As projected in my last column, the Phillies will have made several roster moves by the time you read this. What I didn't know at that time was that starter Bret Myers would be on the disabled list waiting for hip surgery that most likely will end his season. That changed everything.
The timing of his injury couldn't have come at a worse time. As others have noted, for the Phillies to acquire a second- or third-tier starter from another team, that club would be signaling to its fans that it has surrendered for the 2009 season after just two months into this campaign. That's not a good financial decision, so the Phils will have to wait until some time next month, as the July 31 trading deadline approaches, to acquire a starting pitcher of any significance.
Also, don't expect a blockbuster. As much as Philadelphia fans wanted C.C Sabathia last July, we got unheralded Joe Blanton, who turned out to be a pretty good acquisition. Although there will be some big names available toward the end of July, I'm guessing that General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will come up with somebody that we probably won't expect. This move will be quite interesting.
As far as replacing Myers in the rotation for the short term, the team decided to stay in house and went with Antonio Bastardo Tuesday night in San Diego. The 23-year-old Dominican left-hander was impressive in his major-league debut. I'm not sure if he's the long-term solution because it's not uncommon for a young pitcher to be less impressive the more the hitters learn to adjust to him. And the Phillies have made it known that they are actively seeking a pitcher.
What surprised me about this move was that the team optioned John Mayberry Jr. to Triple-A, which again leaves it short in the outfield with just Matt Stairs on the bench. Manager Charlie Manuel has stated that he was inclined to keep an extra pitcher until the Myers situation — a replacement — works itself out.
And when J.C. Romero was activated for Wednesday's game, youngster Sergio Escalona was also optioned. My guess all along was for Jack Taschner to be designated for assignment, but he appears to be safe for now, and there is no way of knowing who might be included in a package for the second or third starter that is needed.
One thing that dogged the Phillies in the past was the inability to beat some second-division teams on the schedule. This point was magnified when the team failed to make the playoffs by one or two games in 2005 and '06 before they finally qualified in '07.
After the weekend sweep against the Nationals, the Phils are 10-2 against Washington, which reminded me of a bizarre prediction made by columnist Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News during spring training in 1993.
Conlin made comparisons to the 1964 Phillies, which was in contention until the end of the season because the club had done well against the teams that it should have beaten, namely the expansion teams, which in 1964 were the New York Mets and the Houston Colt 45s. The Mets and the team that was soon renamed the Astros had entered the National League in 1962.
In 1993, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies entered the league, and Conlin had surmised that if the Phillies won most of the games against the new franchises, as well as the other second-division clubs on the schedule, that Philadelphia could win the National League East.
Since the Phillies finished last in 1992, most thought that his prediction was unusual because the Phillies had made no major upgrades other than the free-agent signings of veteran outfielders Jim Eisenreich, Pete Incaviglia and Milt Thompson and left-handed pitcher Danny Jackson. Those guys had a major impact on the 1993 club that got off to a hot start and never looked back until it was in the World Series.
Comparisons to 1993 are not valid because most of that team returned for 1994 when the Phillies again finished in last place. This year's team is different because most of the players have been with the club for a while, and the only major player not signed for next year is Myers, although a few others are eligible for arbitration.
Considering the poor start of the rotation and the absence of the offense on some days, the Phillies are fortunate to be at the top of the standings. And the hot start of the West Coast trip is encouraging.
Whether or not the winning ways continues will depend on who ultimately replaces Myers as the second starter for the rest of the year.
That's my opinion. What do you think? Click on the "Comments?" link below and let me know.
Next post: June 17.
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