Phillies Nation

I still think he’s on a start by start basis. Happ has thrown so well, we can’t keep him in the pen any longer. I think for the next few starts, Park will have to throw 6-7 solid innings to keep his job.

Parks start last week bought him two more starts. Moyer is now at even, meaning hes really got to get it done in the enxt 3 or 4 starts or hes out. Hamels and Myers are up and running. Blanton has two to three more starts before something has to be done about him. JA Happ is still waiting, but even with him in there, you have two more slots to fill if things dont improve.

I mean youve really only got two starting pitchers right now. The other three will combine to give you a good start occasionally. This is not really acceptable.

So lets say you put Happ in for Park – who I have full confidence in. That gives you Hamels Myers Happ. So lets say Moyer tanks. Is Carrasco ready? Not right now. Is Kendrick a major league pitcher? No. Drabek? Still too raw. Worley, Stutes? Maybe, only a year removed from the draft though.

So basically if more than one guy needs replaced youre looking at a big decision. I think if both Blanton and Moyer tanked out and had to be traded for nothimng, DL’d, or sent down then youd have to take a flier on promoting one of these young arms and then use your assets to go out and trade for a proven solid starting pticher.

I believe that he gets this start and one more. If all goes well in these two outings, you stick with him for another 2-3. NOw if things go back to the way they were the next two outings, Mr. Happ gets his chance and Park becomes long relief. What if he throws out there 3 consecutive QS and gets hit around the next game? Can him? No way, give him 2 more starts and then analyze the situation from there.

Oswalt is in his walk year. And Ed Wade is their GM.

The Dispy.

Oswalt is not a stud anymore btw. Check the stats!

The Dispy

Dipsy that name fits you, Houston isn’t giving up Oswalt for that junk, We would drive the bus to houston if they would take a 254 minor league hitter in mayberry and a ulitity in donald and a Carrasco who is getting hit again, why don’t we give them coste, cairo, taschner, park, think they would go for that? to get oswalt it’s going to be a Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown, a Worley, Stutes or Drabek and a Marson or Donald , They will want a least three of these players to make the move.

Remember, Lidge didnt have Grienke-esque numbers when we “stole” him from Houston either. Your gonna have to give up a ton to get Oswalt. He is almost the face of their franchise right now and arguably the most consistent pitcher in the NL in the past several years. Unproven Carrasco? Mayberry (already have Lee, and Pence)? I would love it but doubtful. To rectify and pitching woes we have right now, we will look within our own for now.

Right but you see that getting 4 run 6 inning outings from our pitching, even with our offense, theyre NOT winning 9 games out of 10. thats the whole point! thats NOT happening right now. IF it was we wouldnt be talking about this.

Look at Oswalts numbers…hed probably be better than Moyer but hes not the ghuy he used to be. But someone else brought him up thats not the guy that Id want to bring in here anyway. Hes a flyball pitcher – and those dont work too well here…

Oswalt is 32 yrs old and has a career 3.17 era. Please, please do not compare hiim to Moyer. As much as I love Moyer and everything he has done for Philly, he is not Roy Oswalt. Oswalt has been amazingly consistent and as much a competitor as Myers(with a cooler head). Oswalt has been an as ace for quite a while, whereas Moyer has been more of a coach with pretty solid numbers the last 2-3 years. Were not getting Oswalt for unproven talent.

Oswalt has been a ace for a while now but he is on his downslope… look at how 32 yr old power pitchers fair in their declining years, unless he juices like Clemens he will be an afterthought in a few years. He had his run and now he is out of gas. Check his game log, it is very unimpressive and his only win came on a day when he got 12 runs in support
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/gamelog?playerId=4575

I am not comparing Moyer and Oswalt in their careers just their stats so far this season in which they are extremely similar.

As Geoff said a 6 inning 4 run game should be enough for a win with our offense but lately our offense hasnt been pulling their weight so instead of talking about how horrendous the pitching has been why dont we look at how horrendous the offense has been.

The sad thing is, most of us have been concerned about the starting rotation since last season, but because the Phils won the WS, this problem got shoved under the rug during the off-season, the FO hoping/assuming that it would be the same as last year. Now we’re facing the reality that maybe one or more of our starters are not what they were last year, maybe not even major league caliber. If it turns out that just one of them sucks, we should be able to address that, but if it’s three, we’re screwed.

