unpleasant conversation with Charlie Manuel. Manuel may not have seen a player more than 350 ft. away from the umpire ejected, either. Victorino sprinted in from his position, also eager to engage the home plate umpire. However, Victorino seemed inclined to utilize some of the behaviors he had observed from watching UFC action, at the Wachovia Center on Saturday. Fortunately, Paul Bako and Ryan Howard interceded, keeping the irate and ill-intentioned Hawaiian away from the controversy-sparking official, and a subsequent suspension. Fellow UFC attendee Jayson Werth took over in center field, and the Marlins took over the ballgame.

Charlie Manuel held a team meeting after the game, an unusual move for the aggravated leader, but a prudent one after the lost weekend. Hopefully, Manuel got his point across, and the club will use their day off to put Sunday's events behind them. The Phillies divisional lead has fallen to four games, and a difficult Cubs/Braves road trip lies ahead. On the plus side, the Phils have "TBA" scheduled to toe the slab, in each of the next three games. With non-Moyer hurlers on the mound, the Phils just need to get their offense back in gear.

Despite Another Loss, Still Not Worried About Hamels

2009-08-09T15:32:00.005-04:00

Cole Hamels' line, in Saturday night's 6-4 loss to the Marlins: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 HR allowed. Not exactly an "ace's" line. More like a "pedestrian fifth starter's" line. But, we've been over this before. There is little cause for alarm. Consistent LD% + Aberrant BABIP = BAD LUCK! With some better luck, and some better managing, Hamels could have come out of Saturday night with a victory. Instead, the loss evened his record at 7-7, with a 4.77 ERA, which is considerably higher than his FIP of 4.02.

Hamels' night started well, as he threw a third strike to Marlins' leadoff batter, Chris Coghlan. Unfortunately, the pitch was called a ball. The hot-hitting Coghlan capitalized on the umpire fail, driving a home run over the fence in center. (The ball landed in the area known to Phillies' fans as "Bako Territory.") The difference between a fly ball, and a home run, is largely dependent upon the batter, and the ballpark. Hamels had a HR/FB ratio of 11.2% in the 2008 regular season, followed by a remarkably fortunate 5.3% in the postseason. Hamels' ratio in the 2009 regular season has been a rather unfortunate 13.7%.

The Marlins scraped together another single run in the third. Hamels was uncharacteristically wild, walking consecutive batters. (Hamels has a superb 1.89 BB/9. BB/9 is a good indicator of a pitcher's effectiveness, as it is almost solely under the pitcher's control.) Hamels got Hanley Ramirez to hit the ball on the ground, but the Phils were unable to turn an inning-ending twin killing. The run tied the score at two, but the Phillies regained a 3-2 lead, in the bottom of the frame.

The score remained 3-2 Phillies, as play entered the sixth inning. Hamels, partially due to the three walks he had allowed, had a pitch count over ninety. Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel could have pulled Hamels at that point, with the southpaw having permitted only a pair of runs, in five innings. However, Manuel chose to try to get another inning out of Hamels. Perhaps with Jamie Moyer scheduled to start the following day, Manuel was reticent to leave four innings (at minimum) to be filled by his bullpen, and wanted to avoid using long reliever Rodrigo Lopez. A tiring Hamels walked the leadoff batter. After Dan Uggla struck out, Cody Ross hit a fly ball that left the homer-friendly ballpark. A single later, and Hamels' night was done, his ERA further scarred.

If Hamels had received a little more luck, and a little more support, we'd likely be talking about the ace's "return to form." But two additional eighth-inning runs were surrendered by reliever Chan Ho Park, and the Phils' offense fell two runs short in the ninth, losing 6-4. Though Marlins' starter Sean West has pretty much been a "pedestrian fifth starter" personified, the Phillies typically-potent bats could not solve the young southpaw. Cole Hamels deserved better on Saturday night, and has deserved better for most of this season.

Minor(s) Updates

2009-08-09T13:35:00.004-04:00

Recently-promoted Joe Savery won his second start for Lehigh Valley (AAA), improving to 2-0, with a 2.45 ERA, at that level. Don't get overly excited by those gaudy stats. A Small Sample Size Alert is necessary when looking at any numbers, here, as the rest of the stats indicate that Savery hasn't been very effective. Savery has allowed ten hits and nine walks (five whiffs), in his eleven AAA innings. He has had more than his fair share of BABIP, and LOB%, luck.
Savery could be competing for a spot in the rotation next year- with Lehigh Valley. He needs to significantly improve his command, if he wants to escape AAA.

Gustavo Chacin improved to 6-2, with a 3.26 ERA, in his last three starts for Lehigh Valley. Chacin also has a 4.22 FIP. He has no future with the Phillies' organization. I wonder if any organization would trade something (a low-A prospect?) for Chacin? Either way, Chacin likely won't be back in 2010.

Michael Taylor has 83 ABs at AAA, posting a .727 OPS, including 3 HRs. Not a bad start. He could be brought up to the parent Phillies in September, with a postseason spot possible, if things go well.

At Reading (AA), OF Jeremy Slayden announced his retirement, with OF Steve Susdorf promoted from Clearwater (A), to take Slayden's roster spot. The 27-year-old Slayden played at AAA this season, struggling to post a .229/.295/.398 line. Not enough for the left-handed hitting outfielder to be a viable prospect.
The 23-year-old Susdorf excelled with Clearwater, slugging his way to a .373/.423/.513 line. The left-handed hitting Susdorf needs to work on his defensive game, but could find himself in AAA for 2010.

Tyson Brummett has been placed on the Reading DL, with right elbow inflammation. B.J. Rosenberg was promoted from Lakewood (low-A). Brummett has not been very effective this season, pitching in both AA and AAA. The results could have been caused by injury, or this could just be a convenient way to get Brummett off the roster for awhile. Either way, Brummett is more minor league filler, than prospect.
Rosenberg was outstanding at Lakewood: .89 ERA, 11.68 K/9, 6.5 K/BB, 1.33 FIP. Rosenberg will be 24 in September, so AA is a bit more of an age-appropriate level. A strong finish to 2009 with Reading, and Rosenberg could be in AAA for 2010.
(Was surprised to see Rosenberg promoted to AA, before Clearwater's Michael Schwimer, but Schwimer could be up with R-Phils, before long.)

Reading ace Kyle Drabek had a poor start at Binghamton on Saturday night, allowing four runs in five innings (six hits, four walks/four whiffs).
Drabek was making only his third road start, despite making twelve appearances for the R-Phils. He continues to struggle against left-handed batters, who are hitting .333 against the 21-year-old southpaw. Drabek threw thirty-two innings in 2008, after coming off TJ surgery, and has thrown one-hundred forty (at two levels), this season. That is a rather large jump, especially for a young pitcher coming off surgery. It might be time to start limiting Drabek's innings/pitches.

Reading northpaw Vance Worley has posted a 7.89 ERA, in his last ten starts. Worley has surrendered seventy-six hits, and eighteen walks (thirty whiffs), in his last fifty-one innings. The twenty-one year old threw sixty-nine innings in 2008, and is up to one-hundred and twenty-six innings, this season. Another large innings jump, and Worley's innings might also need to be limited, as the season progresses.
Yohan Flande, Reading's 23-year-old southpaw, has pitched well recently. But his innings (53 in 2008, 124 in 2009) are also getting a bit high...

Clearwater (A) has seen their roster depleted by callups. Not sure if the Threshers have any worthwhile position prospects at this point, with DomOnic Brown, Steve Susdorf, and Tim Kennelly all having been promoted to AA.
But there are still a number of pitching prospects to watch, including Michael Schwimer, Joe Bisenius, Darren Byrd, Tyler Cloyd, Drew Naylor, and Jon Velazquez.

They Said Pete Had to Stay in Rehab (Roster Moves Pending...)

2009-08-09T12:13:00.005-04:00

Future HOF'er Pedro Martinez has made three rehab starts for the Phillies, but still has no timetable for a return to MLB. Martinez looks ready, or at least ready enough to be better than Jamie Moyer, or Rodrigo Lopez. The Phillies have been waiting as long as possible, just in case some factor outside their control (injury? retirement?) affected their personnel moves.
With Moyer scheduled to start on Sunday, it wouldn't be surprising to see a decision (and corresponding roster move) made early this week. This could be Moyer's last appearance as a starter for awhile.
Martinez could be inserted into the rotation on Wednesday, with Cliff Lee pitching on Tuesday, his regular day. Martinez, J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton, and Cole Hamels would start Wednesday through Saturday in this scenario. (Blanton, and Hamels would each be pitching with two extra days of rest, while Happ would have three extra days.)
Remember when Jack Taschner pitched so infrequently, that it was almost possible to forget that the Phils were still wasting a roster spot on him? That could be Moyer's next role.
Kyle Kendrick will, probably, be optioned back to the Lehigh Valley (AAA) rotation, when Martinez is placed on the active roster.

Chad Durbin will make a rehab appearance in AAA on Sunday, and then may be ready to return to the Phillies. The slow-moving rehabs of his pen-mates (J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey) should give Durbin, a pending free agent, another opportunity with the parent club. Wouldn't expect to see him on the postseason roster, though...
(Would expect Tyler Walker to be DFA'd on Tuesday, opening a spot on the active roster for Durbin. Walker will, probably, pass through waivers, and return to Lehigh Valley.)

J.C. Romero experienced a "setback" in his first rehab appearance, Clearwater (A). Clay Condrey continues to take things slowly, as he recovers from his oblique issues. There's no reason to rush either reliever, with roster spots at a premium, and the starting rotation leaving fewer relief innings available. Might not see either back before Sept. 1st, which should keep Rodrigo Lopez in the Phillies bullpen/organization.

Romero, Condrey, Lopez, Durbin, Scott Eyre, Brett Myers, Scott Mathieson. Assuming Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, Chan Ho Park, and the fifth starter (Pedro Martinez? J.A. Happ?) in the bullpen, that leaves, likely, three spots left. Who gets them?
Brett Myers' rehab is going well. He, allegedly, dominated un-named, simulated batters on Thursday. Future minor league appearances will dictate whether he can return to the parent club, as a reliever, for September and beyond. If he is healthy, he can be a definite asset/upgrade to the bullpen. If Brad Lidge continues to struggle, Myers could be in the late-inning/closing mix, with Ryan Madson. Expect to see Myers in Philly, when rosters expand.
Scott Mathieson has been dominating in A/AA, as his return from three surgeries continues. His refusal to allow runs, coupled with his mid-90s, whiff-inducing, velocity, has him on the fast track back to MLB. Expect to see him in September, competing for a postseason roster spot.
Barring setbacks, Myers and Mathieson would be huge upgrades, over the more fungible commodities, Durbin and Condrey. The third spot would go to J.C. Romero, or Scott Eyre, if Romero is not healthy.
Myers, Mathieson, Martinez or Happ, a LOOGYfied Romero or Eyre, Madson, and Lidge could be an incredible postseason bullpen.
The Phils wouldn't need an eighth reliever for the postseason, opening a roster spot for...Michael Taylor??

Another Hero Helps Phils to Thursday Matinee Win

2009-08-07T23:47:00.009-04:00

Cliff Lee's first CBP start as a Phillie was a successful one, as he permitted only a single run in seven innings, on Thursday afternoon. Lee has allowed four runners to advance past first base, in his two starts, but only a pair have successfully completed the full circuit. Jimmy Rollins was batting .205 on July 1st, but with his 3 for 4 effort, his average had climbed to a relatively lofty .245. Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge pitched the final two innings, shutting down the Rockies, as they had so many teams in 2008. There was another hero, however, who deserves a considerable amount of credit for the Phils' 3-1 win.

When the Phillies signed journeyman catcher Paul Bako in mid-March, any Phillies' fans who had an awareness of his immemorable career, hoped Bako would never actually wear the Phils' stylish alternate game jersey. Perhaps he would play in the minors for awhile, before starting a career as a coach. He would give the Phillies another alternative in their system, should Lakewood coach Tim Gradoville need to be activated as a player, leaving the low-A squad short a coach. As for AA, AAA, and MLB, the Phillies had superior, replacement-level (or better), backstop options. Only under the unlikeliest circumstances, would Bako's presence have any more than a minimal impact on the organization.

Bako was, inexplicably, recalled in mid-June. It was surmised that he would serve as the third catcher, freeing up backup catcher Chris Coste to serve as a much-needed, non-Bruntlett, right-handed pinch-hitter. Coste would cover starter Carlos Ruiz' days off, and Bako could just borrow a bat from a pitcher, in the unlikely event that the weak-hitting veteran ever needed to make a plate appearance. Not the most efficacious use of a roster spot, but certainly preferable to having Eric Bruntlett and his .400 OPS, as the first the first man off the bench.

In mid-July, the Phillies needed a roster spot, with All-Star outfielder Raul Ibanez returning from the DL. The obvious, necessary solution was to remove one of the two backup catchers. Considering Coste's ability to also play 1B, as well as his far superior OPS, the Phillies made the obvious choice and... designated Coste for assignment. Bako's, alleged, defensive prowess was lauded as one of the reasons behind the decision. Whether ANY catcher is strong enough defensively, to overcome such a chasm of offensive inferiority, seems unlikely. If such a backstop exists, he's certainly not named Gabor Paul Bako.

After consistently providing with the Phillies with a black hole at the bottom of the lineup, Bako performed like a MLB catcher on Thursday. He helped Cliff Lee determine the approach that was used to control the Colorado offense. Offensively, Bako started the bottom of the third inning with a single. Then, leading off the fifth inning, the catcher shocked the world, depositing an 85 MPH changeup over the wall in center. It was Bako's first home run, in two-hundred and twenty-three at bats. Without Bako's contributions on Thursday, the game could have had a very different result.

With the trading deadline passed, no catching upgrades seemingly available, and fellow journeyman Paul Hoover starting for AAA Lehigh Valley, it looks like Bako will be joining the Phillies for the length of their postseason run. The best we can hope for is a few more games like Thursday's. And that Bako's Phillies' career won't be long enough to include another two-hundred and twenty-three at bats.

Happ Dominates Rockies, Amaro Makes Up His Mind

2009-08-07T08:10:00.007-04:00

J.A. Happ, pitching with the spectre of a return to the bullpen hanging over him, shut out the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. Happ limited Colorado to four hits and two walks, while striking out ten. Happ was throwing low-90s heat, as late as the ninth inning, when he retired the side in order, to complete the Phillies' 7-0 victory. It was an electric atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park, and the synapses of General Manager Ruben Amaro's brain were similarly charged:

Top of 1st: BB (CS), GO, GO WE: 54.8%
Amaro: I think I'll have a cheesesteak tonight.
Bottom of 1st: Howard RBI single, Phillies lead 1-0, WE: 60.3%

Top of second: K,K,FO, Phillies lead 1-0, WE: 65.6%
Amaro: Two strong from Happ- the sixth and seventh innings won't be a problem, for long.
Bottom of 2nd: Feliz HR, Rollins 2R HR, Phillies lead 4-0, WE: 85.8%

Top of third: GO,GO,1B,2B,K, Phillies lead 4-0, WE: 89.4%
Amaro: Maybe we'll work Happ into the eighth-inning mix.

Top of fourth: FO,K,GO, Phillies lead 4-0, WE: 91.2%
Amaro: I could probably pull off the hat Sarge is wearing tonight.

Top of fifth: 1B,GIDP,LO, Phillies lead 4-0, WE: 93.1%
Amaro: Cheesesteak was not a good choice.
Bottom of fifth: Werth 3R HR, Phillies lead 7-0, WE: 98.5%

Top of sixth: K,K,FO, Phillies lead 7-0, WE: 99.3%
Amaro: Jamie and Pedro could probably strike these guys out. Yesterday was just a bad day for Moyer.

Top of seventh: 2B,FO,K,FO, Phillies lead 7-0, WE: 99.7%
Amaro: Maybe keeping Happ in the rotation would be a good idea. He has been our most effective starter, and whatnot.

Top of eighth: BB,FO,K,FC, Phillies lead 7-0, WE: 99.9%
Amaro: OK. Happ is in, Pedro is in. Just have to break it to Jamie...

Top of ninth: K,FO,K, Phillies WIN 7-0
Amaro: Why is Charlie leaving our #2 starter in for 127 pitches?!!

Bunts and Balks (8/5)

2009-08-07T07:23:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday night, the Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Trenton Thunder, 8-4. The R-Phils paid Tribute to Sliced Bread, drawing a franchise-record crowd of 9,953, as a result.
Future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez was also present for the festivities, making his third rehab start for the parent Phillies. Martinez surrendered a solo homer to the third batter he faced, and was touched up for three runs in the sixth inning. However, the sixth inning was marred by fielding inadequacy, and Martinez was brilliant throughout the game. He threw eighty-two pitches, sixty for strikes. He struck out ten of the first seventeen batters he faced. He finished with eleven strikeouts and ZERO walks. It looks like he is ready for a spot in the parent Phillies' rotation. (Namely, Jamie Moyer's spot.)
Scott Mathieson followed with two scoreless innings, and Sergio Escalona pitched a scoreless ninth.
DomOnic Brown overshadowed Martinez, however. But not with his 2 for 4 night, which included a mammoth 426 ft. homer. After the game, Brown announced that the spelling of his first name is "Domonic", rather than "Dominic." Baseball writers everywhere are filling their memory holes with the inconvenient evidence, and a conspiracy of silence is now in progress.
Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro may have missed an opportunity to deal DomInic Brown, while receiving the trade value earned by DomOnic Brown.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Dunedin Blue Jays on Wednesday, 5-1.
Starter Darren Byrd continued to pitch well, allowing one run, in six innings (three hits, three walks/three whiffs). Byrd has a 2.84 ERA in his last ten starts (38 IP).
Phillies' reliever Chad Durbin made his first rehab appearance, throwing a scoreless inning (one hit, one walk/two strikouts). Joe Bisenius, in his second rehab appearance in A ball, also pitched a scoreless inning (one walk/one whiff).
Steve Susdorf was 0 for 3, dropping his average to a discouraging .377.

Moyer and Phillies Continue Patterns of Mediocrity, in Loss to Rockies

2009-08-05T02:07:00.009-04:00

The Phillies had enjoyed a day off on Monday, had Shane Victorino returning to the lineup, and had Eric Bruntlett and Paul Bako ("The Bash-less Brothers?""The Worstest Backups You Know?") returning to the bench. With Jason Hammel (4.66 ERA) on the mound for Colorado, and the game to be contested in the homer-friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park, the Phils should have been able to end their two-game losing streak. But their difficulties getting hits, succeeding with runners in scoring position, and scoring actual runs, continued. The Phillies left seven more men on base, converting nine hits and a walk, into only three runs. Jimmy Rollins was responsible for a pair of those runs, with a two-run homer. The Phillies could not overcome nine strikeouts, and a poor outing by starter Jamie Moyer, falling to Colorado, 8-3.

Jamie Moyer continued his pattern of struggling every-other start, as well as his pattern of having difficulties against teams that do not have atrocious offenses. Moyer lasted two un-retired batters into the sixth inning, in earning his eighth loss of the season. Moyer's final line: five innings, six hits, six runs (four walk/three whiffs/one home run allowed). The soft-tossing veteran increased his ERA to 5.55. Moyer has two-hundred fifty-six wins to his record, and a guaranteed $6.5 million plus, on his contract for 2010. He has also been the weakest link, in a rotation that could soon include Pedro Martinez. The Phillies have some difficult choices to make for their rotation, and Moyer's poor performances are making the decision-making all the more burdensome.

Rodrigo Lopez relieved Moyer in the sixth inning, and made a case for his own removal from the pitching equation. In his first relief outing for the Phils, Lopez permitted two inherited runners to score, as well as two of his own runners. Two innings, five hits, two runs - those are the type of results that could find Lopez looking for a new organization for which to ply his current trade. Continued performances like these, and both veteran hurlers could be spending September merely observing the Phillies' pursuit of the pennant.

Tyler Walker and Brad Lidge each pitched a scoreless inning, with Lidge even getting his ERA below 7.00 (now 6.92). Walker's previous outings, however, have likely punched his ticket back to Lehigh Valley (AAA), with a departure scheduled for later this week. Lidge's contract, and perfect 2008 season, make his leash a bit longer, but he needs an improved August, if he expects to remain in the closer's role. Ryan Madson is a satisfactory option to finish games, and Brett Myers could be, once he completes his minor league rehab. The erratic performances from the offense will merely result in patience, as the lineup is too good to slump for long. The bullpen, and the back-of-the-rotation, could be in a state of flux for the remainder of the regular season.

J.A. Happ gets the start for the Phillies on Wednesday, as they host Colorado in the second, of three, games. It could be the last start for the rookie southpaw, if the Phillies decide to reallocate him to the bullpen, in favor of Pedro Martinez. Though Happ's success has been largely BABIP-fueled, he is still a better starting option than Jamie Moyer, at this point in their respective careers. A good start by Happ on Wednesday could help the Phils snap their losing streak, as well as decrease the likelihood of the ineffective Moyer being allowed to remain in the rotation.

Bunts and Balks (8/4)

2009-08-04T22:51:00.005-04:00

Brett Myers will pitch in a simulated game on Thursday, in Clearwater. Myers could really help the Phils' bullpen. As Myers is attempting to return as a reliever, will the simulated game be only an inning, or two? I think the simulated game should consist of Myers pitching to Threshers' slugger Steve Susdorf (.393 AVG., .980 OPS) every at bat. That would be a good test for Myers. Afterwards, they can grab a beer, and talk civil engineering.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Rochester Red Wings, yet again, 7-4. Andrew Carpenter surrendered four runs (two earned), in six innings (six hits, one walk/six whiffs, one home run allowed). Carpenter improved to 9-2, with a 2.72 ERA. Michael Taylor was 0 for 5, dropping his AAA average to .243.

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the Trenton Thunder, 10-0, in a game that wasn't as close as the score would seem to indicate. In the sixth inning, the R-Phils got a walk. In the seventh inning, they got an infield single. That was the extent of their offense for the night. They had two baserunners, and made three errors. Starter Mike Stutes permitted three runs, in five innings (five hits, four walks/three whiffs, one home run allowed). That was much better than reliever Tyson Brummett, who allowed seven runs (five earned) in one inning.
The R-Phils tried to use a strategic double switch to spark a comeback from a ten-run deficit, putting Tim Gradoville into the lineup behind the plate, batting fifth, in the spot vacated by third baseman Neil Sellers. Carlos Leon entered the game at third base, batting in the eighth spot, vacated by catcher Tim Kennelly. An intriguing manuever, but it did not result in any hits, or baserunners, or anything like that.
The R-Phils host the Trenton Thunder again on Wednesday, with Pedro Martinez scheduled to make a rehab start. They don't guarantee that they will score any runs, but the first 2000 fans get a R-Phils Bread box, and a loaf of bread. It will be quite the Tribute to Sliced Bread. So, there's that.

Tim Gradoville is back! Gradoville has been activated as a player/coach for the R-Phils, and will split time behind the plate with Tim Kennelly. Catcher Carlos Guevara needed to be placed on the DL, and with starting catcher Tuffy Gosewisch already DL'd, the R-Phils activated a low-A coach. Gradoville is now the fifth-string catcher in the Phillies' organization.
Gradoville is best remembered for the time that he played a bad guy on a Court TV show, and wore a uniform with the character's name on it, during a real (AAA?) game. At least I'm pretty sure that actually happened...

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 6-1. Threshers starter Drew Naylor was pitching very well, until the Blue Jays scored four runs in the eighth. Naylor pitched seven and two-thirds innings, permitting six runs (four earned), on nine hits (zero walks/seven whiffs, one three-run homer allowed). The Threshers had four hits, and made two errors. (A better ratio than the R-Phils, but still not good.) Steve Susdorf was 0 for 3, dropping his average to a season-low .385.

Bunts and Balks (8/3)

2009-08-04T18:48:00.006-04:00

With the trade deadline having passed last Friday, the Phillies could still look to bolster the club, by acquiring a player who has cleared waivers. The Phillies have picked up Russell Branyan, Matt Stairs, and Scott Eyre, in recent post-trade deadline deals.
The team could really use an upgrade over Eric Bruntlett. A middle infielder with adequate batting skills, such as Willie Bloomquist or Jamey Carroll?
Another catcher would also come in handy, preferably one with at least some ability at the plate. The Houston Astros have a backup catcher who might be a good fit, but Chris Coste might not clear waivers.

The team has indicated that they will not rush Clay Condrey's rehabilitation. With so many rehabbing arms, all of whom will be clamoring for roster spots in the immediate future, there is no reason to rush Condrey. Condrey, and Brett Myers, may both have to wait until after rosters expand, on September 1st.
J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, and Pedro Martinez should be ready for MLB, by the beginning of next week. Tyler Walker and Kyle Kendrick seem likely to lose their spots. J.A. Happ seems likely to move to the bullpen, to free up a rotation spot for Martinez.
Chad Durbin and Rodrigo Lopez, recently demoted to the bullpen, might be competing for a single relief spot. Neither will be Phillies' property, after the 2009 season. I'd put my money on Lopez to stay, and Durbin to be DFA'd. (Durbin would likely clear waivers, due to his salary/ineffectiveness in 2009, and could be back in The Pen, when rosters expand.)

The Phillies released a behind-the-scenes video from their fantasy camp, this past spring. Worth a viewing, if you are considering signing up for 2010, or just curious to see some of the players involved. Livin' the dream, baby!

Shane Victorino will return to the lineup on Tuesday night, and Rodrigo Lopez will be available out of the bullpen. With Jamie Moyer facing the hot Rockies, it's good that Moyer will have backup, and Bruntlett will be back up on the bench.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) used a fourteen-hit attack, to crush the Rochester Red Wings on Monday, 10-4. Joe Savery made his first start in AAA, and picked up the victory, with a bit of help from the small ball offense (nine singles, five doubles). Savery only permitted one run, on four hits (one double, three singles), over six innings. But, before you get too excited, he also walked five batters, whiffed zero, and pitched in trouble all night. Savery was more lucky, than good, on Monday night.
(Of course, if the IronPigs had DH'd for J.J. Furmaniak, instead of the hard-hitting Savery, the young southpaw could have helped himself with his strong bat.)
Alex Concepcion pitched the last three innings, turning a 10-1 lead into a 10-4 win, by allowing three ninth-inning runs. He was awarded a save for his efforts, which seems to be some rather questionable scoring.
After getting two hits on Sunday, and with Savery on the mound, I found it surprising that fellow Reading promotee Kevin Nelson wasn't behind the plate. John Hoover caught, instead, going three for five, with two RBI.
Michael Taylor was one for three, with a double, and two RBI.
Andrew Carpenter will start for the FeHogs, on Tuesday night, as they finish their series with Rochester.

The Reading Phillies (AA) had Monday off. They will send Mike Stutes to the mound on Tuesday, in a home matchup against the Trenton Thunder. On Wednesday, Pedro Martinez will make the start.

The Phillies spent most of their resources preparing their minor leaguers to perform on the field. But there is also off-the-field preparation, which includes training in media relations, Bark-In-The-Park preparedness, and community involvement.
The Reading Phillies were captured on video, as they worked with some of the local youth. (Or find the video here.)

Phils, Hamels Unlucky in Frisco

2009-08-03T11:49:00.004-04:00

Phillies' starter J.A. Happ trailed the Cardinals, 1-0, in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Happ's July 24th start was progressing well, until St. Louis' bloops and dunks began to fall for hits, with unerring accuracy. Happ was touched up for six hits, and four runs, in the painful frame. Happ had enjoyed a season of astoundingly good luck, but BABIP chose that particular occasion to take several large strides towards the mean. Happ's ten-hit, five-run outing increased his ERA from 2.68, to 2.97.

Phillies' starter Cole Hamels was cruising along in the bottom of the fifth, on Sunday, with two outs, a 3-1 lead, and pitcher Barry Zito at the plate. Hamels seemed well on his way to matching Friday's gem by the Phillies' other ace, Cliff Lee. Hamels broke Zito's bat with his offering, and the ball was propelled, harmlessly, towards the center of the diamond.

In 2008, when Hamels enjoyed the season that made him a household name, that broken bat bloop might have found the glove of an infielder. Unfortunately, it's 2009, a season where Hamels has been tormented by unlikely injuries, and unfortunate bounces. Zito's ball dropped for a single. Zito's fortunate hit was followed by a bloop single, a just-fair double, and an error by 1B Ryan Howard on a soft grounder. Hamels induced an inning-ending groundout, but the 3-1 Phillies' lead had become a 4-3 deficit. Hamels started the bottom of the sixth, allowing a ground-ball single, a ground-ball double, another ground-ball single, and an intentional walk. He was removed from the game at that point, relieved by Chan Ho Park, who permitted a two-run single to the second batter he faced. Hamels' final line: five innings, ten hits, seven runs (six earned), two walks/two whiffs. His record fell to 7-6, with a 4.68 ERA. Not very ace-like numbers.

It could be argued, however, that Hamels has pitched very well this season, and that he has even shown improvement over his outstanding 2008. Hamels ranks seventeenth in the NL, with a FIP of 3.81. Seventeenth in the league isn't exactly impressive, but it is much more impressive than his overall ERA ranking. The difference between his ERA, and his FIP, is a whopping .87. Only one NL pitcher (Paul Maholm) has a greater discrepancy. Hamels' ERA doesn't accurately reflect his level of effectiveness. A much better reflection is provided by Hamels' K/BB ratio of 4.65. Hamels has a higher degree of control over his K/BB, and he ranks fourth (.01 behind Tim Lincecum) in the NL.

Hamels has been hurt the most, by what he has the least control over, what happens after the bat hits the ball. Hamels' .335 BABIP is the fifth-highest in the NL. (J.A. Happ is second-lowest, at .254.) The ability/range of the defense behind Hamels affects his BABIP, as well. As the Phillies are very strong defensively, it appears that poor luck accounts for a significant portion of that unwieldy BABIP. (By way of comparison, Hamels was much more fortunate in 2008, sporting a .270 BABIP, which was the third lowest in the NL.) Hamels' BABIP is likely to regress towards the mean, and his results are likely to improve. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

The lack of success of the Phillies' bats on the West Coast isn't anything to be overly concerned about, either. They've also suffered from some poor luck, and are bound to improve. (Even Bako and Bruntlett could improve, albeit only towards a .450 OPS.) With (finally!) a day off on Monday, and a return to their homer-friendly home park, the fatigued Phils should be ready for the difficult matchups (Colorado, Florida) they face this week.

Bunts and Balks (8/2)

2009-08-02T23:22:00.007-04:00

Pedro Martinez will make his third minor league rehab start, on Wednesday for the Reading Phillies (AA).
Martinez struggled in his second rehab start, last Friday (5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K). This will also keep Phillies' starter J.A. Happ in the parent club's rotation, at least for another turn.

Relievers J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey, and Chad Durbin are all progressing in their rehabs. First one available to return gets Kyle Kendrick's roster spot. The second one ready gets Tyler Walker's spot. Third place gets DFA'd. (Or takes Durbin's roster spot, so he can be DFA'd.) In summation, Walker and Durbin are the only ones getting DFA'd here. (At least untli Martinez is ready for promotion...)

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) had a 3-2 lead on Sunday, after seven innings. The bullpen failed, and the FeHogs lost to the Rochester Red Wings, 4-3.
Gustavo Chacin pitched well, permitting two runs, over seven innings (eight hits, two walks, two whiffs, one home run allowed). Gary Majewski allowed the Red Wings to tie the score in the eighth. Jack Taschner entered the tied game in the bottom of the ninth. One out, and three hits later, Rochester had a walkoff win. The highlight of the game was an outstanding defensive play: a fan caught a foul ball in his beer cup!
Recently-promoted backup catcher Kevin Nelson made his first AAA start, going 2 for 4, with a pair of doubles.
LHP Joe Savery will make his first AAA start on Monday night. (The parent club has an off day, so all fans should be tuning in to the IronPigs' internet broadcast!)

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the Erie Seawolves, 3-1.
Michael Galen Cisco made his first start, since his promotion from Clearwater (A), throwing six innings, but was mortally wounded by a fifth-inning two-run blast by Cale Iorg. (To recap, the grandson of Galen Cisco permitted a homer to Garth Iorg's son.) Cisco allowed three runs, on six hits, and two walks (five strikeouts). Chance Chapman (one whiff) and Scott Mathieson (two whiffs) each followed Cisco with a scoreless frame. Recently-promoted Dominic Brown, 0 for 3 in his AA debut on Saturday, was 2 for 4, with a pair of singles.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) fell to the Fort Myers Miracle, 5-2.
Starter Edgar Garcia surrendered two runs, on four hits and two walks (three whiffs), in four innings. Joe Bisenius followed with a scoreless inning (one hit, one walk/one strikeout). Steve Susdorf (.393) was 2 for 4, as was recently-demoted Gus Milner.

The top four Phillies' teams all lost. Not a good day.

Stranded in San Fran

2009-08-02T15:57:00.006-04:00

The Phillies left eight more runners on base, in Saturday's 2-0 loss in San Francisco. Phillies' starter Joe Blanton was excellent, permitting two runs, on seven hits, in seven strong innings. He continued trekking towards a sub-4.00 ERA, leaving the proceedings on Saturday, with a 4.02 ERA. (After four starts, Blanton's ERA was at 8.41. Some more favorable BABIP and HR/9'ing, allowed Blanton to post a 1.21 July ERA.) Typically, Blanton's effort on Saturday night would have been sufficient to secure a win. However, Giants' ace Tim Lincecum was in top form, silencing the Phillies' bats.

The Phillies have been rather hideous with runners in scoring position on this road trip. They have been fortunate that some strong pitching has enabled them to split the first six games of the road trip. Batting .103 with runners in scoring position, makes scoring a bit difficult. Should Phillies fans be concerned about that ugly stat? Probably, not. There are some small sample size BABIP issues at play here.

There may also be some fatigue issues impacting the bats. The Phillies played twenty-seven games in July (20-7!). They had one game postponed, so they had to report to ballpark twenty-eight times, in thirty-one days. The sizeable Phillies' All-Star contingent had to report to the ballpark thirty times in July. With all of the games, and all of the the traveling, combined with the daily drain of having to overcompensate for the rostering of "ballplayers" named Bako/Bruntlett/Mayberry/Walker/Register, it isn't surprising that the bats would be a bit on the tired side. The August schedule includes four days off, all Mondays, so the Phils should be able to replenish their strength for the stretch run. There's nothing to worry about, especially with Cliff Lee and Disco Ben Francisco now on the ballclub.

Well, maybe there is a little more than nothing to worry about. Starting catcher Carlos Ruiz hasn't played since Thursday, when he was behind the plate for Tyler Walker's attempt at (four strikeouts in one inning) making history. Ruiz followed up his .174 June average, with a .172 average in July. Is Ruiz troubled by a nagging injury? A DL stint would by Ruiz, would create a Phillies' catching combination of Paul Bako, backed up by Paul Hoover. THAT is the stuff of nightmares.

Also troubling is a potential playoff matchup against the pitching-rich San Francisco Giants. Lincecum, Matt Cain, and a rejuvenated Barry Zito are an imposing trio. But it could be even worse than that. What if Saturday night's pitching masterpiece was authored by the Tim Lincecum CLONE? There have been few reported sightings of Lincecum Clone, since the end of the World Baseball Classic. What if the Clone shut down the Phillies on Saturday night, while the original Lincecum went to see the new Harry Potter movie (Again. For the 18th time.)? Even though the Phillies' offense is far superior to that of the Giants, it would be tough to beat four Lincecums, in a five-game series (or six, in a seven-game series). As advanced as the Phillies' organization is in the area of cloning technology, their clones are all pitching at lower levels, and won't factor in to the 2009 postseason.

Hamels faces the Giants on Sunday, as the Phils try to escape the West Coast with a 4-3 road trip. The aforementioned rejuvenated Barry Zito will be on the slab for the Giants. Look for Hamels to try to out-ace new acquisition Cliff Lee.

Bunts and Balks (8/1)

2009-08-02T13:40:00.003-04:00

All-Star CF Shane Victorino is still out of the Phillies' lineup, with knee pain. Hopefully, Victorino will back in the starting lineup for the Colorado series, starting Tuesday at CBP. Fortunately, the presence of Disco Ben Francisco should prevent the Phillies from using Eric Bruntlett in the outfield, in Victorino's absence.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) made good use of their eleven hits on Saturday, demolishing the Rochester Red Wings, 7-1. Brian Mazone allowed one run, over six innings, for the win. Jake Woods finished with three scoreless innings, picking up a save. Of the eleven players used by the FeHogs, there was one top prospect (Michael Taylor) and one middling prospect (John Mayberry). The rest of the squad was comprised of minor league filler. Fortunately, the parent club is in good shape for the next two seasons, and there are some lower-level prospects on the move.

OF Dominic Brown was promoted from Clearwater (A) to Reading (AA).
Brown is one of the top position prospects in the system, and Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro refused to surrender him in a trade for Toronto ace Roy Halladay. Brown played 66 games with Clearwater, posting a .408 wOBA, and a .917 OPS.

RHP Michael Galen Cisco was promoted from Clearwater (A) to Reading (AA). It appears that Cisco will take the rotation spot vacated by Joe Savery, who was promoted to Lehigh Valley. Cisco's 7-3 record, 3.31 ERA, and 3.4 K/BB for Clearwater look good, but he was aided a bit by a BABIP of .278. Cisco's FIP of 4.06 is not all that impressive, but the twenty-two year old was the best choice from the Clearwater rotation for promotion. Cisco is younger than former Clearwater rotation-mates Jon Velazquez and Darren Byrd, and has much better command.

The Reading Phillies overcome a 4-1 deficit, defeating the Erie SeaWolves, 7-6.
Top prospect RHP Kyle Drabek only lasted six innings, permitting six hits, five runs, and three walks (five strikeouts). Four of the runs Drabek allowed were on the three home runs he surrendered, two to left-handed hitting Brennan Bosch. (The other was to right-handed hitting Casper Wells, a top Detroit prospect.) Drabek has extreme splits in AA: RHB are hitting .149, LHB are hitting .329. The game was only the second road start Drabek has made in AA, the first against a team with a record over .500. (Drabek has faced Altoona, with a .398 winning percentage, and Erie, with a .538 winning percentage, in away games.)
Dominic Brown was 0 for 3, in his R-Phils debut. Quintin Berry, Neil Sellers, and Brian Stavisky each had multiple-hit games for Reading.
Michael Cisco will make his first Reading start, on Sunday.

RHP Joe Bisenius and OF Gus Milner were sent from Reading to Clearwater.
Bisenius, who is a member of the Phillies' 40-Man roster, and made two relief appearances for the parent club in 2007, has been on the DL since June. He has pitched only twelve innings this season, posting an 11.25 ERA/2.00 WHIP for the R-Phils.
The twenty-five year old Milner posted a .269 wOBA, in 286 plate appearances with Reading.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday, 5-4.
The Threshers lineup suffered from the absence of Dominic Brown. Steve Susdorf was 1 for 4, dropping his average to .390.
Starter Tyler Cloyd was charged with three runs in six and two-thirds innings, on seven hits, one walk (three strikeouts), and a home run. Cloyd left with the bases loaded in the seventh, but reliever Carlos Monasterios stranded the three inherited runners.

