World Series Phlashback: 1950 World Series – Game One

The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season. Lead by the likes of Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn the Phillies would make their second trip to the World Series.

Their opponents would be the defending world champion New York Yankees, who were looking to add their 13th title to their historic franchise history. The experienced Yankees would sweep the Whiz Kids, although all but one was a one run game.

This is part one of the four part series and focuses on game one of the 1950 World Series.

Right from the start of the World Series the Phillies appeared to be at a disadvantage. Robin Roberts, the ace of the team, had pitched three games in five days to help the Phillies clinch the National League pennant and was unavailable to pitch the World Series opener in front of the Phillies fans at Shibe Park.

To further put the Whiz Kids at a disadvantage because Curt Simmons, who had earned 17 wins that season, was called to duty in the Army late in the season. The Phillies also were dealing with injuries to rookie pitchers Bubba Church and Bob Miller.

Enter Jim Konstanty, the thirty-three year old right handed pitcher who would make his first start of the season. Konstanty was the top reliever on the team and picked up 16 wins in 1950 coming out of the bullpen. Manager Eddie Sawyer felt Konstanty was the best option for the first game.

Konstanty would face a vaunted Yankees lineup made up of players like Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Hank Bauer and of course Joe DiMaggio. Taking the mound for the Yankees was 21 game winner Vic Raschi.

As good as Konstanty was, Raschi was better. The Phillies’ top relief pitcher turned starter pitched eight very solid innings and scattered four hits over that time. Yankees third baseman Bobby Brown lead off the fourth inning with a double to left field.

Baur followed that up with a deep fly ball to center field for an out, but Brown was able to advance to third base on the play. Brown would score on a sacrifice fly from Yankees second baseman Jerry Coleman for the first, and ultimately only run of the game.

The Yankees’ Rashci pitched a complete game, allowing zero runs to score for the Phillies and just two hits. Andy Seminick and Willie Jones were the only Phillies to record a hit and both singles came in the fifth inning.

The Yankees would take game one of the 1950 World Series in front of a sold out Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Many thought that the Yankees would sweep the World Series against the youthful Phillies, and they accomplished the first part of that task.

Phillies-Reds 12-5 Finale: When Charlie’s Cooking, Phil’s Bats Are Hot

This morning I watched an episode of the Charlie Manuel Show that I’d previously recorded. On that particular day, Charlie was cooking—linguine salad, to be exact—and the rule of the day was “no talking baseball.” 

 

But watching the Skipper cook made one thing utterly obvious: Charlie cooks like he coaches.

 

Slow, methodical, intentional, and intuitive. 

 

He eyes up amounts like an executive chef and follows his nose like he follows a hunch.  Without a word of the game spoken, Charlie made it clear why 2008 was the year.

 

Charlie knows what he likes. 

 

He knows players like he knows food. If he’s as predictable in the clubhouse as he is in the kitchen, it’s no wonder players like him. They don’t have to concern themselves with a guy who’s indecisive, or even wonder what’s for dinner.

 

Did you know Charlie has lost thirty pounds? No wonder Brett Myers and Ryan Howard lost weight in the offseason. It’s embarrassing to be shown up by an old man. 

 

I know how they feel. That’s why I feign an injury whenever my dad suggests a foot race. He’s finished six marathons. The only one I’ve completed is a Harry Potter five-movie binge on a cold offseason Saturday. 

 

But in yesterday’s series finale, the Coors Light cold-activated can didn’t turn blue. 

 

The sun was hot, the balls were floating, and the bats were boiling.   

 

It was obvious Charlie fed Joe Blanton well, as he contributed four strong innings of expert first-ball strikes to prove he pitches like he eats—seldom missing a meal and rarely missing his mark. 

 

Then in the fifth, he gave up five runs. 

 

My husband nipped from a fifth and closed his eyes to take five. 

 

But it wasn’t over. The bullpen came through again with scoreless innings—four of them. Clay Condrey was the pen’s first course—a dish that could have used a little zest. 

 

Then Scott Eyre was followed by Chan Ho Park. Yes, Park. He may not like it, but the bullpen is where he’ll make his mark. Last but not least, Sergio Escalona made it obvious that he’d rather play in a major key than a minor. 

