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.
Showing posts with label Antonio Bastardo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antonio Bastardo. Show all posts
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
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?
Monday, June 29, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/29)
Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez have sizeable leads at their respective positions in All-Star voting. It looks like Utley and Ibanez will start, and that they will be the only Phils' starters.
Raul Ibanez is eligible to return from the DL on Friday, but is not expected to be ready at that point. Hopefully, he'll be ready by next week?
Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL, with Sergio Escalona optioned (again) back to the P-Phils to take his roster spot. This move probably could have been made in time for Escalona to be available for the Jays' series.
No one has been officially announced to take Bastardo's rotation spot. Most of the speculation seems to lean towards Carlos Carrasco.
Scott Eyre starts his rehab on Wednesday, and hopes to return this weekend. Jack Taschner, Tyler Walker, Paul Bako, and Sergio Escalona (again) may be in danger of receiving a trip to scenic Lehigh Valley. Bako gets my vote, a move which would return the bullpen to a "Plus Eight."
Tyler Walker has been outstanding out of the pen, with seven scoreless innings. Walker has also permitted six of nine inherited runners to score, violently scarring the ERAs of others. Don't get too excited.
Former Phillies P Paul Fletcher was shown hitting Craig Biggio with a pitch in a clip on MLB Tonight. I have no recollection of Paul Fletcher. Not acceptable. Edward Paul Fletcher pitched 13.1 innings in relief, during the 1995 season, with a 5.40 ERA/1.8 WHIP. His baseball reference page is available for only $5!
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost 6-1, to the Norfolk Tides, on Monday night.
At least the FeHogs have now spent one day of their history at .500. Gustavo Chacin permitted six runs in five innings, but only one run was earned.
The Reading Phillies (AA) blasted the Trenton Thunder, 10-1. The victory was not a surprise, as ace Joe Savery was on the mound. Savery improved his record to 10-1, with six shutout innings (two hits, four walks/two strikeouts). Michael Taylor went 4 for 5, improving his average to .351. Kevin Mahar went 4 for 4, improving to .308.
Yohan Flande was promoted to Reading from the Clearwater Threshers (A). Flande was outstanding with the Threshers, with a 7-1 record, 2.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 2.79 K/BB ratio (82 IP). The R-Phils website does not list the transaction (the Threshers' does), and lists the Tuesday starting pitcher as "TBA." Flande was scheduled to start Tuesday night, so he is the likely "TBA."
Tyson Brummett's spot in the rotation appears to have been skipped, as his fifth day would have been Monday. (Brummett pitched an inning in relief, facing five batters, on Monday night.) Barring a promotion to AAA (Savery?), Brummett seems likely to spend some time in the bullpen with Flande, Kyle Drabek, Vance Worley, Mike Stutes, and Joe Savery comprising the five-man rotation. (Unless Reading goes to a six-man rotation, which would be a good way to keep innings counts down? In that case Brummett might rejoin the rotation this weekend, perhaps on Saturday, giving Savery an extra day?)
The Clearwater Threshers remained undefeated in their second half, winning their fifth consecutive game, 9-8. After four consecutive extra-inning wins over the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Threshers did not require extra time to beat the Palm Beach Cardinals. Clearwater was outhit 15-9, but used two four-run innings to win a see-saw battle. Newly-promoted 22 year-old righty Travis Cloyd, who took Flande's roster spot, struggled in his debut. Cloyd surrendered four runs in five and two-thirds innings, on nine hits and one walk/two strikeouts.
Raul Ibanez is eligible to return from the DL on Friday, but is not expected to be ready at that point. Hopefully, he'll be ready by next week?
Antonio Bastardo was placed on the DL, with Sergio Escalona optioned (again) back to the P-Phils to take his roster spot. This move probably could have been made in time for Escalona to be available for the Jays' series.
No one has been officially announced to take Bastardo's rotation spot. Most of the speculation seems to lean towards Carlos Carrasco.
Scott Eyre starts his rehab on Wednesday, and hopes to return this weekend. Jack Taschner, Tyler Walker, Paul Bako, and Sergio Escalona (again) may be in danger of receiving a trip to scenic Lehigh Valley. Bako gets my vote, a move which would return the bullpen to a "Plus Eight."
Tyler Walker has been outstanding out of the pen, with seven scoreless innings. Walker has also permitted six of nine inherited runners to score, violently scarring the ERAs of others. Don't get too excited.
Former Phillies P Paul Fletcher was shown hitting Craig Biggio with a pitch in a clip on MLB Tonight. I have no recollection of Paul Fletcher. Not acceptable. Edward Paul Fletcher pitched 13.1 innings in relief, during the 1995 season, with a 5.40 ERA/1.8 WHIP. His baseball reference page is available for only $5!
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) lost 6-1, to the Norfolk Tides, on Monday night.
At least the FeHogs have now spent one day of their history at .500. Gustavo Chacin permitted six runs in five innings, but only one run was earned.
The Reading Phillies (AA) blasted the Trenton Thunder, 10-1. The victory was not a surprise, as ace Joe Savery was on the mound. Savery improved his record to 10-1, with six shutout innings (two hits, four walks/two strikeouts). Michael Taylor went 4 for 5, improving his average to .351. Kevin Mahar went 4 for 4, improving to .308.
Yohan Flande was promoted to Reading from the Clearwater Threshers (A). Flande was outstanding with the Threshers, with a 7-1 record, 2.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 2.79 K/BB ratio (82 IP). The R-Phils website does not list the transaction (the Threshers' does), and lists the Tuesday starting pitcher as "TBA." Flande was scheduled to start Tuesday night, so he is the likely "TBA."
Tyson Brummett's spot in the rotation appears to have been skipped, as his fifth day would have been Monday. (Brummett pitched an inning in relief, facing five batters, on Monday night.) Barring a promotion to AAA (Savery?), Brummett seems likely to spend some time in the bullpen with Flande, Kyle Drabek, Vance Worley, Mike Stutes, and Joe Savery comprising the five-man rotation. (Unless Reading goes to a six-man rotation, which would be a good way to keep innings counts down? In that case Brummett might rejoin the rotation this weekend, perhaps on Saturday, giving Savery an extra day?)
The Clearwater Threshers remained undefeated in their second half, winning their fifth consecutive game, 9-8. After four consecutive extra-inning wins over the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Threshers did not require extra time to beat the Palm Beach Cardinals. Clearwater was outhit 15-9, but used two four-run innings to win a see-saw battle. Newly-promoted 22 year-old righty Travis Cloyd, who took Flande's roster spot, struggled in his debut. Cloyd surrendered four runs in five and two-thirds innings, on nine hits and one walk/two strikeouts.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/27)
Reliever J.C. Romero was involved in a postgame incident in Tampa on Thursday.
Romero, allegedly, pushed a man, and grabbed him around the neck. The man had requested Romero's assistance in acquiring some steroids. Romero should have just ignored the jackass. If Romero did instigate physical contact, a suspension is very possible. Perhaps Sergio Escalona will get to stay with the P-Phils for more than a few days this time...
It has been announced that Antonio Bastardo will be unable to make his start on Wednesday, due his shoulder injury. Cole Hamels will move up a day in the rotation, and pitch on Wednesday. Hamels will still be pitching on his regular fifth day. Carlos Carrasco is expected to be promoted from Lehigh Valley (AAA) to make the start on Thursday.
Andrew Carpenter is 7-1 with a 2.75 ERA for Lehigh Valley. Carrasco is 4-7 with a 4.92 ERA for the IronPigs. Why would Carrasco be chosen over Carpenter?
