Photos: 2008 Phillies
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Pitching coach Rich Dubee said yesterday that righthander Joe Blanton, whose last outing ended with the bases loaded and no out in the fifth inning of a 9-7 loss to the Nationals, will start in the series opener against the Marlins on Monday. But with righthander Kyle Kendrick struggling and Hanna swirling, Dubee said the Phillies have made no further pitching decisions.
Kendrick, who was in line to start against the Mets tomorrow before the team moved Cole Hamels into his spot, is one option to start on Tuesday. Dubee said lefthander J.A. Happ, who allowed four runs in 11 innings in two July starts, is another option.
"Are we considering [Happ]?," Dubee said. "Yeah."
A lot could depend on today's weather, which could force the Phillies' first rain postponement of the season.
If the Phillies and Mets play a day/night doubleheader tomorrow, they could get Kendrick back into the rotation, while also getting Happ a start.
In that situation they likely would need someone to make a spot start on Thursday, unless they start Hamels or Jamie Moyer on short rest. Since those are the two starters whose health concerns the Phillies the most, that probably would not happen.
Dubee said he was focused more on the Mets series than on what might happen next week.
"We have to take care of business here first," he said.
They share a homeland , but So Taguchi and Tadahito Iguchi do not know each other very well. Nevertheless, Taguchi's face erupted in a wide grin when he learned that the Phillies had agreed to terms with a fellow import from Japan.
"I am so excited about it," said Taguchi, who played for the Orix Blue Wave for 10 seasons before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. "A countryman is coming."
Iguchi, who was waived by the Padres this week, is expected to join the team today. Though ineligible for the postseason, he is another veteran hitter for the stretch.
Iguchi, acquired last season when Chase Utley missed 30 games with a fractured wrist, hit .304 in 45 games for the Phillies. The team wanted to re-sign him to play third base this year, but he opted for a deal with the Padres. Iguchi struggled with injuries this season, appearing in only 81 games and hitting .231 before San Diego released him.
"I feel like he can give you a professional at-bat," manager Charlie Manuel said. "More than likely, he'll put the ball in play."
How much confidence do the Phillies have in Greg Golson as a basestealer? With two out in the eighth inning of their 9-7 loss to the Nationals on Wednesday, he had the green light to steal, despite being on a major league base for the first time in his career.
Golson, who was called up from Double A Reading on Sept. 1, was running for Pat Burrell. With Greg Dobbs batting, Golson got a good jump, then beat the throw to second despite a well-executed pitchout by the Nationals.
"They told me I had the green light," Golson said. "I saw that we had two outs and I figured I wasn't any good at first." *
For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.
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