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BY SCOTT LAUBER
Lost in the "Vote For Victorino" hoopla and Roy Halladay trade talk, there was another, fairly notable, development last night at the Bank:
Rodrigo Lopez injured his shoulder.
Now, Lopez insisted it isn't a big deal and said after the game that he already was feeling better. He said he felt some "tightness" (his word) in his right shoulder, and rather than risking additional problems, he thought it best that he leave the game after the fifth inning. But, according to Charlie Manuel, Lopez (left, AP photo didn't say anything until Rich Dubee approached him after noticing such a sharp drop in his velocity that he mistook fastballs for changeups. The initial diagnosis is "right shoulder inflammation," and for now, the Phillies haven't scheduled an MRI or any other tests. Because of the All-Star break, they won't need Lopez to pitch again until July 20 when the Cubs visit the Bank for the opener of a three-game series, and Lopez said he should be ready.
"So far, I don't think it's something bad," he said. "I think I can pitch by the 20th. It's a good thing for me that the break is coming because that will give me some more time, but I think I can pitch."
Stay tuned.
***
Matt Stairs teamed with Halladay for two seasons in Toronto, and during that time, they got to be close friends. Stairs said they would even sit together in the dugout and give each other tips. So, after batting practice yesterday, I asked Stairs if, should the Phillies and Jays work out a deal (a huge "IF," by the way), Halladay might waive his no-trade clause to come here.
"I can't answer that," Stairs said. "He's been there for so long [12 seasons], and he has such a good routine, it would probably be hard for him to leave. And I understand that. But he'd be successful wherever he is. If the right opportunity came up and he was going to the right situation where he enjoyed being around good guys, would he waive it? Maybe."
***
On tap today: Raul Ibanez will play in what the Phillies hope will be his final minor-league rehab game at Class AAA Lehigh Valley. If that goes well, he could be activated Friday, and if that happens, he'll be able to start for the NL in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in St. Louis.
Speaking of which, Shane Victorino finally will learn today if he has won the online voting for the final NL roster spot. As of yesterday, he was trailing Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, although we can't tell you the exact deficit because MLB doesn't release vote totals. That's a pet peeve of ours here at Philled In. If MLB wants people to take this "final vote" contest seriously, and not just regard it as a marketing ploy to drive additional traffic to MLB.com, it should provide actual numbers with its daily voting updates. Vaguely telling us that Sandoval leads in a "closely contested race" is akin to a television network not providing the score of a game during a blowout in order to keep viewers tuned in.
And, by the way, if Victorino doesn't win the vote, he still stands a good chance to make the NL team. Carlos Beltran won't play next week because of a bruised right knee, and because he was picked by the fans, Manuel doesn't have to replace him with the next-highest vote-getter in the player balloting (Matt Kemp had more votes than Victorino in the player balloting). So, if Manuel wants to pick Victorino, it's believed that he'll be able to do so.***Finally, in an utterly shocking move, the Blue Jays released erstwhile closer B.J. Ryan yesterday. In 2005, Ryan had 36 saves for the Orioles. He had 38 saves for the Jays in 2007. Just last season, he had 32 saves and a 2.95 ERA. Sure, Ryan has struggled this year (6.53 ERA), but something tells us it won't be long before he finds work, especially since any team that signs him will be responsible only for a prorated portion of the major-league minimum salary ($400,000). The Jays will foot the bill for the approximately $15 million remaining on his contract this season and next.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Less than 10 days ago, the Phillies looked like a last-place team in an ugly, Friday-night loss in Toronto. So, they called a 20-minute, closed-door meeting to discuss their issues. The following day, J.A. Happ tossed a complete-game shutout, and once again, everything was wonderful in the Phillies' universe. It was at that point that I decided to channel my inner-James Carville and come up with a slogan to explain what had just transpired.
"It's the pitching, stupid."
Now, here we are, fresh off the Phillies' three-game sweep of the Mets and talking about Jimmy Rollins' revival, Brad Lidge's flashback to 2008, and whether Raul Ibanez will be ready to play in a major-league game before the All-Star break. But, really, the reason for the Phillies' successful weekend was the same as it always is whenever they're playing well.
"It's the pitching, stupid."