Win-loss record is not the best stat to look at when comparing hurlers. Carrasco has a 3.50 FIP, and has been unlucky (.349 BABIP and 61.7 LOB%). Carpenter has a 4.35 FIP, and has been lucky (.274 BABIP and 82.3 LOB%). Carrasco has been the better pitcher this season and, arguably, is the more promising prospect of the two.
If Bastardo won't be available to pitch for more than a week, and Carrasco won't be needed until Thursday, why not recall a bullpen arm in the interim?
I got nothin'.
Jimmy Rollins continues to ride the bench, with Eric Bruntlett replacing him in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game on Sunday.
Giving the slumping Rollins five days off in a row, including Monday's off day, isn't the worst idea. The worst idea is starting the .129 BA-ing, .189 wOBA-ing Bruntlett in four consecutive games.
Reading (AA) Phillies starting pitcher Joe Savery may face suspension, after hurling a ball into the stands during Friday night's suspended game.
The Friday night game never should have been started, as the conditions were unplayable. Savery's scoreless streak ended when he allowed a first-inning run in the rain, and the game was suspended in the second inning, after Savery was sent to the mound in a thunderstorm. The mismanagement by the umpires cost Savery a start. Savery chucked a ball into the stands, which could have been very problematic, IF THE STANDS WEREN'T EMPTY BECAUSE: THUNDER AND LIGHTNING! Savery had reason to be frustrated, but could have handled things better. He'll probably miss another start, due to a suspension, but attending an Anger Management class (with J.C. Romero?) should be sufficient punishment.
In another tale of Umpire Mismanagement, it was announced that the umpires had erred when requesting an instant replay in Tampa. The replay was called for in order to examine a ground-rule double, but the instant replay rules only apply to home run calls. The League should simply adjust the standings, giving the Phils wins against Tampa, and against Boston (for the Dobbs walk-off homer over the foul pole), and we'll all put the matter behind us. Bygones and whatnot...
In Saturday night action, the IronPigs defeated the Norfolk Tides, 5-0. The FeHogs scored four in the first, and that was all they needed. Carpenter won his seventh game, with eight scoreless innings (five hits, one walk/seven strikeouts). Mike Spidale, back in the leadoff spot, went 3 for 4, pacing a fourteen-hit attack.
The Reading Phillies (AA) lost the completion of their suspended game from Friday, 8-2, to the Trenton Thunder. The R-Phils would likely have had more luck, if the game had been rained out on Friday, and Joe Savery had been able to start on Saturday.
The R-Phils won their regularly-scheduled game, 7-2. Starter Vance Worley pitched six innings (of the seven played), permitting only a pair of runs, and picking up his fifth victory. Worley allowed six hits and a walk (three strikeouts). Jeremy Slayden had a home run, though his 1 for 4 game dropped his average to .395. Michael Taylor is at .337, after a 2 for 3 game.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored five in the eleventh inning, beating the Jupiter Hammerheads, 8-3. Julian Sampson had one of the strongest starts of his season, surrendering three runs, in six and two-thirds innings (five hits, one walk/one strikeout). Outfielder Steve Susdorf, who hit .333 in 78 AB at Lakewood, went 4 for 6, raising his Clearwater BA to .500 (1.105 OPS in 28 AB).
Romero, allegedly, pushed a man, and grabbed him around the neck. The man had requested Romero's assistance in acquiring some steroids. Romero should have just ignored the jackass. If Romero did instigate physical contact, a suspension is very possible. Perhaps Sergio Escalona will get to stay with the P-Phils for more than a few days this time...
It has been announced that Antonio Bastardo will be unable to make his start on Wednesday, due his shoulder injury. Cole Hamels will move up a day in the rotation, and pitch on Wednesday. Hamels will still be pitching on his regular fifth day. Carlos Carrasco is expected to be promoted from Lehigh Valley (AAA) to make the start on Thursday.
Andrew Carpenter is 7-1 with a 2.75 ERA for Lehigh Valley. Carrasco is 4-7 with a 4.92 ERA for the IronPigs. Why would Carrasco be chosen over Carpenter?
Win-loss record is not the best stat to look at when comparing hurlers. Carrasco has a 3.50 FIP, and has been unlucky (.349 BABIP and 61.7 LOB%). Carpenter has a 4.35 FIP, and has been lucky (.274 BABIP and 82.3 LOB%). Carrasco has been the better pitcher this season and, arguably, is the more promising prospect of the two.
If Bastardo won't be available to pitch for more than a week, and Carrasco won't be needed until Thursday, why not recall a bullpen arm in the interim?
I got nothin'.
Jimmy Rollins continues to ride the bench, with Eric Bruntlett replacing him in the lineup for the fourth consecutive game on Sunday.
Giving the slumping Rollins five days off in a row, including Monday's off day, isn't the worst idea. The worst idea is starting the .129 BA-ing, .189 wOBA-ing Bruntlett in four consecutive games.
Reading (AA) Phillies starting pitcher Joe Savery may face suspension, after hurling a ball into the stands during Friday night's suspended game.
The Friday night game never should have been started, as the conditions were unplayable. Savery's scoreless streak ended when he allowed a first-inning run in the rain, and the game was suspended in the second inning, after Savery was sent to the mound in a thunderstorm. The mismanagement by the umpires cost Savery a start. Savery chucked a ball into the stands, which could have been very problematic, IF THE STANDS WEREN'T EMPTY BECAUSE: THUNDER AND LIGHTNING! Savery had reason to be frustrated, but could have handled things better. He'll probably miss another start, due to a suspension, but attending an Anger Management class (with J.C. Romero?) should be sufficient punishment.
In another tale of Umpire Mismanagement, it was announced that the umpires had erred when requesting an instant replay in Tampa. The replay was called for in order to examine a ground-rule double, but the instant replay rules only apply to home run calls. The League should simply adjust the standings, giving the Phils wins against Tampa, and against Boston (for the Dobbs walk-off homer over the foul pole), and we'll all put the matter behind us. Bygones and whatnot...
In Saturday night action, the IronPigs defeated the Norfolk Tides, 5-0. The FeHogs scored four in the first, and that was all they needed. Carpenter won his seventh game, with eight scoreless innings (five hits, one walk/seven strikeouts). Mike Spidale, back in the leadoff spot, went 3 for 4, pacing a fourteen-hit attack.
The Reading Phillies (AA) lost the completion of their suspended game from Friday, 8-2, to the Trenton Thunder. The R-Phils would likely have had more luck, if the game had been rained out on Friday, and Joe Savery had been able to start on Saturday.
The R-Phils won their regularly-scheduled game, 7-2. Starter Vance Worley pitched six innings (of the seven played), permitting only a pair of runs, and picking up his fifth victory. Worley allowed six hits and a walk (three strikeouts). Jeremy Slayden had a home run, though his 1 for 4 game dropped his average to .395. Michael Taylor is at .337, after a 2 for 3 game.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) scored five in the eleventh inning, beating the Jupiter Hammerheads, 8-3. Julian Sampson had one of the strongest starts of his season, surrendering three runs, in six and two-thirds innings (five hits, one walk/one strikeout). Outfielder Steve Susdorf, who hit .333 in 78 AB at Lakewood, went 4 for 6, raising his Clearwater BA to .500 (1.105 OPS in 28 AB).
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/26)
Antonio Bastardo's left shoulder will be examined on Monday, but he is expected to miss his next start, scheduled for Wednesday. Why not put Bastardo on the DL, retroactive to Thursday, and reinforce the pen with an eighth arm? Sergio Escalona could be recalled (again, in fewer than ten days), as these would be "emergency circumstances." When a starter (Carlos Carrasco?) is needed on Wednesday, another roster move can be made. It seems pointless to keep Bastardo on the active roster; even if he is physically able to pitch, he has been overmatched at this level.
