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...)
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/30)
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.
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.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Jamie's Only Happy When it Rains
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.
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)
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.
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.
Friday, August 28, 2009
One Bad Pitch
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.
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)
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Loss Not (All) Lidge's Fault
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.
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)
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/24)
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Mets are no match for Cliff Lee, either.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/23)
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.
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)
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?
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?
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/21)
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.
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.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Day in the Life of Brett Myers
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."
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
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.
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)
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).
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)
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.)
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.)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/13)
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.
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
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.
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)
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Bunts and Balks (8/11)
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...
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...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
(Don't) Blame Rapuano, For Phillies' Loss
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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...)
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??
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??
Friday, August 7, 2009
Another Hero Helps Phils to Thursday Matinee Win
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.
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.
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