With Cliff Lee being added to the Phillies’ rotation last week without anyone being dropped, someone needed to go.
The hard luck loser was Rodrigo Lopez, who has pitched extremely well since being called up to the majors. He has been sent to the bullpen in order to make room in the rotation for Lee. Lopez has done everything asked of him and more, but was simply caught in a numbers game.
“My job is to get people out. I definitely like being a starter. I’ve been a starter most of my career. I think I can pitch as well in the bullpen, but I just feel that I’m good enough to get people out, whether it’s coming out of the bullpen or in the rotation.”
With that attitude, he’ll do fine as long as he pitches the way he has been so far.
All of those years where the Phillies were hurting for pitchers, and now they have too many. It’s a problem, but it’s a good problem to have. With the bullpen coming back to full strength soon and with the addition of Lopez and Happ, the pitching staff for the Phillies will be extremely strong. That bodes well for the pennant race and the post-season.
*Follow me on Twitter @kierankelly*
