Fifth Spot: Kendrick or Moyer?

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Entering spring training, Ruben Amaro Jr. said that the fifth spot in the rotation was Jamie Moyer’s to lose. While Kyle Kendrick has made his case for the fifth spot, Moyer has done nothing to lose it.

In 19.2 innings this spring, Kendrick has a 1.37 earned run average. In that span, he has given up 12 hits, walked four and struck out seven. He has yet to allow a home run.

Kendrick made his last start against the Astros. In 5.2 innings, he allowed one earned run on five hits.

On the other hand, Moyer has a 0.77 earned run average in 11.2 innings. The 47-year old has only allowed six hits and has yet to walk a batter. He has also struck out 12.

Moyer spent a majority of spring pitching in “B” games, but perhaps he sealed the deal with 6.2 shut out innings against the New York Yankees. Tossing 74 pitches against the Bronx Bombers, Moyer struck out six.

Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee have yet to name the fifth starter. So, who will the fifth rotation spot belong to? Kyle Kendrick or Jamie Moyer?

Spring Rotation: Week One

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Spring training games start Wednesday. Today, the rotation for the first week of pre-season play was released. The starters will throw about 45 pitches, but it is a sign that the regular season is right around the corner.

Wednesday, March 3 vs. Florida State University: J.A Happ, and a younger pitcher to be named later.
Thursday, March 4 vs. New York Yankees: Roy Halladay, Kyle Kendrick and Andrew Carpenter. Game will be televised (tape delay) on Comcast Sportsnet and MLB Network.
Friday, March 5 at Toronto Blue Jays: Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer.
Saturday, March 6 at Pittsburgh Pirates: Joe Blanton

Happ will also pitch on Sunday, Kendrick will pitch on Monday, and Halladay will pitch on Tuesday.

Each pitcher is only going to pitch about two innings, but let the Grapefruit League begin!

Do You Want to Face LAA or NYY?

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Most of the country is assuming that it will be a Phillies-Yankees World Series, even though the latter isn't there yet. The New York Yankees had a 3-1 series lead against the Los Angeles Angels, but lost to send the series back to New York. The 2004 American League Championship Series is still fresh in every body's minds; the Boston Red Sox beat the Yankees despite trailing the series 3-0. A similar comeback is possible for the Angels, but right now their backs are against the wall.

That leads to the question: who do you want the Phillies to play in the World Series? The players don't have a preference. The Angels and Yankees are each elite teams; they are playing in the ALCS for a reason. When compared head to head, the Phillies, Angels, and Yankees are closer than you think.

The mentality of facing the Yankees is to play the better team. The Yankees had the best record in baseball during the regular season (103-59). To be the best, you have to beat the best. A Phillies-Angels series may appear to be "easier" on paper, but the Angels put together a 97-65 record under Mike Scioscia.

If the Phillies were to play the Yankees, slug-fests would be expected. The Yankees scored the most runs (915) and hit the most home runs (244) in baseball. The Phillies weren't far behind, ranking first in the National League in runs scored (820) and home runs (224). In the "bandboxes" these two teams play in, high scoring games would be expected.

The Angels' offense shouldn't be taken lightly. They don't hit many home runs (173), but they play small ball effectively. The Angels crossed the plate 883 times this year. They're also a running threat, stealing 148 bases (2nd in MLB).

The Phillies had the best team ERA out of the the three (4.16). The Yankees' team ERA (4.26) was tied for third in the American League. Despite having John Lackey and acquiring Scott Kazmir, the Angels are toward the bottom of the pack in team ERA (4.45). Both the Phillies and Yankees allowed 1.25 walks and hits per innings pitched, while the Angels allowed 1.41. The Yankees (7.82 K/9) are more of a strikeout club than the other two.

