Phillies Nation

Starting pitching, especially Hamels, is my biggest concern. I hope it shapes up as I look at the Marlins’ young and talented rotation. Also, Brad Lidge, despite his fine ‘save’ numbers has looked a little vulnerable. I hope he is ok. And, I do feel that Rollins will come around. Moreover, I’d like to see Dobbs get a start at third base so he can get some swings at the plate.

Starting pitching in general, too. My knee-jerk reaction is Hamels. But after thinking about it for a little while, I think he’ll be fine sooner or later (3 starts from now?)… and that Moyer will continue to struggle to put up quality starts.

I really hope Blanton gets a quality start today… there are plenty of question marks already to be worrying about him, too.

I think we’re getting too nervous too early, everyone here can attest to the fact that this team, with the exception of last year, has never been a team that does great in April. Plus like Tim said we’re only 7 games in, this is the general growing pains when you start playing in below 70 degree weather after playing for 2-3 months in 60-70 degree weather in ST. I am honestly not concerned about this team in the slightest, most pitchers have gone through their first starts and thats usually when you’ll see the biggest changes from their first to their 2nd start, Myers AND Moyer have both looked better from their first to their 2nd start, the others will follow suit. Hamels everyone needs to give him his chance to get ready for his start, the man barely pitched in ST so to say he looks like he may still be injured is a bad analysis, he has to get his arm speed up yes but he hasn’t pitched the amount of innings this spring the rest of the rotation did to be able to just come in and throw 6 scoreless. Plus we got Chase and Ryan Howard hitting the ball well, Howard’s looking like the guy we had in his 1st 2 MLB years, and Raul Ibanez is giving people a reason to be excited about his arrival. I don’t see anything to worry about with this team specially since we’re winning games we’re not in the Nationals position where we haven’t won a game yet so theres little concern here. I can’t wait to see Marson catch just to see how our starting 5 likes throwing to him.

Are we really already talking about things like this… we are 7 games into the season.. Stairs and Bruntlett have a total of like 10 at-bats, but we’re talking about how much balance they give the lineup?

Miguel Cairo has been the plate TWICE..

Jimmy Rollins slow start “could he continue this badly?”… please.

Park looked GREAT in Spring Training but didn’t look so hot on a rainy, windy-day in Coor’s Field, so people are ready to replace him.. ?

Maybe if we weren’t trying to win the World Series in April, we would all relax…

While we’re at it though, being crazy and all:
Ibanez should be MVP.. he’s on pace for like 69 HRs.
Jack Taschner should win CY YOUNG cause he hasn’t allowed an Earned Run.
and Ryan Howard should win the Gold Glove at 1b.. he’s got ZERO ERRORS!!

God forbid like Don says they don’t get off to strong starts in April, they should just be banished from the rotation for the rest of the year. If we were going by how a player is going to do then by that assumption Kyle Kendrick should have made the all star team last year when he started 8-3 out of the shoot. Lets not jump over a team 7 games into the season. Give them a month before you start playing GM and say who stays and goes.

the problem – guys – is that the phillies wait too long to replace starters. It took them until July to remove Adam Eaton and Kyle Kendrick from the rotation when they had CLEARLY indicated weeks beforehand that they were done.

its way too early to pull anybody. But park (as all 5th starters should be unless you have a dream rotation) is on a short leash – or at least youd think so. They know Happ is getting impatient with every bad start that a phillies starter records.

But just because Moyer is Moyer hell get some mulligans but how long can you keep sending out someone (ANYONE) who doesnt perform well? surely not through until july. If ANY of these guys doesnt return to form by June 1 then you have to do something. bring people up, put people on the dl, flip flop people, orr make trades, etc.

you cant just ASSUME that all 5 of these guys will return to form magically. all but one or two of them probably will, but some wont.

CHASE UTLEY… Health… its simple.

we know Chase plays hurt and down plays injuries but “experts” were saying he wouldnt be back until May.. he’s playing now so he cant be 100%.

