Phillies Nation

46 Responses to “Happ To Start Saturday Night At Nationals”

1. Geoff Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

   YES! THank you!!! Its about time

2. Brian Michael Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

   Sweet!

3. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

   If Happ isn’t lights out when he gets his chance, where do you go from here? You act like Happ is an ace and should be starting when in reality he is in the pen because he couldn’t win a spot in the rotation. I agree he deserves a chance but people here act like he is superman and they will be sorely disappointed when he is not

4. Tim Malcolm Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

   I don’t think anyone thinks Happ is an ace. But considering the state of the rotation, it’s a welcome sight to see Happ getting a shot.

   If he doesn’t do well, he’s back to the pen, like usual. And I think we all know that.

5. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

   Don’t get me wrong Tim, I agree with you completely Happ needs his shot and thats why I push for a 6 man rotation for a few weeks and let the worst pitcher at the end of the few weeks go to the pen. Cario is a waste of space on the bench anyway so bring up a reliever and we would be set.

   The comments you see around here make me wonder if everyone things Happ is the next Hamels, like he will solve all our problems. I just hope everyone knows what to expect from him and isn’t disappointed if he goes 7 innings and 4 ERs

6. Brian of CO Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

   saying “YES! THank you!!! Its about time” is acting like Happ is an Ace. That will last until he does the same thing and gives up 4-5 then he is horrible and someone else needs to get in there. Too many fans are giving up on players so early.

7. Geoff Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:20 pm

   How do you make that conclusion that we think hes an ace? Hes better than Jamie Moyer and Blanton right now…he has dominated at times. he has been very consistent. theres NO reason not to give him a chance…tahts ridiculous man…its mid may…season is well underway. its not “too early’ anymore..

8. Brian of CO Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:26 pm

   32 games out of 162 not still early enough to turn it around? LOL. Did you forget the turn out the Mutts had last year AFTER the All Star break? True they screwed it up at the end again, but it just shows the season is not over after only 32 games. Not time to throw in the towel ofter only 32 games into a 162 game season.

9. Brian of CO Says:
   May 13th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

   the season is a whopping 20% completed. Time to panic right Geoff? I dont always disagree with everything you have said in the past, but come on. 20% done.

10. Michael N. Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    Bad Move your just messing with his Psyche right now. What if he does good do you permanently put him in the order for another person. It should have been Kendrick at least it would’ve been good for his confidence.

11. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 11:35 pm

    Yeah does anyone remember Ryan Madson the guy who was a great prospect of being a 2-4 starter?

    We jerked him around so much moving him from the pen to the rotation that we ruined him has a starter and got lucky with him becoming an excellent back of the bullpen guy.

    What about Gavin Floyd? we can do this all night.

    Happ has not be dominate… he has done his job and got his outs. But starting and coming in out of the bullpen are two completely different things.

12. Georgie Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 11:42 pm

    It’s also alot of pressure to put on Happ, everyone is looking to him to be some kind of savior or something, I hope he can handle it.

13. Sean P. Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    Happ deserves his chance, he’s proven everything he needs to be a starter. Especially with the way the starting rotation is going. Plus, he’s pitching against the Blah-tionals.

    I can’t wait to see how he does!

    Go PHillies!!!

14. Mike Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:02 am

    Brian baby stop already. This team is made for winning. Moyer is finished. Done. The only team he pitches well against is the Marlins. Moyer needs to go. Happ is an up incoming pitcher. Just nice to see a bright light,,,,

15. cxl72 Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:47 am

    Charlie has really “protected” Happ. He has only pitched in back to back games 1x this year and only has pitched 6 1/3 innings in May. Moyer has to go to the DL to get himself right. If past performance is an indicator Happ should make the most of his chance this Saturday.

16. Bruce Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:53 am

    It is my understanding that the Phillies need another starter for the doubleheader. Therefore, Happ is the appointed pitcher to fill in that role.

    And Tim, when you say..”If he doesn’t do well, he’s back to the pen, like usual”, ..it would be more apt to say he’ll be back in the pen regardless of how well (or not) he does in his start. Manuel already stated in his postgame conference, that Moyer remains in rotation (as well as the rest of the starters). Of course, the rotation is subject to change if problems persist in the coming month(s).

17. Brian of CO Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 1:08 am

    Mike baby stop already. No where in my post to this article did I go on about Moyer being done or not. My point to this article is pointing out that it is way to early to say this season is done, because Geoff is acting like its panic time, and we have no chance of doing anything. Might want to read the posts to this article. Yes I was defending Moyer in the other articles, not this one.

18. mikemike Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 6:27 am

    The phillies need to give Happ a chance to start, They need to see if he can be a effective starter, give them 6-7 innings with three runs or less, otherwise keep them in the game, Give him more than one start, if he isn’t the answer then a decision has to be made on what direction do you go, trade route or wait and see if the young guns we have can help later in the year or next season, This is the first time in years since the early eighties we have so many young guns ,since the coggins days, Right now you have Carrasco, Worley,Stutes, Drabek, Knapp[very young] Bastaro, Relief pitcher Swimmer, Rosenberg, and we haven’t even seen the short minor league season were we have a good prospect in Trevor May, and high school phenom Cosart. they don’t have many postion player but a lot of young good arms.

19. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 6:58 am

    We have so many arms that aren’t ready… they will not be helping us this year. Carrasco is the only one who looked suited to do something this year and it seems like that is not panning out.

    Happ is not a savior, he is a 4-5 guy in the rotation and you would hope he could give you 6-7 innings with only 3-4 ERs but in reality those expectations are extremely high for a guy making his first start this season. There is a reason he did not make the rotation coming out of spring training so I can’t understand why people expect him to come out and be an Ace.

20. mikemike Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 7:07 am

    I am looking for a guy who keeps you in the game if 6-7 innings 3-4 runs is high, then the whole team is in trouble. we can’t be scoring 7or eight runs a game. Happ is a 26 year old pitcher, those numbers I gave our not unreal numbers. they are what a fourth or fifth starter should average for you.

21. cxl72 Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am

    If happ can keep the team in the game and not fall behind 4-0 by the 3d inning he will be doing a great job compared to the other starters (besides hamels). Expectations are low. 6ip, 3er. Is that so realistic for him? Absolutely.

22. Justin Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 8:51 am

    I honestly hope Happ does horrible to see how all these out of the woodwork JA Happ fans react. I’m sure if he’s shelled in 3 innings by the Nationals he’ll probably need to be released because if he can’t get the Nats out he’s awful. Don’t get me wrong I like Happ but everyone cheering and singing his praises has only seen Happ pitch to teams for one time through the lineup he’s gone maybe 3+ innings once or twice in games, teams haven’t had a chance to see him twice through a lineup. You talk about Jamie Moyer as if he was some scrub that hasn’t won over 200 plus games in this league. One good start Mike? I’m pretty sure Jamie Moyer has 3 wins if that doesn’t lead our starting pitchers in wins then he’s 2nd.

23. The Beerman Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 8:58 am

    I know I am looking forward to seeing how Happ does in non-mop up/being mopped up long innings.

24. Kimmy Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:04 am

    FYI-Myers is pitching the first, Happ the second. I hope Happ rocks out and gets the W.

25. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:25 am

    Thanks Justin it’s nice to find someone out here who agrees with what your saying. I have been saying the same thing about Moyer and Happ that you just said. People here seem to expect that Happ and Carrasco and the rest of the minors are like Peavy, Johan, CC and King Felix and Charlie is holding them back. Happ will pitch well hopefully, but that will not change a thing he will stay in the pen and the rotation will stay the way it is. Its the long relievers job to pick up games like this where there is a double header and we dont want anyone pitching on short rest.

    And I still stick to a point I made last night. I think Jaime is pressing trying to get win #250. Many pitchers and position players have done this in the past. It always seem so difficult to get that milestone victory or homerun. Tom Glavine had similar issues going for his milestone a few years ago and I think we are seeing that from Jaime.

26. Justin Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:45 am

    It could be but Jamie doesn’t seem like one to press on those types of things he seems like one of those guys that’s always business as usual and he makes no excuses for bad outings. I agree 250 could be monopolizing his thoughts but he doesn’t seem like one of those guys that harps on the numbers.

    The funny thing about Johan Santana is that he was a Rule V draft pick of the Marlins I believe and he was traded to the Twins because he wasn’t going to make the team. Probably the best Rule V pick of all time that turned into a stud. The Phillies have had 2 in the last 20 years Dave Hollins i think was 89? and then Shane Victorino 3 yrs ago.

27. Don M Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am

    Once they pulled Happ for a pinch-hitter last night it became pretty clear that Happ was the starter on Saturday.. otherwise there would have been no reason not to let him keep throwing..

    I think Happ will give a strong performance.. I don’t know how long he’ll be able to go as he hasn’t thrown more than 3-4 innings on a regular basis in a long, long time..

28. Manny Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am

    One of our best pitchers right now, who is, in fact, a starter. Why not let him pitch?

    At the very least, Happ could a good 4th starter or a superb 5th starter. He has talent and composure on the mound. I’m wishing him all the best.

29. Don M Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 9:54 am

    I was thinking last night that Condrey is reminding me a lot of Durbin last year.. both in his effectiveness, and the way he’s getting used a lot.. in all kinds of situations.

    I hope that they don’t burn him out like they did with Chad last year, because it’s a great thing to have multiple effective arms in the bullpen in the 2nd half of the season.

30. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:02 am

    Haha Manny, “a superb 5th starter”? Wouldn’t your superb 5th starter just be moved up escpeically in this rotation…. you people amaze me, the way you talk about Happ and the arms in the minors is like describing superheroes… grow up and stop dreaming remember Hamels in his first year and first starts he was nothing like he is now… and Happ doesn’t have Hamels’ talent so why do you expect more from him?

31. Manny Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:08 am

    PtheB: Why keep bringing up the Hamels-Happ comparison? I’m not doing that… Hamels is a superb No.1 starter… all I said is Happ COULD be (read: has the potential) a superb No.5 starter… I never said he’ll be our next “superhero” or that he has “Hamels’ talent” so stop putting things out of context.

