Comments on: Bruntlett, Offense Blast Astros, 13-3

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:47:40 +0000

Kendrick got smoked in a minor league ST start last week after getting demoted…he will not even be discussed as a potential call up until he starts turning out excellent starts in AAA.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:42:52 +0000

Geoff says~ “Happ will be in AAA as their ace, with Carrasco the 2. They will be called up in that order, in all likelihood. ”
Are you forgetting Kendrick? If Kendrick improves considerably, he with the 2 yrs MLB experience in his favor, will get first call.

By: Chuck P

Chuck P — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:01:58 +0000

Happ is going to be a good pitcher for us… he has a good arsenal of pitches to work with and displays great presence. Park might have won the job but Happ proved that he’s worthy of replacing Brett Myers in 2010 as the #2 or #3 starter.

Bruntlett has stepped up in spring… I apologize for bad mouthing him early on; it’s pretty clear that he came out ready to work and eager to prove to this team that he’s capable of filling in for Utley/Feliz on a regular basis. Feliz is the starter… his defense is worth the higher average that you might get from Bruntlett in the 7 hole but it’s nice to know that we have a pretty good utility player.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:56:05 +0000

I agree with most everything on here as well. Except trading happ and the fact that he is overrated (Dice). He has proven his worth and no way should we give him up for anything unless the yanks wanna give us cc for him and eat half the salary. He is not overated. Last year in the majors: 1-0 (4 starts), 31.7IP (starting and relieving), nearly a 2:1 K:BB, 3.69ERA, 1.326WHIP. No way are numbers like this expendable or overrated. Happ will have his shot in due time.

By: Doug D.

Doug D. — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:40:30 +0000

Seoul Man has outpitched Happ for the #5 starter job. Forget about his past, because he’s been re-juvenated by learning a change-up from Moyer…Happ needs to start the season in AAA. The suggestion that the Phils would even think about trading Happ is ludicrous. Why would you trade one of your best major-leauge prospects for a right-handed bat off the bench? You can never have too much pitching!! The Phils can option him to the IronPigs where he can continue to get regular work as a starter and add to their inventory of quality arms. The Phils view him as a starter, so to put him in the bullpen will retard his progress. With the acquisistion of Taschner (and now Bowers), there are other lefty arms available for the pen. Hell, Koplove and Majewski have pitched lights-out this spring and are signed to minor league contracts. Whoever doesn’t make the 25-man roster to start the year can be added to the inventory in AAA without exposing them to the waiver wire. Use your surplus of bullpen arms for your trade bait for the right-handed bat off the bench, — not one of your best starting prospects.

By: IRONPIGPEN

IRONPIGPEN — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:32:41 +0000

Happ is an IronPig for life so of course I support him but Park has done better on merit. His walks to strikeouts is awesome this spring! Happ has pitched so well, too. Shame there is not room for both. Or is there?

Souderton’s Moyer can’t last forever, perhaps. He got hit hard in AAA exhibition and last time out for Phils, too.

Bowers for IronPigs should be good move. Better than Yorman Bazardo. Hooray he’s gone!

Philly-native Koplove should be good for IronPigs, too, as well as Borkowski.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:59:43 +0000

I agree with most everyone about this. I mean, the bottom line is Park has outpitched Happ, and you have to give it to him. Happ will be in AAA as their ace, with Carrasco the 2. They will be called up in that order, in all likelihood. I think if indeed Happ is stashed in AAA, that the Phillies will get calls about him from clubs looking for pitching (Angels), so hopefully the Phillies can get a good Right-Handed hitter to help out that would allow Mayberry time to season in AAA until midseason, or at least a decent prospect in a similar situation to him. Carrasco will be in the rotation by the end of the season. Someone will falter (Moyer) and Carrasco will be the guy to come up and grab the mantle.

By: Dice

Dice — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:50:45 +0000

Answer is simple, Park in the rotation, overrated Haap in the minors. End of Story

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:21:18 +0000

I wish Bruntlett was a giant like in Gulliver’s Travels, so I could just roll around in his beard all day.

By: Fran

Fran — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:29:11 +0000

Park pitched awesome this spring.

By: tim mccarver sucks

tim mccarver sucks — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:49:25 +0000

I think park won the job over happ. Sorry to Happ but park beat him out and i think he will make a nice deadline prospect to deal.

By: BurrGundy

BurrGundy — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:34:07 +0000

It’s great to see Bruntlett hitting. He is, and always will be, a solid utility player. His value to the team is his ability to play multiple positions. If Feliz is over his back problems, look for 25 dingers from him this year. Bruntlett could not do that.

By: Havoc

Havoc — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:03:16 +0000

Bruntlett’s had a hot spring but I don’t think he’s stolen 3B from Feliz. He’s certainly made me a little more comfortable that maybe we still have that right handed bat on the bench after all.

By: Good Night Joe Carter

Good Night Joe Carter — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:00:05 +0000

Chan Ho Park signed with the Phils because he was told he’d have the chance to earn a spot in the rotation. I think he’s earned that spot.

By: Wilson

Wilson — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:57:32 +0000

I’d take Pete Happy’s proven glove over Bruntlett’s spring training bat any day of the week!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:50:26 +0000

Ok… CAN WE PLEASE cut Feliz, eat the money, and let Bruntlett play 3rd base? He’s a Machine!

By: John Fire

John Fire — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:48:16 +0000

Joltin’ Joe Blanton doesn’t have “big question marks.”

Also, it’s easy to say you don’t care how Park pitched and that you want Happ in the rotation… but it doesn’t hurt anyone to play it safe and a.) put the guy who is pitching the best in the rotation and b.) send the other guy to the minors (happ) to prepare for his inevitable call-up. Happ will be in the majors before too long – a few weeks / months in AAA won’t hurt him. Meanwhile, it doesn’t matter how shaky Park has been in the past… the fact of the matter is that he’s pitching lights out and has EARNED the job. If he flops, then he gets sent to the bullpen and Happ is called up to take his place. If he doesn’t flop, well, it’s a win-win then isn’t it? If Taschner doesn’t pitch well, Happ can get the bullpen call.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:31:21 +0000

I think no matter who we pick, the guy we pick will know that if he falters, we have someone to replace him. actually, all the guys in the rotation should know that as they each have some pretty big question marks minus hamels.

at least we have some starting pitching depth, for once

By: ryan

ryan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:26:25 +0000

i don’t care how well park pitches, i want happ in the rotation. Park has a really shaky history as a starter in some seasons. i remember watching him one year ( i think he was with the rangers?) and he was absolutely awful. like, adam eaton bad. he was good in the bullpen last year too. they need him there more. i don’t think happ has the same value out of the pen.

By: Havoc

Havoc — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:26:09 +0000

I think you’ve gotta give the job to Park right now. He’s been pitching great all spring. I just hope we don’t do something stupid and unload Happ, I really feel like we’re gonna need him halfway through this season and for next year’s rotation.