The Mother of All Press Releases? Martinez, Moyer and more
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The Mother of All Press Releases? Martinez, Moyer and more
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Well, the press release that just landed in my inbox doesn't lack for fodder. We'll cover the nuts and bolts first, then deal with some analysis. Pedro Martinez will make his Phillies debut on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. To make room for him in the rotation, the club has informed veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer that he will be pitching out of the bullpen for the forseeable future. Also, J.A. Happ will pitch tomorrow night on his normal turn in the rotation, bumping Cliff Lee back until Thursday. Lee could have started on normal rest tomorrow. Instead, he'll start on six days rest on Thursday. That leaves Joe Blanton pitching Friday against the Braves, although the press release did not specifically say that, and Cole Hamels pitching Saturday on an extra day's rest.
Oh, and by the way, Chad Durbin was activated from the disabled list, while Rodrigo Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Now. . .some thoughts.
1) It looks to me like the Phillies went with the schedule that would keep all of their pitchers closest to their normal turn in the rotation. Happ will be pitching on five days rest, Martinez on six days rest, Lee on six days rest, Blanton on five days rest, and Hamels on five days rest.
2) Moyer to the bullpen is an interesting move. The Phillies have said all along that they don't view Moyer as a reliever. But just because he is in the "bullpen" doesn't mean he will be utilized as a normal reliever. Hey, there's a good chance they tell him to prepare as if he were starting every five days, making him available each time Martinez pitches. Who knows.
3) My initial reaction was curious, seeing as though the Phils bumped Lee back to Thursday. But now that I look at the schedule, it makes sense. By pitching him on Thursday, he won't be available this weekend in Atlanta for a big series against the Braves, but he will get to face them at Citizens Bank Park at the end of August. Had he pitched Tuesday, Lee would have missed that second series against the Braves. So Lee gets the same number of starts, faces the Braves the same number of times, and nobody in the rotation has an extended layoff.
4) How does the rest of the month set-up?
- Tues - at CHC - J.A. Happ
- Wed - at CHC - Pedro Martinez
- Thur - at CHC - Cliff Lee
- Fri - at ATL - Joe Blanton
- Sat - at ATL - Cole Hamels
- Sun - at ATL - J.A. Happ
- Mon - OFF - None
- Tue - ARI - Pedro Martinez
- 8/19 - ARI - Cliff Lee
- 8/20 - ARI - Joe Blanton
- 8/21 - at NYM - Cole Hamels
- 8/22 - at NYM - J.A. Happ
- 8/23 - at NYM - Pedro Martinez
- 8/24 - at NYM - Cliff Lee
- 8/25 - at PIT - Joe Blanton
- 8/26 - at PIT - Cole Hamels
- 8/27 - at PIT - J.A. Happ
- 8/28 - ATL - Pedro Martinez
- 8/29 - ATL - Cliff Lee
- 8/30 - ATL - Joe Blanton
- 8/31 - OFF -
Jamie Moyer and his agent held up the Phillies front office for a second year on his contract in the offseason. He doesn't need any reminders that this is a business. That said, I wish nothing but the best for Jamie. He is a class act.— Rick Wise Guy- If Dubee is so bad, how did Phillies pitchers manage to have the sixth best ERA in the major leagues last year and the best ERA in the playoffs on the way to winning the World Series? How did pitchers like Romero, Blanton, Moyer, Condrey, Hamels, Lidge, Madson and Durbin manage to improve their statistics while working under Dubee vs. their performances in previous years? Seriously, what accounts for all that success? It all happened despite Dubee? Does anyone have evidence he has no contact with his pitchers, or that they explicitly ignore everything he ever says? Also, please detail the bad mechanics taught by Dubee that have landed these "10 or more" pitchers on the DL, as opposed to the healthful mechanics they employed prior. Or could it be that almost all our pitchers are on the DL because they all logged more innings than normal last year and are older players (age is highly correlated with increased injury. See: life, the Mets)... Please feel free to use any facts or Phd's you might have to aid in your reply.— PhilaLogic
Comment removed.- ejw, I agree, how can we feel bad for a multi millionare. He is a class act and there could not be a Phillies fan that does not repect him or appreciate his efforts, but we need to attempt to win and this looks like a more promising move.— SmartAlec
