Comments on: Late Homers Put Phils Back In Win Column

By: nate

nate — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:18:07 +0000

happ sent back down so he can pitch instead of sit out, with the all-star break and all, not needing a 5th starter for a while. mike cervanak got the call up

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:16:19 +0000

Geoff~ I understand your point. However, historically (thanks to the omnipresent pitch count and talent stretched thin in the minors) most clubs with any success usually don’t have a complete rotation of “inning eaters” and thus the need for a solid and effective bullpen including a premier closer. Ironically, during this season, the Phils’ rotation surprisingly compiled the most innings of any NL club. It’s not just Hamels and four camels (chuckle). Credit must go to Kendrick, Moyer and yes even Eaton for quality starts. I would love to see another experienced quality starter added for good measure. However, I don’t see anyone out there that won’t cost a “king’s ransom” (Phillies’ top prospects) except maybe a Randy Wolf. Bedard is not your answer based on his injury record. I dare say he will never give you 7 innings that you so desire, Geoff. I still think that our best bet is for Myers to come back focused as a 2nd or 3rd starter. As Manuel repeatedly said, the Phillies need him if they are to make the playoffs.

By: Gnomicide

Gnomicide — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:11:56 +0000

They don’t want to rush Marson when we have a decent enough back up plan in Coste I’d suspect.

By: Don M

Don M — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:06:14 +0000

Marson is hitting for a much higher average than Ruiz… but …. he has 9 errors compared to only 4 for Ruiz. He has grounded into 7 double-plays, compared to 11 for Ruiz.

There are reasons that Marson isn’t up here yet.. maybe they think that his 4 HRs and shaky defense aren’t as important as Ruiz’s 2 HRs and solid defense?

By: Gnomicide

Gnomicide — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:50:19 +0000

Getting another third basemen does NOT fill a current need for the Phillies and would be a terribly silly move. Pedro has done his job very well over at third base and has hit as expected when we acquired him.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:49:37 +0000

i would even settle for trying out jaramillo over ruiz at this point

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:45:54 +0000

Ruiz actually had a decent game last night.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:42:14 +0000

If the Phils brass sends Happ down when Myers returns then they either:
1) Care more about playing the guy who has the big contract (Eaton)
2) Are a very bad judge of pitching skill and talent. Eaton needs to go.

Ruiz needs to be Pudge Rodriguez X1000 defensively to keep sending his ass out there every night. Why wont the Phillies take a chance on Marson? I know this has been visited and revisited 1 million times on this site, but I’m so sick of seeing him come up to the damn dish!

By: fred

fred — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:36:46 +0000

For once a mets fan is right. How on earth is Hart leading the voting ?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:30:50 +0000

Bruce, he wanted another inning out of Happ because the bullpen, aside from lidge, is running on fumes. gordon is alreayd on the DL, romero is exhausted, durbin is maybe a bit tired, madson has been used a lot too. swindle is fresh but went 3 innings only a few days ago.

clay condrey did a nice job last night though.

this is why you need innings out of your starters. im ok with happ doing what he did last night and kendrick doing what he does.

but moyer simply needs to give you more innings than he does. sometimes he gives you enough but usually its 5-6. eaton is worthless because he cant even gives you that without blowing up lately.

so you can leave happ in the rotation because he will give you more innings as he gets more starts. but after hamels the rest of the guys dont go 7+ innings on average.

that wears your bullpen down over time. just like i said it would.

therefore, a healthy bedard would help if he can go 7 innigns every time out. a mentally stable myers even would help.

now you still need a fresh bullpen arm in there on top of swindle who is permitted to stay to replace gordon who basically is done. theyll let him come back and try it but hes done. cant rely on that. rudy seanex doesnt even count and he shouldnt be on the team anymore. swindle can replace him when gordon comes back but gordon needs replacing too.

this is why you dont stand pat. bringing up the two call ups has been a big boost but now its time for a bigger boost.

your starters need to give you more innings, plain and simple.