Cliff Lee's Debut Goes Pretty Well

2009-08-01T01:36:00.008-04:00

When the week started, it looked like the Phillies' big trade deadline acquisition would be Toronto's Roy Halladay. There weren't too many who thought that Cleveland's Cliff Lee would become the new Phillies' ace, scooped up by GM Ruben Amaro for four lower-ranked prospects. Lee finishing July, tied for the Phillies' team lead in complete games, with twice as many July hits than Eric Bruntlett, and as many as Bruntlett and John Mayberry combined? You probably could have paid The Gnome's salary in full, if you had gotten someone to take your bet on that particular trifecta. Many Phillies fans, including this one, were disappointed when Lee was acquired, rather than Halladay. One game, and one-hundred and nine pitches, into Lee's Phillies' career, that disappointment has dissipated as quickly as San Francisco's Win Expectancy did on Friday night.

Lee was just masterful. It took five and one-third innings, before Lee even permitted a hit. (Yes, Lee had a hit before the Giants did.) Lee worked quickly, and was in control at all times, throwing seventy-six of his one-hundred and nine pitches for strikes. Lee only required thirty-one batters, to record the twenty-seven outs. He surrendered a pair of singles, a pair of doubles, and a pair of walks. As if his dominant pitching wasn't enough, he showed strong agility in the field, bouncing off the mound to adeptly field his position. But the best, and most surprising, part? Definitely, the 2 for 4 night at the plate, with a double, and a run scored. It would be difficult to imagine a more well-rounded Phillies' debut.

The Phillies' offense took awhile to start showing Lee some support. Jayson Werth's second-inning solo homer had accounted for all of the game's scoring, until the Phils finally took advantage of the Giants' bullpen, in a three-run eighth. Werth finished 2 for 5, with 3 of the 4 RBI. Werth and Lee combined for half of the Phillies' eight hits. The Phils' continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, going 2 for 14, and stranding eleven runners. Disco Ben Francisco hit in bad luck, going only 1 for 4, despite hitting the ball hard in each of his five plate appearances. Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Gabor Paul Bako IV combined for zero hits, in eleven at bats, leaving a combined thirteen runners on base. Thanks to Lee's outstanding pitching effort, the offense provided by Werth, and the Phillies' two acquisitions from Cleveland, was enough to secure the victory.

The Phillies send a hot Joe Blanton the mound on Saturday night. Unfortunately, he is opposed by Giants' ace Tim Lincecum, one of MLB's best. With Lincecum on the mound, the Phils will need to be much more effective with runners in scoring position. This could be difficult, as Lee will only be available as a pinch-hitter. The Phillies need Blanton to pitch like Cliff Lee, and their batters to hit like Cliff Lee. If they can do that, and display the patient approach they used to beat Dan Haren on Wednesday, the Phils can put themselves in position to win three games this weekend. Three wins in San Francisco, and three victories by the top three in the rotation (Lee, Blanton, Hamels on Sunday)? That should be more than enough to forget about that Toronto guy.

Bunts and Balks (7/31)

2009-08-01T01:03:00.003-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) couldn't complete a comeback on Friday night, falling to the Columbus Clippers, 9-6. The FeHogs trailed 5-2, closed to 5-4, trailed 7-4, closed to 7-5, but the bullpen couldn't stop the Clips' offense. LV starter Pedro Martinez pitched like he is interested in competing with Chad Durbin, for a spot in the Phillies' bullpen. Martinez gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, followed with four scoreless innings, and then fell apart in the fifth. Martinez survived five innings, permitting three hits, five runs (four earned), and three walks/four whiffs. Martinez threw eighty-four pitches. The veteran northpaw has, probably, qualified for two additional starts in AAA.
Steven Register allowed two runs, on three hits, in the eighth inning. Pat Overholt surrendered two runs, on two hits and two walks, in the ninth inning.
IronPigs LF Michael Taylor was 2 for 4, with a homer, and three RBIs.

The Reading Phillies (AA) scored an incredible come-from-behind victory, defeating the Erie SeaWolves, 6-4, in ten innings. The R-Phils trailed 4-0, after five innings, but pulled to within 4-3, in the sixth inning. Quintin Berry hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth, and Brian Stavisky hit a tenth-inning homer.
Yohan Flande's start for the R-Phils did not go well, as he allowed four runs (three earned), in six and two-thirds innings (six hits, three walks/six whiffs). Chance Chapman relieved Flande in the sixth, stranding the bases loaded. Chapman pitched two and one-third scoreless innings (one walk/three whiffs), for his sixth victory, in seven decisions. Tyson Brummett pitched a scoreless bottom of the tenth, picking up the save, in his return to AA.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) fell to the Fort Myers Miracle, 6-1.
Threshers' starter Jon Velazquez struggled, surrendering three runs, on five hits and four walks (three strikeouts), in five and two-thirds innings. He left two runners on base in the sixth, but they were stranded by reliever Santo Hernandez. Unfortunately, Hernandez and Christopher Kissock would combine to permit three more runs.
The Threshers were held to six hits, going 1 for 11 w/RISP, and leaving nine on base. Steve Susdorf went 1 for 4; his batting average is down to .394.

Phillies (Almost) Make History

2009-07-31T22:19:00.007-04:00

Tyler Walker's pitch was as wild as it was unhittable, bouncing away from Phillies' catcher Carlos Ruiz. San Francisco's Eugenio Velez offered at the pitch, for a third strike, but the speedy Giant easily reached first base, before Ruiz could retrieve the wayward ball. With that display of shoddy command, history was now within the grasp of the journeyman northpaw. Walker had retired three San Francisco Giants on strikes in the frame, and would have the opportunity to record four strikeouts in a single inning. Walker could become the first Phillie in the History of Philliedom to achieve such a feat. Unfortunately, shortstop Jimmy Rollins cost Walker his chance at immortality, by catching Pablo Sandoval's liner for the final out. With the Phillies trailing 7-2, and only a single inning to recover from a Win Expectancy of .5%, Rollins should have let the ball fall for a single. Walker could have had another chance at fame, a story to tell his Lehigh Valley teammates next week, and the Phillies would have been able to salvage something from a disappointing loss. Alas, it was not to be.

Rodrigo Lopez struggled, in what was likely his last start for the Phillies. (The acquistion of Cliff Lee will probably bump Lopez to the bullpen, and probably send Walker to Lehigh Valley, via the waiver wire.) Lopez survived only four innings, permitting all seven San Francisco runs, on eight hits and two walks. As a result of unusually sloppy Phillies' fielding, only three of those runs was earned. Kyle Kendrick and Walker, both likely destined for AAA before this time next week, each contributed a pair of scoreless frames. But the Phillies were held to a two-run homer by Chase Utley, who drove a blast over the wall in right, only pitches after Giants' starter Jonathan Sanchez had buzzed Utley's tower. Utley's at bat, Walker's retaliatory beaning of Ryan Garko, and Walker's failed attempt at immortality, were pretty much the only useful moments in another weak Phillies' performance.

Cliff Lee makes his long-awaited Phillies debut on Friday night, opposed by Giants' rookie Ryan Sadowski. Fellow new acquisition Ben Francisco (Treat) will be in the lineup as well, subbing for injured All-Star Shane Victorino (day-to-day, with knee contusion). It will be exciting to see how Lee performs. (I'm predicting seven innings, one run.) If Lee pitches to his ability tonight, it might be prudent to get to Modell's very early on Saturday morning. Lee's #34 jersey will be selling as quickly as his 90 MPH heater hurtles towards the strike zone.

Bunts and Balks (7/30)

2009-07-31T12:03:00.003-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost in ten innings on Thursday, 5-4, to the Columbus Clippers. It must have been disconcerting to see two of Wednesday morning's FeHogs, Jason Donald and Lou Marson, in the starting lineup for the Clippers. In a sign of extreme disrespect, Marson and Donald occupied the last two spots in the Columbus batting order.
Drew Carpenter returned to the LV rotation, making his first start since July 19th. He pitched five strong innings, allowing only one run (five hits, two walks/five whiffs). He left with a 3-1 lead, but Francisco Butto, back in AAA (for a limited time only!), followed with one and two-thirds ineffective innings, before departing with LV trailing, 4-3. Jack Taschner got the loss, but should be held blameless, as he retired two of three batters. The one batter he didn't retire reached on an error, and was permitted to score by Gary Majewski.
Pedro Martinez will make a rehab start for LV on Friday night, facing former FeHog Carlos Carrasco. With the parent club playing on the West Coast, this is a good opportunity to tune in to the IronPigs' broadcast.

OF John Mayberry and RHP Steven Register were optioned to Lehigh Valley from the Phillies. Reinforcements! Mayberry should play regularly in the outfield for the IronPigs, with Register adding another arm to the faltering IronPigs bullpen.

RHP Tyson Brummett and RHP Francisco Butto were demoted from Lehigh Valley to Reading (AA). Butto spent one unsuccessful day in AAA. Brummett had been recalled for five days, in an attempt to replenish the pitching staff. Brummett had been demoted to the bullpen in AA, but was recalled to make a start in AAA. He was ineffective, and only ate four innings.

C Kevin Nelson was promoted to Lehigh Valley, from Reading. With starting catcher Lou Marson joining the Clippers, the IronPigs needed another backstop. Reading's starting catcher, Tuffy Gosewisch, is on the DL. That left Nelson, and Tim Kennelly (batting .171, in 12 games at AA) as the options. Given that Kennelly appears overmatched at AA, it was an easy decision. Paul Hoover should be expected to make the vast majority of the starts behind the plate for the IronPigs.

RHP Joe Savery was promoted to Lehigh Valley, from Reading. The IronPigs rotation has been gutted in recent weeks, but now seems to be almost replenished, with Carpenter/Brian Mazone/Gustavo Chacin/Martinez taking four, of the five, spots. Kyle Kendrick could be returning soon, but it appears the FeHogs wanted another starting option, in the interim.
Joe Savery was very impressive before the All-Star break (12-1, 3.48 ERA), but has struggled in his last five starts (27.2 IP, 41 H, 26 ER, 14 BB/19 K). He may be up in AAA just for a start, or two.

The Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday, 2-0.
Vance Worley was coming off four atrocious starts in a row (18.1 IP, 38 H, 30 ER, 6 BB/12 K), but threw six scoreless innings (3 H, 2 BB/3 K), for his seventh win. Scott Mathieson (2 IP, 0 H, 1 K) and Sergio Escalona (1 IP, 2 K, 11th save) completed the shutout.

LHP Jason Mackintosh was placed on the DL, with a left elbow strain. RHP Scott Mathieson was promoted from Clearwater (A). Mathieson continues to roll through the minors. Could see him in AAA (and MLB?), before the end of Mathieson's season. He could be in the mix for the 2010 Phillies' bullpen.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) shut out the Fort Myers Miracle, 2-0. RHP Darren Byrd pitched eight scoreless innings for the win, allowing only four hits (two walks/six whiffs). Byrd has not allowed a run, in his last three starts (nineteen innings). Steve Susdorf went 1 for 3, and his batting average fell to .398.

Major Transaction Action (7/30): A Very Special Episode...

2009-07-30T21:22:00.008-04:00

The acquisition of Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco from the Indians, in exchange for four minor leaguers, sent waves of transactions rippling through the Phillies organization. Some interesting decisions were made, with some rather difficult choices to be made in the immediate future. The Phillies currently have six starters (for five spots in the rotation) at the major league level. With Pedro Martinez making his second (and, possibly, last?) rehab start in AAA on Friday, a seventh viable starting option is almost ready. Having seven rotational alternatives is the type of depth that most major league clubs would love to have, but with the trade deadline less than a day away, what are the Phillies going to do with this luxury of riches?

Why not go to a six-man rotation?
Would you rather aces Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee combine for 40% of the starts, or 33% of the starts? Would you like the sixth-best starter making 0% of the starts, or 16% of the starts? The starters are accustomed to pitching on every fifth day, so switching to the sixth day, at the point in the season, would be disruptive to their routines. Moving one of the six starters to the 'pen would also make the jettisoning of one of the team's weakest links (Tyler Walker?) possible.

Who will be The Chosen Ones?
Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Joe Blanton are the top three. Rodrigo Lopez will, likely, be moved to the bullpen, after making his Thursday start. Pedro Martinez may be kept in AAA for another start, or two, after Friday, as much to get him more innings, as to delay the necessity of the next decision.

Does J.A. Happ, or Jamie Moyer, stay in the rotation, when Martinez is ready to return to MLB? Happ has been the Phillies' best (not including the recently-acquired Lee), and most consistent, starter this season. He also has a .254 BABIP, 83.5 LOB%, and 4.19 FIP, which all point to rough seas ahead for the young southpaw. (I'm still hoping Happ will be dealt before Friday's trade deadline, as Happ's trade value might be at a career high.) Happ started the season in the bullpen, might benefit from a reduced innings workload (166 IP in 2008, 106 IP in 2009) for the rest of the regular season, and his inevitable regression may be less painful in that role.
Jamie Moyer has had a mediocre season, though he has had better results over the past month. He has 256 career wins, no bullpen experience, and $6.5 million owed him in 2010. It doesn't seem likely that he'll be demoted to the bullpen.
Happ will, probably, be the odd man out in the regular season rotation, but Moyer will, likely, be the odd man out on the postseason roster.
(Martinez could also be used in the bullpen, but it seems likely that he will get at least a few starts, before that type of move is made. Martinez and Happ seem to be the frontrunners for the fourth, and last, spot in the postseason rotation.)

The Phillies made two roster moves on Thursday, with many more projected over the next week.

OF John Mayberry was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA). OF Ben Francisco was added to the Phillies' roster. Francisco gives the Phillies a right-handed hitting pinch-hitter, with enough speed to be a viable pinch-runner, and enough defensive ability to get some starts in the outfield/be used as a late-inning defensive replacement. Eric Bruntlett should spend less time on the field, as a result.
Mayberry struggled in the reserve outfielder/pinch-hitter role, and will be able to play every day in AAA.

RHP Steven Register was optioned to Lehigh Valley. LHP Cliff Lee was added to the Phillies' roster. Lee will make his first start as a Phillie on Friday, in San Francisco. Register was the weakest member of the bullpen, and had an option available, so this was an easy decision.

What moves are upcoming?
At this point, we can only make educated guesses. Such as:

August 3: LHP J.C. Romero is activated from the 15-day DL. RHP Tyler Walker is designated for assignment.
Walker is the weakest reliever remaining, and already made it through waivers, when he was DFA'd two weeks ago. He'll likely make it through again, and return to Lehigh Valley.

August 6: RHP Clay Condrey is activated from the 15-day DL. RHP Kyle Kendrick is optioned to Lehigh Valley.
The IronPigs will be glad to get Kendrick back in their patchwork rotation, which currently includes reliever Jake Woods and (should be AA reliever) Tyson Brummett.

August 6?: RHP Chad Durbin is activated from the 15-day DL, and designated for assignment.
Durbin is eligible to return from the DL on August 6th, but might be kept there awhile longer, so the Phillies can postpone this decision. Durbin has struggled this season, with a 5.19 FIP. Durbin's unwieldy FIP, and his $1.635 million contract, may help him get through waivers, and join Lehigh Valley. (With rosters expanding on Sept. 1, teams may be unlikely to claim Durbin, when a cheaper (and more effective?) alternative could be available in the minors.)

August 10?: RHP Pedro Martinez is promoted from Lehigh Valley. Rodrigo Lopez is designated for assignment. J.A. Happ joins the bullpen.
The Phillies might trade Lopez, or Happ, before this point. An injury (Shane Victorino?) may open a roster spot. Jamie Moyer could retire/turn into a coach, but those options seem rather unlikely. But, as it stands right now, Lopez will, probably, get the boot, when Martinez is ready. Lopez is only making 650K, and seems to be a good bet to be picked up by another club.

How does Eric Bruntlett survive all these moves? The Phillies need a backup middle infielder. No one else on their current roster is a viable option for 2B, or SS.

Are there any open spots on the 40-Man Roster, to help facilitate roster moves?
Including Lee and Francisco, the 40-Man roster is currently full. The 40-Man includes Antonio Bastardo on the 15-day DL; he could be moved to the 60-day DL, to open a spot. Jack Taschner and Tyler Walker, AAA-quality relievers, have spots on the 40-Man. Injured Reading (AA) RHP Joe Bisenius has been on the DL since June 2, and Clearwater (A) catcher Joel Naughton is a surprising member of the 40-Man. If the Phillies want to deal J.A. Happ and/or Rodrigo Lopez for some AAA prospects, to replenish the IronPigs, finding them spots on the 40-Man shouldn't be a problem.

It's going to be a rather intriguing month of August for the Phillies. Can they hold their lead in the NL East? Can they survive without Steven Register? Stay tuned...

Phillies Offense Absent, in Loss to Arizona

2009-07-30T11:39:00.005-04:00

J.A. Happ spent part of Wednesday worrying about, potentially, being traded to an organization that will not win the 2009 World Series. After the Phillies acquired starter Cliff Lee, for four minor league prospects, Happ was likely concerned for his spot in the rotation. But Happ didn't let the things he couldn't control affect his performance. He took what he could control, namely, the Arizona bats not wielded by Justin Upton, and made a strong argument for his continued inclusion the the Phillies' fave five. Unfortunately, despite Happ's excellence (six innings, three hits, two runs, two walks/five strikeouts), the Phillies' offense, which had been able to solve Cy Young candidate Dan Haren on Tuesday, was unable to figure out AAA candidate Yusmeiro Petit, in a 4-0 loss.

Happ was a solitary success, in a night of Phillies failures. There were so many goats in Wednesday's defeat, that only bullet points can contain them:

The Phillies' offense combined for seven hits (five singles, two doubles), twelve strikeouts, nine LOB, and an 0 for 11 w/RISP.
Shane Victorino allowed a bloody nose, which was multiple innings in duration, and a painful knee contusion, to knock him out of the contest in only the eighth inning.
John Mayberry did not replace Victorino, as a PH, and in the field, with Jayson Werth moving from, RF to CF. Mayberry's days are numbered (the number is probably zero, at this point) but wasn't he a better option than Eric Bruntlett? (Wasn't Chan Ho Park a better PH-ing option than Bruntlett?) Mayberry only has a .554 OPS against RHP, but Bruntlett has a .211 OPS against RHP. Shouldn't Mayberry have been used to face Arizona northpaw Jon Rauch? Additionally, Eric Bruntlett is Eric Bruntlett!
Eric Bruntlett played, and was allowed to bat. These are not good things.
Jayson Werth struck out on a pitch that was about six inches underground, with two runners on, and no outs, in the seventh inning of a 2-0 game. The Phillies failed to score in the inning, despite having runners on second and third, with no outs.
Newly-acquired OF Ben Francisco did not arrive in time to be activated for Wednesday night's game. Ben, you're on the WFCs now. No excuses.
Scott Eyre relieved to start the seventh, and surrended a home run to the first batter he faced.
Tyler Walker relieved to start the eighth, and was fortunate to only allow one run. The run was charged to Walker's ERA, increasing it to 3.46, which still greatly overstates his level of effectiveness.
Steven Register did not pitch, because he is not even as good at baseball as Tyler Walker.

Tough loss for the Phils, but they still took two of three games in Arizona, which is not a bad result. The Phillies will have future opportunities to crush the Diamondbacks, beneath the weight of their imperious cleats. When the time comes, the impudence of Yusmeiro Petit will be remembered, and handled accordingly.

Phillies Acquire Cliff Lee

2009-07-29T14:13:00.004-04:00

Multiple sources are reporting that the Phillies and Indians have agreed, pending physicals, on a deal that would send Cliff Lee to Philadelphia.
The Phillies would, reportedly, send RHP Carlos Carrasco (AAA), IF Jason Donald (AAA), C Lou Marson (AAA), and RHP Jason Knapp (A), to Cleveland, in exchange for Lee, and OF Ben Francisco.

While it is disappointing not to pick up Roy Halladay, acquiring Lee, without dealing top prospects Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown, or Michael Taylor, is a great move. A rotation of Cole Hamels, Lee, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ/Pedro Martinez could go deep in the playoffs, with Martinez/Happ/Rodrigo Lopez/Brett Myers bolstering the sagging bullpen. (Starter Jamie Moyer and reliever Chad Durbin seem likely to be the odd men out, when the playoffs start.)