It may be thought that the Phillies have the weakest bullpen of the three, but their bullpen ERA is equivalent to the Yankees' 3.91. The Angels rank much lower (4.49). With Mariano Rivera as a closer, the back end of the Yankees bullpen is automatic. The Phillies and Angels have had trouble in the ninth. Brad Lidge's story is well known, but he has been great in the postseason. Brian Fuentes led the majors in saves, but he also blew seven and allows too many base runners. He blew a save earlier in the ALCS, and came close to doing it again on Thursday.

The Phillies took two out of the three against the Yankees in May. If not for a blown save, the Phillies would have swept them. Each game was close, with the difference coming in the late innings. The Phillies last played the Angels during interleague play in 2008. The Angels swept them at Citizens Bank Park.

Game six of the ALCS will be played tonight. A New York win would end it, but a loss will send it to game seven. No matter who the Phillies play, the World Series will not be easy. Exciting? You got that right!

Part III: NLDS Preview: Starting Rotation

This is Part III of the NLDS Preview. Read Part II here. The full preview is on Phillies Nation.

Like their offenses, the Phillies and Rockies pitching staffs match up fairly equally. Both teams are known for their offense, but it would not be surprising to see a low scoring game.

The Phillies pitching staff collectively has a 4.16 earned run average, sixth in the National Legaue. The Rockies pitching staff ranked eighth, posting a team ERA of 4.22. Their starting rotation posted a 4.10 ERA, beating the Phillies’ 4.29 ERA. Despite blowing the most saves in baseball, the Phillies bullpen collected a 3.91 ERA. On paper, the Rockies bullpen appears to be stronger, however their ‘pen posted a 4.53 ERA.

The Phillies hit a lot of home runs, but they also allow a lot. The Phillies gave up 189 home runs, second most in the National League. The Rockies kept the ball in the yard, surrendering 141. Both staffs allowed an opponents batting average of approximately .330.

The Phillies caught a break by not facing Jorge De La Rosa, the Rockies’ leader in wins. Cliff Lee and Ubaldo Jiminez were handed the ball in game one. Jiminez’s velocity was impressive, topping in the high 90’s. The 25-year old went 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA during the season. Lee was a perfect 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA when he first came over from the Cleveland Indians. Then, Lee went on a cold spell, but he returned to form yesterday. Unlike Jiminez, Lee previously did not have any postseason experience. In addition, he threw a career high in innings pitched, but that did not prevent him from throwing a complete game. Jiminez has made it a habit of struggling against the Phillies. In the regular season, he allowed nine runs and fourteen hits in ten innings. Lee allowed one run in seven innings against the Rockies in August, and one run again on Wednesday.

Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels will pitch in game two. Cook was bothered by a sore shoulder throughout the season, but is still an effective ground ball pitcher. At Citizens Bank Park, Cook is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Cole Hamels, last year’s NLCS and World Series MVP, hopes for another postseason run. Hamels’ roller coaster season ended with a 4.32 ERA and 1.28 walks and hits per innings pitched.

Joe Blanton and J.A Happ will start the postseason in the bullpen, but will likely start in games three and four respectively. Happ is a top candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award. He recorded the most wins of any Phillies rookie since the 1980’s. Blanton has been an inning eater, and rebounded from his 0-2, 8.41 ERA start.

The Rockies rotation also includes Jason Marquis, who quietly had a solid season. He went 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA. Marquis allows a lot of hits; 218 in 216 innings. However, the Phillies lineup batted .208 against him this season. The Rockies final starter will be either Jose Contreras or Jason Hammel. Since coming over from the Chicago White Sox, Contreras is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in seven games. As a starter, Hammel is 10-8 with a 4.45 ERA.

A Collapse is Unlikely

It’s the 45th anniversary of 1964, and the Phillies recent struggles have some fearing that history will repeat itself. Everybody knows about the 6.5 game lead with 12 to play. Their ten game losing streak gave the division to the Cardinals. However, there is reason to believe that this will not be a re-occuring nightmare.

