Roy Oswalt to the Philadelphia Phillies is Like a Do Over for Ruben Amaro

Exactly one year from his first blockbuster trade, Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro pulled off another high profile trade to acquire an ace hurler. And, like a year ago, the acquisition of Roy Oswalt seems to push the team to the front of the contending pack in the National League and possibly all of baseball.

Despite being under fire at times, the young executive has demonstrated a clear willingness to make bold moves in the quest of bringing another World Series Championship to Philadelphia. It might be best summed up- no regrets, no fear. 

Last July's acquisition of Cliff Lee propelled the Phillies to a second straight National League Pennant and brought them to the brink of a repeat of winning it all. This year's deal could prove to be exactly what the current team needs to overcome the NL Eastern Division deficit. 

And, perhaps even more importantly, a pair of righty Roy's split up by lefty Cole Hamels would make the Phillies a highly daunting postseason opponent for anyone. 

It also stands to reason that the best starting pitching trio in the "Bigs" will be like a non-narcotic  Valium for hitters who have been pressing a bit for a couple months. Last season's team seemed to breath a collective sigh of relief when Lee displayed his dominating presence and the team took off. 

Just like last year's trade, Amaro seemed to come away with the better end of the deal and a huge boost for the Phillies' lofty aspirations. Short of re-acquiring Lee or getting a do-over on the December deal that sent him to the Pacific Northwest, landing Oswalt was the next best thing. 

And, what makes it especially impressive is that RAJ was able to get his old boss Ed Wade to pay more than half of the salary owed to the hard-throwing right-hander over the balance of this season and next year. 

Parting with 2009 Sporting News Rookie-of-the-Year pitcher J.A. Happ is difficult considering his fine performance thus far and his low price tag, but otherwise Amaro did not have to part with any of the team's most prized prospects. 

The team had been very high on young speedster Anthony Gose, but concerns started to surface about his plate discipline. The ability to retain top prospects such as Jarred Cosart, Jonathan Singleton, Trevor May, and of course, Dominic Brown make this a coupe. 

Besides the psychological boost that the acquisition of Oswalt provides throughout the Phillies clubhouse, it may also have an equally deflating effect on the competition- specifically the Atlanta Braves. 

At the end of yesterday's action, the Braves find their once commanding lead narrowed down to 2.5 games. Oh, and by the way, the team breathing down their necks featured a splashy debut of baseball's number one prospect on Wednesday and then added one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past 10 years yesterday. 

Thursday's deal goes a long way towards erasing the lingering unrest associated with the trade of  last year's postseason hero for three  prospects rather than taking a shot at greatness in 2010. 

The consensus still tilts heavily towards the opinion that the Phillies would have been better off hanging onto Lee, but Amaro deserves a lot of credit for swinging this deal to corner the market on stud starters named Roy while having the Astros foot half the bill. 

Besides the unknown of how young players will fare in coming seasons, the only concerns center around Oswalt's health and the financial implications going forward. The All-Star hurler has had some history of back problems and some believe that Oswalt's additional salary burden will negate any chances of the team resigning Jayson Werth. 

Apparently Amaro and the Phillies' medical consultants are confident that Oswalt's back will be fine and all will get a chance to render their own assessment when he takes the mound tonight in Washington. As far as Werth goes, it appears the club will have the rebounding slugger's services for the balance of this season, so all will defer that issue until this chapter is closed. 

This all comes at a time when Phillies hitters seem to be catching their stride. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, and Jimmy Rollins have all elevated their performances in the second half, which has played a big part in the team's current eight game winning streak.  

Just a week ago, hopes for the 2010 season seemed to be fading quickly. One stellar homestand and one masterful trade later has the Phillies suddenly looking like the team to beat again. 

Surely, they still have work to do as they currently sit behind the Braves in the NL East and others in the Wild Card race. With Chase Utley and Shane Victorino still on the DL and Jimmy Rollins nursing a foot injury, they will not be at full strength for the foreseeable future. 

Although the fear factor may have jumped up a bit around the league, other teams will certainly not rollover for them. But injuries and current record notwithstanding, the Phillies now certainly appear to have the fire power to surge ahead. 

The Oswalt deal would seem to signal acknowledgement that both Amaro and organization executives realize that the thought process behind last winter's transaction might have been flawed. Another bold, masterful move on July 29th once again is about as close to a "do over" as it gets, though. 

