Philadelphia Phillies Need to Get Back on Track Before It’s Too Late

For any team to be a success, when one part of the group struggles, the rest must have the ability to pick up the slack.

Currently, the Philadelphia Phillies have a nice cushion in the NL East, but with their struggles of late, the team needs to revert back to their dominant ways.

In today’s game against the Florida Marlins, the Phillies tried to avoid being swept, but lost 12-3. Their offensive woes continued today as the Phils managed to go 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position, and only accrue six hits.

Aside from their hitting woes, the Phillies lackluster pitching staff allowed those 12 runs on 19 hits.

This season, no one has been able to figure out whether the Phillies pitching will improve. Even with the addition of Cliff Lee, one can’t help but look at the surrounding cast of starters and still not feel completely confident.

Which Cole Hamels will show up? Will the trickster Jamie Moyer appear? Will Joe Blanton still receive no run support?

To add to the pitching worries, relief pitchers JC Romero, Chad Durbin, and Clay Condrey are still on the disabled list. Starters Brett Myers, Antonio Bastardo, and Pedro Martinez join them in the infirmary.

On the offensive end, although shortstop Jimmy Rollins has been on fire lately, the winds surrounding him may fuel his fire, but they are cooling off some of his fellow infielders.

Second baseman Chase Utley is hitting .242 in the last month. In the few games the Phillies have played in August, the All-Star is 3-for-24 (.125).

The other All-Star infielder on the team, Ryan Howard, has had struggles of his own. He hasn’t hit a home run since Jul. 27 and in August he’s gone 7-for-28 (.250).

If there was one thing the Phillies have been consistently good at, it’s their defense.

However, in the past 30 days, that, too, has suffered with the Phils committing 14 errors. Their porous .985 fielding percentage is ahead of only the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Washington Nationals.

The Philadelphia Phillies have the talent. They have the experience. They have the title of 2008 World Series Champions.

With the season flying by, will the Phillies refocus and get all their pieces functioning correctly before those pesky Marlins take full advantage of the underperforming Phillies?

Phillies-Marlins: Jamie Moyer Heads to the Mound to Salvage Series

The Florida Marlins trailed the Philadelphia Phillies by seven games entering their series this weekend.

After the Marlins snuck out two marginal victories, their deficit has shrunk to five games. While the Phillies still maintain the upper hand, a sweep at the hands (fins?) of the Marlins could be the shift of momentum Florida is looking for.

Nick Johnson, recently acquired by the Marlins, felt coming into the series that a sweep was needed. Anything else would be disappointing.

As Sunday’s finale approaches, Florida is in position to finish the series just four games back of the Phils.

Philadelphia has lost five of its last seven, with the lone two victories coming from Cliff Lee and J.A. Happ.

Joe Blanton has continued his consistent pitching, contributing inning-eating starts nearly every time out. Yet the Phillies’ lackluster offense of late has failed to back up “Joe the Pitcher.”

Cole Hamels seems unable to find his groove this season. His most recent disappointing outing came last night in a 6-4 loss.

To his credit, he had never pitched more than 185 innings in his major league career before 2008, when the World Series MVP went for 262 strong innings. Injuries also hampered his April this season.

At least somewhat of the old Hamels will have to come through down the stretch to solidify the Phillies’ rotation.

As for Sunday, the 46-year-old Jamie Moyer will take on the Marlins, a task he hasn’t had trouble with throughout his career.

In 15 career starts, Moyer has earned a decision in each, going 13-2 with a 2.83 ERA.

Yet his dismal 5.55 ERA in 2009 stands as second worst in the National League amongst eligible starting pitchers. This and the arrival of Pedro Martinez hint at the possibility of Moyer moving out of the rotation.

There is no better opponent for the crafty veteran to face.

But in such an important game, Moyer is the last pitcher the Phils want to throw out there.

Hopefully he can continue his inconsistencies.

No, that was not a typo. Jamie Moyer needs to continue his inconsistencies for at least one more outing.

Since he allowed six earned runs on June 17, he has delivered a quality start in every other appearance. Basically, he would pitch well one start, terrible the next, and so on.

His last appearance, he allowed six runs over five innings. Sunday? Well, he’s due for a quality start.

