Posted: Thursday, July 30, 2009, 8:45 PM | 49 comments |
 

Rotation decisions: Happ in, for now at least
options
 

The addition of Cliff Lee and impending arrival of Pedro Martinez (he makes his second rehabilitation start tomorrow in Lehigh Valley, and may need one more minor league appearance after that) creates a logjam in the rotation, of course. For at least one more start, J.A. Happ will remain one of the five.

Pitching coach Rich Dubee said that after Lee starts tomorrow, Joe Blanton will pitch Saturday and Cole Hamels Sunday. Following Monday’s off-day, Jamie Moyer will pitch Tuesday and Happ Wednesday. The team would not commit to a rotation beyond that point.

Rodrigo Lopez’s start tonight is likely his final one for the Phils, barring injury or a change in plans. The team could conceivably retain him as a reliever.

What do you think they should do?
Posted by Andy Martino @ 8:45 PM  Permalink | 49 comments
49
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:54 PM, 07/30/2009
    you mean lee's start tomorrow night, correct?
    — kdkime
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:05 PM, 07/30/2009
    Lee's on for Friday. Let's thank Lopez for a job well done. I don't have a lot of confidence that Pedro will be anything special.
    — benjyedwards
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:06 PM, 07/30/2009
    That's right. Fixed it.
    — Andy Martino
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:09 PM, 07/30/2009
    It has to be Hamels, Lee, Blanton, Happ, and Moyer right now. Then depending on how Martinez looks with Lehigh Valley, he has a chance to battle Moyer for the fifth spot. Playoff rotation: Hamels, Lee, Blanton, Happ; barring Happ totally collapsing.
    — kmw5002
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 PM, 07/30/2009
    It's still not right. you still say blanton pitches tomorrow in the first sentence of the second paragraph.
    — rich_gelman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:14 PM, 07/30/2009
    too many lefties...phillies need to trade happ
    — bobcitydoc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:14 PM, 07/30/2009
    Now Lee and Blanton both pitch tomorrow after the fix....either way, Lopez went above and beyond and I would love to see him stay as a long reliever. How nice is it to know that assuming Pedro does make it into the rotation and Happ is out, if Pedro falters, we have a legit starter to take his place? This is not the Phillies staff I'm used to...also, the real question is, if Lidge continues his struggles and the decision is made to replace him in the postseason (a big if), who do you want, Martinez or Myers closing the games out??
    — Reggie Noble
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:14 PM, 07/30/2009
    The task will be finding the fourth arm for October. Something in me wants that guy to be Martinez, if not for his right arm, than his big-game mentality.
    — bdizzle
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 PM, 07/30/2009
    Happ to Pittsburgh for Doumit!
    — silverfade80
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:18 PM, 07/30/2009
    I couldnt agree with you more bdizzle. If Pedro is pitching well going into the post, you have to take his postseason experience over Happ in the rotation.
    — Reggie Noble
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:23 PM, 07/30/2009
    Pedro pitched in relief (very well) in the World Baseball Classic. One of his greatest games ever was entering an 8-8 game in the fourth inning, injured, with nothing but a changeup, and shutting down a formidable Indians lineup with Thome (who had already hit two homers in first three innings), Manny, both Alomars, Harold Baines, Vizquel, etc. 6 innings, no hits, no runs, to help Red Sox win Game 5 of the American League Division Series in 1999. Bdizzle is right, Pedro has a big-game mentality.
    — citizenkane
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:27 PM, 07/30/2009
    Ha! Never in my life did I ever think I'd see a situation like this for the Phils. I love it!
    — skipintro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:37 PM, 07/30/2009
    Lee should start on Saturday. That's going to be the toughest game of the series. He gives the Phillies an equal chance of winning it. I'm under no illusion that the Phillies will sweep the Giants, but you want to give your team the best opportunity to win as many games as possible. As for Happ, keep him in the rotation and have Pedro out of the bullpen.
    — MOphan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:37 PM, 07/30/2009
    Pedro to the BP. Happ starts. Moyer has pitched well lately, no need to mess with that right now. "Pitching coach Rich Dubee said that after Lee starts tomorrow, Joe Blanton will pitch tomorrow and Cole Hamels Sunday" Try again Andy. Lee and Blanton can't both start tomorrow with noone starting Sat. Replace your 2nd tomorrow with Saturday and the sentence is fixed.
    — cnova000
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:39 PM, 07/30/2009
    See how Pedro does in his start. Then you have a decision. How about a two-headed monster: Moyer and Pedro share a start. The first guy goes 4 or so innings. The second comes in a finishes? Unorthodox for sure. But so is a rotation that's 4/5 lefties.
    — Joe in Haddonfield


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