According to John R. Finger of CSNPhilly.com, former Phillie Scott Eyre would be open to returning to the team for the rest of the season if the Phillies want him. Eyre says he feels good, and it would only take him several weeks to get in shape to pitch in the majors. To this point, Eyre has not heard from the Phillies.
If Eyre is open to a return, the Phillies should look into signing him.
It’s no secret that the bullpen is short on quality. Eyre would not only be a reliable option, but more specifically, a reliable left handed option. In 41 appearances last season, Eyre went 2-1 with an ERA of 1.50. Even when Eyre had problems with his elbow late in the season, he was able to play through the pain and still pitch effectively. There were very few times that Eyre was called upon and didn’t get the job done.
The only lefty in the bullpen right now is J.C. Romero, who just hasn’t been the same pitcher he was in 2007 and 2008. Romero has struggled with his control all season. He has walked too many batters, and is losing his ability to wriggle out of jams. Romero is moving closer toward joining Danys Baez and David Herndon as players that Charlie Manuel will try his best not to use in a close game.
The only other left handed option the Phillies have is Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo has a chance to become a good relief option, but like Romero he also struggles with his command. Bastardo did pitch for the Phillies in the post season last year, but did so in a very limited capacity and with mixed results.
The Phillies bullpen needs all the help it can get. Scott Eyre would be a great fit, but the Phillies need to act fast. They need to see if Erye is healthy, if he can be effective, and if they want him on the post season roster. And they only have three weeks to figure it all out.
Too little, too late for Eyre, It’s August already, and he wouldn’t be ready or effective for a few weeks.
Is it me, but doesn’t seem every player who finally stops taking steroids gets injured alot and their
performance goes down hill and in a hurry… (Juan Gonzales, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire,Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada all come to mind)
But this occurs with Pitchers also and especially relievers who need the boost for quicker recovery,
Romero has too poor of control to be a reliable late inning reliever any longer…I cannot understand why the Phillies Management went into this season counting on Relievers Romer and Lidge after there issues/injuries of last year. The lack of a consistent Bullpen will cost them a chance to get back to the World Series in 2010 as NL Cahmpions