IS GETTING ITS DRAFT BOARD READY
The Phillies tried to land CC Sabathia before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but came up empty.
They probably could have squeezed him into their rotation somewhere.
Sabathia ia 7-0 with a 1.40 ERA in seven starts since the all-star break. He is making a case for National League MVP and Cy Young. But interestingly, Brett Myers has been nearly as effective since he rejoined the rotation after his four-start stint in the minors. He is 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA in six starts since the break.
That includes last night's 4-0 shutout over the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
Sabathia and Myers have been two of the four most effective starting pitchers in baseball since the break (with a minimum of 25 innings pitched):
"It's a big acquisition that didn't have to happen" in a trade, centerfielder Shane Victorino said of Myers' return. "You didn't have to give up the farm system to go get a guy."
Myers just needs to continue to pitch like that because the offense hasn't been providing anybody much run support. The Phillies had nine hits last night, which was their most since they had 10 hits Aug. 11 in the first game of their seven-game road trip through Los Angeles and San Diego. They haven't had more than 10 hits since they had 11 hits against the Nationals on July 31.
The Phillies have won four of their last five, but have hit just .219 and scored just 15 runs (3.0 runs per game) in that stretch.
But the fact that Myers is pitching better (even though two of those six starts have come against the horrendous Nationals) is a good sign. Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Myers looks like a fairly formidable trio should the Phillies make the playoffs again. But they've got to start hitting, too.
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In the Phillies Notebook: Pedro Feliz is back, David Ross is headed elsewhere, Hamels won't be facing the Mets next week and more.