Ben Francisco gives the Phils a legit RH bench bat/late-inning defensive replacement for Raul Ibanez. Eric Bruntlett can return to being a utility infielder, who is used sparingly. John Mayberry, Jr. can return to Lehigh Valley (AAA), and play more regularly.

As for the players the Phils gave up:
Jason Donald doesn't seem to be anything more than a utility infield prospect. Not a lot of upside there.
Lou Marson could be a suitable backup catcher, but likely won't hit (or field) well enough to supplant Carlos Ruiz. Travis D'Arnaud was the Phillies' likely "catcher of the future", even before this deal. (Unless you consider Sebastian Valle to be the "catcher of the future.")
Carlos Carrasco could be really good, #2 starter good. He has the stuff, but lacks the poise. However, he is certainly young enough to gain the necessary maturity to be a mid-rotation starter, and he has been very unlucky this season (in AAA).
Jason Knapp is an incredible prospect- 18 years old, throws high-90s heat. But anything could happen here, fireballers that young don't always pan out/stay healthy.

The Phils gave up some quality prospects, but they definitely improved their WFC II/III chances, without seriously jeopardizing their ability to contend in subsequent seasons.
Great job by Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro!

(Of course it would be a REALLY great job, if Amaro still managed to get Halladay. Don't see that happening though...)

Breaking News: Carrasco, Donald, and Marson Out of Lehigh Valley Lineup For Morning Game

2009-07-29T11:26:00.004-04:00

Potential trade pieces Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson are all on the bench, as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) play an 11:05am game against the Columbus Clippers.

Infielder Jason Donald, who returned from the DL on Tuesday night, was not expected to start. Catcher Lou Marson was also not expected to start, in a morning game after a night game. (Outfield prospect Michael Taylor, who's name has been oft-mentioned in trade proposals, is in the starting lineup.)

Carlos Carrasco was scheduled as the starting pitcher, but was replaced by journeyman bullpenner Jake Woods. Carrasco has been mentioned in trade talk with Cleveland, who are considering trading southpaw Cliff Lee. Carrasco's 6-9 record, and 5.18 ERA do not look very impressive, but the northpaw is only twenty-two, has "electric" stuff, and has suffered from BABIP (.330) and LOB% (62.8) issues. His FIP of 4.01 is impressive, when you consider his age/experience level.

Carrasco's removal could:
-mean that the Phillies are close to dealing Carrasco to Cleveland
-that the Blue Jays have softened their alleged trade demands, and are considering Carrasco as part of the package for Roy Halladay
-be a bluff by the Phillies, who want the Blue Jays to believe that the Phillies are close to dealing for Lee

Things continue to get interesting...

Hamels and Phils Dominate D-Backs in Win

2009-07-29T01:14:00.002-04:00

The Phillies played like WFCs on Tuesday night, winning for the eighth time in ten games, with a 4-3 victory in Arizona. Behind a crowd peppered with Phillies fans, including two in Phillies' wrestling masks, Cole Hamels exhibited the form that made him World Series MVP. Hamels permitted a solo home run to the second batter he faced, and almost nothing else. Hamels pitched eight very impressive innings, surrendering only four hits, while walking none. He struck out nine batters, threw seventy-nine of one-hundred twelve pitches for strikes, and retired the last eight D-backs he faced. With Arizona ace Dan Haren opposing him, Hamels took command of the game, and ensured the Phils the win.

The Phillies took an excellent approach with Haren, forcing him to work deep into counts, which took a serious beating on his pitch count. Eight Phillies had ABs against Haren, in which they saw at least seven pitches. One of the best ABs was by Hamels, who took the count full, stayed alive with a foul ball, and then laced a double into the gap in left-center. Haren was forced out of the game after five innings, having already thrown one-hundred and seventeen pitches. The Phillies' offense was paced by Shane Victorino, who went 3 for 5, falling a triple short of a cycle. Victorino is now batting .319, after his two-RBI night. Brad Lidge got his 20th save, finishing up in the ninth. (Lidge permitted two runs, increasing his ERA to 7.11. Lidge made a non-eventful ending, an eventful one, by adding bad events to the end. But I'm just going to jam that info into parentheses, at the end of a paragraph, because I don't wan't to adversely affect the good Phillies vibe we have going right now.)

The Phillies will go for the sweep in Arizona on Wednesday night, with J.A. Happ (7-1, 2.97 ERA) opposed by Yusmeiro Petit (0-5, 7.68 ERA). Happ's impending regression, which may have begun in his most recent start (the bloopfest against St. Louis), aside, the Phils have to like their sweep chances. The Phillies, currently, lead the NL East by seven games over Florida, and eight over Atlanta. Their postseason odds are already over 79%, and will only be getting better. Especially when they add Roy Halladay to the roster.

Bunts and Balks (7/28)

2009-07-29T00:44:00.003-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) beat the Columbus Clippers on Tuesday, 4-2. Gustavo Chacin (the Machine?) had a strong start, improving to 6-3, with a 3.45 ERA. Chacin went six innings, allowing one run, on four hits (three walks/two strikeouts). Jason Donald returned to the lineup, at SS, and was 2 for 4, with a double. (Hopefully, that helped Donald's trade value.)

The Reading Phillies (AA) imploded in the late innings, losing 12-1, to the Portland Sea Dogs. The R-Phils surrendered seven runs, in Portland's last two innings, only one of which was an earned run. We will never speak of this again.
Starter Joe Savery continued to decrease his trade value, allowing three runs (six hits, three walks/three strikeouts) in only five innings. Savery dropped to 12-4 on the season, with a 4.41 ERA. Neil Sellers was 3 for 4, raising his average to .329. Tim Kennelly, playing in RF, continued to be overmatched at AA, with his 1 for 4 night dropping his average to .143. Expect recently-demoted OF Michael Spidale's return to relegate Kennelly to the backup catcher role, behind Kevin Nelson.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) held on in the ninth inning to defeat the St. Lucie Mets, 4-3. The Threshers lead 4-0, as play entered the ninth. Reliever Carlos Monasterios allowed four hits, and three runs, before escaping. Michael Galen Cisco pitched seven scoreless innings, permitting only a pair of singles (zero walks/eight whiffs!). Cisco improved to 7-3, with a 3.31 ERA. Dominic Brown was 2 for 3, with a pair of singles, raising his average to .310. Steve Susdorf's average fell back under .400, at .398, with a 1 for 4 night.

The Threshers activated C Joel Naughton from the DL, and placed C Luis Ramon Arzeno on the DL. Naughton is batting .225, with a .658 OPS. Nonetheless, he is a stark improvement over Arzeno, who sported a .215 average, with an OPS of only .498.

Halladay to Phils: Just a Matter of Time...

2009-07-28T20:47:00.007-04:00

For the better part of the twenty-first century, I've fantasized of a Phillies rotation fronted by Roy Halladay. Now, with only days remaining before the trade deadline, Halladay in a Phillies uniform is about to become a reality. No questions asked. It's only a matter of determining which Phillies' prospects will comprise the bounty headed to Toronto. Well, that, and picking a uniform number for the new Phillies' ace. (I'm thinking #23. I'm sure Gabor won't mind giving it up.)

The next few days are a time to sit back, and observe the proceedings with detached amusement, with the final result all but assured. The Blue Jays need to cut payroll, immediately. The Blue Jays need to replace Halladay with cost-controlled prospects, which the Phillies have in abundance. Halladay will only approve a trade to a few teams, at most. Perhaps, he will only approve a trade to the Phillies, a strong playoff contender with a Spring Training home conveniently located in Clearwater, Florida. The Blue Jays do not want to trade Halladay within their division, where they'll have to face him five times a season (at least), and where he can help keep them out of the playoffs. These truths are evident. These truths are the reason Roy Halladay will be a Phillie, when the dust generated by the trading deadline clears. All of the negotiations through the media, the arbitrary pre-trade deadline deadlines, the ineffectual efforts to gain leverage, the repeated posturing, the collecting of prospect packages from teams not actually in the running, the low probabilities periodically assigned to the possibility of a Halladay trade, are all almost irrelevant. Halladay will be a Phillie.

As for the prospects the Phillies will eventually surrender to Toronto, in exchange for two postseason runs headed by baseball's best pitcher, who knows what will become of them? J.A. Happ, the Phillies' best starter this season, could easily regress into a back-of-the-rotation arm. Top prospect Kyle Drabek is coming off Tommy John surgery. His usage this season seems to be with confidence (and trade value) maximation in mind. He started out in A ball, where he was well ahead of the competition. A promotion to AA followed, where he has only started on the road once, against the victory-challenged Altoona Curve, and their sub-.400 winning percentage. Drabek may not even be a Happ. Outfield prospects Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown could be All-Stars, or they could be Marlon Byrds or Greg Golsons. Either way, the Phillies could have two more WFCs, before either reaches the Major Leagues. Jason Donald? A Bruntlett, without the Economics degree. Lou Marson? A singles-hitting, backup catcher.

So, don't get overly concerned about the Halladay Deal. The Phillies are going to surrender as few prospects as possible, in exchange for one of MLB's few "givens." Relax, enjoy the ride, and make some room on your bobblehead shelf for a Phillies bobble with the name "Halladay" on the back, and for two more World Championship trophy paperweights.

Moyer Escapes Arizona with Win #256

2009-07-28T18:36:00.004-04:00

Jamie Moyer was in trouble. Again. In the first inning of Monday night's game in Arizona, Moyer had stranded D-Back baserunners on first and second. In the second frame, Moyer allowed the first three batters to reach base, but escaped unscathed, striking out the opposing pitcher, and inducing an inning-ending twin-killing. This time, Moyer had begun the third inning by surrendering a leadoff single, followed by a walk. With Arizona slugger Mark Reynolds due to bat, it appeared that Moyer's early-inning fortune was about to run out.

Fortunately for Moyer and the Phillies, Reynolds' ability to hit for power is coupled by a propensity for whiffing. A strikeout, and two infield pops later, Moyer had escaped another potential rally. Ryan Howard gave the Phils a 2-0 lead in the fourth, with a long drive over the fence in center. Moyer settled down, shutting out the D-Backs through six and two-thirds innings, while the Phillies took advantage of some shoddy Arizona fielding, and took a 6-0 advantage. Ryan Madson, pitching with a 6-0 lead, surrendered two runs in the eighth, one on a Reynolds home run. Brad Lidge came on in the ninth, retiring the side in order, in a non-save situation.

Moyer has posted a 3.30 ERA in July, in thirty innings (five starts). As a whole, the Phillies' starting pitchers have posted a 2.80 July ERA. With that kind of starting pitching, the Phillies hardly need Roy Halladay, right? Well, no. Moyer has pitched well in three July starts, against weak teams (Mets, Marlins, D-Backs), and very poorly in two July starts, against the Reds and Cubs. Moyer should be on the sidelines in the postseason, unless the Phils happen to face the Florida Marlins in the NLCS. The non-Moyer components of the rotation have done well recently, particularly Joe Blanton, but those gaudy numbers have been posted (for the most part) at the expense of some very weak competition. While the timing has been good, as the starters have eaten innings that otherwise would have been forced down the throats of overworked Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson, not to mention helping minimize the appearances of the likes of Tyler Walker and Steven Register, the Phils still need to upgrade their postseason rotation. The difference between a Halladay-Hamels-Blanton top three, and a Hamels-Blanton-Happ combo, is rather sizeable, and could be the difference between WFC II, and a loss in the NL playoffs.

Cole Hamels takes the mound on Tuesday night in Arizona, opposed by D-Backs' ace Dan Haren (2.14 ERA/.84 WHIP!). A few years from now, the Phillies could be looking to acquire Haren at the deadline, in order to bolster their playoff rotation. Tonight, the Phils will probably just be looking to get Haren's pitch count up, so that they can take their chances against the Arizona bullpen.

Bunts and Balks (7/27)

2009-07-28T11:34:00.002-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) fell to the Gwinnett Braves on Monday, 7-2.
The FeHogs were held scoreless (four hits/no walks) for the first four innings, by Tim Hudson. Not surprising. Meanwhile, Tyson Brummett surrendered six runs (five earned) on seven hits, in his four innings. Also, not surprising. The IronPigs went 0 for 7 w/RISP, stranding nine runners. Brummett's seventy-pitch outing helped get the weary and depleted Lehigh Valley staff through another game, with Gustavo Chacin and, presumably, Andrew Carpenter, ready to start the next two games.

The IronPigs activated IF Jason Donald from the Disabled List. OF Michael Spidale was assigned to Reading (AA), in order to open a roster spot. With an infield full of AAAA non-prospects, Donald should get some regular playing time for the FeHogs. Spidale batted .289 in AAA, but his OPS was only .674. He should help the R-Phils' offense, which has a Michael Taylor-sized void in it's lineup.

With Toronto Blue Jays scouts in attendance, top prospect Kyle Drabek had a strong outing, in a 4-3 victory over the Portland Sea Dogs. Drabek improved to 7-1, with a 3.06 ERA. The highly-touted southpaw pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs, on seven hits (zero walks/five strikeouts, one home run allowed). Chance Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth, picking up his first save.

The Clearwater Threshers (AA) won Sunday's suspended game over the St. Lucie Mets, 4-2. Dominic Brown went 2 for 4, including his tenth homer. Steve Susdorf was 2 for 3, improving his average to .397. Travis Cloyd pitched five and two-thirds innings, limiting the Mets to a pair of runs (seven hits, one walk/five strikeouts). Michael Schwimer followed with two scoreless frames, for his 12th save.

The Threshers completed their Monday sweep of the St. Lucie Mets, winning the seven-inning nightcap, 4-3. Dominic Brown was 2 for 2, with his second home run of the day, improving his average to .305. Steve Susdorf was 2 for 3, getting his average back over the .400 mark, at .403. Starter Edgar Garcia made his first appearance for the Threshers, pitching three innings, and allowing three hits (one walk/one strikeout). He was responsible for two runs, both of which scored after he left the game. (Garcia had been unavailable due to visa issues, which were resolved in the past week.) Scott Mathieson pitched two more scoreless innings, giving him seven flawless frames for the Threshers this season, and picked up his first save.

Bunts and Balks (7/26)

2009-07-27T18:08:00.003-04:00

Pedro Martinez made his first non-simulated rehab start on Sunday, for the Clearwater Threshers (A). On Wet N' Wacky Sunday, wet weather shortened Martinez' outing to only one and one-third innings. Martinez threw his fastball in the 87-92 MPH range, with his signature changeup in good form. He had one strikeout, and got his other three outs via fly balls. He threw in the bullpen after play was suspended, to continue to get his pitch count up.
Martinez is expected to make his next start for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) on Friday.

RHP Tyson Brummett was promoted from Reading (AA) to Lehigh Valley. Brummett posted a 5.09 ERA in 15 starts. He was bumped to the R-Phils' bullpen, when LHP Yohan Flande was promoted from Clearwater. Brummett, in his last 10 appearances, has pitched 18 innings. He has allowed 15 runs (7.50 ERA), 26 hits, and 9 walks (6 whiffs).
So, why did Brummett get the promotion to the IronPigs? The LV rotation has been gutted by the parent club's recent roster moves. The current rotation consists of Carlos Carrasco, Gustavo Chacin, Brian Mazone, ?, and ??. Andrew Carpenter will take one of those slots, but he pitched for Philadelphia on Thursday and Friday, and is not immediately available to make a start. Reliever Jake Woods was forced into a spot start on Saturday, throwing 50 pitches, in three innings.
The Reading starting rotation currently has no viable promotion options. Vance Worley and Joe Savery have struggled as of late, and may be battling arm fatigue. Yohan Flande and Kyle Drabek both need more time at the AA level. Mike Stutes has pitched brilliantly recently, but, like the other four starters, his development is best-served by remaining at Reading.
Brummett's arm is still sufficiently stretched out to eat some innings, and he isn't really viewed as a prospect, at this point. Brummett will start for the IronPigs on Monday, facing Gwinnett's Tim Hudson, the rehabbing MLBer, who is expected to pitch four innings.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs lost to the Gwinnett Braves on Sunday, 5-1. LV starter Brian Mazone had only allowed one run, through four innings, when the Braves got to him for four more in the fifth inning. Mazone fell to 0-3, with a 5.03 ERA. The FeHogs offense was punchless, with only six hits, all singles.

The Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Bowie Baysox, 2-0. Yohan Flande had his best start for the R-Phils, throwing six and one-third scoreless innings (four hits, one walk/seven whiffs). Reliever Sergio Escalona stranded the two runners he inherited from Flande, and reliever Mike Zagurski followed by stranding the three runners he inherited from Escalona. The R-Phils had only five hits, but doubles by Quintin Berry and Neil Sellers lead to runs.
Kyle Drabek will start for the R-Phils on Monday, against the Portland Sea Dogs, in what could be his last start as a member of the Phillies' organization. As the parent club has a late start time, in Arizona, this is a good opportunity to tune in to the R-Phils' internet broadcast.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) will play a doubleheader against the St. Lucie Mets on Monday, as they complete Sunday's suspended game. Travis Cloyd and Michael Galen Cisco are expected to start for the Threshers.

Transaction Action (7/25)

2009-07-25T21:05:00.003-04:00

The Roy Halladay Watch continues, as the Phillies (reportedly) turned down the Blue Jays' offer of Halladay for Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ, and Dominic Brown. The Phillies, reportedly, countered by offering a combination of players, including Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson. The Phillies seem to be averse to dealing Drabek and Brown, as they should be.

RHP Clay Condrey was placed on the 15-Day DL, as his left oblique issues have returned. RHP Steven Register was recalled from Lehigh Valley (AAA).
Condrey would likely be available only every third game, if he stayed on the roster, and pitched through the pain. Is it better to have Condrey available every third game, or Register available every other game? Probably the former, but the Phils have to get Condrey in Every-Day Clay condition for the playoff/postseason run.
Register has a 2.88 ERA, in 25 AAA innings. In his last ten appearances for the FeHogs, he has only allowed one run (charged to his own record), in thirteen innings. But he's been supported by a .288 BABIP, and a LOB% of 83.3. His FIP is an unsightly 4.16. Register is a minor league journeyman, and is not a viable long-term option. (Not exactly a viable short-term option, either.

RHP Andrew Carpenter was optioned to Lehigh Valley. RHP Kyle Kendrick was recalled from Lehigh Valley. Carpenter has been a starter all season, and threw a combined thirty-seven pitches, in appearing in consecutive games. He would, likely, have been unavailable to pitch on Saturday and Sunday. The Phillies needed an available arm, with Rodrigo Lopez and Jamie Moyer getting the weekend starts, so Kendrick replaced Carpenter.
The Phillies should try to use this "opportunity" to see if Kendrick (and his change-up) are MLB-ready. He might not be a fit for the Phils' rotation, but he could gain some trade value, if he can start to get some MLB hitters out.

Will Gary Majewski ever be recalled from AAA?
When he starts outpitching mediocre journeymen, like Stephen Register. In his last ten AAA appearances, Majewski has pitched twelve and one-third innings. He has surrendered fifteen hits, seven walks (nine strikeouts), and six earned runs. Not impressive.

Why wasn't Cedrick Bowers recalled from AAA, rather than Register? Bowers would have been my choice, over Register. He hasn't pitched since July 22, so he would have been available on Saturday and Sunday. He has struggled a bit in his last three appearances, allowing five hits, four runs, and three walks (two strikeouts) in three and two-thirds innings. Bowers also has a 1.99 ERA/3.55 FIP, though he has been helped by a low .260 BABIP/82.8 LOB%.

The current combination of Phillies' bullpenners is not very impressive. Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson might be the only trusted members of the current bullpen crew. Scott Eyre is best-suited for a LOOGY role, and closer Brad Lidge has struggled for much of the season. Tyler Walker, Steven Register, and Kyle Kendrick? Yikes. At least there are plenty of options for low leverage situations, though Manager Charlie Manuel uses Madson in that role a bit too frequently.
On the plus side, it's only late July, and all of the top relievers are expected to return in a few weeks. Injured starter Brett Myers could also return as a reliever, late in the regular season. The Phils need their starters to eat some serious innings, over the next couple of weeks.

