Worley could be ready to fill Halladay's spot in the rotation
You can read all about the big news of the day elsewhere on this site. For now, let's focus on the issue of who will replace Roy Halladay in the rotation. For the time being, the Phillies have called up catching Erik Kratz to take Halladay's spot on the roster, but at some point they are going to need to add another pitcher to the mix, whether it is Dave Bush or Scott Elarton at Triple-A Lehigh Valley or Vance Worley from the disabled list. At this point, Roy Oswalt is not an option. It appears as if he is going to sign with Texas. Even if he wasn't, the Phillies have not had any recent conversations with him and would not appear to view him as an option.
Worley could be ready to fill Halladay's spot in the rotation
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
You can read all about the big news of the day elsewhere on this site. For now, let's focus on the issue of who will replace Roy Halladay in the rotation. For the time being, the Phillies have called up catching Erik Kratz to take Halladay's spot on the roster, but at some point they are going to need to add another pitcher to the mix, whether it is Dave Bush or Scott Elarton at Triple-A Lehigh Valley or Vance Worley from the disabled list. At this point, Roy Oswalt is not an option. It appears as if he is going to sign with Texas. Even if he wasn't, the Phillies have not had any recent conversations with him and would not appear to view him as an option.
Worley threw a bullpen session today and the reports were good, although the next one he throws will be a bigger test, because he will ramp up the intensity and go 100 percent. That session is scheduled for Friday, after which the Phillies will decide whether Worley can jump right back into the rotation. If he can, he would start against the Dodgers on June 4. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said today that Cole Hamels will start on his normal day despite Thursday's off day, which means Hamels will be going against the Marlins on Saturday.
If Worley can jump back into the rotation, this is how it would look:
Tonight - Joe Blanton
Tomorrow - Cliff Lee
Thursday - Off Day
Friday (Marlins) - Kyle Kendrick
Saturday (Marlins) - Cole Hamels
Sunday (Marlins) - Joe Blanton
Monday (Dodgers) - Vance Worley
Tuesday (Dodgers) - Cliff Lee
If, after Friday's bullpen session, the Phillies decide that Worley needs more time to get himself back into pitching shape after a three-week layoff, then a call to the minors will be made, where the options are likely Bush or Elarton. Bush can opt out of his contract if another team offers him a spot on the active roster on June 1. Both have good numbers. It seems unlikely to me that the Phillies would rush Worley back into action, but we'll see. Worley's last start was on May 11.
"If he goes all right, there's a chance he'll start on (June 4th)," Dubee said. "But again, he was impressive today for his first time on a mound in a couple weeks. We'll know more when he throws again Friday."
Tuesday - Vance Worle
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What is the story about Dave Bush and June 1 contract option? What happens with that Murph?? They gonna let him walk?— DUDESKINS
Since Monday is Cliff Lee bobblehead nite, this all seems like a vast conspiracy.— nstone125- The Phillies have three options with Bush: 1-Let him leave, 2-Pay him more money to waive the clause so he'll keep pitching in Limbo where only bad things are likely to happen to him the longer he's there riding buses most nights, or 3-Add him to the ML roster. Which one sounds most likely to you? Now, which one sounds most likely to Bush?— calm weather
- "Bush can opt out of his contract if another team offers him a spot on the active roster on June 1." Bush isn't going anywhere if no ML team wants him.— JeffHink
- How do we get Joe Blanton to exercise his opt-out-of-Philadelphia option?
— eman - Forget bush & Elarton please. No more journeymen re-treads. Bring up Cloyd & see if he can't catch teams unawares like the vanimal did last year.— thomaspfoolery
- Can we put Blanton on the DL too?— Ssteve115
- Dempster is a guy that is available and he knows how to pitch, meaning he may not lite the world on fire every time out but he's not gonna hurt you either and if the Cubs eat the salary they could package soriano for something or things depending on the cost,.....if Rube won't go after Youkilis then he should at least give Soriano a look see for this ballpark— SyddBarrett
- Soriano? Lunacy.— blaqjaq
- Agreed. He's Terrell Owens in a baseball uniform. — mannoman
- Get This, Ozwalt signed with Texas for 5 mil plus 1 mil in performance bonuses. Three other teams made offers, and two were HIGHER offers. The other 3 teams were Philly , L.A. and the Cards. Now if you figure the Cards to be the low ball offer that means we offered Roy more than Texas, Unbelievable.— DUDESKINS
- Blanton's performance tonight has made the starting rotation an issue almost as unsettling as the starting 8 and the bullpen. At least we have a rock solid front office and coaching staff.— ijj
- Things continue to fall apart. Offense is well below-average, even after the little flurry of runs the last week. And even if Howard/Utley return in a few weeks, there is little to suggest they will be difference-makers in that feeble lineup. The Phils are not losing the Doc of years past, but rather a slightly better pitcher than Blanton. Speaking of Big Joe, he continues his unimpressive stretch. Phils have too many holes to even think about plugging. If they remain a .500 team the entire season, it will be a minor miracle.— MrPhillie
- thing about the nl east: nats won't hold on to the lead (tho wait'll next year!); braves have shown major vulnerability; marlins and mets just not all that good. meaning a tightly packed division. hang around .500 till mid-august, then fire up the jets (led by rollins?) and 87-90 wins can take it. or you can have a team wins 102 then chokes in the first stage of playoffs. with all the management f-ups, the horrible philosophy of how to compose a team (sign old guys to long-term contracts), the phillies can made it. of course, a new gm, mgr and coaching staff would be a distinct help.— bubba church & granny hamner
I think Dempster had a career year in 2008. Steady decline since then. He's 35 and getting paid $14 million this year. Not worth whatever it would cost to get him here. IMO.
Also, I vote for Cloyd. Worst case he goes back down. Best case he provides a spark.— zubzub- If we don't hit it won't matter who stands onthe mound.— unbelieveable!
- I don't want to see Elarton or Bush as Halladay's replacement. Let's take a look at some of our home grown talent that we always hear about like Cloyd. Give him a shot. This is a year to develop a young pitcher to replace Blanton and either Cliff Lee or Hamels, if we lose one of them next year.— miket47
