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...