The 2007 New York Mets ”choke” is compared to 1964. With a seven game lead and 17 to go, the Mets blew their lead to the Phillies on the final day of the season. It is ironic that the Phillies end their 2009 campaign against the Marlins (the team that eliminated the Mets), and the Mets end their season against the Nationals (the team that the Phillies clinched the division against). It is safe to say that the Mets (16.5 GB) don’t have a chance. However, the Florida Marlins (6.5 GB) and Atlanta Braves (8.5 GB) are still lingering.

The Phillies are in a major offensive funk, scoring three runs or less in eight of their last ten games. Still, the Phillies have one of the best offenses in the league ( .257 AVG/ .344 OBP/ .447 SLG / .780 OPS ). They lead the National League in home runs (186), and are third in baseball behind the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.

Despite their struggles with runners in scoring position, their totals are not much different than their overall stats (.253 AVG/ .356 OBP/ .445 SLG/ .800 OPS). In addition, their RISP numbers are around the league’s average.

The Phillies batting stats are pathetic (.205 AVG/ .277 OBP/ .282 SLG/ .540 OPS) in September. The only team that has been worse is the Los Angeles Angels, another first place team. The stats are poor, but it is only six days into the month. The Phillies offense is very streaky, but when they are hot, they’re on fire. Currently, they are relying on the long ball and most of the players are cold offensively. It is something that has happened before and they will snap out of it.

The offense may be slumping, but the pitching has kept them close. The team has a 3.50 ERA and opponents are batting .228 against them this month. They are tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for best ERA (3.25) in all of baseball since the All Star Break.

It has been a slow start for the month of September, but the Phillies had a similar slump is June, when they went 11-15. The team batted .248, but the difference was that the pitching had a 4.38 ERA. They started July (20-7) with two straight losses and August (16-11) with three.

This Phillies team is too good to collapse. Of course, the same was said about the ‘64 team as World Series tickets were printed. The difference is that Cliff Lee and Joe Blanton will not be pitching every other day like Jim Bunning and Chris Short. If Brad Lidge continues to fail as closer, Brett Myers could take over. And frankly, the Phillies are a better team than the Marlins and Braves. The Marlins don’t have the pitching, and the Braves don’t have the offense. The Phillies proved that they have pitching, offense, and defense. The Phillies have an advantage in that they have recently played in a playoff-type atmosphere.

It’s only the beginning of September. The Phillies are in a slump right now, but they’ve been through slumps before. The Phillies are a streaky team, and once they reach a hot streak, they will be unstoppable. Even though it is toward the end of the season, a slump now with a marginal lead is much better than a slump during the postseason.

The ‘64 collapse didn’t begin until September 20, so unless the lead diminishes dramatically this week or somebody steals home a la Chico Ruiz, a 2009 Philadelphia Phillies collapse is highly unlikely.

Originally featured on Phillies Nation.

Closing Options

Brad Lidge's time as a closer must be numbered. After last year, Lidge has been given a free pass, but it's time to rip it up. With nine blown saves, a 7.33 earned run average, and 1.80 walks and hits per innings pitched, he can't continue to be the Phillies closer. The Phillies have other options.

When Lidge was on the disabled list earlier this year, Ryan Madson took over as closer. However, he was also victimized. Madson has of record of 4-4 and is 4/8 in save opportunities. He has a 2.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. He strikes out 9.1 batters per nine. Overall, they are decent numbers, but most of his struggles have come as closer. While trying to adjust to his new role, perhaps he tried too hard. Giving him another chance is worth a shot.

Brett Myers went down with a hip injury, but is recovering faster than expected. There is a chance Myers will be back as a reliever. He has closing experience, in 2007, when he went 5-5 with a 2.87 ERA. He saved 21 games in 24 opportunities and opponents batted just .229 against him. As a closer, he was a whole different animal, striking out 64 in 53.1 innings.

With this being his contract year, Myers would like to make an impact any way he can. He has experience, and was successful at it. He loved it, and was upset with the Phillies converted him back to a starter the following year. Myers should not immediately jump into the closers role, but depending on his outings, he could find himself in the ninth inning.

