Phillies Nation

While the Phillies-Rays game only went five innings, but that was enough for Adam Eaton to be horrible. He gave up four runs and five hits in two innings in what became a 6-4 loss.

After the game, Eaton complained of lower back pain. He said the pain started in July, yet it never forced him to miss a start. Now, there’s a possibility Eaton could be shelved for a while as he recooperates.

Chad Durbin finished up the game, giving up two runs in three innings. Chase Utley and Chris Coste hit home runs in the losing cause.

The big story obviously is Eaton. There’s numerous problems with him, none to which nobody really knows any answers. Is he this bad regularly? Or is there something keeping him from being better? Is he injured? Is it mental?

The point is — Adam Eaton’s stay with the Phillies has gone on long enough. After one absolutely miserable season and, so far, a horrible Spring Training, Eaton hasn’t given the Phillies any reason to put him in the starting rotation. Moreover, no matter if he’s really injured or not, the rampant excuses for his poor play have tread too much land.

“Obviously, I didn’t make good pitches. But at the same time, my back acted up a little bit and I didn’t get good extension on anything.”

What’s the difference? Before July, he was bad. After July, he was bad. In July, he was bad (actually, I take that back, July was his best month). Whether he’s injured or not, he’s bad, which make his excuses absolutely irrelevant. He let up four runs or more in 18 of 30 starts last season. You don’t give your team a chance to win with those numbers. He’s been a black hole in the rotation, and it’s time now to move on and find another plug. Whether it’s Travis Blackley, Kris Benson or Chad Durbin, JA Happ or JD Durbin, it’s time to move on. The Phillies need to swallow the $8MM they owe him this year and next year, find a new direction and move on.

And it’s not just the performance — it’s the utter unwitting ignorance of talent. Adam Eaton wasn’t effective at any point in 2007, and while we can’t pinpoint the reasons, it’s very probable it’s everything — physical problems, lack of talent, mental instability. Adam Eaton is the total package of failure.

What we got out of this games:

1. Adam Eaton is the total package of failure.
2. Chad Durbin ain’t much better.

Hopefully things will improve as the Phillies play the Rays in the back end of the home-and-home. Cole Hamels looks to rebound from a bad start against the Yankees. Top prospect Carlos Carrasco will try to extend his 0.00 ERA a few more innings, and Josh Outman is also scheduled to throw. Hey, Carrasco could fit himself into the No. 5 starter race very quickly tomorrow — whether we want that or not.