Phillies Pitching: Making the Right Call

Before I discuss the pitchers and their roles, a quick check-in about a week of games played: 4-5 record but 3-1 in 1-R/ extra-inning games. I'm not entirely sure that Kapler is doing a good job based on those numbers but it is a small sample. I think the 4-5 record is a better W-L record to use. The deep line-up is mostly responsible for the 3-1 record.

So, who is on the short leash in the rotation?

Nola is stretched out, and pulling him early is clearly the only sure-bet-bad-decision. Arrieta's debut was rough so he'll need his next start or two to be stretched. Both are allotted 7 innings, which is 2.5 turns through the line-up, at minimum, but more likely 3 turns through. Ben Lively and Vince Velasquez are looking terrible but worthy of a 'pen spot if they do not improve. They each can manage nearly one turn through the line-up, which is all you need of a long man. I'll give Vince two more starts. Ben gets a bit longer. And both get to face the line-up twice at most. Eickhoff gets at least a month upon his return and could also get the short leash. Eflin gets about a month but he, Leiter, Jr, and Thompson should, upon return, be in the bullpen due to performance history, depth, and/ or injury history. They get one turn through as long men (maybe 10-11 batters faced if crusing) and slightly longer (10-15 batters faced) if starting. And Nick Pivetta had a stellar performance the other night with Franco's 4 RBIs. Keep it up and he's on the longer leash. Otherwise, short leash and/ or AAA, then bullpen if he can't make it in the majors. And when Eschelman debuts, long leash!

And in the bullpen, who - besides the injured Hunter & Neshek - are your long men?

Garcia might. Morgan could. I'd say Neris is your traditional closer but could occasionally be used in non-save/ longer-save/ late-middle relief. Everyone else is a 2-to-4-out guy. Most of your long men are also former/ spot starters, as mentioned above. We need Hunter and Neshek back. So far, the bullpen is improving each series. Good to see. Let's hope they can produce outs efficiently.

Overall?

Overall, if guys are cruising, let them continue to face batters. The aforementioned numbers are merely guidance. If they don't cruise, then we have a problem, obviously, and the coaches will have to intervene. If no improvement, then it's to the 'pen for most and to AAA for some.

Good luck!