Game chat: Cole hoping to continue dominant July

Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.40) has been lights out for over a month. Now it's time for his offense to reward the effort. The Phillies' left-hander has the ball opposite former hometown helper Rodrigo Lopez (5-9, 4.58) and the Diamondbacks. First pitch is 7:05.

Hamels' resurgence has become one of the great untold stories of the season, "untold" because his hitters keep spoiling a good story. Hamels started the last game by striking out the first five batters and didn't allow a base runner until Matt Holliday singled in the fifth. He would allow an additional walk, but that was it, pitching eight-shutout frames of one-hit, one-walk ball, the first time in his career that he's allowed a hit or less over eight innings. Unfortunately, it took 11 innings for his hitters to get on the board. They'd hold on for the victory 2-0, with the win going to Chad Durbin for 2-3 innings of work.

Let me just read you these numbers from the Phillies pregame notes just to paint the right picture: Hamels has allowed one earned run over his last 22.2 IP (0.40 ERA), including two scoreless starts. He's 2-5 over his last 11 starts despite allowing three earned runs or less in 10 of them (2.97 ERA). He has pitched seven or more innings in eight of his last nine starts. He has a 1.72 ERA (7 ER, 36.2 IP) in five July starts, his lowest ERA of any month this season. He's holding left-handed hitters to a .176 AVG (18-102) this season, fifth lowest in the league. And he ranks 9th in the NL in SO/9.0 IP (8.50). Behind Halladay, I'd call him the best Phillie this season.

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Comments

[Bedrosian's Beard]

ak: I was in Maui during the WFC, and saw the signs for his dad's run for office as well. I wore my Phillies hat everywhere, and got all kinds of Victorino comments. Mostly about how fast he was (State record), but also how much of a baby he was about losing.

[DH Phils]

phlipper: Reports indicated that Amaro was trying to trade Werth at the deadline in order to make room for Brown. That gives me the impression that they think he's ready. If they decide to go with Mayberry, I think it will be because they're concerned about CF defense with Werth starting and Francisco backing up.

[JJG]

BAP,
If we acquire Oswalt without including Happ, why would Happ vacate the rotation for Kendrick? If Happ is healthy and returns to last years form, he would be our #4 ahead of huffing puffing Blanton.

Kendrick goes to the bullpen under made up from Houston's trade scenario.

If there is only a three man rotation for the post season, then Happ goes the bullpen again then.

[Heather]

"My impression is that the Phillies brass is convinced that Brown is not ready yet to play at the major league level. "

Isn't the real question not whether he is or is not ready to play in the bigs, but whether he can have a more positive impact than Mayberry?

W/E, I guess we'll see tomorrow.

Congrats on a good win though for the Phils tonite.

[NEPP]

Brown's got good raw defense skills...he needs to learn sometime. If he's really our starter next year, its smarter to just call him up for the final 2 months/playoffs.

[Bruce Ruffin]

NEPP -- Yep.

[phlipper]

Also, my guess is that the many BLers who probably a week or so ago ranted and raved on every thread that Amaro is a moron unless he saw that the Phillies "NEEDED" to get offensive help "IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!" are ready to change their tune.

All along, the Phillies were going to be in the race if their offense started clicking and out of the race if it didn't. Adding another offensive player will not be the difference. The question remains whether they can get into the playoffs/go deep in the playoffs without adding starting rotation and/or bullpen help.

[JJG]

Brown was on the verge of coming up before Vic's injury, now they can bring him up without designating Dobbs again (or trading Werth or Francisco).

I think I just saw Zolecki tweeting right after the injury that Brown was coming up.

[aksmith]

I think this win tonight gave JRoll the extra day he was looking for. I would expect to see Valdez back at short until they lose a game. No reason to rush Jimmy back with a bum ankle/foot.

[philwynk]

Greg Gross is the Phillies cure for a shortage of binoculars.

[MaDubbs]

Dom Brown went 2-4 with 2 more Rbi's tonight, and the Phils were beaten by our favorite submarine pitcher R.J. Swindle tonight...he is batting 340 in triple A...We need to call this guy up here, even Rauuul has started hitting the ball again! 1-6 would still look good even without Vic.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

He's got nothing we don't have:

Todd Zolecki:

If Shane Victorino ends up on the DL, Domonic Brown could be called up and Jayson Werth could be off the trade block. #phillies

[phlipper]

Isn't the real question not whether he is or is not ready to play in the bigs, but whether he can have a more positive impact than Mayberry?

That would be one logical way to think about it, but I don't think that's how the Phillies brass is thinking about it. My guess is that they're thinking that in the arc of Dom Brown's career, he needs development time in the minor leagues. They are unlikely to interrupt his arc of development when they can bring up a player that they have already shown to think is an adequate fill-in in a pinch.

If anyone has anything confirmed that they were thinking of trading Werth because they thought Brown was major-league ready, I'd love to see it. My impression is that they were ready to trade Werth because if they don't trade him they'll lose value at the end of the season.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

Phlipper: I think Brown was coming up if Werth was dealt. That was the talk. They weren't going to replace him with Mayberry.

[DH Phils]

phlipper: Not really a confirmation, but Stark on July 21:

"At the same time, the Phillies also were discussing a companion trade that would move outfielder Jayson Werth in order to free up money, open a spot for top prospect Domonic Brown and replenish their prospect supply"

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5396916

[phlipper]

Bedbeard - do you mean that was "the talk" at BL, or that someone with access confirmed that thinking?

[phlipper]

Well - from Stark's keyboard to Amaro's ears. Brown would obviously be exciting to watch.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

I don't consider BL talk to be official talk. It was Stark (above) and some others. An insider saying brass like Brown a ton and want him up sooner than later. (Salisbury on 610?)

[Sophist]

flipper's getting ready to defend the Mayberry decision already

[Old Phan]

As an aside, the Phils have won 6 in a row and are 3.5 games back with 62 to go. I guess season=isn't over.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

(thought I love the BL talk)

[Bedrosian's Beard]

("thought"="though")

[Dukes]

From David Hale (the new Scott Lauber) at Philled In... Victorino will have MRI tomorrow but says he doesn't think it will require a trip to the DL.

[Dukes]

Oswalt would be great but for some reason his health concerns me...short guy with a herky jerky motion. I guess anybody can get hurt, but still.

Even if we get Oswalt, the Phillies do need a bullpen piece as well. We keep talking Oswalt but I wouldn't be surprised if Rube has other stuff up his sleeve.

[GTown_Dave]

Watch the Phillies dick around for a few days w/ Vic unable to play, but the FO unwilling to make a move.

[Sophist]

I actually agree with denny about Herndon. Herndon belongs on the roster (and then likely in AAA next year). He'd be a cheap future option and I think he'll get better. Baez is your target.

Hopefully Strasburg pitches later in the Braves series and misses the Phils. Doubt it though.

[phlipper]

Don't know where you get that from, Sophist. It's not a decision I'd agree with.

But folks clamored for weeks and weeks how Brown should be called up to replace Ibanez (not to much of that chatter now, huh?), and it seemed the reason that never happened was because the team thought Brown wasn't ready. Again, if that is what they thought, then why would you expect them to interrupt Brown's development process?

If the team has indicated that they think that Brown is ready, then it makes sense to expect them to call him up.

[Bruce Ruffin]

Old Phan -- Good to see your posts again. I tried to quit this site, but my fandom drew me back. Geezus... let's win 5 more and take first place back!

[Sophist]

flipper - you seem to spend a lot of time arguing for things you don't believe in.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

I have a hunch the team may have had more reason to hope that Ibanez turned it around than anything.

[phlipper]

Sophist, you seem to spend a lot of time taking notes about what I do and don't argue.

[phlipper]

I mean - it is flattering, Sophist. But it's also a little creepy.

