After Jamie Moyer’s brilliant performance on Friday night against the Boston Red Sox where the game was essentially over through 1/3 of an inning, people started getting concerned about the Philadelphia Phillies’ starting pitching again. And that logically led to thoughts about J.A. Happ. As in…what is going on with him?
There haven’t been a ton of updates on the young lefthander so I decided to step out of character and do some research for once. And when I say “research,” I mean I typed his name into Google News.
It turns out that there is some good news for Phillies fans. Happ is making a rehab start in Double-A Reading on Sunday against the hated Richmond club (I have no idea whether or not they hate each other. Chances are, probably not).
The rotation hasn’t been the problem lately for the Phils, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t use a healthy Happ back in there. The entire Delaware Valley holds their collective breath every time Kyle Kendrick has to take the mound. Even when he does a decent job the stress can take a couple of years off of your life.
The way this lineup is playing, they’ll need better starting pitching.
Here’s my deal on the Phillies before the slide into 4th place in the NL East by All_Star Game
Trade J Werth (who will be gone after this season anyways) to the Red Sox for one of their relievers
(Bard or Paplebon) and 3B M Lowell. Place 2B C Utley on the 30 day Disabled list to get his injured HIp checked out,
Play Lowell at 3B and move Polianco to 2B while Utley recovers..
Call uip OF Brown to replace Werth and play Francisco/Gload at little more often.
Flat out Release D Baez and demote Kendrick to the Minor Leagues… This team needs a shake up in the worst way and same old, same old is not getting it down, Utley’s hurt and can’t swing with authority right now and hasn;t been able to for a month now..