As we all know, the Phillies’ pitching hasn’t been the best so far this season.
Measuring by ERA, they’re actually last in the Senior Circuit with an ERA of 5.98. They’ve also given up 107 runs, which is tied for most in the NL, and all of them have been earned. That’s pretty hard to do. 107 runs and the other team earns all of them? Crazy.
The Phillies’ staff has been getting knocked around all over the place. Giving up 11 runs to the lowly “Natinals” should never happen. I’ll grant some slack since balls were flying out of the Bank last night for both teams, but 11 runs to the Nats? Can’t happen if they expect to win the division again.
This brings me to my question: What does the rotation look like for the Phillies when they break for the All-Star Game?
Cole Hamels is a lock. He was pitching extremely well in his latest start before behind hit in the shoulder by Fat Ass Fielder. He’s the ace of this staff and will be for years to come. He’s struggle early, but he seemed to be back to being an ace before he got hit. He’s scheduled to make his next start, so hopefully he is really back to form.
Brett Myers has looked both good and bad so far this season. He’s 1-1 with and ERA approaching 5 in his four starts this season. His downfall has been giving up the longball. He’s given up 8 in 4 games. That’s a lot. He needs to cut down on that if the Phillies are going to do well. He’s got 23 strikeouts in 25 innings, so that’s not a bad number and is a good sing for Myers. He just needs to stop giving up HRs and walks. He’s still rocking the 2nd spot at the break.
Jamie Moyer once again continues to defy Father Time. He’s leading the rotation in wins again with a 3-1 record after 4 starts, winning 3 straight. He’s also been victimized by the longball, but all of the pitchers have. He has an ERA above 5, but that should come down a bit as the season goes on. He has always given up some runs, but the Phillies offense should be able to bail him out. He’ll still be in the 3 spot at the break.
Joe Blanton simply got rocked last night. He’s 0-2 with a 8.41 ERA in 4 starts. That worries me. Blanton was awesome for the Phillies last season after coming over from Oakland. He just doesn’t seem to have the same stuff he had in the 2nd half last season. He has given up a lot of hits, which have hurt him. I still see him sticking in the 4th spot, but he’ll be closely watched for the rest of the season.
Chan Ho Park won a heated battle with J.A. Happ in spring training for the 5th spot in the rotation. However, he seems to have left that start in Florida. He has no decisions and a 7.16 ERA after his 4 starts. He’s only lasted 16.1 innings in those 4 starts, so he’s not lasting long into his starts at all. That’s worrisome. He needs to step it up.
Happ has been pitching pretty well out of the bullpen, but his future is as a starter. He needs to be put in the rotation. I have a strong feeling that and Happ will switch roles before the break. Park has experience in the bullpen and will be valuable to have back there. The Phillies need to find out if Happ has what it takes to be a starter in the big leagues. By the end of the season, Happ will have made more starts than Park.
With that, here’s how I think the rotation will look like at the break:
Hamels – Myers- Moyer- Blanton – Happ
I don’t see any of the youngsters like Kyle Kendrick or Carlos Carrasco making a start before the break barring injury. They will probably end up making some starts over the course of the season, but I don’t think they come up before the break.
Overall, the rotation and bullpen will decide this team’s playoff fate. We all know the offense and defense are there. It’s the pitching staff that needs to step it up if this team is going to reach it’s full potential.
My projection: Moyer leads the team in wins. (I know that goes against what I’ve said previously, but I think he can do it again)
-KK
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