Chan Ho Park, Chad Durbin, and others could close, but they aren't the best options. They have been successful in the roles they are currently in, especially Park. When J.C Romero returns, he would give the Phillies another option, but with the number of base runners he allows via walks, he probably won't fare well.

Charlie Manuel wants to "stick to his guy," but how many more blown saves will it take? After being the National Leagues' best closer in 2008, Lidge has been the worst closer in baseball this season, sporting the most blown saves and highest ERA of any reliever. As long as Lidge is pitching the way he currently is, he can not close. The best option is Madson or Myers, once he returns.

This post was edited by Pat Gallen. To see his point of view on Lidge, visit Phillies Nation.

Who Do You Want Now?

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Cliff Lee can really hit. Oh yeah, he can pitch too! Since joining the Phillies at the trade deadline, Lee has been outstanding. The Phillies wanted an ace; they got a whole deck of cards.

Lee's earned run average with the Phillies is almost non-existent: 0.82. His batting average is .385 (5-for-13, 2 doubles) with the Phillies, and .278 on the season. Who needs a DH?

The reigning American League Cy Young winner has come a long way. He had very high ERAs in 2004 (5.43) and 2007 (6.29). Last year, he won 22 games while posting a 2.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. In his first 2009 appearance, the Texas Rangers rocked him for seven earned runs in five innings. Lee bounced back, recording a 3.14 ERA with Cleveland.

Ruben Amaro Jr. did an excellent job of acquiring Lee without surrendering a boatload of prospects. If the Phillies obtained Roy Halladay, they would risk losing some of their future. Both are terrific, but Halladay is the better overall pitcher. However, guess who has been better since the Lee deal?

Remaining in Toronto, Halladay has given up 14 earned runs in 37 innings since July 29. On the other hand, Lee has given up three earned runs in 33 innings. Lee and Halladay each have five complete games this season. Lee has pitched at least seven inning in all four starts with the Phillies, and in his last eight starts overall. In 26 starts, he pitched less than six innings three times (23 quality starts).

Lee is 11-9, winning seven consecutive outings. He has a 2.72 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and opponents are hitting .259 against him. With Cleveland, he gave up 9.8 H/9 and 2 BB/9. With the Phillies, he has been able to minimize the hits and walks. His K/9 went from 6.34 with Cleveland to 9.27 with Philadelphia.

He receives a standing ovation every time he steps to the plate or finishes an inning, and deservedly so. Quickly becoming a fan favorite, Lee is tailor made for Phillies fans. He wants to win. Perhaps overlooked by his stellar performance, Lee hustled out a single, busting as hard as he could down the line-- on a ball that almost rolled foul. When Steve Carlton pitched, he proclaimed it was "Win Day." When Cliff Lee pitches, I think we should start calling it "Win Day" as well.

Moyer Upset with Decision

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Jamie Moyer made it clear that he was upset with the Phillies decision to move him to the bullpen.

"I’m really not happy with this decision that the Phillies have made. I will take what they’ve asked me to do, but I’m not real excited about the decision that’s been made."

Moyer said that he does not want to be a distraction, but felt "disheartened" and "misled." He also said during winter negotiations, Ruben Amaro Jr. assured him that a situation like this would not take place.

QUOTE SOURCE: Deleware Online (for full transcript of Moyer's speech, click the link)

Call of the Day: Before Ryan Howard was placed on the DL in 2007, he hit a big home run against the Diamondbacks.

"Bases loaded, nobody out. Long Drive! Deep right field. Grand Slam,
home run, Ryan Howard! The first pitch thrown by Medders, Howard takes
into the seats, and the Phillies lead it 4 to 3."

Rotation Set; MLB News

Pedro Martinez will start on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Jamie Moyer has been sent to the bullpen.

J.A Happ will pitch on Tuesday and Cliff Lee will start on Thursday. The lefties are now split up: Happ, Martinez, Lee, Joe Blanton, and Cole Hamels. Also, if the rotation stays, Pedro could find himself pitching against the Mets at the end of August.

