The race for No. 5 begins today
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The race for No. 5 begins today
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It has been something of a running joke throughout these first three-plus weeks of spring training. We, the fourth estate, ask pitching coach Rich Dubee his thoughts on the competition for the fifth spot in the rotation. Dubee, the pitching coach, rolls his eyes and says "It's early."
But as Yogi Berra, or the guy who puts funny aphorisms in his mouth, once said: It's getting late early. Dubee yesterday said the compeition begins in earnest today when Chan Ho Park takes the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. For three younger guys battling for the spot, Dubee says he will ignore their first couple of starts. But Park is a veteran, and so he apparently doesn't get that second start mulligan. In reality, we won't be able to get a good feel for the race until later in March, when Park and Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco are facing opposing line-ups for the bulk of a game.
That said, here is what we know so far:
1) Carlos Carrasco has the best stuff of the four, and Chan Ho Park probably comes in at No. 2. Anybody who watched Carrasco pitch in his spring debut knows that when this kid is on, there aren't many pitchers in the entire organization who can touch his repetoire. Catcher Carlos Ruiz says Carrasco's change-up is second only to Cole Hamels, and his curve ball continues to improve. Park, meanwhile, has some absolutley nasty stuff when he is on. The question, of course, is whether both can maintain that stuff for an entire start.
In Carrasco's second outing, you saw a glimpse of why the Phillies entered spring training still believing that he is probably better suited for another year in the minor leagues. He got a little rattled after a three-base error on Eric Bruntlett and wound up allowing a big inning. If Carrasco comes back and is lights-out for five starts, that outing will be a distant memory. But, more than anything, the Phillies are looking for consistency out of that No. 5 spot, and both Park and Carrasco have that to prove. Park, after all, spent the majority of last season as a reliever, and needs to prove that he has the endurance and consistency to return to the rotation.
2) Rich Dubee's proclamation of Kyle Kendrick as the favorite to win the job is no longer a factor. That's not to say that Dubee was lying when he said the young righthander had the lead going into spring training. Of the four competitors, Kendrick has the most impressive resume as a big league starter over the past two seasons. But as you have no doubt read in the pages of the Daily News today, Dubee was hoping to see more improvement out of Kendrick than he has shown so far. Dubee was very critical of Kendrick's body language, which he failed to control when a couple things went against him against Team USA yesterday. He also said he was hoping to see more improvement out of his change-up, which he threw for a strike just once. That said, even though baseball is a What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-Lately endeavor, don't discount Kendrick's experience as a big league starter. He knows what it is like to be out on a big league mound for the bulk of a season. And that can only help him. Don't read too much into Kendrick's performance yesterday. He will be judged on what he does over his final four or five outings.
3) The combinations are endless. But they should not be ignored. If Park wins the job, that will leave the Phillies' bull-pen further depleted. As evidence for why the club is not going to add another left-handed reliever, witness the two year, $3 million deal Dennys Reyes signed with the Cardinals, as well as the offer of more than $1 million that Joe Beimel reportedly turned down from the Rockies. Maybe Will Ohman or Beimel come cheaply later. But don't bet on it. The market will only get stronger -- or, as one agent I spoke with recently said, "less weak." That means the Phils will likely have to make do with what they have. And if Park isn't in the bull-pen, it will be interesting to see how they fill the void.
4) J.A. Happ will likely have a spot on the roster. We don't know it for sure, but all indications I get are that the Phillies want Happ on this team, whether it is as a starter or as a reliever out the bullpen who can both get lefties out and pitch multiple innings.
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Paul Hagen is pinch-hitting for me on the beat today, so he will keep you abreast on what happens in tonight's night game in Dunedin. Jayson Werth is back in the line-up for a B game that will be starting here within the next couple of hours.
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Jason Donald hit a home run yesterday, breaking a 2-for-15 slump. I caught up with him after the game, and he ruefully admitted that Charlie Manuel pulled him aside earlier in the day and told him to stop pressing. Donald is an intense guy -- he keeps a notebook with a narrative of every one of his at-bats -- and I'm sure he has been trying to win a roster spot during every at-bat. Dealing with that impulse to press is a part of being a big leaguer, Manuel pointed out yesterday, so we'll see how he improves as the spring goes on.
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78 degrees and sunny here at last check. Enjoy the Great White North.
