Happ to be promoted?

by PhoenixPhilly on Jul 28, 2008 12:21 AM EDT Comment 7 comments

J.A. Happ was pulled after 2.2 yesterday. Nick Fierro is reporting that Happ will be promted and Eaton will be released or reassigned.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nick...npigs_for.html

I guess the question now (assuming this is true) would be if Happ will be starting or going to the bullpen. I would assume he is going to the bullpen, however I imagine there is some chance that he could be inserted into the rotation and Myers could go to the pen, although I doubt it.

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just saw this too

And Scott Lauber supports as well:

J.A. Happ may be rejoining the Phillies. Happ was lifted after throwing 41 pitches in 2-2/3 innings today for triple-A Lehigh Valley, and although the Phillies had no postgame roster moves to announce, Happ told a reporter who covers the IronPigs that he isn’t injured. “They haven’t made a move yet, so I don’t feel it’s appropriate to comment. I’m still waiting for the phone call.”
So, clearly, something is going on. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Phils recall Happ to be a situational lefty out of the bullpen. A corresponding move would have to be made, of course, and it could involve either Rudy Seanez (6.14 ERA in his last eight outings) or Adam Eaton, who surrendered three runs in two innings today and has pitched twice since being moved to the bullpen 10 days ago.

I think probably the announcement is waiting on which of the two guys will be cut or reassigned. Maybe Gillick has a faint trade nibble (probably as part of some other deal) on one of them. Maybe they’d like Eaton to accept a minor league assignment as Myers did. Maybe they’re trying to convince him that he really is hurt.

Either way, I think J.A. will be with the team come Tuesday.

by dajafi on Jul 28, 2008 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have to think Happ’s heading to the pen, at least for the time being. The Phils seem committed to giving Myers every chance to succeed as a starter, and while I’m skeptical as to whether it’ll work, I understand the reasoning behind it.

Utilizing Happ as the second lefty in the pen for the time being can also be a ploy for the trade market—Gillick would look less desperate to add a reliever if other teams are convinced Happ is there to stay. Just speculation on my part.

by PhillyFriar on Jul 28, 2008 1:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eaton is Gone!

Eaton has accepted a minor league assignment. Happ will be called up, obviously, but in what capacity? Considering that Happ has only made three relief appearances in his entire career, you would think Myers would be moved to the pen and Happ would start. We shall find out.

by Neduol Caz on Jul 28, 2008 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think they have to give Myers one last shot to not blow donkey balls… but once that happens, he may find himself in the pen

by foos05 on Jul 28, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would hope that Myers would stay in the rotation and Happ would go to the pen unless Myers continues to perform badly going forward. I’m not concerned about Happ’s lack of experience in the bullpen since, I’m assuming, he would be in long relief, not in a J.C. Romero type of role. (I think that would also strike the best balance between the Phillies’ needs this season and Happ’s development. Bad things can happen sometimes, developmentally, when you put inexperienced pitchers in high-pressure situations. And then there’s that Earl Weaver adage about long relief being the best place to break a young pitcher into the major leagues.)

I understand that the team’s patience with Myers for the rest of this season can’t be unlimited, but long-term, he is simply a much more valuable player in the rotation and that’s where he has to end up. It’s not as if he doesn’t have a track record of success there. His ‘03, ‘05, and ‘06 seasons were all good, and his ‘07 performance in the bullpen really wasn’t any better than OK.

by taco pal on Jul 28, 2008 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe “just OK” was a little harsh. What I mean is that it’s not as if Myers was some sort of ultra dominant closer last year. He was good, but I think his ‘07 season as a reliever was less valuable to the team than his ‘06 season as a starter was. It’s harder to post a low ERA as a starter.

by taco pal on Jul 28, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m crossing my fingers that they haven’t already given up on Myers. Yes, he had no control in his last start, but the ground balls/lack of HRs was encouraging, and when he knew where the ball was going, he managed to get it into better places. Giving up on him after one start would be absurd, and he really wasn’t that dominant as a closer….when he was sent down, I remember reading a quote of his about how he liked being a “rock star” among closers, one of the top 5 in the league. Well, that’s because there are fewer closers than starters…it pains me to think about how pretty we’d be sitting if only Myers was the Myers of 2005-6, when he was one of the top 15-20 starters in the league. If only baseball players were robots.

Regardless, happ-y to have Happ back. Any moves that improve the talent level of the roster should always be welcome, even if the pieces don’t always fit perfectly into the holes.

by bugbear on Jul 28, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs