Is Happ's Season Over?
Is Happ's Season Over?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
I've come up small in blogging the past couple days, for which I offer my heartfelt apologies.
Let's let bygones be bygones.
1) Great game to watch last night, with enough storylines to produce five different game stories. I ended up focusing on Mr. Happ, though Greg Golson, Rudy Seanez, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz and Pat Burrell deserve mention as well.
2) Here's why it pays to be playing a team that is no longer in contention: The Braves started a 25-year-old propect named Clint Sammons behind the plate. Trivia fact about Sammons: he played high school ball with Jeff Francoeur. It was his 13th big league start behind the plate. It showed in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he did a subpar job of blocking the plate, allowing Greg Golson to slide underneath him for the go-ahead run. Contrast that with the job Carlos Ruiz did in the top half of the inning, keeping Kelly Johnson from sliding in safe by blocking the plate with his left leg. The move gave Ruiz enough time to catch a throw from Jimmy Rollins and apply the tag.
3) Pat Burrell's home run was big: manager Charlie Manuel said after the game he wasn't going to use Brad Lidge in any circumstance. Lidge had thrown 54 pitches in back-to-back appearances, meaning the ninth inning was Ryan Madson's and Ryan Madson's alone. The couple of hits - not to mention the near home run - look a lot more grave with a one-run lead rather than a four-run lead.
4) Is it too early to start wondering if we'll get to see another start from J.A. Happ this season? The magic number to clinch the division right now is four. Theoretically, they could accomplish it before the off-day Thursday. They'd have to win these final two games against the Braves and watch the Mets lose their next two against the Cubs. Not out of the realm of possibility from either side. If that happens, Happ would likely pitch the meaningless season finale on Sunday against the Nationals. The Phillies are 4-0 right now when he pitches. It'll be interesting to see whether he secures a spot in the rotation next season. He certainly has the opportunitiy.
5) If you are looking at potential achilles heels for the playoffs, number one on the list has to be the lack of a pure shut-down set-up guy. It is goin to be hard to survive eighth innings like last night's throughout an entire postseason, isn't it?
6) Lastly, I'll leave you all to discuss the following statistic, while keeping in mind that the Phillies currently lead the Mets by 2.5 games:
Mets losses when leading after seven innings: 13
Phillies losses when leading after seven innings: 9
Mets losses when leading after eight innings: 7
Phillies losses when leading after eight innings: 0
Comment removed.
LBoogie - Dave never said we are playing the Cardinals on Sunday, learn how to read the article before you criticize. And there's no chance they'll start Happ over Blanton in a playoff game.— Matt- Happ cannot make the playoff roster— aldawg
- Why can't Happ be on the playoff roster? He was up in July, which is well before the Aug 31 deadline. The real question is, can Golson be on the post-season roster, and would they be bold enough to take him over a waste of a roster spot like Taguchi.— jsweetman
- Jman, was going to ask the same questions. And the columnist's name is David, LB, not Daniel.— jcallisonfan
- Happ is not eligible for the playoff roster, but the Phillies could use him to replace an injured (or "injured") player. Likewise with Golson.
- Anyone who was on the roster sept 1st is eligible I think. So Golson, Happ, Marson are all eligible.— Matt
- David -- thanks much for the clarification. I thought both of them were eligible. It'll be interesting to see what "moves", if any, are made to accomodate either or both for the post-season roster.— jcallisonfan
- Comment removed.
- Kendrick, Eaton and Taguchi for sure will not be on post season roster. Jenkins probably not, so it seems that here will be room for Stairs, Happ and Golson— mick314
- Matt - The deadline for eligibility is Aug. 31 at midnight. So Golson, Happ, Marson and the rest of the September Call-ups are not eligible. However, players who are on the disabled list as of Aug. 31 are eligible. So theoretically the Phillies could petition the commissioner's office to let them add someone like Golson or Happ to replace someone on the disabled list. The Angels did this with K-Rod in 2002. He technically replaced Steve Green on the playoff roster, even though Green hadn't pitched in a game for the Angels since April of 2001. Green was eligible for the postseason because he was on the disabled list on Aug. 31 2002.
- I disagree that the Phillies don't have a "pure shut-down set-up guy." Ryan Madson has a 0.00 ERA in September covering 11 appearances and 12.1 innings (15 K's, 9 hits, 1 walk), with 5 holds and a win. If that isn't a shut-down set-up guy, I don't know what is. The mistaken impression that most Phillies fans have of "8th inning struggles" is mostly based on Durbin, who pitched way above his head in the 1st half (more than 3 runs better than his career 5.30+ ERA) and has been essentially reverting to his career form recently (ERA above 7 since mid-August with 4 blown saves). Only if Madson or Lidge are not available (as was the case last night) are the Phils less formidable in the 8th.— Statman
He said Tool...hehehe- LBoogie - get a life dude. stop sweating the small stuff. keep up the good work murph.— main liner
- Having Taguchi,Jenkins, and Eaton on the playoff roster would be a waste. Charlie is scared to use them. So the Phillies better get creative. LB - I don't sit in my moms basement and read blogs all day. Some of us have jobs. Sorry I didn't catch Dave's mistakes the second the article came out.— Matt