[Jack]

"Low-Ceiling" prospect Trevor May had a nice outing tonight in Lakewood: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K.

Too bad he doesn't have any upside, at least according to Clout.

[Dukes]

Sophist...

My guess is that Strasburg doesn't make his next scheduled start, either (Sunday vs. Phillies). They say he's day to day with shoulder inflammation but there is no way they want to rush him back with their entire future resting on that arm. They may not DL him, but I'll bet he doesn't start for at least 10 days.

[phlipper]

Ryan Howard now 7th in the league in OPS. 5th in slugging. I guess that "new Howard" isn't all that bad.

[Bruce Ruffin]

Who trusts "Wikipedia"? Check this out re: "Super Two":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_transactions#Free_agency_and_salary_arbitration

Break out the Excel sheet...

[aksmith]

If Vic is day to day. And Rollins is day to day. They need to DL at least one of them. They're already a Herndon short in the pen.

[Sophist]

Dukes, that seems probable. At first I thought he just couldn't get loose, but now it sounds like he's getting an MRI and an x-ray.

I don't see Rollins getting DL'd. I think he'll sit one more day with Doc on the mound.

[Old Phan]

Why not just let them be day to day (assuming the injuries aren't serious). Personally, I'm getting sick of all these guys on the DL.

[dlhunter]

Don't hate on Phillies being on the DL...a rash of injuries some years ago gave rise to this very screenname on this board, in a misguided attempt to get some Inqy writer who used to post here to comment on it.

[pb]

Why didn't we pick up Edwin Encarnacion when he was DFA'd and in the minors? Not that he's a superstar but I don't think he's far off from the Miguel Tajeda's of the world. We could've had him for nothing or maybe a bag of balls.

Who knows what would've happened if he played in our lineup and park, to me it was worth a shot.

[dlhunter]

Dom Brown kinda talks like Dave Chappelle doing Rick James.

http://link.cinesport.com/services/player/bcpid55556803001?bclid=44273363001&bctid=275373726001

[Bruce Ruffin]

Anyone still like this guy?

Berkman's slam, Myers' 12-K complete game key Astros' rout

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=300727118

Methinks Fast Eddie is shopping the right pitcher (Oswalt).

[RK]

I don't agree that Mayberry has proven that he is not MLB material. I think Mayberry has not been given much of a chance and he is hitting the ball better then Brown right now. Look, we know Brown is on the cusp, for some reason they are reluctant to bringhim up. I am for Mayberry puting on a show. Look at it this way if he does its a plus and if he doesn't well then NEPP maybe right.

[gobaystars!]

Is there anything in life better than a pennant race?
All it took was a week for the Phillies to get right back in it. They are winning games in classic Phillies fashion. Howard is having an MVP season. The starting pitching is there. Fine tune the pen a bit and they're off. There is no reason this team doesn't reach the World F'in Series again.

[johnnysanz3]

Myers finally living up to his potential this season.

[Old Phan]

Is there any reason to rush Brown to the show?

[bay_area_phan]

JJG: If we get Oswalt, Happ goes to the pen because: (1) our bullpen needs another left-hander; (2) he has pitched relief before & done well; and (3) since coming back from his injury (including his rehab starts), he has given little reason to believe that he can be a successful starter this year.

Contrary to what Bruce Ruffin says, there is no evidence that moving a starter to a bullpen role increases the risk of injury. In fact, that flies in the face of common sense, since a bullpen role is far less demanding than a starting role.

[bay_area_phan]

The Giants are poised to beat the Marlins, so we won't be gaining any ground in the WC race. I don't know which is the more painful exercise: watching the Marlins try to play defense or watching their bullpen pitch. Both are excruciating.

[Old Phan]

I'll take the game the Phils gained on the Braves over the lack of gain on the WC.
Watching the Marlins do anything is pretty difficult.