In addition, Rodrigo Lopez has been sent to Triple-A and Chad Durbin has been activated from the disabled list.

J.C Romero had a MRI today which revealed no structural damage. However, he has tendinitis and will not throw for at least eight days. Then, he will begin rehab in Clearwater.

In other MLB news, Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang of the Reds have cleared waivers. Christian Guzman of the Nationals also cleared waivers.

Chris Coughlan is first rookie with 8 straight multi-hit games since Dan Driessen for the Reds in 1973.

The Idea of a Six Man Rotation

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

Ruben Amaro Jr. made his point clear when he stated that J.A Happ is not leaving the starting rotation. That leaves the future for Jamie Moyer and Pedro Martinez up in the air, but Amaro has not ruled out the possibility of a six man rotation.

"It depends how you utilize it. You can be creative and set up the rotation so certain guys go every five days and other guys are pushed back. The fact of the matter is we're not there yet. But we are in a situation where we have six starters, and we'll see how creative we can be. We haven't discussed it yet. You never know what's going to happen over the next week to 10 days. We could have a guy go down right now. There are a lot of things that could happen over the next week to 10 days that could change our thinking completely."

There become less chances for the Phillies top-of-the line starters to pitch. With a five man rotation, each starter gets about 10-11 more starts. A six man rotation cuts that number down to 8-9. It would be better to see Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, J.A Happ and Joe Blanton get more starts, especially when Blanton and Hamels are improving as the year moves along and Lee and Happ have been superb all year.

The Phillies got Lee for a reason: so he can pitch every five days and dominate. Lee is like the 2009 version of CC Sabathia meaning that he switches leagues and shuts down the opponent. The only difference is that Lee will not have to pitch on three days of rest and be worn out for the postseason. But pitching on six days of rest may not be a good idea. Add in off-days and potential rain outs, Lee could see himself resting up to seven days. Of course, this applies to every other starter (Blanton, Happ, Hamels), and it is not such a smart idea. Some pitchers benefit from long rest. For others it takes them out of their rhythm.

There is only one off day in September, so a six man rotation becomes more practical. However, in the middle of a playoff chase, the Phillies want their ace to pitch every five days, at least until they can clinch a postseason spot.

All in all, the goal is to get Lee, Happ, Blanton, and Hamels as many starts as possible. Anything can happen, but right now, a six man rotation is still a thought. Probably not the best thought, but it is still an idea lingering in the mind of Amaro and Charlie Manuel.

PHOTO COURTESY: Phoul Ballz

Moyer Should Be Odd Man Out

Also featured on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies are in a good situation; they have six starters, but five spots. Many teams wish they were on the same stage, but somebody must go. The only question is, who?

J.A Happ has made his case to stay in the rotation, coming off a complete game shutout. The young lefty is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, posting a 2.74 earned run average in 115 innings. With an 8-2 record, he has given up 1.12 walks and hits per innings pitched. Opponents are batting .222 against him. There is no doubt Happ deserves a spot in the rotation, but he could find himself in the bullpen, where he started the season. He has a 2.49 ERA in relief this season.

The more Pedro Martinez pitches, the better he gets. Last night, he struck out 11 batters in six innings in a rehab appearance with Double-A Reading. He gave up two earned runs and threw 59 out of 83 pitches for strikes. The way he is progressing, the future Hall of Famer will bump somebody out of the rotation. The easy target is Happ because of his bullpen experience, but why not Jamie Moyer?

We all love Moyer, just not the way he has been pitching lately. He has ten wins, but that further shows the flaws of the win-loss stat. His ERA is 5.55 and his WHIP is 1.47. It is predictable as to what teams he will succeed against: young, free-swinging clubs like the Florida Marlins. Any other team is trouble.

The Phillies have to do what is best for the team, not what is "right" or the "classy" thing to do. Taking Moyer out of the rotation would not be fair for the 46 year old, but the Phillies need to do whatever it takes to win. Yes, Moyer acts as a pitching coach to young pitchers, but he has struggled. Baseball is a business.

