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

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.

Bunts and Balks (7/6)

The Toronto Blue Jays are now, reportedly, "open to offers" for ace Roy Halladay. Halladay would be an excellent #3 starter, behind J.A. Happ and Cole Hamels, making the Phils even more formidable in the playoffs. With the possible exceptions of Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor, the Phillies should consider dealing any of their prospects. Carlos Carrasco? Andrew Carpenter? Julian Sampson? Lou Marson? Dominic Brown? Michael Taylor? Yohan Flande? Jack Taschner? Steve Susdorf? Vance Worley? The Phillies have the available prospects to get this done.
(Prediction: Halladay goes to the Yankees, who eat the salary of overpaid/underperforming Jays' outfielder Vernon Wells, to get the deal done. Hopefully, the Jays won't want to trade Halladay within their own division/league...)

Jack is back! Jack Taschner was optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA), after the DFA Plan failed to expunge him from the organization. Taschner is a sunk cost at this point, might as well have him in AAA, eating an occasional partial inning. If the parent club needs a pitcher to appear once a month, with negligible effectiveness, Taschner would be the top recall option. (Had hoped to retire the "Jack Taschner" tag, but, alas, that day has not yet come.)

Raul Ibanez (finally) made a rehab start, for Reading (AA). The All-Star outfielder batted three times, going 0 for 2, with a walk. His injured groin is showing improvement, and he expects to play a few games with Lehigh Valley, before a possible weekend return for the P-Phils.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were trounced by the Syracuse SkyChiefs, 9-3, on Monday. The game wasn't really that close- the FeHogs scored two of their runs in garbage time (ninth inning, trailing by eight runs). LV had eleven hits, but only three were for extra bases (all doubles), and left ten men on base. Starter Brian Mazone was removed after fifty-three pitches, allowing three runs (one earned), in two and two-thirds mediocre innings.

The Reading Phillies (AA) wasted a strong performance by untouchable prospect Kyle Drabek, in a 4-3 loss to the Connecticut Defenders. Drabek permitted two runs in seven innings (six hits, one walk/six strikeouts), leaving with the score tied at two. Deposed starter Tyson Brummett, who lost his rotation spot to Yohan Flande, gave up two runs in the eighth, and took the loss. Pitching in relief has not been working out for Brummett (5.33 relief innings, 5 earned runs allowed.) Brian Stavisky went 3 for 4, accumulating half of the R-Phils' hits. Connecticut is now a ridiculous 30-12 on the road.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 12-0. Definitely one of the Flying Tigers' most successful missions. Drew Naylor took the loss, in a six-inning/five-run outing. Naylor was knocked around for nine hits and a walk (three strikeouts).

Bunts and Balks (Taschner Independence Weekend Edition)

Jack Taschner was finally removed from the Phillies' roster, as he was DFA'd on Friday. Taschner was jettisoned to open a roster spot for starter Rodrigo Lopez. Taschner departs with a 5.20 ERA, 5.61 WHIP, and a .85 K/BB. It was likely Taschner's 835K guaranteed contract that kept him at the MLB level, as Manager Charlie Manuel had almost no confidence in the southpaw. Taschner was acquired in exchange for catcher Ronny Paulino, who had been acquired for catcher Jason Jaramillo. Either of those two backstops would have, likely, contributed more to the organization.
Taschner thanked the Phillies for doing him a solid, and designating him for assignment, rather than simply optioning him to Lehigh Valley (AAA). But the Phillies may be hopeful of at least getting off the hook for a portion of his salary, if another team picks him up for the MLB minimum. (It doesn't seem likely that another team will pick him up within ten days, and pay him his full MLB salary. It wouldn't be surprising if no team picks him up, and he joins the IronPigs.)

Paul Bako started behind the plate Saturday, for the third time in four games. This is rather puzzling. Is the slumping Carlos Ruiz injured? Chris Coste, also? Are they showcasing Bako for a trade, hoping that the increased time at the MLB level will help them acquire a mediocre A-ball reliever, rather than a terrible A-ball reliever, for the offensively-challenged receiver? Bako has done about as well as expected at the plate, with a .214 BA/.278 wOBA.