Props to RAJ.

Philadelphia Phillies' 10 Item Checklist to Overtake the Braves and Mets- Part 8

Part 8 of 12

7. J.A. Happ is back and productive— or Kyle Kendrick makes a leap in consistency

After initially pitching out of the bullpen,  J.A. Happ replaced an ineffective Park and became the team's second best starter over the balance of the 2009 regular season.  Had the team not acquired Cliff Lee at the trade deadline, Happ would have been considered their most successful starter. 

Had Happ not had such a fine rookie campaign, and later had the Phillies not acquired Lee and Pedro Martinez, it is highly doubtful that they would have even made the postseason. 

The young lefty was clearly a key component to last season's success as he gave the team a strong chance to win virtually every time he took the mound.  

Happ just completed his fifth rehab start and is clearly not pitching at the same level that earned him Sporting News Rookie of the Year honors. He is starting to re-gain his command, but his velocity is 5-8 mph lower than normal.  

A return to health and form would provide a huge boost to the 2010 club. Right now, that appears to be an iffy proposition, so it could be some time before the form re-appears despite the indication that he is feeling better. 

Should that not materialize, current fill-in Kyle Kendrick needs to take his game to the next level to find better consistency. He has turned in some fine performances, but also some very poor outings as well. 

Monday night's loss left Kendrick with a 4-3 mark and 4.88 ERA. If the team hopes to win another division title, they will need better from Happ or Kendrick. 

More Deserving Accolades for Phils

The Sporting News published its annual Baseball Awards issue this week covering the 2009 regular season. A few Phillies players were recognized according to a vote taken from players, managers and front office executives.

J.A. Happ was recognized as the National League's Rookie of the Year based on his 12-4 record and 2.93 ERA. Some notable players that he topped included the Brave's Tommy Hansen, the Marlin's Chris Coghlan and the Pirate's tandem of Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones.

Although he was attempting to praise him, comments by a former Phillies scout who now works for the Orioles was quoted saying that Happ was able to do this despite throwing mostly in the 86-88 mph range. This may be why this particular scout is no longer with the Phillies as he must have been watching Jay Happ rather than J.A. I agree with his comments about Happ having good location, arm slot, composure, etc, but the guy I watched all season was consistently in the low 90's and hit 94 when needing to reach back.

In addition to Happ, both Chase Utley and Jayson Werth were included on TSN's year-end NL All-Star Team. The former is not a surprise since Utley is widely recognized as not only the best second basemen in baseball, but also one of the top players, period. TSN sited Utley for stealing 23 bases after off season hip surgery and his fourth consecutive 100 run season. Chase finished the regular season with a .282 Batting Average, 31 HR's, 93 RBI's and a .397 On Base Percentage.

Werth built upon last year's break out season as he became an everyday player after platooning for a good portion of 2008. They sited his 36 home runs, 98 runs, 99 RBI's and .879 OPS. It was pleasing to see Werth be recognized by his peers and leaders around the league. In Philadelphia, we have been able to track his emergence as a star and see his five tool capabilities up close, but with a cast of all-star teammates, his contributions can fly under the radar a bit.

Albert Pujols was recognized as both the NL All-Star first basemen and the NL Player of the Year having hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBI's. It is hard to argue with this selection, but it tends to occlude a great season by the Phillies Ryan Howard. Pujols did most of his damage in the first half of the season, banging out 2/3 of his home runs before the All-Star break. Howard's power numbers were balanced, but hit .305 after the break to end at .279, 45 home runs and a major league leading 141 RBI. Howard has averaged 50 HR's and 143 RBI's over his first four full seasons.

The Phillies have an impressive array of talent as evidenced by their entire outfield, Howard and Utley all being selected to the 2009 NL All-Star team. And, a notable omission from that group is Jimmy Rollins, who won the NL MVP award in 2007 and is still in the prime of his career. The team also boasts other recent All-Stars in Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Brad Lidge.

None of this is breaking news, but it is great to see that perceptions around the league are matching up to what Philadelphia sports fans already know. It is no accident that the Phillies are heading back to their second consecutive World Series with the goal of defending their 2008 championship. Most would agree, the talent is there to do it.

