Mea Culpa

Well my last post was pretty much all wrong. Moyer's been sent to the pen, Martinez did OK in his first start, and Howard seems to be waking up. Still, tho everyone seems to be pro-Martinez since he won his last start, his ERA was 5.40

Still, I don't know where that leaves us. What will be Moyer's role? Long relief if another starter fails? Middle relief where Chan Ho Park has been doing good work? That would seem to make the most sense and push Park to later innings given that he's been pretty solid. Still, this would be fixing what isn't broken.

If Park could back up Lidge, then I think I'm OK with it. But we can't afford to fuck up Park by jerking him around. But Moyer at closer seems nuts given how many hits he gives up. He might be, tho I'm not sure, an interesting complement to Madson, their resident fireballer. If he could take some load off Madson, and let Madson take some load off Lidge, then maybe that works, but Madson has been pretty spotty pitching in the 9th inning I think.

But bottom line is that something has to be done about Lidge. I like that Cholly's not panicking, but the leash should be getting ever shorter. It would be amazing if Myers rides in on a white charger and shores up the back of the pen. At this point, however, I remain convinced that Pedro could have helped the back of the pen more than Moyer, and that to whatever extent Pedro outpitches Moyer as starter, it will not outweigh the apparent marginalization of Moyer in terms of the overall staff since I really don't see where Moyer fills in.

The final redeeming option might be if they plan to use Moyer to spell Hamels once or twice between now and the end of the season. It would be nice if he could just work his way out of it, but I think it behooves the Phillies to consider his workload last year, his abbreviated off year and his history of injuries. Maybe I little rest is what he needs, not more work. Plus, they have a couple double headers coming up and could use both of those games to give Moyer a start and someone else a day's extra rest.

Finally, I think they have to use Matt Stairs more. Should be first PH off the bench. His on base avg is in the top 5 for the team. I know he's a terrible baserunner, but he gets on a lot more than Dobbs or Bruntlett. Anytime they are down 2 or more runs, he should be first PH.

And finally, finally. Let's talk about the resurgence of Jimmy Rollins. He's up to 32 BB for the year, which also holds down his woeful OBP. But while he's hitting better, I think the salient point that I've not seen reported elsewhere, is in the 28 games that Rollins has earned his 32 BB, the Phils are 21-7. It's amazing that he frequently goes 6 or more games in a row without getting a walk. He had a stretch of 18 games (!) this season in which he didn't get a walk.

Turning to the Sneagles, I have to say I am surprised at the substantial resistance to the Vick signing. I'm as surprised as anyone, but am also intrigued of what defenses would do faced with McNabb, Westbrook, Jackson, Maclin, and Vick on the same snap.

It's surprising that some people are apparently selling their season tix in protest. Seems extreme. I think the eagles made a good move, even if it's some sort of devil bargain. He did his time, unlike many celebs. Let's see if he makes good.

But ultimately you have to wonder about the choices this city makes sometimes. We've already talked about how they can't seem to get rid of heart and soul players fast enuff -- esp the Flyers with Lindros, BrindAmout, Podein, Upshall, and now Knuble. And now we get Emery. But the Eagles aren't far behind, losing guys like Trotter, Vincent, Buckhalter and now Dawkins. And then we get Vick.

Which is why you have to admire, mostly, the Phils moves of late, notwithstanding Eaton and Jenkins, who apparently are still on the payroll. The Cliff Lee acquiition has obviously been a home run, and for the first time I can remember, they have too many pitching options, save for a another hard throwing righty starter. My biggest concern, after Lidge, is that they are looking a little thin at catcher.