 

The Phillies offense supported its pitchers with enough runs to make the mistakes of the fifth look as insignificant as me in a string bikini. Charlie loaded the lineup with lefties while facing right-hander Micah Owings. That poor guy started a streak of collecting runs in the first that was a tradition continued through the eighth.   

 

Jimmy Rollins earned the leadoff spot for life, going 4-for-6. He was hitting, scoring, sliding, stealing, and smiling his way to his 300th lifetime steal. 

 

He’s only the third Phillie to reach the 300-steals-and-doubles mark. That must have felt a whole lot better than his earlier struggles at the plate. To fix that problem, he changed his batting stance from what has worked for him all these years. I think Charlie would agree—sometimes you need to try a new recipe. 

 

Jimmy’s affront was joined by Chase Utley, who missed batting for the cycle by only a triple. He was 3-for-5 with four RBI and a sac fly. Then Raul “The Amazing” Ibanez turned up the heat to contribute a double and a dinger in a game where the Phillies’ first four batters were 10-for-13 with six runs, three homers, and nine RBI.

 

Matt Stairs must have eaten way too much, as he only managed a slow pace to base, walking twice. He started for the struggling Jayson Werth, who stepped to the plate in the seventh and eighth but only extended his no-hitting streak to 10.

 

I’d give him 10 to streak.

 

But the flyin’ Hawaiian hacked away for a single, a double, and a stolen base, and chased down balls like a fielding ace. 

 

Then the bottom of the lineup kept the fire burning. Greg Dobbs hit his first homer of the season while Carlos Ruiz got his slow series started with a double. And Pedro Feliz gave us a two-RBI, pinch-hit double in the seventh, proving why he’s the Phils’ best hitter with runners in scoring position for 2009. He makes it look Feli-Z.

 

The soup on J.C. Romero is warming up. 

 

We had a J.C. once. He was a two-week old kitten that we found in a barn in New Jersey, hence the name – Jersey Cat. He was a wild one. He used to stalk my son like a Navy Seal and draw blood like the Red Cross. He was sweet, yet dastardly, but fun to watch when he wasn’t picking on you.

 

The Phillies’ J.C. is thirteen days away from officially sitting in the bullpen. Last year he led the Phils in most holds with a pesky 24, which was also third best in the NL. In his Wednesday-night minor league appearance, he hit a guy with a pitch just so he could pick him off of first. He’s sweet, yet dastardly, but fun to watch when he’s not pitching to you. 

 

In other news, the Phillies’ old friend Adam got Eaton up by New York. Like my 10-year-old in a cooking class, Adam was experimenting with mess-making. The Bronx Bombers were cooking and Adam got fried in the 7-3 Yankees victory. The Phillie alum’s days in the kitchen may be limited, but the Yanks increased their winning streak to nine in anticipation of a three-game series with you-know-who. 

 

Brett Myers will start it off. He’ll pitch against an NYY pitcher who also hasn’t had a banner season. But on Saturday my heart starts palpating. That’s when my other kitten, JA Happ-y, will stand up against those high-dollar hitters in his first 2009 start.  He’s opposing fellow leftie Andy Pettitte who, although he’s 4-1, hasn’t pleased many palates.  

 

Then on Sunday it’s ace against ace—Cole Hamels vs. CC Sabathia. Leftie vs. leftie.  Man vs. man in the ultimate grudge match. CC hasn’t faced the Phillies since they cooked his goose in the NLDS with five runs off six hits in less than four innings. I was there. I saw his pain. And I cheered when they pulled his plug.

 

But you know what they say.

 

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

 

Charlie will tell you the same.

 

Go Phils!

A Happ[ening] Phillies Report: Park, Happ, and the Farm

This is probably old news by now but… if you have not heard by now, the Philadelphia Phillies have removed Chan Ho Park from the rotation in favor of J.A. Happ.

I usually like to stay away from puns in the title, but this pun says it all. The Phillies have finally removed veteran Chan Ho Park from the fifth starting rotation spot and have put rookie J.A. Happ in his spot.

So in my triumphant return to the Report, I bring you my report on the Phillies. I apologize for the puns in title and in this article. I just could not help myself.

What is HAPP[ening] with Chan Ho Park and the rest of the rotation?