Happ to Start Postponed Game 3 for Phillies

The inclement weather has already impacted the NLDS without a pitch being thrown. With the schedule pushed back a day due to cold and snowy conditions, Charlie Manuel has decided to forego Pedro Martinez in favor of J.A. Happ to start Game 3 against the Rockies. The move had been speculated as a possibility and Manuel confirmed it late yesterday afternoon.

The decision does not reflect a lack of confidence in Martinez, but rather previous seasonal results and trends. Happ tossed a gem against the Rockies in early August, registering a 4-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts. Additionally, the Rockies are less effective against left-handed pitching with greater reliance on lefty hitters. Happ has also overcome a knee contusion that he suffered in Game 2 and indicates that he feels fine.

Martinez could not have been more gracious in accepting the change. He supported the decision, indicating that it was the most reasonable thing to do, and hopes to get called upon in a relief role if needed.

Manuel also announced that Cliff Lee will get the nod as the Game 4 starter on Monday. Cole Hamels could get the assignment if the series goes 5 games, but Manuel has yet to make that determination. Depending on who he calls on out of the bullpen over the next two days, he could also tap Martinez or Joe Blanton. The current pitching decisions along with the ongoing flexibility are reflective of Manuel's courage to make bold moves rather than be constrained by fear of criticism.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy has decided to stick with right-hander Jason Hammel. In two games against the Phillies this season, Hammel was 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA, allowing a .359 batting average.

Although it will be cold tonight, the Phillies hope to heat things up with their bats. It is encouraging that Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino swung the bats well in the first two games of the series. All the team's scoring has occurred in the fifth inning or later, though, so they hope to put some runs on the board early to give Happ some cushion.

The weather still may be somewhat of a factor due to the evening start and temperatures projected to be 38 degrees at game time. There is a good chance that the temperature will drop below the previous post season record low of 35 degrees during the game. These are surely not ideal weather conditions for any game, but especially for the pivotal third game of the NLDS.

It's Official- Game 3 Postponed Until Sunday

Major League Baseball did the sensible thing and cancelled tonight's game between the Phillies and Rockies. The postponement means that game 4 will be played on Monday, eliminating the travel day. As things stand now, if necessary, a deciding game 5 would be played in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

The temperature in Denver was 18 degrees with snow falling at the time of the decision, so making the call early to cancel was the right thing to do. The forecast for tomorrow calls for snow to end through the early morning and warm up to a high of 52 degrees, but will drop back into the 40's by game time tomorrow night.

The decision could very well alter Charlie Manuel's pitching plans. He hinted at it yesterday, and may choose to go with J.A. Happ on Sunday evening, followed by Cliff Lee on Monday and Cole Hamels on Tuesday if the series goes to five games. This does not reflect a lack of confidence in Martinez, but rather the reduced effectiveness of the Rockies against left-handed pitching. A more subtle factor is the notion that Martinez's breaking ball may have less bite in the thin mountain air of Denver; whereas, Happ relies more on spotting fastballs.

All reports suggest that Happ has shaken off the bruised knee that caused Manuel to pull him from Thursday's game. Manuel has also suggested that the other possible starting candidate, Joe Blanton, would be very valuable working out of the pen.

It is good that Bud Selig does not want to repeat the mistakes he made in last year's World Series when the Phillies and Rays played through pouring rain into the wee hours of the morning. No one wants players to go out in weather conditions that could compromise play and interject more chance into the outcome. Lets hope that, in deed, the temperature warms up and precipitation subsides tomorrow in Denver as currently predicted.

OK With Charlie's NLDS Pitching Moves

A great deal of controversy and criticism has erupted from Charlie Manuel's pitching decisions over the past few days. There was first some mild surprise expressed over the playoff roster pitcher selection. Next, many questioned the decision to start a somewhat struggling Cliff Lee over last season's post season hero Cole Hamels in game 1 of the NLDS. Then things heated up further as Manuel used three starting pitchers in game 2, and to add fuel to the fire, one of them left the game with an injury.

For me personally, I am OK with all these decisions. Manuel knows his players, understands the match-ups, possesses experience with the physiological aspects of pitching and has a method to the seeming madness. He also recognizes the team's current vulnerabilities and has the courage to be creative in his approach rather than use the safe, tried and true cookie cutter approach favored by most critics.

Over his tenure in Philadelphia, it has become crystal clear that Charlie's baseball acumen, understanding of the human psyche and instincts far exceed his ability to articulate it. He should have earned his "just due" by now leading the team in the greatest era in Phillies history. Besides that, everyone of his decisions make sense.