Chan Ho Park was injured in Friday night's game, and may require some time on the DL. Park has been one of the better Phils' relievers recently, and is the only one who appears capable of pitching multiple innings. This would be horrible timing for a Park DL stint, with Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey already disabled. Kyle Kendrick might be the best replacement option for the long relief role, and nobody wants that.
Brad Lidge pitched in a non-save situation on Friday, in his return to the Phils. Lidge faced five batters. He allowed two hits, two walks, and acquired one out. He left in favor of J.C. Romero, with the bases loaded, and one run already in. Romero permitted one of the inherited runners to score, boosting Lidge's ERA to 7.86. Not a promising return for the closer.
Scott Eyre is expected to return in a week, for the Mets series, starting July 3rd. The Phils really need Eyre right now. Not just LOOGY Eyre, either. They need Whole-Inning Eyre.
Who else could bolster the Phillies' bullpen?
Reading (AA) southpaw Mike Zagurski is on the 40-Man roster.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) relievers Gary Majewski, Cedrick Bowers, and Jason Anderson have been pitching decently, and could be moved into the one open spot on the current 40-Man Roster.
Eric Bruntlett batted eighth and started at SS for the Phils on Friday in Toronto.
Bruntlett went 0 for 3, and is now batting .138. Jimmy Rollins needs to return to the lineup, batting leadoff, or sixth, or eighth, or ninth, wherever. Bruntlett has been dreadful.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) clinched their fourth consecutive series win, defeating the Indianapolis Indians, 6-1. The FeHogs have won ten of twelve. Rich Thompson hit a homer leading off the game, for the first time in LV history. Starter Carlos Carrasco was the big story, however, pitching six and one-third strong innings for the win. Carrasco permitted seven hits, one run, and walked three, with seven strikeouts. The 22 yr. old RHP is due to pitch again next Wednesday. He may be a candidate to start for the Phillies, in the event that Antonio Bastardo is unavailable.
The Reading Phillies (AA) had their game against the Trenton Thunder suspended. The game will continue on Saturday, with the R-Phils trailing, 1-0. The game was delayed almost two hours at the start, and play was halted before the bottom of the second began. The game lasted long enough for R-Phils starter Joe Savery to allow a run, ending his scoreless streak at 15 innings. The game probably should have been rained out before play began. That decision likely cost the R-Phils the services of Joe Savery for the series.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) blew a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth, but beat the Jupiter Hammerheads on a pair of tenth-inning runs.
Jonathan Velazquez pitched six scoreless innings, surrendering four hits, two walks, and striking out a pair. The blown save cost him what would have been his first FSL victory, in his second appearance.
Chan Ho Park was injured in Friday night's game, and may require some time on the DL. Park has been one of the better Phils' relievers recently, and is the only one who appears capable of pitching multiple innings. This would be horrible timing for a Park DL stint, with Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey already disabled. Kyle Kendrick might be the best replacement option for the long relief role, and nobody wants that.
Brad Lidge pitched in a non-save situation on Friday, in his return to the Phils. Lidge faced five batters. He allowed two hits, two walks, and acquired one out. He left in favor of J.C. Romero, with the bases loaded, and one run already in. Romero permitted one of the inherited runners to score, boosting Lidge's ERA to 7.86. Not a promising return for the closer.
Scott Eyre is expected to return in a week, for the Mets series, starting July 3rd. The Phils really need Eyre right now. Not just LOOGY Eyre, either. They need Whole-Inning Eyre.
Who else could bolster the Phillies' bullpen?
Reading (AA) southpaw Mike Zagurski is on the 40-Man roster.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) relievers Gary Majewski, Cedrick Bowers, and Jason Anderson have been pitching decently, and could be moved into the one open spot on the current 40-Man Roster.
Eric Bruntlett batted eighth and started at SS for the Phils on Friday in Toronto.
Bruntlett went 0 for 3, and is now batting .138. Jimmy Rollins needs to return to the lineup, batting leadoff, or sixth, or eighth, or ninth, wherever. Bruntlett has been dreadful.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) clinched their fourth consecutive series win, defeating the Indianapolis Indians, 6-1. The FeHogs have won ten of twelve. Rich Thompson hit a homer leading off the game, for the first time in LV history. Starter Carlos Carrasco was the big story, however, pitching six and one-third strong innings for the win. Carrasco permitted seven hits, one run, and walked three, with seven strikeouts. The 22 yr. old RHP is due to pitch again next Wednesday. He may be a candidate to start for the Phillies, in the event that Antonio Bastardo is unavailable.
The Reading Phillies (AA) had their game against the Trenton Thunder suspended. The game will continue on Saturday, with the R-Phils trailing, 1-0. The game was delayed almost two hours at the start, and play was halted before the bottom of the second began. The game lasted long enough for R-Phils starter Joe Savery to allow a run, ending his scoreless streak at 15 innings. The game probably should have been rained out before play began. That decision likely cost the R-Phils the services of Joe Savery for the series.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) blew a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth, but beat the Jupiter Hammerheads on a pair of tenth-inning runs.
Jonathan Velazquez pitched six scoreless innings, surrendering four hits, two walks, and striking out a pair. The blown save cost him what would have been his first FSL victory, in his second appearance.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Phils Lose Two of Three to Tampa
Perhaps hoping the Phillies could take two of three from the Rays this week was optimistic. With Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge out of the lineup, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Madson slumping, and the #3/4/5 starters slated to start for the Phils, beating the AL Champs twice on the road was a daunting proposal. The Phillies took the first game, and had their chances in the middle game, but wound up being blown out of St. Petersburg. What could have been a positive, cold streak-breaking series, evolved into an embarrassing disaster. The long baseball season is more a marathon, than a sprint, but that oft-used cliche is of little solace to Phillies fans these days.
The Phils took the first game on Tuesday, 10-1, riding Chase Utley and John Mayberry homers, and the wizened veteran arm of Jamie Moyer, to victory. On Wednesday, they rode a Jayson Werth homer...to their only run, in a 7-1 loss. Joe Blanton pitched extremely well, but the bullpen imploded in a five-run Rays' eighth inning. Thursday night, the Phils' jumped to a 4-0 lead in their first at-bat...and never scored again. The Rays battered the Phillies "pitchers", scoring ten unanswered runs in a maddening, irritating affair. (Well, for the Phillies, and their fans, at least.) The Phillies' lead over the Mets now stands at a mere half-game, an advantage of only .008 percentage points.
The Good
-On Tuesday night, Chase Utley and John Mayberry each had three RBI. The Phillies lead 6-0, before the Rays batted. Jamie Moyer confounded the Tampa bats, permitting only one run (on five hits), in six sharp innings. The Phillies didn't have to use any of their "good" relievers, as Tyler Walker (two innings, three hits, no runs) and Sergio Escalona successfully protected a nine-run lead. (It was surprising that Charlie Manuel didn't use closer Ryan Madson to protect the WE% of 100.0.)
-On Wednesday night, Joe Blanton pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs, both on a second inning homer. He walked two, and struck out TEN! He deserved better than a loss, evening his record at 4-4.
-On Thursday night, the Phillies raced to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
The Odious
-On Tuesday, Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 5, reducing his average to .214.
-On Wednesday, the top four in the lineup (Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard) combined to go 0 for 12. J.C. Romero and Chan Ho Park combined to turn a 2-1 game, into a 7-1 game, in a disastrous eighth inning. Park allowed three inherited runners to score, bastardizing Romero's ERA (3.72), as well as the Phils' WE (WPA of .119 for Park).
-On Thursday, the Phillies were held scoreless, after their four-run first.
The Hideously Odious
-Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 9 in the first two games of the series. Yet, he was more effective than Eric Bruntlett, who went 0 for 4, and played horrific defense (though his embarrassing lack of range at SS may have saved him some errors).
