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Playing Catch: May daze strikes Loretta, Happ close to starting
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Joe Girardi had an early night against Boston
on Monday (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
I am not quite sure what Charlie Manuel is thinking at this point. He has no better set of data than anyone else. The way he has worked his bullpen, he has seen the results firsthand.
J.A. Happ is more effective than Chan Ho Park.
If it seems a running theme on Playing Catch, it is because the data is so clear that it needs harping on. Happ has relieved in almost every one of Park’s starts, and consistently has had better results against the opposing hitters.
The latest stint was Friday against the Mets. Park started for the fourth time this season and for the fourth time, failed to surrender less than four earned runs. This time it was seven and Philadelphia was unable to mount one of their comebacks, losing 7-4.
Happ was the second reliever in the game and went two hitless innings, walking one and striking out Alex Cora. That appearance came on the heels of another one inning appearance in a loss on Wednesday.
The numbers don’t lie. Happ has just done more to earn the starter’s position than Park has to keep it.
Still, Manuel told Philly.com reporter David Murphy that Park isn’t being removed yet.
"Our pitching is something we'll talk over," Manuel said. "I'm not ready to say Chan Ho Park is not going to get any more starts. I'm not ready to say that."
Explain to me what he is seeing?
And pitching coach Rich Dubee told the Associated Press that there have been no conversations about removing Park.
Even if Park is removed, it is not a done deal that Happ will assume the role. Murphy names Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco as possible replacements, but they are both minor leaguers which would mean that Philadelphia would have to send someone down to make room (or release Park, which seems the more prudent option).
Park is scheduled to start Wednesday night against the New York Mets and all signs currently point to him making that appearance.
Happ might also get a chance with the injury to Cole Hamels, but Hamels seems to be recovering well, and since the Phillies had a rain-pushed game, simply skipping Hamels in the rotation for a single start is an option.
J.A. Happ on the season: 1-0, 15 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 12 K, 3.52 ERA
"The ugly hits?" [Joe] Torre said. "I love it. Good hitters get ugly hits because they're not afraid to get jammed. So many of the modern players think getting jammed is an embarrassment."– LATimes.com
Ugly hits? Sure, Loretta has a few of those, but sometimes, that is just luck. When the calendar turned to May, the luck ran out, at least for the first week.
Loretta is 0-5 this month, including an 0-3 in his third start of the season Sunday.
Loretta is 7-12 in a pinch-hitting role though and continues to be the first bat off the bench for the Dodgers.
Mark Loretta on the season: .375 BA, 3 RBI, .861 OPS
"Girardi’s ejection was the eighth of his career, including five as a manager. It was his third in two seasons with the Yankees, and his first of 2009." – NYTimes.com
Joe Girardi had an early night Monday even though his team played until after 1 a.m. Girardi was booted after arguing balls and strikes in the fifth.
It was just another typical Red Sox – Yankees game, this one finishing on the Boston side of the ledger. New York has yet to beat the Red Sox this season in four games.
The Yankees though have had some mild success over the past week. The pitching has calmed some – any time the staff gives up less than five could be considered calm these days – and had a four game winning streak to break out of last week’s funk.
New York is still having to battle back from big deficits and they are still not the team that fans have been expecting on the field this season.
But at only 3 ½ games back of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Yankees are in prime position to strike when they are at full strength. Alex Rodriguez, who has been out with a bum hip, could return as early as Friday according to Girardi, bringing a big offensive boost with him, and one they will need given the pitching woes.
Yankees on the season: 13-12, 146 RS, 159 RA, 5.90 ERA, .276 BA, .826 OPS
For more info: Last week's Playing Catch
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