    I think he’s good, and he has PROVED he can be a good starter. So what’s your beef?

32. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:11 am

    The way you talk about Happ makes it sound like he will solve all of our problems, is he gonna have 4 RBIs a game too?

    How has he proved to be a good starter? He has proved he can provide pretty good long relief most of the time when the game is a blowout one way or the other.

    If he proved he was a good starter he would have beat Park for the 5th spot. He has not proved anything… Saturday is his chance, so let’s wait and see how he does against these lowly Natinals.

33. beta sigma shag Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:17 am

    I like how people are saying he didn’t pitch well enough in ST to win a spot in the rotation, it came down to the wire and some people thought Park pitched better, I always thought Park deserved to be in the pen. yes he has had two good starts and I am happy about that, and hope Park pitches well the rest of the year, but Happ is a starter, he pitched well in his spot starts last year what makes you think he can not do that again this year. And long releif guy is not the same as a closer or set up guy in the pen. It is not going to screw with his head,

34. Manny Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:23 am

    PtheB: I see that his starts last year don’t mean a THING to you… or the fact that he’s been solid this year… and solid this Spring Training, too…(Chan Ho was simply way too good)… and solid when he pitched against the Dodgers in the NLCS… so tell me, what makes you so hesitant to believe that the guy can’t even be a really good No.5 starter in the MLB??

35. Manny Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Exactly, beta sigma shag.

36. Don M Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 10:29 am

    I’m not sure what’s going on here anymore..

    Happ has performed well in every role the Phillies have ever given him… our starters are not performing as we expected.. so we know “EXPECT” Happ to produce better than the other guys..

    Which is true. fine. good..

    I have a hard time seeing how anyone can be on the extreme either way.. that Happ is going to be Lights-Out ?? OR.. that Happ won’t be able to produce..

    Lets just watch.. take a wait and see approach instead of trying to boot 3 of our 5 guys from the rotation, and having Jason Donald come up to pitch.. since he’s the world’s greatest utility man and all

    Happ SHOULD be fine.. I doubt he’ll throw a no-hitter.. and I doubt he’ll get rocked.. what we need from him is a solid 6 innings

37. Jeff of NoVa. Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:13 am

    I think the bottomline with Happ is the following

    He is a freshness. period
    No he will not be Steve Carlton maybe not even Terry Mulholland, but
    He has to be better than several of the starts we have seen.

    He gets people out, in other articles we talk about Moyer not making it through the lineup 2x well Happ throws harder and it will be harder for a lineup to adjust to him the 2x and 3x time through

    I think he will do fine as long as we can support him with good fielding and hitting

38. Geoff Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    He put up good starts down the stretch last year, so theres no reason to think Happ wont do that again now that hes more seasoned..

39. Jeff of NoVa. Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:18 am

    Manny,

    I agree with you Happ as earned the opportunity and as has prooven that he can start. I think you are on the money that he will be a superb #5 if he is better than that score one for us, if not than he is a #5 win-win. He has been very effective in the bullpen as well, but we are missing consistency there too, I think we either put Park or Moyer there. Personally I think Moyer would be better there since coming in for 2-3 innings does not allow the other team to adjust to him.

40. Mike Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:47 am

    We need to get our facts straight for Saturdays game. Myers is pitching game one and its not clear about Happ. Manuel might use him for relief in the next day or so. Kendrick might come up….

41. william Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 11:53 am

    Happ should do well against the nationals and he should have always have benn the #5 starter Park should be in the pen and stay there !! as for Moyer i will never understand why he was signed again but as for who will replace him in the rotation and it will happen everyone seems to be throwing a lot of names around except for the one guy who is going to get the call to came up and that is Mr Kendrick !! you can yell,rant,rave and scream all you want but he WILL be the one they call up fill any spot in the rotation he has the most major league experience and was sent to AAA to work on a few pitches and get his head straight and so far he has preformed well at AAA.

42. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    To clarify I want Happ to succeed, but the way people talk about him here its like he’s the team savior and without him.

    Success last year does not mean anything about success this year. Jaime Moyer was successful last year and that didn’t mean much this year, Kendrick was success in 07 and then not in 08.

    Happ coming in to do long relief I blow outs does not translate into good starting pitching, Long relief tends to come in during blow outs, not close games in tense situations, it’s a horse of a different color. I hope he throws a no-hitter but I won’t be disappointed if he goes 6 innings 5 runs cause I dont have crazy expectations like everyone else on the board.

43. Tim Malcolm Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

    Mike: I had the game one starter wrong. It is Myers. But Happ is starting Saturday, that’s set in stone.

44. Radi0 Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    Can someone clarify for me? Is Happ replacing someone in the rotation or are we running with 6 until we see how he performs?

45. PtheBLovesTheBallGirls Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    It’s a double header, since you dont want any of your pitchers to throw on short rest you use a spot starter to keep everyone on their schedule.

    Charlie said after this game Happ will return to the pen and everything will stay how it was.

46. Jeff of NoVa. Says:
    May 14th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Until he dominates the Nats and everyone is up in arms about Moyer, Blanton, Park still in the rotation

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