Happ could be headed to minors
No official decisions have been announced with regards to J.A. Happ's immediate future. But you definitely got the feeling today that the Phillies are going to err on the side of caution and send him down to the minor leagues. They could apply for an extension to his rehab stint. But Happ has options remaining, which means they can just as easily activate him and send him down to continue pitching every five days.
Happ could be headed to minors
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
No official decisions have been announced with regards to J.A. Happ's immediate future. But you definitely got the feeling today that the Phillies are going to err on the side of caution and send him down to the minor leagues. They could apply for an extension to his rehab stint. But Happ has options remaining, which means they can just as easily activate him and send him down to continue pitching every five days.
"From the sound of what they are telling me, it sounds more like he might still need some work," manager Charlie Manuel said.
Happ thinks he's ready. And he showed some real signs of progress last night at Lehigh Valley, particularly with regard to his velocity and arm speed. If the Phillies had an obvious candidate for removal from the rotation, you have to think they'd stick Happ in there and let him iron out whatever issues he still has while also pitching in the big leagues. But in the fourth inning last night, his velocity dropped a couple of clicks, and he struggled to find the strike zone, and rather than take a chance on him scuffling at the big league level, the Phillies sound like they are looking for him to prove that he is ready before they bring him back to the big league roster.
Pitching coach Rich Dubee said that, in his opinion, activating Happ and putting him in the bullpen would be counterproductive.
^
Chase Utley returned from his hip surgery in 2009 quicker than expected. And it sounds like he is determined to do the same this season with his surgically-repaired thumb. The Phillies said they think eight weeks is a realistic timetable. But Utley sounded convinced he could get back a week ahead of schedule.
"It takes about five weeks for that ligament to heal back up properly, another week or so to get the movement back in your hand and then, as far as a baseball standpoint, 2-3-4-5 games to get back in shape that way," said Utley, who had his surgery on Thursday. "Obviously, were going to have to see how it goes. But at this point I'm pretty optimistic."
^
Ryan Madson will pitch in Lehigh Valley tonight and tomorrow night. Assuming all goes well, he'll then be activated and be available to pitch in the last handful of games before the All-Star Break.
Comment removed.
And to think we would not have given him up for either Lee or Halladay— davi- Trade Blanton and Ibanez for Lee. Release Contraras. Bring up Domonic Brown and Happ. Have Happ relieve.Sign Lee and Jason Werth, if possible. With this you now have the world champions.— oldmanriver
- Hey Oleman, how 'bout we trade Dobbs to Milwaukee for Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun and Juan Castro to the Dodgers for Clayton Kershaw. Just for the record, the M's wouldn't let you sniff Lee's jockey strap for Blanton and Ibanez.— CoolColeMan
- send Happ down and give him some innings in the minors. That's the best thing for now.Bring him up when he's ready. Then next year he starts in place of Moyer.— tony b
- RAJ plus the injury bug has donned the season. The team is in a collective hitting slump and our best pitcher is now a Mariner (thanks, RAJ, so very Ed Wade-like of you). With the Eagles ready to really be to mediocre, sports fans in Philly are getting very antsy. Looks like the '90s are coming back into vogue, a decade that was most unkind to Philly sports. Thanks again, Rube! At least you haven't thrown the "gold standard" phrase around yet for laughs...but I'm sure Cliff Lee will chuckle when hears it uttered. Good grief.— mebphila
- Comment removed.
- "If the Phillies had an obvious candidate for removal". Seriously??? Blanton has an ERA over 6 and has not had an ERA below 5 nearly all season. I think he's an obvious candidate if there ever was one. Happ probably does need more time, but he's never had a consistent fastball over 92-93 max.— staup640
- i love how you all bash Amaro for the Lee trade when all he is doing is what the ownership told him to do, which is cut salary when they are printing money at CBP. Blame the ownership not the puppet. And GET OVERRRRRRRRRRRR IT— seaonasdad
- No, I will blame Amaro when the prospects he got in return are worthless. He may have been ordered to perform a trade, not botch a trade.— staup640
- bahahahaha, CoolColeMan— AbsoluteIrish
- The trade talks are confusing. Its not even the All Star Break yet, so there is still time to heal and start winning.— damnels
- For you clowns who are panning the return of prospects from the Mariners, it's far too soon to act like you know how the trade will turn out. You simply don't. None of these guys have chances of playing for the big team before 2013 and we are at least a year away from spotting a trend in their progress or lack of it. It is so tiresome to hear know-nothings rant about the same tired subject. Get a life.— Claudio Vernight
- I'M NOT WILLING TO TRADE ANY OF THE REGULARS. DUMP SOME OF THE WASTE IN THE BP!!! FIRST START WITH DANNY BOY, THEN LIDGE AND FOR GOOD MEASURE THROW IN JC!!!!— Lynnwood
- AMEN CLAUDIO! It is absurd the things people say about prospects they know nothing about beyond 2010 stats...in fact, most of the things people post on here are ridiculously short sighted and reactionary.— TheLon