What sealed Park’s fate?

It could of been that Park was thinking that he had the luxury of a few bad starts. Maybe it was the fact the he could not get out of the second against the lowly Nationals.

To quote PTI host Michael Wilbon: “Anyone can beat the Nats…” and combine that with my own words, “yeah… except Chan Ho Park!” Even John Russell’s Pirates can beat the Nationals.

I will give credit to the Nationals. Everyone thinks that they are a bad team. No, they are not a bad team; they are a team with no direction from the upper echelons of their ownership, management, etc.

In his last start, Park barely managed to get out of the first let alone the second. Park pitched an inning and a third (1.1 IP) with just under 80 pitches thrown.

Park’s line from April:

0-0, 7.16 ERA in fourGames (three started), 16.1 IP, 20 H, 13 R (all earned), 10 K, 5 BB

Line from May:

1-1, 7.00 ERA in four Games (all starts), 18 IP, 21 H, 14 R (all earned), 12 BB, 11 K

Totals:

1-1, 7.08 ERA in eight total appearences (seven starts), 34.1 IP, 41 H, 27 R (all earned), 21 K, 17 BB.

Park in seven starts this season has an ERA of 7.29 and has struggled to make it to fifth inning four times out of his seven starts. Meanwhile, Happ in 12 relief appearances is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.49, allowing just six earned runs in just 21.1 innings pitched.

In a blog for MLB.com by former Philadelphia Inquirer Phillies writer and columnist, Todd Zolecki: Park is quoted as saying,

“Obviously, I had a little pressure. I felt like I was pitching like it was Spring Training, you guys asking me all the time, ‘Are you going to still have a job or not?’ I put pressure on myself.”

But the fact for Park was, it Just Ain’t Happening. Yes, that was a pun based off of J.A. Happ.

Does Happ’s entrance into the rotation mark a change for the Phillies rotation? Coming into Tuesday’s game against Cincinnati, the Phillies had the fourth highest staff ERA in the Majors with an ERA of 5.23.

I hope Happ does well in his first start of 2009, but I believe he will be held on a short “leash”.

250 will have to wait…

Jamie Moyer pitched a quality outing in true “Moyer fashion” this past Wednesday (5/20) only giving up three runs. The Phillies could not muster enough run support for “Doc” Moyer and lost 5-1 to Reds ace, Aaron Harang.

Moyer surrendered three runs, all earned, in six innings of solid, quality work. He kept the game close while striking out two and walking one lone batter.

I guess win number 250 will have to wait until Monday when the Phillies return home to face the scuffling Marlins. 250 wins is certainly no small accomplishment in today’s day-in-age of baseball. Players just are not playing that long anymore.

New York, New York

The Phillies start their first interleague matchup this Memorial Day Weekend against the Bronx Bombers, the New York Yankees. The Phillies will be facing the heart of the Yankees rotation.

Your projected starters for Friday, May 22 2009:

Brett Myers (3-2) vs. AJ Burnett (2-1)

Your projected starters for Saturday, May 23 2009:

J.A. Happ (2-0) vs. Andy Pettitte (4-1)

Your projected starters for Sunday, May 24 2009:

Cole Hamels (2-2) vs. C.C. Sabathia (4-3)

The Phillies will look to keep up their momentum while on the road after sweeping Washington and taking two of three from Cincinnati. The Phillies may be looking to bring up a right-handed bat, so my guess is that rookie reliever Sergio Escalona draws the short straw and gets sent down to Lehigh Valley or Reading.

The Phillies in turn will bring up either Miguel Cairo, Pablo Ozuna, or maybe even John Mayberry. Your guess is as good as mine.

Farm Report

Here is a look at several prospects at every level of the Phillies farm system with some thoughts about some of the players 2009 seasons.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs

Kyle Kendrick: 2-3, 4.17 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 41.0 IP, 18 BB, 28 SO.

My thoughts: I still like Kyle. From what I’ve noticed and heard about Kyle, is that he has been throwing his breaking ball and off-speed pitches roughly 30 to 40 percent each outing. Throwing more of the breaking and off-speed pitches will help Kyle develop confidence to throw them. Look for Kyle to be back in the Show for the homestretch in August and September

Carlos Carrasco:0-5, 6.37 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 41.1 IP, 11 BB, 44 SO

My thoughts: Youth is not everything. Give him a few more years at triple-A, like the traditional Phillies prospect way.

