Charlie Manuel Watch Thread - 2010 Edition

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Drabek is scheduled to pitch for the Blue Jays against the Phils this afternoon. It will be interesting to see how he fares...

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Drabek is scheduled to pitch for the Jays today against the Phils.

It will be interesting to see how he fares...

[SunCoastBlueHen]

It looks like Halladay had a sub-par spring outing this afternoon giving up a run on three hit with 6 Ks in five innings of work.

Polanco left the game with a knee injury. No word on severity yet.

[93henfan]

Polanco left the game with a knee injury. No word on severity yet.

[93henfan]

Sounds a little better (from philly.com):

"When it first happened, you really get scared," Polanco said. "You don't know what's happening. It doesn't feel right. But the doctor took a look at it. It's nothing big at all."

The Phillies' third baseman said he is day-to-day with what is being called a right knee sprain. The injury will not require an MRI and Polanco said he could be back in action within two to three days.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Sounds a little better (from philly.com):

"When it first happened, you really get scared," Polanco said. "You don't know what's happening. It doesn't feel right. But the doctor took a look at it. It's nothing big at all."

The Phillies' third baseman said he is day-to-day with what is being called a right knee sprain. The injury will not require an MRI and Polanco said he could be back in action within two to three days.

I hope this turns out to be the case, but apparently Polanco tripped over the mound trying to field a pop-up, stood up, collapsed back down and was then carried off the field. I guess we'll know for sure in a couple days...

[Ivytalk]

Looks like Hamels has his Mojo back... and a couple of new pitches!

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Looks like Hamels has his Mojo back... and a couple of new pitches!

All of the Phillies starters are having a nice spring! I hope to hell they give the fifth starter spot to Kendrick who has yet to give up a run this spring (Moyer has been getting hit hard in "B" games).

[93henfan]

Looks like Hamels has his Mojo back... and a couple of new pitches!

All of the Phillies starters are having a nice spring! I hope to hell they give the fifth starter spot to Kendrick who has yet to give up a run this spring (Moyer has been getting hit hard in "B" games).

+1, but you know that loyal Uncle Chuck is going to trot Moyer out until he has a 7.00 ERA or until his arm falls off

Assuming Lidge can get even half way back to his 2008 form, Hamels removes his head from his arse, and the injury bug isn't overzealous (hell, they had plenty of injuries in 2009 and endured), this team should have no problems in the East and has a great shot to play in its third Series in a row

[SunCoastBlueHen]

All of the Phillies starters are having a nice spring! I hope to hell they give the fifth starter spot to Kendrick who has yet to give up a run this spring (Moyer has been getting hit hard in "B" games).

+1, but you know that loyal Uncle Chuck is going to trot Moyer out until he has a 7.00 ERA or until his arm falls off

I opened up the paper this morning to see that Moyer pitched well yesterday in his first spring training action against major leaguers.

I was really hoping that he got shelled to help make Chuck's decision to insert Kendrick in the #5 slot an easier one.

[BlueHen86]

+1, but you know that loyal Uncle Chuck is going to trot Moyer out until he has a 7.00 ERA or until his arm falls off

I opened up the paper this morning to see that Moyer pitched well yesterday in his first spring training action against major leaguers.

I was really hoping that he got shelled to help make Chuck's decision to insert Kendrick in the #5 slot an easier one.

Much of the radio discussion up here has been that Kendrick should get the 5th spot in the rotation, but that Moyer will probably get it. I'd rather see it go to Kendrick and let Moyer ptich long relief.

No matter who starts the season as the 5th starter, I think the job will ulitimately be Kendrick's.

[GannonFan]

I'd be shocked if Moyer is healthy and doesn't get the 5th slot. With that said, if we can maximize the number of times he pitches against the Marlins, we should be ok. But yeah, at some point in the season Kendrick will get the spot over an ineffective Moyer. Just a matter of time. And with Halladay, a rejuventated Hamels, and Happ at the front end of the rotation, it won't really matter much.

[93henfan]

I'm looking forward to a break from Disney tomorrow and watching the Phils play at the Braves. Happ is starting. Chooch is supposed to be returning from the flu.

[bluehenbillk]

One more week until the opening of the Roy Halladay era!!!!

[BlueHen86]

If I heard correctly earlier today, Jamie Moyer will be the 5th starter, beating out Kyle Kendrick.

[93henfan]

If I heard correctly earlier today, Jamie Moyer will be the 5th starter, beating out Kyle Kendrick.

Moyer has pitched well this spring (giving up only one earned run vs four for Kendrick). As long as he can keep the ERA under 5 and give us six innings consistently, I don't have too much heartburn with it. But you just know that for every couple of good outings by Moyer he's going to run into a patient team that puts up eight runs on him in the first three innings.

[93henfan]

Guys, I just got a reminder that we should never take for granted where the Phils are now. I flipped on MASN and they are showing a 2005 game between the Nats and Phils. Kenny Lofton is in center, Abreu in right, the Nats' Brad Wilkerson just hit for the cycle to put the Nats up 7-3 late, and the crowd at CBP is chanting E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

If I heard correctly earlier today, Jamie Moyer will be the 5th starter, beating out Kyle Kendrick.

Well, at least this will give Moyer a better chance at a very prestigious milestone -

He needs to surrender just 15 homeruns to become the all time Major League leader in career taters allowed.

[bluehenbillk]

Halladay didn't end the spring very well, Jays shelled him today. Hopefully Monday is a different story.

[bluehenbillk]

Blanton out 3-6 weeks with an oblique, 3rd pitcher to start the season on the DL. Kendrick back in the rotation, will probably pitch Thursday in DC.

[93henfan]

Not good. Puts all the more importance on Hamels returning to form. He better have his shit together this year.

[BlueHen86]

Not good. Puts all the more importance on Hamels returning to form. He better have his shit together this year.

I think he will. The Verducci effect predicted that Hamels would have a down year last year. Also, Cole didn't enter spring training in top from last year. By most accounts, Cole seems much improved this spring.

Verducci effect:
Named for Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, this is a negative forward indicator for pitcher workload. Verducci, who called this the 'Year After Effect,' found that pitchers under the age of 25 who have 30-inning increases year over year tend to underperform. Will Carroll independently found that pitchers who break the "Rule of 30" tend to get injured. Carroll renamed this 'rule' the Verducci Effect in honor of the man who initially found the evidence.

[93henfan]

Hopefully there's a clause in the Verducci effect that says:

Closers who go perfect in saves in a year, then follow with double-digit blown saves the following year, usually return to resembling a decent closer in the third year.

[BlueHen86]

Hopefully there's a clause in the Verducci effect that says:

Closers who go perfect in saves in a year, then follow with double-digit blown saves the following year, usually return to resembling a decent closer in the third year.

Lidge has been on the roller coaster before, we just have to hope that this is a up year. Can't be worse than last year.

[93henfan]

The President has lollipopped a ball well out of the strike zone and the season is set to start.

PLAY BALL!