Why Worley is an IronPig
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The fireworks finale was coming and Vance Worley stood in a tunnel outside the visitors clubhouse at Sun Life Stadium answering questions about his latest gem, a 1-0 Phillies win.
Why Worley is an IronPig
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- The fireworks finale was coming and Vance Worley stood in a tunnel outside the visitors clubhouse at Sun Life Stadium answering questions about his latest gem, a 1-0 Phillies win.
The Phillies had already planned to start Cole Hamels on the final day of the first half, which would have been Worley's turn, meaning the 23-year-old rookie could go nearly two weeks between starts.
He was asked if he knew what plans the Phillies had for him.
"I have no idea," Worley said. "You guys will know before I do."
Inside the clubhouse, the Phillies decision-makers had already plotted Worley's fate. He entered the room, was told he had been optioned, and that was that.
In a lot of ways, it makes plenty of sense. Worley was damaged when the team moved him from the rotation to the bullpen in May. He went 13 days between starts when the team optioned him to triple A for one start to stretch out. In the two starts immediately after, he allowed 11 runs (eight earned) in eight innings.
After making three more minor-league starts, Worley returned to the majors with purpose. He allowed two runs in 25 innings over four starts.
"He could have been very disappointed and hung his head," catcher Brian Schneider said. "But he knew when he was sent down he was going to get his stuff back to where it was. It's not easy going from starting to the bullpen. You don't see any kind of attitude from him. When he's out there pitching you don't know if he's given up two hits or 10 hits. He's the same guy. He's really matured a lot."
And with one of the three remaining aces -- Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels -- starting four of the five games before the break, there was no sense in keeping Worley around. He will start Saturday for Lehigh Valley in Syracuse, N.Y., and then probably start the first game after the All-Star Break against the Mets.
The corresponding move will come Tuesday. It's likely John Mayberry Jr. who will return to the majors, providing Charlie Manuel with an extra bat and another center fielder with questions about Shane Victorino's availability.
All in all, without Roy Oswalt and Joe Blanton for a period in the first half, the Phillies could not have imagined a better scenario than the one Worley presented.
The rotation for the rest of the first half is as follows:
Tuesday at FLA: Cole Hamels
Wednesday at FLA: Kyle Kendrick
Thursday: OFF
Friday vs. ATL: Roy Halladay
Saturday vs. ATL: Cliff Lee
Sunday vs. ATL: Cole Hamels*
*That start will prohibit Hamels from pitching at all in the All-Star Game.
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Smart move. Keep him on a tight schedule. It'll serve him well. Nothing for him to be bummed at. He'll be here for years to come.— Poppys
with him being so young, he's got plenty of time this offseason to learn to throw a decent change up & lay down a bunt.— yobill626- whats done is done..give it a rest fellas!!— t_darb_56
- whats done is done..give it a rest fellas!!— t_darb_56
- Vance is throwing well and he swings the bat OK for a pitcher, but somebody needs to spend some time teaching him how to lay down a bunt.— baseman
- Jeez do the Phil's have the rotation lined up for Atlanta or what? Of course it is a good opportunity to put some extra distance between them.— paulNC
- Jeez do the Phil's have the rotation lined up for Atlanta or what? Of course it is a good opportunity to put some extra distance between them.— paulNC
- Jeez do the Phil's have the rotation lined up for Atlanta or what? Of course it is a good opportunity to put some extra distance between them.— paulNC
- Worley is going to be yo yo'd for the rest of the year. As soon as Blanton or Oswalt come back he'll be sent down again. The guys with the Fat Paychecks always play no matter how bad they perform. Plus with Lidge coming back they'll be no room for him in the bullpen and Charlie doesn't want him wasting away in the bullpen anyway. Next year after they dump Blanton he'll be in starting rotation for good. Let's hope Vance keeps pitching good enough to FORCE them to keep him.— Grapost
- Second time around is NOT about "specific pitches that may not have been seen before." It's just about batters getting familiar with a pitcher's delivery and his pitch selection. Many guys come 5thup and do well their first time through the league. Do we forget how Special KK was in the beginning? Problem with Worley is that he doesn't have an "special" pitches, and must rely on location. He MAY be a good 4th or 5th starter in the bigs but that has yet to be determined. Let's stop annointing him the next Hamels. And if he can get you a righthanded bat, don't hesitate to trade him— VicM