John Mayberry Jr.: 36 G, .278 BA, 133 AB, 33 H, 8 HR, 25 RBI

Jason Donald: 38 G, .242 BA, 157 AB, 38 H, 14 RBI

Double-A Reading Phillies

Antonio Bastardo: 2-2, 1.83 ERA, 9 G, 5 GS, 34.1 IP, 7 BB, 39 SO

My thoughts: this kid can do it all. He can start, he can relieve, he can even close if you need him to. But I would like to see him get a full year at triple-A first before we start talking about the Show.

Vance Worley: 3-1, 3.14 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 43.1 IP, 9 BB, 37 SO

Quintin Berry: 32 G, .269 BA, 119 AB, 32 H, 6 RBI

Michael Taylor: 32 G, .308 BA, 104 AB, 32 H, 6 HR, 23 RBI

Single-A Lakewood and Clearwater

Dominic Brown(Clearwater, ADV-A): 34 G, .328 BA, 125 AB, 41 H, 6 HR, 29 RBI

My thoughts: I like what I’m seeing from this kid. If he continues to put up these kinds of numbers he will find himself at Reading real fast. He will be a decent if not good outfielder in a few years.

Zachary Collier (Lakewood, A): 34 G, .254 BA, 122 AB, 31 H, 7 RBI, 10 SB

Jason Knapp(Lakewood, A): 2-3, 8 G, 8 GS, 3.38 ERA, 72.0 IP, 27 BB, 96 BB

Kyle Drabek(Clearwater, ADV-A): 3-0, 8 G, 7 GS, 2.53 ERA, 46.2 IP, 15 BB, 58 SO

My thoughts: a first round pick of the Phillies from 2006 who has recovered from what I will call a successful Tommy John surgery. He is doing well at Clearwater, look for him to be at Double-A Reading by the middle of the season.

Last but not least: the J.C. Romero watch:

Only 12 more days (June 2) until reliever J.C. Romero returns from his 50 game suspension for testing positive of a banned substance. It might be that Taschner will draw the short straw if Escalona is already sent down.

Preview: Macho Row Phillies Phlashback

With the Phillies heading to (the new) Yankee Stadium for a weekend series against the history rich franchise in the AL East, and since I don’t usually blog too much on the weekends, I thought this would be a good opportunity take a look at the 1950 World Series.

The Phillies will play the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles in inter league match-ups in the next month, so I am working on putting together a series of World Series retrospectives for each year the Phillies faced those teams respectively.

Tomorrow we will start with the 1950 Fall Classic and carry it out through the weekend. I hope you enjoy it, even though the Phillies lose the World Series.

Offense Comes Alive as Phillies Win

Jamie Moyer must have been wondering where this outburst of runs was last night. The Phillies crossed home plate 12 times this afternoon, giving Joe Blanton more than enough for the victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The bats wasted no time, with Jimmy Rollins scoring a run in the first, and then the Phillies scored one more in the second, three more in the third, and once again in the fourth. Rollins had a four-hit game and picked up his 300th stolen base.

Chase Utley recorded four RBI, including a solo home run. Raul Ibanez had a couple clutch at bats, including a solo home run of his own. Not to be out done Ryan Howard also pegged a home run. As if that weren’t enough, Greg Dobbs picked up his first home run of the season.

Things were rolling for the Phillies on offense, and Blanton had smooth sailing through four innings. In the fifth innings, with a six run lead, Blanton got into trouble with some bloop hits and soft ground balls out of the infield. Brandon Phillips capped off the big five run inning for the Reds with a three run home run. Still, Blanton got out of the inning with the lead.

The Phillies responded quickly, putting six more runs on the scoreboard while the bullpen shut down the Reds. The win sends the Phillies into a weekend road series against the Yankees on a high note.

More on this weekend’s series tomorrow.

Phillies-Reds: Game 39 Preview

After the Reds tied the series up Wednesday night, the Phillies will take the field Thursday afternoon looking to earn a road series victory against a tough team from the NL Central division.