Scott Eyre returns to the Phillies on Sunday. Sergio Escalona was optioned to the IronPigs (again) to open a roster spot. Eyre's presence should push reliever Tyler Walker into Jack Taschner's ultra-low leverage role.
At least Escalona is making MLB money, and accumulating MLB service time, during his abbreviated appearances on the Phils' roster.

Raul Ibanez has returned to Philadelphia, as his minor league rehab has been postponed. The Phils hope Ibanez will be able to return to his rehab assignment this week. It's a bit disconcerting that he was sent to Reading for rehab, and then returned to Philly without any game action.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs lost their third game in a row on Saturday, blowing a 2-1 ninth-inning lead, in a 3-2 twelve-inning loss. On Friday, the FeHogs lost both games of their First Ever Day-Night Doubleheader. Starter Brian Mazone, on a low pitch count, pitched two innings in Friday's 12:35pm loss, 4-0, to the Syracuse SkyChiefs. In the second game, a 7-1 loss, Andrew Carpenter permitted seven runs (five earned), on ten hits (three walks/six strikeouts), in five and two-thirds innings.
In Saturday night's come-from-ahead loss, Gary Majewski blew a two-inning save opportunity, wasting Gustavo Chacin's strong start (seven and one-third innings, seven hits, one run, one walk/five strikeouts).
The FeHogs fell to four games under .500, after their historic ascent to the .500 mark, for the first time ever, ended last week.

The Reading Phillies (AA) won in eleven innings on Friday, 4-3 over the Altoona Curve. The R-Phils only needed nine inning on Saturday, defeating the Connecticut Defenders, 7-5. On Friday, Mike Stutes permitted three runs (seven hits, zero walks/five strikeouts) over six innings, and the bullpen (rehabbing Scott Eyre, Mike Zagurski, Alex Concepcion, and Jason Mackintosh) followed with five scoreless frames. In Saturday's win, Joe Savery was touched for five runs over seven innings (ten hits, two walks/four strikeouts), but still recorded his eleventh win.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Dunedin Blue Jays, 10-5 on Friday, and 8-1 on Saturday. Friday night's starter, Julian Sampson, was bombed for seven earned runs, in only three and two-thirds innings (seven hits, four walks/four strikeouts). Saturday's starter, Tyler Cloyd surrendered five runs (two earned) over five and two-thirds innings (eight hits, three walks/one strikeout). Cloyd obtained two outs on the ground, and fourteen through the air, not a very CBP-viable ratio.

Bunts and Balks (6/25)

Jack Taschner surrendered a triple, a double, and a walk in one inning on Thursday. Taschner was fortunate to only allow one run. His ERA is a crisp 5.40, which understates the level of his ineptitude. (His 5.82 FIP and 1.87 WHIP, prior to Thursday's debacle, are better indicators.) How is he even still on this team? Gary Majewski, Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona, and (insert rotating cast of fungible, DFA'd relievers here) would all be superior options. Ugh.

Paul Bako is still on the P-Phils roster. Even less useful than Taschner...If the Phils trade Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, and Lou Marson, they should take their chances with Lehigh Valley (AAA) backup Paul Hoover over Gabor Paul Bako II.

How did Pedro Feliz and 1st Base Coach Davey Lopes combine to not make Feliz aware of the number of outs? Since when do the WFCs make mental errors, costing them extra outs and extra runs? Being doubled off first, before Matt Stairs could score on a one-out sacrifice fly, is unacceptable.

Jimmy Rollins watched the P-Phils lose to Tampa from the dugout. Hope the day off helped, as even Bad Rollins would have been an upgrade over his replacement, Eric Bruntlett.

Eric Bruntlett went 0 for 4 with a strikeout (and 3 LOB, now batting a gaudy .145), in Thursday night's loss.
Bruntlett made an outstanding defensive play on a first-inning pickoff of B.J. Upton. The rest of the night he killed the team on offense and defense. As Bruntlett is fairly useless, why not try Pedro Feliz at SS, with Greg Dobbs at 3B, and Chris Coste at 1B? Things couldn't go much worse...