So even though Moyer has been the epitome of disappointing performance, the stars are aligned for the ageless lefty. His 5-1 record in day games only adds to the résumé Moyer has to pitch today.

Hopefully he can make the most of what is possibly his last start as a Phillie in 2009.

A Sad Sunset on Jamie Moyer’s Horizon?

The Philadelphia Phillies, the defending World Champions, are without a doubt a team loaded in talent. From top to bottom, the Phillies have guys who are considered among the best at their position. 

There is Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez’s power, Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins’ speed, Cole Hamels (and now Cliff Lee’s) pitching, and Chase Utley’s all around brilliance. 

But if you ask me what I most look forward to watching when it comes to the current Phillies team, I would have to say watching Jamie Moyer pitch. Sure, he gets rocked from time to time, but what No. 4/5 guy in a rotation doesn’t? 

There is just something about watching Jamie Moyer pitch that brings out the kid in me.  When you watch Moyer throw, you think to yourself, “Hey, if he can do it, I could have too”. 

Of course none of us could, but watching a six foot, 185 pound, 46-year-old makes you think you’d have a chance. 

I can’t think of a guy that has done so much with so little noticeable talent. And when you combine all of that with the fact that he is one of the classiest guys in all of sports, and a hometown hero, he simply blows me away. 

I dare you to go onto the Moyer Foundation’s website, spend a few minutes on it, and then tell me Jamie Moyer isn’t one of your favorite guys in all of sports.

As I watched Jamie Moyer drive by in the World Series victory parade this past October, all I could think was “there is a guy that deserves to be up there.” 

And that is what makes writing this article so hard.

Now I can’t imagine Jamie doesn’t make it through the year in the rotation (barring injury). He will certainly get knocked around a few more times, but even with his high ERA he still leads the team in wins. 

I’m sure its just a coincidence, but the fact that he leads the team in wins with an ERA above 5.5 makes me think the offense trys just a little bit harder when Moyer takes the hill. 

But with Ruben Amaro Jr. announcing that J.A. Happ will remain in the rotation through the season, and with the positive signs about Pedro Martinez pointing toward a spot in the rotation for him, you have to wonder, what happens to Jamie?

It is not out of the question that the Phillies go to a six-man rotation. At least it isn’t according to Amaro Jr. 

I can’t imagine, at this point in a season, a full six-man rotation is an idea that is worth, or even smart, trying. Sure, it will help a guy like Happ who is throwing more innings this season then he ever has before, and it will probably be good for Pedro Martinez who won’t be able to throw a whole lot of innings before he gets hurt again, but it probably hurts just about everyone else. 

Pitchers, like most baseball players, are creators of habit. At this point in the year, guys are used to, expect, and want to pitch every fifth day. If you mess with a pitcher’s routine, you mess with his confidence—and when a pitcher’s confidence goes, they go into long, seemingly inescapable death spins (just ask Brad Lidge). 

Recently, Cole Hamels has shown some definite signs of fatigue, so for sake of argument, let’s just assume that the Phillies brass decides to go to a six-man rotation to give Cole some extra rest. And let’s also assume the Phillies don’t pull a Flushing Meadows Special and forget how to win the last month-and-a-half of the season.

With the Phillies in the playoffs, what happens to Jamie Moyer?

He certainly won’t pitch out of the bullpen. If you want to talk about a guy who has earned the right not even to be asked to pitch out of the pen, its Jamie Moyer. And the Phillies won’t ask. Not just out of respect, but because he probably wouldn’t be all that effective. 

Moyer is the type of pitcher that sets guys up at-bats in advance. He works a lineup from top to bottom the entire game, and while doing everything he can to get the current batter out, he is also thinking a few batters ahead.

It’s like asking a great chess player to come into a game you’ve been playing, asking him to make one move, and then expect good results. That’s just not how it works, and that’s not how Jamie Moyer pitches. 

So, with that out of the picture, you look as his bread and butter—the rotation. I’d imagine the Phillies will start the playoffs with a four-man rotation like they did last year. 

Obviously Hamels and Lee are in there, so you’re left with two spots. Blanton gets in because he eats innings, has been pitching great, and is right handed. So the last spot comes down to Martinez, Happ, and Moyer. Certainly not an easy choice. 