If he were to be put on the DL that would hurt the team. You can’t replace a Chase Utley.

We may all be missing Tim’s point. The Phils have given up 16 hrs in 7 games. Meyers has given up 6 hrs in 2 starts – extrapolate these numbers and in 32 starts we are looking at an unbelievable amount of hrs.
Brad Lidge? Does anyone remember how many hrs he gave up all of last year? 2. He has given up 2 hrs so far in 3 appearences.
OK, bad starts by Blanton and 2 by Moyer, including a dud by Hamels – so? It is early, very, very early. Enough of this “wait until it’s warmer ..” other teams are not waiting to heat up (except for the Nats maybe).
How many stolen bases do the Phils have? How many attempts do they have? How about Jroll? Even those few times he has been on base so far he has not even sniffed at a steal (I could be wrong about that). Victorino has had 4 singles and 4 walks – no stolen base attempts. Yes, the Phils have 3 stolen base attempts and Utley has both steals.
It’s amazing that playing this way the Phils are 4-3. Could be a lot, lot worse.
BTW guys, I really hope they attempt a makeup game early instead of trying to pack them all into September!
Somebody please turn the snooze off on the alarm clock that signaled the start of the season.. too many Phils are still asleep.

yeah well, like I said, Rollins or the bench isnt really the problem at all. The starting pitching has been jsut plain bad. Brett Myers has given up 4 runs in each start, but hes really not been that bad. hes been their strongest performer thus far in the rotation actually. Blanton and Park need to rebound in their coming starts to avoid concern, and so does Hamels (who has the most leeway – as long as he doesnt hurt himself swinging a bat like chris carpenter). at least hes more durable than the glass-man (harden). fortunately hamels is more durable than both of them.

When do the Phillies ever get off to a good start in April?

Lou Marson is the only Phillies hitter in the lineup that has faced tonight’s Nats pitcher (Shairon Martis) more than once –at least since 2004. He is 6/12 with an RBI.

During the home opener I had a pulled pork sandwich at Bull’s and it was EVER SO SLIGHTLY dry.

This is a terrible portend for future sandwiches that will be consumed this season. Bull’s should be replaced by a WaWa while we can still get something for it.

In summary, we have one of the best teams in the league and they are just warming up.

I agree, nobody here is out of line I think. We are simply “discussing our concerns.” Nothing has reached the point that any particular player is in a “seya pal” type of situation yet. And thats a good thing.

Manuel said that Moyer and Hamels will most likely have Coste catching because they like to be on the same page as their catcher or something… bascically they don’t want an unproven rookie catching them.. Blanton I guess doesn’t care?

I understand the whole concept of DISCUSSIONS and what we’re thinking.. but one week into the season is a little early to be pointing out the faults of Rollins’.. and saying how worried we are about pitchers first starts. in sloppy weather in a hitter’s ballpark, etc..

meanwhile, praising Stairs and Bruntlett..

I’m just wondering if the same people that are worried about our slow starts, by some.. are also jacked about the “great” start by others: … Howard with 0 errors, Taschner’s ZERO EARNED RUNS, and Ibanez’ HR pace.. I know i’m being a d-bag here, .. and i know that Tim’s just trying to get the conversation flowing..

But every once in a while, I wish the Topic would be what we’re excited about so far in the season, instead of what we’re most concerned about…

I think Marson HAS TO, SHOULD, MUST catch today…1. No Hamels and no Moyer on the mound today, who apparently prefer Coste… 2. the guy can definitely HIT Shairon Martis… 3. It’s not like Chris Coste is carrying a hot bat right now ..

If not today, then when? (And don’t say 2010)

Um, Marson definitely has to play today, I agree. It is really stupid to bring up a guy and then not play him. For all of those people who talk about players needing to play to grow – which is usually how it works. So Jamie Moyer teaching him or the coaching coaching him will only go so far IF HE DOESNT PLAY. Hes gotta play.

