Worley optioned
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Worley optioned
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
WASHINGTON -- The message to Vance Worley delivered by Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee was clear.
"We'll see you shortly," Worley recalled them saying. "You're a part of this team. You'll be back."
But for now, Worley is headed back to triple-A Lehigh Valley as he was optioned to the minors after Monday's 5-4 win over the Nationals.
After two impressive starts earlier this season, Worley was moved to the bullpen and served as a setup man. He went 20 days without throwing more than three innings in a game. It has showed in his last two starts, when he has pitched a total of eight innings with 18 hits, 12 runs (8 earned) and an even strikeout-to-walk ratio (4:4).
He needs work and the Phillies would rather that come in the minors.
"We want him to start pitching and get back to where he was when he was throwing the ball real good," Charlie Manuel said. "He'll be in a regular turn, get stretched out, and get his pitch count built up."
Conditioning was a hinderance in the past for Worley, and it's what held him back from being a prospect until early last season. He said he was tired in the third inning of his start May 24 against Cincinnati and then could not pitch beyond the third inning against the Mets on Sunday.
"There's things I need to work on anyway," Worley said. "It's been a work in progress. I'm fine with it. I know what I need to do. I'll be back in a start or two."
As for how the Phillies will fill Worley's spot on the roster and in the rotation, there are some unknowns. The team will announce a corresponding roster move Tuesday. Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock would not say definitively if a pitcher would be added.
The Phillies can skip Worley's spot in the rotation because of an off day Thursday. The rest of the rotation would still start on regular rest. A fifth starter would not be needed until June 8.
Manuel was asked if Kyle Kendrick could start Saturday in place of Worley.
"We don't know yet," Manuel said. "We haven't really talked about it. There's a chance. That will be decided in the next couple of days."
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Bloop hits? The Mets shelled him. Three poor starts in a row including his last start in AAA before being recalled. He was leaving the ball up and at 90-91 mph that is a recipe to get hit hard. Let him go back down and get work in.— Armyofthe15Monkies- Ive felt all year that although hes done OK he has a high pitch count by the 5th 6th inning. hes not economical w pitches and gets worked into too many full counts. That said he could be a good end of rotation guy for the next 5-6 years.— hipdaddy
- The clear message that should be sent to all the scrubs on this team is that if you suck, you will find yourself a pig. Martinez, BenFran and Mayberry better take heed.— blaqjaq
- Besides pitching, the other thing he needs to work on is watching what he says about his employers and the way he says it...If all goes well, he should be back in a couple of weeks....— PhilliefaninAZ
- complete roster mismanagment by the mumbling moron manager— tooltime
- Actually they will need a 5th starter on June 7 (not the 8th). Presumably whoever starts on the 7th will also start on the 12th. Note that with the 13th an off-day, this sets up the big 4 to pitch against the Marlins - even though they have a doubleheader on the 15th.— nstone125
- Four STUDDDDDDS then Kendrick.........doesn't matter who pitches as long as they hit.The way the bullpen is pitching, all they need is 5-6 innings from Kendrick plus 6 runs from the offense. Most teams would "kill" for this "problem"— recGUY
- The dude needs work. 'nuff said.— Grazman
- The Phils like what they see out of Mayberry and this move was to prevent having to send him down on friday when Victorino returns. That and they do really want to keep Martinez for some reason.— Mo Biggsley
- Can we tick off the whole league and get Lincecum :)
— burholme - Vance was a hit for a short time— shawnmac
- TRADE BLANTON AND FRANCISCO FOR A BAG OF BALLS— DONDEN31
- Can they send the Worley's Warriors to the Lehigh Valley as well?— Ballgame
- could they bring back herndon yet again? the fact that they did not make the announcement right away makes me think something else is on the burner...but i have been wrong before— danielboyer
- kendrick as the 5th for a little while and bring up michael schwimmer (righty for bullpen, alot of Ks low ERA, but does walk a few) from the pigs
— keg13
