Carrasco, Happ Struggle, But Phillies Beat Jays
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, March 02, 2009 07:11 PM | Comments: 9
Posts, Spring Recap
The second time was not as good as the first for Carlos Carrasco and JA Happ. The youngsters struggled with the longball, but the Phillies offense picked them up and defeated the Blue Jays, 12-7. With the win the Phillies are 3-3 in Grapefruit League play.
Happ surrendered a home run to Adam Lind, finishing with a line of 3 IP / 3 H / 2 ER / 1 BB. Carrasco gave up two home runs, finishing with a line of 3 IP / 3 H / 3 ER / 1 BB / 3 K. He cruised for the most part, but became rattled with a runner on third after a three-base error by Eric Bruntlett. He then surrendered a double and a walk, before letting Kevin Millar beat him with a three-run bomb. If there is any issue with Carrasco, it’s his mind.
Otherwise the offense played well. Jeremy Slayden and Ryan Howard hit big home runs, while most Phillies had at least one hit. Pablo Ozuna was on base three of the five times he came to the plate.
In the B-squad game, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton both had scoreless outings.
The Phillies have off tomorrow. Cole Hamels will make his first start of the spring as the Phillies play the Canadian WBC team Wednesday.
Posts: 0 Mike
Thank god because its a spring training game.
Posted: 07:44 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I wouldn’t call 3 IP, 2 ER “struggle” (for Happ) but whatever, we get the idea.
Posted: 08:10 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 tim mccarver sucks
I think Carrasco needs a year in AAA ball or atleast a half year more to get ready for major leauge hitters. I like his stuff so I think he is a 3rd starter of the future.
Posted: 09:45 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Rob
Carrasco… Vicente Padilla v2.0
Posted: 10:13 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
It’s good to hear that Howard is starting to stroke the ball with power. I hope he gets off the a strong start. The team needs it.
Posted: 10:56 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 1650 Tim Malcolm
Rob, that’s actually not a horrible comparison. But I don’t think Carlos hits the sauce as openly as Vicente.
Posted: 11:01 PM on March 2, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
More details on the B-squad game:
Jayson Werth, who strained his right shoulder during batting practice Friday, played for the first time this spring in a B game in Clearwater, while the Phillies played in Dunedin. Werth went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts, and did not swing the bat in two at-bats, nor did he take batting practice. He said he just wanted to track pitches in his first live action.
“I’m just feeling it out and getting my legs underneath me,” he said. He added that his shoulder is improving, “but I don’t want to do too much too early. It’s a long spring training and I don’t want to re-aggravate anything.”
Also in the B game, Jamie Moyer threw 57 pitches in three shutout innings, striking out three, walking one, and allowing two infield hits.
Joe Blanton threw 59 pitches in four scoreless innings, allowing five hits, walking none, and striking out four.
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My thoughts: GREAT job by Moyer (3 IP) and Blanton (4 IP). Regarding Werth, it’s good that he’s taking it slowly, but I get the impression that his strained shoulder problem is not as minor as we originally thought.
Posted: 10:25 AM on March 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
Carrasco has much greater potential than Padilla… they’re both going to hit 90-95 on the radar gun but Padilla only has two out pitches: a fastball and curveball. Padilla’s inability to throw a change-up hurts him. Carrasco has a good change-up that can be devastating at times and his other stuff is very good. He is still proving that he can throw all of those pitches for strikes but right now, it looks like he will be a good starter.
Posted: 10:44 AM on March 3, 2009
Posts: 0 Marps
Has anyone ever actually checked to see if Moyer is in fact human?
Posted: 11:58 AM on March 3, 2009