BY SCOTT LAUBERTORONTO -- So, I'm a child of the '80s. Ronald Reagan, heavy metal, New Coke, Michael Jackson's moonwalk -- these are indelible images from my youth. But it wasn't until the '90s that I truly became aware of what was happening in the world. I was a sophomore in high school in 1992 when Bill Clinton ran for president against George H.W. Bush, and the catchphrase he used throughout his campaign still strikes a chord today.
"It's the economy, stupid."
Well, when it comes to the Phillies' ability to sustain success, Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr. might as well have their own catchphrase. It applied in the 10-0 rout over the Blue Jays here yesterday, and it will continue to apply whenever the Phillies finally put together a another winning streak.
"It's the pitching, stupid."
Sure, it was nice that they pounded 14 hits and scored 10 runs yesterday and that Jayson Werth belted only the 14th home run ever hit into the fifth deck at 20-year-old Skydome/Rogers Centre. But they also were facing Brad Mills, a rookie lefty whom they knocked around 10 days earlier at the Bank and who, after yesterday's game, was sent all the way back to double-A.
No, the reason to be optimistic about yesterday's victory was the sight of J.A. Happ still standing on the mound, still throwing bullets, at the Jays hitters in the ninth inning. It marked Happ's first-ever complete-game shutout (he didn't have any in 97 career minor-league starts), and it rivaled Cole Hamels' June 5 shutout at Dodger Stadium for the title of best start for the Phillies this season. Happ is now 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA as a starter this season, cementing his status as a reliable member of the rotation.
"I'm paranoid anyway, but that's something I think about a lot, earning the manager's confidence and trust and the general manager's confidence and trust," Happ said. "Games like this are a step towards that."
Now, the Phillies still have a gaping hole in their rotation thanks to Brett Myers' likely season-ending hip surgery, and as we've written in The News Journal, Amaro is racking up his cell-phone bill in the pursuit of another starter. Which pitchers are the Phillies tracking? Quite simply, all of them. They have at least some interest in Jason Marquis and Brad Penny and Aaron Harang and Erik Bedard and Brian Bannister and too many other pitchers to list, and while they'd likely make a move to acquire any of them, they also want to be certain that the guy they obtain is an upgrade over anything they have in their farm system.
So, the search will continue, probably all the way until the July 31 trade deadline. Last weekend, a scout with knowledge of the Phillies' front office told me he's certain Amaro & Co. will come up with someone, maybe even two someones, before July 31 because they know, more than anything, "it's the pitching, stupid," that wins championships.
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Lots of baseball in your Sunday News Journal. We've got the latest on J.C. Romero's altercation with a fan in Tampa after Thursday night's game. Within the Phillies notebook, we find out if Jimmy Rollins will return to the lineup today (don't count on it, Manuel said) and speculate about which pitcher will take Antonio Bastardo's spot in the rotation Thursday night in Atlanta. And, within the Sunday MLB notes, Kyle Drabek tells us that he'd be surprised if the Phillies call him up next week. I would be, too.
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Don't forget to follow me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter. Time to scoot downstairs to the clubhouse. More in a bit from Rogers Centre. Enjoy your Sunday.
1 comment:
love that Happ is living up to all the hype he had as a minor leaguer. he's looking great this season and showing Hamels a run for his money as staff ace thus far. he's got a good head on his shoulders (as opposed to Myers). I sure hope Rube keeps him around for a long time.
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