Phillies Nation

Jonathan Pettibone has been a revelation for the Phils. But how long can it continue? (AP Photo).

As I wrote in my recap on Tuesday night, Jonathan Pettibone deserves a lot of credit.  He has started five games so far this year and the Phillies have won four.  He has shown a veteran’s ability to battle through jams.  He has displayed a pretty good fastball, which at least through his first three starts, he routinely threw for strikes and forced opposing batters to put the ball in play.  But before we all get carried away, it’s important to note that Pettibone is not the first marginal Phillies pitching prospect in recent years to enjoy immediate success upon his big league promotion.

Consider the statistics for the following Phillies starters, past and present, compared to Pettibone through five starts:

Jonathan Pettibone:  3-0, 3.41 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 5.3 K/9 in 29 IP

Vance Worley:         2-2, 2.09 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 7.7 K/9 in 27 IP

J.A. Happ:                1-1, 3.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 in 27.2 IP

Kyle Kendrick:        3-0, 4.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 2.9 K/9 in 30.2 IP

While the numbers are different, each former farmhand was able to have a certain level of success right away.  Pettibone’s rookie predecessors were also able to sustain their effectiveness beyond their first start.  Worley was a huge part of a playoff team in 2011.  Ditto for Happ in 2009 and Kendrick in 2007.

Continue reading Tempering Expectations on Pettibone

In advance of next week’s episode of Phillies Nation TV which includes an interview with the one and only Tony Luke, Jr., Ian cornered the sandwich maven in his shop and peppered him with questions about Philadelphia. Have a watch and catch Ian’s full interview next Tuesday at 6pm on the Comcast Network.

Good news, Phillies fans. Roy Halladay had successful surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday, and could begin a throwing program in 6-8 weeks. Here is the team statement and some thoughts below.

Roy had successful shoulder surgery yesterday. He had an arthroscopic evaluation and underwent debridement of his labrum and rotator cuff as well as removal of an inflamed bursa.

He’ll begin a progressive rehabilitation program and if all goes well, he may possibly begin a throwing program in 6-8 weeks.”

It sounds as though everything inside the shoulder was as advertised. There was a risk that the original MRI did not show complete details, but it looks like all went according to plan, which is obviously a good thing. I went out on a limb and said I did not think Halladay would pitch again this year, which is still possible. However, that three month timetable is looking pretty likely.

Good news, and we hope Doc has a strong rehab and a speedy recovery. But the hard part still lay ahead.

Today the Phillies will hold their Phillies Phestival benefiting the ALS Association, Greater Philadelphia Chapter. Since 1984, the Phillies have raised over $12 million to combat the progressive neuromuscular disorder, known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. Most of the money has been raised through this annual event which features your favorite Phillies in autograph and photo booths, games for kids, memorabilia auctions and lots of yummy food.

To thank fans who support this worthy cause, Phillies Nation will be sponsoring the event through an ad in the event program. The ad will offer a special prize to attendees who visit the secret URL displayed. It’s just a small token of thanks to those Phillies fans who like to get involved with helping others.

Read more about the Phillies Nation Foundation which supports the causes of Phillies fans around the world.

Mike Adams said it grabbed him on Sunday. Yesterday, while trying to work it out by playing catch, his aching back grabbed again – bad enough that he had a shot to relieve the pain.

Adams said it was not a cortisone shot, but something to loosen it up. He’s considering himself day-to-day, but also did not rule out the possibility of an MRI soon if it does not improve.

It hasn’t been the type of season Adams had hoped for, although his numbers are still halfway decent. While it’s not the same Adams from 2008-2011, his ERA is still at 3.00, and his strikeouts-per-9 is the highest rate of his career, at 11.9. But his walks-per-9 are also the highest of his career at 3.6, and now to add to the trouble is a back issue.

This problem is not believed to be related to the offseason surgery Adams had to fix thoracic outlet syndrome, which was bad enough that a rib had to be removed.

After a disastrous trip to Cleveland two weeks ago, the Phillies could have exacted revenge with a quick two-game sweep. Instead, they were blown out on Wednesday afternoon, losing 10-4 to the Indians. Starter Cole Hamels was rocked and the bullpen followed suit.

BAD COLE’d:

-After six consecutive starts throwing six innings or more and allowing three runs or less, Hamels was rocked by the Indians in the series finale. He allowed five runs on six hits in five innings and labored from the start. His record is now 1-6.

-His pitch count was an issue from the get-go, reaching 51 pitches through just two innings. His fastball is also a problem. Going into Wednesday’s game with Cleveland, Hamels’ 4-seam fastball had been getting tagged at a .330 clip. The Indians hit several hard hit fastballs off him in this start, including Mike Aviles’ home run and Jason Kipnis’ double. Mark Reynolds doubled on a cutter that scored two runs and Nick Swisher hit a two-run shot in the fifth on it, something Hamels has shied away from more recently. However, his change up and occasional curveball are still fooling hitters as much as ever.

-With the fastball, the location is certainly lacking. Hamels is walking guys at a ridiculous rate, so clearly something is up. Matt Gelb tweeted some speculation that perhaps the shoulder ailment he had over the winter is affecting him. Of course, no one from the Phillies, Hamels included, has mentioned it. But keep that one nearby.

-The bullpen struggled again today. Chad Durbin has to be on a short leash. He got the first two men out, then walked the pitcher Cory Kluber and gave up a single to the next batter Drew Stubbs. Durbin then gave way to Jeremy Horst, who allowed two runs to score on a hard-hit single up the middle. Horst can’t seem to string good games together, either.

-Phillippe Aumont got through his inning with a double-play, but Raul Valdes got tagged for three runs in his inning of work. Just when you think the pen is turning a corner they allow the game to get out of reach.

