Like Fine Wine?
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Like Fine Wine?
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
UPDATE -- 11:14 a.m. -- I'm not sure what I was drinking when I banged this blog post out last night. Bastardo is scheduled to pitch again Sunday, not Tuesday, so the Phils wouldn't be able to skip that spot in the rotation this time around.
The look on Charlie Manuel's face said it all. For his entire seven-minute post-game interview session following the Phillies 10-5 win over the Padres Tuesday night, the manager had a goofy grin spread across his face. The source of the grin? Antonio Bastardo. More specifically, Antonio Bastardo's bazooka of an arm, which was on display for six innings against the Padres. First, let's nip the hysteria in the bud: One start does not do anything except earn Bastardo another start. Even that isn't definite. The Phillies have an off day Monday and could theoretically not have to use Bastardo until late next week. But there's a good chance he earned himself another opportunity by holding the Padres to one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one in six innings.
Manuel said he would talk to pitching coach Rich Dubee tomorrow, but he said he is inclined to keep his rotation in its current order. That inclination is a lot easier to follow through on given the results Bastardo experienced. Manuel was blown away by the velocity he displayed on his fastball, which occasionally touched 95 miles an hour. It is easy to see why the Phillies flirted with turning him into a reliever. He looked very much like J.C. Romero out there.
"When I started looking up there and he was pumping 94, 95 and it looked like it was cutting, moving all over the place -- I knew he had a good arm, but I didn't know he had that good of an arm," said Raul Ibanez, who drove in five runs and hit two home runs, including the 200th of his career.
But Bastardo didn't do much other than throw his fastball. He didn't really need to, since the Phillies were up 6-0 before he took the mound for the third inning. Still, it was an impressive one pitch, and Manuel said he thinks Bastardo's adrenaline caused him to grip his off-speed pitches two tight, limiting their effectiveness.
"He did a super job," Manuel said, "but he did it with one pitch."
He was saying that more out of awe than out of qualification.
Has Bastardo earned another start? Barring an unforseen personnel addition, you would think so. It would make sense to run him out there again as soon as possible and see what he can do in his second start. With a 23-year-old pitcher who has made just three starts north of Double-A, the Phillies are essentially playing with house money.
We'll let you know what they decide.
The headline tomorrow (that is, if the story could actually appear in the paper) should be: BastardOH YEAH!— Jeg7777
Comment removed.- Lol, ForeverFlyer. One trick pony? The only reason why he threw the fastball all game was because he had a sizable lead throughout and that pitch was working. For anyone that knows the guy, his best pitch is his changeup. The best is yet to come with this kid, wait til he starts setting up the changeup with the fastball. He can't throw everything he's got out there on the first start, that's how hitters pick up on him. Give him a shot, he sure as hell deserves it. There is no doubt in my mind that he makes his scheduled start on Sunday.— robm0202
- Imagine that. A guy throwing strikes with a nice lead. Craziness. Pure craziness.— joeyjoejoe
- Hey forever Flyer, go back to rooting for your irrelevant garbage HOCKEY team and stay out of Phillies threads!— jeffmacnow1234
- Comment removed.
- Like fine wine? Of course I do— mick314
- Foreverflyer16, all BastardOH (thanks Jeg777) does is win ballgames. Check his minor league numbers. He has a better than advertised fastball with a nice changeup and slider, two pitches he didn't need yesterday. He had better ML numbers that Happ, and Happ is doing pretty good so far. Just keep your ridiculous predictions to yourself.— EL Zorro
- He certainly earned another start. Things I've read about him (and I'd never seen him pitch before last night) are that his change-up and breaking stuff still need some work- I guess we'll find out over the next start/starts. Even if they do need work, he's 21 and you can work on your change-up- you can't develop a power arm like he has. I was impressed.— KMG
- Hey foreverflyer16. I assume the 16 represents Bobby Clarke's jersey. You're to stupid to rep Bobby Clarke. Please drop the 16 off the end of your screen & go watch your CD set of the Broad Street Bullies. OOPS soory.Watch your VCR tape.— fran g
- I like the way Amaro is rewarding great performance in the minors. It gives a message to the guys in AAA to stay focused and improve or you ll be passed over. More important it tells the guys down below that the Phils will reward performance Do you hear me Kyle and Carlos???— raywright
- Hey, David, what are you talking about? Bastardo's spot comes up on Sunday (BEFORE the off day on Monday). How can the Phils theoretically not use him until late next week? Who would the Phils use in that spot otherwise?— southpaw57
Mariano Rivera only has one picth....I think Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels can help this kid out with his change-up.- Murph, what does the off day Monday have to do with the fact that they will need another starter Sunday night in LA? Of course he will start that night. If he doesn't, then they would have to call someone else up, no? I understand you need to fill up your blog/columns, but don't act like a decision needs to be weighed about Bastardo getting another start. Seriously.— CyHamels
- Comment removed.