-Antonio Bastardo was charged with six runs, in three and two-thirds innings, on Thursday. He managed to permit seven hits (including two HR) and three walks, in the short stint. (It would have been worse if his replacement, Chad Durbin, hadn't stranded three of his runners.) Bastardo left the game with a shoulder injury, and his status is currently unclear.
-Tyler Walker entered the Thursday game, with the bases loaded, and two outs. He allowed all three inherited runners to score, terrorizing Durbin's ERA to the tune of 4.50. (Walker has a 0.00 ERA, but has been doing lots of damage to the ERA of his pen-mates.)
-The Phillies made a number of damaging mental errors. Jimmy Rollins threw to the wrong base on Wednesday, attempting an inning-ending force at second on speedy Carl Crawford, rather than taking an easy out at first base. On Thursday, Pedro Feliz forgot the number of outs, and was doubled off first base, ending an inning, before Matt Stairs could tag and score from third base.
-The umpiring was atrocious all series, with an inconsistent strike zone, and a bizarre utilization of the instant replay rule in Thursday's finale. Perhaps the umps could benefit from some coursework at the umpiring academy advertised on MLB.TV? (Note: With non-inept umpiring, the Phillies still lose two of three, but the games would have at least been a little less maddening.)
The Phillies travel to Toronto for a three-game weekend series, starting Friday. The Jays have three lefties scheduled to start, so expect a 2 for 14 weekend from northpaw-killer Ryan Howard. However, the Phils have Cole Hamels starting Friday night, and J.A. Happ starting Saturday afternoon, so there is hope. The Mets play a weekend series against the Yankees, so it appears that we will need to root for the Yankees this weekend. Supporting the Yankees is far from ideal, but we do what we must.
The Phils took the first game on Tuesday, 10-1, riding Chase Utley and John Mayberry homers, and the wizened veteran arm of Jamie Moyer, to victory. On Wednesday, they rode a Jayson Werth homer...to their only run, in a 7-1 loss. Joe Blanton pitched extremely well, but the bullpen imploded in a five-run Rays' eighth inning. Thursday night, the Phils' jumped to a 4-0 lead in their first at-bat...and never scored again. The Rays battered the Phillies "pitchers", scoring ten unanswered runs in a maddening, irritating affair. (Well, for the Phillies, and their fans, at least.) The Phillies' lead over the Mets now stands at a mere half-game, an advantage of only .008 percentage points.
The Good
-On Tuesday night, Chase Utley and John Mayberry each had three RBI. The Phillies lead 6-0, before the Rays batted. Jamie Moyer confounded the Tampa bats, permitting only one run (on five hits), in six sharp innings. The Phillies didn't have to use any of their "good" relievers, as Tyler Walker (two innings, three hits, no runs) and Sergio Escalona successfully protected a nine-run lead. (It was surprising that Charlie Manuel didn't use closer Ryan Madson to protect the WE% of 100.0.)
-On Wednesday night, Joe Blanton pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs, both on a second inning homer. He walked two, and struck out TEN! He deserved better than a loss, evening his record at 4-4.
-On Thursday night, the Phillies raced to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
The Odious
-On Tuesday, Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 5, reducing his average to .214.
-On Wednesday, the top four in the lineup (Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard) combined to go 0 for 12. J.C. Romero and Chan Ho Park combined to turn a 2-1 game, into a 7-1 game, in a disastrous eighth inning. Park allowed three inherited runners to score, bastardizing Romero's ERA (3.72), as well as the Phils' WE (WPA of .119 for Park).
-On Thursday, the Phillies were held scoreless, after their four-run first.
The Hideously Odious
-Jimmy Rollins went 0 for 9 in the first two games of the series. Yet, he was more effective than Eric Bruntlett, who went 0 for 4, and played horrific defense (though his embarrassing lack of range at SS may have saved him some errors).
-Antonio Bastardo was charged with six runs, in three and two-thirds innings, on Thursday. He managed to permit seven hits (including two HR) and three walks, in the short stint. (It would have been worse if his replacement, Chad Durbin, hadn't stranded three of his runners.) Bastardo left the game with a shoulder injury, and his status is currently unclear.
-Tyler Walker entered the Thursday game, with the bases loaded, and two outs. He allowed all three inherited runners to score, terrorizing Durbin's ERA to the tune of 4.50. (Walker has a 0.00 ERA, but has been doing lots of damage to the ERA of his pen-mates.)
-The Phillies made a number of damaging mental errors. Jimmy Rollins threw to the wrong base on Wednesday, attempting an inning-ending force at second on speedy Carl Crawford, rather than taking an easy out at first base. On Thursday, Pedro Feliz forgot the number of outs, and was doubled off first base, ending an inning, before Matt Stairs could tag and score from third base.
-The umpiring was atrocious all series, with an inconsistent strike zone, and a bizarre utilization of the instant replay rule in Thursday's finale. Perhaps the umps could benefit from some coursework at the umpiring academy advertised on MLB.TV? (Note: With non-inept umpiring, the Phillies still lose two of three, but the games would have at least been a little less maddening.)
The Phillies travel to Toronto for a three-game weekend series, starting Friday. The Jays have three lefties scheduled to start, so expect a 2 for 14 weekend from northpaw-killer Ryan Howard. However, the Phils have Cole Hamels starting Friday night, and J.A. Happ starting Saturday afternoon, so there is hope. The Mets play a weekend series against the Yankees, so it appears that we will need to root for the Yankees this weekend. Supporting the Yankees is far from ideal, but we do what we must.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/25)
Jack Taschner surrendered a triple, a double, and a walk in one inning on Thursday. Taschner was fortunate to only allow one run. His ERA is a crisp 5.40, which understates the level of his ineptitude. (His 5.82 FIP and 1.87 WHIP, prior to Thursday's debacle, are better indicators.) How is he even still on this team? Gary Majewski, Mike Zagurski, Sergio Escalona, and (insert rotating cast of fungible, DFA'd relievers here) would all be superior options. Ugh.
Paul Bako is still on the P-Phils roster. Even less useful than Taschner...If the Phils trade Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, and Lou Marson, they should take their chances with Lehigh Valley (AAA) backup Paul Hoover over Gabor Paul Bako II.
How did Pedro Feliz and 1st Base Coach Davey Lopes combine to not make Feliz aware of the number of outs? Since when do the WFCs make mental errors, costing them extra outs and extra runs? Being doubled off first, before Matt Stairs could score on a one-out sacrifice fly, is unacceptable.
Jimmy Rollins watched the P-Phils lose to Tampa from the dugout. Hope the day off helped, as even Bad Rollins would have been an upgrade over his replacement, Eric Bruntlett.
Eric Bruntlett went 0 for 4 with a strikeout (and 3 LOB, now batting a gaudy .145), in Thursday night's loss.
Bruntlett made an outstanding defensive play on a first-inning pickoff of B.J. Upton. The rest of the night he killed the team on offense and defense. As Bruntlett is fairly useless, why not try Pedro Feliz at SS, with Greg Dobbs at 3B, and Chris Coste at 1B? Things couldn't go much worse...
Starter Antonio Bastardo left the game with shoulder stiffness. Hopefully, he won't miss any time. If he does, is it Carlos Carrasco's turn?
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) broke an eighth inning tie, beating the Indianapolis Indians, 5-4.
Kyle Kendrick had a mediocre outing, allowing four runs over six innings (five hits, three walks/three strikeouts). Kendrick was victimized by a pair of solo home runs. Jake Woods got the win, with two scoreless, and Steven Register finished for the save. Andy Tracy, Miguel Cairo, and Lou Marson had two hits apiece, as the FeHogs totaled ten hits.
