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Cole Hamels left after pitching four innings. Hamels was hit near the base of his non-pitchin hand close to the thumb. It was the second ball of the day lined back to the mound. Hamels finished the inning, but did not return. Herndon entered the game and quickly surrendered runs to the Red Sox.
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In last night’s Clearwater Threshers game against the Brevard County Manatees, Julio Rodriguez was one pitch away from a potential win. The Threshers lost the game 4-2, but Rodriguez had them in check until the seventh inning. After a single, a walk, and an infield single, the bases were loaded and nobody out. Rodriguez looked as if he was going to wiggle out of the jam after a strikeout and a fly ball out, but with two outs Sean McCraw cranked a grand slam over the right field wall. That was the end of Rodriguez’ night. Rodriguez’ line for the evening was still very stellar. Through six and two thirds innings pitched, he had given up five hits (two of which were in his final inning), four earned runs (all in the seventh), one walk (in the seventh) and struck out eleven (one in the seventh).
Worley has given up 1 earned run or less in 5 of 7 starts.
After last night’s mastery of the Red Sox, one has to wonder what the plan for Vance Worley is going forward. With Blanton and Oswalt on the shelf, is Worley a mainstay in the Phillies rotation or is he doing what the Phillies hope he would do: boost his value. I can’t really say that Worley is a long term Phillie. There is too much going against him. Oswalt and Blanton could both be with the Phillies in 2012, which would keep him out of the rotation. In 2013, the Phillies will have atleast Halladay and Lee at the top of the rotation and hopefully have Hamels as well, which leaves two spots open, but is Worley willing to keep pitching in the minors as a starter or out of the Phillies bullpen, which will have an open competition next spring. If that’s the case, the Phillies’ front office would be insane to allow him to completely destroy any trade value.
Right now, Worley has a record of 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA with victories against the Mets, Nationals, and Red Sox. He has not given up more than one earned run in five of seven starts this season or more than three earned runs in six of seven starts this season. If you threw out that Mets start where he got tagged for eight runs (five earned), Worley’s record would be 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA. Whether he just had a brain cramp or he knew ahead of time that he was being sent down after the game, he obviously was distracted.
Should the Phillies cash in on Worley’s value now or hang on to him? If they were to trade him they’d be down to Kyle Kendrick as the number four and then who knows for a fifth until Blanton and/or Oswalt come back from the DL. Is Worley’s success similar to that of Kyle Kendrick’s when he first came up? Personally, I think that Worley will close out the season with the Phillies due to the uncertainty of Oswalt and Blanton. However, I would not be shocked to see Worley involved in a trade during the winter meetings.
What would you do?
Tags: Vance Worley
Unfortunately, it won’t be with the Eagles. The former second round pick will no doubt be moved as soon as the lock out is lifted and a new collective bargaining agreement has been signed. The deal is probably already in place as the Eagles are rumored to be looking at another troublesome quarterback to back up the reformed Michael Vick. While not as drastic a rehab project, the QB the Eagles are targeting is former Titans field general, Vince Young. It would be interesting to see Vince Young and Albert Haynesworth, both former Tennessee Titans, be recruited by the Eagles new defensive line coach, and former Titans defensive line coach, Jim Washburn. As we have read, the Eagles have an “aggressive plan” in place once free agency starts, so this should be interesting and soon.
Tags: Kevin Kolb, vince young
The Phillies own the best record in baseball. They have already taken the first two games from a team that most people think is World Series bound in the Boston Red Sox. They are a staggering 21 games over .500 at the halfway point of the season. The most amazing part is who they are doing it with. Not so much the beginnings as the end of the games though. The Phillies have definitely been a snake bitten team in 2011, and the area in which has seen the most damage has been the bullpen.
Bastardo must be Spanish for "Absolutely Filthy"
In 2010, Brad Lidge was pencilled in to close out games. Ryan Madson was the lights out set up man. J.C. Romero and Jose Contreras were your lefty-right combination for the 6th and 7th innings if needed. Half way thru the 2011 season, Lidge, Madson, and Contreras are all on the disabled list and J.C. Romero was DFA’d. Enter Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes.
Both are having break out years and are currently anchoring the Phillies bullpen. Bastardo had been up and down the last two seasons, but is finally breaking out and putting it all together. Stutes was a prime candidate to make the big league roster out of Spring Training, but ultimately was sent to AAA Lehigh Valley to start the season. Despite the great job they are doing, the Phillies will enter the trade deadline market in search of a reliever or two.
One reliever they are keeping their eye on has had success before in a Phillies uniform. He’s been automatic in the playoffs. He’s motivated to prove he’s got “what it takes” as he is potentially a free agent at year’s end, and most importantly, it won’t cost the Phillies a dime. Yes, I am talking about Brad Lidge my friends. Lidge threw a bullpen session Wednesday before the Phillies game and will be likely to throw another one Friday. If all goes well, Lidge could start a rehab assignment shortly after the 4th of July holiday.
Tags: Antonio Bastardo, Brad Lidge, Michael Stutes
Romero signed a minor league deal with the Nationals. The Cardinals were rumored to have interest in the former Phillie as well. Romero will most likely report to AAA Syracuse for a short stint before joining the Nationals. The Phillies will still be on the hook for roughly $900k. Romero is most remembered for his 2008 season with the Phillies
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The game plan for the Phillies on Wednesday’s game against the Red Sox: hit the ball to the right. Hit as close to the line all day. Why? The Red Sox plan to put their everyday DH, David Ortiz, at first base and their everyday first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez, in right field. It looks like Francona is hoping the increased offense can make up for the possible decrease in defense. So hopefully Vance Worley can hold the fearsome Red Sox lineup in check and the Phillies offense peppers the first base line enough to make both players prove the experiment was a success, or for the Phillies’ sake, a failure.
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“In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock.”
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