It's The Pitching, Pat - Wednesday, June 25, 2008
201 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Michael Bradley

  Last season, it was fun to watch the Phillies mount late-game comebacks and subdue teams with their mighty bats, rather than their arms. It made for a thrilling campaign and one that will be remembered for a long time. No team could keep the Phils' offense down for any stretch of time, and nobody cared that the starting pitching was a mess.

   Until the playoffs, that is.

   Then, we learned the real personality of this team. It was great in situations where it could free-wheel and let it rip. But when things were tight, it was ill-equipped to handle things. Close games that required consistent starting pitching were big trouble. The solution? Move Brett Myers back to the rotation and add Brad Lidge to the bullpen as a closer. It made some sense, since Myers had been so good at the back end of the 'pen last year. He was a starter by trade and had looked so good last season that 15 wins were considered the minimum.

   Of course, there was no backup plan. The same three pitchers who had finished the year in the rotation -- Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton -- would be in the three, four and five spots. Just about halfway through the season, we have seen that this strategy has blown up. Myers isn't pulling his weight, and the others have been erratic, although Moyer has pitched well of late. The recent series against playoff-caliber teams have proven the Phillies lack the starting pitching to hang. For a team that has fans expecting strong play in October, that is not good news.

   Now GM Pat Gillick, who has done little to improve this starting rotation during his tenure, is talking big. He says the team needs a strong second starter behind Cole Hamels, in order to match up with  better opposition the team will face on the hill. That's hardly news. But what's he going to do about it? Will he go after a big gun, or will he bring another question mark? That's the challenge facing Gillick. Since he's in his last season with the team, Gillick could well be judged by his ability to help this team get over the post-season hump in '08. That's going to require some work Gillick hasn't performed yet. Is he up to the task?

  He had better be.