From 33-year-old retread Rodrigo Lopez's surprising results Friday night, to Jamie Moyer's 6-1/3 quality innings Saturday, to Joe Blanton outdueling the great Johan Santana for 7-1/3 innings yesterday, the Phillies' weakest link was their tone-setting strength against the free-falling Mets. In the past four games, Happ, Lopez, Moyer and Blanton have combined to allow five runs on 22 hits in 27 innings for a 1.67 ERA. Tonight, it's Cole Hamels' job to keep that going against the Reds.
"That's exactly what we want to see," Charlie Manuel said.
Which brings us to this morning's rumblings that the Phillies are planning to scout out-of-work future Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic this week. For months, Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phillies weren't interested in Pedro. But when your starting rotation has the worst ERA in the National League (5.09), and you fancy yourself a World Series contender, and there's little pitching available with the trade deadline only 3-1/2 weeks away, you do whatever it takes to upgrade your staff.
That said, let's put this into context:
The Phillies will be scouting A LOT of pitchers between now and July 31. A source with knowledge of the Phillies' front office told me over the weekend that the Phillies will have a scout at each of Erik Bedard's starts before the trade deadline to determine if the Mariners lefty is healthy enough to help a contender. If there's a deal to be made for Cleveland's Cliff Lee (right now, there isn't), Amaro & Co. will know about it. If Jason Marquis suddenly becomes available (right now, he isn't), someone with the Phillies will be dialing Denver. They'll get an up-close look at Aaron Harang tomorrow night, but as long as the Reds are hanging around in the wild-card race, they're not selling either.
And, as a source told me this morning, if Pedro Martinez is healthy and effective enough to pitch in the majors, the Phillies certainly won't rule him out.
But Amaro has said, over and over, that the Phillies want to acquire a pitcher who will be a clear upgrade over what they have. It's hard to imagine that Pedro, who went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA last year with the Mets and hasn't pitched at all in 2009, would be an upgrade over Lopez. But I haven't seen him throw lately. Neither have the Phillies, which is why they'll watch him work out this week in the Dominican. And, for now, that's all this is, a mission to make certain they're doing their due diligence.
Something else to keep in mind: In April and May, Martinez reportedly wanted to be paid $5 million this season, a sum that was too rich for the Phillies. But now it's July, almost the All-Star break, and he remains unsigned. Perhaps his demands have come down. Perhaps they haven't. But when pitching is in such short supply, you want to keep your options as open as possible, and that's exactly what the Phillies are doing, no more, no less.
***
Here's your preview for the four-game series against the Reds:
REDS (40-40) at PHILLIES (42-37)
Tonight, 7:05: RHP Johnny Cueto (8-4, 2.69) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (4-5, 4.98)
Tomorrow, 7:05: RHP Aaron Harang (5-8, 3.86) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (5-0, 2.96)
Wednesday, 7:05: RHP Homer Bailey (1-0, 5.94) vs. RHP Rodrigo Lopez (1-0, 2.84)
Thursday, 7:05: RHP Micah Owings (6-8, 4.48) vs. LHP Jamie Moyer (7-6, 5.72)
Hot: Reds 1B Joey Votto is batting .419 (18-for-43) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last 10 games; Reds CF Willy Taveras is batting .400 (14-for-35) in his last eight games; Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins is 7-for-15 with one homer, five RBIs and a .556 on-base percentage since breaking his career-worst 0-for-28 slump; Phillies CF Shane Victorino is batting .349 (53-for-152) in his last 38 games.
Not: Reds SS Paul Janish has two hits in his last 19 at-bats, dropping his average from .278 to .233; Reds RF Jay Bruce is batting only .217 despite leading the team with 18 homers; Phillies C Carlos Ruiz has seven hits in his last 60 at-bats (.117); Phillies 1B Ryan Howard, named to the All-Star team Sunday, has one hit in his last 11 at-bats.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Over the past few weeks, Ruben Amaro Jr. has expressed doubt about whether the Phillies will be able to deal for a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline. And that's reasonable. I mean, the market isn't exactly flooded with sellers. So many teams are contending for a playoff spot (or have tricked themselves into believing they're contending) that the buyers greatly outnumber the sellers.
Still, every scout I've spoken to over the past few weeks is convinced the Phillies will come up with someone. Two weeks ago, in fact, a National League scout with knowledge of the Phillies' front office told me they may even get two pitchers. So, Rodrigo Lopez's performance last night, while it was a nice story of triumph after a long comeback from Tommy John elbow surgery, may be long forgotten by the time the season is over.
Then, again ...
Within the game story in today's News Journal, Martin Frank wondered if Lopez could be the 2009 version of Kyle Kendrick, circa 2007. Nobody thought Kendrick would be around for more than a few starts, but he pitched well enough to stay in the rotation, even after the Phillies dealt for Kyle Lohse at the trade deadline. Kendrick was so good that he's widely credited with saving the Phillies' season. And with Jimmy Rollins looking more like his MVP self, there was a decidely 2007 feel last night at the Bank.
Lopez pitched very well for 6-1/3 innings, even if it was against a Mets lineup that, minus Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes, wasn't much better than any he saw in Class AAA. But, considering he hadn't started a major-league game since July 26, 2007, and might've asked for his release and returned to Mexico last month if he hadn't been talked out of it by Lehigh Valley pitching coach Rod Nichols, Lopez gave the Phillies far more than they could've expected.
He'll get another chance Wednesday against the Reds. Beyond that, who knows? Maybe, like Kendrick in '07, he'll stick around longer than anyone could imagine. Or, maybe, Amaro will make a deal that will turn Lopez's performance last night into a footnote from a long season.
***
Within the notebook, the latest on Raul Ibanez, who took batting practice, shagged fly balls and saw team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti yesterday.
***
Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, have a great Fourth of July.
(To read more about the struggles of Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson in the back of the Phillies' bullpen, please scroll down to the next post or simply click here.)
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Travel day for me, so Martin Frank is filling in at the Bank for tonight's series-opener against the Mets. And Martin chimes in with this nugget: To make room for tonight's starter, Rodrigo Lopez, the Phillies have designated lefty reliever Jack Taschner for assignment.
Can't say I'm surprised. Taschner, it seemed, had nine lives with the Phillies despite clearly lacking the confidence of either Charlie Manuel or Rich Dubee. He was 1-1 with a 5.20 ERA in 21 games, but consider this: Even though the Phillies' bullpen has been stretched thinner than Ally McBeal by injuries and overuse, Taschner pitched only twice since June 19. Sergio Escalona, the most frequent rider on the Lehigh Valley-Philly shuttle, made the same number of appearances during that span. For me, that was an indictment of how little faith the Phils have in Taschner compared to, say, Tyler Walker, who has just as much major-league experience and a 2.00 ERA in seven outings since being called up last month.
***
So, what can we expect from Lopez tonight?
That's exactly what I asked Sam Perlozzo, one of the Phillies coaches who knows Lopez best. Perlozzo was the Orioles' manager during the second half of 2005, when Lopez won 15 games, and in 2006, when Lopez lost 18. And while he hasn't been around Lopez since he underwent elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery in August 2007, he offered this anecdote and scouting report: "He'd get in trouble and it looked like you might have to use your whole 'pen, and he'd say, 'I'll get you four or five more [innings].' And I'd say OK, and son of a gun, he'd go out and do that and pitch his butt off and save your 'pen. ... I know he's been on the comeback trail, but when he was healthy, he was a great competitor. He knows how to pitch. He's a veteran guy. He knows how to hit his spots, and when he does, he's good. I hope he's close to being where he was before. If he's like that, then he will help us."
BY SCOTT LAUBER
ATLANTA -- Rodrigo Lopez is listed as the Phillies' starter for Friday night. More in a few minutes after the clubhouse opens.
(Updated, 5:41 p.m.): So, we just finished talking to assistant GM Benny Looper, and he offered this explanation for why the Phillies chose Lopez instead of Carlos Carrasco or Drew Carpenter.
"We just thought with Rodrigo, the experience he has, he pitched very well on Sunday when I saw him, it was time to give him a chance to see how he'll throw," Looper said. "You have to consider everything, and [experience] is one of the factors you think about."
