Starting rotation stayed clean, kept bullpen fresh

The 2008 Phillies restored order among their pitching staff following a season of chaos.

Here’s a number that jumped off the page when I was reviewing stats the other day: Brett Myers – 190 IP. That’s more than I thought. When you consider his early struggles and midseason demotion, it seems like it should be much less. Suppose he stayed up with the club, he might have made 33 starts instead of 30. Conservatively, let’s suppose he lasted 6, 5, and 6 innings. It would have given him 208 total innings, which would have placed him just outside the National League top 10 for innings pitched. Cole Hamels rated second (227 1-3). Jamie Moyer was 22nd (196 1-3).

Phillies starters logged 966 2-3 innings last season, which is quite good, plus, they only needed seven guys to do it – Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Joe Blanton, Adam Eaton, Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ. When Myers was demoted July 1, they became the last team in baseball to break up their original starting five.

Compare that with the hot mess of 2007 when they used 12 starters and 28 pitchers total, which set a Phillies record. Yanked from the rotation and reassigned to the closer role, Myers took the mound in just 68 2-3 innings, only a tick more than J.D. Durbin (64 2-3 IP).

There’s something to be said about reliable starting pitching, and the decision to reinsert Myers into the rotation and get Brad Lidge for the ninth inning turned out to be the best tactical decision any team made last season, even if it took Myers months to get it going.

But even at his worst, Myers ate innings, as did Kendrick, as did Eaton, contributing to an NL second-best 88 quality starts. Credit Charlie Manuel, who was noticeably more patient, almost to fault. Longer leashes allowed the bullpen to fall in line and assume comfortable, predictable roles. That’s when the Phillies’ bullpen has been at its best, not just in 2008, but in previous seasons. The other difference - there was little tolerance for failure. A guy like Eaton, for example, was yanked at the first major sign of trouble. The same for Myers and Kendrick.

There's never been a Phillies team with better pitching balance than the defending champions.

Comments

[AWH]

Ummmmm, JW, you're showing your age.

There was pretty balanced pitching on some of the teams during the "dynasty" years in the late '70s - early '80s.

Besides, all due respect to Cole Hamels, this Phillies team doesn't have anyone close to as good as Carlton - not yet, at least.

[mikes77phillies]

Hamel signing for 3 years 20 million is a nice deal for the Phillies. Then they still have an arbitration year to work with after that.

[mvptommyd]

Yea I agree. Great deal by Amaro getting that done. Are you kidding me? Cole for less than Moyer. Can we say deal of the century.

Where are all the Amaro haters now?

[DPatrone]

Hamels in the house for 3 years is EXCELLENT! I have their payroll for '09 at about 83 mil incl. Majewski's deal with 11 players to sign, including Kendrick and Coste. I believe it's gonna top out around 135, and that without bringing anyone else. That being said, while I'm happy with Hanels and Dobbs back, I can't see how the club has improved except for Paulino over Coste.

With the Phils it's always about money as we all know, but I think without the pieces Amaro failed to brung in (RH bat, reliever and starter), it could be a tough year.

I said yesterday that if they can't re-sign Madson, it might be time to move him. Same with Howard after '09. The 3 guys I'd try to lock up: Werth, Vic, and Myers. Amaro should not have trouble doing that.

[mvptommyd]

"Amaro failed to brung in (RH bat, reliever and starter"

Last time I checked Spring training is still a month away along with over 100 Free Agents left. Patience is a virtue.

[MG]

Hamels wasn't going anywhere the next 3 years regardless. Still, it was nice to see the Phils lock him up and avoid a messy potential arbitration hearing. Hamels was also smart to take the sure-money and $20M+ is pretty hard to walk away from considering his health status/injury history.

If the Phils can settle the rest of their arbitration-eligible hearings in a quiet manner (including Howard and Vic), then Amaro needs to get some well-deserved credit.

[MG]

The only player who likely gets resigned to a multi-yearl deal at this point is Werth. I wonder if the Phils are able to get a decent price on him for a 3-year deal.

[EastFallowfield]

Yep, there's a new thread