Since those spring training game recaps get really repetitive, I am going to just update what has been going on every few days during spring training until the season starts. This past weekend, only one of the Phillies starting pitchers threw zeros...nope, not Doc Halladay...it was Jamie Moyer.
After pitching in a few 'B' games, Moyer took the hill on Sunday against the Orioles and showed why Kyle Kendrick will have to take the #5 job from him. Moyer was consistently hitting hit corners and was lights out for the most part. He went five innings and struck out six. Given, it is only spring training and Moyer did get roughed up in a 'B' game as well. The fact is that he has a nice, hefty contract and they are not going to cut him or occasionally let him pitch out of the bullpen. They are probably going to let him pitch until he proves that he cannot do the job anymore. I think by midseason, that Kendrick will take a starting spot in the rotation anyway. He has been great this spring and in his latest outing he gave up two runs and got no run support. Kendrick has the attitude that he will do whatever it takes for him to succeed and that will keep him in the mix until the end of spring training and throughout the season.
Charlie Manuel planned on going into the season with 12 pitchers. With a couple weeks left of spring training, there are only 12 pitchers left. Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick, Ryan Madson, Danys Baez, Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, David Herndon and Antonio Bastardo. This does not include Romero and Lidge, who are expected to start the season on the 15-day DL. Once they make a rehab start or two, my guess is that David Herndon and Bastardo will be sent down. If they want to keep another lefty arm in Bastardo, you have to imagine that Kendrick will go to start in AAA to keep his arm warm rather than sitting in the bullpen and pitching every other day.
Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels both got starts in recently. Halladay gave up his first earned run of the spring. He gave up three runs in five innings against the Tigers this weekend. Hamels had a rough time against the Yankees in his outing on Monday. Cole allowed seven runs, six earned. If you read my interview with Jayson Stark, he said Hamels is the best he has ever seen him in spring training so I am going to take this as a slight bump in the road. You have to spend spring training working on your stuff and if it means getting roughed up during a game or two...it is better now than later.
The last thing on the Phillies headlines this weekend was the return of Placido Polanco to the lineup. He went 2-for-3 in his return on Sunday and also belted a homer in yesterdays game against the Yanks.
Also, Todd Zolecki reports that Mike Schmidt has some interest in broadcasting. He was in the booth in yesterdays game and will be again today. There is a good chance he may do a regular season series as well.
Recent results...
3/19 vs. BAL, 0-2, LOSS
3/20 vs. DET, 0-3, LOSS
3/21 vs. BAL, 4-5, LOSS
3/22 vs. NYY, 9-7, WIN
Current spring record: 9-7-1
Upcoming games...
Today vs. TB @ 1:05 (Comcast Network)
3/24 vs. ATL @ 1:05 (ESPN)
3/25 vs. HOU @ 1:05
3/26 vs. NYY @ 7:05
3/27 vs. MIN @ 1:05
3/28 vs. PIT(ss) @ 1:05 (Comcast Sportsnet)
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