[bay_area_phan]

The Marlins have one of the better lineups in the NL & Johnson's a great pitcher (though he wasn't at his best tonight). Nolasco's not bad either. But that defense is just brutal. Watching Cantu & Helms try to play 3rd base makes me appreciate Polanco all the more. Between the 2 of them, I think they've misplayed about 5 balls in just the last 2 games. Uggla's pretty brutal at 2nd too.

[rauls grandpa (is shocked!)]

I spent two hours in a bar tonight, glued to the MLB channel and then discussing the shocking realization that Myers is possibly the best pitcher for the money (around $3 mil) who can be had through trade. Would you trade for him? Perhaps it is the vodka talking, but I don't know how weird it would feel for Rube to trade away St. Cliff and then end up trading for somebody we could have had without trades this year for whatever price the GM would have been willing to pay.

[A-Train]

Grandpa, I would have signed Myers i/o Blanton this year. So "yes."

[GM-Carson]

2010 Howards by Phillies:
Ryan Howard- April 7, Phils over Gnats 8-4
Ryan Howard- April 28, Phils over Giants 7-6.
Jayson Werth- May 6, Phils over Braves 7-2.
Chase Utley- May 14, Phils over Brew Crew 9-5.
Jimmy Rollins- June 23, Phils over Indians 7-6.
Ryan Howard- July 9, Phils over Reds 9-7.
Ryan Howard- July 27, Phils over DBacks 9-5.

*Lesson- root for The Howard.

[Meyer]

Coincidence, I think not. Very interesting and telling stat GM and why not have Ryan Howard's name on it.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

BJ's scouting Blanton?

From Paul Hagen today:

Here's where it gets interesting, though. The scout in Kansas City is believed to be headed for Cleveland today. A veteran baseball person suggested last night that, after Oswalt, Tribe righthander Jake Westbrook might be the next best option.

Well, Westbrook pitched Monday. But righthander Fausto Carmona is scheduled to face the Yankees tonight. And he's an intriguing proposition. He was 19-8 in 2007, 5-12 in 2009. But he's 6-2, 3.53 in his last eight starts for Cleveland. He's making $4.9 million this year and $6.1 million next year with a club option for $7 million in 2012.

Edwin Jackson starts for Arizona tonight. He pitched a no-hitter earlier this season, but also has a 5.01 earned run average. Which sort of underlines the point that, unless the Phillies can get Oswalt, it might be difficult to land a starter who represents a clear upgrade from what they already have.

It also remains a possibility that the Phillies will end up solidifying their rotation by improving the bullpen. They've scouted several Blue Jays games recently and are known to like lefthander Scott Downs. And while Toronto's asking price is probably too high at the moment, sometimes teams posture and then settle for the best return that's available when the deadline arrives.

Curiously, the Toronto scout at Monday's game packed up and left as soon as Joe Blanton's work was done and wasn't back last night. Hard to say what that means since, on the surface, the Jays wouldn't seem likely to be interested in a pitcher who will make $17 million the next 2 years.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20100728_Paul_Hagen__Will_Phillies_make_a_pitch_for_starter_.html

[clout]

Jack: You're making stuff up again. Trevor May is a good prospect, but, like 95% of all hard-throwing minor league prospects, he has command issues. Should he solve those command issues, he has a chance to be a solid #3 type.

Are you predicting superstardom?

[Meyer]

In fact maybe the Phillies should bring up Matthew Rizzotti to play shortstop.

[clout]

BAP is absolutely right about moving SP to bullpen. In fact, it is often done BECAUSE a pitcher is seen as injury-prone and the bullpen is:
1. Less demanding because you throw fewer innings.
2. Doesn't require that you throw 4 pitches including sliders or curves, which sometimes damage the elbow.

Those are the reasons the Mariners moved Aumont to the bullpen.

[clout]

Carmona is an interesting proposition. I want no parts of Jackson.

Dealing Blanton for Downs makes sense only if you also have a deal for an SP in place. Otherwise who replaces Blanton in the rotation?

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread