Rotation decisions: Happ in, for now at least
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Rotation decisions: Happ in, for now at least
Andy Martino
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?
Comments (49)
Happ does not need to be trade for a righty. Happ is needed for next year to keep payroll down, so the Phils can fill other needs. Happ has ptential and should not be moved. That being said if Pedro shows an 88 to 91 mile an hour fastball, he will be very effective. Moyer, like he said in June that he would not hurt the team, either has to be DL'd with arm fatigue or retire. Since we know he will not give up the 4 mill he is still due this year or the 8 mill he is due next year, be a man and go on the DL so we can put the best pitching staff out there!- Chan Ho saved this bullpen when it was way off it's game - he's done a great job out of the bullpen - he's earned a spot. Time for Phils to add a 46 year old player-coach and help break the logjam.
- Update on Shane please!!!!— joeolive
- For the love of Pete, Pull the trigger on the Haliday deal. This is what must be done! Let's go out there and dominate!— waldo
- Lopez doesn't miss enough bats to be a bullpen guy. I'd give Pedro a spot start and see what he has before making any huge decisions because they have that luxry now.— charyma
- Lopez is done. He's going to be moved to the pen but when everyone is healthy, he'll be designated for assignment. Either someone claims him or he goes to AAA until the rosters go to 40 players. It's amazing how some people have such a short-term memory that judges every player only by what they've done the last couple of games. Lopez has barely been in baseball for the last few season. He wasn't doing anything in AAA until his last few starts before he was called up. His stuff is so-so. He had a sore shoulder after a couple of starts. Nobody had seen the guy in 3 years so he got by for a couple of games on guile and a lack of familiarity for the hitters. After the dud of a game he threw tonight, he's been exposed for the mediocre pitcher he currently is.— JimG
- GET RID OF LOPEZ.. RUIZ... AND BRUNTLETT.... IT IS SICKENING..— stoky
Comment removed.- The Phils had a similar situation going into the season a few years back, with Lieber starting as the odd man out. Both Garcia and Lieber ended up stinking, then down for the count, and so began the Phils pitching woes. Let's hope that this time the "abundance of riches" is acutally an abundance of RICHES!— DocB
- I have a feeling they are going to take happ out of the rotation. but i think that is a big mistake. besides blanton happ has been our best pitcher. i say keep him in the rotation or trade him— Joey0210
- why the hell is bruntlett still on this team. the guy cant hit a beach ball. his batting average is embarrassing. cole hamels has a better average than this guy and 3 other pitchers. will someone in the organization wake up. im sure there is someone out there that can replace him.— Joey0210
- Promises Promises to Pedro - I don't care just put him in he pen but don't take Happ out and make him a reliever.— sportsdead
- Lee, Blanton and Hammels give the Phillies a good chance to win on 3 successive days, with Happ, now having less pressure on him and therefore a better chance to win as well...Jamie gives you a 60/40 chance or better if used wisely. Pedro is the wild card here and well worth the gamble...this is no time for run support to stall guys.— garyshaffer
- I would hold-off on Pedro projections. He made one sort-of-start for Clearwater before rain washed out the game. He makes his first AAA start tonight. We still have no idea how he will perform in a full game against live hitters. I really hope he looks so good that the Phillies have to entertain putting him in the rotation. That would be outstanding. But let's wait and see how he pitches in AAA. Happ is in the rotation until Pedro proves otherwise - but until Pedro shows his stuff - this is all water-cooler talk or in Andy's case, the subject of his waiting-on-the-tarmac blogging.— smel4727
- Moyer to DL/ becomes a 2nd pitching coach - Happ has the best ERA on the staff. And see if Pedro holds up.— AllDawk_AllTheTime
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