Starter Antonio Bastardo left the game with shoulder stiffness. Hopefully, he won't miss any time. If he does, is it Carlos Carrasco's turn?

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) broke an eighth inning tie, beating the Indianapolis Indians, 5-4.
Kyle Kendrick had a mediocre outing, allowing four runs over six innings (five hits, three walks/three strikeouts). Kendrick was victimized by a pair of solo home runs. Jake Woods got the win, with two scoreless, and Steven Register finished for the save. Andy Tracy, Miguel Cairo, and Lou Marson had two hits apiece, as the FeHogs totaled ten hits.

The Reading Phillies (AA) drabeked the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 9-3.
Kyle Drabek permitted three runs, all in the sixth inning, in his seven and one-third inning start.
Drabek allowed six hits, and had an outstanding 9:1 K/BB ratio. Mike Zagurski got the final five outs for the save, allowing only one hit. Zagurski should replace Jack Taschner (or Paul Bako) on the P-Phils roster last week. Jeremy Slayden was three for five, improving his AA average to a tidy .467.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-6, in twelve innings.
Drew Naylor pitched poorly (six and one-third innings, six runs (four earned), nine hits, two walks/two strikeouts), but the bullpen (Christopher Kissock, Walter Tejeda, Santo Hernandez) held Jupiter scoreless the rest of the way. Matt Rizzotti had a homer and three RBIs, including the game-winner.
The big question raised by tonight's four-hour plus battle was "Why don't the Threshers have their own internet broadcasts available?" Listening to the extra innings, as interpreted by the Jupiter Hammerheads' announcer, was about as pleasurable as watching Jack Taschner pitch.

Phils Lose Fourth Straight

The Phillies continued to stumble around in one of the valleys of their 2009 season, losing their fourth straight game, 7-2 to Baltimore, on Friday night. In their 8-6 loss to Toronto on Thursday, the Phils' offense could not counter the destruction caused by their pitching counterparts (Joe Blanton, et al.), combined with some mental midgetry afield (ex. Marco Scutaro stealing second base on a walk, as the oblivious Phillies lost focus.) On Friday, their offense was non-existent, while their pitching and defense displayed destructive tendencies. It was still a winnable game for the Phils, heading into the ninth, when a familiar, command-deficient reliever put one in the win column for the Fightin O's.

Phillies' rookie starter Antonio Bastardo deserved a better fate. Bastardo consumed seven innings, leaving only two to the embattled Phils' relief corps. The southpaw permitted four runs in those seven innings, but his performance was far better than the eventual results. Bastardo had five separate innings, in which he retired the side in order. He surrendered only five hits, striking out five, and walking none. Seventy-three of his one-hundred eight pitches were strikes. If it wasn't for defensive miscues by Chase Utley, John Mayberry, and Ryan Howard, none of whom were penalized with an error for their trangressions, Bastardo's ERA would have been significantly less scarred. Rightfielder Jayson Werth's two-run, two-out, first inning double might have been enough to earn Bastardo his third win. The rookie was a hard luck loser, but he has certainly earned another turn in the rotation. (Unless the Phils acquire Doug Davis, or Clay Buchholz, before that turn comes up.)

Manager Charlie Manuel, at the suggestion of coach Davey Lopes, started Jayson Werth in his familiar right field, moving John Mayberry to left field. Mayberry is more comfortable in right, and his stronger throwing arm makes him more suited to right than Jayson Werth. Mayberry made a crucial misplay, but it is hard to fault Manuel for this. Werth has been one of the few players contributing offensively as of late, and Manuel is trying to make him comfortable defensively, so he can perform better offensively. In the seventh inning, with the Phillies trailing only 4-2, the Phillies' manager brought Eric Bruntlett out to pinch-"hit", leaving Chris Coste on the bench. But it is hard to fault Manuel for this move, as the Orioles have a left-handed closer (George Sherrill), and Manuel was saving Coste's right-handed bat for later in the game. Coste's pinch-hitting appearance against Sherrill in the ninth inning would have been significant, if it wasn't for questionable bullpen deployment by Manuel.