It’s easy to assume Happ is going to continue to put up phenomenal numbers the rest of the year, and if he does, the choice is easy. But odds are he’ll get tired as the innings pick up, and the choice won’t be so clear. If a healthy, rested Martinez pitches great, he could end up making it a one-man race as well.

What seems to make the most sense is the Phillies pitching either Martinez or Happ—depending on the starting match-up—and keeping the innings short using the other man out of the pen as the match-ups change. 

Happ has already proved he can be effective as a starter and a reliever, and Martinez has incentives built into his deal that specifically refer to bullpen work, so it’s not something he is completely opposed to. 

So where does that leave Jamie? Do they give him a roster spot in case of an emergency? I would have to guess that they wouldn’t—especially if the “Brett Myers is way ahead of schedule” rumors are true. 

If they’re going to have a guy like that in the bullpen, it would be Brett before it would be Jamie. So, he’s out of the rotation, and the pen isn’t happening, and that pretty much leaves us out of options. 

All is not lost. Jamie still has another year left on his contract, but its not a lock that he would return—especially if he were to be left off the playoff roster. 

It’s also not a lock that the Phillies will have room for him next year. Hamels, Lee, and Happ are locks for a spot, and I can’t imagine the Phillies will let Blanton go without signing another right-handed pitcher first. 

So that takes up four spots. The final spot is the one that is up in the air. I can’t imagine the Phillies wouldn’t give super-prospect Kyle Drabek a shot after the fuss they made about hanging onto him. And if that is the case, I’m not sure if Moyer is willing to spend a spring competing for a spot on the team. 

Which is why I think all signs point to retirement. As sad as it is to say, I just don’t see Jamie coming back. There has also been all kinds of talk about how great of a pitching coach Jamie would be, as he practically takes on that responsibility to a lot of the young arms now, but Jamie has never said he wanted to coach. 

In fact, he has almost said the opposite. Jamie seems to be looking forward to a long retirement in Seattle, where he and his wife can watch their kids grow up.

No matter how it ends, the legacy of Jamie Moyer won’t be tainted—mostly because Jamie won’t let it. If Moyer is left off the playoff roster, is told he will have to compete for a spot in the rotation next year, and decides to retire instead, he won’t hold a grudge. He’s too classy of a guy. 

He knows how the game works, and he is committed to doing what is best for whatever team he plays for—even if that means he needs to step aside. 

So if next year Kyle Drabek (or anyone for that matter) replaces Jamie Moyer in the Phillies rotation, let’s not just hope we replace a great pitcher with another one, let’s hope that the replacement has half the class as the man he replaces.

Honoring a Legend: Harry Kalas joins Phillies’ Wall of Fame

As Philadelphia Phillies Look Up Towards Playoffs, Rotation Is Anyone Guess

New flash, Nolan Ryan is coming out of retirement and trying out for the Phillies.

Just kidding.

As much kidding as I am doing, it is not a bad problem, but just a confusing one.

They are having Jamie Moyer take his regular start against the the Florida Marlins on Sunday against Josh Johnson. Moyer is 13-2 lifetime against the Marlins, so it makes sense to give him a chance. There is no reason for him not to take his regular turn.

Except…

The problem here is that when the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez, they were almost set to trade away J.A. Happ as part of the deal for Roy Halladay. Halladay stayed in Toronto and instead the Phillies got Cliff Lee from the Indians.

I am not displeased with the trade, quite the contrary. But with Happ still on the team and Martinez ready to start in the bigs for the Phillies, the team will potentially have six starters on the team: Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, Happ, Moyer and Martinez.

The only thing it kinda reminds me of is spring training, shown above. ‘Member, when Chan Ho Park beat out Happ for the fifth starter spot? Are they gonna have Moyer and Martinez make in season attempts to win the fifth start? And what happens if Brett Myers come back?

Well, the Phillies do play 22 games in the next 24 days in August and have two doubleheaders scheduled in September.

Seriously though, I think the Phillies know the answer, but just are not telling anyone. What the heck was the deal with General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. telling the media that Happ was staying in the rotation?

What the heck was that about? Surely, it’s got Charlie Manuel’s tongue. Nada, zip about the situation from the skipper.

