Amaro on Happ: "He's going to help us this year."
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Amaro on Happ: "He's going to help us this year."
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies have made no secret that they are looking to upgrade their rotation. The problem they face in doing so is two-fold: First, Roy Oswalt is the only top-shelf starter who is definitely available. Second, the Phillies will not part ways with Domonic Brown, their only major-league ready blue-chip prospect, making it difficult to acquire anything greater than a middle-of-the-rotation arm.
What they could really use is an addition that costs them nothing. Even better, an addition that costs them nothing and is 12-5 with a 2.91 ERA over his last 30 starts while averaging more than 6 innings per outing.
Enter J.A. Happ.
The 27-year-old lefty had his season derailed in mid-April when he developed tightness in his elbow that was officially diagnosed as a forearm starin. In his only two starts this season, he threw 10.1 scoreless innings against the Nationals and Astros. But he also walked eight and racked up high pitch counts, then admitted to some tightness in his elbow after his velocity dipped into the mid-80's against Washington.
After a two-month absence and six inconsistent rehab starts, the Phillies activated Happ from the disabled list and sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. At the same time, the Phillies increased their efforts to add a starter via trade.
In two starts since his demotion, Happ has allowed six runs on 11 hits in 10 innings. He has allowed two home runs and seven walks, and has struck out 14.
But general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the reports on Happ's latest start, when he allowed three runs in five innings with seven strikeouts and four walks against Louisville, were good.
"He started out a little tentative and then threw the (heck) out of it the last two innings," said Amaro, who added that his velocity sat between 92 and 95 MPH. "That was a good sign."
Is he a realistic option to bolster the rotation?
"Absolutely," Amaro said. "He's going to help us this year. I don't know when."
The two most positive signs out of Happ would seem to be the consistency of his velocity and his strikeout numbers in his two recent starts.
Last season, Happ went 10-4 wtih a 2.99 ERA in 23 starts after taking Chan Ho Park's spot in the rotation in mid-May. He averaged 6.1 innings per start and tossed three complete games. In his 21 starts from May 29 to September 29, the Phillies went 13-8. He pitched at least seven innings and held opponents under three runs eight times during that stretch.
"When he gets right, he's going to help us here," said Amaro, who added that the team "absolutely" is looking at Happ as a starter, and not a reliever.
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Placido Polanco went 3-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI for the Gulf Coast League Phillies early Friday afternoon. There is still a possibility that he joins the team in Chicago, although Amaro said before the game there were no definite plans.
"We'll find out how he feels after today and go from there," he said.
If the Phillies want to deal and expect to get a quality arm in return they are going to have to do one of two things: trade Dominic Brown (get a mega-arm in return) or trade someone off their MLB roster---and no, Werth, Ibanez, Lidge, Baez, etc. are not going to get them what they want. Dealing off the big-league roster and getting a big-time pitcher in return is going to take someone like Utley or Victorino. They could probably make a big-time move by packaging Utley, Lidge, Singelton, Mayberry and J.A. Happ to SF in return for Matt Cain, Brian Wilson, Mark Derosa and taking bad the remainder of the horrible Zito contract. I think the Giants would do this deal but don't know if the Phillies should. I might not. It would give them a legit young starter who is only 25, a flame-throwing reliever who may or may not be the answer in the backend of the pen, a right-handed bat with pop who can play all over the place, and a 30 something soft-tossing lefty who's won a Cy Young 100 years and 10 MPH ago. It would improve the team right now (BC Utley's not playing) but who knows how it will play out. Still have the three outfielders and werth will leave as a FA and then Brown takes his place. Derosa plays 2B or 3B (depending where they play Polanco). Could work...any other realistic trade scenarios?— Eilex826- The fact that you just mentioned Utley and trade in the same sentence should have you banned from commenting for the rest of your life!!— Phinally
- The fact that you mentioned Utley and trade in the same sentence should get you banned from commenting for the rest of your life!— Phinally
- That is the stupidest trade proposal since Cliff Lee for Philip Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and JC Ramirez.— maximusud
- Eilex826...please refrain from crack, it has obviously destroyed your brain. You ask for a "realistic trade scenarios" yet propose that ridiculous trade with SF. Time for you to star on Intervention.— Phront_Runner
- Wow...now theres an arm chair GM that needs to do MORE drugs. Obviously, the ones he is on right now aren't working.... I'm starting to sound like one of those Cliff Lee whiners, but...if this team hits like it did the last two years....we have no pitching issues.......trade Utley??!!!......shakes head and walks away— dirttracker
- Eilex826 - what an awful, stupid, unintelligent and uninformed trade scenario. Why would you trade what most consider to be the best 2nd basemen of his generation for a guy that plays that plays once in 5 days? Why would SF trade a young Wilson for old Lidge? Why would the phillies, who dont want to increase salary, take on Zito's contract?— thegloryofoldstate
- EILEX826 must be a mets fan..cocaine is a powerful drug— KMOORE1333
- What is a forearm starin?? Is this serious?— jdld610
Mark Derosa is out for the year genuis. Way to not follow baseball.....
Nice, Howard just went 'yard'. Phils retake the lead over the Cubbies...anywho, if Haap can come back healthy, that would be a huge addition to the rotation. And if Blanton can get back to his consistent self, (like the game he is pitching today), then the 5 man rotation will be solid. I just don't see the Phils swinging a deal for a big time starter unless they do shock us and trade Victorino and bring up Domonic Brown.- ...and Fat Joe just gives up a 2 run HR to Byrd. d'oh!
- Wow, not sure what was worse, the trade itself or the explanation behind it.— richards4captain18
- Well if they don't trade Werth now, soon, his ave. will be a .230 and even a bag of balls will be a bridge too far! Trade him please. Oh and Kyle pitched from the Pen last night in the wipe out so perhaps they do think Happ will be back to rotate with Kyle the rest of the season. Of course, that means no PO but then with 45,000 a game, what they worry????LOL— KGKoons
- HOWARD & HAMELS FOR PUJOLS & CARPENTER. THIS IS REALISTIC RIGHT?? Any other realistic trade scenarios?????????? ha— Punk19
