Fifth Starter Battle Already Heating Up
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, December 17, 2008 12:21 PM | Comments: 29
Posts
Fifth starter is usually a deposit bin for the mediocre, a place where the 23rd man on every roster seems to hang. Look around the league and see your Edwin Jacksons, your Nate Robertsons. But fifth starter in Philadelphia seems to hold much more promise. All the candidates in the race have curiously strong traits, meaning the spot could really be a golden key for the 2009 Phils.
Chan Ho Park
The most experienced of the candidates, he’s coming off a solid 4-4, 3.40 season for the Dodgers. He started five games last year, and reports say he’ll be given a chance to do it again. With newfound velocity on his fastball, Park could be a fresh alternative from the slow-pitch Jamie Moyer.
JA Happ
Probably holding the inside track, the Phils rookie southpaw finished strong during the playoff race, even getting a chance to remain on the playoff roster. While his addition would mean three lefties in the rotation, he definitely has the stuff to survive a full season. If he doesn’t, however, a midseason trade could be in the cards.
Kyle Kendrick
The right-handed side of Happ had a chance to secure his rotation spot for a long time, but struggled mightily in 2008. Still, he seems to keep the Phils in his games, shown by his 11-9 record in 2008. Supposedly he had major head problems last season; hopefully that goes by the wayside and he can concentrate on getting outs.
Carlos Carrasco
The hotshot prospect is only 21, mind you, but will be ready to play on the major league team in 2009. The Phils might rather give him a few weeks in Lehigh Valley, but with a strong showing in Clearwater, anything can happen.
Andrew Carpenter
A dark horse in a way, Carpenter enjoyed a cup of coffee with the Phils during his rollercoaster 2008. He’ll get his chance in Spring Training, but I don’t really expect him to overtake the others.
Add in Adam Eaton, who might try to prove everyone completely wrong, and you have a promising battle between six pitchers. This could be the hottest position battle in 2009 — actually, it might be the only position battle. Focus in on it.
Posts: 0 NJ
Park was meant to have been very good last year in his starts and the prospect really intrigues me, though I think he could be an invaluable member of another year of an elite bullpen. I’m hoping Happ wins out, he’s not going to be a guy you get all giddy to watch but he looks like he can round out the rotation with confidence in his ability. I’d like to see Carrasco spend the in AAA and get to the point he will be ready for the rotation as the elite prospect he is capable of slotting behind Cole in the years to come. Kendrick needs time in AAA to let his tools catch-up to his experience.
Posted: 12:56 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Ill go with JA Happ for that role…still not sure if myers will be moved or not…taht 12mm is a big chunk of the payroll now…
Posted: 12:57 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 dan
I’m hoping it goes to either Happ or Carrasco. If Carrasco wins the spot, that’s only good news. Park can really help sturdy the already sturdy pen.
Posted: 01:21 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 MA Phanatic
I’d like to start Carrasco in AAA, to let him hit his groove. I think I’d also have Marson there to begin the year, since they have a great chemistry together. (Marson is basically the only catcher Carrasco has ever thrown to in the minors).
I’m hoping Happ wins the job, but wouldn’t be disappointed to see Park win the job. Actually I’d be very encouraged to see him win the job.
Posted: 01:36 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Bob
Adam Eaton to the rescue!!!!
Posted: 01:44 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Mark
Could we bring back Pat Burrell to fill up that 5th rotation spot? He’d be the only pitcher to show a threat with his lumber other than Brett “I own CC” Myers.
Posted: 01:55 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 NateB
this is a great position battle to watch. i’m predicting carrasco to finish the season in that spot. another position battle will be catcher. i think this will be marson’s breakout year.
Posted: 01:58 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
I am for starting Kendrick in the #5 IF and only IF his Spring Training goes well…
Posted: 02:19 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 njjeff73
Is Kris Benson still under contract? or was that one year?
Posted: 03:10 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Jason B
NJJEFF: Benson was released last august after being complete garbage in the minors.
-I think Park is the most likely 5th starter next year.
Tim: It’s offensive to hear Adam Eaton’s name mentioned in the same sentence as 5th starter( Unless that sentence happens to be”Adam Eaton will NOT be the 5th starter).
Park will start the seasonas the 5th starter, However Happ or Carrasco will finish the year as the 5th starter with Park as a long man in the pen. I have to say this is a good problem for the Phillies to have as they also have a little bit of trade bait.
