NL Beast

I certainly hope not.

David Murphy asked Ruben Amaro Jr. just that question:

“We’re hopeful. Things have been very slow with him. Obviously, he’s had a couple of setbacks, which hurt us. But we still have to let it play out and see how it’s going. He’s back throwing off the mound again, which is a good sign, but he still has some fatigue in his groin and he’s got to get himself healthy before we even really consider him being an option for us.”

[Kris] Benson is well behind schedule. He’s still recovering from an injured groin, which followed a bout with biceps tendinitis. The Phillies initially thought he’d be ready to help the team sometime this month. Now, there’s no telling when he might be ready to go.

Combine that situation with the fact that the Phillies have used more than five starting pitchers in each of the last 15 years, and the chances are good that the team will eventually find itself looking for help from its minor league system.

General manager Pat Gillick said a couple of weeks ago in Pittsburgh that if Benson didn’t pan out, the Phils would likely look internally for pitching help should a need arise. The prospects of finding a starter via trade or the waiver wire simply aren’t good.

So who will it be?

Lakewood right-hander Drew Naylor recently tossed a complete game two-hitter and struck out 12. He now leads all minor leaguers with 62 strikeouts. But he won’t be the answer. Amaro said Naylor is “a ways away” as far as his MLB readiness goes.

One possibility is J.A. Happ, a lefty who is currently fourth in the minor leagues in strikeouts at Triple A Lehigh Valley. Happ pitched one game for the Phillies last season and was in major league camp this spring.

Antonio Bastardo and Carlos Carrasco are also options, though Carrasco has a better shot at this point. Carrasco made some headlines this spring with a couple of solid performances. He’s had his ups and downs this year at Double A Reading, but right now is 3-3 with a 3.77 ERA.

At this point, I would rather have Happ going out every fifth day than Adam Eaton.  He’s pitching excellently for a horrendous Lehigh Valley team.  Give him a solid lineup and see what he’s able to do.  Naylor is obviously not happening, and I don’t want to mess with Carrasco just yet.  Bastardo is just up from A ball to AA, he still needs some time as well.

Phuture Phillies has more on Happ:

After a rough 2007, largely marred by injury, Happ has come out in much better fashion this season;

46.1 IP — 2.72 ERA — 34 H — 23 BB — 55 K — 4 HR — 1.35 GO/AO

Happ’s 2.72 ERA is probably a bit low considering the number of base runners allowed coupled with the 4 HR. His biggest problem is still the free pass. He’s walked 12 in his last 25.1 innings over 5 starts, and before that had walked 5 guys in back to back starts. Is it a case of true wildness, or is he just nibbling too much? The swings and misses are still there, that’s evident in the strikeout numbers, but are the walks due to his not having control/command of his pitches, or a case of him trying to be too fine? Last season in his major league debut he was nibbling way too much. Obviously he was fighting nerves that day, but its something he’s going to have to work on to be successful. He doesn’t have overpowering stuff, but he needs to be aggressive and cut down on the walks.

Unfortunately, this isn’t just a baseball decision.  Happ is competing with Adam Eaton’s massive contract and the idea that they are obligated to play a guy that’s getting paid almost $8 million a year.

Regardless, the injury bug is probably right around the corner.  And even if that doesn’t happen, Eaton may be paying a trip to the phantom DL if he doesn’t improve.  One way or another, Happ will most likely see action this season.  I tend to think it will be sooner than later.

-Greg Berlin