Pedro Martinez will take the hill for the Iron Pigs tonight in what is expected to be his last rehab start before coming back to the Bigs. That means we can expect an announcement sometime in the next couple of days about what role Martinez will fill, and how that will affect the other members of the staff. I’ve come to the conclusion that the right move is making Jamie Moyer the long-man out of the pen, and sending Rodrigo Lopez packing back to AAA.
I know that Moyer, at 46 years old and a Philly-area native, has become something of an institution and a fan favorite. I know that his 256 wins put him among the all-time leaders for left-handers. I also know that he’s made exactly one relief appearance since 1996, and that one time was five years ago. But the bottom line is, with a 5.55 ERA, he hasn’t gotten the job done this year. One thing you always hear about Moyer is that he’s all about winning. Well, when he looks around at the other starters on this staff, he has to realize that the team’s best chance of winning doesn’t involve him in the rotation. Moyer could be really valuable as the long-relief guy, because his style is so unique that opposing batters might feel very off-balance when he comes in behind a harder thrower.
Most people are guessing that J.A. Happ is heading back to the pen after his start tonight, but that would be a mistake, and I don’t care how he ends up pitching tonight. If the Phillies don’t view Happ as a key part of their future, then they should have traded him in the Cliff Lee deal. Since they didn’t do that, why would they now move him back to the pen after how well he’s pitched? Happ pitched well as a late-season call up last year, but the team didn’t show enough trust in him to give him a spot in the rotation coming into this season. Now, after he’s rung up a 7-2 record and 2.97 ERA, they’re going to bump him out again? I don’t care how high of a character guy he may be, that has to be frustrating and demoralizing for a young pitcher.
But not only is it a bad idea for Happ in the long run, it’s a bad idea for the team this year. As I’ve said before, Happ has been the team’s best starter this year. It’s not at all out of the question that he could end up as the #3 or #4 guy in the playoff rotation. By moving him to the pen now, even if you’re going to bring him back to the rotation in a few weeks, you’re jeopardizing the season of a player that could be hugely important to a run at another championship.
And, you wrote this BEFORE Happ’s absolute GEM last night. Wow, was he good. I have to agree, Doogan. Moyer’s the guy that has to take it on the chin and head to the ‘pen. and, from what I’ve heard, Pedro looks REALLY good
Yeah, he made me feel smart last night. He really had dominant stuff.
Is a 6 man rotation such a horrible idea… I mean wont the starts arms have more in them come playoffs? If Padro falters send someone to the pen then and go back to a 5 man.
I think there are a few problems with the six-man idea. First, when you have two elite pitchers like Lee and Hamels, you’re taking innings away from them if you go 6-man. You’re basically taking innings from them and giving them to Moyer, which maybe isn’t the best idea. Also, I guess you would have to be short-handed in either the bullpen or in position players, because obviously you can only have 25 guys on the roster, so if you have an extra in the rotation, you’re left short somewhere else. And then there’s the rhythmn of when guys pitch. Obviously it gets thrown off pretty often by off days and rain-outs, but these pitchers have basicaly been conditioned their entire professional careers to pitch every fifth day, so it could have some negative impact if suddenly it’s every sixth day.
Looks like uncle charlie agrees. Moyer’s headed to the pen despite being told he wouldnt be during his contract negotiations. Moyer made a statement saying he feels “misled and disheartened”. Well you may feel that way jaime, but nobody in baseball can expect a guaranteed spot in the rotation when theyre just not getting it done. Will it make u feel better if we yank lidge from his role too? He was signed as the closer but if he doesnt shape up and gets yanked, he has no one to blame for his “disheartened” feelings but himself. Just like you, jaime.