Posted: 03:17 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck P
I would rate them in the order which they were presented… I think that it’s Park’s job to lose at this point and I hope he comes back throwing 93 mph. Happ is slightly ahead of Kendrick… Kendrick could prove to be a reliable 5th starter but he was really bad late ’08. Carrasco could vie for a spot at some point this season (preferrably, after the all star break) but he needs to prove his consistency at the Minor League Level first. I don’t think that we should bring him up as a 5th starter… if we do, his mentality will be that he’s a 5th starter… when he comes up, he needs to understand that his role is crucial (if you bring him up after the all star break, every start is important). His potential is a reliable #2…
Posted: 03:31 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
as predicted, the mets are taking the bait and offering lowe 16-17mm a year…good, goooooooood. fall for it…do it…it WILL backfire on them. just watch. dont be upset when the mets sign derek lowe. id rather the phillies trade for someone if they have to fill the spot and noone from inside the organization steps up and grabs it…
im going to go out on a limb and predict that they will move myers..its just been unusually and eerily quiet on the brett myers contract extension front…if they wanted him theyd have signed him by now…
Posted: 03:40 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Griffin
That picture of Chan Ho Park’s dropkick is priceless.
Posted: 03:40 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 KB
Funny how so many here are salivating to get Lowe, but if the Mets sign him it’s a “good” thing since it’s a “bad” move.
Posted: 04:57 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
except i dont think its good if we were to sign him either…too expensive…
Posted: 05:01 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gary B
I thought we traded Adam Eaton last year for a bag of baseballs and a few Maple bats?
Posted: 05:04 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Aren’t Maple bats that ones that shatter??
You knew that somebody would end up paying Lowe $16+… hopefully they give him 4 years
Posted: 05:07 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Gary B
Yeah, they are Don, that’s all they were willing to part with.
Posted: 05:11 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
If you were Derek Lowe wouldn’t you rather sing with the Yankees if you were going to play in New York? Just based on the odds of winning a World Series? You are going to make 35 starts either way, and this way you’d be a #3 or #4 instead of a #2 on the Mutts.. you’d face worse pitchers from the other teams, probably resulting in more Wins for yourself.
I wonder what happens when offers really are on the table for Lowe.. will the RedSox not care as long as he doesn’t go to the Yankees? Dodgers not care as long as he’s in the NL East? and should the Phillies not care because the Mets would be overpaying by so much to get the deal done??
Posted: 05:12 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
How about that no team would pick up Eaton for $1 Million at the winter meetings..
Phillies were willing to eat the rest of his salary, asking nothing in return, expect fora team to pay $1 Million… you have to think a team will add Eaton for $1 just to eat innings if nothing else..
Baseball’s are expensive, I think eve Major League teams pay like $4.50 a ball or something
Posted: 05:15 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
I hope Kendrick or Happ get that 5th spot and that Park ends up in the bullpen.
Don, the problem with Eaton is that HE WON’T EAT INNINGS…haha he will get 2 outs, 5 earned runs, and then they’ll have to take him out…
Posted: 05:50 PM on December 17, 2008
Posts: 0 mets09
you guys can take park. He is garbage and if you think he can be a fifth starter, you are delusiona as well. This guy is absolutly no good, he didnt even finish the year starting for the Dodgers. He started 5 games, come on, you jsut won the world series. that is not serious
Posted: 04:00 AM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 njjeff73
mets09: It is nice to have to worry about which one of 5 guys will be our 5th starter. Now you can go worry about your 4th and 5th starters, hope your 2nd stays healthy, and your 3rd can actually win a game within the NL East.
Posted: 12:15 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 mets09
well njjeff73,you dont think jamie moyer is a questionmark? or meyers? or the 5th? get over your self and your not ttching staff
Posted: 12:38 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 From Section 113
Gut feeling:
Happ – wins the 5th spot
Eaton – released
Park – The new Condrey; Condrey becomes the old Seanez
Carrasco – AAA up in Sept though
Kendrick – Like his moxy but he just isn’t that good. I think he’ll be dealt by July.
Carpenter- Just ain’t that good, wouldn’t be surprised if he never reaches the majors again.
Posted: 03:04 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 njjeff73
Hopefully Park is the new Chad Durbin, and Chad Durbin is the most of 2008 Chad Durbin.
I’d settle for Park being the 2008 Park even.
Should be a good addition to the ‘pen.
Posted: 06:01 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 NJ
The beauty now is we go into the season with genuinely the best bullpen in the game because of it’s strength in depth. The additon of Park means there’s a guy who can split Durbin’s innings with just as much confidence the job can get done, Eyre is there to reduce Romero’s excess workload so Madson and Romero can serve almost exclusively as the set-up men to Lidge without suffering a drop-off in middle-relief in close games and that still leaves Condrey who came on leaps and bounds last year.
Posted: 06:20 PM on December 18, 2008
Posts: 0 bones
i would love to see Park in the bullpen and carlos as the 5th starter and if it doesnt go well then move Park as the 5th starter
Posted: 02:25 AM on December 19, 2008
Posts: 0 TomG
You guys all seem to be happy the Mets are talking about signing Lowe for “16+”. The problem is, every report has their offer at 12 million per year.
Posted: 05:06 PM on December 31, 2008