Is the MLB Network's "The Pen" to blame for the vast number of injuries to Phillies' relievers this season? Probably not. But it might be prudent to allow the Mets to star in MLBN's 2010 production of "The Infield."

RHP Alex Concepcion was promoted to Lehigh Valley, to fill one of the recently-created bullpen openings. Concepcion had a 3.16 ERA, and a .96 WHIP, in 62.2 AA innings for Reading. He also had a .239 BABIP, and a 4.43 FIP. He's been more lucky, than good.
Chance Chapman has had a 3.29 ERA, and a 3.31 FIP, in 27.1 AA innings. He would also have been a good choice for the promotion to AAA.

RHP Tristan Crawford was promoted to Reading (AA), to replace Concepcion. Crawford joined the Phillies organization on July 22nd, the northpaw's 27th birthday, and only spen two days with Clearwater (A). He is a bit old for the A/AA level. Crawford was sold to the Phillies by the Grand Prairie AirHogs (Independent Leagues). In 2008, he pitched at AA for Washington, posting a 5.40 ERA, in 35 innings. However, he was plagued by a .392 BABIP, and posted a 3.40 FIP. Definitely worth giving a chance in the minors.

Pedro Martinez will start for the Clearwater Threshers (A), in his first rehab start as a member of the Phillies. Martinez faces the St. Lucie Mets, in a 4:05pm start. Tune in!

Holliday, BABIP, Staches, and J-Bros Combine to Defeat Happ and Phils, 8-1

2009-07-25T00:34:00.004-04:00

It took an unfortunate, and unlikely, confluence of events to serve Phillies' starter J.A. Happ his first loss. Matt Holliday in the Cardinals' lineup. The Jonas Brothers in dangerously close proximity to Citizens Bank Park. St.Louis' porn stache-heavy lineup. But, as easy as it is to blame the aforementioned horrors for Happ's defeat, it was one treacherous, malevolent entity, above all others, that caused the rookie southpaw's downfall. Happ, for perhaps the first time as a major leaguer, felt the cold, cruel effects of BABIP.

Through five innings, it was a typical Happ outing. The rookie had allowed only a single run, as it seemed every hard-hit ball he conceded found the leather of a teammate's, often acrobatic, glove. Happ trailed 1-0, as play entered the sixth inning, but a one-run deficit is nothing for the vaunted Phillies' offense. The Phils' bats would regress (progress?) to their vociferous mean, and the runs would flow, as does the mighty Schuylkill.

There was regression to the mean for the Phillies, but not the good, winning-baseball-games, type. Often, we observe BABIP as an incremental change in a pitcher's statline, over a number of games. On Friday night, BABIP opted to ravage Happ's once-pristine numbers in a savage sixth inning. Six hits, and four runs later, the Cardinals had blooped and dunked their way to a victory. Happ's ERA increased to 2.97 (from 2.68), and the lefty was fortunate that the ten hits charged to his record only resulted in five runs.

Tyler Walker relieved to start the seventh. In the absence of inherited runners who could be permitted to score, the sweat-drenched right-hander's ineffectiveness lead to the sullying of his own, personal ERA. Walker surrendered three hits and two walks in his inning of work, but somehow managed to allow only two runs. Andrew Carpenter made his return to MLB in the eighth, and gave up a flukish solo homer to Boston-reject Julio Lugo. Trailing by a score of 8-1 in the top of the ninth, with a Win Expectancy of a lofty .1%, Phils' Manager Charlie Manuel summoned setup man Ryan Madson. It was an inexplicable move to end an inexplicable game, as the Phillies' offense (10 LOB, 0 for 13 w/RISP) was never quite able to match the Cardinals' level of BABIP proficiency. With the Jonas Brothers in Pittsburgh, and Rodrigo Lopez on the mound on Saturday, the Phillies should have a better chance in the second game of the three-game series. Unless the Cardinals grow some more porn staches prior to the 4:05pm start time.

Bunts and Balks (7/24)

2009-07-24T23:33:00.005-04:00

According to Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer, "baseball sources" are indicating that the Blue Jays want J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek, and Dominic Brown, in exchange for Roy Halladay.
This contradicts with the "hockey sources", who indicated that the Blue Jays wanted Claude Giroux, Mike Richards, and Marc-Andre Bourdon.
Happ is expendable, but Drabek AND Brown? That's a pretty hefty price. But the Phils would be getting a year, and a few months, of one of the best pitchers in MLB. If the Phils would control Halladay for a few seasons, giving up Drabek and Brown would be a lot easier.
Hopefully, the Jays' price will come down a bit.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost to the Gwinnett Braves on Friday, 7-5. The FeHogs fell behind 3-0, but pulled to within 3-2, before start Carlos Carrasco surrendered a three-run homer with two outs in the sixth. Carrasco probably didn't help his dwindling trade value, by allowing six runs, in six innings (four hits, four walks/five strikeouts, one home run allowed). Michael Taylor went 1 for 3, with a walk and a stolen base, in the losing effort.

The Reading Phillies (AA) crushed the Bowie Baysox, 7-1. Starter Mike Stutes had another strong performance, allowing only one run, over seven and one-third innings (six hits, two walks/eight strikeouts, one home runs allowed). In July, Stutes has a 1.80 ERA, in five starts (thirty innings). In his last ten starts, Stutes has a 2.81 ERA, in fifty-seven and two-thirds innings. (Stutes hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of those ten starts.) Perhaps Stutes should be as highly regarded as rotation-mates Joe Savery and Vance Worley?
Neil Sellers was a single short of a cycle, as his 3 for 5 night raised his average to .325. Kevin Mahar increased his average to .323, with a 3 for 5 effort of his own.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) shut out the Charlotte Stone Crabs, 2-0.
Darren Byrd (five innings, four hits, one walk/five whiffs), Carlos Monasterios (two innings, one hit), Scott Mathieson (one inning, one hit, one walk/three strikeouts), and Michael Schwimer (one inning, one strikeout) combined for the shutout. Steve Susdorf was 0 for 3, dropping his average to .394. Dominic Brown was 1 for 3, and his average fell to .300. Brown reached base twice, and was picked off once, and caught stealing second the other time.

Cardinals' Series Preview

2009-07-24T19:00:00.009-04:00

(On some blogs, an upcoming weekend series will be previewed, with potential matchups examined. Here, we go ahead and tell you what is going to happen, so that you can plan your weekend accordingly. The upcoming results are to be USED FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, and contain spoilers.)

FRI: Phillies 3, Cardinals 1

Eventually, MLB is going to catch up with Phillies' starter J.A. Happ. His BABIP and LOB % will likely regress to the norm, and Happ will likely regress to fourth-starter numbers. But the inevitable downward spiral didn't begin on Friday, as Happ held St. Louis scoreless, in his eight-inning stint. In a brisk two-hour and twenty-two minute game, which left plenty of time to catch the set by The Jonas Brothers across the street, Happ scattered five hits. Home runs by Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez were enough to secure the victory.

SAT: Phillies 5, Cardinals 2

Not much was expected of veteran starter Rodrigo Lopez by the Phillies. A few six-inning, three-run outings, providing a satisfactory bridge to Pedro Martinez' ascension to the rotation, was all that the Phillies desired. However, Lopez has continued to be more-than-satisfactory, twirling his fourth consecutive strong start, in the Phillies' 5-1 victory. Shane Victorino paced the offense, with a three-hit performance, including a two-run, first-inning homer.

SUN: Phillies 6, Cardinals 5 (10)

With Paul Bako and Eric Bruntlett both in the starting lineup, and shaky starter Jamie Moyer on the mound, the signs for a Phillies' sweep seemed as ominous as the cloudy skies over CBP. The game started as expected, with an ineffective Moyer permitting five runs through five innings, and the Killer B's each contributing a pair of strikeouts. When the rains delayed proceedings in the bottom of the fifth, many teams would have accepted the loss, and cleared the bench for the remainder of the game. But not the WFCs.
Recently-recalled AAA starter-turned-MLB-reliever Andrew Carpenter took the ball, when play resumed after a fifty-eight minute rain delay. He refused to surrender the mound, pitching a startingly-impressive five scoreless innings. Carpenter's first major league victory came in an ineffective, rain-shortened outing against the Nationals. His second major league win was something of which Carpenter could be a little more proud.
The Phillies tied things up in the seventh, with a five-run rally, keyed by four two-out hits. A walk-off single in the tenth, by emergency catcher Jayson Werth, completed the Phils' sweep. Of course, the heroics by Carpenter and Werth, as well as the Moyer-induced ugliness, were all-but-forgotten, when the Phillies announced their newest trade acquisition after the win.

Transaction Action

2009-07-24T18:03:00.004-04:00

Pedro Martinez will make his first (non-simulated) rehab start on Sunday, for the Clearwater Threshers (A). Game time is scheduled for 4:00pm, and can be followed via the visiting St. Lucie Mets' internet broadcast. Martinez' appearance should increase attendance at Clearwater's Bright House Field, on an afternoon when Wet N' Wacky Day was already expected to lead to large crowds. If you are fortunate enough to attend, please refrain from hurling water balloons at Martinez. Thanks in advance.

The Roy Halladay Deal hasn't been officially consummated, and Halladay is expected to make the start for Toronto on Friday night. The probability of Halladay being traded has ranged between 0 and 100%, over the past few days. Numerous teams are, reportedly, involved in trade talks, and countless top minor league prospects have been mentioned. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi tried to impose an arbitrary, pre-trade deadline, deadline of July 28th, but that doesn't seem to have panned out.
The Phillies still appear to be among the frontrunners, and the names Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ, Lou Marson, Michael Taylor, Jason Donald, and Dominic Brown have all been bandied about.
If Amaro could get Halladay for Happ, Marson, and Donald, he should do the deal in a millisecond. Halladay turns the Phillies from World Series contender, to World Series favorite.

Phillies' reliever Chad Durbin was placed on the 15-day DL, after experiencing muscle pain in his lower back. Durbin has felt pain for the past month, but told neither his wife, nor pitching coach Rich Dubee. Over that time, Durbin had been responsible for five runs, over eight and two-thirds innings, including a scoreless, three-inning appearance on Monday. It appears injury, in addition to regression, has affected Durbin's recent results. Durbin is expected to return immediately, when the DL stint ends.

Phillies' reliever J.C. Romero was placed on the 15-day DL, with a strained left forearm. Romero will be eligible to return on August 4th. He made both his wife, and Rich Dubee, aware of the injury in a timely manner. Between this injury setback, his fifty-game suspension, and the fan incident in Tampa, this has not been the most successful season for Romero.

The Phillies recalled IronPigs (AAA) reliever Tyler Walker, and starter Andrew Carpenter, to fill the bullpen holes. Carpenter is stretched out, so it appears he will work in long relief, with Chan Ho Park pitching in late innings/high leverage situations. Park has pitched extremely well as a reliever. He would have been a great free agent pickup, if he had been signed as a $1-1.5 million/year reliever.
Walker is still not a good pitcher, and will probably be designated for assignment again, on August 4th.
The moves leave Scott Eyre as the only southpaw in the bullpen. Minor league lefties Sergio Escalona and Jack Taschner were considered for recall, but Escalona has pitched poorly recently, and Taschner has pitched like Taschner, all season.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) recalled reliever Pat Overholt from Reading (AA), and demoted Sergio Escalona to Reading. Escalona had a 10.50 ERA in six July innings. BABIP was not kind to him, as he allowed nine hits, and a .333 OBA. The right-handed Overholt, who has pitched in two AAA games this season, had a 2.16 ERA in eight and one-third July innings with the R-Phils.

Kyle Kendrick had a AAA start pushed by a day, for reasons that were not announced. There has been speculation that Kendrick was involved in a trade for Nationals' OF Josh Willingham, which fell through. My theory is that he was involved in a trade that fell through, but Arizona D-Backs' northpaw Doug Davis was the Phillies' intended target.

Scott Mathieson continues his attempt to return to MLB, with the Clearwater Threshers (A). Mathieson has made three appearances for the Threshers, throwing four scoreless innings, with four strikeouts (three hits, one walk.) He could be a cost-effective competitor for a Phillies bullpen spot, in 2010.

Bunts and Balks (7/23)

2009-07-24T16:42:00.005-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) avoided a series sweep by the Charlotte Knights, defeating Charlotte, 4-3, on Thursday. Starter Gustavo Chacin surrendered six hits and three walks, over six innings, but allowed only a pair runs. Michael Taylor, in his eighth game at the AAA level, went 3 for 4, with a pair of singles, and a solo homer. Taylor has a .946 OPS, in 28 ABs for the FeHogs.

In a story found only on PhPh, IronPigs reliever Jack Taschner surrendered uniform #33, when Michael Taylor was promoted. Taschner is, currently, wearing #8. This is inconvertible evidence that Taylor will be traded to Toronto, in The Halladay Deal. Taschner is involved in the decision-making process behind each Phillies transaction, and never would have given up #33, if he wasn't aware that the sacrifice would only be a short-term one.

The IronPigs send Carlos Carrasco to the mound on Friday, as they face the Gwinnett Braves on Pigs in Paradise Night. Has there been a "IronPigs in Space" Night? FeFe and Ferrous in spacesuits. An anti-grav Moon Bounce. J.J. Furmaniak and Terry Tiffee constructing a rocket, and attempting to propel Gary Majewski into space. There are infinite possibilities...

The Reading Phillies (AA) were whitewashed by the Altoona Curve on Thursday, 8-0. The R-Phils fell behind 8-0 after four innings, but held the Curve off the scoreboard in their final four at bats. Seven of the runs were scored with two outs. Starter Joe Savery was charged with all eight runs, surviving only four innings, and increasing his ERA by .53, to 4.36. Savery has struggled mightily in July, permitting twenty-three runs (thirty-five hits, eleven walks/sixteen strikeouts) in twenty-two and two-thirds innings. Savery has a 9.13 ERA, in four July starts.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Charlotte Knights, 4-1. Starter Drew Naylor gave up four runs, over six innings (five hits, three walks/six strikeouts), in taking his ninth loss.
Steve Susdorf had one of the four Thresher hits, a double, in his 1 for 4 effort. Susdorf's average dropped to .406.

Lopez, Ibanez Lead Phils to 9th Straight Win

2009-07-21T00:11:00.004-04:00

Who needs Roy Halladay, when you have Rodrigo Lopez? Three starts ago, Lopez was best known for sharing a first name with the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor's ostrich. After picking up his second win as a Phillie, in the WFCs 10-1 thrashing of the Chicago Cubs, Lopez is still best known for sharing a first name with the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor's ostrich. The veteran northpaw isn't likely to continue putting up these kind of starts (ERA: 2.60), but if he can keep his ERA below 4, Jamie Moyer might be the veteran vacating the rotation in August. Lopez, Moyer, and Pedro Martinez may not have much of a postseason impact, but they are important to the Phillies' playoff qualification chances. The three vets will also be receiving the same WFC II rings, as rotation stalwarts Cole Hamels, soon-to-be-acquired Roy Halladay, and Joe Blanton, if the Phils can continue to play at this level.

Lopez surrendered only one run in six innings, harmlessly scattering five hits and three walks, before leaving for a pinch-hitter. Chad Durbin entered the game in the seventh, charged with protecting a 9-1 lead. This was the perfect low-leverage situation for the erratic reliever, and he succeeded in finishing the game. Durbin was awarded a save for his scoreless, three-inning outing, retiring nine of ten Cubs' batters. Durbin only required thirty-three pitches. Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel has been oft-criticized for his bullpen utilization. On some nights, Manuel may have worked through multiple pitchers, in order to get those last nine outs. Despite a nine-run lead, setup man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge may have appeared, wasting bullets better-saved for higher leverage situations. But not on Monday night. Durbin ate the non-Lopez innings, and the remainder of the 'pen was saved for another day.

The ninth consecutive Phillies win was never really in doubt, thanks to another impressive offensive outburst. The Phils jumped to a quick first-inning lead, on another home run by Raul Ibanez, of the two-out, three-run, variety. Carlos Ruiz hit a two-run blast in the second inning, and the Cubs never truly threatened. Ryan Howard completed the scoring, with a solo homer in the eighth inning.

The Phillies go for their tenth in a row on Tuesday, sending Joe Blanton to the slab. Blanton has had two strong July starts (14.2 IP, 1 ER), after posting a 3.62 ERA in 37.1 May innings. He has pitched like a solid #3 starter. Rich Harden, Chicago's starter, has followed up a 4.24 May ERA (23.1 IP), with a 7.62 ERA in 13 July innings. Looks like a good matchup for the Phils, who still lead the NL East by 6.5 games.

Bunts and Balks (7/20)

2009-07-20T23:13:00.005-04:00

Brett Myers may be able to return to the Phillies in mid/late August, as his rehab from hip surgery is progressing well. Myers would be able to help in a relief role only. (He would not have enough time left in the season, to build up his arm sufficiently to rejoin the rotation.) A low-90s MPH northpaw to add into the setup mix? Sounds good, but might not bode well for Chad Durbin...

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) fell to the Charlotte Knights on Monday, 1-0. The FeHogs fell back under the .500 mark, at 47-48, failing in their attempt to go over the .500 mark for the first time ever. The game was scoreless, into the bottom of the ninth, when Gary Majewski (0-5) surrendered the game's only run. A superb start by Brian Mazone (six scoreless frames, three hits, two walks/three whiffs) was wasted. Michael Taylor was 1 for 4 (double), and is batting .176.

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the Altoona Curve, 8-2.
Vance Worley struggled for the third consecutive start, permitting eight runs (four and one-third innings, ten hits, one walk/five whiffs, one HR allowed), and increasing his ERA to 4.81. Worley has surrendered 21 runs, and 32 hits, in his last 3 starts (15 IP, 12.60 ERA). His BABIP of .291 may be regressing to the mean. Worley pitched only 69 innings in 2008, and 110 so far this season. The jump in innings may also be having an effect on Worley. He might benefit from skipping a turn in the rotation.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Sarasota Reds, 3-1.
The Sarasota Reds, owners of a .424 winning percentage, have won two of three from the Threshers, with one game remaining in the series. Jon Velazquez took the loss, permitting three runs in six innings (six hits, three walks/two whiffs, one home run allowed). Dominic Brown went 3 for 4 (three singles), improving his average to .315. Steve Susdorf was 1 for 4, and is now batting a feeble .389.

Phils Sweep Marlins: A Crazy, Random Happenstance?

2009-07-19T22:54:00.011-04:00

J.A. Happ improved his season record to 7-0, in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Marlins. Another seven scoreless frames were added to Happ's increasingly impressive stat-line. His ERA has dropped to 2.68. In his last six starts, he has pitched 43 innings, allowing only 8 runs (1.67 ERA). Happ is the leading NL Rookie of the Year candidate, at least in the Pitchers/Non-Panda Division. At what point do we decide that Happ is evolving into Tom Glavine, and that we are not just witnessing another Ruffin-esque mirage? Well, Happ getting his FIP under 4.00 would be a good start. But you can't argue with Happ's results this season, or the fact that the Phillies are not a first-place team without them.

Happ did have some help on Sunday, as the Marlins left twelve men on base, RISP'ing a perfectly imperfect 0 for 12. Happ short-circuited a gaggle of Marlins' rallies, often with the help of the fielders behind him. (With the peculiar exception of typically slick-fielding 3B Pedro Feliz, whose two errors improved the Marlins' chances of scoring, and artificially inflated Happ's pitch count). The Pete Happy-extended innings pushed Happ's pitch count to 107, through seven innings, leading to a premature exit for the rookie southpaw. Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel was able to involve four relievers in the final six Marlins outs, as Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre, and Brad Lidge combined to finish the shutout.