The dogs days of August are upon us and the Phillies are hitting the ball again. They still are too home run dependent and it may hurt them in the playoffs.

Things will work out. I am sure of it. The Phillies have a 7-game lead over the visiting Marlin, who got swept by the Nats. What was that about?

The Phillies surely will earn the National League East crown, but all opponents, not just the Mets, are folding like a house of cards.

Bring out the popcorn. I am ready for the march to the East to begin for the third straight season.

But if the Phillies are going to make any noise in the playoffs this year, they have better get this starting pitching staff straightened out.

And I wouldn’t put it past Jamie Moyer to pitch a whale of a game on Sunday … Remember the World Series last year?

A Surplus of Philly Starters But Only Five Spots: Who’s In, Who’s Out?

There is no such thing as too much pitching.

 

Right?

 

Welcome to the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies.

 

The Phillies feature an astonishing number of pitchers with the ability to start ballgames, but can only implement five in their rotation.

 

Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Joe Blanton are mainstays in the rotation. Brett Myers has already volunteered to join the ‘pen upon his return.

 

That leaves it to J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, and Pedro Martinez to fight for the final roster spots. Not to mention that Chan Ho Park and Rodrigo Lopez are very capable starters being used as middle relievers.

 

Happ, Moyer, and Martinez. A rookie, a future Hall of Famer, and the oldest active player in the major leagues.

 

I thought I would visit this case to see what to do. I reviewed the three starters, then broke down an analysis of the three candidates.

 

 

The three starters:

 

Cole Hamels

 

The lefty ace is on track to become the best homegrown Phillies pitcher of all-time. He is a two-time All-Star and last year’s postseason hero, taking home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards while helping the city of Philadelphia to its first world title in 25 seasons.

 

Hamels has struggled at times this season and his current 4.68 ERA won’t turn any heads, but he is still one of the game’s elite pitchers when he is on his game.

 

For his career, Hamels is a much better pitcher in the second half of the season, with a second-half earned run average close to a full run than his first-half earned run average.

 

Phillies fans should expect to see their beloved World Series star pick up his game down the stretch as the Phillies get closer and closer to an attempt at becoming the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series in over 30 years.

 

 

Cliff Lee

 

Recently acquired in a trade with the Indians right before the trade deadline, Lee may not be Roy Halladay, but he and Hamels give the Phillies one of the best 1-2 punches in the National League.

 

Lee threw a complete game in his first start as a member of the Phillies and a dominating seven inning, one run outing in his second start. He has allowed just six runs in his first five starts, and despite just a 9-9 record for the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA for the year.

 

Lee is an experienced veteran who has been around for eight seasons and knows how to pitch effectively. He will be a huge part of the Phillies’ playoff run.

 

 

Joe Blanton

 

His stock in the rotation is even more important given the overload of lefties in the rotation.

 

Blanton this season has become more than just an innings eater but quite possibly the most valuable Phillies starter since late May. Blanton has a 5-2 mark and 2.33 ERA in his last 12 starts, and he’s provided the Phillies with solid starts nearly every single time he takes the mound.

 

He has gone at least seven innings in nine of them, including five straight. With Hamels and Lee as the 1-2 punch, Blanton has a huge role as the No. 3 starter.

 

The Candidates

 

J.A. Happ

 

The Phillies’ rookie left hander is one of the biggest surprises in all of baseball this season. Happ wasn’t even expected to be a starter at the beginning of the year, but has since proven he is well deserving of a spot in the rotation.

 

Although he is just the No. 4 starter for the defending World Champions, Happ could easily be a No. 1 or 2 on many other teams, and he is a huge reason why the Phillies have maintained a solid lead in the NL East.

 

Happ has had to pitch around trade rumors and the possibility of a demotion to the bullpen, but he’s just continued to pitch well. Very well.

 

Happ’s 2.74 ERA is over a run and a third better than the next best Phillies starter. He leads the team in winning percentage (.800). His 1.12 WHIP is one-sixth of a batter better than the team’s second best pitcher. And he has 10 quality starts in just 14 starts, good for a team-best 71.4 percent.

 

In fact, Happ has been so dominant this season that he is a prime contender for the National League Rookie of the Year award.

