Cole Hamels took the ball as the starting pitcher in the Fightin’s fourth game of the season and continued the trend of poor outings by the starting staff.  Hamels was touched for seven runs on eleven hits and lasted only 3 and 2/3 innings before being lifted.  Hamels gave up multiple extra base hits including a two run tater to Garrett Atkins.   He was far from sharp, poor pitch location and had no velocity whatsoever as his fastball was consistently in the 85-86 range and only a few times reached 90.  That led to little distinction between the heater and his meal ticket pitch, the changeup, and  therefore allowed the Rockies to tee off.

Meanwhile the Phillies bats were relatively silent other than Jayson Werth who had four  hits  including a dinger and Chase Utley who posted two hits, Werth scored all three Phillie runs.   Ryan Howard had a really bad day as he grounded into three double plays !    Give the Rockies starter Jason Marquis credit though as he tossed seven innings only allowing five hits.  J.A. Happ and Clay Condrey threw scoreless innings in relief for the Phillies but Chad Durbin got hit around a bit in the eighth giving up three runs.

  Back at ‘em tommorrow with Brett Myers making his second start this year for the Phillies.

The Rockies home field has an enourmous outfield playing area by design due to the high altitude, outfielders sure have to be on their horse to play on that field !  What seem like routine fly balls drift forever and end up on the warning track, this on a field where the foul poles are some 350 feet away down each line !

Chatter

Carlos Ruiz left the game early with what was reported as a strained right oblique.  The thing the team avoided last season was injuries for signficant periods,  I have my doubts that Mr. Hamels is entirely healthy right now and if Ruiz missses any signficant time we may see young Lou Marson in the show sooner than one would have thought.  Not a good sign albeit early yet.

The Phillies signed ex San Francisco Giant pitcher Tyler Walker to a minor league contract, he reported to Lehigh Valley in Triple A.  Walker had been released by the Seattle Mariners at the end of spring training, he may be called upon later in the season for bullpen assistance…….. if our starting pitching keeps up the pace they are at we will need alot of relievers !

Just a few notes as we bide the time till opening night on April 5th.  Spring Training sure seems like it is taking forever this year but today a few noteworthy roster moves took place.

Minor League Options

The Phillies sent Kyle Kendrick, Jason Donald, Lou Marson and Brad Harman to Minor League Camp today.   The significance of each is that all four are major league caliber players either presently or in the near future.  Kendrick was competing for the fifth starter’s spot and albeit his most recent outing against the Twins was decent he could not overcome earlier outings where he struggled.  Kendrick will go to Lehigh Valley and work on an offspeed pitch to compliment his sinker.  He is a capable major leaguer having already won 22 games at the top level but needs to find a secondary pitch to keep hitters off the sinker.  Donald had a great spring training but my guess is that the team wants him to play everyday at Lehigh most probably at third base to see if they have the next third sacker in tow after Pedro Feliz’s contract expires after this season.  Marson is a 22 year old catcher with a perceived bright future.  He will catch everyday at Lehigh and is potential trade material, Boston supposedly is high on him, else depending on how he hits may be in Philly later this year or in 2010.  Harman is bull strong, the organization needs to figure out whether he is a utility player or one that can be a regular, perhaps they give him a look in the outfield at Lehigh to ascertain what they have.  All four provide depth for the Fightin’s which has not always been the case in season’s past!

World Baseball Classic

It may sound like sour grapes but if the event is continually held during spring training won’t countries like Japan and Korea consistently meet in the finals ?   Teams stocked with big leaguers like the U.S.  don’t seem to be as committed to wining the tournament as our friends from the Aisa Pacific region.  The tournament is fun to watch but I think that if a fair representation of U.S. baseball is to occur then the tourney maybe belongs in November after the World Series is concluded.  That would put all countries on the same plane rather than having some in primary training mode.  That being said the battles that J.C. Romero had with teammates Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino during the U.S./Puerto Rico quarter final game were extremely energized and fun to watch.

Pitching Plans

Cole Hamels seems very unlikely to start the season as the opening day starter, elbow inflamation set him back and expectations are now that he will need at least one additional start to the twon already scheduled  before opening day occurs.  That being said the early regular season schedule is user friendly thru April 15th so the Fightin’s could in essence get away with a three man rotation till then.   The fifth starter spot seems to be between J.A. Happ and Chan Ho Park.  Park has learned a change up from teammate Jamie Moyer and has been very effective putting it in his reportoire.  Happ has been racking up K’s with his fastball in his outings, personally I think Happ starts the season in the pen as the lefty replacing J.C. Romero till he serves his 50 game suspension and Park gets the nod as the starter.  I think Mr. Park could be a very pleasant surprise as a starter this season.   

Bench Reserves

Is it me or has Ronny Paulino showed very little reason to not carry Chris Coste as the backup catcher.  Coste has established himself and I would think that Paulino would have to win the job away, I have not seen anything to indicate he has thus far.   Miguel Cairo seems like he may win the right hand bench reserve spot only because the team may want John Mayberry Jr. to start the season in Lehigh playing everyday.  Mayberry has shown he is a real prospect and his athleticism has enabled him to showcase in all three outfield spots this spring.  If the team feels that he can adjust to the reserve role of pinch hitter then he has won a  reserve job but since he is still a young player they may indeed want to get him regular at bats in Triple A.

Two weeks away till opening night so more spring games to play and iron out the roster possibilities, expect trade rumors to fly and perhaps some deals to get done before the opening day group comes north.

Non roster invitee Jeremy Slayden led the FIghtin’s offense in their Spring Training debut as he stroked two hits, one a double, in his two game at bats.  Slayden was the mid game sub for starting left fielder Raul Ibanez who stroked a RBI single in his Phillies spring debut.   Jimmy Rollins, Geoff Jenkins, Gregg Dobbs and John Mayberry Jr. had the other Phillie hits in the contest.

Jamie Moyer started the game on the hill and threw two scoreless innings. Joe Blanton pitched one inning and gave up a run.  The Pirates scored the other seven runs off middle relievers Joe Bisenius and Scott Nestor.

Chatter

Last year’s # 1 draft pick Anthony Hewitt saw action at third base and went hitless in two at bats.  Chris Coste, Ronny Paulino and Lou Marson split duty behind the plate.   According to Todd Zolecki of mlb.com the Fightins are still in the hunt for Nomar Garciaparra but GM Ruben Amaro said there is a less than 50% chance of him signing.   They are also still open to signing an additional left handed reliever if possible.    Hearing rumors that fan favorite, Mr. Coste may be traded to the Mariners if Paulino proves worthy of a major league spot……. still think the team may carry three catchers if Nomar does not sign, guess if folks like Marcus Giles, Mayberry  or perhaps Miguel Cairo have decent springs they could serve as the right hand bat off bench….. we will see.

The Phillies open the home spring schedule in Clearwater tommorow against the Blue Jays. This first game was in Bradenton which is about an hour’s drive south of Clearwater.  Regular players are allowed to drive to the games rather than ride the bus if they so choose, apparently Jimmy Rollins was a bit late for the  pre game warmups as he got lost and his teammates gave him a  good natured razzing for it.

All players reported on time for the Fightins as they prepare for thier title defense.  There has been alot of trash talk already between the Phils and the rivals from New York, the Mets…… probably a good thing the Mets train on the other coast of Florida in Port St. Lucie ! 

Jamie Moyer offered opinion on the A-Rod steroid story stating that A-Rod’s accomplishments are now tainted and hall of fame consideration should be as well.  I agree with the wise left-hander in that regard but regardless the time frame known as “The Steroid Era” is tainted in general and I think when A-Rod is considered for the Hall of Fame it should be based on his entire career and that specific time period should not be the only consideration.  The same holds true for Barry Bonds, etc. that were noted “cheaters” during the period. 

Chase Utley took ground balls at second base this week and seems to be progressing nicely after off season hip surgery.  Pedro Feliz  does not seem as far along as does Mr. Utley in the recovery of his own surgery on his back.  The Phillies have alot of veteran infielders in camp as a safeguard that either man is unable to go north on time.

Skipper Charlie Manuel stated that if the season were to start right now he would carry three catchers on the team, this makes sense in that all three are right handed hitters and the team is in need of a right hand bat off the bench.  He did not say which two would be the backups to starter Carlos Ruiz, only that Chris Coste, Ronny Paulino and Lou Marson would all be given alot of playing time this spring.  Ruiz is set to participate in the World Baseball Classic so indeed the three other catchers will have plenty of spring opportunity.

Chatter

Rumblings are that the Phils have put out an open offer to each of the three left handed relievers still left on the market and that whomever accepts first can join the team.  Will Ohman, Joe Biemel and Dennys Reyes are the three targets.  The offer is suspected to be for one year only and around $1 million.    Single game tickets went on sale today for the regular season and the “ring ceremony” game where the team will receive the championship rings immediately sold out!  Phillies fans continue to support their team!

With the division won yesterday the final game of the regular season became one that allowed skipper Charlie Manuel to rest his core players and play callups and reserves.  Kyle Kendrick was given the start and he pitched four innings but had similiar struggles as he displayed during the stretch drive.  Kendrick gave up three runs on four hits while walking one.

The Phillies bats though stayed hot as rookie catcher Lou Marson, the Phillies minor league player of the year,  collected his first big league hit in his first at bat in the game and later belted his first major league home run.  It is expected that Marson will make a strong push to make the ballclub next spring.  So Taguchi had a good game out of the leadoff spot as he had three hits.  Eric Bruntlett and Tadahito Iguchi also had two hit game.  The Phillies prevailed by an 8 to 3 count capped off by a pinch home run by Matt Stairs.  Les Walrond got the win in relief.  The Fighins finished the season with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses.