PHILS STRUGGLE WITH KLUBER

-Just call him Kluber Lang. Corey Kluber is a pitcher the Phillies have never seen before. He also entered play Wednesday with a 5.64 ERA. And yet he’s another middling pitcher who skates by. You’d think that because the Phillies have not seen him, they’d allow themselves to take some pitches and see what the guys has. Not so. Again they swing away instead of making the pitcher work. Kluber went six innings, allowing three runs and striking out five.

-Jimmy Rollins kept it close with a two-run double in the fifth inning, scoring John Mayberry Jr. and Carlos Ruiz. Rollins has been struggling to stay near .250 recently, but he smashed a rope down the line and finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI.

-The middle of the order was a big problem today. Utley, Young, Howard, Young, and Brown combined to go 2-for-19, with both hits going to Delmon.

Philadelphia Phillies (19-21) vs. Cleveland Indians (21-17)

Cole Hamels (1-5, 4.18) vs. Cory Kluber (2-2, 5.64)

TIME: 1:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 71, Sunny
Media: Twitter and Facebook

The big news of the day is that the Phillies signed former all-star hurler Carlos Zambrano to a minor league contract. No water coolers were hurt during the signing.

What the signing says to me is that the Phillies think they lack organizational depth at the higher levels that can help should another pitcher go down. It also shows a lack of confidence in Tyler Cloyd and a lack of readiness for Adam Morgan.

Continue reading Gameday: Phillies (19-21) vs. Indians (21-17)

The Phillies have agreed to terms with RHP Carlos Zambrano. The deal was first reported by Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and is a minor league contract. Speculation heated up yesterday that Zambrano may have been signed by the Phillies because he had come to terms with the independent Long Island Ducks but had not yet been added to their roster.

Zambrano was 7-10 with a 4.49 ERA in 35 appearances (20 starts) for the Miami Marlins last season.

Analysis: Zambrano, 31, has three top-5 Cy Young award finishes but none since 2007 and has had rapidly decreasing K/9 IP rates and rapidly increasing BB/9 IP rates as detailed in our piece The Phils and Zambrano? Ugh. 

I am more than willing to admit my mistakes, and am currently willingly eating my words regarding Michael Young, however, Zambrano is not a good fit right now for the Phillies and isn’t worth a minor league flyer. No word on if he’ll be reporting to Reading or Lehigh Valley, but it is likely he will be an IronPig to start his Phillies organizational tenure.

Right-handed hurler Nicholas Hanson was selected by the Phillies in the 16th round of last year’s draft.  The Golden West College product had a tough pro debut with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, where he sported a 2-3 record with a 7.00 ERA while averaging 5.8 K/9.  This year is a completely different story, however.  In nine outings, Hanson, 21, has tallied a 1-0 record along with a 2.94 ERA and a 7.48 K/9 mark.  Additionally, in his three starts since moving from the bullpen, the 6-foot-7, 210 pounder has allowed just one run.

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Nic and he spoke about his success, his best friend who is also a player, his offerings on the mound and plenty more. Read ahead for that full interview.

- You’re on a hot streak now and doing very well as a starter after relieving to start the season.  What can you tell me about your early success this season?

I’m just kind of getting used to my new stuff.  I started throwing that sinker now and (pitching coach Aaron Fultz) has really been helping me and we’re watching video a little bit and I’m kind of getting used to my stuff.  That’s basically it, just going out there and learning every time.

- What’s your full pitching repertoire right now?

Right now, four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, change up. 

- You mentioned the new addition of a sinker.  Who initiated that?  How did that come about?

I used to throw it as a little kid.  It was the only way I knew how to throw a fastball, I’d kind of throw it differently than a regular two-seamer.  And I felt like I needed another pitch other than a four-season fastball.  My dad told me, toward the end of spring training, “Why don’t you throw that pitch?”  Continue reading PN Interview: RHP Prospect Nic Hanson

Rookie Jonathan Pettibone came through again for the Phils on Tuesday (AP Photo).

The Phillies used timely hitting and good starting pitching to go 4-3 on last week’s West Coast trip.  They did it again on Tuesday night, this time in Philadelphia, winning 6-2 over the Indians behind Jonathan Pettibone.  John Mayberry Jr. provided most of the offense for the Phils, knocking in three runs on three hits.  The victory gave them their third three-game win streak of the season.  They have yet to win four in a row.

PETTIBONE DOES IT AGAIN

- Despite being squeezed all night by home plate umpire Brian Knight, Pettibone delivered yet another quality outing.  He didn’t have his best stuff (only three Ks) and was wild for the second consecutive start (two walks, two HBPs), but Pettibone battled through 6.2 innings and only gave up four hits and two earned runs.  This high wire act has been the norm for the rookie in his first month as a major leaguer, but to his credit he has given the Phillies a chance to win in all five of his starts (they’re 4-1 behind him).

- The only blemish for Pettibone on Tuesday night was a one-out, two-run single off the bat of Michael Brantley in the second inning.  The Indians really made the rookie work in the early going, forcing him to throw 59 pitches in the first three innings.  After escaping unscathed from a bases loaded jam in the third, Pettibone cruised through the next three frames, throwing only 29 pitches in the process.  Pettibone was pulled after getting two outs in the seventh, making Tuesday night’s start the longest of his career.

MAYBERRY, LONG BALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR PHILS OFFENSE

- Lefty killer John Mayberry Jr. had the decisive knock for the Phils, lacing a two-run double off Indians southpaw Scott Kazmir into the left center gap in the fourth inning.  Mayberry, whose double gave the Phils a 3-2 lead, had a much-needed three-hit night.  He had three hits in all of May headed into Tuesday, which was good for an abysmal .143 average.

Continue reading Pettibone, Mayberry lead way for Phils over Tribe