Joe Blanton will get a chance to lower his ERA and pick up his second victory of the season.

The Reds feel that they have their swagger back, as proclaimed by Brandon Phillips on the team’s website.

However, they will have to make Blanton sweat early. The last time Blanton faced the Reds was in 2007 with the Oakland A’s, when he allowed one run in eight innings.

Taking the mound for the Reds will be Micha Owings, who has a 2-0 record against the Phillies. In four games (three starts) against the Phillies, Owings has limited them to a .213 batting average. The Phillies offense will have to get him figured out quickly.

Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez will likely remain in the two and three spots in the lineup despite the team losing 5-1 last night. Charlie Manuel shouldn’t panic after one game. The shakeup has been successful for the most part since being made against Washington over the weekend.

Jimmy Rollins‘ hitting streak was snapped last night. Perhaps today he can get started on a new hitting streak. In seven at-bats against Owings, Rollins has one hit (a double).

Phillies Record: 20-17
Reds Record: 21-17

NL East Standings (Team, record, games behind):

1. PHILLIES 21-16
2. Mets 21-18, 1.0
3. Braves 20-19, 1.5
4. Marlins 19-22, 3.5
5. Nationals 11-28, 11.5

Probable starters: Blanton (1-3, 6.86 ERA) vs. Owings (3-4, 3.95 ERA)

TV: Comcast Sportsnet

First pitch: 12:35 pm

Season Series: Tied 1-1

5.19 @ Cincinnati W 4-3 Preview/Open Thread/Recap
5.20 @ Cincinnati L 1-5 Preview/Open Thread/Recap

Live blog kicks off at 12:30pm for this afternoon’s game. Time pending, the recap will be up shortly after the conclusion of the game.

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Phillies-Reds Game II: Game Goes to Dogs with Harang’s K-9

Reds pitcher Aaron Harang lost seventeen games last year, tying a club record.

 

But last night he was the CEO, and Great American Park was K-Mart.  Strikeouts were the blue-light special with deep discounts given on walks back to the bench.

 

It was no game for streakers—the Phillies blew their five-game winning streak, the Reds stopped their losing run at four, and Jimmy Rollins let his ‘hit and run’ streak end at eight.

 

And everyone knows if Rollins isn’t hitting, the odds are against winning.  Simply put, our team was out pitched and out hit. 

 

But we looked damn good doing it. 

 

Pitching is a combination of components: the cosmic and the cognitive; the mental and the mechanical.  Even though Jamie Moyer was the master of most last night, the honorary doctorate was denied his decree, proving the 250th win doesn’t come free. 

 

Hits were dropping like jaws at a bachelor party, like pants at an MLB drug test, or like Madonna dishes boyfriends (hey, is that an A-Rod joke?).

 

Moyer was even called on a balk.  That will get you a dose of Cialis.  His pitches were faster than the guy in the upper deck who forgot to take his Flomax, but that didn’t help a game where the offense couldn’t get it together.  The Phillies went for that high fast ball more times than Sarge fell for a bad hat. 

 

But we looked damn good doing it.

 

Moyer would have been the oldest player in baseball history to reach 250 wins.  That’s impressive, especially if you factor in his age handicap.  I don’t know how that relates to dog years, but it’ll never be worse than the handicap I hold in golf or bowling, even when I use bumpers.

 

But I’m sure Jamie doesn’t have to use inflatable guides.  Then again, at his age, maybe he should give them a try. 

 

The good news is Ryan Howard showed prowess at the plate by laying off those breaking balls when he was behind in the count.  Especially in his third at-bat where he exhibited the patience of an old-timer, drawing twelve pitches on his trek to a 3-2 count, and still took his base. 

 

They grow up so fast.

 

After showing selflessness in the last two games to let the other guys take the praise, Raul Ibanez decided to step to the plate and get the party started.  He hit a solo home run in the fourth inning—his 14th of the year. 

 

But even though the Phillies have the best winning percentage when trailing after seven, we couldn’t pull it off.  The Ibanez bomb was the only run and we stranded five guys just like the hamburger stand (sorry that’s an east coast joke).

 

Jamie only gave up three runs, but Disturbin’ Durbin put the win out of reach when he added two earned runs off a triple on a bad hop in the seventh. 

