Two thoughts came to mind as I wrote this week's column — one positive and one negative.
I'm hoping that the two victories in Toronto over the weekend, plus the calendar, indicate that the Phillies' annual June swoon has finally come to an end.
Unfortunately the other thought was about the pitching. Although I wasn't quite ready to jump on the bandwagon when it began, there isn't a baseball person in this town who doesn't realize that Philadelphia is in serious need of pitching. Where it will come from is anybody's guess, and what it will cost most likely will involve cash and/or prospects, both of which the Phillies have to offer.
The bandwagon, in this case, began on May 23 during the Fox network's national telecast of the Phils' clash against the New York Yankees. Fox commentator Ken Rosenthal determined that the Phillies would need "at least one pitcher, and possibly two," if the team expected to get back to the World Series in 2009. Fox announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver seconded the motion, but to put things in perspective, let's look at the Phillies' situation on May 23.
The Fox troika believed that Cole Hamels and Brett Myers were legitimate No. 1 and No. 2 starters and maybe even one of the best pairs in baseball. They also agreed that Joe Blanton was a solid No. 3, but they were concerned about Jamie Moyer.
The 46-year-old left-handed veteran was struggling mightily and had a 3-4 record with a 6.31 earned-run average at the time. Also, Chan Ho Park had just lost his spot in the rotation, and his replacement, J.A. Happ, was an untested, and consequently, an unknown quantity.
At the time, I would have agreed with one pitcher, but I questioned the need for two. Of course, all of this was before the team lost Myers for the season. Obviously the Phillies desperately need a legitimate No. 2 starter, but the possibility of getting two good pitchers is unlikely.
Several factors have changed since this conversation was broadcast. Moyer seems to have turned things around. After Sunday's 5-4 victory in Toronto, Moyer is 6-6 with a 6.05 ERA after 15 starts.
Also, Happ is no longer an unknown quantity, although he didn't exactly get off on the right foot with Philadelphia fans. During a pitching shortage and a schedule crunch, the Phillies brought up Happ for a spot start on June 30, 2007, against the New York Mets. He was hammered for seven hits and five earned runs in just four innings.
He was recalled on July 4 last year for two more spot starts and surprised a bunch of veteran media folks who remembered his start the previous season. Happ got no decisions, but he posted a 3.27 ERA for those two starts before being sent back to Triple-A during the All-Star Game break.
"I'm not the same pitcher that I was last year," said Happ after his first start in 2008. "This year, I have a lot more confidence in myself, plus I picked up a cutter."
Perhaps that was the secret. Maybe the right-hander just needed to develop another pitch to be successful at the big-league level. Happ actually returned to the team twice more and finished 2008 with a 1-0 record with a 3.69 ERA in eight appearances (four starts).
In all fairness, he and Park actually tied for the fifth spot in the rotation after spring training this season, but manager Charlie Manuel is a man of his word, and he had promised Park a chance to compete for that spot. Happ was kept in the bullpen until his and Park's roles were reversed. Park pitched his way out of the rotation after seven starts this year.
With the Phillies' bullpen stretched thin, Manuel has had to stay with Happ in some tight situations, but that's a good thing. You don't learn how to fight adversity until you face it, and Happ has. The team's reward was his gem on Saturday — a five-hit complete game shutout in the 10-0 victory over Toronto. That was the best outing of this pitcher's career.
Since I think that Happ has more upside than downside, plus the fact that the Phillies will not be able to acquire two quality pitchers, the team's fortunes will be set by Happ and Moyer. I'm comfortable with Hamels and Blanton at Nos. 1 and 3 and Moyer and Happ in the last two spots. We'll know more about who occupies the No. 2 spot as the July 31 trading deadline approaches.
As for Antonio Bastardo, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday, he is just a short-term fix, and my guess is that he will eventually return to Triple-A so he can learn to throw his breaking pitches for strikes. The Phillies have already announced that he will miss his next scheduled start, and as of Tuesday, the starter for Friday's home game against the Mets is listed as TBA.
Don't expect a trade before the weekend. The Phillies' starter for Friday will most likely be one of the Triple-A options — Andrew Carpenter, Kyle Kendrick or top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco.
That's my opinion. What do you think? Click on the "Comments?" link below and let me know.
Next post: My next post would normally be July 15, but I will be out of the country during the all-star break. The next post will be July 29.
© 2009 www.Bill-McFarland.com
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