Game chat: Phils seek sweep; Happ joins rotation

Cole Hamels (8-5, 3.38) has the ball when the Phils try to make it three-out-of-three against rookie Jair Jurrjens (8-3, 2.94 ERA) and the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, the Phils have finally announced that 25-year-old lefty J.A. Happ will start tomorrow night’s game against Johan Santana and the Mets, per the Inquirer.

With Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Happ went 5-6 with a 3.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts, which leads the International League. The former 2004 third-round pick from Northwestern has pitched well lately, allowing one run in 7 2-3 innings in Saturday’s game with Syracuse. Before that, he blanked Durham over six innings, striking out nine. Opponents are hitting .243 off him. Happ was called up last season for a start against the Mets. The decision ends days of speculation over the starting vacancy, which involved everyone from Chad Durbin to Carlos Carrasco to Brian Mazone. After Brett Myers was demoted, Happ, who is already on the 40-man roster and was in line to start Friday, was the obvious choice. No word on how they plan to make room for Happ on the active roster.

Meanwhile, the Phils try to finish off their nine-game road trip on a winning note, and it will not be easy. Jurrjens, the rookie right-hander who came over from Detroit in the Edgar Renteria trade, has been on a roll lately, going 4-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his last eight starts, including a three-hit, eight-inning shutout against Toronto. Manager Bobby Cox called it one of the best starts he’d ever seen. Maybe Jurrjens, not Santana, is the one to worry about.

Beerleaguer: Happ was the right choice. Myers demotion, Happ promotion is the best of both worlds. I'd like to see Happ get five starts minimum. With Myers out of the picture, it's time to take guys like Happ out for a spin.

Comments

[THe Dude]

THe Dude is leading off..the way it should be

[Tim]

i was going to say 'rough debut start for happ', but i forgot he had a cup of coffee last year.

[THe DuDe]

Congrats to Happ and prehaps he can impress enough to stick around longer this time around...my gut feeling is that this is just a temporary fill in until something else is done before the deadline.

[vegas]

Ya don't know what ya got till ya try.
Happ will be better than Myers.

[denny b.]

Welcome back to the bigs.

Now, get out there, against the Phils biggest rivals, on the 4th of July, at home, against Johan Santana, and get it done.

I just hope they give the kid a true shot. Not one game. Not a placeholder spot. Give him 4 or 5 starts, and see how it goes.

One thing for sure....he can't be any worse than the guy he is replacing. So, that lowers the pressure a bit. Its not like he is replacing Hamels.

And, I would guess tonight is the last night for Swindle in a big league uniform (at least for this stint). Hope he gets in the game tonight. Romero probably needs the night off anyway (and Lidge might need one as well), so he might be needed, if Cole doesn't go 7.

[denny b.]

This should also mean, should Happ get a 2nd start, that the Cardinals see all lefthanders next week (Hamels, Happ and Moyer).

And, finally a smart move to give Moyer an extra day off, and have him start Saturday. That is using your head.

[king myno]

I'm with denny b. If we stake Cole to a 4-5 run lead, maybe Charlie will feel comfortable testing the Braves with that 50 mph curve. If I had to guess, though, I'd say the next mound RJ climbs will be, once again, a AAA one.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

Well if Happ stays on for the rest of the season, then I believe that totally eliminates any chance of Randy Wolf being the guy that is (potentially) traded for. There is no way that the Phils would seriously consider going with 4 Left handers in the rotation. Right?

Then again, Ruben Amaro does look like a mix of Ray Liotta and Pat Burrell, and Ray Liotta was in "Field of Dreams" and "8 Men Out." So I guess that counts for something.

[Mike]

YES! Here's to Happ and hopefully a win tonight.

[THe Dude]

just looking around the league to see how some former phils are doing and man I'm impressed with some of Gavin Floyd's stats. He's given up like 20 less hits than inning pitched and is arguably an allstar this year at 9-4 and 3.45 ERA. Another guy on the sox that has some interest stats is Boone Logan. Not sure if many of you remember but he's the LOOGY that the Sox through out there a few years ago when they were interested in reaquiring Rowand. He's pitching very well.

[The Theory]

Well, I'll be at Friday's game when Happ starts, so it'll be interesting to get a look at him up close (far away... as I'll be sitting waaay up).

[bay_area_phan]

The Phillies made the right move, even if they dithered around too long to do so. We need to see if Happ can pitch because, not only could it affect what we do at the trading deadline, but it could also affect what we do in the off-season. Considering that the Phillies have lost 11 of Myers' last 12 starts, the downside risk here is miminal. Happ could certainly be worse than Myers, but the results can't be much worse.

Unfortunately, he's being thrown right to the wolves by debuting against a strong offensive team, which just happens to be our fiercest divisional rival and, oh, by the way, has Johann Santana going on the mound. We may learn something about Happ's mental makeup right away. I just hope he doesn't get shelled, as I could easily see that leading to a spiraling effect where he ends up back in the minors pretty quickly. I'm not saying that WILL happen, but it's a scenario that isn't hard to envision.

[Andy]

This just in:
Chris Coste says, "Chris Coste is okay with this choice. Chris Coste woulda stepped up if the Phils needed Chris Coste. But Chris Coste will catch the kd and make him better."

Chris Coste added, "Anyone got a problem with that? Chris Coste thought not."

[THe Dude]

A's signed that Dominican 16 yr old today to more $ than the Phils have budgeted for its entire latin american development program. The Phils are really losing out when it comes to getting foreign born players. They should realize this soon and hopefully open the purse strings!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-inoa070308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Andy]

Just Happ -enstance? Will he be Happ -enin' or Happ -less? Maybe he will bring us true Happ -iness.

All I know is that the prospect of more Myers was not very Happ -etizing.

[THe Dude]

Andy - thats not fair...Coste may be a media ho but he's by no means egotistical...he's just media savy and knows that the more he talks up the media the more they mention his book and increase his supplemental salary.

[doubleh]

Andy, you have got to switch to decaf. j/k

[Dull]

A couple of 20 year old starting pitchers on the move:. Edgar Garcia to Reading and this years third round draft pick Vance Worley to Lakewood. Just hope one of the Caribbean young guns like a Carrasco, Bastardo, Castro, Garcia etc. emerges and can help out down the stretch.

[CJ]

bap: When you say dithered around too long, are you talking about making the move earlier this year or announcing the decision sooner.

I honestly believe they knew it was Happ all along... he knew that, the team knew that... but there was little reason to tell anyone else. Why make it easier for the Mets to scout him?

If you're talking about making the decision earlier this year, well... I can certainly see that.

[Andy]

"Chris Coste likes THat Dude. If THe Dude buys a buncha Chris Coste's books and sends them to Chris Coste, Chris Coste will autograph them."

Chris Coste added, "THe Dude can thank Chris Coste later."

[Andy]

{Dude, et al; you know I'm just kidding around. I like Coste.}

[Andy]

Dull - Edgar Garcia (IMO) is the closer of the future.

[bay_area_phan]

CJ: I don't disagree with any of that, but the FO should at least have let Beerleaguer know what was going on.

[CJ]

We're again back to our familiar lineup...

Rollins
Vic
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Jenkins
Feliz
Ruiz
Hamels

[Dave X]

On a sort of interesting aside, I just glanced at Yahoo's baseball writers all-star picks and all 3 of them had the same 3 Phillies : Utley, Lidge, and Burrell. None had Hamels. Unfortunately fan voting makes chosing the best team almost impossible, meaning lots of Astros, Yanks, Red Sox, and Cubs will be on the team.

[THe Dude]

beginning tomorrow the phils got 10 home games and marlins have an 11 game road trip. These next two weeks before the break will be very important to not only put some distance between us and the mets but also determine if the marlins are for real.

Happ is the one prospect in this organization that gets absolutely no praise. Its kinda scary considering some of the praise and hype we've heard over the years over minor leaguer guys who eventually became marginal players like Marlon Byrd, Wendell Magee Jr., Wolf, Valent, Segovia, Brito, etc.

[Andy]

Shouldn't they bat Hamels ahead of Ruiz?

P.S. Jason; admit it, you just did a little photo-shopping of a Kendrick picture and you're pretending it's Happ, right? We all know that's KK.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

~sigh~ I don't like that lineup...

Very happy Happ was brought up...who'd they send down? I hope it wasn't Swindle...

[CJ]

bap: Fair enough. :-)

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Damn...Worley to Lakewood already...I was hoping he'd stay with Williamsport for 2 more week when they come to Vermont.

[bay_area_phan]

As for your second question: should they have called on Happ earlier in the season? In hindsight, I would have to say No. If they'd called on him earlier, he would have replaced Eaton and, as it turns out, Eaton has turned his season around and been pitching tolerably well.