 

That’s when my husband went to bed.

 

He looked damn good doing it.

 

The sad part was, with just over 15,000 in attendance, the Reds’ stadium seemed so empty in spots it looked like the Acme ran a special on beans.  I’m not sure what my son ate but he smelled funky too. 

 

How’s that for going green? 

 

In other news, Jayson Werth turned thirty yesterday.  But he got no gifts.  The Reds denied him a hit four times.  There are oh so many ways I’d like to make it up to him, but given the space restraints of this column (along with the new stalker laws), I think I’ll settle for blowing him a kiss.

 

There, I hope he felt that.  And I hope it didn’t land simultaneously with something released overhead by a bird.   

 

Ibanez is the “Phillie of the Week.”  He’s the league leader in a bunch of ways with 9 hits, 3 HRs, and 9 RBI on the week while batting .481.  But there’s still no mention of that calendar or even a centerfold.  And I’ve offered numerous times to help with make out…I mean makeup. 

 

JC Romero had a twelve-pitch scoreless inning in the minors—a much better outing than his first.  But with the way Sergio Escalona pitched last night, my anxiousness to have JC back has been abated.  At least for now. 

 

The new leftie, coming off his first major league win against the Nationals, threw three pitches to strike out Jay Bruce on a breaking ball to end the seventh.  That’s impressive, especially for someone who’s still suffering from pre-prom jitters. 

 

So the Phils earned a good-willed “L” after five straight “W’s.”

 

Just like my youth, all good things must come to an end. 

 

But I looked damn good losing it. 

 

See you at the ballpark.

Philadelphia Phillies-Cincinnatti Reds: Moyer Better, Still Stuck on 249

Jamie Moyer entered Wednesday night’s game looking for that elusive win number 250 for his career. While he put together a respectable outing, Moyer still finds himself looking for the milestone victory as the Cincinnati Reds took game two of the three game set by a score of 5-1.

Moyer pitched six full innings and allowed nine base hits, leading to three runs (all earned). He allowed only one walk and struck out two. A Ryan Hannigan solo home run in the second inning put the Reds up 2-0 in the second inning, which would be all they needed.

Reds starting pitcher Aaron Harang shut down the Phillies bats for the night by limiting them to four hits, one coming in the form of a Raul Ibanez solo home run in the fourth inning. Harang struck out nine batters and walked just one in seven innings. The Reds tacked on a couple runs on a Brandon Phillips triple in the seventh inning.

While the Phillies’ winning streak was halted, the team should feel good about Moyer’s effort. He seemed to be his usual self in the game and gave the Phillies what should be expected out of Moyer. Untimely lack of offense is what prevented Moyer from picking up his 250th career win on this night though.

Moyer is next scheduled to pitch against the Florida Marlins, a team he has been dominant against in his career.

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Preview Game 38: Phillies @ Reds

The Phillies look to extend their winning streak to six games when they take the field tonight for game two of a three game series against the hosting Cincinnati Reds. Jamie Moyer once again will try to earn career victory number 250.

Moyer is saddled with an earned run average over eight and has had three straight starts in which he was hit hard by the Mets and Dodgers. The last time he faced the Reds was in 2007 when he allowed three runs and three hits in six innings and received a no-decision in a 9-6 loss.

Opposing him will be right handed pitcher Aaron Harang. Harang enters tonight’s game with a 3-4 record and a 3.44 ERA. This season, he has struck out 43 batters and walked twelve. Harang allowed five runs in 6.1 innings in his last outing and is 2-2 at home this season. Harang is 1-2 in eight games (seven starts) against the Phillies lifetime with a 6.15 ERA.

Jimmy Rollins has quietly put together an eight game hitting streak and raised his batting average to .223. A multi-hit game would be nice to see again tonight. Rollins is eight for 24 lifetime against Harang with three strike outs and caught stealing three times. The Phillies have accumulated a .314 batting average against Harang as well.