Comment removed.- Seeing how Vance handles himself both on the mound and in the press, I am certain that he knows what's going on here. He'll be pitching on regular rest on Saturday to stay sharp and keep on track with his 5-day schedule. Then after the break, he'll be right back at it against the Mets....Oh, and Phillies, please do NOT even think about trading Worley. The kid is only 23 and he already "gets it" when it comes to pitching. He is not a fluke!!! He's that kind of player you love having on you team (and hate to be facing). I know the prospect of acquiring a good right-handed bat seems like a priority, but that move won't cover up the real problem with the offense, i.e., that the opposition knows how to pitch to a current line-up (which only looks to pull fastballs). Until Rollins, Howard and Ibanez quit rolling over outside off-speed stuff, the production will continue to be anemic. I wonder if our pitchers ever talk to our hitters about how they get themselves out.— southpaw57
- They're paying Big Joe $10M a year. It'll be hard to sit that much dough down. They'll start Blanton, and they should, to see if he's fixed. If he's not, then use Vance full tilt.— The Monk
- "It's likely John Mayberry Jr. who will return to the majors, providing Charlie Manuel with an extra bat and another center fielder with questions about Shane Victorino's availability." Why does Charlie need a center fielder with questions about Shane Victorino's availability? Can't he ask his own questions?— bobcallahan
- oh btw thinktwice aka lonewolf roy threw a no hitter last october where were you?— deatheater
- I disagree, I think he's pretty tough (physically), he's just taken a lot of unfortunate beatings with ball hit right back at him.— phasor
- At last nights game there was a girl wearing a tight t-shirt with the stomach area rip off. Across her breasts it said "I heart" (with a heart picture) and then written in lipstick on her stomach "Worley". The guy is now a rockstar!— phasor
- @tockeyhockey...been saying that for weeks now!— bearsfriend
- can we please get chris heisey from the reds?— tockeyhockey
- PeteRabbit, what is your explanation for starting Cole Hamels on short rest on Sunday and skipping over Worley in the rotation? Also, since the Phillies have less of a chance to win the World Series if the Red Sox or Yankees have home field advantage in the World Series, why is Dubee so eager to keep his starting pitchers out of the All-Star Game?— Freedom Fries
- Freedom Fries, check you're math. Hamels starting Sunday is not on short rest, it's his regular turn. — Mike Glick
- We know the reason is because Hamels is as fragile as a china doll and the Phillies do not want him to pitch in the All-Star Game. Once again the Phillies beat writers are covering up for Cole.
— Freedom Fries
LMAO...so have him start a game to throw 7 or 8 innings to save him from pitching in 1 - 2 innings in the ASG? Brilliant!— PeteRabbit - Badly written article that does not explain why Worley is an Iron Pig. The writer states "The Phillies had already planned to start Cole Hamels on the final day of the first half" but then never bothers to ask WHY the Phillies already planned to start Hamels on the final day of the first half. We know the reason is because Hamels is as fragile as a china doll and the Phillies do not want him to pitch in the All-Star Game. Once again the Phillies beat writers are covering up for Cole.— Freedom Fries
- Frames strikes again............Does Frames have a sidekick?— feudal_nobility09
- The more important question is when Vance is recalled - why not shake things up and send down Francisco and give Mayberry a clear shot for the balance of the month and prior to the deadline??— Northcountry
- lonewolf everytime i read these posts i see your tired anti halliday stuff, except you changed your name to think twice. so what happened did roy snub you for an autograph or something ?— deatheater
- VW has performed well especially on the road. Can't wait to face the Braves this weekend.— BFlint
- With Shane out, the need for a RH power hitter is still there. And seeing Ludwick struggling, and Josh Wil out, one wonders who else the team could AFFORD??!!— Koons
- When Worley is pitching and winning playoff games in October, this will be a small footnote! Go Phills— gmr18901
- Makes sense to send him down, and glad things were explained to him as such. He did such a great job for this team this time around, and I look forward to his continued starts...— PhilliefaninAZ
- Why don't Phils just designate Baez for reassignment and clear the roster spot? i think this is his last year under contract. He was a mistake but it is done.
