Jamie Moyer is 169th out of 172 in the majors in ERA (8.15). After yesterday’s debacle, Chan Ho Park is 158th (7.08) and Joe Blanton is 152nd (6.86). Cole Hamels and Brett Myers are both in the middle of the pack – in 88th and 115th places respectively – but their numbers are getting better each start.
Which raises the point: Two of the three in the bottom need to go. After watching the Phils gut through a four-game sweep of the Nationals, we’ve seen this one completely obvious marquee flash above our heads. Park has been wildly inconsistent. Moyer has been invisible. Blanton has been mediocre at best. We’ve called for these moves before, but now it seems clear that, likely, it’s Moyer and Park that should – and probably will – be shoved out of the rotation before June.
Who takes their place? Happ is easy. The second position will be a dogfight between Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Carpenter and a host of clear underdogs. I’d give the favorite to Kendrick, considering Carrasco still is having problems in triple-A, and at least Kendrick has had previous success in the majors.
But the bottom line is two have to go. No longer can the Phils carry – at best – three fifth starters.