Phillies Record: 20-16
Reds Record: 20-17

NL East Standings (Team, record, games behind):

1. PHILLIES 21-16, –
2. Mets 21-18, 1.0
3. Braves 19-19, 2.5
4. Marlins 18-21, 4.0
5. Nationals 11-27, 10.5

Pitching probables: Moyer (3-3, 8.15 ERA) vs. Harang (3-4, 3.44ERA)

TV: Comcast Sportsnet

First pitch: 7:10 pm

Season Series: Phillies lead 1-0

5.19 @ Cincinnati W 4-3 Preview/Open Thread/Recap

Game open thread will be posted at 6:30pm. Game recap will be up tomorrow morning.

Blog Note: For tomorrow afternoon’s game (12:35pm start time) Macho Rowwill be hosting a live blog while watching the game on tv. All are invited to stop by and discuss the game as it progresses. Sign up for an e-mail reminder on the website using the box on the right side of the page.

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What’s Happ-ening? Phillies’ Pitching Rotation Thoughts

Yesterday, the Phillies announced that a change was made to the starting rotation. Chan Ho Park has been moved to the bullpen and JA Happ was promoted to the fifth spot in the pitching rotation.

During spring training, Park appeared to be the clear winner in the competition for the fifth spot, but he has done little to defend the selection once the team headed north.

Park’s 2.53 ERA was clearly better than Happ’s 3.97 in just about equal innings of work in the Spring. Park had the edge in strike outs (25 to Happ’s 15), walks (two to Happ’s eight), and home runs allowed (one to Happ’s five). Unfortunately for Park it has been quite the opposite in the regular season.

Park’s ERA is 7.08. He has allowed 27 runs (all earned) in 34.1 innings pitched (most as a starter—he has one relief appearance). Park has issued 17 walks and struck out only 21 batters. You can see the frustration from Park on the mound when he doesn’t get a call from the umpire behind the plate and you wonder if it is festering in him.

Happ on the other hand has been solid as a long relief type bullpen pitcher. In 12 appearances, Happ has a 2.49 ERA with 17 strike outs.

The young pitcher has done everything asked of him and now the team is giving him a chance to prove himself worthy of a starting job. His first start will come Saturday when the Phillies visit the New York Yankees.

Having Happ in the starter’s role seems like a good move for the time being. He had mild success as a starter while Brett Myers was figuring out his problems in the minors, and stuck with the team for the playoff chase. If nothing else, he should make Phillies fans at least a little bit more comfortable. But what about Park in the bullpen?

“I have to figure out how to prepare to be good with the new job in the bullpen,” Park said. “I have good memories of the bullpen last year [with the Dodgers]. I know it’s not easy. That’s why I don’t like being in the bullpen. But the team expects more from me out of the bullpen. I have to do my best.”
—Phillies.com via Todd Zolecki

Call me pessimistic but that quote does not instill confidence in me for Park’s attitude about the bullpen. I guess what he is trying to say is that he has been a starter, and as a starter it must feel awful being forced to go to the bullpen.

It is not an easy transition for many pitchers. Hopefully Park can focus on pitching well for an inning or two rather than worry about an entire game.

When the Phillies signed Park, the logic was that he would be a good fit for the bullpen, despite his desire to start. Starting didn’t work out so well for Park, so perhaps the bullpen will be the best fit after all.

Park is available out of the bullpen starting tonight.

The switch with Happ and Park should serve notice to Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton as well. Both starting pitchers have had struggles of their own. It just so happened that neither of them were suitable candidates to be replaced with Happ at this time. Neither figures to be moved to the bullpen at this stage and neither would be taken off of the roster at this point.

I believe Moyer could be a good fit in the bullpen, though, if the Phillies found a replacement for his spot in the rotation. But it would have to be a no-doubt-about-it replacement for me to even consider it. I am fine giving Moyer time to get things straight, but the concern is growing.

What about Blanton? Numbers wise he is safe. If the Phillies are to make another move to the rotation it appears that it would be most logical to do something with Moyer, who has a higher ERA, fewer innings pitched, more hits and home runs allowed, and seems to have a few more control issues than last season’s trade deadline acquisition.

Now is the time to keep a closer eye on the guys like Carlos Carrasco (0-5, 6.31 ERA) and Kyle Kendrick (2-3, 4.17 ERA) at Lehigh Valley. Neither seem ready to make the jump to save the rotation though, so continue to hope that Moyer and Blanton figure things out. Getting their ERA’s down to five should be the next step.

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