In a few weeks, 3 time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez and his 214 wins will join the Phillies’ rotation. He will bump someone, and up until now, it has looked like that would be Rodrigo Lopez.
He’s filling the 5th spot in the rotation that has been like a revolving door with pitchers. They just haven’t seemed to find a consistent starter there.
All of that has changed with Rodrigo Lopez. He’s started 4 games for the Phillies and improved to 3-0 with the 14-6 win over the Cardinals. After being out of the majors last year, he signed with the Phillies and has been a very pleasant surprise being an injury replacement.
I’m sure it’s going to be a difficult decision to bump someone from the rotation who has done more than what he was asked to do, but it seems as if Lopez is going to be the one to go. Hamels, Happ (assuming he’s still here), Blanton and Moyer aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Lopez as the odd man out.
I don’t think the Phillies knew they’d be getting these kinds of performances from Lopez when they went out and signed Pedro Martinez. When you can add a Cy Young winner and future HOF’er on the cheap though, you do it, current rotation be damned.
I think Lopez will stick around with the big club in the bullpen in case a spot start may be needed and just to help in the ‘pen. The bullpen can use the help, so I think he’ll stick around at least.
By the end of the season, it could end up being Martinez in the bullpen and Lopez back in the rotation, but Pedro needs a shot at least. All he needs to do is be an effective 5th starter, which he is more than capable of doing. He was asked to do too much last season as a #1-2 in New York last year.
The pitching staff is getting a lot of attention right now, and this is just one small thing that needs to be decided. I think I’ve heard something about a Doctor being added to the rotation as well?
-KK
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