Bullpen, Bats Assure D.C. Sweep
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Sun, May 17, 2009 05:26 PM | Comments: 57
2009 Recaps, Posts
Like any good team, the Phillies ran through a bad team, sweeping the Nationals in four games with an 8-6 win.
This time the Phils needed a late comeback, and got it in the eighth. After putting the first two runners on, a well-executed Pedro Feliz bunt resulted in a complete defensive breakdown by Anderson Hernandez, letting in two runs and setting up a third. Eric Brunlett made that possible with a pinch-hit RBI double. The three-run inning handed the Phils a two-run lead, which they wouldn’t squander this time.
That’s because the bullpen was superb. Notching the win in his first career appearance was Sergio Escalona. The Reading lefty callup pitched a fine, scoreless seventh against right-handed hitters. WIth him was Jack Taschner (2.2 IP, H, 2 BB, K), Chad Durbin (2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K), Scott Eyre (1.1 IP, BB, 2 K) and Brad Lidge, who threw two pitches and got two outs for the easiest save he’s collected as a Phillie. And that was highly important.
The offense teed off against rookie Jordan Zimmermann early, as Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino drove in runs in the first for a 3-0 lead. But Chan Ho Park had a poor start, never getting out of the second while letting up five runs. The Phils battled back early, though, thanks to a Jimmy Rollins RBI single and Chase Utley RBI double.
With the sweep, the Phils are now at 20-16. At 7 p.m. Friday we were all fretting a .500 baseball team; 46 hours later we’re basking in a team four over .500.
Posts: 0 mikemike
Can’t move Moyer ? Yes if park is replaced with Happ we then have to make a decision, trade , Moyer, Carrasco, Worley. Carrasco doesn’t seem ready, same with Worley, so it’s trade or moyer, I don’t see any other option, if we rush a kid it could ruin him. Worley if I am right only has a total of 106 innings in college, not a lot of innings for him to develop. and right now any trades will be robbery, because teams will ask a king’s randsom for guy’s not better than what we got. This is a tough time for Amaro unless he could pry someone away from a club ,without giving up the farm. It fun sometimes to look back if we never make the trade with cinninatti for loshe, we would have Maloney who is ready. but it’s easy after it done to say that. but at the time it look like we were giving up nothing for a okay pitcher.
Posted: 10:40 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
Obviously the Phillies’ offense can’t bailout their starters everytime they struggle and necessitate the use of bullpen early. I like most fans are concern about the rotation. Hamels and Myers are the only bright spots
in recent starts. The Phillies are fortunate to be four games over .500 with the worse ERA in the majors for pitching. I’m still optimistic that Moyer and Blanton will have better days ahead. One can’t discount their proven track record (especially Moyer). Park is another story. He is an enigma to me. It’s frustrating to try and put a finger on why he can looked so good in two starts and then totally collapsed in his breviated start (less than 2 innings) yesterday.
I read today that there are speculations with the day off, Manual and Dubee will review their options with the rotation and make a decision between Park and Happ for a future start. That’s not exactly a vote of confidence for Park. ;-)
Posted: 10:41 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
In my opninion there are three rotation holes, and only really one immediate fix.
Youd have to think ONE of those three guys is going to get it right (im looking at blanton here to rebound).
Park is just not that good, and Jamie Moyers numbers are WORSE than Parks and were worse than Eatons (though Eaton might have pitched again and taken the higher ERA lead there). JA Happ can step in and be fine so it seems. But noone else in the system jumps out as being ready right now, but they do have some good young arms to dangle in a trade for a good starting pitcher. I think you can make one move quickly, putting Happ in there. But the other two guys left out of the streuggling 3 have to at least make it until one of them rebounds and stabilizes AND/OR the Phillies can package a few young arms to get a good starting pitcher under contract beyond this season…
Posted: 10:50 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Moyer has just been so God awfully bad that its hard to find any positives with him. He has one good start, thats it. Blanton has one and and maybe another, Park has two. So take your picks.
The Phililes DO have the young arms in the minors to afford to give a good one or so up in a trade here though.
Posted: 10:52 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 mikemike
Geoff unfortunally Savery is a bust, Worley and Stutes are getting hit, so is Carrasco. there isn’t anyone who stands out for us to trade right now, in the pitching area. but if they are willing to offer brown or taylor, The could get a stud these two guys are like when we went after CC and Harden we were told no top prospect like the cubs who had wieters and other and the brewers who had a top stud who name escapes me, now we do have that five tool really good prospect in Brown And Taylor.
Posted: 11:38 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Brummett, Monasterios, etc. Drabek Is obviously untouchable. My point is there are plenty of solid young arms to choose from and package. Remember, they dont have to be automatic, as long as they project well and the receiving team’s scouts like them. Automatics dont get traded for ANYONE and everyone knows that. Like the Braves would never trade Tommy Hanson for anyone, etc.
Posted: 11:53 AM on May 18, 2009
Posts: 0 Miles
mikemike, you said earlier that we got too caught up with winning…I’m not sure that really makes sense.
First of all, Cliff Lee has an even 3.00 ERA this year so if that is getting “hit like batting practice” than I sure want that kind of production on our team.
Secondly, Blanton still had another year on his contract. If we trade him or release him everyone would have asked why the heck we just gave up a guy that pitched well throughout all of the playoffs for us.
The Moyer comment I understand but the fact is that losing his money and Park’s money would not add up to anything close to getting you Lowe. We were NOT going to give more than 3 years to a pitcher, including Lowe. 4 years at 60 million is a lot different than 2 years at 16 mil and 1 year at 2 mil (Moyer and Park).
If Lowe breaks down sometime next year and never recovers the Braves fans will be screaming just like the Mets and Phillies fans are screaming now that he should be on their team.
Posted: 04:59 PM on May 19, 2009