Comments on: Giants handle Phils – Now NLDS preview, Part 2?

By: jjg

jjg — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:02:43 +0000

The soon-to-be-late, surely-not-great Jamie Moyer: 23 seasons averaging 26 starts, 11 wins & a 4.23 ERA. (Far, far from HOF numbers.) What's with Ruben's wringing of hands over Moyer's fate? Has been here 2 seasons and has been paid very well for his rag-arm services. Has always been a shrewd mongrel of a pitcher; now he's a toothless one (except when hooking the impatient Marlins). And just when did Moyer earn special dispensations from the ballclub? Ruben should say: Listen, ol' man, it's a long season and we're givin' you a couple weeks off in order to take a good look at Pedro. We're tryin' to win this thing again and we're gonna ride the best pitchers we can find. Nothing's in stone. Ya got 3 choices here: move to the pen & be patient and ready, go on the DL with an injury of our concoction or accept a trade - if we can arrange it - or outright release. Can ya take one for the team or is that altar boy reputation of yours only a fabrication? I understand this isn't easy. Need an answer by tomorrow.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:07:12 +0000

another minor league story to keep an eye on...

Scott Mathieson (remember him?) is making his way back from Tommy John surgery. The Phillies are using him as a reliever in the minors, and so far, he has pitched 18 scoreless innings since coming back, allowing only 8 hits, and striking out 21. He was a hard thrower that could be a useful bullpen arm next season.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:33:59 +0000

bski-

excellent find. so that means one of 3 things will happen...

6-man rotation of some kind
Pedro out: stays in the minors or is released
Moyer out: goes on fake DL or.... I don't know

“It depends how you utilize it,” Amaro said. “You can be creative and set up the rotation so certain guys go every five days and other guys get pushed back."

I think that is what happens

By: bski

bski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:09:04 +0000

No more worries Gents. Todd Zolecki is reporting (12:04PM) that Happ will remain in the rotation. This comes straight from Amaro’s mouth. Here are a few quotes:

“Happ’s not going anywhere. He’s not going out of the rotation,” Amaro said. “He deserves to stay in the rotation. He has pitched very well. He’s one of our most effective starters.”

“We still haven’t made a decision, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that six guys could pitch in our rotation,” Amaro said. “We haven’t discussed it yet. There are a lot of possibilities. You never what’s going to happen the next week to 10 days. A man could go down right now. There are a lot of things that could happen the next week or so that would change our thinking.”

“It depends how you utilize it,” Amaro said. “You can be creative and set up the rotation so certain guys go every five days and other guys get pushed back. The fact of the matter is, we’re not there yet. But we are in a situation where we have six starters, and we’ll see how creative we can be.”

By: jkay

jkay — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:43:12 +0000

they are giving Pedro the respect and benefit of the doubt bcos of who he is. I say make him earn it. Pitch lights out down there before you even get a chance. one louy start up here and i say demote him back.

By: Trillo Fan

Trillo Fan — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:44:43 +0000

More on why it’s not likely that Happ will follow Kendrick’s pattern … Kendrick in 2007 threw 13 quality starts out of 20, but 5 of those QS’s were the 3-runs-in-6-innings (i.e., “cheap”) variety. Kendrick’s batting average against was .280 and his OPS against was .774, both mediocre (though much better than his 2008 numbers). Happ has thrown 11 quality starts out of 14, including his last 9 in a row, and none were the cheap variety (he’s only given up 3 runs in one of those quality starts, when he went 7 innings). Happ’s batting average against is .222, his OPS against is .646. In other words, the rest of the league is hitting like 2008’s So Taguchi against him. Like bski said, even if Happ falls back (and I’m optimistic he won’t — 9 quality starts in a row is no fluke), he’s probably not going to fall to the levels of 2008 Kendrick.

By: bski

bski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:58:30 +0000

Chris McC…….”At this point Pedro should have to come in here and earn Moyer’s spot.“………That’s it exactly!

Pedro is a $1 million contingency plan. If you think he can help you (i.e. give you more than you are getting from your 5th best starter), fine, then give him a shot. If not, then there is no reason to force him into the rotation (or the bullpen).

If the Phils value Moyer’s experience, his 256 wins, etc…..more than what Pedro might be able to give them, that’s fine but then the whole discussion ends right there.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:49:57 +0000

Moyer is not tradeable unless we eat his whole contract.

I expect he starts the year as the 5th starter until Drabek is ready. Though it's possible he gets Adam Eaton'ed and flat out released.

By: bski

bski — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:48:30 +0000

jkay……Based on what he’s done so far, his stuff, and his makeup, I don’t see Happ backsliding into Kendrick territory. Even if the league catches up to him some, he’ll be a back end of the rotation guy which, with Lee, Hamels, and Blanton, works out just fine.

I hope you’re right about Moyer. It would suit me just fine if Drabek were ready next year, we could slide him into the 5th spot, and get something in return for Moyer.

Rob……Lucky for us, Moyer’s next start is Sunday against the Marlins. They always seem to fix whatever ails him (and he better pitch well because I’ll be at the game).

Stu……Yeah, a sweep would be fantastic, but we can’t complain at all about the Nats winning 2 out of 3, can we. They did us a favor and if we take care of our business today we’re guaranteed to have picked up at least one game on the Marlins.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:48:21 +0000

I have to think we would be the first team in MLB history to demote a starter with the 6th best ERA in the league to the bullpen during a pennant race.