 

Look how Happ fared Wednesday night with talk of a possible switch to the bullpen swirling. He tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, striking out ten batters. In doing so, Happ moved into a tie for first place in the National League with two shutouts.

 

Simply put, he is the Phillies’ best starter each and every time he takes the mound. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. stated, “Happ’s not going anywhere. He deserves to stay in the rotation. He’s pitched very well. He’s probably been our most effective starter.”

 

That should be enough to guarantee him a spot in the rotation.

 

But is it?

 

 

Jamie Moyer

 

The fan favorite, the ageless one, the player-coach, the proven 23-year veteran born and raised just outside of Philly.

 

Moyer is a crafty lefty who gets by on experience and guile. He won’t fool anyone with his 82-mile per hour fastball, but his changeup can be devastating. Moyer has proven to be an excellent mentor for young Cole Hamels, a similar left handed pitcher with a nasty changeup.

 

Last season, Moyer’s 16 wins led the team and his quality start in Game 3 of the World Series helped bring a title back to Philly.

 

This year, Moyer has struggled. To say the least. His 10 wins still lead the team, but the more revealing numbers are the astronomic 5.55 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. He has pitched a quality start in just nine of his 21 starts this season, for a meager 42.7 percent.

 

Moyer has been very inconsistent, especially as of late. In his last nine starts, Moyer has either been very good or very bad. No in-betweens.

 

In the four even starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed just three runs, earning the win in all four games.

 

In the five odd starts, he has pitched 26 innings and allowed 26 earned runs.

 

I hate to say it, but it would have been nice if Moyer had retired after last season, just to go out on top.

 

That hurts me to say it, but Moyer doesn’t have his best stuff this year, the first of a two-year, $13 million deal he signed last December with the Phillies.

 

So should he go to the bullpen?

 

Well… it’s either him or Pedro.

 

 

Pedro Martinez

 

A three-time Cy Young award winner and future Hall of Famer way past his prime, just barely hanging on in the major leagues.

 

Martinez has yet to pitch in the majors for the Phillies, but he has looked good in his rehab starts, particularly his last one in Double-A Reading, in which he struck out 11 while walking none in a six-inning, quality start.

 

Martinez is a righty, which would help mix up the core of lefties in the rotation. From what I understand, Martinez has a clause in his contract, which says he is not allowed to pitch in the bullpen.

 

At best, Martinez appears to be a fifth starter for the Phillies, but who knows? Maybe he’ll be much better than we expect. Maybe he’ll be the pitcher to push the Phillies over the top.

 

After all, Martinez has plenty of big league experience. He most likely won’t start in the playoffs—given that he is likely to be the fifth starter at most and teams only implement four-man pitching rotations in the playoffs – but he could be vital down the stretch for a club looking to wrap up its third consecutive NL East title.

 

Martinez has only pitched 269.2 innings since 2006, and none yet at the major league level thus far this year. During that stretch, he has a 17-15 record with a 4.74 ERA, numbers that are marginal at best.

 

The Verdict: Well, it’s not an easy decision, but I think I would go with Pedro as my fifth starter and Moyer to the bullpen. It is a very awkward move to send an experienced veteran and one of last year’s postseason heroes to the ‘pen, especially at his age, but I think it has to be done.

 

Moyer has pitched in the bullpen before. In 1996, he was briefly sent to the bullpen for the Seattle Mariners, where he posted a 2-0 record and 3.71 ERA in 13 games, before returning to the rotation.

 

Relief pitchers are normally expected to throw hard, and Moyer sometimes has trouble hitting 80 with his fastball, but I see no other logical decision.

 

Putting Pedro to the bullpen wouldn’t make sense to me, because he has been doing well in rehab, he has been a capable starter before in his career, and Moyer is hurting the team vastly every other time he takes the mound.

 

I don’t know if Amaro will necessarily demote Moyer to the ‘pen—I would be surprised if he does—but I think if the Phillies want to win as many games as possible, that move makes the most sense.

Philadelphia Phillies’ J.A. Happ to Remain in Starting Rotation

After dropping five-of-six, the Philadelphia Phillies’ division lead had dwindled down to a minuscule five games.

Phillies enthusiasts began to question the integrity and legitimacy of the team’s 21-7 record in July. The Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, declared a protest of the city’s baseball team if they were to lose a fourth consecutive game.

Alright, so maybe it’s possible that there wasn’t this much panic in the City of Brotherly Love. But you get the point.

Fans want to see their team win, and letting your division opponents gain a game or two on you is never fun to watch. No matter how large your lead is.

When J.A. Happ took to the mound Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, he was looking to earn his eight win on the season. The rookie of the year candidate did just that.

After two consecutive losses, Happ threw a complete game shutout to further implement his chances of winning the NL’s Rookie of the Year award. He allowed just four hits while striking out 10 batters.

The 26-year-old was rumored to be on his way to the bullpen with the arrival of Pedro Martinez. After his stellar performance, Ruben Amaro Jr, the Phillies’ General Manager, ended the speculation and proceeded to announce that Happ would remain a starter.

While it isn’t exactly his decision, Amaro only shared what the majority of us previously believed.

As of now, it appears manager Charlie Manuel will be forced to move into a six-man rotation. Martinez and Jamie Moyer would battle for the fifth spot.

The lone restriction from moving either Martinez or Moyer to the bullpen is that, well, they aren’t relievers.

The 46-year-old Moyer cannot be counted on to pitch every other day, and Martinez hasn’t pitched from the bullpen since his second season in the majors.

Martinez is expected to be given his chance, which may leave the inconsistent Moyer as the odd man out for a week or so.

This predicament, although one most teams wouldn’t mind having, leaves the Phillies in a tough spot.

The root of the issue stems from the acquisition of Cliff Lee. Then again, having one-too-many starters is never an issue.

Before the signing of Martinez and the trade for Lee, the Phillies had too few quality starters. Now, they have more than enough.

All of this will become a thing of the past come October, when the reigning World Champions will look to retain their title as the best in baseball.

Five or even six starters are not necessary for the postseason. Most teams will choose to go with a four-man rotation, as opposed to having a full five-man rotation.

Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, and Jamie Moyer were the four chosen to lead the Phillies last postseason. At the moment, it appears Lee, Hamels, Blanton, and Happ are the presumed playoff rotation for the Phillies in 2009.

As long as the four remain healthy, there should be absolutely no controversy over the postseason rotation.

But for now, the Phillies will settle for six starting pitchers.

Six Man Rotation Is the Way To Go for Philadelphia Phillies

With Pedro Martinez supposedly ready to join the big-league club after a fantastic outing in Reading (AA) on Wednesday night, and possibly in line for a start next Tuesday in Chicago, the Phillies have six guys capable of being in the starting rotation.

All things considered, this is a good problem to have. 

At a time of the season when many playoff contenders are trying to figure out where they might be able to find an extra arm for the rotation or the bullpen, the Phillies have too many arms to go around. 

So why not let all six of them pitch?

The rumors have been swirling that rookie J.A. Happ would be headed back to bullpen (where he started the year), but after throwing his second complete game shutout of the year on Wednesday night, it seems foolish to banish the potential Rookie of the Year.

By the way, his two complete games put him one ahead of a certain World Series MVP.

If you want to simply cut out the weakest link in the rotation, it seems that Moyer should be the one to go. His inconsistency and age are working against him, but the Phillies don’t seem willing to move him into the bullpen (where he probably would not be effective), and they certainly won’t option him to Triple-A.

So that leaves the possibility of putting Pedro in the bullpen and leaving the rotation as is. I think this is the best solution because I’m not convinced Pedro can pitch well for multiple innings at the big-league level right now, but he could be valuable as a power-arm in the ‘pen.

However, the Phillies seem convinced that Pedro is going to be a starter.

Truth be told, there is no easy solution here.  But even before GM Ruben Amaro hinted at the idea of a six man rotation, the idea had already crossed my mind. 

It seems like the best possible solution, at least for now, and with a six game edge in the division, this seems like a perfect time to experiment a little.

The Phillies should give each of the six a total of three starts. That’s 18 games, which brings us to basically the beginning of September. If everything is going well, they could keep that formula going until the end of the season, because an extra day off between starts can only mean that the arms are a little more rested going into October.