Yea I want to see how the lineup looks in by this time next month.. when guys are used to their spots in the lineup.. playing some small ball..

I think Werth and Ibanez can have really, really nice years in the 5-6 spots, but Im not going crazy over the fact that they’ve been swinging good bats so far… because its too early for that.

Likewise, Im not concerned about Rollins, because I think he is the BEST overall baseball player on the team.. when considering Offense, Defense, and Base Running..

He’ll be fine, we’ll be fine.. if we were 2-5 I could see people worrying.. but we’re 4-3.. and that is without our leadoff man on base.. and us trailing in every game so far.

Blanton will have a nice year.. even if he doesn’t have a great game today.. but if he doesn’t have a great game today i’m betting that 85% of Phillies Nation jumps off a bridge

marson caught a lot of bullpens when he was called up last year, so i think he has to have a little fimilarity with the pitching staff. i think he’ll be ok.

I believe that either Tim or Amanda should have the starting lineup shortly for tonights game. Look Don, if Marson shows some spunk while Ruiz is on the DL, would you still ship him down when Chooch comes back?
I think he lost his mind in spring training – he really tried too hard (cliche?) – at least I hope so. What a bonus to have a catcher that can hit… OMG -

Tim, I’ve said this time and time again…. you do a great job running this site.. I just get frustrated with having to usually defend my positive outlook of the Phillies aginst the majority of people usually picking and worrying about the team..

If Marson shows some spunk, would I still send him down when Ruiz gets back..

Yea..

Ruiz is a MAJOR LEAGUE STARTER..

Marson hit over .300 in the minors… well so did Ruiz, so that doesn’t mean that Marson is going to tear up MLB pitching.

Those guys both need to play everyday.. If Marson is really tearing the cover off the ball, and you’re going to kepe him on the roster.. the only option is to trade Ruiz then.. but that ain’t happening..

I’m dead serious when i say that people have fallen in love with Marson because it seems like the cool thing to do.. He might be GREAT.. and I HOPE HE IS… but he needs to develop more and that happens by playing in AAA, not by watching at the big league level

Don, let me ask you why you are so in love with Chooch?
Other than his defense (lets go on regular, not post season play) – He never displayed power and on a potent offense has never knocked in more than 54 rbi and has not played in more than 117 games (last years total). Sure, there are tons of players that show a lot of potential in the Minors and never reach that same level in the majors but after a certain point, dont you have to say lets see what we can get? Is his defense or handling of our pitching staff that great where we cannot see what other talent awaits?
Hey man, that is what baseball is all about.
We do see that Chris does not do as well as Ruiz catching but he is now competing with Ruiz for horrible at bats.
Change is not always bad my friend, give it a chance. Having some faith or hope in Marson is not just the “cool” thing to do, it’s a downright hope to have the # 7 or 8 batter that we can count on in the lineup instead of “OK, time to get another beer..” (course, that ain’t bad either).

Well its going to be interesting. Donald might get some time this year if someone gets injured, but this is really a big chance for Marson to make the Phillies think long and hard about sending him back down. And if they had a ghost runner for donald, he could play second and short at the same time…haha!!!!!!

Right.. but with Phillies prospects… by the time we heard of them.. it was because they were playing so well in the Minor Leagues.. and getting named by Baseball America and stuff.

So all of a sudden people talk about how great they are going to be.

This time last year people didn’t know who Brown and Taylor were.. but maybe had heard of Donald and Marson..

Obviously we all want the best team on the field.. but its not worth moving good players out of the way to see what your prospects can do. That is why they have the minor league’s in place.. and why the NHL has the AHL, and the NBA has their D-League..

hahaha, “Donald can play 2nd base and ss at the same time…”, that was a hilarious post, Geoff! That’s why I always try to catch up on comments, I’d hate to miss something that makes me laugh, especially with the Phils pitchers throwing like little leaguers half the time, we need some humor right now.