Manuel and Dubee have lost all confidence in him so what is the point. He is dead wood.— martyhenry - I LOVE THE VANIMAL. DON'T TRADE HIM FOR A BAT THIS GUY IS A NO. 2 TYPE PITCHER AND WILL BE GREAT WITH LEE, HALLADAY AND HAMELS FOR YEARS TO COME!!!!— AbeVigoda
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- I see lonewolf has a new alias...(Don't) ThinkTwice. If all you are going to spout is nonsense, do us a favor and just go away!
Vorley is better off getting a regular start with the 'Pigs rather than warming the bench waiting to be a long man over the last 5 games. He's been a VERY pleasant surprise. Phils still need better/more consistent offense, but the pitchers have really held up their end, especially the young kids.— akh - wait, mayberry's coming up as an extra bat? i think he meant extra K...— nyphilliephan
- Worley is no flash in the pan... this kid knows how to pitch.. Uses both sides of the plate. Battles like crazy.. Is a nice hitter for a pitcher..Phillies have to be thinking he's a cog for the long term right now. Any thought of trading him would be a huge mistake..He's so much better than Kendrick already. Love this guys swagger and poise..— bradco
- He needs to shut down the Mets in his next start since they beat him up at the end of May— shawnmac
- evilvet:
When KK came up his early ERA was much higher than what Worley is showing now. This suggests that Worley may in fact be a better pitcher. Even if his ERA goes up to 3.50 from its current 2.20 or so, that's still quite good.— judas_priest - "second time around" usually is due to seeing someone with "specific pitches" that may not have been seen before. This kid (Worley) is successful simply because he keeps the ball DOWN and in the zone (mostly on corners). If last night's ump would have given him the corners he deserved, he may have had a better outting (if that is possible). Low fastball with just enough movement.....Seaver anyone?— recGUY
- Evilvet: Except that Blanton's worst inning typically is his first. It looks like Blanton will ready before Oswalt, meaning we'll see: 1. Halladay; 2. Lee; 3. Hamels; 4. Worley; 5. Blanton -- and KK back to long relief. When Oswalt returns, my guess is they try him at No. 4 again. I sense a trade coming for a bat; just hope Worley, Bastardo and Stutes stay put.
— eman - i wanna see how the kid does when the teams he's dominated see him a second time. KK had a similar effect when he came up in 08. once joy and roy come back, i'd make vance the number 3 guy, and let joe and roy pitch 4 innings each on the 5 slot. they could certainly dominate for 4 innings.— Evilvet
- Thanks Philly_Mike - how long is it going to take for people to "get it"; perhaps we need two more articles explaining the hows and whys, Geeeez...— M60tanker
@Philly_Mike, jeez I hope so. Everyone is all: why isn't KK sent down? WAAAH, WAAAH. Worley needs to keep himself busy. He won't pitch before the all-star break and it's bad (as we've already seen, the Phillies really botched that one up) if he moves to the BP and breaks routine. This way he'll stay sharp and I hope he 1 hits the Mets and shuts them up. The last time their players were cocky: "Oh yeah we've seen him once and we've pretty much figured him out".- Comment removed.
- You's sure like to think so. But given some of the dopes on here, 10 posts won't be enough.
- Rookie of the year?— PJH
- Makes sense, but I would have considered starting him on normal rest on Sunday and giving Hamels a break. I know Atlanta is in 2nd place, but it's too early to worry about that, and it's not exactly like Worley has been a huge step down from anyone recently. Anyway, let's hope he keeps rolling like this after the break.— Phils Phan 28
- Worley has been pretty amazing. I know he is bummed to go to AAA, but it will be good for him in the long run. Thanks, Vance. You have really stepped up.— phillyinsd
- they should option Roy "Mr. April" to the minors and put Dave "the Franchise" herdon at the top of the rotation.— ThinkTwice
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- Clearly a no brainer.— southernmostfan
- ok, now I get it. thanks for the explanation. ESPN has Worley starting sundays game, so I couldn't figure out why they were sending him out— blaqjaq
