Phillies Nation

• 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.

17 Responses to “Tired Arms Need Rest”

1. Geoff Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 2:47 pm

   Almost everyone of the guys whove been in the rotation all year: hamels, moyer, blanton went through a stage where they left several games early. Blanton has rebounded and seems fine now. Hamels has NOT been an ace this year and has not been acceptable in terms of innings pitched as we noted this morning. hes still one of the best in the game but hes not his usual self. he needs to start going deeper into games – like now.

   Bastardo is a rookie and they usually only go 6 innings anyway.

   The worst offender is Moyer because even when hes doing well he going 5 or 6 innings.

   you all think the bullpen can repeatdly take the abuse they took last year and this year and not scuffle or get injured? this is almost a season and a half plus playoffs of pure stress on the buillpen going back to last year. the starters in april and may heavily taxed the pen and this is what you get and deserve when youre starters REPEATEDLY cant go deep into the game.

   the bullpen is all busted up now. they are either struggling or tired or injured. the ship is NOT sinking yet – amazingly, but if they suffer another injury to the bullpen or the rotation theyre in deep trouble.

   stop screwing about and go get the pieces you need to 1) bolster the rotation and replace brett myers 2) boost the bullpen and allow the others to redistribute the workload, 3)add pop and clutch to the bench

   they MUST make these moves. they dont all have to be trades, but they need workable people to fill those roles. if, per rotation cycle you have 3,4,5 guys REPEATEDLY going 6 innings then the bullpen is going to breakdown from overuse, you can guarantee that.

   thats why they need at BARE MINIMUM: A very good starting pitcher who pitches deep into games. a solid reliever who can bear some innings on his shoulders, a RH utlity player to come off the bench with pop – and who is USED to a utility role.

2. mg52 Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

   At least one of these starters is going to have to take it for the team at some point. I think back to the days before many of us were even born when starters were expected to complete most games regardless of pitch count or scoreline. The game indeed has changed and it is hard to return to that kind of total productivity on the part of starters, but this team seems to rely tremendously on its bullpen – more than most other teams.
   This is partially the reality of a sport that has made pitching too challenging. I for one prefer a pitcher’s duel to a slugfest and have ruminated about taking seats of ballparks and pushing back the fences – as well as raising all the pitchers’ mounds. I don’t like the way the game is today – but no matter the state of baseball, the Phils’ rotation has to do much better than this.

3. Ryan Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

   June 5 at LA.

4. shag beta sigma delta Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:37 pm

   Again with the Moyer hating what is up with that Geoff, Moyer is a 6 maybe 7 inning guy. In reality he is 4th starter and that is what you get, if he goes 6 giving up 2 or 3 runs, you should win most of those games, that is what he is please stop hating on the guy. He should have won his last 3 starts(and wins is a terrible stat anyway) But he pitched well enough to win those games, so get over it.

5. Dan Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pm

   We could keep ourselves out of these extra inning situations if we’d stop having so many pathetic showings on offense. A lot of the extra inning games have come from the inability to score more than 2 or 3 runs, while our starters and pen do a relatively good job and keep the opposition to 2 or 3 runs how does the offense respond? By not scoring more than that, forcing the Pen into extras. They can no longer keep “settling” for a 1 run lead (last night’s 2 to 3 game) and need to start going for the throat so that we don’t have many extra inning games to worry about.

6. shag beta sigma delta Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

   I know injuries are part of the game but let’s not forget that we are missing 2 key guys in the pen, Lidge, Eyre. If Lidge can come back 100% healthy and be 90% of what he was last year the back end of the pen will be fine. JC’s control is an issue

7. shag beta sigma delta Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

   that may just be from his suspension, Condrey has been a little over worked and I heard he was a little nicked up. It would be nice to get a Moyer 6 inning game with Chan Ho pitching 3 in a 7-2 win

8. pb Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

   Moyer is going to get rocked tonight, no doubt about it

9. Don M Says:
   June 17th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

   any Phillies FANS on here? or just people that think all our players and prospects are no good??

10. Eli Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Don,thinking thatcertain players are no good and prospects are not gona work out is not hating your team. Go tell that to the pirates and royals. There players are no good ,but have some fans. Also, most prospects just dont pan out so thats not unrealilistic to think so. I am not one of these people talking ,but just do not agree with your comment,regardless of how sarcastic it was.

11. Eli Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 4:59 pm

    but things like saying “moyer is gonna get rocked,no doubt” is pretty absurd.

12. mg52 Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Save for Mets supporters who sometimes come on here to add their thoughts, we are all fans here. It is good that you remind us of that, Don M. We need to talk about the good things that we have seen: Ibanez’s production, Victorino’s speed, Manuel’s steadiness, Feliz’s defensive wizardry, Ruiz’s improvement. All of these factors add to the reputation that this Phillies team has earned over the last several years. Even in lean times, there are always these highlights on which to draw.
    I did like what was articulated above: that the bullpen’s overwork comes from how the offense provides an insufficient cushion for starters to stay in. I, too, am tired of the Howard strikeouts and the Rollins pop-ups. The Jays – that is, once they finally broke through – fought off pitches last night, didn’t always hit the pitches hard but put them in the right place. A good team has to hit good pitching sometimes, not expecting to hit it out of the park but instead achieving just enough contact to put the pitches into play. Every time I’m on here, I seem to mention that they need to emphasize small ball, but the point has to be driven home until it comes to fruition on the field.

13. Chuck Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    Eli….saying that” Moyer is going to get rocked, no doubt” IS absurd….but honestly….how comfortable do you feel with him on the mound? He’s not dominant, will only pitch six innings at the most (which means more bullpen troubles) and will be completely at the mercy of the umpire.

14. The Little Guy Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    When they lose a game, every topic is negative and the posters are all down in the dumps. They lost to an AL East team, who cares, it’s interleague, i’m not worried one bit.

    Halladay 15 day DL, strained right groin.

15. The Dipsy Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    Have all you guys seen that gag Chris Wheeler Blog? Tooooo funny.

    The Dipsy

    “Always striving to make the Phillies a better team”

16. Dan Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    They won’t get much rest tonight with moyer on the mound. He’ll give you a strong outing but will only go around 6 innings.

17. Bruce Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Dan says~”He’ll (Moyer) give you a strong outing but will only go around 6 innings.”

    Huh? Excuse me Dan but Charlie Manuel will gladly accept that kind of outing from ANY of his starters. And Moyer, believe or not, has been his most consistent starter with quality starts in the last five turns of the rotation.

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