Oswalt is not coming to Philly, so it’s not even worth discussing.

Moyer can still rebound, I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off. Park is only as good as his next start. We have a good problem in that at least we have some depth with Happ.

It’s still Mid May everyone, let’s not worry to much. Did anyone watch the Mets last night?

Why doesn’t Charlie go with a six man rotation over the next few weeks?

It gives the guys from last year an extra day off between starts to rest up a bit more if this really is the hangover from the extra month of postseason pitching. It also gives Happ a chance in the rotation to prove himself. At the end of the the three weeks, drop the worst starter in the past few weeks to the pen.

Seriously Charlie needs to address this and ASAP we can’t fall to far behind in the East, each game will be essential as we approach August and September. Drop Cario from the bench and add a reliever to the pen and give the six man rotation a chance.

Why isn’t Oswalt coming to Philly? Why? Why? Tell me , please. We don’t have things Houston wants? We don’t “need” or “want” Oswalt? Do you have special “knowledge” we don’t have? Moyer stinks. Look at his last 5 years. Park stinks. Look at his last 5 years. In fact….look at everbody’s last 5 years while you’re at it.

The Dipsy

32 year old pitcher (gasp)!!!!! You’re right. If he were a horse he’d be shot.

The Dipsy

If we get Oswalt, it is for one year. One more time. IF we get Oswalt it is for one year. Stop bringing up his age and the “possibility” of him declinging. He is having a less than average start to the very, very early 2009. The Phillies are not ready to give up what Houston would want in return for their 5-6 year ace. Gotta stop this silly talk.

Chan Ho Park should never have been in the rotation in the first place. he has a proven track record of being a bad major league pitcher. he’s always been bad. for almost a decade now he’s been puttering around the major leagues being a terrible pitcher. he will never be any good. JA Happ on the other hand has a ton of upside and could show himself to be a true #2 starter in this league possibly. give him the chance.

I think Park gets -20 more innings.

Park hasn’t been a decent starter in years. He didn’t even play two years ago. He was a decent bullpen guy with a couple spot starts last year wherein he was effective, but failed to last more than 5-6 innings. Either all the Phillies starters need to get their act together, or we need to start examining the possibility of trading for a big arm. THATS why we’re talking about Oswalt.

Happ oughta be in the rotation…

If Park doesn’t pitch well, his leash should depend on what he does wrong. Basically if his control isn’t there and he gives up walk after walk he should be replaced with Happ. If he’s throwing strikes and leaves a hanger or two that gets crushed I’d say give him another start. He should be able to control his pitches, he should he could do it in spring training, if he’s giving up a ton of walks then he’s just unable to get where he needs to be mentally in order to start in the majors.

cole hamels just walked by me at 15th and chestnut. he was flanked by two small guys in suits. weird!

Bruce you are right though we should change this blog to Phillies GM’s Nation. I wonder if Ruben checks this site out from time to time. He would laugh his ass off if he did, but what is better than talking trades honestly. Now I would have loved for the Phils to have went after Derek Lowe, give the Braves credit for out-bidding the Mets on that, but the steal that no one really talks about and I would love him in this rotation is Javier Vasquez. He has been healthy and keeps his team in the game for years now and they got him for peanuts.

Harden just signed an extension, so that isnt happening.

Anyone think a Worley might jump AAA ala Kendrick or will they take it slow with him?

I think if more than two guys need replacing (most likely out of blanton, park, moyer) , then the order of replacement will be:

1st hole: Happ
2nd hole: trade for significant starting pitcher
3rd Hole: One of Carrasco, Worley, Drabek or Stutes (not kendrick) – they may jump one of those guys up from AA like Kendrick is they REALLY need to.

I think Park is the most likely to be replaced – obviously. follwoed by Blanton and then Moyer.

I understand Richie. I’m not oppose to reading proposed trades, etc. (chuckles). Actually, it’s entertaining to read some “out of the box” ideas and thoughts on desired players. I’m one of those armchair or grandstand managers who will yell at the TV when my team make blunders in losing a game. However, in the end, when calmness prevails,I keep everything in perspective. And that’s what I preach to other fans. Stay with the big picture of a marathon season. It’s ok to read ideas and suggestions within the realm of reason. But for me when I read comments that turns reality into outright fantasy that no manager or GM would go anywhere’s near, then it becomes pointless for me to comment on it. But that’s just me and for others who do like that, well..that’s their choice.