In the eighth inning, with the Phillies only trailing by two, Manuel brought reliever Jack Taschner into the game. Given the exhausted status of his bullpenners, using the typically-ineffective Taschner may have been necessary. Taschner shocked the world, working around a hit and a walk, keeping the O's off the scoreboard. Unfortunately, Manuel tempted the Baseball Fates, and kept Taschner in for a second inning. Taschner permitted four hits and three runs in the ninth, reducing the Phils' Win Expectancy from 7.8% to 0.8%. Taschner pitching multiple innings in an un-winnable game is an event that we should see more of, but multiple Taschner innings in a winnable game shouldn't happen.

The Phillies will try to snap their losing streak Saturday, with J.A. Happ on the mound. Ace Cole Hamels gets the ball on Sunday. Against the cellar-dwelling Orioles, these are home games that the Phillies need to win.

Phils Navigate their Dark Period

It was the great musician Dewey Cox who once said, "This is my dark (expletive deleted) period!" None of the Phillies have had to deal with the trauma of losing both of their wives to free agency at the same time, or the accidental machete-halving of a younger sibling. (Though "The Pen" could reveal otherwise in future episodes, particularly if MLBN brings in Ugueth Urbina for a ratings-grabbing cameo.) But the team has faced quite a bit of adversity this week, and the darkness is beginning to permeate the Phils' roster, as well as the fans' collective psyche.

The week started with the dizzying highs of a victory over the 2009 AL Champion Red Sox, and the bullpen's ascension into reality television stardom. Unfortunately, in Tuesday night's come-from-ahead loss to Toronto, the 'pen displayed signs of vertigo, turning a 3-2 Hamels victory, into a walk-riddled 8-3 defeat. "Everyday" Clay Condrey retired one batter in the tenth, while allowing five runs. Condrey wasn't helped by newly-promoted, should-be-a-ROOGY, Tyler Walker, who permitted three inherited runners to score. After logging four innings on Tuesday night, the Phils' relief corps worked another three frames on Wednesday. Jamie Moyer ate only six-plus innings, surrendering six runs, in the 7-1 loss.

The Phillies' offense, which almost solely consisted of daily home runs by Jayson Werth, didn't offer the pitchers much support. For the most part, the Phils' bats were quieted by Jays' starters Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond. Having their mighty bats overpowered by Romero and Richmond, who are not exactly household names, was rather embarrasing, right? Well, if your household hasn't heard of these two starters, they may be in need of some additional Baseball Education. Even if you choose not to pay attention to such things as the "American League", Romero is a first-round draft pick, who has overcome injury issues to put up some good starts this season. Richmond appears to have overcome the disappointment of not appearing for Canada in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, winning the AL Rookie of the Month award in April, and helping the starting pitching issue-laden Jays remain competitive. Losing to these two more-than-serviceable pitchers was disconcerting, but far from embarrassing. (Does anyone else think of Scott D. Service whenever they see the phrase "serviceable pitcher?" Never mind.)

The overuse of the Phillies' bullpen? Now, that's embarrassing. The Phillies have reduced their bullpen crew to six relievers, or 6.05 relievers, if you count Jack Taschner. The Phillies' starting pitchers have been, routinely, pitching only five or six innings a game. Well, except for when they pitch less, sometimes much less. The Phillies need their bullpenners to have fully-functioning throwing arms during the postseason, but that doesn't seem likely at their current pace. It doesn't appear that the starting pitchers are likely to suddenly start going deeper into games, increasing their bullpen size by 1.95 relievers seems to be necessary. Taschner needs to be relied upon, at minimum, to fill in some innings on a regular basis. Preferably, low-leverage innings, considering his performance-to-date. If Taschner can't handle such a role, or Manager Charlie Manuel doesn't feel he can rely on him in those situations, Taschner needs to be replaced.

Third-string catcher Paul Bako was added to the roster, at the expense of a reliever, to serve as a deterrent to the use of Eric Bruntlett as a pinch-hitter. Even ignoring the illogic of utilizing 4% of your roster, for the purpose of discouraging the use of another 4%, this personnel move has not worked. Bruntlett still escapes the Phillies' dugout on a regular basis, much to the dismay of Phillies fans everywhere. Bako needs to be replaced by a reliever now, before any million-dollar appendages are found by bullpen coach Mick Billimeyer.

The height of the Dark Period may have occurred Thursday, when MVP Raul Ibanez was placed on the DL. Ibanez has been plagued by groin issues, and may be out longer than fifteen days. There was no way the Phillies could have predicted that playing a 37 year-old outfielder just about every inning, with the exception of his DH Days at New Yankee Stadium, might lead to an injury. The loss of Ibanez is almost too demoralizing for this blogger to consider right now. So, we'll try to draw some positives from the situation. Ibanez will, finally, get some days off. John Mayberry has been recalled, and will get some MLB at bats. (Hopefully, against southpaws, for the most part.) Greg Dobbs and Matt Stairs should see some time against right-handers, and more regular appearances should help the two bench players. When Mayberry is on the bench, the Phils have a viable (i.e. non-Bruntlett) right-handed pinch-hitting option, besides Chris Coste. (Maybe this will help encourage the removal of Bako from the roster...) Losing Ibanez, with closer Brad Lidge and #2 starter Brett Myers already on the DL, is tough. But the Phillies have enough talent to remain in the division race, and it's better to lose Ibanez and Lidge to injury now, than in September.

Joe Blanton starts for the Phils against Toronto on Thursday afternoon. The over/under for Phillies' relievers needed is four. (The "over" would be the smart bet.) The Phillies have the ability to escape their Dark Period, just as Dewey Cox did. Will the Phils will be able to reach Cox' level of all-encompassing brilliance? That remains to be seen, but it's going to continue to be quite the ride.

Bunts and Balks (6/15)

The Phillies made no personnel moves on Monday.
Jack Taschner and Antonio Bastardo remain on the roster. It wouldn't be surprising, if one of them was optioned to AAA, prior to Tuesday's game against Toronto.
The Phillies will need a starting pitcher on Friday (or Saturday) against Baltimore. (J.A. Happ would be on his regular day on Friday.) They haven't announced that Bastardo will remain in the rotation, and his one-inning start against Boston highlighted the need for more minor league seasoning.
Carlos Carrasco started Monday night for Lehigh Valley (AAA), and would be on his regular day on Saturday.
Andrew Carpenter is scheduled to start Tuesday night for Lehigh Valley, but could be scratched, and start for the Phils on Friday or Saturday.
If they decide that Carrasco or Carpenter will start this weekend, the Phils could option Bastardo prior to Tuesday's game, and recall another bullpen arm. (Preferably, a bullpen arm on the 40-Man roster, with options remaining. For example, Reading (AA) lefty Mike Zagurski.)
On Friday or Saturday, either Taschner or (Zagurski?) could be optioned, opening a spot for Carrasco or Carpenter. (The Taschner for Carrasco option gets my vote.)

Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins lead at their positions in All-Star voting. Ryan Howard is in a distant second, behind Albert Pujols. Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz are in fourth at their respective positions. Among outfielders, Shane Victorino is fifth, and Jayson Werth is eighth, with the top three vote-getters going to St. Louis.
Ruiz and Feliz may deserve spots, based on their performances this season. Rollins doesn't deserve a spot, based on his performance this season. Ryan Howard should go, but may lose out because there is a glut of good first-sackers to back-up Pujols on the team. With each team guaranteed at least one representative, we may only see Phillies who are voted in, on the squad.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs beat the Durham Bulls, 8-5, on Monday night.
Carlos Carrasco got the win, surrending four runs in six and a third innings. (Two of those runs scored, when Gary Majewski relieved Carrasco in the seventh.) Steven Register pitched two scoreless innings for the save. Roster-fillers Jason Ellison and David Newhan each contributed three hits, to the thirteen-hit IronPigs attack. Lehigh Valley scored in six consecutive innings, the second through the seventh.

The Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Harrisburg Senators, 5-2, on Monday morning. Yep, Monday morning.
The game started at 9:35 AM! Joe Savery is unbeatable before noon. Savery pitched six innings, and allowed just one hit. Savery is now 8-1, with a 3.47 ERA. Through my HP speakers, Savery sounded like he is almost ready for AAA. Neil Sellers, Gus Milner, and Kevin Mahar had homers for the R-Phils.

The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Sarasota Reds, 7-3.
The Threshers made three errors, and went 1 for 8 with men in scoring position. Julian Sampson got blasted, permitting six runs (on eight hits, with three walks/three strikeouts), in five innings. Sampson is now 1-7, with an 8.06 ERA. Sampson is also 20 years old, with a .358 BABIP, and a 55.6 LOB%.
Things could get better for the young right-hander, though Ruben Amaro probably shouldn't hesitate to include Sampson in the Halladay trade.

Cole Hamels starts for the P-Phils on Tuesday night, opposed by the Toronto Blue Jays' Ricky Romero.
Hamels shouldn't have much trouble picking up his fifth win. Lock it up!

"The Pen"- Episode One

The long-awaited premiere episode of "The Pen", the "reality show" featuring the Phillies' bullpen, aired tonight. It wasn't bad. It was a little more documentary, and a little less "fly on the wall" than I would have preferred. But, it was the introductory episode, and subsequent editions may feature more behind-the-scenes shenanigans. We all want the shenanigans, and we all know that Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey can bring us the aforementioned shenanigans.

In the months of waiting for Episode One, I have pondered many possible storylines for the series:

• Brad Lidge taking Sergio Escalona to his first rodeo.
• J.C. Romero shopping at GNC, meticulously studying the warning labels.
• Ryan Madson winning an immunity challenge, by placing 147 snails on the head of a slumbering Matt Stairs.
• Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin cooking at CBP, with Emeril Lagasse. (Durbin spends most of the episode peeling garlic.)
• Scott Eyre climbing the roof at CBP. While wearing a cape.
• Jack Taschner fighting crime, on the cold, hard streets of South Philly. (Also wearing a cape.)
• The whole bullpen celebrating Taschner's birthday together. At Dave and Buster's!

Future episodes may include some, or all, of the above. (Spoiler Alert: The only thing certain is that Taschner will play a crucial role as the series progresses. Otherwise, it just doesn't make sense that he is still on the team.)

Episode One did include a number of memorable moments:

• Clay Condrey indicating that "only pretty boys smile" at an 8am photo shoot for the show.
• Scott Eyre with his Little League-playing son. Spring Training in Clearwater afforded Eyre the opportunity to attend a lot of his son's games. Eyre's son, a pitcher, claims "it's easier to throw strikes, if I throw slow."
• Kyle Kendrick's demotion is a "step backwards, to step forwards."
• Ruben Amaro wants to tell J.A. Happ that Happ has made the club, in order to help the pitcher "get the monkey off his ass."
• During the (World Series) Ring Ceremony, Muffin calls the ring a "pretty good piece of bling."
• Chad Durbin says that Harry Kalas' voice is the "narrator for your dreams."
• Jack Taschner's wife, son, and brand new daughter are introduced. How can we root for his demotion now? (Well, he gets his $835K, even if he is coming out of the Lehigh Valley bullpen, so I think I am still OK with his demotion.)

The best part, at least to this fan, was when they showed the Phillies' management team discussing their roster decisions for the pitching staff. Though I was disappointed that Muffin and the Phanatic didn't appear to be involved in the meeting, it was surprising that the cameras would be allowed to tape such candid conversations about Phillies' players. I wonder if the cameras caused the management team to speak more diplomatically about the players, than they would have otherwise?