The Reading Phillies (AA) drabeked the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 9-3.
Kyle Drabek permitted three runs, all in the sixth inning, in his seven and one-third inning start.
Drabek allowed six hits, and had an outstanding 9:1 K/BB ratio. Mike Zagurski got the final five outs for the save, allowing only one hit. Zagurski should replace Jack Taschner (or Paul Bako) on the P-Phils roster last week. Jeremy Slayden was three for five, improving his AA average to a tidy .467.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-6, in twelve innings.
Drew Naylor pitched poorly (six and one-third innings, six runs (four earned), nine hits, two walks/two strikeouts), but the bullpen (Christopher Kissock, Walter Tejeda, Santo Hernandez) held Jupiter scoreless the rest of the way. Matt Rizzotti had a homer and three RBIs, including the game-winner.
The big question raised by tonight's four-hour plus battle was "Why don't the Threshers have their own internet broadcasts available?" Listening to the extra innings, as interpreted by the Jupiter Hammerheads' announcer, was about as pleasurable as watching Jack Taschner pitch.
Paul Bako is still on the P-Phils roster. Even less useful than Taschner...If the Phils trade Carlos Ruiz, Chris Coste, and Lou Marson, they should take their chances with Lehigh Valley (AAA) backup Paul Hoover over Gabor Paul Bako II.
How did Pedro Feliz and 1st Base Coach Davey Lopes combine to not make Feliz aware of the number of outs? Since when do the WFCs make mental errors, costing them extra outs and extra runs? Being doubled off first, before Matt Stairs could score on a one-out sacrifice fly, is unacceptable.
Jimmy Rollins watched the P-Phils lose to Tampa from the dugout. Hope the day off helped, as even Bad Rollins would have been an upgrade over his replacement, Eric Bruntlett.
Eric Bruntlett went 0 for 4 with a strikeout (and 3 LOB, now batting a gaudy .145), in Thursday night's loss.
Bruntlett made an outstanding defensive play on a first-inning pickoff of B.J. Upton. The rest of the night he killed the team on offense and defense. As Bruntlett is fairly useless, why not try Pedro Feliz at SS, with Greg Dobbs at 3B, and Chris Coste at 1B? Things couldn't go much worse...
Starter Antonio Bastardo left the game with shoulder stiffness. Hopefully, he won't miss any time. If he does, is it Carlos Carrasco's turn?
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA) broke an eighth inning tie, beating the Indianapolis Indians, 5-4.
Kyle Kendrick had a mediocre outing, allowing four runs over six innings (five hits, three walks/three strikeouts). Kendrick was victimized by a pair of solo home runs. Jake Woods got the win, with two scoreless, and Steven Register finished for the save. Andy Tracy, Miguel Cairo, and Lou Marson had two hits apiece, as the FeHogs totaled ten hits.
The Reading Phillies (AA) drabeked the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, 9-3.
Kyle Drabek permitted three runs, all in the sixth inning, in his seven and one-third inning start.
Drabek allowed six hits, and had an outstanding 9:1 K/BB ratio. Mike Zagurski got the final five outs for the save, allowing only one hit. Zagurski should replace Jack Taschner (or Paul Bako) on the P-Phils roster last week. Jeremy Slayden was three for five, improving his AA average to a tidy .467.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) beat the Jupiter Hammerheads, 7-6, in twelve innings.
Drew Naylor pitched poorly (six and one-third innings, six runs (four earned), nine hits, two walks/two strikeouts), but the bullpen (Christopher Kissock, Walter Tejeda, Santo Hernandez) held Jupiter scoreless the rest of the way. Matt Rizzotti had a homer and three RBIs, including the game-winner.
The big question raised by tonight's four-hour plus battle was "Why don't the Threshers have their own internet broadcasts available?" Listening to the extra innings, as interpreted by the Jupiter Hammerheads' announcer, was about as pleasurable as watching Jack Taschner pitch.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Phils Lose Fourth Straight
The Phillies continued to stumble around in one of the valleys of their 2009 season, losing their fourth straight game, 7-2 to Baltimore, on Friday night. In their 8-6 loss to Toronto on Thursday, the Phils' offense could not counter the destruction caused by their pitching counterparts (Joe Blanton, et al.), combined with some mental midgetry afield (ex. Marco Scutaro stealing second base on a walk, as the oblivious Phillies lost focus.) On Friday, their offense was non-existent, while their pitching and defense displayed destructive tendencies. It was still a winnable game for the Phils, heading into the ninth, when a familiar, command-deficient reliever put one in the win column for the Fightin O's.
Phillies' rookie starter Antonio Bastardo deserved a better fate. Bastardo consumed seven innings, leaving only two to the embattled Phils' relief corps. The southpaw permitted four runs in those seven innings, but his performance was far better than the eventual results. Bastardo had five separate innings, in which he retired the side in order. He surrendered only five hits, striking out five, and walking none. Seventy-three of his one-hundred eight pitches were strikes. If it wasn't for defensive miscues by Chase Utley, John Mayberry, and Ryan Howard, none of whom were penalized with an error for their trangressions, Bastardo's ERA would have been significantly less scarred. Rightfielder Jayson Werth's two-run, two-out, first inning double might have been enough to earn Bastardo his third win. The rookie was a hard luck loser, but he has certainly earned another turn in the rotation. (Unless the Phils acquire Doug Davis, or Clay Buchholz, before that turn comes up.)
Manager Charlie Manuel, at the suggestion of coach Davey Lopes, started Jayson Werth in his familiar right field, moving John Mayberry to left field. Mayberry is more comfortable in right, and his stronger throwing arm makes him more suited to right than Jayson Werth. Mayberry made a crucial misplay, but it is hard to fault Manuel for this. Werth has been one of the few players contributing offensively as of late, and Manuel is trying to make him comfortable defensively, so he can perform better offensively. In the seventh inning, with the Phillies trailing only 4-2, the Phillies' manager brought Eric Bruntlett out to pinch-"hit", leaving Chris Coste on the bench. But it is hard to fault Manuel for this move, as the Orioles have a left-handed closer (George Sherrill), and Manuel was saving Coste's right-handed bat for later in the game. Coste's pinch-hitting appearance against Sherrill in the ninth inning would have been significant, if it wasn't for questionable bullpen deployment by Manuel.
In the eighth inning, with the Phillies only trailing by two, Manuel brought reliever Jack Taschner into the game. Given the exhausted status of his bullpenners, using the typically-ineffective Taschner may have been necessary. Taschner shocked the world, working around a hit and a walk, keeping the O's off the scoreboard. Unfortunately, Manuel tempted the Baseball Fates, and kept Taschner in for a second inning. Taschner permitted four hits and three runs in the ninth, reducing the Phils' Win Expectancy from 7.8% to 0.8%. Taschner pitching multiple innings in an un-winnable game is an event that we should see more of, but multiple Taschner innings in a winnable game shouldn't happen.
The Phillies will try to snap their losing streak Saturday, with J.A. Happ on the mound. Ace Cole Hamels gets the ball on Sunday. Against the cellar-dwelling Orioles, these are home games that the Phillies need to win.
Phillies' rookie starter Antonio Bastardo deserved a better fate. Bastardo consumed seven innings, leaving only two to the embattled Phils' relief corps. The southpaw permitted four runs in those seven innings, but his performance was far better than the eventual results. Bastardo had five separate innings, in which he retired the side in order. He surrendered only five hits, striking out five, and walking none. Seventy-three of his one-hundred eight pitches were strikes. If it wasn't for defensive miscues by Chase Utley, John Mayberry, and Ryan Howard, none of whom were penalized with an error for their trangressions, Bastardo's ERA would have been significantly less scarred. Rightfielder Jayson Werth's two-run, two-out, first inning double might have been enough to earn Bastardo his third win. The rookie was a hard luck loser, but he has certainly earned another turn in the rotation. (Unless the Phils acquire Doug Davis, or Clay Buchholz, before that turn comes up.)
