JA Happ fans 8 more in AAA

by rdf8585 on Jul 22, 2008 9:31 PM EDT

As Joe Blanton struggles in his Phillies debut, JA Happ makes another statement down in AAA. Notched a QS (6 IP 3 ER) with 1 walk and 8 Ks.

This guy is too good for AAA. They might have been better off A) moving Myers to the pen, where some feel he belongs anyway or B) Giving Happ an extended look and saving their prospects for another deal.

I get the sense the Phillies aren't especially big on Happ.

....... updated to account for what was an error on milb.com

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But Joe Blanton plays the game the right way

by jemagee on Jul 22, 2008 9:59 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Yeah, I saw he had another badass start tonight. The guy really is ready now.

I still have the hunch he’ll get his shot.

by dajafi on Jul 22, 2008 10:07 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

They can’t put both blanton and eaton in the pen

can they?

by jemagee on Jul 22, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Saw that too, rdf. He’s ironed out some of the control problems that plagued him earlier in the year, and as dajafi said, he’s ready. Of course, if Benson turns in a few more quality starts, does that mean that J.A. moves even further down the pecking order?

A bit perturbed about the 121 pitches, though.

by PhillyFriar on Jul 22, 2008 10:14 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I think he’s ahead of Benson in the queue.

by dajafi on Jul 23, 2008 11:48 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I’d hope so. You just never know with this management.

I do wonder what all of this does to Benson’s role. Besides the current starting rotation, the Phils now have Happ, Benson, and Eaton as MLB caliber starters (at least in theory). Now Eaton’s likely pitched his way out of any rotation spot for quite some time - thank God - but if Benson continues to pitch well (and I admit that’s a big if), what happens to him?

by PhillyFriar on Jul 23, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

error

seems like milb.com had it wrong, but still a good outing. he fanned 8 guys over 6 innings and walked just 1.

by rdf8585 on Jul 23, 2008 12:29 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

At the very least Happ should be in the pen. I was saying that from the beginning of the year.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jul 23, 2008 3:05 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Inky says the Phillies are looking to trade Happ.

by taco pal on Jul 23, 2008 12:01 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I think there’s probably some daylight between “subject of trade rumors” and “looking to trade.” His name came up in the Colorado rumor, so it might just be that.

by dajafi on Jul 23, 2008 1:06 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I hope so. I’d like to see Happ start next year in the rotation, though I’m not sure whose place he’d take. We could always let Moyer go, but I’d have mixed feelings about that.

by taco pal on Jul 23, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Yeah, but Moyer isn’t likely to keep this up. It’s like when your gf cheats on you. You can keep on hoping for what was, but all you got is what is.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jul 24, 2008 3:10 AM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

I understand that there are risks with Moyer, but that analogy is really weird.

by taco pal on Jul 26, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Plus that article calls refers to him as “The righthander,” so it’s accuracy is certainly dubious.

by PhillyFriar on Jul 23, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

curious

Happ yanked out of AAA start after 2.2 scoreless.

Injured?
Promoted?
Traded?

by rdf8585 on Jul 27, 2008 5:31 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

no word of injury or trade.

Off the cuff guess: Phillies realized Blanton would be rained out of his start, and that the already tired bullpen would have to throw 7+ innings, so they made the call to Lehigh and pulled him so that he’d be ready to go in relief of Myers on Tuesday…that way, if Myers implodes, they’ll have a guy reasonably capable of throwing long relief.

by bugbear on Jul 27, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs