Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and pitching coach Rich Dubee can’t say for sure if Brett Myers will take the mound when his next turn in the rotation comes up. Blowing a 5-1 lead may have been the last straw. The most maddening thing about Myers is that the source of his troubles is and always has been from the neck up.
While his velocity is down, that might be because Myers simply has no faith in his fastball. His stuff is so good that he may go out and throw a three-hit shutout, or he could continue to experience first inning meltdowns and add to his league-leading total of home runs allowed.
Myers has been famously temperamental from his rookie days when Curt Schilling told him to keep quiet and know his place, to an ugly incident with his wife in Boston, to this season’s abomination. The problem is obvious. The solution is not. Although the Phillies are still in first place after a horrible performance in interleague play, they simply can’t afford to give games away every fifth day.
The most popular solution seems to be to move Myers to the bullpen and insert Chad Durbin into the starting rotation. I think this would be a big mistake. Why break up one of the best bullpens in baseball? Durbin is the most versatile and maybe the most valuable member of the ‘pen outside of Brad Lidge. Because Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton are far from locks to pitch deep into games, the Phillies are probably better served by keeping the bullpen intact and keeping everyone fresh. Also, Myers' biggest problem has been giving up runs in the first inning. That won't help the bullpen.
Another option is to skip his turn in the rotation and try to work out the kinks on the side. This could drive someone like Myers crazy. He can’t sit still and needs to pitch. He loved being the closer because he could pitch a few times a week.
Yet another more far-fetched but sensible option is to send Myers to the minors for a few starts so he can regain confidence in his fastball in real game situations without the pressure of costing the Phillies another game. This could either solve the problem or do irreparable damage to an already fragile psyche.
What else can you do? Wait for Kris Benson to be ready? That’s quite a gamble. Trade for a starter? The Phillies don’t have prospects to trade if they expect to receive a difference maker in return, although Shane Victorino or Pat Burrell would be available for the right player. Include Myers in a trade, possibly to a team that needs a closer? Intriguing, but his value is at an all-time low and it will be tough to find a good fit.
I hate to say it, but I think the Phillies should ride it out until the All-Star break, which is only two weeks away. After Adam Eaton’s 2007 debacle was tolerated all season (possibly because of a lack of alternatives), I think you have to give your Opening Day starter a long leash, especially when he has as much natural talent as Myers. If he doesn’t turn it around, all bets are off and he'll just have to deal with the consequences.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Howard's Turn: Deep Cuts
Ryan Howard has teased us a few times this season with mammoth home runs that we thought would lift him out of a season-long funk. Inevitably, he always seemed to regress to an 0-for-4, two strikeout performance as his batting average continued to hover around .200. But finally, it looks like it’s Howard’s turn to take some deep cuts.
The two strikeouts from last night’s game are much easier to deal with when you see two opposite field home runs and a triple in the box score. All of the sudden, Howard is tied with Chase Utley for the league lead in RBI with 62, while Howard’s 19 home runs are quickly reeling in his more consistent teammate. That unsightly batting average has crept up to .224, not too far from respectability. More importantly, round one of this potential World Series preview against the Red Sox goes to the Phillies as they maintain a three-game lead over those pesky Marlins.
Ryan Howard is doing what he was doing during his MVP season. He’s waiting on pitches, driving fastballs to left field and turning on offspeed offerings. Although he seems like a lock to break his own season strikeout record, Howard is also being more selective at the plate instead of trying to justify his $10 million salary with every at-bat. Heck, he even stole a base.
Fortunately for the Phillies, Howard has gotten hot as the Fightins endure a particularly brutal part of the June schedule, which includes games against Florida, Atlanta, St. Louis, Boston, Oakland and the L.A. Angels.
Maybe it’s the comfort of being in first place. Maybe it’s the realization that the Phillies are operating on all cylinders and he can just relax. Maybe it's the ever-patient, even-keeled Charlie Manuel, who never lost confidence in his stud first baseman. Maybe it was the luxury of sleeping in his own bed when the Phillies visited St. Louis over the weekend that led to six hits and nine RBI in that series. Maybe it’s just time for one of baseball’s most dangerous sluggers to get hot. No player in baseball can carry a team’s offense any better than Ryan Howard. Now it appears to be Howard’s turn, so enjoy the deep cuts.
This blog is meant to celebrate Ryan Howard’s turnaround, but I have to get this off my chest. Yes, I hate the Mets, and I hate them even more after the way they’ve handled the dismissal of Willie Randolph. Shame on Mets brass for dragging out this process for so long and waiting to fire Randolph until they were on the West Coast. I’m not saying the termination was unjustified, but show a little class. Looks like the play on the field is more of a reflection of ownership and upper management, not Willie Randolph.
The two strikeouts from last night’s game are much easier to deal with when you see two opposite field home runs and a triple in the box score. All of the sudden, Howard is tied with Chase Utley for the league lead in RBI with 62, while Howard’s 19 home runs are quickly reeling in his more consistent teammate. That unsightly batting average has crept up to .224, not too far from respectability. More importantly, round one of this potential World Series preview against the Red Sox goes to the Phillies as they maintain a three-game lead over those pesky Marlins.
Ryan Howard is doing what he was doing during his MVP season. He’s waiting on pitches, driving fastballs to left field and turning on offspeed offerings. Although he seems like a lock to break his own season strikeout record, Howard is also being more selective at the plate instead of trying to justify his $10 million salary with every at-bat. Heck, he even stole a base.
Fortunately for the Phillies, Howard has gotten hot as the Fightins endure a particularly brutal part of the June schedule, which includes games against Florida, Atlanta, St. Louis, Boston, Oakland and the L.A. Angels.
Maybe it’s the comfort of being in first place. Maybe it’s the realization that the Phillies are operating on all cylinders and he can just relax. Maybe it's the ever-patient, even-keeled Charlie Manuel, who never lost confidence in his stud first baseman. Maybe it was the luxury of sleeping in his own bed when the Phillies visited St. Louis over the weekend that led to six hits and nine RBI in that series. Maybe it’s just time for one of baseball’s most dangerous sluggers to get hot. No player in baseball can carry a team’s offense any better than Ryan Howard. Now it appears to be Howard’s turn, so enjoy the deep cuts.
This blog is meant to celebrate Ryan Howard’s turnaround, but I have to get this off my chest. Yes, I hate the Mets, and I hate them even more after the way they’ve handled the dismissal of Willie Randolph. Shame on Mets brass for dragging out this process for so long and waiting to fire Randolph until they were on the West Coast. I’m not saying the termination was unjustified, but show a little class. Looks like the play on the field is more of a reflection of ownership and upper management, not Willie Randolph.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Charlie Says Hustle
Here’s another reason why the Phillies are 10 games over .500 with a 2.5 game lead in the National League East as they head to a Atlanta for a weekend series with the Braves.
With two outs in the third inning of yesterday’s 5-0 win over the Reds, Jimmy Rollins hit a weak pop-up to shortstop Paul Janish. Assuming it would be easily caught for the third out, Rollins casually sauntered down to first base. When the ball fell and Carlos Ruiz scored the game’s first run, Rollins stood at first base instead of second.
When the inning ended, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told Rollins to grab a seat on the bench for the rest of the game. Manuel replaced Rollins with Eric Bruntlett, who later preserved Cole Hamels’ brilliant shutout by diving to snag a ground ball and throwing out the runner at first.
The Phillies field a team with plenty of stars, but there are no stars in Charlie Manuel’s clubhouse. Jimmy Rollins is a vocal team leader, the offensive catalyst and reigning league MVP, but Manuel didn’t think twice about sitting Rollins in a close game. Manuel handled it quietly, and only mentioned it briefly when asked after the game.
Nobody is above the law with Charlie Manuel, whether you’re a superstar or the fifth outfielder. I’ve said my piece more than once about Manuel’s strategy and decision-making during the game, but he has the respect of every single one of his players, and they don’t dare cross him.
Rollins’ response to the benching speaks volumes as well. "He has two rules,” said Rollins of his manager. “Be on time and hustle, and I broke one of them today. I know better." Rollins didn’t get angry, throw a tantrum or vent to the media. “It’s my fault,” Rollins said. “That’s like breaking the law and getting mad when the police show up.”
I love the fact that Rollins, arguably the biggest “star” on the Phillies, compares not hustling to breaking the law. He got busted, did his time and took it like a man. Charlie Manuel made his point. The rest of the team got the point. No feathers ruffled, no egos damaged. Just another win.
With two outs in the third inning of yesterday’s 5-0 win over the Reds, Jimmy Rollins hit a weak pop-up to shortstop Paul Janish. Assuming it would be easily caught for the third out, Rollins casually sauntered down to first base. When the ball fell and Carlos Ruiz scored the game’s first run, Rollins stood at first base instead of second.
When the inning ended, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told Rollins to grab a seat on the bench for the rest of the game. Manuel replaced Rollins with Eric Bruntlett, who later preserved Cole Hamels’ brilliant shutout by diving to snag a ground ball and throwing out the runner at first.
The Phillies field a team with plenty of stars, but there are no stars in Charlie Manuel’s clubhouse. Jimmy Rollins is a vocal team leader, the offensive catalyst and reigning league MVP, but Manuel didn’t think twice about sitting Rollins in a close game. Manuel handled it quietly, and only mentioned it briefly when asked after the game.
Nobody is above the law with Charlie Manuel, whether you’re a superstar or the fifth outfielder. I’ve said my piece more than once about Manuel’s strategy and decision-making during the game, but he has the respect of every single one of his players, and they don’t dare cross him.
Rollins’ response to the benching speaks volumes as well. "He has two rules,” said Rollins of his manager. “Be on time and hustle, and I broke one of them today. I know better." Rollins didn’t get angry, throw a tantrum or vent to the media. “It’s my fault,” Rollins said. “That’s like breaking the law and getting mad when the police show up.”
I love the fact that Rollins, arguably the biggest “star” on the Phillies, compares not hustling to breaking the law. He got busted, did his time and took it like a man. Charlie Manuel made his point. The rest of the team got the point. No feathers ruffled, no egos damaged. Just another win.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Homegrown Phils Set For Draft Reload
Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell pace the offense. Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Kyle Kendrick anchor the starting rotation. Not many teams can claim to have such a powerful, homegrown core. Now, it’s time to start reloading.
With their first pick in the 2008 draft, the Phillies grabbed high school shortstop Anthony Hewitt, a New York product whose stock has been on the rise. The Phillies tend to prefer young players with natural ability and high ceilings over more tested college players, and this selection is no exception. Hewitt is a great athlete with a good arm and good speed.
Yes, Jimmy Rollins is entrenched at shortstop, but in the first round, you have to take the best player, regardless of position or need. And think about it… didn’t the best player on your high school team always play shortstop?
The Phillies are excited about this year’s draft, with seven of the first 136 selections as they continue to replenish a farm system that was ravaged by trades during the Ed Wade era. As more and more teams opt to lock up young players and rely less on free agency, the draft is becoming more and more relevant. MLB isn’t like the NFL, NBA or NHL, where rookie draft picks become instant stars. Utley and Howard became regulars in their mid-20’s, although Howard’s path to stardom was temporarily blocked by Jim Thome.
Not only that, but the best player’s “signability” could drop him from the first pick to the bottom half of the first round or lower, where he will still have the same contract demands. In other leagues, if signability is a factor, the player may slide down one or two slots. This is part of what makes MLB’s draft so unpredictable and good scouting so important. Here’s a progress report on the Fightins’ last three first-round picks.
Last year, the Phillies grabbed Joe Savery, a cocky lefthanded college pitcher (and heavy duty hitter) who expected to be in the big leagues sometime this season. His inconsistency at Class A Clearwater will put that promotion on hold. Savery is 2-6 with a 4.63 ERA, allowing 83 hits in 68 innings. He has the tools, but needs to be more precise with his pitches and stay focused.
In 2006, many experts said high school phenom Kyle Drabek, son of Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, had the best stuff in the draft. They also said he had a bad temper and he was arrested for public intoxication. After Tommy John surgery last July, the jury is still out on his stuff, but an injury like this can speed up the mental maturity process. At age 20, Drabek still has plenty of time to develop. He’ll start throwing off a mound soon and is likely return to the field this fall.
2005 first-round pick Greg Golson struggled for a year and a half with the Blueclaws, then started to show progress after a promotion to Clearwater. After spending Spring Training with the Phillies, Golson has exploded at Class AA Reading, batting .329 with impressive speed and power (16 stolen bases and seven home runs). He still needs to cut down on his strikeouts (65 in 213 at-bats), but the speedy 22-year-old centerfielder may compete for a big league roster spot next spring, especially if Burrell isn’t resigned.
With their first pick in the 2008 draft, the Phillies grabbed high school shortstop Anthony Hewitt, a New York product whose stock has been on the rise. The Phillies tend to prefer young players with natural ability and high ceilings over more tested college players, and this selection is no exception. Hewitt is a great athlete with a good arm and good speed.
Yes, Jimmy Rollins is entrenched at shortstop, but in the first round, you have to take the best player, regardless of position or need. And think about it… didn’t the best player on your high school team always play shortstop?
The Phillies are excited about this year’s draft, with seven of the first 136 selections as they continue to replenish a farm system that was ravaged by trades during the Ed Wade era. As more and more teams opt to lock up young players and rely less on free agency, the draft is becoming more and more relevant. MLB isn’t like the NFL, NBA or NHL, where rookie draft picks become instant stars. Utley and Howard became regulars in their mid-20’s, although Howard’s path to stardom was temporarily blocked by Jim Thome.
Not only that, but the best player’s “signability” could drop him from the first pick to the bottom half of the first round or lower, where he will still have the same contract demands. In other leagues, if signability is a factor, the player may slide down one or two slots. This is part of what makes MLB’s draft so unpredictable and good scouting so important. Here’s a progress report on the Fightins’ last three first-round picks.
Last year, the Phillies grabbed Joe Savery, a cocky lefthanded college pitcher (and heavy duty hitter) who expected to be in the big leagues sometime this season. His inconsistency at Class A Clearwater will put that promotion on hold. Savery is 2-6 with a 4.63 ERA, allowing 83 hits in 68 innings. He has the tools, but needs to be more precise with his pitches and stay focused.
In 2006, many experts said high school phenom Kyle Drabek, son of Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, had the best stuff in the draft. They also said he had a bad temper and he was arrested for public intoxication. After Tommy John surgery last July, the jury is still out on his stuff, but an injury like this can speed up the mental maturity process. At age 20, Drabek still has plenty of time to develop. He’ll start throwing off a mound soon and is likely return to the field this fall.
2005 first-round pick Greg Golson struggled for a year and a half with the Blueclaws, then started to show progress after a promotion to Clearwater. After spending Spring Training with the Phillies, Golson has exploded at Class AA Reading, batting .329 with impressive speed and power (16 stolen bases and seven home runs). He still needs to cut down on his strikeouts (65 in 213 at-bats), but the speedy 22-year-old centerfielder may compete for a big league roster spot next spring, especially if Burrell isn’t resigned.
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