If things don’t go well—say, if Moyer has some bad outings or Pedro can’t go past the fourth inning—then you can make the decision about who to cut based on actual on the field performance, instead of just speculation.

I’ll say it again: The Phillies are well in control of the division, so now is the perfect time to try this little experiment. 

It seems like a win-win to me: keep everyone a little more rested as you go into late September and October, and let each of them prove that they deserve a spot on the rotation.

Five Reasons Why the Phillies Will Run Away with the Division

The Phillies have played extremely well so far this year.

 

Their lineup has been one of the most consistent in the league.

 

Their rotation is turning around.

 

And let’s face it, they have been hot.

 

They have a six-game lead over the Florida Marlins, and a six-and-a-half game lead over the Atlanta Braves. They have a 10-game lead over their archrivals, the New York Mets.

 

Everything is coming together for the Phillies, and I predict they will run away with the division. I predict they will come out of August with a good size lead over the other contenders.

 

Do you want reasons? Here are five.

 

 

1. Pitching Rotation is Hot

 

With the addition of Cliff Lee, who makes his home debut with the Phillies today, the Phillies have one of the best rotations in the National League.

 

Last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner joins World Series MVP Cole Hamels at the top of the rotation. Yes, I know, Hamels has struggled, but let’s not lose hope. He is a big game pitcher and will come through down the stretch.

 

At the back end, the Phillies have Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, and Jamie Moyer. Honestly, Blanton and Happ should be aces considering the way they’ve pitched this year.

 

Happ threw his second shutout of the season yesterday, and Joe Blanton, who shut down batters in July, allowed two runs in a loss against the San Francisco Giants his last time out.

 

Finally, we have Jamie Moyer. He pitched as well as last year, but he leads the team in wins. I don’t care how high his ERA is at this point, just as long as he gets the win. He has gotten a lot of run support from the lineup, which is good. Also, he won five of his last seven starts.  

 

 

2. Lineup Going Strong

 

The Phillies undoubtedly have the most productive lineup in the league.

 

In the middle of the lineup, they have four players (Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth) that already have 20 home runs. All of them will have at least 100 RBI by the end of the season.

 

In the one and two slots of the lineup, they have former MVP Jimmy Rollins and All-Star Shane Victorino. Rollins, who has homered in three consecutive games, has turned it on recently.

 

Shane Victorino had a big month in July, and hopefully his success should carry over into August. If it does, the Phillies will have two table setters at the beginning of their lineup.

 

At the bottom of the lineup they have the Latino Bash Brothers, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz. Feliz is batting this year. Carlos Ruiz is struggling at the plate this year, but he has handled the pitching staff extremely well.

 

 

3. World Series Champion Status

 

This doesn’t really count for much if you are one of those people who say, “last year was last year, this year is a new year.” But in reality, it does count for something.

 

The Phillies have the World Champion swagger, and they’ve shown it. Don’t you think some teams get nervous when the play last year’s World Champs?

 

 

4. More Players on the Way

 

This is one of the most important reasons on the list. The Phillies have had their share of injuries this year, and most of the players will return this month.

 

Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, Clay Condrey, and Brett Myers, all of whom were important players on last year’s team, are on the disabled list. They all should be back soon, though Myers could be back in late August. Durbin, Romero, and Condrey will resume their previous roles, and Myers will likely pitch out of the bullpen.

 

Also, Pedro Martinez pitched in what could be his last rehab assignment yesterday. He pitched very well and could join the team next week, depending on what the Phillies want to do.

 

Finally, rosters expand on Sept. 1. This means players on the Phillies 40-man roster that aren’t on the major league roster will get called up for the rest of the season. This includes John Mayberry Jr., Brad Harman, and Mike Zagurski.

 

 

5. Upcoming Schedule

 

This can go either way for the Phillies. It all depends on how they play. Most of their remaining games are against other teams in their division. If they can take at least two out of three in those series, they will increase their lead tremendously.

The Top 5 Phillies Home Grown Players

So this is a little series that I am thinking about doing here, on Bleacher Report. It highlights the top 5 greatest homegrown talent to come out of a team’s farm system and actually play for them in the big leagues.

I will make a new slide show every day so check out my page for different Top 5 Home Grown Players.

So if you disagree with any of the choices just comment and let the debate begin.

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