No obvious option for Wednesday start
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No obvious option for Wednesday start
Matt Gelb
The Phillies need a starting pitcher for Wednesday's game, and as Charlie Manuel sauntered to the batting cage before Monday's win, he offered no hints.
"We don't know yet," Manuel said. "Seriously, we don't."
Pitching coach Rich Dubee and Manuel later discussed their options, and there is no obvious one. The need for a sixth starter was prompted by Sunday's doubleheader.
Kyle Kendrick could pitch on three days' rest, but that's unlikely, and would also force either Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels to do the same Thursday. Kendrick threw 93 pitches in four innings Saturday.
Triple-A Lehigh Valley's scheduled starter Wednesday is lefty Tom Cochran, who has spent 10 seasons in the minors without a taste of the big leagues. Double-A Reading is scheduled to throw Julio Rodriguez, a 21-year-old prospect with all of 14 starts above single A.
They could hand the game over to the bullpen and have, say, Raul Valdes start. He could possibly stretch to three innings and then it would be all hands on deck. But judging how the bullpen has fared this season, blowing the whole unit on one night may be counter intuitive.
Tyler Cloyd has a 2.17 ERA in 11 triple-A starts, but he last started Saturday. He threw 96 pitches and would have to make his major-league debut on short rest if he were to start Wednesday. Hard to see that.
Veteran Scott Elarton has 170 career major-league starts to his name — although none since 2007. But he pitched Sunday for the IronPigs and that pushes him out of the mix.
A few Twitter followers mentioned the recently released Jamie Moyer, but it's difficult to see the Phillies signing the 49-year-old lefty for one start. You never know, of course. UPDATE: Moyer signed a minor-league deal with injury-ravaged Toronto early Tuesday morning.
Either way, the Phillies aren't exactly flush with exciting options.
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Joe Savery. He has 77 starts in his minor league career and is well rested.— Dull- pitch kendrick on Wednesday and make him go 5 innings regardless of how many hits and runs he gives up --and then make him pitch Thursday again another 5 innings -- they're both certain losses anyway and this uselss trash is getting paid $7.6 million to do something and so if he blows out his arm, the Phils can then bring up someone who can't be any worse .. . seriously though, if Phils had a clue they would follow zubzub 's suggestion and pitch Kendrick on 3 days rest (and Kendrick is awful regardless of him many days he gets) and then a minor leaguer Thursday on regular rest— warbiscuit
- activate Dubee and make him pitch --he seems like such a bully who has no clue how to improve anyone's performance -- would like to see some hard hit balls right back at him...— warbiscuit
Biscuit. Funny ! LOL.— zubzub- I agree with dull, Savery is the Obvious choice!— larryv
- While I would like to see Tyler Cloyd pitch, the Phils will probably have a bullpen-committee start.
Schwimer & Savery & Valdes each pitching multiple innings and if the game gets lopsided you can throw MiniMart out there for an inning.
MiniMart certainly carries a pithcer's Batting Avg. so try him out as a pitcher. We already know he can't hit a lick.— johnpaulcpa 
Comment removed.- Victorino is the most over paid player on the roster. His baseball IQ is as low as Vince Young's Football IQ. Can't wait to see him go... — dankil13
- oh warbiscuit, the idea that you have the gall to call people "useless trash". Must feel very special to wake up every morning being you.— TheLon
- Bullpen by committee is not a good idea. The way KK is pitching you don't want to burn the BP. Pitching Cloyd on short rest is also not a good idea. The kid might try to impress/overthrow and get hurt. He's having real good success for the first time. You don't want to mess with that. You might also have to use the BP early. Julio on regular rest or Savery are the best options, in that order. IMO. Of course, they don't want to start the clock on the 21-year-old Rodriguez or Cloyd, for that matter. So the best bet would be Savery for 3-4 innings, then Valdez... and hope KK pitches deep into the game Thursday.— EL Zorro
- After Friday's rainout, no one in Phillies' mgmt had the foresight to hold back some AAA or AA pitchers? Sounds like the planning for Howard's absence.— butchcat
- There is also the roster situation. None of the minor league options are on the 40-man roster. So they have to be added and unless there is spot open or somebody moved to the 60 Day-DL, a player has to be taken out and exposed to waivers. Contreras and DeFratus are alread on the 60 Day DL. Herndon is not, although he is done for the season. Maybe teams can't have more than two on the 60 Day DL.— EL Zorro
- Is Wilson Valdez available?— Buck Dharma
- How about just letting the bullpen rise or fall to the challenge? Start Joe Savery and follow him with the other rookies and Valdez through the seventh. Then your regular risky eighth and Papelbon if they are ahead by 15 -13! After he gives up two runs, make sure Jim Thome is still available and Pap has his checkbook with him!— gotedge
- Cloyd on adrenaline alone should be interesting. Who knows, a Vance Worley in waiting? Realistically, give Elerton his due.— drhoffman
