Each day, I get e-mails (slauber@delawareonline.com) from Phillies fans who wonder, quite understably, whether their team can contend for a playoff spot. My answer always is the same: Sure, as long as they improve their pitching.It's all about pitching.
Right now, the Phillies' pitching is worst in the National League and third-worst in the majors with a 4.91 ERA. If that ERA doesn't shape up -- and fast -- the Phils stand no chance. None. Zip. Nada. If their pitching was middle-of-the-pack in the NL, say seventh or eighth, I think they'd be in first place right now. In fact, I know they would.
Problem is, improving the pitching won't be easy for GM Pat Gillick, who appears to be loosening his arm in this picture (hey, he's only 26 years older than Jamie Moyer!). Everyone, and I mean everyone, is looking for pitching, and the Phillies don't have anything to trade. Aaron Rowand will be a free agent after the season, and no contender is going to part with a stud pitcher for a player they may not have next season. The farm system is void of major-league-ready players. With the exception of 20-year-old right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who was just promoted last month to double-A, their top prospects (Adrian Cardenas, Kyle Drabek, etc.) are all in A-ball or lower. So, unless the Phillies are willing to deal Michael Bourn or Shane Victorino, it's hard to see them picking up an impact pitcher.
In today's 50-cent edition, we examine the top-five questions facing the Phillies in the second half. Predictably, many of them center around pitching.
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Ichiro Suzuki is about to sign a five-year contract extension with the Mariners worth at least $100 million. That means one less center fielder on the free-agent market this winter -- and maybe more demand (and more money) for Rowand. If Ichiro can make $20 million per year, what's Alex Rodriguez worth?
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Anybody see who the Mets just hired as their hitting coach?
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