Myers, on the other hand, has been flirting with demotion for a good 6 or 8 weeks but, until this last outing, he had managed to pitch well every time he reached the point of what felt like a "do or die" game. You can't really cut a guy after he pitches well - particularly a guy you're counting on as a key piece in your rotation.

So, for all those reasons, I think now was the right time. Not sooner. Not later. But now. Even the Phillies can get things right every now and then.

[vegas]

Chis Coste would like to know why Chris Coste is not in the line up tonight.

He's a Brave killer.

[bay_area_phan]

Andy: You are really asking for the Wrath of Davthom.

[CJ]

bap: Right... I do think the only starter to pitch his way out of our rotation is Myers. I suppose you could pick a game earlier in the year that was do or die, but somehow, he managed to keep throwing in good starts and prolonging what was to become inevitable.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

So what happens when Bretty continues to pitch poorly in AAA? Do they leave him there? Do they put him in the bullpen and hope he does well there? Perhaps the medical examination they're giving him will show damage and at least then there'd be an explanation for his issues. If there isn't any and he continues to suck even in Lehigh, then what happens?

[NCPhilly]

Who has added Happ to their fantasy team already?

[CJ]

NEP: Now that he's at AAA, the Phils don't have to do anything. They can leave him there for the rest of the year if they want. If they find some damage, he'll go on the DL. If not, he'll have to pitch his way back on the team. I could imagine a September addition to the bullpen.

NCP: I picked him up two days ago.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

I love the Phillies but I don't love them enough to pick up Happ for my team.

[CJ]

NEP: You haven't seen my pitching staff... ;-)

[curt]

Huge dead hole tonight 6-8. Hamels better be prepared to toss one of those shutouts.

Cholly just doesn't get it that these 3 guys should never be out there at the same time.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

I have Volquez, F. Hernandez (DL), Marcum (DL), Joba, Greinke, Harden, and Shields...even with 2 starters on the DL, I still don't have any room for him.

[CJ]

CBS Sportsline fantasy baseball says of Happ: "He is a must-add in all deeper leagues immediately as he has the potential to be a winner for an offensively potent contender in Philly."

Woo hoo!

[NEPhilliesPhan]

I don't see his K rate transferring over to more advanced hitters though. That would hurt him in a fantasy sense. He could win a number of games for the Phillies but that all depends on what type of run support they give him.

[NCPhilly]

I could make room for Happ, but do not need him or think he is worth reaching for at this point. In my primary league, a 12 team H2H keeper league, my staff is: Peavy, Sabathia, Volquez, Harang, Marcum (DL), Garza, Cain, Rich Hill (minors).

[NCPhilly]

Here's a question about something I should know and could easily check for myself: is Happ a flyball pitcher?

[NEPhilliesPhan]

I almost picked up Garza when Hernandez went on the DL but I went with Sanchez (SanFran) instead...his K rate is very impressive. I'm thinkin' I should have grabbed Garza instead.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

UTS!!!

[redbeard]

bang. mr. utley

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Utley!!!

[CJ]

All right Chase!

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

I like the way Ryno/Chase are swinging against this guy, but I can't say the same for Rollins/Vic.

[CJ]

I hate any outs... but not a bad swing there by Ryan. Tough lefty tonight, good to see Chase hammer him.

Is R.J. warming up yet?

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

CJ: he is RH.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

I think. Wait a minute?

[CJ]

Inside: You are correct.

Tough righty going tonight... good to see Chase hammer him!

[Sophist]

JJ is a RHP.

[Sophist]

Sorry, little late there.

Nice work by Hamels getting Chipper and Teixeira.

[CJ]

Sophist: Yeah... gotta bear down on the RBI guys with a guy in scoring position. I'm guessing Tex is pretty frustrated right now after last night's K with the bags full and then watching strike three go right down the middle in his first AB.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

infield single by Burrell...how rare are those?

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

PTB! single. Don't get too excited, Feliz, Jenkins, RUiz to follow. That is a guaranteed DP somewhere.

[Sophist]

Wow. That was Jurrjens first ER allowed in 21.2 IP.

His last three games

2-0, 21.2 IP, 14 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 14 SO, .182/.229/.234 against

[flipper]

"I just hope he doesn't get shelled, as I could easily see that leading to a spiraling effect where he ends up back in the minors pretty quickly."

