The Phillies lost again last night to the Cardinals, in a 7-1 game marked by long balls. The bigger news was that Jamie Moyer injured his left elbow in the first inning. The injury is said to be like the one J.A. Happ suffered in April. If so, Moyer is possibly out for the rest of the season and may have thrown his last pitch as a Phillie. A bum way to go out, if that is the case.
In interviews before and during the game GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. was candid about the Phillies' chances of making the post-season: Not happening unless the team starts to play as they are capable of doing. He was also coy about who would start this weekend in place of Kendrick. Then J.A. Happ, pitching last night for the IronPigs in Indianapolis, was pulled from the game after three innings. Was he being recalled to Philadelphia or was he part of a trade?
By the end of the Phillies' game, rumors were rampant about a deal for Roy Oswalt which would somehow involve sending Werth to Tampa Bay. Since then the idea has been talked to death. As I recall, most mid-season trade rumors floated by ESPN, as this one was, turn to vapor. We shall see.
Meanwhile, J.A. Happ is still in Indianapolis, and Andrew Carpenter, who took the loss in last night's St. Louis game, has been sent back down to Lehigh Valley. His surprise replacement is 22-year-old Vance Worley from Reading. In 19 starts this year, Worley is 9-4, with a 3.20 ERA. Worley, who pitched on Sunday, is coming off 17 scoreless innings. But I cannot imagine that he will be the starter on Saturday against the Rockies.
Amaro, Jr. yesterday said, "We've got a lot of balls up in the air." I guess he was not kidding. He was also looking pretty confident. Still, the Worley call-up is a total surprise.
In other news, 23-year-old Mike Cisco, called up from Reading, started today for Lehigh Valley and did pretty well. The game is now tied in the 8th. Nelson Figueroa has been claimed off waivers by the Astros. Sad to see Figgy go.
In the 9th of that game today in Indianapolis, the 'Pigs first took a three-run lead in the 9th, then added four more on a Brian Bocock grand slam. Bocock, now owner of a nine-game hitting streak, is having a most improbable road trip. Pigs do fly!