Phils2Repeat, you can set up your rotation just to beat the Mets. How about the rest of the league, which is heavy on righthanded hitters. Park has nasty stuff. He should be the 5th starter if he keeps throwng like that. Send Carrasco and Kendrik to Triple A for more seasoning, and make Happ the second lefty in the bullpen and long reliever until JC returns. No need to sign a veteran.— EL Zorro- Murph; If the game starts today for the race for #5, why is Rich Dubee bringing up the fact that Kindrick was not so good against USA team? Give Kyle an even start too.— wiseoldowl
- Dave, I think this may have been one of your best posts ever!!! Great job so far this spring. You're close to having me switch over from Todd to you as my blog of choice— jeff gross
- Dave, I think this may have been one of your best posts ever!!! Great job so far this spring. You're close to having me switch over from Todd to you as my blog of choice— jeff gross
- Dave, I think this may have been one of your best posts ever!!! Great job so far this spring. You're close to having me switch over from Todd to you as my blog of choice— jeff gross
- The "Irish Fonz"!— Theo1980
- Shove that pigskin up your Calabrese! GO PHILLIES!— thejerz
Comment removed.- Calabrese is a moron. One of the dopes who got all pumped up for that fake run at the end of last year I suppose. McChoke and Father of the Year have nothing on Utley and Manuel. If I could predict what the rotation will be, Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer, and Happ with Park going to the bullpen. I like the idea of 3 lefty starters, which force Beltran and Reyes to bat right (weaker side) and Delgado who is lefthanded.— Phils2Repeat
- The Phils are in great shape. I would like to see Park step up as the 5th starter. He closed out last year pretty strong when given the chance to start again. Having an extra three young very good major league arms in the system is a luxury that I cant remember our Fightins ever had. We have very few holes to fill. A 5th starter, a lefty middle-late inning situation man and a right handed bat. WOW!!! WOW!!!!! I think we have the 5th starter, Erye should hold the fort till J.C. comes back with a fresh arm and if Werth breaks down, I'm hoping that Mayberry becomes the steal of the century. Nothing insiteful, just a vague observation and I know some of you literate guys hate this sort of post but I feel much better thank you. 100 wins before Oct.!!!!!!!— bigphillydad
- psuflyers: You are being hyper-critical. Keep up the good work otherwise, Murph!— Jason259
- All the young guys still have options, right? Kendrick and Carrasco would probably better off pitching a lot in AAA and getting ready to step in if there's an injury.— ChekUrFax
- Vince Fumo should be the 5th starter. He has all the "tools."— The-Roof-Is-On-Fire
- Why are the Phils getting cheap now??? is it really gonna mattter to their payroll if they give Ohman or Beimel 2 mil? It makes no sense. The bullpen is not that good and needs another good arm. It can only be more of a strength when Romero comes back, and I hope they aren't depending on Condrey!!!— scars73
- murph means business in that pic— Serge_Matthews
- Now is the time for Carrasco to be the number 5. Bring him along slowly, let him learn from a very veteran staff, and you can even skip him at times. Let him pitch out of the 5 hole now, so there is less pressure. In 2 years or so, he can slot in right behind Cole!!! Happ, Park, and Kendrick stink anyway.— scars73
- I think JA Happ should get the nod. He has pitched well when given the chance and has the most upside.— MattPSU
- Eagles? No thanks Calabrese. Why don't you stick with the winner in town, not the team fooling all you alkahallicks.— robkaos
- "Also, you deserve props for the fact that it has been a while since the last notable, spelling typo." Not to be hyper-critical, randy, but you missed one in this very blog post, unless Merriam-Webster officially changed the spelling of 'absolutley.' Thanks for the updates, Murph.
- Murph....please change the picture.
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- Very interesting-- without even reading the three comments before me, I hit "Comment" with the sole intent to applaud you, Murph, on the great content this Spring. It's been entertaining, informative, and very interesting. Also, you deserve props for the fact that it has been a while since the last notable, spelling typo. We all like to complain on here; but you deserve credit for responding to some of the collective gripes. Keep it up. Now if only someone could figure out a way to make us cheap-o's pay up for this content...— randy_w
- Excellent Murph! Keep up the good work.— rjernee
- Good Info, Thanks— Reggie92
- Murph, you're back baby. Paragraphs, not scribbles, that's what we like to see. The battle for best Phillies blog has been the one truly unexpected competition this spring, so hang in and don't get rattled and don't press.— bigredmachinefan
- Great job, David. Keep those updates coming. Regards,— 1aviator