That BAP, the eternal optimist.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

Ruiz, don't swing, ever.

[CJ]

NEP: Not sure if you're watching on TV or just getting updates, but it's not like PtB beat out a throw. :-) Tough shot up the middle that Escobar got a glove on, and it rolled away.

[flipper]

Burrell and Ruiz on the basepaths. Time for a double steal?

[NEPhilliesPhan]

CJ: Ahhh...nah I'm just watching it on ESPN.com.

[flipper]

Sorry, meant Burrell and Feliz.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

Flipper: I was going to say, Ruiz being on the bases would be a big story.

[Iceman]

Might just be lowered expectations on my part, but it seems like Happy's been a lot more patient and been working out better ABs lately as a result.

[bay_area_phan]

flipper: I don't profess to be an optimist -- particularly when it comes to the Phillies. But, at the risk of sounding like an athlete, you're taking my statement out of context. Clearly, there is a potential scenario where Happ gets shelled early, loses confidence, and is totally ineffective thereafter. I didn't say it would happen, or it was likely to happen. I said it was a potential scenario & I hoped it didn't happen.

[denny b.]

Why is Ruiz starting 2 games in this series?

He should only start once or twice a week MAX right now (he should actually be at Allentown catching Myers; but that's another story).

[flipper]

I totally agree, BAP. I certainly could happen, and yes, you did say that you weren't saying that it WOULD happen. But you have to admit, the "downward spiral" thing is a tad fatalistic.

[Sophist]

I'm not sure, Iceman. Feliz is still dead last on the Phils in P/PA at 3.27. Maybe it is just lowered expectations - though I don't recall seeing his number that low all year.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

I don't recall the last time I watched a Ruiz at bat, and he did not look overmatched. The Phils have hit against some bad pitchers in the last two series.

[Iceman]

Sophist - thanks for the stat. Lowered expectations it is.

Speaking of lowering expectations, a lot of Braves are starting to lower their expectations on Francouer's career.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

If all your expectations would be blown out of the water by a single, how would you describe that? That is where I'm at with Ruiz.

[bay_area_phan]

flipper: Fair enough. It's fatalistic & I'm a pessimist by nature. But other than one fatalistic post, I've been one of Happ's biggest advocates.

[clicheguevara]

Stand up triple! Got a bit lucky there, Jimmy.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

J-Roll!!

J-Roll: Expectations? Take that!!

[Iceman]

Parker...I think we're all there right now. Although he's been keeping his bat on his shoulder more lately, taking some walks. That's where my expectations are -- DON'T SWING. Take the K, I'm fine with that.

J-Roll seems to be waking up a bit.

[curt]

One of the worst pitches I've ever seen Utley swing at.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

Well, that is the kind of crap that loses you a ballgame.

[Iceman]

Jurrjens dancing on thin ice, a la Eaton, and lives to tell about it.

[NEPhilliesPhan]

Wow...way to strand the runner at 3rd with no outs...

[redbeard]

well that was a bunch of garbage. lead off tripple and noone can get him in? sheesh.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

Was Hamels having some kind of LSD flashback there or something?

[Iceman]

Escobar hurt himself swinging at that malevolent change-up. Hope it isn't serious.

[Inside/Outside the Parker]

BTW: The concept that Brandon Webb is pitching better than Cole, is no longer applicable.

[curt]

All's well that ends well, but Feliz got 5 balls during that AB.

[AFish]

Carlos "DP" Ruiz comes through again.

[curt]

Has anyone ever gone 0 for 3 months, or will this be the first?

[Hope SE]

Ruiz - as close to automatic on the DP as it gets.

[bay_area_phan]

Ruiz makes Abraham Nunez look like a 5-tool superstar.

[vegas]

Glad Feliz swung on ball four. DP Ruiz would have killed the rally.

[Sophist]

The dribbler scores a run

[Ira]

Why the heck is Ruiz even playing?

[Sophist]

Damn, MLB.TV premium is behind you guys. Ruiz is up there with a 1-1 count in my game.

[Sophist]

Ruiz catches Hamels. This is his 16th time catching Hamels in 18 starts.

[AFish]

Sophist, it must be your internet service provider. I am watching on mlb.tv.

[Iceman]

This is why Pedro goes up there hacking a lot of the time...he's got Ruiz behind him. It's like the opposite effect of batting behind Barry Bonds.