The Phillies' bats did most of their damage in a three-run second inning, as some poor base-running and situational hitting adversely affected their overall offensive output. Jimmy Rollins went 3 for 5, finishing the contest a homer short of a cycle. (Rollins has a .377 July average, with a 1.062 OPS this month. He has improved his average from .205, to .236, in his last fifteen games.) Raul Ibanez had a pair of RBI. The Phillies' six-through-eight hitters combined to go 0 for 12, stranding a combined eleven runners. Happ's performance on the mound, as well as his key two-out, rally-inducing single in the second inning, were sufficient to help increase the Phillies' winning streak to eight games.

Besides Pedro Feliz' aberrantly hideous performance, and catcher Carlos Ruiz non-aberrant hitless performance, there wasn't too much failure for the Phils on Sunday. Well, except for the fact that Eric Bruntlett was given a start, and permitted four plate appearances. How does this kind of thing happen? Giving Ryan Howard the day off was fine, particularly given his inability to hit southpaws. Not moving Raul Ibanez from left field to first base, and installing right-handed John Mayberry in left for the day? Also understandable, as Ibanez hasn't played a lot of 1B recently, and is coming off an injury. (Manuel indicated that he needs to "keep an eye on Ibanez' groin." Thanks for that, Charlie.) Despite their left-handedness, and their mediocrity afield, Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs would have been better replacement options for Howard. (Given Bruntlett's offensive numbers, Dobbs or Stairs could bat right-handed and still be superior replacement options.) Was this a failure of roster construction, or of personnel management? Perhaps some of each of those two columns. However, the move did not cost the Phils in the win column, so the timing may have been just right...

The Phillies, now winners of eight consecutive, and twelve of thirteen, games, have charged to a 6.5 game division lead. They face the Cubs on Monday night, with Rodrigo Lopez facing Ted Lilly in a Phillies-unfriendly pitching matchup. The Phillies (and J.A. Happ) can't keep winning forever. Longtime Phillies fans have Ruffin and Combs-shaped scars that bear this truth out. Perhaps the Phils have knowledge of a truth greater than BABIP. A truth deeper than that of regression to the mean. Probably not, but let's continue to enjoy the ride. It's been an incredible couple of weeks for Phillies fans. Not as incredible as the last couple weeks of play in 2008, but strangely reminiscent.

Bunts and Balks (7/19)

2009-07-19T20:24:00.004-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) beat the Rochester Red Wings on Sunday, 3-2. Incredible game! Awesome start by Drew (a.k.a. Andrew) Carpenter: one run allowed in seven innings (three hits, two walks/eight whiffs, one solo HR). Walkoff ninth-inning double by David Newhan. Technical difficulties on the internet broadcast made hearing FeHogs reliever Stephen Register's blowing of the save impossible.
The FeHogs completed a four-game series sweep of the Red Wings, moved to the .500 mark (47-47!), and remained in a franchise-high Third Place!

The Reading Phillies (AA) FINALLY beat the New Britain Rock Cats, 9-1.
The R-Phils had lost all six of the previous encounters with the Stone Felines this season. Starter Mike Stutes pitched five and one-third innings, and permitted five hits and five walks, striking out three. Stutes' ERA was saved by reliever Alex Concepcion, who stranded the two baserunners he inherited in the sixth inning. Concepcion threw three and two-thirds innings, surrendering only a solo home run. Concepcion received his second save, despite the fact that the R-Phils won by eight runs. (However, the tying run was on deck when Concepcion entered the game, and he did finish the game. Therefore, I am going to go ahead and approve the awarding of a save here.)
The R-Phils offense was paced by Neil Sellers (4 for 4, .317 avg.), Tim Kennelly (2 for 5, HR, 3 RBI), and Jeremy Slayden (HR, 2 RBI, .369 avg.).

The Clearwater Threshers (A) shut out the Sarasota Reds, 4-0.
Darren Byrd, an 18th round draft choice in 2005, threw six scoreless innings (four hits, one walk/three whiffs) for the win. Scott Mathieson retired all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, two on strikeouts. Dominic Brown went 2 for 2, with a pair of RBI. Steve Susdorf was 0 for 4, reducing his average to a measly .396.

Despite the impending additions of Roy Halladay and Pedro Martinez to the parent club's pitching staff, the Phillies still need to be on the lookout for additionals upgrade options.
The Colorado Rockies have a northpaw in AAA, whom the Phillies should consider acquiring. He has posted a 2.30 ERA (3.36 FIP), with a 3.25 K/BB in 43 innings (7 starts). He would cost the Phillies only the major-league minimum, in additional salary costs. Ruben Amaro is, likely, already in the process of acquiring SkySox hurler Adam Eaton.

Not Innocuous

2009-07-19T19:21:00.006-04:00

As a result of the postponement of Saturday night's game, the Phillies made some seemingly innocuous adjustments to their pitching probables for the week. The probables are, as follows:

Monday: Rodrigo Lopez
Tuesday: Joe Blanton (rained out on Saturday- threw only 24 pitches)
Wednesday: Jamie Moyer (five days rest)
Thursday: Cole Hamels (left Friday's game early, due to rain- threw 68 pitches- five days rest)
Friday: J.A. Happ (four days rest)
Saturday: Rodrigo Lopez (four days rest)
Sunday: Joe Blanton (four days rest)

There are a number of things we can deduce from these adjustments:
-Joe Blanton has been too effective, recently, for the Phillies to skip his start.
-The Phillies' upcoming, game-a-day, schedule was not conducive to skipping any starters (Moyer?) in the rotation.
-Despite Hamels' rain-shortened appearance, they did not want to bring the southpaw back early. They also chose to pitch Moyer on one extra day's rest, rather than starting Hamels on his regular day, and giving Moyer two extra days' rest. As a result, Hamels will not have to pitch in Wednesday's afternoon game, which is usually a good thing.
-The Phillies don't want Rodrigo Lopez to wait any longer to make his third Phillies start- they want to evaluate Lopez' MLB ability, before Pedro Martinez arrives on the scene to replace him.
-Slotting Lopez into the third slot in the rotation indicates that the Phils project Pedro Martinez as their third starter in the postseason. (Martinez will take Lopez' place in August.) Joe Blanton will be in the fourth spot during the playoffs. Jamie Moyer will watch the postseason from the stands, utilizing tickets graciously provided by the Phillies' organization.
-J.A. Happ continues pitching on the same day as Roy Halladay, who is, temporarily, still with Toronto. Happ will be included in The Halladay Deal, with each respective hurler being seamlessly inserted into their new club's rotation.
-Roy Halladay will be slotted as the #2 in the Phillies' rotation, as a result of #1 starter Cole Hamels' postseason pedigree.
-The Phillies have determined that Happ's strong results in 2009 are a mirage. The Phils have examined Happ's BABIP and LOB %, as well as various proprietary statistics that have not yet fallen into the public consciousness, in coming to this conclusion.
-As a result of the inclusion of J.A. Happ in The Halladay Deal, the Phillies will be able to keep northpaw prospect Kyle Drabek in their organization. Drabek's sub-zero FIP performance in 2014 will be in a Phillies' uniform. (The MLB Phillies, if that wasn't clear.)

Nothing Happened

2009-07-19T13:12:00.005-04:00

Saturday night's Phillies-Marlins game was postponed by rain. Joe Blanton and the Phillies hadn't gotten off to a good start, and were trailing Florida, 2-0, in the second inning. Marlins' ace Josh Johnson was in overpowering form. The Phillies may have been fortunate to have the game postponed, after a long rain delay. They might have a better chance when (if?) the game is made up, likely in the form of a late September doubleheader.

There's no way of knowing what would have happened, if the game had resumed after the rain delay. Well, unless you keep reading...

-Joe Blanton and Josh Johnson would have been done for the night
-Chan Ho Park, and a parade of Marlins' relievers, match scoreless innings, through the seventh inning
-A two-run Jayson Werth blast in the top of the eighth ties the score
-Ryan Madson retires the Marlins in order in the bottom of the eighth
-With two outs in the top of the ninth, and the bases loaded, Phillies' catcher Gabor Paul Bako II is allowed to bat. He grounds into a game-winning E-4. (This replacement-level blogger rails against this non-move, in the postgame blog post.)
-Brad Lidge picks up the save in the ninth, facing only five batters (fly out, walk, sacrifice bunt-turned-error by Lidge, walk, 5-2-3 DP)
-after the game, John Mayberry is optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA). Southpaw Sergio Escalona is recalled to "bolster the (depleted) bullpen."
-Escalona faces five batters in ten days, before being optioned back to AAA
-Top right-handed pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett plays in every game played in the next ten days

So, despite the fact that they would eventually have won the Saturday night game, it turns out that the Phillies are better off that the game was never actually resumed.

The Phils finish their series with Florida on Sunday. J.A. Happ gets the start for the Phils, hoping that BABIP doesn't begin to work against him. There could be more rain delays on Sunday, so we could see a lot of the bullpens again. For rain delay viewing, the Red Sox-Blue Jays game, featuring Jon Lester and future Phillies' #2 starter Roy Halladay, is recommended. The internet broadcast of the Reading Phillies' (Mike Stutes + Crazy Hot Dog Vendor!) game would be an excellent supplementary option.

Bunts and Balks (7/18)

2009-07-19T11:25:00.007-04:00

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) swept their Saturday doubleheader from the Rochester Red Wings, winning 7-5, and 6-3. The FeHogs have boldly ventured where no FeHog has ever ventured before: Third Place! Their sweep-ensuring strategy? Score six runs in each fourth inning, and allow less than six runs in each game.
In the opener, FeHogs' starter Gustavo Chacin surrendered five runs in five and one-third innings (six hits, two walks/one strikeout, two HR allowed), but the FeHogs scored seven runs, and the game lasted only seven innings, so Chacin received his fourth win. Jack Taschner picked up save with a scoreless seventh inning, a crisp twenty-three pitch/twelve-strike outing.
In the second game, IronPigs' starter Carlos Carrasco permitted three runs, over six, mostly strong, innings. He allowed two home runs, scoring all three of the runs, but only six total hits (zero walks/eight strikeouts!).
Michael Taylor went 2 for 4, including his first AAA home run. Expect to see him on the postseason roster. For the parent club.
Drew Carpenter will try to get the FeHogs back to .500, tonight at 5:35pm. Tune in!

The Reading Phillies (AA) were pounded by the New Britain Rock Cats, 11-3. The R-Phils have had no luck with the Rock Cats this season. Six losses for the R-Phils. A .349 avg. for the Rock Cats. To put things into a useful context, the Rock Cats, at least when playing the R-Phils, are the Sea Cows of the Eastern League.
R-Phils starter Joe Savery lost for only the second time (in fourteen decisions), surrendering six runs in five innings (eight hits, five walks (!)/five strikeouts, one HR allowed), and increasing his ERA to 3.83. (The R-Phils had Yohan Flande, Kyle Drabek, and Joe Savery lined up to start the Stone Felines' series, and still couldn't pick up a victory.)
Tyson Brummett pitched an inning in relief, allowing a run, and boosting his ERA to 4.96. After losing his rotation spot to Flande, Brummett remains in danger of losing his roster spot to Crazy Hot Dog Vendor.

(Tom McCarthy-esque Transition Alert!)
In Crazy Hot Dog Vendor News, today is Crazy Hot Dog Vendor Bank Day! So, we've got a grudge match against the Pestiferously Heinous Rock Cats, CHDV banks, Dollar Hot Dogs, Postgame Kids Run the Bases, and Mike Stutes on the mound. There is no way this game doesn't sell out.

The Clearwater Threshers lost to the Sarasota Reds, 4-3, in twelve (not-long) innings. (The twelve innings only took three hours and twenty-three minutes to play.)
A tough loss, but let's look at some positives, and focus on process over results:
-the Threshers did not play the Brevard County Manatees (i.e. Sea Cows of Doom)
-Dominic Brown and Freddy Galvis are back in the lineup
-Steve Susdorf had two more hits (though the 2 for 5 night lowered his avg. to only .414)
-Northpaw Drew Naylor had a superb start: seven innings, two runs (one earned), six hits, zero walks/one strikeout, one HR allowed
-Drew Naylor's middle name is "Roy", meaning the number of syllables in his first and middle names sums to the number of syllables in his surname. (Phillies' great James Paul Bunning also could make that claim.)
-Carlos Monasterios pitched two scoreless innings, followed by Michael Schwimmer, who threw two scoreless frames (no hits, no walks, five whiffs!) of his own
-the Threshers don't face the Pernicious Sea Cows again, until August 25th

Manuel and Phillies Win Marathon Battle of Tactics

2009-07-18T02:39:00.011-04:00

There was plenty of time for heroics in Friday night's marathon with the Florida Marlins. Four hours and five minutes of playing time, to be exact. Phillies' starter Cole Hamels pitched well, allowing only a single run, in his five inning outing. Unfortunately, a seventy-eight minute rain delay ended Hamels' night. Chase Utley (two-run homer), Jayson Werth (RBI single), and Pedro Feliz (RBI double) had given Hamels a 4-1 lead.

Philadelphia relievers Chan Ho Park, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, and Chad Durbin were knocked around by the Marlins, who tied the score at four, in the bottom of the eighth. The umpires also contributed, as all four of them missed a balk call, which would have given the Phillies a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth. The score remained tied, as play entered the top of the twelfth. That's when Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel outmaneuvered the Marlins, ensuring the Phils' victory.

Jimmy Rollins lead off the twelfth with a single. Manuel decided to play for a single run, and .305-hitting Shane Victorino sacrificed Rollins to second. With Brad Lidge (7.09 ERA) the last Phillies reliever remaining, the Phils would only need one run to win. (The probability that Lidge would allow at least one run in the bottom of the inning was only about 91%.)

The Mighty Paul Bako (.214 average) was lurking just two batters away, so the Marlins opted to pitch to the .312-hitting Chase Utley, with first base open. (Bako had been, ingeniously, inserted into the fifth spot in the order, as part of Manuel's second double switch of the game.) Five hours after Utley had homered, the All-Star second sacker gave the Phils the lead again, by stroking an RBI single. After Ryan Howard grounded out, Silver Slugger-candidate Paul Bako came to the plate, with an important insurance run on second base. With All-Star Jayson Werth on deck (20 HR), there was no way the Marlins were going to take their chances with Bako's bat, and the backstop was intentionally walked. Werth followed with an RBI single, but the damage would likely had been much worse, if the Marlins hadn't taken the bat out of The Mighty Bako's hands. The two-run lead was plenty for Phils' closer Brad Lidge, who permitted only a single run (two walks). Lidge's crisp, twenty-eight pitch frame ended with the tying run on third base.

The Phillies increased their division lead to six games, a season-high advantage. The Phillies' Joe Blanton will be opposed by Marlins' ace Josh Johnson, in the third game of the series, on Saturday. Johnson has a 2.94 FIP, and has recorded quality starts in nine, of his last ten, outings. He does have a low .288 BABIP, and a high 77.1 LOB %. Johnson is due for some adversity, and the Phillies' bats are a good candidate to get Johnson's inevitable regression rolling.

Bunts and Balks (7/17)

2009-07-18T01:46:00.005-04:00

Clay Condrey was activated from the DL, taking the roster spot of Tyler Walker (DFA'd). Walker was right choice to be jettisoned, as his strength was permitting inherited runners to score. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Walker pass through waivers unclaimed, and join Jack Taschner in Lehigh Valley (AAA).
Condrey's activation returns the seven-man bullpen to the state in which it should have opened the season. Hopefully, The Pen will remain healthy for awhile.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) were rained out on Friday, and will host the Rochester Red Wings in a doubleheader on Saturday. Gustavo Chacin and Carlos Carrasco will make the starts for the FeHogs. The IronPigs do not plan to wear their tuxedo uniform jerseys, despite the fact that they are undefeated while wearing them. The tuxedos were auctioned off for charity. I'm hoping Brian Mazone's tuxedo jersey winds up on eBay, where it will be within my grasp.

The IronPigs' roster (on their website, and in the 7/17 Game Notes) lists Michael Taylor and Jack Taschner as both wearing #33. Who is really wearing #33? Stay tuned for future developments...

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the New Britain Rock Cats, 6-4. Kyle Drabek lost for the first time (in six decisions), since joining the the R-Phils. Drabek surrendered six runs (five earned) in six innings, on eight hits (one walk/one whiff). Perhaps throwing to newly-recalled Tim Kennelly, rather than injured backstop Tuffy Gosewisch, had Drabek off his game? (It was, probably, just a bad BABIP night.) Kennelly, Jeremy Slayden, and Brian Stavisky each hit solo home runs.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) were destroyed by the Brevard County Manatees, 12-5. The Sea Cows are just too good. On the plus side, the Threshers outscored the Manatees, 4-1, after falling behind, 11-1 (after four innings). Dominic Brown went 2 for 4, and Steve Susdorf (.415 avg.) hit a grand slam. Starter Michael Galen Cisco was charged with eight runs (seven earned) in two and one-third innings (seven hits, one walk/one whiff).
Scott Mathieson pitched two scoreless innings of relief, in his first appearance of the season for the Threshers.

Moyer and 'Pen Silence Marlins, 4-0

2009-07-17T00:31:00.009-04:00

Part of the job of a Manager is to put his charges in position to succeed. Perhaps Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel was partially to blame for Jamie Moyer's 5.99 first-half ERA. Manuel has persisted in starting Moyer every fifth day, rather than simply once per series, every time the Phils match up with the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins. That plan would net Moyer about a dozen starts, which would be a bit pricey at $6.5 million/season. But at least we could skip the steady procession of six-inning, four-run starts posted by the veteran hurler. Luckily for the Phillies, the Marlins were on the schedule for Thursday night.

Moyer was simply brilliant, surrendering just a single hit, in seven innings. Moyer required only ninety-four pitches (sixty-seven strikes), retiring all but two of the twenty-three batters he faced. It was easily Moyer's best performance of the season, as well as one of the best by a Phillies' starting pitcher. Moyer reduced his ERA from 5.99 to 5.58, and had little problem shutting down the Florida bats, as usual. The veteran is now 13-2 against the Marlins, including 8-0 on the road.

Moyer got some support from the bullpen, as Ryan Madson (eighth inning) and J.C. Romero (ninth) each retired the side in order. The bats also came through, with all of the runs coming on home runs. Raul Ibanez hit a pair of homers, giving him twenty-four for the season. Ryan Howard hit his twenty-third homer of the season, and the two-hundredth of his career. The Howard homer set an MLB record, as the slugger became the fastest to reach the two-hundred home run mark, attaining the level in a mere six hundred and fifty-eight games. Charlie Manuel kept Gabor Paul Bako II and Eric Bruntlett off the field, and the Phillies had an easy, relaxing victory.

The Phillies will pursue their third consecutive win of the "easy, relaxing" variety, with ace Cole Hamels facing the Marlins on Friday. Thursday's win increased the Phils' division lead over the second place Marlins to five games. With Pedro Martinez (and Roy Halladay?) soon to bolster the Phillies' rotation, and the Phils' offense continuing to produce, the division advantage should reach double digits in the near future. Especially if Manuel is able to keep Bako out of the lineup.

Bunts and Balks (7/16)

2009-07-16T23:48:00.004-04:00

Pedro Martinez will begin his minor league rehab on Monday, when he reports to the Clearwater Threshers (A). There isn't a set plan for his rehab journey, but he should be with the Phillies by August, barring setbacks.

Rodrigo Lopez is expected to make his next start, on Monday. Lopez is a few starts away from being replaced by Martinez. If Lopez pitches well, he could stay in the rotation (at Jamie Moyer's expense?), or be moved to the Phils' bullpen (much more likely).

Clay Condrey is ready to return to the Phillies. Condrey will, probably, be activated by the end of the week. The Phillies could option John Mayberry back to AAA, to free up a spot for Condrey, and return to an eight-man bullpen. Or they could designate reliever Tyler Walker for assignment. Given the Phils' wish to rest Raul Ibanez more frequently, and their need for as right-handed bench bat, Walker's DFAing seems more likely. Walker has a 1.64 ERA with the Phils, but his 4.79 FIP is more indicative of his performance.