Would Happ strengthen the bullpen? Absolutely. But with him as a starter, the rotation becomes stronger and the bullpen is used less. All the Phillies starters are capable of going deep into games. If Moyer and Pedro were both in the rotation, that would take a toll on the bullpen because each of them may not go longer than five or six innings. Happ and Martinez looks a lot better than Martinez and Moyer with Happ in the bullpen.

There are many options for the Phillies: a six man rotation, somebody could be moved the bullpen, somebody placed on the disabled list, or Moyer and Martinez share time as starters. If the Phillies do what they should, Moyer should be the odd man out. They just need to decide what to do with him.

Myers May Return

The Phillies have scouted Arizona's Chad Qualls over the weekend. This indicates that the Phillies are looking for bullpen help, but they could get it within their own system.

Brett Myers could return as early as mid-August... as a reliever. Myers is "way ahead of schedule" after having hip surgery on June 4, but won't be ready to throw 100 pitches.

"I knew in the back of my mind that I was going to be back this year, even when
they said my season was over," Myers said. "I had a feeling that everything was
going to be OK."

"I'm not pushing it," he said. "I'm not trying to go faster than I should. I'm doing what my body is telling me to do. And my body is telling me to work a little harder. I've been working on a slideboard for a week and a half. I'm not even supposed to be doing that until the eighth week."

Myers has bullpen experience. In 2007, he recoreded 21 saves. Myers has a bullpen session on Saturday, and if that goes well, he could report to Clearwater by Monday.

QUOTE SOURCE: Phillies.com

Taschner Used In Wrong Situations

Seen on Phillies Nation.

The three earned runs Jack Taschner allowed on Friday were just a small sampling of his season long struggles. The Phillies need as much bullpen help as they can get with the absence of Brad Lidge and Scott Eyre, however so far Taschner has not been the answer.

Taschner is 1-1 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.87 WHIP in 25.2 innings pitched. In games that he has pitched, the Phillies are only 6-13.

Taschner hasn't served as a situational left-hander, especially since left handed batters are batting .296 against him.

Most of his troubles have come when he pitches more than one inning. There are 12 games that Taschner has pitched less one inning or less. In 8 of those 12 games, he has not allowed an earned run. The problem is that in most situations Taschner pitches, he is brought in with inherited runners on base, which he allows to score.

Taschner is not going to get the tough left hander out or eat up innings for a weary bullpen. In addition, if the Phillies are going to keep him in the bullpen, he should not be coming in with runners on base or in a key situation in the seventh inning or later.

Tired Bullpen Needs Rest

As featured on Phillies Nation.

Despite Monday's off day, the bullpen is in desperate need of rest. In the last five games, the bullpen has pitched 27.1 innings, thanks to three extra inning games and a rain delay.

Todd Zolecki points out statistics from the weary bullpen:

• The bullpen has not thrown fewer than 3.1 innings in a game since June 9 in New York when they threw 2.2 innings.
  
• They have not thrown fewer than 2.2 innings since June 5 in San Diego.
  
• That is 43.2 innings in the previous nine games, or nearly five innings per game.

The bullpen has thrown a total of 217 innings this season, sixth most in the major leagues and more than the National League average of 200 IP.

Even though the Phillies have blown nine saves (which is the National League average, and the same number of blown saves as the New York Mets), the 'pen has done a decent job. Their earned runs average is 3.73, sixth in the NL. They have allowed 1.40 walks and hits per innings pitched, but opponents have only batted .237 against them.

Sure, they have not been lights out like last year, but they've done well and need rest. Charlie Manuel says that the relievers need to play through it.

"You walk a lot of guys that is a sign they might be a little tired. But that's baseball. That's no excuse. If we're tried then we'll get rest and come back and get 'em. That's all."

Some say pitching through it will keep them loose avoiding a stiff arm. But the Phillies do not need any "dead" or "tired" arms during the dog days of summer or in the midst of a September pennant race or an October run. Rest will only benefit the team for the near future, so the starters really need to step up.