Choosing Lee as the opening game starter proved to be the right decision by his dominant pitching performance. Lee was surely a worthy choice based on his credentials and the laser-like focus that he brings to the mound. It also made sense purely from the current pitching order and days of rest between starts. And, if the series were to go to 5 games, both Lee and Hamels would be available to pitch.

With JC Romero down with an injury, Scott Eyre fighting elbow pain and the Rockies left-handed leaning line-up, adding Antonio Bastardo as a needed situational lefty makes a world of sense. Bastardo even somewhat resembles Romero, possessing similar pop on his fastball and sharp break on his slider. Manuel would love to have Romero to call upon, but in his absence, why not go to the next best thing? The rookie did not disappoint, either, coming into a two out, bases loaded jam in game 2 and promptly striking out imposing pinch hitter Jason Giambi.

Choosing Kyle Kendrick over Tyler Walker and Clay Condrey was somewhat of a surprise, but it is also understandable. Kendrick pitched well in some big moments down the stretch, can throw multiple innings if needed and his sinker and slider can keep Rockies hitters in the park. Walker faltered in the late going and Condrey is just coming off an extended injury rehabilitation.

The biggest controversy revolved around Manuel's use of Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ as relievers in game 2. Both pitchers were viewed as the leading candidates to start games 3 and 4, and conventional wisdom would preclude disrupting their rest and preparation for those assignments. Of course this was just speculation since Manuel never named his starters, but weather permitting, one of them had to get the nod this weekend.

Again, these decisions make sense to me. Manuel had the comfort of having 5 starting pitchers worthy of taking the ball. It appears that he was leaning towards using future Hall-of-Famer Pedro Martinez in game 3 anyway, yet limited relief appearances by Blanton and Happ should not compromise them if called upon. They both would have thrown bullpen sessions, so Manuel simply traded adrenaline and intensity for a greater number of sideline pitches. The impact on their arms and respective recovery is the same.

Manuel knows that Blanton possesses a resilient arm and attacks hitters, so it makes perfect sense that he was leaning all along towards using him in a relief role. As he demonstrated on Thursday, his velocity jumps up to the 93-94 range in a short stint with heightened intensity. Happ is the logical choice to pitch game 4 based on his previous success against the Rockies, his season long consistency, his calm and focused approach, and the Rockies vulnerability to left-handed pitchers. And, with limitations from the left side in the bullpen, why not use him situationally in relief in the first couple games?

Pedro gets the call tonight. Although he finished the regular season limited by a neck injury, he has the pitching pedigree and big game credentials to come up big. The frigid weather will be a factor and some are concerned whether it will hurt Martinez's finesse. If he falters, Blanton will be waiting in the wings. If the game is postponed, Manuel might very well opt for Happ, Lee and Hamels as starters over the balance of the series.

Lets give Manuel and the Phillies credit for taking into account the circumstances and being creative towards positioning themselves for success. Importantly, the manager has the full confidence and support of his players. They trust him and even more importantly, they are all focused on winning as a team and willing to take on whatever role is needed to successfully defend their title.

Phillies End the Regular Season on a High Note

Yesterday's regular season finale ended on a high note for the Phillies. Back-up catcher and September call-up Paul Hoover lined a ball down the third base line that ticked off the glove of Wes Helms for a single, plating John Mayberry to give the Phils a 7-6, 10th inning victory over the Florida Marlins. Teammates bounded onto the field and happily peppered him after he rounded first base and sent the team into post season in style.

On a day that Charlie Manuel chose to rest all his regulars, except for Jayson Werth and starting pitcher J.A. Happ, the Phillies fought from behind all day. Manuel pulled Happ after two innings and used an array of relievers who may have been auditioning for a playoff roster spot. Although the game had little relevance and the regulars mostly remained on the bench, heading to the post season fresh off a walk-off victory provided somewhat of a psychological lift for the team.

Werth was in the line-up as a gesture of appreciation for his excellent season. He came into the game with a career high 99 RBI, but unfortunately was not able to push the total to the milestone century mark. He missed his last opportunity when he was intentionally walked (to a jeering crowd) with Mayberry on second base to get to Hoover in the tenth.