Naturally, part of the focus of that conversation was Taschner's status with the team. Manuel spoke bluntly about Taschner's lack of command. But Taschner's left-handedness won out, and he made the team, at the expense of right-hander Gary Majewski. If only someone had realized that Taschner wasn't particularly effective against batters of either handed-ness...

The next episode promises to answer questions, such as "Are Brad Lidge's issues real?" and "Who will lose his roster spot, when J.C. Romero returns?" Phillies fans already know the answers to these questions, but we'll tune in, just in case they show Condrey, Durbin, and Eyre fishing together. The question "Who is the second-best fisherman?" remains unanswered. (Condrey is, obviously, the best of the three. No questions asked.)

Phils' Pitching Implodes, in Ugly Loss

Saturday would have been a good night for a rain out. With the Phils' bullpen exhausted from consecutive marathon games, and rookie Antonio Bastardo slated to start against the powerful Boston Red Sox, the Phillies' signs were as ominous as the dark sky over CBP. Rescheduling the game to Monday, a mutual off-day for the two teams, would have been advantageous. (At least for the Phillies, which is the priority, obviously.) Actually, anything would have been better than the ugliness that would soon follow.

The top of the first inning may have been the worst half-frame of the 2009 season. Antonio Bastardo was horrid, permitting three hits and three walks. The usually-brilliant Phils' defense was even more repugnant, making three physical errors, and a number of mental ones. The Phillies trailed 5-0, after an inning, when the rains caused the game to be halted.

With a 5-0 deficit, and eight innings of Phillies' Bullpen Excitement on tap, I hoped for a rain cancellation. I didn't have much confidence that the Phils could come back to win, as some of their available relievers (Jack Taschner, Sergio Escalona) hardly inspire confidence. With eight innings to fill, Taschner and Escalona would have to be used, unless Charlie Manuel opted to have Eric Bruntlett eat innings. The Phils would also have to use some of their good relievers (Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey), who really needed some time off, which would hurt the team's chances in Sunday's finale. The game probably should have been delayed from the start, as the teams barely got an inning in, before the field was unplayable.

After a ninety-five minute rain delay, the Phillies took the field to continue the game, with Chad Durbin on the mound. Durbin had a great outing, throwing THREE scoreless innings. In the fourth inning, Raul Ibanez and Pedro Feliz homered. The Phillies closed to within 5-4, and Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka was driven from the game. Maybe the Phils had a chance in this one?

Nope. The Red Sox trotted out Manny Delcarmen, Hideki Okajima, Ramon Ramirez, and closer Jonathan Papelbon, and their sub-2.50 ERAs, to cover the final five innings. (Daniel Bard, and his 98 MPH fastball is the team's SEVENTH option!) The Sox' pen held the Phils to a pair of runs. The Phillies responded with Jack Taschner, who packed five hits and a walk, into a 37-pitch inning. Taschner was fortunate to allow only three runs, as a great inning-ending catch by Shane Victorino saved the team three more. Sergio Escalona followed, surrendering "only" two runs, over two innings. Escalona was also fortunate, as he permitted three hits and two walks, in his forty-one pitch appearance. The Phils would never challenge again, falling 11-6.

Prior to Sunday's game, Escalona was optioned back to Lehigh Valley, and replaced by Tyler Walker. Escalona would not have been available on Sunday, and can be recalled in ten days, or fewer if the Phillies place a pitcher on the DL. Walker has been outstanding in AAA, but wasn't recalled earlier, due to his lack of options. (If the Phillies recall him, they can't send him back to AAA, without exposing him to waivers. Another team would definitely grab him.) I would have liked to have seen Taschner optioned for a Sunday-available replacement, as well.

J.A. Happ starts for the Phils on Sunday, hoping to halt the Sox' five-game winning streak. The Sox send another ace, Josh Beckett, to the mound. Happ needs to go deep into the game, to help the embattled 'pen. Avoiding a sweep will be quite difficult for the Phillies. But, on the plus side, maybe the Sox will be over-confident, when the teams meet again in the World Series. With Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Doug Davis available to start the first three Series games for the Phils, the Fall Classic should yield better results.