Manager Charlie Manuel, at the suggestion of coach Davey Lopes, started Jayson Werth in his familiar right field, moving John Mayberry to left field. Mayberry is more comfortable in right, and his stronger throwing arm makes him more suited to right than Jayson Werth. Mayberry made a crucial misplay, but it is hard to fault Manuel for this. Werth has been one of the few players contributing offensively as of late, and Manuel is trying to make him comfortable defensively, so he can perform better offensively. In the seventh inning, with the Phillies trailing only 4-2, the Phillies' manager brought Eric Bruntlett out to pinch-"hit", leaving Chris Coste on the bench. But it is hard to fault Manuel for this move, as the Orioles have a left-handed closer (George Sherrill), and Manuel was saving Coste's right-handed bat for later in the game. Coste's pinch-hitting appearance against Sherrill in the ninth inning would have been significant, if it wasn't for questionable bullpen deployment by Manuel.
In the eighth inning, with the Phillies only trailing by two, Manuel brought reliever Jack Taschner into the game. Given the exhausted status of his bullpenners, using the typically-ineffective Taschner may have been necessary. Taschner shocked the world, working around a hit and a walk, keeping the O's off the scoreboard. Unfortunately, Manuel tempted the Baseball Fates, and kept Taschner in for a second inning. Taschner permitted four hits and three runs in the ninth, reducing the Phils' Win Expectancy from 7.8% to 0.8%. Taschner pitching multiple innings in an un-winnable game is an event that we should see more of, but multiple Taschner innings in a winnable game shouldn't happen.
The Phillies will try to snap their losing streak Saturday, with J.A. Happ on the mound. Ace Cole Hamels gets the ball on Sunday. Against the cellar-dwelling Orioles, these are home games that the Phillies need to win.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Bunts and Balks (6/15)
The Phillies made no personnel moves on Monday.
Jack Taschner and Antonio Bastardo remain on the roster. It wouldn't be surprising, if one of them was optioned to AAA, prior to Tuesday's game against Toronto.
The Phillies will need a starting pitcher on Friday (or Saturday) against Baltimore. (J.A. Happ would be on his regular day on Friday.) They haven't announced that Bastardo will remain in the rotation, and his one-inning start against Boston highlighted the need for more minor league seasoning.
Carlos Carrasco started Monday night for Lehigh Valley (AAA), and would be on his regular day on Saturday.
Andrew Carpenter is scheduled to start Tuesday night for Lehigh Valley, but could be scratched, and start for the Phils on Friday or Saturday.
If they decide that Carrasco or Carpenter will start this weekend, the Phils could option Bastardo prior to Tuesday's game, and recall another bullpen arm. (Preferably, a bullpen arm on the 40-Man roster, with options remaining. For example, Reading (AA) lefty Mike Zagurski.)
On Friday or Saturday, either Taschner or (Zagurski?) could be optioned, opening a spot for Carrasco or Carpenter. (The Taschner for Carrasco option gets my vote.)
Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins lead at their positions in All-Star voting. Ryan Howard is in a distant second, behind Albert Pujols. Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz are in fourth at their respective positions. Among outfielders, Shane Victorino is fifth, and Jayson Werth is eighth, with the top three vote-getters going to St. Louis.
Ruiz and Feliz may deserve spots, based on their performances this season. Rollins doesn't deserve a spot, based on his performance this season. Ryan Howard should go, but may lose out because there is a glut of good first-sackers to back-up Pujols on the team. With each team guaranteed at least one representative, we may only see Phillies who are voted in, on the squad.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs beat the Durham Bulls, 8-5, on Monday night.
Carlos Carrasco got the win, surrending four runs in six and a third innings. (Two of those runs scored, when Gary Majewski relieved Carrasco in the seventh.) Steven Register pitched two scoreless innings for the save. Roster-fillers Jason Ellison and David Newhan each contributed three hits, to the thirteen-hit IronPigs attack. Lehigh Valley scored in six consecutive innings, the second through the seventh.
The Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Harrisburg Senators, 5-2, on Monday morning. Yep, Monday morning.
The game started at 9:35 AM! Joe Savery is unbeatable before noon. Savery pitched six innings, and allowed just one hit. Savery is now 8-1, with a 3.47 ERA. Through my HP speakers, Savery sounded like he is almost ready for AAA. Neil Sellers, Gus Milner, and Kevin Mahar had homers for the R-Phils.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Sarasota Reds, 7-3.
The Threshers made three errors, and went 1 for 8 with men in scoring position. Julian Sampson got blasted, permitting six runs (on eight hits, with three walks/three strikeouts), in five innings. Sampson is now 1-7, with an 8.06 ERA. Sampson is also 20 years old, with a .358 BABIP, and a 55.6 LOB%.
Things could get better for the young right-hander, though Ruben Amaro probably shouldn't hesitate to include Sampson in the Halladay trade.
Cole Hamels starts for the P-Phils on Tuesday night, opposed by the Toronto Blue Jays' Ricky Romero.
Hamels shouldn't have much trouble picking up his fifth win. Lock it up!
Jack Taschner and Antonio Bastardo remain on the roster. It wouldn't be surprising, if one of them was optioned to AAA, prior to Tuesday's game against Toronto.
The Phillies will need a starting pitcher on Friday (or Saturday) against Baltimore. (J.A. Happ would be on his regular day on Friday.) They haven't announced that Bastardo will remain in the rotation, and his one-inning start against Boston highlighted the need for more minor league seasoning.
Carlos Carrasco started Monday night for Lehigh Valley (AAA), and would be on his regular day on Saturday.
Andrew Carpenter is scheduled to start Tuesday night for Lehigh Valley, but could be scratched, and start for the Phils on Friday or Saturday.
If they decide that Carrasco or Carpenter will start this weekend, the Phils could option Bastardo prior to Tuesday's game, and recall another bullpen arm. (Preferably, a bullpen arm on the 40-Man roster, with options remaining. For example, Reading (AA) lefty Mike Zagurski.)
On Friday or Saturday, either Taschner or (Zagurski?) could be optioned, opening a spot for Carrasco or Carpenter. (The Taschner for Carrasco option gets my vote.)
Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins lead at their positions in All-Star voting. Ryan Howard is in a distant second, behind Albert Pujols. Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz are in fourth at their respective positions. Among outfielders, Shane Victorino is fifth, and Jayson Werth is eighth, with the top three vote-getters going to St. Louis.
Ruiz and Feliz may deserve spots, based on their performances this season. Rollins doesn't deserve a spot, based on his performance this season. Ryan Howard should go, but may lose out because there is a glut of good first-sackers to back-up Pujols on the team. With each team guaranteed at least one representative, we may only see Phillies who are voted in, on the squad.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs beat the Durham Bulls, 8-5, on Monday night.
Carlos Carrasco got the win, surrending four runs in six and a third innings. (Two of those runs scored, when Gary Majewski relieved Carrasco in the seventh.) Steven Register pitched two scoreless innings for the save. Roster-fillers Jason Ellison and David Newhan each contributed three hits, to the thirteen-hit IronPigs attack. Lehigh Valley scored in six consecutive innings, the second through the seventh.
The Reading Phillies (AA) defeated the Harrisburg Senators, 5-2, on Monday morning. Yep, Monday morning.
The game started at 9:35 AM! Joe Savery is unbeatable before noon. Savery pitched six innings, and allowed just one hit. Savery is now 8-1, with a 3.47 ERA. Through my HP speakers, Savery sounded like he is almost ready for AAA. Neil Sellers, Gus Milner, and Kevin Mahar had homers for the R-Phils.