Despite the mild disappointment, Werth was a large contributor throughout the 2009 season, providing critical right handed pop amongst the team's left handed power hitters. He built upon last year's break out season as he became the full-time right fielder, clubbing 36 home runs to finish 7th in the National League. Werth finished with a .268 batting average, but more indicative of his contribution was his lofty .373 On Base Percentage, which was second highest on the team.

Happ yielded a couple runs in the first, before tossing a scoreless second inning. He also has played a large role in the Phillies NL East title, emerging as a highly dependable and effective starter. Happ ends the season with a 12-4 record, the league's 8th best ERA at 2.93, and consideration for a playoff start against the Colorado Rockies. He remains a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, but may have been passed as the favorite by Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan, who turned in a huge second half to finish 6th in the NL batting race with a .321 average.

Sunday's victory pushed the Phillies overall record to 93-69, one win better than a season ago. This also secured the second best record in the National League behind the Dodgers. Attention now turns to preparing for Wednesday's National League Division Series against the Rockies at Citizen Bank Park, including important decisions about their playoff roster and starting rotation. Overall, the Phillies enjoyed another excellent regular season, but now the excitement rises to another level as they launch into the next phase of their World Series Championship defense.

Phillies Fans Could See It Coming

You could almost see it coming from a mile away. The Phillies were set to face a team who had not won a road game in the entire month of September. They were facing a young pitcher who has not been able to get anybody out in the major leagues, sporting a 11.74 ERA as a starter. The Phillies had their top starting pitcher over the past month on the hill. Their opponent is playing out the string while the Phillies are motivated to close out the division championship and better their playoff seeding.

You could almost see it coming from a mile away. Of course, the Phillies could barely scratch out any hits while the Astros strung together 15 hits to easily win 8-2. Yorman Bazardo, Manny Parra and Anibal Sanchez- so hittable throughout the league, so unhittable for the Phillies. You could see it coming, but its hard to explain.

Cole Hamels must have felt like he went back in time to a less kind month earlier this season. As Hamels experienced previously in his most frustrating season, the Astros used an array of bunts, swinging bunts, dribblers, bloopers and broken bat dunkers to complement and make the well hit balls hurt. A game that he appeared to be controlling, suddenly got away and turned into defeat.

All the while, the Braves continued to put W's on the schedule, shutting out the Marlins 4-0, which cuts what was recently an 8.5 game deficit to 4 games in the NL East. Things are starting to get uncomfortable. It is conceivable that the Braves will win out, facing an almost extinct Marlins team 2 more games and then the dreadful Nationals for the final four games of the season. The Phillies have 2 more games against the Astros, who they have yet to beat this season, and then 3 games against the Marlins, who would love to knock the Phillies off.

There were a few developments on the bullpen front. Tyler Walker pretty much ruled out a more prominent role by following up his 9th inning loss on Saturday with a bad outing that allowed the Astros to break the game wide open. JC Romero made his return in the 8th inning, yielding a couple hits, but no runs. Brad Lidge pitched the 9th inning and escaped without giving up any runs after a hit batter and single.

Tonight the Phillies face another scary challenge similar to last night. Wilton Lopez gets the start for Houston. His unknown stature is highlighted by the fact that his photo does not appear on his online profile and he comes into the game with an 8.44 ERA. Lets hope the hometown team breaks from the recent trend and finds a way to raise his ERA, while J.A. Happ gets back to campaigning for the NL Rookie-of-the-Year award.

Phillies Rebound From Disappointing Loss with 9-4 Win

Phillies players suffered a difficult loss to the Florida Marlins on Wednesday and to add insult to injury, had to immediately pack up and fly to Milwaukee to play a four game set. They arrived in the wee hours of the morning at a time when newspaper trucks are loading up for delivery while knowing the Marlins got to sleep in on an off day, still surrounded by the after glow of their late game heroics. The combination made for a serious hangover for the team in red.

Fortunately, they quickly brushed off the tough defeat and took the field to do battle again. They made Brewers starter Jeff Suppan work hard until they eventually broke things open with a barrage of runs. Nothing like a "9" on the scoreboard to take some pressure off your sagging bullpen. Jimmy Rollins provided the big blow with a 3-run shot off the facing of the upper deck in a 6-run 5th inning. Pedro Feliz and Ryan Howard also each drove in a pair of runs.

