It Is Baseball Season Right?
So, I've been promising a Q&A with Phillies Guru Jason Weitzel, and even though it took a while, I am happy to finally deliver. So here is Part I of the Q&A, where we discuss some important Phillies topics.
1. Before the homestand, I would have asked "What is the matter with the Phillies?" Now I ask, "Who are these guys?" Which ones are the real Phillies? Should we be preparing ourselves for an entire year of these alternating streaks?
JMW - The Phils certainly turned around their fortunes during the Homestand (capital "H"). They delivered timely hits with runners in scoring position, assembled a nice string of quality starts, and the bullpen didn't suffer a catastrophic defeat.
Playing at home always helps, and they faced some teams that were either cold, like San Francisco, or strangers to the park, like Texas or even Milwaukee. That has to be considered.
Breaking it down individually, Bobby Abreu is one of the best outfielders in the game and his hot season should come as no surprise to anyone. Star-in-the-making Chase Utley delivered the big grand slam in the second game against San Francisco. That sent a charge through this team as he officially takes over starting duties at second. What you see is what you get with those two.
I think a big story is how comfortable the role players like David Bell and Mike Lieberthal looked during the homestand. I wouldn't expect that success to continue, however. In addition, Pat Burrell has really overachieved this season and I'm still leery of his mechanics and wrist problems.
Right now, the big concern is in the starting rotation where Randy Wolf could be out, Jon Lieber is starting to slip and Vicente Padilla can't go more than five innings. Do they have the horses? That's the big question now that the bullpen has been fortified with Ugueth Urbina.
2. Was Joe Kerrigan just that bad of a pitching coach?
JMW - Yes. Jon Lieber taught Brett Myers more about pitching than Kerrigan did, as Myers unveiled a new out pitch - a cutter - fashioned after the one Lieber throws. Myers is a totally new pitcher this season.
When it comes to coaching though, I can only base my opinion on results, and as far as I can see, the proof is in the pudding: they're better with Dubee than with Kerrigan. He's certainly more hands-off during the game, much different than professor Kerrigan's in-game "lessons."
3. Jim Thome is a notoriously slow starter, but isn't this starting to border on ridiculous?
JMW - Thome hasn't been healthy or confident all season, visibly pushing to get home runs. He's swinging behind high strikes a lot, fooled on pitches outside a lot. Basically, he hasn't been in a groove all year. Obviously, he's on the downslide of his career, but a combination of physical deterioration and zero confidence has buried him.
Jason Weitzel is a writer and editor for the Reading Eagle of Reading, PA. He is the keeper of the excellent Phillies blog, Beerleaguer.
1. Before the homestand, I would have asked "What is the matter with the Phillies?" Now I ask, "Who are these guys?" Which ones are the real Phillies? Should we be preparing ourselves for an entire year of these alternating streaks?
JMW - The Phils certainly turned around their fortunes during the Homestand (capital "H"). They delivered timely hits with runners in scoring position, assembled a nice string of quality starts, and the bullpen didn't suffer a catastrophic defeat.
Playing at home always helps, and they faced some teams that were either cold, like San Francisco, or strangers to the park, like Texas or even Milwaukee. That has to be considered.
Breaking it down individually, Bobby Abreu is one of the best outfielders in the game and his hot season should come as no surprise to anyone. Star-in-the-making Chase Utley delivered the big grand slam in the second game against San Francisco. That sent a charge through this team as he officially takes over starting duties at second. What you see is what you get with those two.
I think a big story is how comfortable the role players like David Bell and Mike Lieberthal looked during the homestand. I wouldn't expect that success to continue, however. In addition, Pat Burrell has really overachieved this season and I'm still leery of his mechanics and wrist problems.
Right now, the big concern is in the starting rotation where Randy Wolf could be out, Jon Lieber is starting to slip and Vicente Padilla can't go more than five innings. Do they have the horses? That's the big question now that the bullpen has been fortified with Ugueth Urbina.
2. Was Joe Kerrigan just that bad of a pitching coach?
JMW - Yes. Jon Lieber taught Brett Myers more about pitching than Kerrigan did, as Myers unveiled a new out pitch - a cutter - fashioned after the one Lieber throws. Myers is a totally new pitcher this season.
When it comes to coaching though, I can only base my opinion on results, and as far as I can see, the proof is in the pudding: they're better with Dubee than with Kerrigan. He's certainly more hands-off during the game, much different than professor Kerrigan's in-game "lessons."
3. Jim Thome is a notoriously slow starter, but isn't this starting to border on ridiculous?
JMW - Thome hasn't been healthy or confident all season, visibly pushing to get home runs. He's swinging behind high strikes a lot, fooled on pitches outside a lot. Basically, he hasn't been in a groove all year. Obviously, he's on the downslide of his career, but a combination of physical deterioration and zero confidence has buried him.
Jason Weitzel is a writer and editor for the Reading Eagle of Reading, PA. He is the keeper of the excellent Phillies blog, Beerleaguer.
posted by el123chico at 8:28 PM
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