Offense A Key in Home Struggles

As featured on Phillies Nation.

On June 16, 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies had an overall record of 41-30. Exactly one year later, the Phillies are on the same pace as last season with a 36-25 record in less games. The Phillies could have a better record than indicated with tough losses on blown saves or bad calls by umpires. All hurt, but it is the play on their home turf that has hurt the most.

The Phillies Pythagorean winning percentage is 34-27, two more losses than their real record. A Pythagorean winning percentage estimates a teams win-loss record given their runs scored and runs allowed. In the Phillies case, they have scored 337 runs and allowed 298.

The Phillies are a major league best 23-9 away from Citizens Bank Park. However, they are 13-16 at the same place they went undefeated during the 2008 postseason.

It is obvious a hitters park like Citizens Bank Park will lead to problems for pitchers. The Phillies have a 5.22 ERA at home. They've allowed 49 home runs, however it isn't much different from their road total (42). On the road they are not lights out, but have a tolerable 4.15 ERA.

With a potent lineup at a hitter's paradise you'd figure that the Phillies would be an offensive scoring machine. The Phillies are first in the National League in runs per game (5.5) and fifth in batting average (.263), however much of their offensive success has come away from Philly.

The Phillies are batting .252 with 39 HR, 145 runs scored, and are slugging .450 at home. On the road, they are batting .273 with 51 HR, 192 runs and are slugging .471. There isn't a dramatic difference in games played at home and on the road. Just 3.

The Phillies struggles at home can be targeted at the pitching, but the offense has not played to their expectations at a place where they can easily light up the scoreboard.

Bastardo Breakdown

You couldn't of asked for more out of Antonio Bastardo, who made his Major League debut on Tuesday.

The 23 year old pitched six solid innings allowing just one earned run, a solo home run to the league leader in home runs, Adrian Gonzlaez. Bastardo allowed only four hits and one walk. He hit a batter and struck out five earning the win. A fantastic line, none the less.

There was no doubt that Bastardo was nervous, yet excited about his first big league start. The 4-0 lead in the first inning may of relaxed him, but Charlie Manuel said after the game his emotions could of effected his grip of his offspeed pitches. His slider and changeup are said to be his best pitches, however Bastardo threw mostly fastballs throughout the entire game.

He located his pitches and he threw harder than the scouting reports indicated. He threw about 94 mph consistently.

He dominated the game with one pitch: his fastball. He did not show much of his offspeed and breaking pitches, but in the future he is going to need those pitches in order to be successful.

Yes, Bastardo pitched excellent, but he faced the San Diego Padres, a poor hitting ball club. When facing a solid hitting team, he can not rely solely on his fastball especially when he isn't at Petco Park, a pitchers park. Although not many of his fly ball outs were deep in the outfield, his groundout to flyout ratio was 3:10.

He pitched great and earned another start. However, this one start isn't going to make him a Hall of Famer. If he wants to be successful in the future, he is going to need to throw more offspeed pitches. He kept his job for now, but one start is not going to stop the Phillies from trading for a reliable, more experienced starting pitcher.

Call of the Day: In August of 2006, Jon Lieber pitched a complete game shut out against the New York Mets. With the video link, you can also here some great "struck 'em out!" calls.

"Bouncing ball to Nunez! This is going to be it! Five hit shut
out Jon Lieber! Lieber a gem! His fourth career shut out his first
since 2001 while pitching for the Chicargo [sic] Cubs."

Phillies Could Trade for Big Name

Brett Myers will undergo the knife and have hip surgery sometime next week. The Phillies have an opening in the rotation and are going to need to fill it.

For the short term, the Phillies will likely call up either Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Antonio Bastardo, or Andrew Carpenter. In the long run, the Phillies are going to look to make a trade.

In recent years, the Phillies added starters, but not the big guns. They've added Jamie Moyer, Kyle Lohse, and Joe Blanton; solid pitchers, but not big names.