On 80's Night in Lehigh Valley, the IronPigs (AAA) defeated the Rochester Red Wings, 5-4. Kyle Kendrick pitched eight strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits (zero walks/four whiffs). Kendrick remained undefeated, when wearing a tuxedo jersey, and improved his overall record to 6-5 (3.42 ERA). LF Michael Taylor, in his AAA debut, batted third, and went 0 for 3 (walk, run scored).

The Reading Phillies (AA) lost to the New Britain Rock Cats, 5-2. The Rock Cats, not to be confused with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, had 14 hits. The R-Phils were fortunate that the Felines of Stone had 15 LOB. R-Phils' starter Yohan Flande continued to struggle at the AA level, losing for the second time, in two decisions. Flande surrendered five runs, in five innings (nine hits, zero walks/three strikeouts), and raised his ERA to 7.58. DH Jeremy Slayden went 2 for 4, with a solo homer, improving his average to .368.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) were defeated by the Brevard County Manatees, 4-3.
Without Dominic Brown, the Threshers don't match up well with the Sea Cows. Steve Susdorf went 1 for 3, dropping his average to .410. Threshers' starter Tyler Cloyd, who took Yohan Flande's spot in the Clearwater rotation, fell to 0-3, with a 5.48 ERA. Cloyd permitted three earned runs (one unearned), in six and two-thirds innings (seven hits, three walks/two whiffs).

Sub-Major Transactions (Taylor Promoted to AAA)

2009-07-16T22:44:00.004-04:00

Outfielder Michael Taylor was promoted to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA).
The Phillies' top position prospect OPS'd .982, and wOBA'd .440, with the Reading Phillies (AA). The 23 year-old could be with the parent club in September, and competing for a roster spot next spring. Or, he could be traded in the Halladay Deal. (He should be on the "Untouchables List", with Kyle Drabek and Jason Knapp. But should anyone be untouchable, when dealing for Halladay?)

The Reading Phillies (AA) placed catcher Tuffy Gosewisch on the DL, with a left hand fracture. C/OF/1B Tim Kennelly was recalled from Clearwater (A).
Gosewisch is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. The 22 year-old, Australian-born Kennelly, a Florida State League All-Star, will split catching duties with Kevin Nelson.

Pitcher Scott Mathieson was promoted to Clearwater, from the GCL Phillies. Mathieson continues the journey back to the majors, where he threw 37 innings for the 2006 Phillies. Mathieson was a top Phillies' prospect, before arm woes (TJ surgery in 2007) set him back.

Threshers' starter Julian Sampson has been placed on the 7-Day Disabled List.
Sampson pitched well in Lakewood (low-A) last season (3.99 FIP), but has struggled with Clearwater (5.46 FIP).

Top prospects Dominic Brown and Freddy Galvis are rehabbing for the GCL Phillies (Rookie), and should return to the Threshers this week. Finally, some support in the lineup for Steve Susdorf!

Top prospect Jason Knapp of the Lakewood Phillies was placed on the 7-Day DL.
Knapp is expected to miss a couple of weeks with "arm fatigue." The 18 year-old northpaw, is one of the organization's untouchables (hopefully).

Season in Review/Preview- Pitchers Edition (Now with Arbitrary Grades!)

2009-07-16T00:57:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the Season in Review/Preview- Pitchers Edition!

Starting Pitchers

Joe Blanton
Some numbers: 103.1 IP, 4.44 ERA, 2.76 K/BB, .310 BABIP, 79.4% LOB, 4.74 FIP
Some commentary: Blanton has improved substantially, after a horrific start. BABIP is starting to work in his favor. His first half was mediocre, at best, but he could have a much better second half.
Arbitrary Grade: C-

Cole Hamels
Some numbers: 98 IP, 4.87 ERA, 4.72 K/BB, .348 BABIP, 71.3% LOB, 3.90 FIP
Some commentary: Hamels wasn't mentally/physically ready at the beginning of the season, and got off to a bad start. He has only shown glimpses of his aceability, and has also been unlucky, at times. He might be feeling the effects of the 269 innings he pitched in 2008. He should improve, but not to the levels the Phillies expect from their top starter.
Arbitrary Grade: C+

Jamie Moyer
Some numbers: 94.2 IP, 5.99 ERA, 2.12 K/BB, .307 BABIP, 71.7% LOB, 5.84 FIP
Some commentary: Moyer has been terrible. Signing him for two years looks like a very poor decision by the Phillies. His results indicate that he should be removed from the rotation, but his contract situation, and his poor suitability for a relief role, have kept him in the rotation. He seems unlikely to remain in the rotation all season, and seems unlikely to be on the postseason roster.
Arbitrary Grade: D-

J. A. Happ
Some numbers: 87 IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.91 K/BB, .242 BABIP, 85.9% LOB, 4.51 FIP
Some commentary: Happ has been the Phillies' most effective starter. If Happ had started the season in the rotation, the Phillies' record would, likely, have been better. Happ threw 166 innings in 2008, so the Phillies should try to keep him under 190 innings for the 2009 season. (Starting the season in the bullpen helped, in that area.) Happ's peripheral stats (K/BB, FIP, BABIP, LOB%) indicate that he has been very fortunate, and a sizeable regression may be impending. But Happ is graded based on his results, which have been superb.
Arbitrary Grade: A-

Brett Myers (injured, likely out for season- may return as a reliever in Sept.)
Some numbers: 63.2 IP, 4.66 ERA, 2.30 K/BB, .268 BABIP, 86.1% LOB, 6.22 FIP
Some commentary: Myers was surrendering homers by the bushel, before his injury. As mediocre as his numbers were, his peripherals indicated that they were likely to get worse. Re-signing Myers as a free agent would not be advisable.
Arbitrary Grade: D+

Chan Ho Park
Some numbers: (25 appearances, 7 starts) 59.0 IP, 5.49 ERA, 1.92 K/BB, .336 BABIP, 65.5% LOB, 4.00 FIP
Some commentary: Signing Park for $2.5 million, and giving him a spot in the starting rotation, was ill-conceived. After a horrendous performance as a starter (7.29 ERA), Park has been satisfactory (3.16 ERA) as a reliever. He has had some poor luck, which appears to be starting to even out. If the Phillies' bats hadn't saved them from several losses in Park's starts, the Phils would not be in first place.
Arbitrary Grade: C- (overall), F (as a starter)

Antonio Bastardo (currently on DL)
Some numbers: (5 starts) 22.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 2.38 K/BB, .329 BABIP, 59.2% LOB, 5.01 FIP
Some commentary: Bastardo may have been promoted before he was ready. He was overpowering at times, unlucky at times, and out of control at times.
Arbitrary Grade: C-

Rodrigo Lopez (currently on DL)
Some numbers: (2 starts) 11.1 IP, 3.18 ERA, 4.00 K/BB, .315 BABIP, 69.2% LOB, 2.18 FIP
Some commentary: A journeyman northpaw, Lopez looked good in his two starts. He might put up better numbers than Jamie Moyer, if given an extended chance in the rotation. He probably won't get that chance, now that Pedro Martinez has been signed, Lopez may be used out of the bullpen, where he might be a better option than Tyler Walker.
Arbitrary Grade: INC

Relievers

Ryan Madson
Some numbers: 44.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 2.75 K/BB, .293 BABIP, 79.0% LOB, 3.40 FIP
Some commentary: Madson struggled when used in the closer role, but has excelled as a setup man.
Arbitrary Grade: B+

Chad Durbin
Some numbers: 44.1 IP, 4.47 ERA, 1.54 K/BB, .268 BABIP, 73.5% LOB, 5.25 FIP
Some commentary: Durbin has been lucky to put up mediocre numbers. He needs to be the fifth option in the bullpen, but was forced into too many higher leverage situations.
Arbitrary Grade: D+

Clay Condrey (currently on DL)
Some numbers: 34 IP, 3.71 ERA, 1.57 K/BB, .268 BABIP, 76.1% LOB, 4.54 FIP
Some commentary: Condrey has also been lucky, and may be bound for regression. He needs to be used in low leverage situations.
Arbitrary Grade: C-

Brad Lidge
Some numbers: 32 IP, 7.03 ERA, 1.95 K/BB, .375 BABIP, 67.6 % LOB, 5.88 FIP, 2.25 HR/9 (career: .86), 19.5% HR/FB (career: 10.9%)
Some commentary: Lidge has struggled with injury problems. Lidge has struggled with horribly bad luck, particularly with home run balls. His fortune seems bound to improve. But he is graded on his results, and there is only one possible grade for those results.
Arbitrary Grade: F

Jack Taschner (was optioned to AAA)
Some numbers: 27.2 IP, 5.20 ERA, .85 K/BB, .337 BABIP, 73.4% LOB, 5.63 FIP
Some commentary: If Taschner was signed at the major league minimum, it would have been a poor move. Taschner's salary was 835K, and he cost the Phillies a suitable backup catcher (Ronny Paulino, ot Jason Jaramillo) in trade. Taschner was so ineffective that Charlie Manuel barely used him. It was inexplicable that he consumed a roster spot for as long as he did. His ability to put baserunners on was evidenced by his 1.95 WHIP. He did a lot of damage to the ERAs of his bullpen mates.
Arbitrary Grade: F

Scott Eyre
Some numbers: (27 games) 16.2 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.20 K/BB, .239 BABIP, 89.6% LOB, 5.17 FIP
Some commentary: Eyre has been extremely lucky, and regression seems inevitable. The Phillies need to be certain to keep Eyre in LOOGY situations.
Arbitrary Grade: B+

J.C. Romero (suspended for first 50 games of season)
Some numbers: (17 games) 14.1 IP, 3.14 ERA, .92 K/BB, .234 BABIP, 85.6% LOB, 6.27 FIP
Some commentary: Romero has been luckier, than good. Allowing so many baserunners may catch up to him, as it did in his time with Boston. The Phillies need him to split the 8th inning with Madson, and to pitch in mid-high leverage situations. His peripherals indicate those situations may prove dangerous.
Arbitrary Grade: B

Tyler Walker
Some numbers: (9 games) 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 5.00 K/BB, .235 BABIP, 100% LOB, 4.79 FIP
Some commentary: Walker should have taken Taschner's roster spot early in the season. Walker has been rather lucky, and has regularly damaged the ERAs of his teammates. He should be the least-used member of the bullpen.
Arbitrary Grade: C

Sergio Escalona (currently in AAA)
Some numbers: (6 games) 6.1 IP, 2.84 ERA, 2.00 K/BB, .265 BABIP, 75% LOB, 3.22 FIP
Some commentary: Escalona is performed well in his brief MLB opportunities. He could be on the postseason roster. If he didn't have options remaining, he might be on the MLB roster, rather than Walker.
Arbitrary Grade: INC

The Phillies' pitchers have struggled with injuries and poor luck. As a whole, their results have been rather putrid. If they had performed at an average level, the Phillies would have a sizeable division lead. It is no secret that the Phillies need to upgrade their pitching staff, in order to be a viable World Series contender. (Though they may be able to ride their offense to win a weak division.)

Season Review/Preview- Position Players (Now with Arbitrary Grades!)

2009-07-15T22:39:00.006-04:00

Welcome to the 2009 Phillies Season in Review/Preview, Position Players Edition!

Catchers

Carlos Ruiz
Some numbers: .235 AVG, .703 OPS, .310 wOBA, .257 BABIP (.262 career)
Some commentary: Ruiz has been (mostly) a serviceable catcher, which is all the Phils need. He has struggled mightily in June/July (.482 OPS/.488 OPS). Ruiz has been putting up Bakoey offensive numbers, after a strong offensive May.
Arbitrary Grade: C

Paul Bako
Some numbers: .214 AVG, .517 OPS, .238 wOBA, .286 BABIP (.305 career)
Some commentary: Bako is not a major league-quality player, but he has hit as well as Ruiz, since June. "Gabor" is one of my favorite baseball names, but that is not enough to merit a roster spot.
Arbitrary Grade: F

Chris Coste (no longer with organization)
Some numbers: .240 AVG, .711 OPS, .317 wOBA, .307 BABIP (.316 career)
Some commentary: Coste is weak defensively, but far superior with the bat to Bako. Does Bako make up the offensive difference, with his defensive prowess? Probably not. Coste should still be on the roster, Bako should not be in the organization.
Arbitrary Grade: C-

Lou Marson
Some numbers: (AAA) .298 AVG, .748 OPS, .343 wOBA, .363 BABIP
Some commentary: Marson has done well at AAA, and is a far superior hitter to Bako (as are most players). Hopefully, Marson will replace Bako as the backup catcher, for the postseason (if not sooner).
Arbitrary Grade: INC

1B

Ryan Howard
Some numbers: .257 AVG, 22 HR, .870 OPS, .373 wOBA, .306 BABIP (.330 career), 4.9 UZR/150
Some commentary: Howard has improved, substantially, as a fielder (2nd among NL 1B in UZR/150). His low batting average could improve a bit, if his luck improves a bit. Ugly .574 OPS against lefties (139 AB) brings down his numbers, and his overall grade.
Arbitrary Grade: A-

2B

Chase Utley
Some numbers: .313 AVG, 20 HR, 1.004 OPS, .436 wOBA, .330 BABIP (.326 career), 2.6 UZR/150
Some commentary: Utley was expected to miss the first month of the season, but hasn't missed any time at all. In a non-Pujols World, he would be under MVP consideration. Ranks 5th among NL 2B in UZR/150.
Arbitrary Grade: A+

SS

Jimmy Rollins
Some numbers: .229 AVG, 7 HR, .642 OPS, .287 wOBA, .242 BABIP (.297 career), 3.7 UZR/150
Some commentary: Rollins has had a brutal season. His BABIP, and his July numbers (1.078 OPS, 45 AB), indicate that things could be getting better. Ranks 5th among NL SS in UZR/150.
Arbitrary Grade: D

3B

Pedro Feliz
Some numbers: .293 AVG, 6 HR, .756 OPS, .329 wOBA, .317 BABIP (.274 career), 9.3 UZR/150
Some commentary: The slick-fielding Feliz is second among NL 3B in UZR. Feliz' high BABIP indicates that his AVG may regress a bit. Feliz has a .338 OBP in 2009, after struggling to exceed .300 in previous seasons.
Arbitrary Grade: B

LF

Raul Ibanez
Some numbers: .309 AVG. 22 HR, 1.015 OPS, .426 wOBA, .314 BABIP (.311 career), HR/FB: 24.2% (12.9% career), -1.2 UZR/150
Some commentary: The Ibanez signing might be questionable a year from now, but it has been a great move at this point. His counting stats could be higher, if he hadn't missed time with a groin injury. His fielding has been surprisingly adequate. His HR rate should regress, as his HR/FB rate of 24.2% is rather aberrant. Ibanez has fattened up his stats against the woeful Nationals (57 AB, 6 HR, .440 AVG, 1.389 OPS). He won't (likely) put up the same numbers in the second half, but he has been one of the Phils' first half MVPs.
Arbitrary Grade: A+

CF

Shane Victorino
Some numbers: .309 AVG, 6 HR, .839 OPS, .368 wOBA, .338 BABIP (.312 career), -12.6 UZR/150
Some commentary: Victorino's NL-worst UZR/150 is disconcerting. Ibanez had UZR/150s of -23.3 and -10.4 in the past two seasons. It seems possible that, somehow, UZR/150 is understating Victorino's defensive skill, while overstating Ibanez'? Victorino's AVG may regress a bit in the second half, but he was a deserving All-Star.
Arbitrary Grade: A-

RF

Jayson Werth
Some numbers: .263 AVG, 20 HR, .884 OPS, .384 wOBA, .290 BABIP (.330 career), 7.1 UZR/150
Some commentary: Werth has 40 HR potential. His AVG could improve, if his luck improves. Werth ranks 3rd in NL UZR/150. Another deserving All-Star.
Arbitrary Grade: A

Reserves

Matt Stairs (OF)
Some numbers: (76 PA), .283 AVG, 4 HR, .951 OPS, .415 wOBA, .333 BABIP (.291 career)
Some commentary: Stairs has done a superb job as a pinch-hitter. He is almost useless in the field.
Arbitrary Grade: B

Greg Dobbs (OF/IF)
Some numbers: (119 PA), .269 AVG, 5 HR, .774 OPS, .330 wOBA, .293 BABIP (.316 career)
Some commentary: Dobbs performs much better when he plays more regularly. Manuel needs to do a better job getting Dobbs PAs.
Arbitrary Grade: B

John Mayberry (OF)
Some numbers: (AAA) .257 AVG, 8 HR, .808 OPS, .362 wOBA, .328 BABIP
Some commentary: Mayberry has struggled at the MLB level this season (.297 in 52 PAs). He needs to play regularly at AAA, but the Phillies' lack of a satisfactory right-handed pinch-hitter/outfielder may keep him with the parent club.
Arbitrary Grade: INC

Eric Bruntlett (IF/OF)
Some numbers: (84 PAs) .139 AVG, .416 OPS, .192 wOBA, .185 BABIP (.273 career)
Some commentary: It is disturbing that Bruntlett has more PAs than Stairs. Bruntlett has not been lucky at the plate, but he also hasn't been good. His offensive stats are historically bad. If he was a "25th Man", who rarely played (and didn't have a 800K salary, 500K perhaps?), and helped clean up around the clubhouse, he might not hurt the Phils as much. But Manuel giving him 150 PAs is a disaster.
Arbitrary Grade: F

With the exception of Jimmy Rollins, and the catchers, the Phillies' position players have performed very well. Their bench has been a glaring weakness, with only two useful players (Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs), only one of whom (Dobbs) is adequate defensively. The Phils desperately need a right-handed hitting outfielder/pinch-hitter, and would be in bad shape if any of their starting position players were injured. However, there may not be another MLB team that can match the ability of the Phillies' starting lineup.

Pedro Officially (Unofficially) a Phillie, All-Star Action

2009-07-14T23:47:00.008-04:00

Multiple sources are reporting that free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez has agreed to terms with the Phillies, on a contract for the remainder of the 2009 season (including the playoffs, World Series, and post-Series parade).
Martinez will, reportedly, earn $1 million, plus a possible $1.5 million in incentives. A press conference will be held Wednesday. Martinez will report to the minors, for an immediate rehab assignment, likely lasting until the end of July (three starts?)
It's not clear where he will start his minor league assignment, at this point.
(Let me take this opportunity to recommend that he start in Reading (AA). I'd give him the ball this Sunday, at home against the Rock Cats, with R-Phils starter Mike Stutes taking over once Martinez hits his pitch limit. The Martinez/Stutes combo would follow Yohan Flande, Kyle Drabek, and Joe Savery, and precede Vance Worley in the rotation. After one or two starts with Reading, he could make one or two starts in Lehigh Valley (AAA), sharing Brian Mazone's spot in the rotation. Mazone, who has spent most of the season as a reliever, could replace Martinez in the fifth/sixth inning. This would, hopefully, minimize disruption to the starting pitchers currently at each level.)

The Phillies missed an opportunity by waiting until Wednesday for the official Martinez announcement. I'm guessing that Bud Selig and the MLB Overlords would have been all for this plan:

*********************************************************************************
(All-Star Game, St. Louis, Bottom of the 1st Inning)
(Cardinals' All-Star Albert Pujols strides to the plate, amidst raucous cheers.)

PA Announcer: May I have your attention, please. Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro has a brief announcement.

(Crowd is startled, but there are few boos. Because: St. Louis.)
(Amaro exits the National League dugout, and walks, purposefully, to the mound. He is wearing a suit, carrying a Phillies cap in his left hand, and a microphone in his right. American League starting pitcher Roy Halladay steps off the rubber, from where Amaro addresses the crowd.)

Amaro: Thank you. The Philadelphia Phillies would like to announce that Pedro Martinez has agreed to terms with the organization. Martinez will join the team for the remainder of the season, and he will share a float with Jimmy Rollins, in the World Championship parade.