The Clearwater Threshers (A) lost to the Sarasota Reds, 7-3.
The Threshers made three errors, and went 1 for 8 with men in scoring position. Julian Sampson got blasted, permitting six runs (on eight hits, with three walks/three strikeouts), in five innings. Sampson is now 1-7, with an 8.06 ERA. Sampson is also 20 years old, with a .358 BABIP, and a 55.6 LOB%.
Things could get better for the young right-hander, though Ruben Amaro probably shouldn't hesitate to include Sampson in the Halladay trade.
Cole Hamels starts for the P-Phils on Tuesday night, opposed by the Toronto Blue Jays' Ricky Romero.
Hamels shouldn't have much trouble picking up his fifth win. Lock it up!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Phils Blast Dodgers, Escape from LA with Split
The Phillies continued to excel in games in which they score piles of runs, salvaging a series split in Los Angeles, with a 7-2 win on Sunday night. A three-run Phils' outburst in the seventh inning, keyed by Carlos Ruiz and Shane Victorino home runs, turned a 3-2 lead into a 6-2 advantage. Ryan Howard hit a solo homer in the eighth, providing the final margin. Newly-installed leadoff man Shane Victorino, and six-hole hitter Jimmy Rollins, each contributed two hits to the nine-hit, four-walk attack.
Antonio Bastardo picked up his second win, in as many starts, surviving five innings. Bastardo allowed seven hits and a walk, and was responsible for the two Dodgers' runs. He scuffled through 107 pitches (67 strikes), and left with two runners on base in the sixth, one of whom scored. It was a good performance by the rookie, on the road against a strong offensive team.
In the sixth inning, with the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel summoned from the bullpen...Chan Ho Park. It was a puzzling, and rather terrifying, selection. A decision that worked brilliantly. Park performed like the pitcher who posted an opponents' OPS of .649 in LA in 2008. He induced a key double-play grounder, and threw three (!) scoreless innings, in which he surrendered only a single hit. With a 7-2 lead in the ninth inning, it was a perfect time for Manuel to bring in rarely-used southpaw Jack Taschner. So, Manuel summoned overworked setup man Ryan Madson, who had thrown twenty-five pitches the previous day, to protect the five-run advantage. Madson threw seventeen more pitches, allowing one hit, and retiring two Dodgers on strikes. It was a baffling move, but at least Madson will get Monday off, as the Phils travel to New York for the Mets' series, beginning Tuesday.
Perhaps even more terrifying than the prospect of Chan Ho Park entering a game with a mere three-run lead, was the performance of the ESPN announcing crew. While Park's success was surprising, the ineptitude of Joe Morgan was not. The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" cannot be oblivious to Morgan's cluelessness at this point, can it? What they could be doing is combatting his confusion, by running disclaimers and/or explanations on the bottom of the screen, not unlike they do with scoring updates from other games, as they appear committed to retaining Morgan in his present role.
Tonight's disclaimers would have included: "Raul Ibanez is actually signed to a three-year contract." when Morgan made reference to Ibanez having a four-year deal. "The Phillies only have a three-man bench, as Matt Stairs is not available.", when Morgan and Co. were confused by the Phillies' bench usage. Explanations of Morgan's unintelligible monologue comparing Charlie Manuel and Joe Torre, as well as his comments regarding the Phillies' record when scoring four runs, could also have crawled along the bottom of the screen. Morgan spent almost the entirety of the eighth inning describing the numerous non-baseball events he has attended. So, I guess it was a typical ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
The Phillies have Monday off, before facing the Mets in a crucial three-game road series at Citi Field. J.A Happ, sporting a 4-0 record, will attempt to match zeroes with Mets' ace Johan Santana (7-3). The Mets are currently dealing with some injury concerns, so it is a good opportunity for the Phils to pick up some key divisional wins. A series sweep would be huge, but beating Santana is always difficult, even if you have Chan Ho Park on your team.
Antonio Bastardo picked up his second win, in as many starts, surviving five innings. Bastardo allowed seven hits and a walk, and was responsible for the two Dodgers' runs. He scuffled through 107 pitches (67 strikes), and left with two runners on base in the sixth, one of whom scored. It was a good performance by the rookie, on the road against a strong offensive team.
In the sixth inning, with the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Phillies' Manager Charlie Manuel summoned from the bullpen...Chan Ho Park. It was a puzzling, and rather terrifying, selection. A decision that worked brilliantly. Park performed like the pitcher who posted an opponents' OPS of .649 in LA in 2008. He induced a key double-play grounder, and threw three (!) scoreless innings, in which he surrendered only a single hit. With a 7-2 lead in the ninth inning, it was a perfect time for Manuel to bring in rarely-used southpaw Jack Taschner. So, Manuel summoned overworked setup man Ryan Madson, who had thrown twenty-five pitches the previous day, to protect the five-run advantage. Madson threw seventeen more pitches, allowing one hit, and retiring two Dodgers on strikes. It was a baffling move, but at least Madson will get Monday off, as the Phils travel to New York for the Mets' series, beginning Tuesday.
Perhaps even more terrifying than the prospect of Chan Ho Park entering a game with a mere three-run lead, was the performance of the ESPN announcing crew. While Park's success was surprising, the ineptitude of Joe Morgan was not. The "Worldwide Leader in Sports" cannot be oblivious to Morgan's cluelessness at this point, can it? What they could be doing is combatting his confusion, by running disclaimers and/or explanations on the bottom of the screen, not unlike they do with scoring updates from other games, as they appear committed to retaining Morgan in his present role.
Tonight's disclaimers would have included: "Raul Ibanez is actually signed to a three-year contract." when Morgan made reference to Ibanez having a four-year deal. "The Phillies only have a three-man bench, as Matt Stairs is not available.", when Morgan and Co. were confused by the Phillies' bench usage. Explanations of Morgan's unintelligible monologue comparing Charlie Manuel and Joe Torre, as well as his comments regarding the Phillies' record when scoring four runs, could also have crawled along the bottom of the screen. Morgan spent almost the entirety of the eighth inning describing the numerous non-baseball events he has attended. So, I guess it was a typical ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
The Phillies have Monday off, before facing the Mets in a crucial three-game road series at Citi Field. J.A Happ, sporting a 4-0 record, will attempt to match zeroes with Mets' ace Johan Santana (7-3). The Mets are currently dealing with some injury concerns, so it is a good opportunity for the Phils to pick up some key divisional wins. A series sweep would be huge, but beating Santana is always difficult, even if you have Chan Ho Park on your team.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Phillies Further Adjust Petco Park Factors in Bastardo's First Win
Apparently, Petco Park only suppresses offense in games that do not involve the Phillies. The Phils' offense continued their assault on the ballpark-once-regarded-as-"pitcher-friendly" with eleven hits, including three home runs, in their 10-5 victory over San Diego on Tuesday. Raul Ibanez celebrated his 37th birthday, by bashing a pair of homers, and knocking in five runs. Greg Dobbs, starting at 3B to give Pedro Feliz a day off, had the other homer. By the time the Phillies are done with their three-game series, Petco might not be in last place in Park Factor.
Phillies rookie hurler Antonio Bastardo made his first MLB start, matching up with Padres ace Jake Peavy. The Phillies got Bastardo a 4-0 lead, before the young southpaw even took the mound. Peavy left the game after the inning, with what was reported as a viral upper respiratory infection. The Phils pounded the Padres pen, while Bastardo overpowered the San Diego bats. Bastardo's mid-90's fastball was too much for the Pads, as he only permitted four hits and a run, in six superb innings. Bastardo has likely earned another start, which could come Sunday night, in the ESPN game against Randy Wolf and the Dodgers.