Lopez was a two-time 15-game winner with the Orioles (he also lost 18 games for Baltimore in 2006). But he's a different pitcher now, after undergoing elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgery in August 2007. "He doesn't have the arm he used to have, but it's still good enough," Looper said. "He commanded his fastball and slider really well [Sunday], and he did a good job of pitching."
***
Looper said Raul Ibanez will work out with double-A Reading again today with the hope of playing tomorrow. The Phillies still believe he needs to get at least 10-12 at-bats in the minors, which would likely rule him out of the series this weekend against the Mets.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
ATLANTA -- OK, when it comes to the Phillies' starting rotation, this much we know: Cole Hamels will pitch tonight, followed by J.A. Happ tomorrow.
But Friday night remains a mystery.
Talked to assistant GM Benny Looper before last night's game, and he said the Phils are "pretty close" to deciding on a starter for the opener of a three-game July 4 weekend series against the free-falling Mets at the Bank. Looper said the front office and coaching staff have held several conference calls over the past few days to weigh their options at Lehigh Valley, putting an emphasis on recent performance and overall experience, and the candidates have been narrowed to three right-handers.
Carlos Carrasco: He has the least experience (21 career Class AAA starts, none in the majors) but the best stuff. And in his last two starts, the 22-year-old has allowed two runs in 13-1/3 innings. Every major-league pitcher gets their first start sometime? His time may be now.
Drew Carpenter: Unimpressive in a May 16 spot start in Washington (five runs on eight hits in 4-1/3 innings), the 24-year-old is 6-1 with a 1.50 ERA at Lehigh Valley ever since. It doesn't get much better.
Rodrigo Lopez: Once upon a time, he was a hard-throwing, 15-game winner for the Orioles. At age 33, he's lose some zip on his fastball, Looper said. He's 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in his last three starts at Lehigh Valley, but unlike Carrasco and Carpenter, he can't be sent back to the minors without clearing waivers, a lack of contract flexibility that may work against him.
One thing is certain: With Antonio Bastardo on the disabled list and restricted from throwing for at least two weeks because of a left posterior shoulder strain, and the trade market still ice cold, whichever pitcher the Phillies choose will make at least two starts before the All-Star break and perhaps more during the season’s second half.
"I wouldn't consider this a spot start," Looper said. "It's a performance business, and if he performs, he's got a chance to stay there for a while. A lot of factors come involved -- do we make a trade, do we not make a trade, does somebody else get hurt? But I wouldn't term it a one-start thing."
OK, you make the call: Who should start Friday night?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
ATLANTA -- A few notes before Jimmy Rollins takes his highly anticipated first swing here tonight:
1. Raul Ibanez has left the team to begin working out with Class AA Reading. It's possible, Charlie Manuel said, that Ibanez could play in a game for Reading tomorrow. Assistant GM Benny Looper, who is on this trip with the team, said Ibanez likely needs 10-12 at-bats in the minors before he's ready to play. So, it's unlikely that Ibanez will be back by Friday night's game against the Mets, but a weekend return isn't entirely out of the question. Of course, the Phillies won't rush Ibanez either, and groin injuries can be tricky. If he needs a few extra days to make sure he's OK, he'll get them.
2. As we Tweeted earlier today, J.A. Happ will start here Thursday night on his regular rest. Jamie Moyer could start on normal rest Friday night, but the Phillies "most likely" will give him an extra day and start him Saturday. That means they'll need a starter for Friday night. ...
3. ... which brings us to the ongoing storyline of who that starter might be. Looper said the Phillies are "pretty close to making a decision." Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter remain the frontrunners, but it's possible they could opt for veteran Rodrigo Lopez, a solid starter for the Orioles once upon a time. Lopez has one thing working against him: He's out of minor-league options, so if the Phillies choose to send him back to Lehigh Valley, he'd be exposed to waivers. Carpenter and Carrasco can be shuttled between the majors and minors without that risk. Looper said Antonio Bastardo will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, so the Phillies aren't considering Friday night's game a spot start. That said, I think they may bring Carrasco here and let him make a few starts. If he pitches well, who knows, maybe it will make it less urgent for them to trade for a starter. If he doesn't, well, he'll just go back to the minors and get more seasoning. Regardless, we may know something more definitive tomorrow.
So, that's the latest. Enjoy the game.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