(There are scattered cheers from the crowd, with the only boos coming from non-St. Louis fans. Albert Pujols, now in the on-deck circle, applauds.)

Amaro: Just one more quick thing. The Phillies are also pleased to announce the acquisition of starting pitcher Roy Halladay.

(Roy Halladay removes his Blue Jays uniform top, revealing a Phillies uniform underneath. Amaro hands him the Phillies hat. Amaro and Halladay leave the mound, and head to the NL dugout, where Halladay is greeted by some of his new Phillies teammates.)

Amaro (to Jayson Werth): Jayson, we should talk...
Shane Victorino (to Halladay): (shows Halladay his WS ring) We're going to get another one of these. No questions asked.
**********************************************************************************

The AAA All-Star Game will take place Wednesday night, at 10pm Eastern time.
The game will be aired, live, on ESPN2. Andrew Carpenter, Mike Cervenak, and Andy Tracy will represent the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Joe Morgan will not represent ESPN2 on this broadcast, which is more than reason enough to tune in.

The AA All-Star Game will take place Wednesday night, at 7pm Eastern time.
This is the All-Star Game I want to see. Naturally, it does not appear to be televised. (Hopefully, there will be a broadcast somewhere on the internets.) The Reading Phillies will be represented by Vance Worley, Joe Savery, Neil Sellers, Michael Taylor, and Quintin Berry. (Kyle Drabek has only pitched 46.2 innings at AA (61.2 in A) this season, or else he would probably be on the team.)

The Clearwater Threshers (A) play their next game Wednesday night, against the Brevard County Manatees. The First Place/Juggernaut Sea Cows?! Again?! Who makes this schedule?

Pedro, Halladay, and All-Star Updates

2009-07-13T17:43:00.003-04:00

Pedro Martinez is, reportedly, headed to Philadelphia, for a physical on Tuesday. It looks like this is getting very close.
The keys to this acquisition:
-the only costs associated with this deal are salary costs, no players will be lost as a result
-the salary costs are low enough that the Phillies will still be fiscally-able to make additional salary-increasing personnel moves (reports indicate that Martinez is concerned more about playing for a contender, than salary, and that he will only be paid between $1 and $2 million)
-the expectations for Martinez are: to be a back-of-the-rotation arm, an upgrade over Rodrigo Lopez, and a stopgap to buy additional minor league development time for prospects
-the Phillies need to treat Martinez as a sunk cost: if he doesn't perform on the field and/or has an adverse effect on the clubhouse, Martinez should be invited to hit the bricks, in a timely manner
As long as the Phillies don't keep giving starts to an ineffective Martinez, as they did to Chan Ho Park, this could be a very good move.
Martinez, likely, wouldn't pitch for the Phils before August, as he would need a few minor league starts to build up arm strength.

Roy Halladay estimates that there is a 50% chance that he is traded. Not so sure about the accuracy of that probability, but the Phillies would certainly be among the frontrunners for the ace's services. The Phils have the prospects to trade, the money to pay Halladay (at least for the remainder of his current contract, through 2010), are a playoff contender, and are not in the American League. If Halladay gets dealt this season, it wouldn't be surprising to see him go to Philly.

The possibility of including J.A. Happ in a prospective Halladay deal is a polarizing issue throughout the Phillies' blogosphere.
Happ has been outstanding in 2009, with a 6-0 record, and a 2.90 ERA. The Phillies would not be in 1st place right now, if it wasn't for his efforts. If Happ had started the season in the rotation, as many believed he should have, the Phillies' division lead would likely be larger than four games. Happ is young (26.75), left-handed, and cost-controlled for the immediate future.

Happ has a .242 BABIP, a 85.9% LOB%, and a 4.51 FIP in 2009. These numbers all point very strongly towards possible regression in the (very?) immediate future. He projects as a back-of-the-rotation starter, despite his front-of-the-rotation results in 2009.

Happ seems bound to regress, doesn't quite have the upside of some of the other Phillies' arms (Kyle Drabek, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp), and might be at the height of his trade value right now. If the Phillies can get a Halladay, they should definitely consider trading Happ, especially if his inclusion in a deal allows them to hold on to one of their higher-upside arms.

Charlie Manuel has announced his starting lineup for the All-Star game. It includes 2B Chase Utley batting second, LF Raul Ibanez batting fifth, and CF Shane Victorino in the seventh spot.
Considering that the AL has a northpaw on the mound (Roy Halladay, future Phillie?), it's surprising that Manuel doesn't have left-handed batters Greg Dobbs and Paul Bako in the starting lineup.
I'll be rooting for an NL victory, so that the Phillies have four home games in the World Series (against Detroit). But I won't mind too much if the Phillies' representatives play sparingly, especially the recently-disabled Ibanez, as we don't need any of them sustaining injuries in an exhibition game.

Ryan Howard will be participating in the Home Run Derby.
In one of the infinite parallel universes, the Home Run Derby includes the Phillies' Russell Branyan (the starting DH for the NL) and Matt Stairs (one of the "Wild Card" participants).
But watching Ryan Howard hit bombs is always fun. (Though I'll have that broadcast on mute, in order to listen to the Clearwater Threshers-Daytona Cubs game.)

Bunts and Balks (7/12)

2009-07-13T14:39:00.004-04:00

Kyle Drabek (representing the US) and Yohan Flande (representing the non-US portions of the World) each pitched a scoreless inning in Sunday's Futures Game. It was worth waiting through a four-hour rain delay to watch the top prospects play an exciting seven-inning game.
Drabek retired the side in order in the top of the second, on only eleven pitches. Drabek looked awesome, with low 90's velocity, and tremendous command.
Flande followed in the bottom of the frame, allowing a pair of singles, but no runs. Flande also looked good, striking out two, and mixing a low 90s fastball, with a mid-80s change. Hopefully, Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi liked what he saw from Flande, and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro considers Drabek untouchable.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) completed the first half of their season on Sunday, with a 5-3 loss to the Rochester Red Wings.
The FeHogs were tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the eighth, but usually-reliable reliever Cedrick Bowers gave up two runs (on three hits, one walk), while only procuring two outs. Starter Carlos Carrasco pitched adequately, permitting three runs in six and two-thirds innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts, two home runs allowed). Bowers stranded the two runners he inherited from Carrasco in the seventh.
The FeHogs have a 43-47 record, and are nine games out of first place.

The Reading Phillies (AA) were destroyed by the Harrisburg Senators, 10-3.
The Senators scored five times in the second inning, and four more in the sixth. R-Phils starter Vance Worley destroyed his season stat line, permitting nine runs (on eleven hits!) in only five and one-third innings. (Worley's ERA is now 4.33.) The R-Phils were out-hit seventeen to three.

During the R-Phils' internet broadcasts, the uniforms of the the two teams, as well as the ballpark, are often described in great detail.
Usually, this is done in the first inning, in a few quick, fluid, and meticulous sentences. Very helpful for AA neophytes, such as this replacement-level blogger, who are not always familiar with the uniforms and ballparks at that level. Terrific job, R-Phils!

The Clearwater Threshers (A) were dominated by the Daytona Cubs, 12-2.
The Threshers fell behind 10-1, after four innings. (I turned off the internet broadcast at that point. If the Threshers had their own broadcast, and didn't force us to listen to the opposition's announcers, I might have made it longer.)
Threshers' starter Drew Naylor survived only two innings, giving up five runs (four earned), on five hits and five walks (zero strikeouts). After posting sub-3.00 ERAs in each of the past two months, Naylor has an ERA of 6.00 in July (three starts).
Steve Susdorf supplied most of the Threshers' offense, with three of their five hits, including his second homer. Susdorf's BA had dropped below .400, as a result of a 1 for 8 slump, but he is back at .403, after his 3 for 4 on Sunday.
The Threshers play the Cubs again on Monday night. The Threshers' site lists Chris Carpenter as the scheduled starter for Daytona. Carpenter threw six strong innings on Sunday, but the Threshers may have more success on Monday, especially considering that he will be pitching on zero-days' rest. Tune in to the Daytona Cubs' broadcast-game time is 7:05pm.

Phillies Complete Sweep of Bucs

2009-07-13T12:48:00.003-04:00

With two outs in the first inning, the Phillies had the bases loaded. They had already taken a 1-0 lead, in Sunday's game against the Pirates. With Pedro Feliz at the plate, the Phils had a chance to break the game open. A single would give starting pitcher J.A. Happ a 3-0 lead to work with, which could be enough, considering how well the undefeated rookie southpaw has pitched.

Pedro Feliz failed to get a single, however. After falling behind in the count, 0 and 2, Feliz drove a Virgil Vasquez slider over the wall in left. The grand slam gave the Phillies a quick 5-0 lead. The Phillies' bats went dormant after the first frame, generating only three scattered hits, none of which were converted into runs. The early five-run advantage was sufficient, as J.A. Happ (seven innings, one run), Ryan Madson (scoreless eighth), and J.C. Romero (solo HR allowed in ninth) held the lead. Happ, the early favorite to finish second in NL RoY voting, completes the first half with a 6-0 record, and a sterling 2.90 ERA.

The Phillies complete the first half of their season with a 48-38 record, and a four-game NL East lead over Florida. The Phillies' once-horrific home record has improved to 22-23, as the Phils closed with a nine-win, ten-game homestand. The Phillies are were they want to be, leading the division at the break, but there are many questions to be answered in the second half. Will Cole Hamels return to form? Will Roy Halladay and/or Pedro Martinez join Hamels in the rotation? Will Paul Bako really remain the backup catcher? Will Eric Bruntlett really remain on an MLB roster? Which minor league prospects will be dealt to fortify the parent club's roster? (Kyle Drabek? Carlos Carrasco? Jack Taschner? Michael Taylor? Crazy Hot Dog Vendor?) Stay tuned for a maelstrom of personnel moves, as the Phillies try to protect their division lead, and replenish their roster for another long postseason run.

Welcome to Bakotopia!

2009-07-12T02:36:00.005-04:00

Exhilarating. Bakotastic. Miraculous. Devoid of Bruntlett. Not sure which term best describes the incredible events that transpired at CBP on Saturday night. As play entered the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies trailed Pittsburgh, 7-3. The Phils had a Win Expectancy of only 2.0%. This game post had already written itself: start with a Joe Biden reference (the VP was at the game, didn't leave early, and autographed a fan's Tasmanian Devil t-shirt), blame poor luck (check out BABIP/LOB % and K/BB!) for Cole Hamels' poor results (six innings, five runs), close with the usual Gabor Paul Bako II excoriation (no explanation needed), and call it a night.

The Phillies' lefty-laden lineup, however, wasn't ready to call it quits. Against the Pirates' right-handed closer, Matt Capps, the first six Phillie batters were left-handed. Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs had been bypassed in the sixth inning, when the tying run was on second. (Right-handed John Mayberry flew out against a right-handed pitcher. In Charlie Manuel's defense, Jesse Chavez, the Bucs' hurler, has been much more succesful (.203 v. 273) against left-handed batters.) Stairs started the ninth-inning rally, with a towering home run. A Jimmy Rollins walk and a Chase Utley single followed, and the tying run was at the plate. Slugger Ryan Howard is a pretty good bat to have at the plate in that type of situation. Howard's game-tying homer increased the Phillies' WE by 46.7%, from 11.6% to 58.4%.

Surprisingly, the Pirates opted to keep Capps in the game. Raul Ibanez, in his first game back from the DL, doubled. Jayson Werth was walked intentionally, and Pedro Feliz singled. There was only one out, the Phils had the bases loaded, and the winning run was on third, for...Paul Bako. Yep, the offensively-inept backup catcher was due to bat, with the Phillies' fate depending upon his batting prowess.

With a right-handed, non-position player on the mound, Eric Bruntlett was not a good pinch-hitting option. The rest of the non-pitchers on the Phils' bench had already been used. (Also, with the Phillies' other catcher, Carlos Ruiz, possibly not available, there may not have been a viable Bako-less possibility.)

The offensively-feeble Bako, now OPSing .517, hit a hard grounder through the conveniently drawn-in infield, and the Phils had a shocking walk-off victory. If the Pirates had been at double-play depth, slick-fielding shortstop Jack Wilson may have been able to start a 6-4-3 DP. The Phillies had BABIP on their side in the ninth, as well as some questionable game management by the Pirates. Paul Bako has had an MLB career of unsuccesful at-bats (career wOBA: .274), but he had two run-scoring singles on Saturday, and deserves some credit for his part in the victory. (Not an overabundance of credit, as Bako also played a role in the three homers allowed by Hamels. Plus, the Phils still should have kept Chris Coste over Bako. But Gabor done good on Saturday night.)

The Phillies go for the sweep of the Pirates on Sunday, hoping to finish off a 9-1 homestand. Remember when the Phillies were inexplicably poor at home? Me, neither. J.A. Happ gets the ball for the Phils, as they close out the first half of their season.

Bunts and Balks (7/11)

2009-07-12T01:18:00.002-04:00

Pedro Martinez didn't sign with the Phillies today. Just a matter of time...

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) beat the Rochester Red Wings, 7-5, on Saturday. It wasn't just the parent club that scored a come-from-behind victory on Saturday night. The FeHogs trailed 4-0, after five innings, but exploded for six runs in the sixth. J.J. Furmaniak keyed the rally with a grand slam. (The Red Wings really should have LOOGYfied Furmaniak.)
Brian Mazone, the IronPigs' journeyman southpaw, continued to reacquaint himself with mediocre starting pitching, after focusing on woeful relieving during his time in Albuquerque (earlier this season). Mazone got his pitch count up to fifty-six on Saturday, and permitted four earned runs, over four innings (six hits, zero walks/three strikeouts, two HR allowed).
Steven Register finished up with two scoreless innings, recording his third save.
The FeHogs' bats were 6 for 10, with RISP.

The Reading Phillies (AA) trailed the Harrisburg Senators, 5-1, after an inning. They closed to within 5-4, before falling by that score. Tyson Brummett, bumped from the rotation when the Yohan Flande Era began, has been ineffective in relief. Brummett got another chance to start on Saturday, and was ineffective as a starter. He was responsible for the five Senators' runs in the bottom of the first, and only survived two innings (five hits, zero walks/one strikeout). Brian Stavisky was 2 for 4, with a two-run homer. Quintin Berry had three singles.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) capitalized on strong pitching, and three Daytona Cubs' errors, in a 5-3 Threshers win. Michael Galen Cisco pitched superbly, allowing only two runs (one earned), in six innings (six hits, one walk/two strikeouts). Cisco is now 6-1, with a 2.48 ERA (1.96 ERA as a starter). The twenty-two year old northpaw appears to want Tyson Brummett's roster spot. (Beware: Cisco has a 3.36 K/BB ratio, but he has been a little lucky also (.267 BABIP/80.3% LOB.)

Blanton Beats Bucs Behind Best Bats (Beastly Backstop Bako Blunders)

2009-07-11T02:33:00.008-04:00

When the Phillies traded pitching prospects Josh Outman and Gio Gonzalez for Joe Blanton, I wasn't too impressed. A mediocre, non-innings eater coming from a pitcher-friendly ballpark? No, thanks. When Blanton went 4-0 for the Phils down the stretch, I lamented that he averaged less than six innings a start, and sported a 1.37 WHIP. When he pitched well in the playoffs, and belted a memorable homer, the trade started to look a bit better.

Then Blanton started 2009, by posting an ERA of 8.41 in April. The trade looked horrible again, and only worse performances from Chan Ho Park and Jamie Moyer kept Blanton in the rotation. But J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco, and Andrew Carpenter were all waiting to snag rotation spots from the struggling veterans ahead of them.

On May 26th, Blanton turned his season around, with seven scoreless innings against Florida. Since May 26th, Blanton has made nine starts, only two of which were poor/fewer than six innings. He has pitched at least seven innings in six of those starts, including Friday night's 3-2 win over the Pirates. Blanton pitched seven and one-third innings, permitting only a single run, on four hits (one walk, six strikeouts). Blanton posted a 3.62 ERA in June, and has a stunning .61 ERA in July. That Joe Blanton trade was, truly, a masterful move. One of the best trades in franchise history, without a doubt. (Better than Rick Wise for Steve Carlton, you ask? Well, no. At least not yet...)

The Phillies' offense only contributed five hits on Friday, all from All-Stars (Shane Victorino had three hits, Jayson Werth and Chase Utley each had one). But they scraped together three third-inning markers, which proved sufficient. J.C. Romero relieved Blanton in the eighth, and retired all three batters he faced. Typically, Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel will bring closer Brad Lidge at the beginning of the ninth. However, on Friday, he kept the southpaw Romero in the game to retire the left-handed LaRoche (Adam). Lidge was called in to retire the right-handed LaRoche (Andy). Manuel's bullpen machinations worked out very well on Friday. Well, at least until Lidge surrendered a two-out solo home run. After permitting a single to the following batter, Lidge secured the save, with a game-ending strikeout. Manuel has displayed some very promising thought processes this week, with the exception of his continued use of Eric Bruntlett and Paul Bako to appear in baseball games.

The Phillies play the Pirates again Saturday, with ace Cole Hamels picking up his eighth win. Raul Ibanez will homer, in his return to the lineup, and Ryan Madson will pick up the save. (Brad Lidge, having pitched in consecutive days, will have the day off.) Paul Bako will also extend his hitless streak to three games. But you should still tune in, just to see what kind of shenanigans Sarge and Muffin get into.

Jayson Werth Joins All-Star Team, Chris Coste Joins Astros Team

2009-07-11T01:16:00.005-04:00

Jayson Werth was added to the All-Star game, as an injury replacement. Werth's addition means all three Phillies' starting outfielders are on the All-Star team. Werth was a worthy candidate, and his ability to play center field was likely needed on the roster. Watching Ryan Braun play center would be enjoyable, but this game COUNTS, so Manager Charlie Manuel needs some positional flexibility. (If the National League wins, the Phillies get the extra home game in the World Series. This means that Roy Halladay would face Justin Verlander at Citizens Bank Park, rather than Comerica Park, in Game 7. Additionally, an NL win would give the Eagles and Flyers each an extra $5 million of salary cap room.)

Raul Ibanez was activated, and added to the Phillies' 25-Man Roster on Friday. Chris Coste was designated for assignment, and was claimed on outright waivers by the Houston Astros.
This move is a somewhat baffling, and rather perturbing. Starting catcher Carlos Ruiz was not available on Friday, due to injury, leaving the Phillies with one available catcher. Ibanez did not play, as the Pirates had a southpaw on the mound. Why not keep Ibanez on the DL until Ruiz was ready, or at least until Saturday, when Pittsburgh starts a northpaw?
John Mayberry, Jr. was kept on the Phils' roster as a right-handed pinch-hitter/the (fourth?) of five and one-eighth outfielders. (Note: Eric Bruntlett is the .125.) Mayberry is better defensively than the alternatives, and provides a feasible right-handed bench bat, but would he be better-served playing every day in AAA?

Did the Phillies ditch the wrong backup backstop? Quite possibly. Paul Bako is better defensively than Coste, but far inferior offensively. Bako (.457 OPS) is far inferior offensively to most poor-hitting pitchers. If Phillies' General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. had learned anything from my fervent use of violent hyperbolic language to describe Bako's ineptitude with the bat, the GM would have DFA'd Gabor.
Coste (.724 OPS) had, obviously, fallen out of favor with the Phillies, as Bako was taking his starts, and Eric Bruntlett (.416 OPS) was seen as a superior pinch-hitting option. Even if the Phillies place a higher premium on defense from their backup catcher, Coste's considerable superiority at the plate should have saved his roster spot.
Hopefully, Lou Marson will be promoted from Lehigh Valley (AAA), and make the majority of the starts, if Carlos Ruiz needs to go on the DL at any point. Actually, the Phillies should consider recalling Marson to replace Bako, regardless of Ruiz' status. Giving two or three starts a week to Bako doesn't seem like a very good idea.
Perhaps an even worse idea than giving Eric Bruntlett 150 at-bats a season.