Chatter

Kendrick will be sent to Clearwater, Florida to work at the spring training complex.  He will not be on the initial playoff roster but as needs arise may be added later.  Management must decide who they are going to place on the playoff roster as the NLDS will start on Wednesday.  The Milwaukee Brewers will be in town Wednesday to kick off the best of five series, their ace C.C. Sabbathia threw today in the clincher so he will not be available till at the earliest the second game.  Cole Hamels will take the ball for the Phillies, lets hope he does not psyche himself out like he did last year. 

Great time to be a Phillies fan!  Sure hope our team stays fired up and approaches the playoffs to win, team members admit that last year they were pretty happy to just make it, this year there is an urgency to do some damage!

Sometimes you just gotta let the ball fly as a pitcher and not worry so much about “spotting” the pitch.  When Kyle Kendrick struggles he does so trying to “aim” instead of throw and looks as if he is “pitching scared”.  He is really a one trick pony relying almost exclusively on his sinker and getting hitters to put the ball in play on the ground, he gives up plenty of hits but has been able to get key outs when needed as his ball moves really well. If he doesn’t let it fly though mentally he gets behind batters and either walks them or puts himself in spots where the pitch is predictable and targeted to get smoked!   In this one Kyle did not pitch so well and indeed looked as if he was “pitching scared”.

The Nationals took advantage and  jumped on Kendrick early as they plated two first inning runs. He gave up a leadoff single to Willie Harris and walked Ryan ZImmerman and then advanced both runners to scoring position by tossing a wild pitch.  Lastings Milledge singled to center to plate both runners.  In the Nationals fourth Willie Harris smoked a triple to right field to plate another run and Cristian Guzman then doubled him home, Ryan Zimmerman followed by blasting a home run to deep center field to make the National total count six………all runs scored with two outs!   It could have been more if not for some poor base running by Washington where they helped Kendrick out.  Kendrick was gone after four innings being lit for nine hits, three walks and two hit batters.  Certainly not a start to remember and may call for a change in the rotation as the team cannott afford meltdowns like this to occur at this point of the season.

 Meanwhile  Phillie killer Tim Redding, ( he has shutout the Phillies twice already this year),  started on the hill for the Nationals and held them scoreless and hitless thru five frames!  Shane Victorino got the first hit in the sixth as he singled to left, stole second and went to third on an errant throw by the catcher.  Ryan Howard then ripped a double down the right field line to score Victorino and Jayson Werth drew a walk that ended Redding’s day as Washington went to the pen.  Washington relievers walked the next two Phillie hitters and then hit a batter, first to load the bases and then to plate two runs to make the score 6-3 before they were able to work out of the jam.

The Nationals tacked on another run in the seventh off of Clay Condrey.  Their bullpen closed out the contest albeit Jimmy Rollins belted a solo home run in the ninth as Washington won it seventh consecutive game.  The Phillies were totally outplayed in this one and with the loss fell to two games behind the Mets who beat the Brewers in the first game of that series.

Chatter

Pat Burrell was given the start off as he struggled in the month of August and looked apprehensive in the last game against Chicago.  Burrell when struggling seems to take alot of called third strikes as if he is guessing on the pitch, he pinch hit in the sixth and walked but struck out later in the game.  Matt Stairs started in right field and Jayson Werth took Burrell’s starting spot in left field.   With the expansion of the rosters in September the Phillies recalled catcher Lou Marson and outfielder Greg Golson from Double A Reading.  Adam Eaton and J.A. Happ were added to the pitching staff from Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Office Talk

Often times in my office we get into discussions on the Fightins and baseball in general, thought I would throw out on the blog here questions in hopes of creating some correspondence with those of you that are reading.   Question :  Do you think the new Instant Replay Rule will have an impact on any games going down the stretch and do you agree that the Rule is a good thing or do you think baseball should totally rely on the “human element” and only use the umpires original call ?   Let me know your thoughts.

As the trade deadline looms the Phillies need of starting pitching makes rumors persist. The team might be in pursuit of Blue Jays starter A.J. Burnett. SI.com has recently reported that a Blue Jays top executive was recently seen in Reading, PA scouting the Phillies double A team. Potential prospects of interest include catcher Lou Marson, pitcher Carlos Carrasco or outfielder Greg Golson. Burnett has top of the rotation type of stuff but has not been consistent with results. He has the option of voiding his contract at year end and becoming a free agent or continue and collect on the $24 million left on the deal.

The team needs to take a risk especially in light of recent trades of C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee and Rich Hardin to Chicago. Burnett may not be the answer but it is readily apparent the need is not being filled by the present roster. Phillies starters are collectively 31-31 with an E.R.A over 4. Twenty five of those wins are claimed by the trio of Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick. As a lifelong Phillies fan I think the time is now and if it means mortgaging the future a bit by dealing a prospect so be it……….. after all we have only one world series championship and over 10,000 losses as a franchise!