Meanwhile, J.A. Happ was taking another pass at returning to the mound after being shut down early in his previous start. He looked like the Rookie-of-the-Year candidate again, mixing his sharp pitches to hold the high scoring Brewers in check and run his record to 11-4. He struck out five batters in a row at one point and 7 over 5 2/3 innings. Charlie Manuel pulled him in the 6th inning, sensing that he may be tiring after a long injury layoff.

Lost in all the discussion about the Phillies offensive prowess, defensive skill, starting pitching talent and bullpen struggles are a couple other key strengths of this ball club. No one is totally immune to the grind of a marathon 162 game season, but the Phillies players are a mentally tough bunch. And, very importantly, they have excellent team chemistry. Although it can be cliche, they truly win and lose as a team.

As the bullpen has struggled, lesser teams and lesser individuals could easily harbor ill feelings towards those not upholding their end of the bargain, and lose sight of what each of them needs to continue doing. This team was not built that way. They support each other and move on when adversity strikes. It is both endearing and clearly a reason why they are the defending champions.

Last night's victory, while the Marlins and Braves were idle, added 1/2 game to their NL East cushion and reduced their magic number to 4. It also moved them 1/2 game ahead of the Cardinals for playoff seeding and home field advantage. Every game is still meaningful, making the team's quick rebound especially important.

Phillies Use Long Ball to Take Opener in Atlanta

Ryan Howard continued his assault on Braves pitching with a pair of home runs, and then Jimmy Rollins and Ben Francisco sealed the victory with back-to-back homers in the 9th inning. Kyle Kendrick also stepped up big-time, coming into relieve starter J.A. Happ and toss four scoreless innings to earn the victory. The 9-4 win reduced their magic number to 8 and assured that the Braves can gain no more than 1 game in the 3-game series.

Having been staked a 1-0 lead by Phillies killer Martin Prado's solo home run, Braves starter Tim Hudson retired the first 10 hitters before Francisco singled to left in the 4th. After Chase Utley smoked a line drive to right that was caught, Howard blasted a ball deep into the right-center field stands to give the Phils a 2-1 lead.

Happ was taken out after 3 innings for pre-cautionary measures because he grimaced covering first base. Kendrick used an effective sinker to keep the Braves off balance and off the board in his four innings of work. In the sixth, Howard launched another home run to extend the lead to 3-1.

Jayson Werth singled (one of three hits in the game) with the bases loaded in the 8th inning to push the Phillies lead to 5-1. Brian McCann hit a 2-run shot off reliever Tyler Walker in the bottom half of the inning to pull the Braves within striking distance.

The Phillies did not back off, though. After a pair of walks, Rollins launched his 19th home run of the season into the right field bleachers and Francisco followed by jacking a ball into the left field stands.

Charlie Manuel tapped Chad Durbin to throw the 9th. After giving up a couple hits and a run, he settled down to record the game's final outs. The win allowed the Phillies to stay 8 games up on the Marlins and increased their lead over the Braves to 8.5 games.

All wins are meaningful, particularly at this point in the season, but it was important for less tangible reasons. A series opening loss would have kept the Braves momentum going and may have caused the Phillies to press a little in the next two games. Also, since the Marlins have 6 head-to-head games left with the Phillies and the Braves have a relatively easy schedule after this series, both teams still have a legitimate shot.

Howard's two bombs gives him 40 home runs for the year and is the fourth consecutive year that he has eclipsed that threshold. Prior to that was his rookie year, when he hit 22 in a little over half a season. He is hitting .344 with 7 home runs and 14 RBI this season versus Atlanta.

The series continues tonight and tomorrow afternoon with two good pitching match-ups. First up is Pedro Martinez against Javier Vasquez. Pedro looks stronger each time that he takes the mound, but he will be watched closely after throwing a total of 249 pitches in his last two starts. Meanwhile, eyes will be on the scoreboard as the Marlins take on the Reds at Great American Ball Park where they had lost 9 in a row until last night.

Houston, We Have a Problem

The Phillies headed to Houston toting an 8.5 game lead in the NL East to face an Astros team that was seemingly moving backwards, having lost 8 of the previous 10 games. Four days ago it seemed to be a good opportunity to extend their lead in the 4-game extended weekend set. Unfortunately, it did not work that way as the Phillies came up empty for the series.

Today followed a similar pattern as yesterday, with the Phillies taking an early lead, yielding it to the Astros and then not being able to rally in the late innings. Friday's lopsided loss was followed with three straight one run defeats. Meanwhile, the Florida Marlins took two of three games to narrow the gap to 6 games.

