Posted: Friday, March 19, 2010, 3:21 PM | 13 comments |
 

Updates on Moyer, Polanco, Escalona
options
 
A couple  of quick notes to pass along before tonight's 7:05 game against Baltimore at Bright House Field:
 
 
--Placido Polanco (right knee sprain) will not be in the lineup tonight as he had hoped.  Charlie Manuel said that Polanco will probably take infield and BP before the game. Polanco said he plans to play in a minor-league game tomorrow, which means he will not have a homecoming in Lakeland, spring training site of his former team, the Detroit Tigers.
 
--LHP Sergio Escalona and INF Brian Bocock were optioned to minor league camp.  It had long been clear that he didn't stand a real chance to break camp with the Phillies.  Mike Zagurski and Antonio Bastardo remain with the big club, and one will have to come north because J.C. Romero is almost certain to miss opening day.
 
"In the role (Escalona) is going to be in, when he comes to the big leagues, he has to get left-handed hitters out," Manuel said. "He knows that. We told him that. Basically he needs to get more consistent."
 
Manuel did not rule out the possibility that the Phillies could try to acquire a left-handed reliever outside the organization.
 
"I'm sure is taking a look at anybody that we feel can help us," Manuel said. "But right now what we got is kind of what we're looking at."
 
It sounds as if it is Bastardo's job to lose.
 
"Bastardo is still here and he has got a good arm and we're still going to keep letting him go out there and pitch and see what we have in him," Manuel said.
 
--Jamie Moyer was supposed to pitch tomorrow after starter Roy Halladay, but will now start on Sunday against the Orioles instead.  Sounds like the team just wanted him to start a game, rather than pitch from the bullpen; I wouldn't read much into that tweak.
 
"It's time for us to get him in the game and start pitching him against major-league teams," Manuel said.
 
Posted by Andy Martino and Bob Brookover @ 3:21 PM  Permalink | 13 comments
13
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:35 PM, 03/19/2010
    Hope Moyer gets shelled.
    — davekrieg
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:01 PM, 03/19/2010
    davekreig and anyone else who thinks that way is...how do i put this gently...an idiot. face the facts...moyer is on this team one way or the other. so, regardless if its a bullpen role or 5th starter we, as fans, want moyer to suceed. there is no doubt we will need more than 5 starters this season. whether its visits on the dl or double headers this is always the case during a mlb season. how can any true fan want one of our players to get shelled? its not like they can cut him like a football player in camp.
    — liljesc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:30 PM, 03/19/2010
    I agree liljesc, Moyer is on the team regardless but hopefully he is buried in the pen and our starters average 7 innings per outing and he wont see the light of day. Moyer getting shelled & Kendrick doing well would help take pressure off of Charlie & Doobs to make the hard decesion (for them), of the Vet vs The Kid. If Moyer pitches so-so, they will feel obliged to give him starts but if he is awful, then the heat is off of them and the decision will be obvious even to Jamie that Kendrick deserves the spot. Personally I think that Kendrick may have a bust out year thanks to his new found mentor! I see Holliday w/ 19-21 wins, Hamel w/ 15-16 wins, Happ & Blanton w/ 12 wins each and Kendrick hitting 16-17 wins if he starts. I just pray for HEALTH. 16 days!
    — wavydavy2000
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:45 PM, 03/19/2010
    wavydavy...agree for the most part. kk should be the start but dont write moyer off as an asset in the pen. he pitched very well out of the pen last year when he was demoted. he is limited in his role out of the pen but showed last season that he can be successful out of the pen.
    — liljesc
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:14 PM, 03/19/2010
    davekrieg: Why on earth would you want that? The guy is already on the club and is going to be there in one role or another. Idiot.
    — ACBaughman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:29 PM, 03/19/2010
    OK everyone...it's Halladay not Holliday. Holliday plays right field for the cardinals...or at least attempts to.
    — cbanger
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 PM, 03/19/2010
    Sorry.....Holliday attempts to play left field for the Cards
    — cbanger
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 PM, 03/19/2010
    Sorry.....Holliday attempts to play left field for the Cards
    — cbanger
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:22 AM, 03/20/2010
    davekrieg - you make me ill. I was born and raised in Philly. I moved to NYC after college for work - but living here only makes the "Philly" in me burn brighter. NY doesn't trash its own - in fact NO ONE does - quite the way Philly does. Moyer is a pro, and more importantly, he is part of the team. As a team member (and as a fan) we support - we don not tear down. The 2009 Phillies didn't lose the World Series because of Jamie Moyer - but I am damn sure he had a big part of helping them get there and an even bigger part in aiding to their World Series win in 2008. He is not going anywhere - and yes, still- HE IS PART OF THE TEAM. Way to route for "your" team to fail. You must be a fantastic role model, father, and friend - as you've already shown what a classy "fan" you are.
    — mebphila
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:11 AM, 03/20/2010
    Dave, are you married to Sandra Bullock ?
    — mick314
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:02 AM, 03/20/2010
    The reason they want Moyer to start tommorow is becasue they want him to face Major League hitters, imo. Pitching in relief today after Halladay he would have faced the bench players because Doc will probably pitch 5-6 innings.
    — EL Zorro
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:35 PM, 03/20/2010
    Moyer pitched very well out of the bullpen after rain delays and long relief. I think, at this point, he is suited for that role, and can still be ready for the 5th spot if injuries occur. It can't be easy for opponents to first prep for guys who throw around 90 or more mph and then have to face Moyers slow balls...timing is everything.
    — pizano13


13 comments
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