One option is Jake Peavy. The Phillies could go after Peavy, but he is rumored to not want to come to the east coast. With a full no trade clause, he could veto any trade.

The most likely option is probably Roy Oswalt. With Ed Wade their GM, the Phillies could be able to get Oswalt a little cheaper than if he were on another team.

Erik Bedrard, Jason Marquis, are also among names that have come up. Even names like Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Aaron Harang, Doug Davis, and Chris Young have popped up. The Phillies probably aren't looking at a Brad Penny type of pitcher, the kinds the have picked up in recent seasons.

In order to get a big name pitcher, the Phils will have to dig deep into the farm system. The Phillies system is much deeper than recent years. Jason Donald, Carrasco, Lou Marson, Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek, Travis D'Arnuaud, Freddy Galvis and Bastardo seem to be popular targets. In order to get something, they Phillies have to give something up. It benefits to have a deep system.

With all that being said, out of all the players I mentioned, Roy Halladay would my choice. I don't see it happening, but I can dream too.

Call of the Day: This call isn't so much the great play, but what Harry Kalas would say after each inning.

"This ball is juggled by Rollins. But he recovers in time to throw out
Kelly Johnson! Great recovery by JRoll. No runs, hits, errors, and
none left. We go to the bottom of the ninth. Phillies last shot.
Braves four, Phils nothing."

What's Wrong with Lidge?

As seen on Philliesnation.com

The word “struggling” is an understatement for closer Brad Lidge. He has blown four saves in twelve opportunities, including two in a row. He is 0-2 and his earned run average soared over nine.

He has allowed 2.08 walks and hits per innings pitched and opponents are batting .337 against the right hander. Runners have already stole five bases off him. Last year they stole a total of eight.

His fastball velocity reaches 94-95 mph. He says he is healthy. He is not tipping his pitches. So, what is wrong with Brad Lidge?

His location hasn’t been off by much, but he isn’t throwing as many pitches for strikes, indicated in his walk totals. Batters are taking pitches. When he is behind in the count and throws a slider, a chase pitch, batters lay off since he isn’t throwing it for strikes.

Or, is it a confidence factor? After blowing one save, “perfection” is gone. Maybe all he needs is one 1-2-3 save to get back to a confident mindset.

Despite his hard-to-watch struggles, after last season, he deserves fan support.

Call of the Day: The Phillies clinched the 2008 National League East on a terrific double play.

"The pitch to Zimmerman... ground ball up the middle, J-roll dives, to
Utley one, relay... DOUBLE PLAY! The Phillies are the National League Eastern
Division champions on a spectacular double play. J-roll to Utley to
Howard! What a play by J-roll!"

Rosenthal: Phillies Looking For Starters

On Saturday’s FOX broadcast between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees, insider Ken Rosenthal talked about options the Phillies could be looking at.

“There is no question the Phillies want another starter, maybe even two starters
the way this thing might evolve. In a perfect world, they would get a number 2
to fit behind Cole Hamels, someone better than Joe Blanton, the pitcher they
acquired last season. Obviously, we’ve heard about Jake Peavy this week. He
probably would not want to come to Philly. But you’ll be hearing about guys like
Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, who both pitch for the Mariners, maybe even Roy
Oswalt. The Phillies are going to inquire and be in on every one of those
pitchers.”

Call of the Day: We all thought it, but Harry was the first to say it. He said it a few times over the years. but the original was classic.

"A high-chop to the mound... Chase Utley's gonna keep going.. and he's safe
at home plate! Chase Utley, you are the man!"

Happ Moved To Rotation

J.A Happ was moved to the starting rotation and Chan Ho Park was moved to the bullpen.

"I'm disappointed," Park said. "I lost the job as a starter, which is what I
wanted. I don't make the decision, but I lost the job. I've got a new job. I
have to figure out how to prepare to be good with the new job in the bullpen. I
have good memories of the bullpen last year. 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."

Park could be available out of the bullpen as early as Wednesday. Happ will pitch Saturday against the New York Yankees.

QUOTE SOURCE: Zo Zone