- Philalogic-Why dont you have another World Series ceremony from LAST YEAR? This year 10 pitchers plus on the DL, Lidge, Hamels, Moyer 3 key guys are a friggin mess. It's obvious that you have a short attention span and do not retain facts well. Instead, you spew your emotions in lieu of facts. Did you go to community college?— Dr. Michael
- Speaking of idiots. Philly10 is back. Dude, all you kept saying was "Get Halladay, PLEASE don't get Cliff Lee". You're another genius. You and Dr Michael should start your own website. He's a name for it ... iamclueless.com— Grazman
- Dr -- YOU are the one with the theory about Dubee being responsible for the failure of and injuries to our pitchers. Last year IS evidence that contradicts and quite possibly disproves your theory outright. I'll say this slowly: Do .. you .. understand .. that? Then I offered an alternative theory for the high number of injuries this season, one consistent with fairly well-known data about innings pitched and pitchers' ages. You failed to contradict my evidence or offer any data of your own. Again, how did the staff flourish so well under Dubee last year -- as well as remain one of the healthiest staffs in recent baseball history? Has Rich Dubee entirely reversed his approach this season? And if so, how? The floor is yours to be taken seriously, but please offer evidence to support your claim as well as evidence to explain away the facts which contradict your claim directly. If not, I'll join those ignoring you and the adults can continue the conversation.— PhilaLogic
- Philalogic...You are a dope for presenting your opinion as fact. I will not argue with an idiot such as yourself. The Phillies overcame a lackluster pitching coach this year and will not repeat that. Brad Lidge is a mess and so is COle Hamels. It is the pitching coach's job for that not to happen and he has failed. Just as you have failed masquerading as an intellectual.— Dr. Michael
- GRazman-are you from Fishtown? You vernacular emotes a no class, low IQ dope.— Dr. Michael
- Comment removed.
- Comment removed.
- Dr. Michael: your arrogance is really quite striking. I venture to say I know at least 100 Ph.Ds (I have one myself, but don't feel the need to trumpet it like yourself), some of whom are extremely bright, some of whom are as thick as two planks, some of whom are humble, and some of whom are, like yourself, believers that the sun shines out their butts, but most likely none of them knows as much about professional baseball as Charlie Manuel, for example. I would suggest that he has forgotten more about baseball than you will ever know. Your need to establish for all of us that you have a doctorate says more about your own inadequacies and insecurities than the alleged stupidity of other posters. As for your vendetta against Dubee, it lacks credibility. Hamels threw more innings last year than at any time in his career and has always been fragile. Lidge hurt his knee in the pileup at the end of the World Series and has clearly favored it ever since. Moyer is nearing 50. Joe Blanton has been lights out this year as has Happ. Madsen has improved dramatically. Your call for Leo Mazzone is funny; the bloom is off the rose for him. You must have missed it, but his Orioles pitching staff for the two years he was there had the second worst ERA in the entire major leagues. You overrate the impact of pitching coaches, whether Joe Kerrigan, Johnny Padres, Leo Mazzone, Dave Righetti &c. Their job is to maintain the egos and machanics of pitchers, not turn them into superstars. By the way, having read your posts, your claim for superiority is drastically misplaced.— chuckw
- Speaking of bobbleheads..............has ANYONE noticed that they now have their rotation set up as Lee, Blanton, Hamels, Happ, and Pedro? They are ready for the post season. I would have liked to see Happ flip flopped with Hamels for the #3 starter, but those are the 4 for the post season. Remember , we are still the defending WORLD CHAMPS, and we are STILL in first place! Charlie, Dubee, and Ruben know what they are doing. It's up to the players to hit, field,throw, and WIN!— SEEK313
- Martinez needs to be given a shot. Jamie's there as a fallback. By starting Pedro now the rotation can be settled by playoff time. We just have to hope Hamels turns into a playoff pitcher by then too. Hamels is now scaring me more than Lidge was 2-3 weeks ago.— s
- Chuck W-I did not "trumpet it." I was asked, so I revealed it. Secondly, I doubt you have a Phd with a silly, juvenile name like "Chuck." You seem to be very insecure. Did your parents divorce when you were very young?— Dr. Michael