With a 10-1 lead in the seventh, the Phillies should have been able to get through the final three frames using the weakest links among Fuqua and Dubee's Plus Eight. However, Manuel was reticent to use Jack Taschner and Sergio Escalona. He brought Chan Ho Park out of the pen, and Park had the same horrid results he had oft-displayed as the fifth starter. He "pitched" one inning, allowing four hits and two walks. Park was fortunate to escape after allowing four runs. Chad Durbin loaded the bases in the ninth, and Ryan Madson had to come in to get the final out.(Lidge had the day off, after four consecutive saves. Madson should have been able to get the day off, as well.) One of the weak links will need to be removed from the roster on Wednesday, to open a spot for J.C. Romero. The only thing, probably, keeping Park on the team right now in his $2.5 million salary.
The Phillies go for the sweep on Wednesday, with rookie J.A. Happ opposed by Chris Young. At the Phils' current rate of improvement they figure to score twenty-five runs Wednesday night. That should be enough for a win, provided that they don't use Chan Ho Park.
Phillies rookie hurler Antonio Bastardo made his first MLB start, matching up with Padres ace Jake Peavy. The Phillies got Bastardo a 4-0 lead, before the young southpaw even took the mound. Peavy left the game after the inning, with what was reported as a viral upper respiratory infection. The Phils pounded the Padres pen, while Bastardo overpowered the San Diego bats. Bastardo's mid-90's fastball was too much for the Pads, as he only permitted four hits and a run, in six superb innings. Bastardo has likely earned another start, which could come Sunday night, in the ESPN game against Randy Wolf and the Dodgers.
With a 10-1 lead in the seventh, the Phillies should have been able to get through the final three frames using the weakest links among Fuqua and Dubee's Plus Eight. However, Manuel was reticent to use Jack Taschner and Sergio Escalona. He brought Chan Ho Park out of the pen, and Park had the same horrid results he had oft-displayed as the fifth starter. He "pitched" one inning, allowing four hits and two walks. Park was fortunate to escape after allowing four runs. Chad Durbin loaded the bases in the ninth, and Ryan Madson had to come in to get the final out.(Lidge had the day off, after four consecutive saves. Madson should have been able to get the day off, as well.) One of the weak links will need to be removed from the roster on Wednesday, to open a spot for J.C. Romero. The only thing, probably, keeping Park on the team right now in his $2.5 million salary.
The Phillies go for the sweep on Wednesday, with rookie J.A. Happ opposed by Chris Young. At the Phils' current rate of improvement they figure to score twenty-five runs Wednesday night. That should be enough for a win, provided that they don't use Chan Ho Park.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Quick Hits
Some quick hits:
Antonio Bastardo will be recalled from AAA to make his MLB debut Tuesday night. Pitching on the road, at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, is a good situation. I think Carlos Carrasco was more deserving of promotion, but he would have been on three days' rest for that start. (It wouldn't be surprising if Bastardo is sent back to AAA after this start, to free up a roster spot for J.C. Romero on Wednesday. Carrasco could be recalled to make the next spot start. Unless Bastardo pitches too well to be sent back.) It's always exciting to see a new Phillie make his debut. Perhaps, he'll have a Ruffinesque debut.
J.C. Romero returns on Wednesday! Romero finally returns from his fifty-game suspension. The overworked bullpen definitely needs some help. I would expect reliever Jack Taschner to be demoted, to free up a spot for Romero. But this demotion could wait until Sunday, if Bastardo is sent to AAA on Wednesday.
Cole Hamels got the victory on Saturday, but was hit around a bit. Nothing to worry about, this is Cole Hamels. Even Phillies' greats Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, and Ken Howell had an occasional bad start.
Jamie Moyer got the victory on Sunday, and was very effective. Moyer's strong start against Washington (a strong offensive team, weak defense/pitching are the reason for their horrific record), in which he finally got his 250th career win, was a relief. But one strong start doesn't mean he's out of the woods. The Phillies still need to monitor him closely. Hopefully, he'll put together a string a satisfactory starts.
Raul Ibanez is now second in All-Star voting for outfielders, with Chase Utley in first among second basemen, Jimmy Rollins second among shortstops, and Ryan Howard third among first basemen. I have mixed feelings about the All-Star Game. I'd like to see a lot of Phillies get recognized for their brilliance, and receive any financial incentives that are included on their contracts. I'd like the NL to have home-field advantage in the World Series, and don't necessarily trust those non-Phillie dudes to get it done. But the Phillies' position players have been playing almost every day, and could probably use the time off. It would almost certainly be best if pitchers Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge, both possible selections, had the time off, as well.
The first episode of "The Pen" is less than two weeks away (Sunday, June 14, 8:00pm, MLBN)! The wait for the new reality show on the Phillies' bullpen is almost over. Follow the exploits of Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and the WFCs very own "Plus Eight." Finally, a reality show I can get into.
The Phillies start a difficult road trip in San Diego on Monday night. Joe Lumber Blanton on the mound. It's going to be a tough week for the East Coast bloggers, what with the 10pm start times. It would be much more convenient if the West Coast teams just played their games at 4pm, local time.
Antonio Bastardo will be recalled from AAA to make his MLB debut Tuesday night. Pitching on the road, at pitcher-friendly Petco Park, is a good situation. I think Carlos Carrasco was more deserving of promotion, but he would have been on three days' rest for that start. (It wouldn't be surprising if Bastardo is sent back to AAA after this start, to free up a roster spot for J.C. Romero on Wednesday. Carrasco could be recalled to make the next spot start. Unless Bastardo pitches too well to be sent back.) It's always exciting to see a new Phillie make his debut. Perhaps, he'll have a Ruffinesque debut.
J.C. Romero returns on Wednesday! Romero finally returns from his fifty-game suspension. The overworked bullpen definitely needs some help. I would expect reliever Jack Taschner to be demoted, to free up a spot for Romero. But this demotion could wait until Sunday, if Bastardo is sent to AAA on Wednesday.
Cole Hamels got the victory on Saturday, but was hit around a bit. Nothing to worry about, this is Cole Hamels. Even Phillies' greats Steve Carlton, Robin Roberts, and Ken Howell had an occasional bad start.
Jamie Moyer got the victory on Sunday, and was very effective. Moyer's strong start against Washington (a strong offensive team, weak defense/pitching are the reason for their horrific record), in which he finally got his 250th career win, was a relief. But one strong start doesn't mean he's out of the woods. The Phillies still need to monitor him closely. Hopefully, he'll put together a string a satisfactory starts.
Raul Ibanez is now second in All-Star voting for outfielders, with Chase Utley in first among second basemen, Jimmy Rollins second among shortstops, and Ryan Howard third among first basemen. I have mixed feelings about the All-Star Game. I'd like to see a lot of Phillies get recognized for their brilliance, and receive any financial incentives that are included on their contracts. I'd like the NL to have home-field advantage in the World Series, and don't necessarily trust those non-Phillie dudes to get it done. But the Phillies' position players have been playing almost every day, and could probably use the time off. It would almost certainly be best if pitchers Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge, both possible selections, had the time off, as well.
The first episode of "The Pen" is less than two weeks away (Sunday, June 14, 8:00pm, MLBN)! The wait for the new reality show on the Phillies' bullpen is almost over. Follow the exploits of Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson, and the WFCs very own "Plus Eight." Finally, a reality show I can get into.
The Phillies start a difficult road trip in San Diego on Monday night. Joe Lumber Blanton on the mound. It's going to be a tough week for the East Coast bloggers, what with the 10pm start times. It would be much more convenient if the West Coast teams just played their games at 4pm, local time.
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