Presenting the four-and-a-half man rotation
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Presenting the four-and-a-half man rotation
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The Phillies have a decision to make. With righthander Roy Oswalt sidelined for at least the rest of the first half of the season, they can play out the final 14 games before the All-Star Break while using a fifth starter once. But that would require them pitching Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay on normal rest the rest of the way. Both pitchers can handle it. But both are among the NL league leaders in innings, and the Phillies have always been a fan of getting their starters an extra day of rest whenever possible.
If they stay in order through Monday's off day, they will be in the unenviable position of starting both Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick against the Red Sox in the three-game series between the two leading World Series contenders that starts on Tuesday.
Both Halladay and Hamels have had an extra day rest in two of their previous four starts, and keeping them on their normal turn would allow Kyle Kendrick to remain in a bullpen that is without Jose Contreras and last night was without Ryan Madson due to a hand condition that Charlie Manuel did not really expand on.
Here is how the rotation would look if they keep Halladay and Hamels on their normal turn the rest of the way:
June 24 v Oak - Worley (5)
June 25 v Oak - Hamels (5)
June 26 v Oak - Halladay (4)
June 27 - Off - OFF
June 28 v Bos - Lee (5)
June 29 v Bos - Worley (4)
June 30 v Bos - Hamels (4)
July 1 at Tor - Halladay (4)
July 2 at Tor - FIFTH STARTER
July 3 at Tor - Lee (4)
July 4 vs Fla - Worley (4)
July 5 vs Fla - Hamels (4)
July 6 vs Fla - Halladay (4)
July 7 - OFF - OFF
July 8 vs Atl - Lee (4)
July 9 vs Atl - Worley (4)
July 10 v Atl - Hamels (4)
In this scenario, the match-ups for the Boston series will go like this:
Tuesday - LHP Cliff Lee vs. RHP Josh Beckett
Wednesday - RHP Vance Worley vs. RHP John Lackey
Thursday - LHP Cole Hamels vs. LHP John Lester
The Phillies could keep those match-ups for the Boston series and also get Halladay two extra days of rest by using Kendrick in a second start, against the Marlins on July 6. That would also line up Halladay, Lee and Hamels to pitch against the Braves in the final series of the regular season.
Right now, this would appear to be the best scenario. Hamels is already getting an extra day before tonight's start against Oakland, so he would only be pitching on normal rest in three straight starts. Halladay would get the same number of starts before the break, but he'd get two extra days of rest. The only starter getting one less start than in the first scenario would be Worley.
In parantheses are the days of rest the starter will be working on.
June 24 v Oak - Worley (5)
June 25 v Oak - Hamels (5)
June 26 v Oak - Halladay (4)
June 27 - Off - OFF
June 28 v Bos - Lee (5)
June 29 v Bos - Worley (4)
June 30 v Bos - Hamels (4)
July 1 at Tor - FIFTH STARTER (Kendrick on 7 days rest)
July 2 at Tor - Halladay (5)
July 3 at Tor - Lee (4)
July 4 vs Fla - Worley (4)
July 5 vs Fla - Hamels (4)
July 6 vs Fla - FIFTH STARTER (Kendrick on 4 days rest)
July 7 - OFF - OFF
July 8 vs Atl - Halladay (5)
July 9 vs Atl - Lee (5)
July 10 v Atl - Hamels (4)
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I don't want Cole starting the Sunday before the All Star Game. I want him starting the All Star Game.— schmolik- Huh?! The All-Star Game is an exhibition. Let the National League worry about securing home field for the World Series - the Phillies are better off having Cole pitch in games that actually count in the standings.
— Doctor D - Oh,how I long for the days of the 4 man rotation...when men where men and pitch counts were reserved for little league where they belong...— SaganRand
- Unless the Phillies make a FINAL decision about Kendrick he is wasted. The kid should be used as a starter period. He will never be a two or three but he can give you a decent start if his role is defined. He doesn't belong in the bullpen.— NC Dennis
Pelti- thanks for the heads up on muting the ads- I hadn't thought to do that. Why is that Murphy, Fagan, Kapada, and Seravalli are the only reporters who seem to actually put in time, research, and work? The 'established' writers on the papers should be ashamed of themselves.— kjuggs77- Who cares about the Red Sox in July? Come on. Keep our stud 3 rested and use Worley, KK and Valdez (for all I care) at this point. We're playoff-bound. Let's keep our eye on the prize. If the Red Sox sweep us now, they'll be giddy -- although losing to San Diego and Pittsburgh is sobering -- but maybe that's to our advantage. Using the Red Sox series as a benchmark is phoney -- unless it's late October.— eman
- First, if you don't like the ads, get firefox with adblock plus. Second, since the Phils have the BEST RECORD in MLB, go with the extra rest for the horses (Halladay, Hamels, and Lee). It is a long season, a spot start (supposing a loss), is worth keeping the big 3 healthy for the postseason.— hoyaray
- For the record, the last time Kyle Kendrick faced the Red Sox he was beaten 5-0, on a one hitter by Daiske Matsuzaka
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI201005220.shtml— SteveS11 - Hey David, please do a little research and let us know the results. In the '60's, teams had 4 man rotations and, more time than not, the starters went 9 innings. How many innings per year did these guys log?— Smokey
- I think the organization owes it to the fans to see the best team possible. That means with the offday on Monday KENDRICK GETS SKIPPED.
Lee vs Beckett
Worley vs Lackey
Hamels vs Lester
If you want to give the big 3 pitchers an extra day off, give it to them on the road trip vs Toronto or Fla..
I want the best possible pitchers going against the Red Sox at CBP.— argonne - @Kuwait - if the rotation plays out as written above, Hamels wouldn't pitch in the All-Star Game, as he'd be pitching the day before the break.— Doctor D
- How about Wheeler for a spot start— Cheesedog
- They'll shut Roy down till August...makes sense...Worley and KK will be getting plenty of work...next on deck...Mathieson.— bearsfriend
- The good news is this team stays afloat during all the injuriies to the rotation, the bullpen and the starting lineup. They get through anemic offensive outputs and win a good share of close games and still boast the best record in the MLB. With all the flaws this team has I'd still take the phillies lineup over 99% of any MLB team. Go Phil's!— Phillyphan26
- What logic is there to try to match up in a meaningless, three game, interleague series? The Red Sox series isn't any more important than the Toronto one and less important that those against Atlanta and Florida. Murphy's proposed rotation DOES end up the first half with Halladay, Lee, & Hamels against the Braves and that should be their only priority when it comes to match ups.— jtj06