Charlie Manual expressed his great displeasure about the team's weekend effort after the game suggesting that players may have gotten a little too comfortable. Manuel has been around long enough to know that it is dangerous for players to think they can turn it on and off as needed. Perhaps the Mets felt that way the previous two seasons?

The Phillies have gone into September the past two seasons with the inherent motivation that comes from being the team trying to make up ground. This year it will require a different type of mental toughness to make a sprint to the finish line without looking back.
J.A. Happ, Besides losing ground in the standings, a few new situations bear watching. J.A. Happ was pulled from his scheduled start today due to a strained oblique muscle. Also, Ryan Madson was unavailable due to the same type of injury. The team hopes that the injuries are minor and both players will recover quickly, but they also have seen the same injury land Clay Condrey on the Disabled List since late July with no signs of a return anytime soon. Losing either or both of those players for any extended period would be surely problematic.

Fortunately, Jamie Moyer provides some insurance for Happ. Moyer was able to step into today on short rest and produce another strong performance. He has pitched remarkably well since being taken out of the rotation a few weeks ago, going 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA.

Ryan Howard, the August NL Player of the Month, has continued his hot hitting. Today he went 3-4 and crushed a home run high off the concrete facade in left-centerfield. The ball hit well above the yellow home run line in Minute Maid stadium, which seems to have been designed by the firm Wiffle Ball Architectural Associates. Raul Ibanez followed Howard's shot with a home run of his own and is starting to show some signs of emerging from his two month slump.

Lets hope that Charlie's message lands safely on his players. One series sweep is not worthy of deep concern, but the team would be wise to turn up the thrusters to maintain a safe cruising distance.

Happ Continues to Make His Case for Rookie of the Year

In major league baseball, it is rare to find a rookie as the most consistent pitcher on a team. A strong case can be made that J.A. Happ fills that bill for the Phillies (if Cliff Lee is excluded, of course, due to his short tenure.) Except for one April outing, Scott Eyre has been terrific all season long, but due to his role as a situational lefty out of the bullpen, I would lean towards the rookie.

Although it is surprising that a rookie could find such consistency in performance versus veterans who "have been there and done that," it is a lot more understandable when you have had opportunities to observe Happ over a period of time. He possesses a temperament that exudes veteran savvy. He remains calm, and poised regardless of the situation, but seems to intensify his focus further when he gets into trouble on the mound.

This trait is evidenced by his numbers. Opposing batters are hitting only .185 against him with runners on base and it gets more difficult from there. Happ has limited hitters to a .125 average with runners in scoring position and a paltry .075 average when there are two out. Of course, the simplest indicators might be that his record stands at 10-2 with a 2.59 ERA.

Overall, Happ's approach is very similar to that of new teammate Cliff Lee. They both attack the strike zone with lots of fastballs, choosing to work ahead in the count. The presence of the reigning American League Cy Young award winner should only serve to further Happ's development, especially as he builds more confidence in his breaking ball and change-up.

As he takes the mound tonight, Happ would seem to be the front runner for National League Rookie of the Year. Considering his demeanor and approach, it is not hard to envision him continuing the success that he has achieved to this point. It remains to be seen how he will stack up against some solid competition for this honor when the final votes are tallied, but it is clear that the Phillies are very pleased and fortunate to have him in their starting rotation. He also seems to be gathering respect around the league as evidenced by the fact that he has finally become "Jay."

One Step Forward for Lidge

Amidst the Phillies 4-1 victory last night over the Mets, Brad Lidge took a solid stride forward. Although it is hard to draw any conclusions from one outing, particularly against possibly the league's weakest line-up, Lidge showed command and sharpness that has been often missing in previous games this season. He also displayed a sense of calm in nailing down his 24th save.

J.A. Happ battled through seven innings, working in and out of trouble, to hold the Mets to 1 run. For the second consecutive game, Happ labored a little, but relied on his veteran-like ability to buckle down and strand runners on the bases. He has done this all season, better than any other starting pitcher in the league. His performance earned him the victory, running his record to 10-2 and likely retaining his rookie-of-the-year front runner status.   

