Last night, the Phils inserted the young J.A. Happ back into the starting rotation, after being brought back up from the AAA Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. He did well giving the Phils enough scoreless innings to win and stay safely away from using the bullpen up.
The twenty-six year old left hander pitched six shutout innings, allowed three hits, and walked one. Quite a successful start for a rookie’s first trip to the majors. He held the Braves scoreless while the Phils took advantage of errors, walks, and a few hits to score four runs in the first. Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victorino all scored to raise the rookie’s confidence.
Last time, I stated that it’s important to have a strong team to make it through a long season, but it’s also important to have depth in the roster. Our Phils need to loosen the purse strings and shore up the pitching.
While today’s discussion is about pitching, we have to examine one fundamental problem the Phillies have created each year. They are afraid of spending money to make money.
And the first step in solving a problem is admitting to it. The Phillies have a problem all right; they are cheap.
Any team that debates a contract for months with their leading home run hitter, a man who led the Home Run Derby last year on national television, a man who probably brought more attention to the team, thereby selling more tickets, growing the coffers, is simply nuts, stupid, and foolish.
Am I being too harsh? Nah.
Once again, Ryan Howard is doing well this fall, coming into his groove, and showing he is worth the money they spent. As the debate rages whether he is the player of the week or month of September, we know the Phils should have hesitated to secure him for the long term. Their public bickering over a few bucks won’t attract the top players necessary to keep them in the winner’s circle.
So, what’s the next step in growing this team? Purchasing pitchers, buying free agents, spending money, whoa, there, I’ve said it. It’s out of the bag.
Moyer’s contract will be renewed, but what does it say about a team when the best man in your roster is the oldest active player in baseball? Jaime Moyer is great, but c’mon, he’s not going to lead us single handedly to a World Series next year.
The Phils don’t have enough pitchers ready to come up from the minors to fill the gaps in their roster. If you check out their stats, most of the Iron Pigs had decent seasons but nothing as good as J.A. Happ and they can’t depend on the minors to provide them with a solid roster.
So, the solution is to look elsewhere. It’s going to cost them money to purchase a premium pitcher and they can’t hesitate when the right pitcher comes available in the off season.
Tags: Happ · Howard · Moyer · PhilliesNo Comments.