After Ryan Madson eased his way through the 8th inning, striking out two of the three batters he faced, Lidge took the mound to open the bottom of the 9th. He quickly dispensed Daniel Murphy, striking him out with a slider down and in. After a fly out, he ended the game by striking out pinch hitter Cory Sullivan on a 95 mph heater.  Overall, he exhibited good velocity and nice downward angle on his slider.

On the offensive side, Chase Utley got the team going after five scoreless innings by launching a 2-run homer into "Utley's corner" to give the Phils a 2-1 lead. The team tacked on a couple more runs on the strength of doubles by Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz and Jayson Werth.

With the Braves loss last night, the Phillies regained their 6.5 game margin in the NL East. Importantly, though, they may have taken a step towards re-gaining their closer.  

The Cliff Lee Effect

Ruben Amaro's late July coup, landing reigning American League Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee at the trade deadline, is already paying handsome dividends. In some ways this is very obvious, and other ways it is less obvious, but maybe just as important. After yesterday seeing Lee's 3rd excellent performance in 3 outings for the Phillies, what seemed very apparent from the start is continuing to become clearer. Let's examine the broad impact of this blockbuster acquisition.

Complacency

Ironically, one of the first impacts might have been to cause a little bit of complacency to set in after the initial euphoria. Adding one of the best pitchers in baseball to a team whose collective esteem was spiking after a tremendous month of play might have inadvertently caused the players to feel a little too confident. The inner voice in players' minds might very well have turned down the adrenaline and sense of urgency as logic would say that one of the best teams in baseball just got a lot better. The Marlins 3 game sweep and Charlie Manuel's post game address on Sunday helped to reinforce that games need to be won on the field.

Rotation Upgrade

The obvious impact of the Lee acquisition is that a starter-by-committee spot, dotted with a big question mark, is being replaced by a top notch pitcher. The chances of winning every 5th day clearly went up. Registering a 22-3 win/loss record last year is truly remarkable, but it becomes understandable as you witness Lee's make-up, repertoire and approach up close.

Role Model

From the first time that Cliff Lee toed the pitching rubber in a Phillies uniform to now, it has been easy to see that he is a natural "leader-by-example." He exudes professionalism, a warm, yet no nonsense demeanor and positive energy in all his actions- and then proceeds to aggressively attack the strike zone with an upbeat tempo and laser focus on the mound. This is invaluable to other pitchers on the staff (especially similar style left-handers like Cole Hamels and J.A. Happ) as they observe the positive impact on the players behind him and ultimately, the results. Lee's impact on the staff is largely parallel to the impact that Raul Ibanez has had on the team's position players.

True Stopper

With Hamels struggling to find the consistent level of excellence and air of supreme confidence that he displayed last year, Lee gives the team a legitimate stopper on the staff. In theory, this serves to keep the team out of prolonged slumps, but more importantly, gives peace of mind to the team knowing that every fifth day they are backing one of the best pitchers in baseball. This also serves to take some pressure off the other starting pitchers as well as provide motivation. And, won't it be fun to see Hamels regain his mojo to give the Phillies two stoppers down the stretch and into the playoffs?

Playoff Positioning

Speaking of the playoffs, many have expressed the opinion that this trade was engineered to strengthen the team for the post season. Although it is absolutely true that the impact becomes greater in the post season when teams go to a 3 or 4 man rotation, it would be folly to assume that the division championship is in the bag (as the Marlins reminded the team this past weekend.) The Phillies have the talent to win the division and make a strong post season run, but that needs to play out one pitch, one inning, one game at a time.

Chemistry

Lee looks to be another high character, personable team player who fits perfectly into a team with great chemistry. The Phillies have done a tremendous job building a team filled with talented players that are genuine, likable, competitive and function as a true team (that has fun along the way.) This played a big part in their past success, will be a key driver for future success and is foundational to their tremendous fan appeal.

Ben Francisco

I would be remiss to not recognize the other player acquired in the Lee deal. Ben Francisco has some pop in his bat, can run, has a plus arm and is versatile enough to play all 3 outfield positions. He has already contributed, as evidenced Tuesday night by his game winning home run in the 12th inning, and provides a more consistent, seasoned back-up who will help the team down the stretch.

Philadelphia Phillie fans are fortunate to have Cliff Lee join an already strong cast. It will be fun to see him contribute to the team's success in both the tangible and intangible ways over the course of 2009 season. Thank you, Ruben, for your insight and negotiating skill in making this deal.